tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87921991291650611672024-03-06T16:14:41.250+13:00Ember and the meaning of lifeMy daughter, Ember, has always been a bit of a thinker and when she was about 18 months, a couple of friends suggested I should set up a blog to record the many quirky Emberisms. So, here it is!Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-31840544916277418512015-09-24T09:58:00.001+12:002015-09-24T09:58:29.766+12:00U.S. of Aliens?Em is a big fan of a game called Animal Jam, which is a National Geographic innovation, and she learns a lot from it. I assumed it was based in America, and we have talked about that and the time difference when it is down for maintenance when Em wants to play. <div><br></div><div>Today in the car...</div><div>Em: is it nearly autumn in Australia?</div><div>Me: you mean America?</div><div>Em: yes, is it nearly autumn in America?</div><div>Me: yes, it is autumn now in America, but they call it fall. </div><div>Em: oh. Do you know how I knowed that?</div><div>Me: no</div><div>Em: because it's going into autumn in Animal Jam. But they didn't call it fall. </div><div>Me: oh, well maybe Animal Jam isn't based in America. Maybe it's in England or Europe somewhere. </div><div>Em: or maybe they just called it in English because Americans would know what Autumn is but humans might not know what fall is. </div>Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-9151934964623103872015-06-23T21:49:00.001+12:002015-06-23T21:49:43.159+12:00SaucyOne of the few takeaway foods Em will eat is hot chips (luckily, as they are available most places!) and as we had a bit of a detour on the way home this evening, to drop someone at the netball courts (long story), I got her some while we were there. I'm a bit of a sucker for hot chips myself, and the smell of them in the back was too much for me.<br />
<br />
Me: Em, can I have a chip please?<br />
Em: Sure mummy, you can.<br />
<br />
I put my hand out behind me and she placed one on my palm.<br />
<br />
Em: I got a bit of sauce on your hand.<br />
Me: Oh, that's ok.<br />
Em: I wasn't actually saying sorry. I was laughing because it was funny!<br />
<br />
At least she's honest I guess!Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-7589218195004282742015-06-23T21:04:00.000+12:002015-06-23T21:04:09.522+12:00Your presence is her present. Kind of. Ember has been planning her birthday for about four weeks so far, and it's not till August. I think she's a bit excited... Anyway, today in the car we were talking about it for the umpteenth time.<br />
<br />
Em: Do you know why I'm so excited about my birthday?<br />
Me: Why?<br />
Em: Because I know my friends are going to get me such good presents!<br />
Me: You know birthdays aren't all about the presents though, right?<br />
Em: Yes, I know.<br />
Me: The best bit is getting to hang out with your friends and have a good time.<br />
Em: Yep, being with your friends is the best and then presents second.<br />
Me: If none of your friends could get you a birthday present, would you still want them to come to your party?<br />
Em: Yes, of course!<br />
Me: Good.<br />
Em: (pause) But don't tell them that...Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-12681614532553762652015-05-16T09:47:00.000+12:002015-05-16T09:47:12.792+12:00Tiger PeopleEm and I got on to the subject of fish, and then fish stock, after seeing a guy with a small fish on the end of his line.<br />
<br />
Em: Yuck. You wouldn't eat that, would you Mummy? Because fish is meat.<br />
Me: That's right. I don't eat meat.<br />
Em: Me neither, because I'm a vegetarian, right Mummy?<br />
Me: Yes, if you want to be.<br />
Em: I am, because I don't eat meat. But when I'm a teenager I will eat meat.<br />
Me: Why's that?<br />
Em: Because I'll be living with Frank! [her "boyfriend" at school]<br />
Me: Why does living with Frank mean you'll eat meat? Maybe he'll be a vegetarian too.<br />
Em: No mummy, because we're tiger people! Tiger people have to eat meat.<br />
Me: Oh, well that makes sense. Will you eat it raw?<br />
Em: No, cooked.<br />
Me: Tigers usually eat their meat raw. They catch it and kill it themselves.<br />
Em: Yes, we hunt our own meat, except when we're feeling sick and we have to buy it at the shops.<br />
Me: Fair enough.<br />
Em: But we will still eat lots of meat, even when we have a bad cough.Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-70927058354118259112015-01-28T09:24:00.000+13:002015-01-28T09:24:29.948+13:00Panda PantsI was listening to the radio on the way home yesterday when the DJs started talking about Lana's cat, who has started stealing underpants from neighbours and bringing them home. Someone mentioned the word "panties" and they all cringed, talking about how you shouldn't use "the 'p' word". Clearly big ears in the back was also listening...<br />
<br />
Em: Mum, what's the "p" word?<br />
Me: They're talking about the word "panties".<br />
Em: What does pandies mean?<br />
Me: Panties. It's another word for underpants. But some people think it's not a very nice word.<br />
Em: And is it?<br />
Me: Well, it's not a swear word, and it's not a rude word as such, but some people think it sounds kind of icky.<br />
Em: Oh, yeah, I think that too. It sounds like a panda wearing undies! Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-60491402079720111802014-12-03T15:28:00.000+13:002014-12-03T15:28:54.912+13:00Killer bumblebeesBecause the drive from home to work/school is a decent distance, Ember and I carpool with Nana J, Mike and occasionally Beth. We have some interesting conversations. Ember is usually busy playing MineCraft or similar on the iPad, but she hears everything (which we would sometimes do well to remember!) This happened the other day...<br />
<br />
Beth: My niece is annoyed because her class is going camping for outdoor activity week, and another class is going to <a href="http://rainbowsend.co.nz/" target="_blank">Rainbow's End</a>.<br />
Me: She's young for camping - are they just camping in the school grounds?<br />
Beth: I don't know, maybe.<br />
Nana: We used to do that at my old school but we had to camp in the school hall rather than in tents on the field as there were too many criminals potentially running around.<br />
Beth: Really? Gangs?<br />
Nana: Yes, it used to be the Mongrel Mob and Black Power, but they moved out of the area and the Bloods, Crips and Killer Bees moved in.<br />
Em: (gasping) Killer bees? [she has a bee phobia]<br />
Me: Not real bees sweetheart. Just silly people who call themselves Killer Bees.<br />
Beth: Were they a real problem?<br />
Me: Occasionally. One time the school was in lockdown because a guy ran through the grounds with a knife or something and the police helicopter was following him. <br />
<br />
We went on to talk about other things, but Em must have been thinking about it all as she suddenly said:<br />
<br />
Em: Mummy, I know why that man had a knife.<br />
Me: Do you? Why?<br />
Em: Because he was dressed up like a bumblebee, so the knife was his stinger...<br />
<br />Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-43253493087875814232014-11-21T22:13:00.001+13:002014-11-21T22:13:28.210+13:00Life after deathIn the car yesterday Em suddenly piped up...<br />
<br />
Em: Mummy. You know when you're dead?<br />
Me: Yes.<br />
Em: Where do you go? Do you come back as an animal?<br />
Me: Well, no-one really knows. Some people think that your spirit, the bit inside you that makes you you, goes up to heaven; some people think you get reincarnated, come back onto earth as a different person or as an animal; some people think there's nothing, you just get reabsorbed into the world; some people think you go up to be a star... but no-one knows for sure.<br />
Em: When I die, then I'll know for sure.<br />
Me: Yes, I guess you will.<br />
Em: I hope I come back as an animal. Do you know what I want to come back as Mummy?<br />
Me: A tiger [since she tells me daily that she's a real baby tiger]<br />
Em: No. A horse.<br />
Me: Oh, ok.<br />
Em: No actually an alicorn. They have wings AND a unicorn horn.<br />
Nana: That sounds like a good idea Em: I'll come back as one of them too.<br />
Em: Ok Nana!<br />
<br />Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-19083941534724133502014-08-03T20:24:00.001+12:002014-08-04T19:56:41.527+12:00Looming disaster<div>I thought we had escaped the loom bands craze but then Em's adopted "big sister" at school gave her some, and Nana bought her some, and she was officially part of the craze. I'm not a crafty type so didn't even try, and Em doesn't really have the patience, so mostly she just ended up winding them round her fingers. </div><div><br></div><div>In the car one day she had a bunch looped around her fingers when she said:</div><div><br></div><div>Em: This ones hurting. </div><div>Me: Take it off if it's hurting; you'll cut off your circulation. </div><div>Em: (taking loom bands off fingers) What's circulation?</div><div>Me: It's the blood flowing round your body. </div><div>Em: Lucky I took it off then or I could die!</div><div>Me: You wouldn't die sweetheart. </div><div>Em: Yes, if my blood stopped following I would die. </div><div>Me: Only if the blood stopped flowing round your whole body. If you left a loom band tight on your finger for days and days your finger might fall off, but you wouldn't die. </div><div>Em: And then I'd get a robot thumb! Some people have robot fingers and foots. Or hair. But I'm glad I don't have robot hair or it would move all slowly, not fast swishing like this. </div><div><br></div><div>Bionic girl? :)</div>Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-54846561389517895632014-08-03T09:30:00.000+12:002014-08-03T09:30:00.400+12:00Weather the weather, whatever the weather...We carpool with my mum, Nana Jay, and although it often seems like Ember is not listening, being busy playing Minecraft or similar on my iPad in the back, we often find from her occasional interjections that she is, in fact, tuning in. The other day it was raining on the way in...<br />
<br />
NJ: What horrible weather! Hate it!<br />
Em: Why do you hate it Nana?<br />NJ: It's raining.<br />
Em: But why do you hate the rain?<br />
NJ: It's cold and wet.<br />
Em: Well Nana, it's winter. It rains in the winter.<br />
NJ: Yes Ember, you're right.<br />
Em: So you just have to get used to it.<br />
<br />
And with that she went back to her game.Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-5969535073631893732014-08-02T13:12:00.002+12:002014-08-02T13:12:52.317+12:00Boys are sillyEm came in for weekend morning cuddles this morning and out of the blue said:<br />
<br />
Em: Mama. You know when little guys grow up into big guys?<br />
Me: Yes.<br />
Em: Do they turn into silly ones?<br />
Me: Some of them do.<br />
Em: So the ones who are silly when they're little guys stay silly when they're growed up?<br />
Me: Pretty much, yes.<br />
Em: Some of the boys in my class are silly ones. I think they'll be silly ones when they are growed up. L is the silliest. I think he'll be the leader of the silly ones when he is a big guy. He's just so silly!<br />
Me: What does he do?<br />
Em: Oh, you know. Silly stuff. He's the leader of the silly team.Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-66929174016435127132013-12-26T14:29:00.001+13:002013-12-26T14:29:15.408+13:00Emmy, Emmy, quite contraryThis one needs no context I think...<br />
<br />
Em: Mummy, do people hate children?<br />
Me: What?<br />
Em: Do people hate children?<br />
Me: What, all people?<br />
Em: No, just some people far away.<br />
Me: There are some people who don't like children, yes.<br />
Em: What if they grow a children?<br />
Me: Well, people who don't like children usually don't grow children. (pause) You're a random child.<br />
Em: No I'm not! I'm not random!<br />
Me: It's good to be random! I'm random too.<br />
Em: I'm not random! <br />
Me: You don't even know what random means.<br />
Em: Tell me what it means then.<br />
Me: It means creative and interesting.<br />
Em: I'm not interesting!<br />
Me: Ok, fine, you're boring then.<br />
Em: No I'm not! I'm not boring! And I'm not interesting!<br />
Me: You're contrary.<br />
Em: No I'm not! What does it mean?<br />
Me: It means you disagree with everything I say.<br />
Em: No I don't!<br />
<br />
Ha.Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-64034058244904637712013-12-21T13:41:00.002+13:002013-12-21T13:41:30.897+13:00My Little Monster [Ponies]I came into the living room the other day to discover that Ember had 'coloured in' a number of her my little ponies to make them into 'monster ponies'. "Daddy says it will come off" she reassured me.<br />
<br />
A couple of days later I tested this by taking one of the ponies into the bathroom and scrubbing it with a nail brush and various types of soap. Needless to say, the colouring didn't come off.<br />
<br />
Me: Ember, I don't think this colour is going to come off your ponies.<br />
Em: That's ok, I like them like this.<br />
Me: Well make sure you don't scribble on any more of your toys please.<br />
Em: It's not scribbling, they're monster ponies!<br />
Me: It looks like scribbling to me...<br />
Em: Mummy! They're just monster ponies ok? You're just going to have to accept that and move on.<br />
<br />
I had no comeback.Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-67454269928109790232013-11-30T19:48:00.001+13:002013-11-30T19:48:30.218+13:00It's just not cricket!Ember and Nana Jay were driving past a school to pick up the rest of our car pool when Ember pointed out the fenced courts.<div><br></div><div>Em: Do you know nana, that's where they play cricket.</div><div>NJ: Yes they probably do play cricket there sometimes.</div><div>Em: The fence is so the crickets and grasshoppers can't get away. The people hit the crickets with sticks. That's a bit sad for the crickets isn't it?</div><div><br></div><div>Nana J was relaying this conversation to the rest of the carpool as we drove back past the courts, and I was stuffing my fist into my mouth to keep from laughing.</div><div><br></div><div>Em: Why are you laughing Mummy? Is that not quite how it goes? Don't laugh at me!</div><div>Me: I'm not laughing at you, it's just this sherbet making me laugh.</div><div><br></div><div>Thankfully she decided the sherbet made her laugh too!</div>Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-15546954841385219682013-10-06T08:48:00.001+13:002013-10-06T08:53:46.927+13:00Flying toiletsPartly because the toilet roll dispenser is a bit of a reach from our toilet, and partly because it's easier (for her), Ember still calls for mummy and/or daddy's assistance when she's done on the toilet. She manages on her own at school, so I suspect it's mostly about habit and convenience at home! Anyway, yesterday was rather funny...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Em: Mummy! Come and wipe me!</div>
<div>
Me: ok, coming. </div>
<div>
Em: no, wait, don't come yet.</div>
<div>
Me: ok.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Quiet for a few minutes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Me: are you ok? What are you doing?</div>
<div>
Em: I'm ok. I'm just waiting in case the toilet flies me away somewhere.</div>
<div>
Me: you're what?</div>
<div>
Em: I wished the the toilet might fly me away somewhere!</div>
<div>
Me: you'd better hope it doesn't; that might get a bit messy!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We did read a little bit of <a href="http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/wishing-chair.php" target="_blank">The Wishing Chair</a> a while back, before going back to <a href="http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/faraway-tree.php" target="_blank">The Faraway Tree</a>, so perhaps that's where it's come from. I don't think that "The Wishing toilet" would be quite so popular a tale...</div>
Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-67934495930923358562013-10-02T19:16:00.001+13:002013-10-02T19:16:01.903+13:00Squiggle bum<div>Ember decided she needed to sit on me this evening. Like most five-year-olds she can't sit still for more than 2 seconds so she was quickly squiggling around all over the place. She must have hit an awkward angle or something because she suddenly said:</div><div><br></div><div>Em: ouch! Ow!</div><div>Me: What?</div>Em: Keep your hurtings to yourself!<div>Me: I'm not moving; you're the one squiggling around on my lap.</div><div>Em: Well move your lap! Ow!</div>Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-88492922892066674972013-09-24T09:48:00.000+12:002013-09-24T09:48:25.896+12:00Speeding Daddies and Pink BeansI'd like to preface this post by saying that Ember's daddy, Simon, is a very circumspect driver, so much so that on occasion I have called him a "nana driver" ;) I mention this only because it makes the conversation I had with Ember in the car yesterday, so much more funny!<br />
<br />
Em: Muuuummmmmmmyyyyy, are we nearly home?<br />
Me: No.<br />
Em: Have we got a long way to go?<br />
Me: Yes.<br />
Em: Ooooooooooh. Well are you driving one hundred?<br />
Me: No, I'm only allowed to drive at eighty on this bit, so I'm driving at eighty. <br />
Em: When you see the sign that says one hundred, make sure you drive at one hundred, ok?<br />
Me: Ok.<br />
Em: (wee pause) Daddy doesn't slow down when there's a different number on the sign; he just goes one hundred.<br />
Me: Oh, does he now?<br />
Em: Yep he just goes one hundred all the times. And the policemans doesn't give him any tickets.<br />
Me: Is that right?<br />
Em: Yes, because they're scared of big trucks [Si has a Jeep] and when they see him, they just go "AAAAAH!" and run back into their cars and don't give him any tickets.<br />
Me: Did Daddy tell you that?<br />
Em: No, I just know it. Because Daddy's big and strong enough and if they gived him a ticket he would just rip it up.<br />
Me: Then they'd give him another one.<br />
Em: He'd just rip that one up too. He rips up all of the tickets.<br />
Me: Then they would take him to jail.<br />
Em: No they wouldn't; he wouldn't go.<br />
Me: He would have to go.<br />
Em: No. He'd just push them up into the hills.<br />
Me: The hills?<br />
Em: Yes, he'd push them up into the hills and they'd go "AAAAAH" and run away and away.<br />
Me: You're full of beans today. Did you have baked beans for lunch?<br />
Em: No, Ms Daniels gived them to me.<br />
Me: What?<br />
Em: The beans! And I gobbled them all up.<br />
Me: What kind of beans?<br />
Em: Pink ones; they tasted like strawberries.<br />
Me: I think you're telling stories.<br />
Em: No, I'm not! Stop laughing Mummy!<br />
<br />
In my defence, Nana was also laughing :)<br />
<br />Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-823424213262982572013-09-04T16:20:00.001+12:002013-09-04T16:20:53.678+12:00Besmirching Mummy's ReputationI might need to change the title of my blog, as Ember is now a big School Girl! In New Zealand the school year runs from February to December, but you can start school any time from the day you turn five, and you have to start by the time you're six. Ember's birthday was on a Saturday, and she started the following Monday, part way into term 3. The school had opened a new, new entrant classroom at the beginning of rerm 3 so the kids are all around the same age, and there were only seven of them when she started (there are about 12 now). She's having a fantastic time, and loves her teacher, so that's the main thing anyway. :)<br />
<br />
We have a new car pool buddy, Mike, and luckily he knew me quite well before we started car pooling as Ember has been doing her best to sully my good name. The other day, halfway home, Ember suddenly said to me: "Mummy, I don't like it when you go and see the naughty boys," and refused to elaborate on what she meant. I still have no idea!<br />
<br />
This morning when Nana got out of the car, Ember blew her some kisses through the window.<br />
<br />
Em: I blew Nana kissles! I mean kisses! That was kind, wasn't it?<br />
Me: Yes, it was.<br />
Em: Mummy, are blow kisses real?<br />
Me: What do you mean?<br />
Em: When you blow someone a kiss, is it real?<br />
Me: Well, it's a real thing. You really blow someone a kiss, don't you?<br />
Em: Some people say it's not.<br />
Me: Who?<br />
Em: The boys. The boys say blowing a kiss isn't a real kiss.<br />
Me: Which boys?<br />
Em: All of them! Except Curtis.<br />
<br />
It was quite hard to stifle my laughter...<br />
<br />Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-14932619867861908422013-07-29T22:34:00.002+12:002013-07-29T22:34:39.419+12:00Existential AngstEmber has somehow cottoned onto the idea of playing the 'sympathy card', and when she is trying to distract or delay me, she will often say "Well, Mummy, I'm just a bit sad, because..." and will then quickly make up a reason for her 'sadness'. Usually this is when I want to brush her hair, or put her to bed, or get her into the bath, or out of the bath or dressed (I know, such a mean mother).<br />
<br />
On Sunday, we were driving home from the library in the latish afternoon, when Em pipes up:<br />
<br />
Em: Mummy, I'm just a bit sad.<br />
Me: Why are you sad sweetheart?<br />
Em: Because the days are too short.<br />
Me: What do you mean?<br />
Em: Well, I get up and I play for a bit, and then we go somewhere and come home and then it's dinner and nearly time for bed again. The day is too short! I just wish I didn't have to sleep.<br />
Me: You wouldn't have much energy for playing if you didn't sleep.<br />
Em: Well I just wish I didn't.<br />
<br />
It's so hard being nearly five and so short of time for play!Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-21172004340569829122013-07-24T12:36:00.001+12:002013-07-24T15:14:54.525+12:00What's her name again?When I dropped Ember off at Preschool yesterday there was a relief teacher we hadn't met before. Ember was quite taken with her, partly because she had long hair, and Ember (being obsessed with Rapunzel) is desperate to grow hers long too. I said hello to the teacher, she introduced herself as Pei Chen, and Ember (who demands that I "give [her] to a teacher" before I'm allowed to leave) was happy to give Pei Chen a cuddle as I was leaving.<br />
<br />
That evening when we were talking about Ember's day, I said to her:<br />
<br />
Me: Did you like the new teacher today?<br />
Em: What teacher?<br />
Me: Pei Chen, the teacher you were with this morning, with the beautiful long hair.<br />
Em: Oh, yes I did. (pause) But Mummy, is it ok if I don't like a teacher's name?<br />
Me: You mean the name Pei Chen?<br />
Em: Mmmm.<br />
Me: It's ok if you don't like someone's name, but you probably shouldn't say it to them. Her name sounds a bit different to you because it's Chinese.<br />
Em: What is?<br />
Me: Her name is Chinese.<br />
Em: Her name is Chinese? I thought it was Pei Chen!<br />
Me: (struggling not to laugh) No, her name is Pei Chen, but it's Chinese. From China.<br />
Em: So I can call her Chinese?<br />
Me: No, because that's not her name. Her name is Pei Chen.<br />
Em: Then why did you say her name is Chinese?<br />
Me: Because it's from the country China. Your name, and names like Tamsyn and Cate and Connor are New Zealand names. If you were from China, your name might be something like Pei Chen or Mei Ling or Xiaojing, and you would probably think "Ember" sounded strange. Or if you were from Japan you might be called Kaoru or Michiko or Akiko.<br />
Em: Yoshi [another Preschool teacher] is from Japan!<br />
Me: Yes, and Yoshi's name is Japanese.<br />
Em: Oh, I thought it was Yoshi...<br />
<br />
I gave up after that!Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-86656076960009749382013-07-21T17:20:00.001+12:002013-07-21T17:20:47.724+12:00Treacle ToffeeI'm currently reading Enid Blyton's <i>The Enchanted Wood </i>to Ember at one or two chapters per night. It's the first chapter book we've tried and she's really enjoying it, and gives me a good recap of where we're up to before we start the new chapter each night. She was particularly intrigued by the description of the treacle toffee Bessie makes for Moon Face, so we decided to make some of our own today.<div><br></div><div>Ember helped me to measure the ingredients, and was fascinated by the way the thick, gloppy treacle was pouring into the saucepan.</div><div><br></div><div>Em: what does it taste like?</div><div>Me: it's just kind of sweet and malty. Stick your finger in and taste some if you like.</div><div>Em: Ew, no thanks, that looks like a waterfall of yuck!</div><div><br></div><div>Sadly I don't have a recipe for pop biscuits :)</div>Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-7195191803209546242013-06-25T14:17:00.002+12:002013-06-25T14:17:52.464+12:00Bad DreamsI've been weaning Ember off Dora and Barbie movies and getting out more interesting ones like <i>Labyrinth</i> and <i>The Neverending Story </i>(gotta love those synthesiser soundtracks). Last night she was trying to roll a tennis ball around her hands like Jareth in <i>Labyrinth</i> (<a href="http://www.ministryofmanipulation.com/blog/labyrinth-michael-moschen-behind-the-scenes/" target="_blank">played by Michael Moschen</a>) saying "If you turn it this way, and look into it, it will show you your dreams." Classic. She found an old-looking book in my office the other day, and started "reading" it, telling me that she had to save Fantasia from the Nothing.<br />
<br />
The downside is that some of the creatures have been invading her dreams - she dreamed that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Neverending_Story_characters" target="_blank">Gmork</a> was at her Preschool, for example. Yesterday morning when I got up for work, a plaintive little voice called:<br />
<br />
Em: Mummy! I need a cuddle.<br />
Me: Ok (supplying cuddles)<br />
Em: Can I tell you about my dream? It was a bad dream.<br />
Me: What happened in your dream?<br />
Em: There was a witch, and she wanted me to be her darling, but I didn't want to be her darling because I just wanted to be your darling. <br />
Me: And what happened?<br />
Em: I punched her and she died.<br />
<br />
I'd like to note that we do not advocate violence as a problem-solving technique in our house!Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-50405832475397094882013-06-19T18:54:00.001+12:002013-06-19T18:54:58.382+12:00Give me your digits...In the car on the way home tonight, Ember said:<br />
<br />
Em: Is Christmas a long time?<br />
Me: Yes, it's still quite a long time until Christmas.<br />
Em: It's after your birthday?<br />
Me: Yes.<br />
Em: What's your number?<br />
Me: The third.<br />
Em: Third? But what's your size?<br />
Me: My size? I'm not sure what you mean.<br />
Em: What's your number for your size?<br />
Me: I don't know what you mean Ember, my size for what?<br />
Em: FOR YOUR NUMBER!<br />
Me: I don't know what you mean Ember.<br />
Em: (frustrated noise) I just want to know your number. How long you are.<br />
Me: Well, I'm 169cms tall, I weigh 68kgs and I wear size 12. <br />Em: Oh. <br />
Me: Is that what you want to know?<br />
Em: No, I want to know your number of what you'll be on your birthday.<br />
Me: Oh, you mean you want to know how old I'm turning?<br />
Em: Yes!<br />
Me: 34.<br />
Em: How old are you now?<br />
Me: 33.<br />
Em: Wow, that's really old!<br />
Me: Thanks...Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-44854895771806340062013-06-09T18:29:00.000+12:002013-06-09T18:29:00.254+12:00Fish slippersWe went for a walk this evening, and suddenly out of the blue, Ember said:<br />
<br />
Em: Mummy, I like fish fingers again.<br />
Me: Do you?<br />
Em: Yep, I like them for my dinner.<br />
Me: Where did you have fish fingers?<br />
Em: At my home!<br />
Me: You haven't eaten fish fingers since you were about two... Have you had them somewhere else recently?<br />
Em: No, I just remember them from when I was three and I like them again now.<br />
Me: Ok, we'll try to get some for you then. Do you think they're really made out of fish fingers?<br />
Em: No! Fishes doesn't have fingers!<br />
Me: Oh, don't they?<br />
Em: No! Fishes just has slippers!<br />
<br />
Of course... silly me!Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-75995819569239487522013-06-03T21:55:00.001+12:002013-06-03T21:55:16.845+12:00Mandarins and butterfliesI accepted Ember's challenge yesterday to get all the peel off her mandarin in one piece (it was an 'easy peel' so it wasn't too much of a challenge! That's a 'satsuma' to my UK friends...) Having succeeded in my challenge, I handed it to Ember.<br />
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Em: Look, it looks like a butterfly! Fly, fly! (closing it up) Now it looks like a raccoon!<br />
<br />
I was slightly confused at this point, until she continued, in storytelling voice with accompanying actions...<br />
<br />
Em: Once there was a little caterpillar who ate up all the leafs and got big and went into a raccoon and then one day out came a beautiful butterfly... <br />
<br />Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8792199129165061167.post-90357772380609191552013-06-02T12:52:00.000+12:002013-06-02T12:52:18.080+12:00The value of moneyWe've been trying to teach Ember about money, and have set her up with a money box (although at present it's just an empty vege stock tin!). She's enjoying collecting money, but doesn't really have any idea yet of how much various coins etc are worth, or how this translates into buying something from a shop. The concept of foreign money is particularly...uh, foreign...<br />
<br />
Today whilst building, she came across a UK 10pence piece in amongst the blocks.<br />
<br />
Em: Look Mummy I found a dollar! I'll put it in my money box.<br />
Me: Well, that one isn't New Zealand money, so don't put it in your money box.<br />
Em: Why not?<br />
Me: You can't spend it. It's not for spending in New Zealand.<br />
Em: Oh. Shall we give it to someone from that land?<br />
Me: It's only 10 pence, so they probably won't be all that worried about having it.<br />
Em: I'll give it to Daddy, he'll know what to do with it<br />
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<i>She runs off to the kitchen to consult Simon</i><br />
<br />
Em: I gave it to Daddy and told him to get it out of Raglan. To fly it to the new village. Where it lives. <br />
<br />Renee :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15537255874544108180noreply@blogger.com0