Careless trees.

We were at the cottage, walking up the path from the lake. Clara noticed a tree that had fallen down. She said:

"Look mummy - that tree fell down! It needs to be more careful!"

Indeed it does. ;)

Glad to have her on my side...

This morning I had to drop off Clara at daycare in the bike trailer. Which involved dragging my muddy bike up the narrow basement stairs. And of course, I was wearing white pants.

Anyway, I'm doing my best to resist the urge to swear as the handlebars get caught on coats & bags hanging on hooks in the stairwell, since Clara's watching from the top of the stairs.

Somewhere along the way, I muttered "Stupid bike..." under my breath.

But it wasn't under my breath, because Clara replied: "I don't like it either."

Negotiations.

Last night, on our way home from Philip's end-of-year school picnic, Philip and Clara were arguing over whether they would have a bath or shower before bed. Clara wanted a shower. Philip wanted a bath. They just kept repeating themselves, louder and louder, and I was going crazier and crazier.

I half-jokingly suggested that they each take a turn to tell each other WHY they think a shower or bath would be better, and maybe they can agree. (Seriously, they're 2 & 4. I didn't count on it working or anything.)

This conversation followed:

Clara: Philip, we should have a shower because we can wash with slippery soap. And drop it. And laugh.
Philip: (who had ignored her argument altogether) No - we should have a bath.
Clara: Oh yeah? Why?
Philip: Because it's more fun!
Clara: More fun? Yeah?
Philip: And we can play with our toys. And fill our buckets.
Clara: Oh yeah - it's FUN to do that!
Philip: So THAT's why we should have a bath tonight.
Clara: (who is now done listening patiently) Sorry buddy. We're having a shower.

Muscles.

Clara was trying to open a tub of play-doh. She was struggling with it. She asked Philip to help, but he was too busy watching Spiderman or something.

Eventually, she got it open, and exclaimed:
"I did it! I opened it!" ... beaming. Then she added "I have big muscles for that."

Clara's crush.

So, this isn't new or anything, but it's entertaining nonetheless.

Clara is in love with our cottage-neighbour's son.
He's 10.
She's 2.
Yes, I'm serious.

Whenever she sees him, she goes all shy, her eyes go all googly, she gets the biggest grin on her face, and she turns into a pile of teenage-in-love-goop. His name is Tyler, and I have to admit - he's pretty cute!

Rarely does a day go by when she doesn't mention him.

And far too often, when I tuck her in at night, and say "I love you Clara", she replies "I love Tyler."

Sigh.
I had no idea it would start already...

Expensive tastes at age 4

We had a busy day yesterday. I had to pick Philip up from daycare, take him to a 'welcome' event at his new school, have a quick dinner, and be at soccer by 6pm.

I decided it was a perfect opportunity to bribe him into co-operation with a Happy Meal.

So, when I got him from daycare, we had this conversation:

Me: Hi Philip! We're going to your new school to meet some teachers and see the class rooms, and then we'll have to have a super-fast dinner before soccer.
Philip: What are we having for dinner?
Me: We're going out, to a place you really like.
Philip: Sushi?!? Really?
Me: Uhm, no. McDonald's.

Seriously, how is it that I can no longer bribe my 4yr old with a $3 Happy Meal?

Attitude.

We were waiting for a bus on the weekend, in a very, VERY busy area. Clara sat down on the curb to wait. Apparently people aren't great at watching for 2yr olds on the edge of the sidewalk , so she got hit on the head by peoples' bags as they passed by. She was not impressed. I love her reaction, though. She might be 2, but she won't put up with it. Hah.

Hurt feelings

I'm not sure where Clara learned this one. When she falls down, but doesn't get hurt, she comes over to me all whiny and announces "I hurt my feelings."

??

When asked "How did you hurt your feelings?" she of course, answers "Because I did."

I think we need to explain this expression a bit better...

Look at your daughter!!

We were visiting our cottage-neighbours... and as we walked back, Clara was running way ahead, in her hilarious head-down-arms-pumping-kind-of-like-the-kid-Dash-from-the-Incredibles-movie style.

As I'm about to point out to Sean just how hilarious she looks, she beats me to it.

Clara shouts out:
"Sean! Look at your daughter!"

Er, okay then!

Dinosaur semen.

We discuss it regularly in our house.

Of course, what Clara MEANS to say, is 'Dinosaur Museum'.
But really, why would I correct her?

Father's day plans.

As I praised the kids (and Sean) for spoiling me so well for Mother's day, they started discussing what they should do for Sean for Father's day next month.

The top ideas were:
* a new car (yes, a real one)
* a reindeer
* a reindeer trap!
* a treehouse
* McDonald's

I think McDonald's is the most achievable one, no?

Tags.

Clara has a major issue with tags in/on her clothing. The odd thing is, they don't seem to make her uncomfortable (if she doesn't see the tag while getting dressed, it doesn't bother her) but when she DOES see it -- it needs to be removed IMMEDIATELY.

And apparently her toys are very bothered by tags too. ;)

Yesterday, I was putting her down for a nap. She was snuggling up to some stuffed dog which she's had for as long as I can remember. Suddenly, she noticed he had a tag on his bum. Many tags, in fact!!

Clara: Mummy, a tag! We have to cut it!! (sounding rather desperate)
Me: Sure sweetie. We'll cut it off after your nap. Go to sleep now.
(Surprisingly, she accepted that reply... but still fixated on the tags. She realized there was more than one tag, and started to count them.)
Clara: One, two, three, four.... FOUR TAGS?!? That's unnecessary...

Hahaha...

Smart!

We're driving in the car. Philip sees a Smart car. He points it out, and says "Cool car, eh mummy?"

I tell him it's called a Smart car.

Philip asks: "Because it listens to its mummy?"

....
Haha.

Another gem from my charming Clara.

Clara announced at dinner the other night:

"I'm not being pissy mummy. I'm NOT."

Competing with the cat... and big brother to the rescue.

The other night, I put the kids to bed, and Clara was crying because apparently I didn't read her enough books.

The cat (Lily) was in there too.
Lily has a rather loud meow, almost a yell.

So, Clara was crying.
Lily started meowing.
Then Clara started yelling at Lily for meowing.

"Stop meowing Lily - I'm crying! Don't meow so loud!"

Apparently she doesn't like competition. Haha..

...
That went on for a while, and eventually she stopped.

The next morning, Philip said to me:

"I got into bed with Clara last night like you do sometimes, and then she stopped crying"

My god, that kid can be sweet sometimes... :)

I smell you.

I went for a run after work the other day. I was still in my running clothes when I went to pick up Clara from daycare.

As I was clipping her into her carseat, I had to lean over her, and she said "I smell you mummy."

Er, okay...

Then she added "It's not good."

Haha.. she was right!

One? Two? Eleven?

Philip and another 4 yr old buddy of his wanted to play the game "Sorry!"

They pulled out all the pieces, and the other boy's mom was trying to explain the rules to them. One of them picked up a card, with the number 11 on it.

Philip said "It's two!"
His buddy said "No, it's one!"

Actually kids, it's eleven. But you're both kind of right. :)

Philip's observation

We went away for the weekend, and there was a chocolate factory nearby. We decided to visit it.

We go in, find ourselves in a chocolate shop, and over in one corner we find a room with some glass display cases with stuff like cocoa beans, chocolate molds, chocolate-themed art, and some other stuff.

After about 30 seconds of looking at it, we go pick out some chocolate to buy.

Philip then announces:

"Mummy, this isn't a chocolate factory. There are no machines. It's just a store."

I have to say, he's right.
I should teach him the expression 'tourist trap.'

Clara's recent mispronunciations.

I feel the need to write down some of Clara's best mispronunciations, before I forget them.

wonderwear = underwear
toily = toilet
'my' tired/hungry/sick = I'm tired/hungry/sick

And not so much a mispronunciation, but cute nonetheless.

Instead of saying "That's my favourite", Clara says "That's my best."

:)