Watching the news this evening, Evelyn suddenly announced, quite out-of-the-blue, without a single word of encouragement from Jilly,
"I am not liking this David Cameron at all. He's shutting everything, and closing everything. Where has that Gordon gone? I liked him; he was very fair!"
What's all that about? I'll tell you. Our progeny's precociously perceptive political punditry, that's what!
Aaaaarrrgghhh! Once the alliteration had begun, I simply couldn't stop myself!
It's Evelyn's first day back at school, today, after the summer break. As I put her to bed, last night, Evie told me how she was looking forward to returning to school, and she was obviously very excited that she was going back to YEAR TWO. Unfortunately, things don't seem quite so rosy this morning!
As Evie ate her breakfast she began sobbing, telling Jilly and I that she didn't want to go to school because everything was going to be different. Obviously, we tried to assure Evie that school would be very much as she'd left it six weeks ago, but she continued crying.
"No it won't be the same", she told Jilly and I, "there are no toys in Year Two!"
There was nothing we could say to that!
After she'd dropped Evelyn off at school, and arrived at work, Jilly sent me the following e-mail.
"Evie was a little subdued as we set off for school but soon perked up when we got there and she saw all her friends. Big hugs as I left her at classroom door and she whispered in my ear that she loved me and would miss me today."
| Incidentally, soon after getting up this morning, Jilly and I measured Evelyn's height to discover that she is now 121cm tall (or 3 feet 11½ inches tall, meaning that she is in the 73rd percentile for her height.) |
After collecting Evelyn from Nanna and Poppee this morning, Jilly, Evelyn and I drove to Kempy's to help her choose tiles for her new bathroom.
As we drove there, Jilly and I talked about the possibility of my taking Evelyn to the park while Jilly and Kempy discussed the bathroom. As I spelled 'P...A...R...K...' during the conversation, little ears were obviously wagging in the back of the car!
"Did you just say 'PUH...AH...RUH...KUH...'?", Evelyn asked me, "That spells PARK doesn't it, Daddy?"
"CURSE YOU, EXCELLENT PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION!", I exclaimed, waving my fist in mock frustration as Evelyn laughed in the back of the car! Really? What was I thinking?
Next time, I'll try 'E...X...T...E...R...N...A...L...M...U...N...I...C...I...P...A...L...
R...E...C...R...E...A...T...I...O...N...A...L...F...A...C...I...L...I...T...Y...'
Er...or perhaps not!
For her birthday, Evelyn was given a lovely set of stationery which included a number of little personalised notes...er...from Evelyn.
This morning, Jilly had had to tell Evelyn repeatedly not to bounce on our bed as she was being a little giddy. Eventually, as nature called, Jilly went to the bathroom and returned to our room to find Evelyn sat on the bed, a little calmer.
Evelyn passed Jilly one of her little notes, and this is what it read.
Evelyn took receipt of her new spectacles this morning and she looks absolutely beautiful in them. Evelyn doesn't realise how especially flattering Jilly was being when she compared her to Nicky Hambleton-Jones (I say especially flattering because Jilly is usually less than complimentary about beautiful (blonde?) women...er...though it's always tongue-in-cheek, of course!
I plan to take a photograph of Evie in her spectacles - to compare with that of Ms Hambleton-Jones - as soon as Evelyn sits still long enough!
My word...this has to stop!
I had to stop Evelyn singing an especially offensive song this evening; I can't begin to imagine where she heard the following lyrics, but when I find out, there will be hell to pay!
On the way back from the dentist this evening, Evelyn sat in the back of the car, and sang...
"I am sailing, I am sailing, 'cross the sea. I am sailing, stormy waters..."
Whatever next?
Evelyn has decided that she wants her ears pierced. I think one of her friends at school must have had them done this week.
"I would like my ears pierced!" Evelyn exclaimed, quite out-of-the-blue, as we watched TV this evening.
"You can have them pierced", Jilly replied from the kitchen, "When you're 16!"
"When I'm seven?" Evelyn began negotiating, hopefully.
"No! When I'm eight...eleven...NINE!"
Needless-to-say, Evie needs to practice her bargaining skills.
The School Nurse visited Evelyn's school today and measured all the reception children's weight, height and hearing. Evelyn's hearing was described as 'satisfactory'. The childrens' hearing was judged to be either 'satisfactory' or in need of further attention; I've never been so relieved to hear that something about Evelyn was simply 'satisfactory'!)
It's some time since Jilly and I measured Evie's height or weight, and I had been hoping to record the details around her fifth birthday but failed miserably; so I was really pleased to learn that the school and done the job for me. Brilliant!
Evelyn is now 113.5cm tall [in the 83rd percentile of 61-month-old girls], and weighs 23.8kg or 3st 10½lb [putting her in the 95th percentile].
Jilly is a little worried that Evelyn is becoming so heavy, but we both agree that she isn't fat; she just seems very...er...dense!
Jilly, Evelyn and I visited Kirkstall Abbey today, where we had a lovely picnic (between showers). We ate lunch, before having a wander around the abbey itself. After seeing the abbey, we took in the sights of the abbey museum, but Evelyn (and I) soon tired of that (I'm ashamed to say!).
During the time in the museum, Evelyn told Jilly that she needed to go to the toilet. According to Jilly, they were in the toilets as Evelyn announced (quite out-of-the-blue!),
"SH...I...T spells shit, doesn't it Mummy?"
"Yes...yes...yes it does, Evelyn. But please don't say that again, as it's a rude word!"
So there's nothing wrong with Evelyn's developing spelling either, then, eh?
Kieran bought the DVD of 'Mamma Mia!' for Jilly on Mother's Day this year and, so far, Evelyn has watched it about a dozen times (with Jilly on just two occasions!). What's all that about, then, eh?
At bedtime, after her bath, Evelyn often prefers to watch a little 'Mamma Mia!' instead of her cartoons or Hannah Montana disks. Fantastic! Of course, we still read to Evelyn and endure enjoy four five [she is five, now, afterall!] nursery rhymes as we settle Evie to sleep.
In truth, of course, I never discourage Evelyn as I enjoy watching the movie myself!
