While daddy studies . . .

This week hubby is at home a lot while he studies for exams. It's a different routine and to prevent myself from going stircrazy from having him here, but not available, I planned all sorts of fun events. The kids have loved it, but I think I may have overplanned! Oh, well, I guess the laundry will wait until tomorrow.

Monday, we picked up grandma and grandpa and went over to nanna and pop's house for an hour or so before we went to the beach. We had a nice walk along the boardwalk and even took a foray onto the sand itself - no mean feat in the two man stroller! We forded a small stream and then made our way through the wilds of a few trees to the swing/slide (Cutie's term for playground). Cutie and Percy were in heaven. Cutie loves the swing most, but there were a lot of other kids so she had to make her own.

Cutie and her swing/slide

Percy is just content to explore the entire place. I did, however, catch him trying to climb anything that was in his way. Fortunately, his legs are shorter than his ambitions. He has enough bumps on his head for now!

The world's next great explorer in the making

Today, I had a brief period of "mommy time" discussing challenges in raising children with other moms. Cutie loved creche/nursery and wanted to come back even before we left. Percy was a bit less impressed, but a nappy change fixed that.

After much encouragement, Cutie went to the table at morning tea time and got her very own bikkie/cookie (without mommy's help). She rapidly made use of this newfound independence and I think I caught her with number four before I noticed. I should have thought that one through!

We spent a few hours playing with the cousins to round out the fun. Cutie now insists on having vegimite sandwiches because her cousin does. Only one problem - she hates vegimite. So I just give her butter and let her call it what she will.

Oh, and on the topic of vegimite (really foul stuff that looks like axle grease for all those Americans). Hubby and the entire in-law clan are appalled that I have taught Cutie the delights of peanut butter and jelly. It's very American. And besides that, jelly over here is jello, so it sounds doubly bad to the uninformed. We have had word wrangling since I introduced this taste sensation to Cutie (who adopted it with much more flare than she did vegimite). Hubby insists it's jam and I just can't say peanut butter and jam. It doesn't flow. To keep household peace, I am now allowed to say jelly in conjunction with peanut butter and he can say jam all the rest of the time. Now that's something I bet you never thought about!