Thank God for Strawberries

A friend of mine suggested that we entertain our children for an hour or so by picking strawberries at the Beerenberg Strawberry Farm in Hahndorf. My first reaction was, "Oh yeah, that sounds like a good idea", however then I pictured the scenario... Trying to get Mr E to pick strawberries without eating them... hmmm... suddenly the idea turned into a nightmare and I decided that this would not be a positive expereince for anyone involved. Upon declining the offer, my friend enlightened me to that fact that there was a small entrance fee, allowing you to consume as many strawberries as you liked but any that you wish to leave with, you must pay for by the kg. Ah-ha! BRILLIANT!

Mr E and his friend, Miss H took excellent advantage of this great offer, consuming their mothers' $3 worth (not to mention their mothers also taking advantage of that same $3 - that's right, children are free entry!!!) and a wonderful morning was had by all!

There really is just one thing left to say...

Thank God for strawberries!

The Dictionary of Mr E (mark 3)

err moffs: ear muffs
Compulsary attire when playing the drums with Daddy or riding on the lawn mower - some of Mr E's favourite things to do.
(Also the name he gives to a newborn friend, Amos.)

kaw-fif: fork-lift
another of Mr E's passions.

Encounter with the Pobblebonk

The saga of the outside steps continues. It has been severly delayed since it was this same job that caused me to lose my fingernail (see "Taimi vs the axe" blog). So we got back to it, finally, though today's interruption was due to an encounter with a Pobblebonk. What's a Pobblebonk?This is a Pobblebonk, aka Bullfrog or Eastern Banjo Frog... NOT a cane toad as I must confess cross my mind at first. It was about 6cm long, had warty skin and was all around pretty gross looking so you must understand my early conclusion.


Anyway, we made friends, then let it go a little closer to the creek where I think it meant to be!

The Dictionary of Mr E (mark 2)

big sweep: big sleep
regardless of whether he actually sleeps, upon rising from his bed, he always declares "I had a big sweep!"

he hoo ha (said stacatto): there you are
One of Mr E's first attempts at stringing words together. It was said in reference to finding something, but also when he was extremely excited to receive a "special treat"

yawn mowyer: lawn mower
Mr E is currently totally obsessed with lawn mowers. We see and hear them everywhere! But he is particularly interested in ride-ons

He speaks (The Dictionary of Mr E)

There was a time when I was a little concerned that Mr E couldn't / wouldn't speak. I can categorically say that I am no longer concerned... perhaps I've moved into utter frustration as the stage of asking inane questions and simply stating the obvious is well and truly upon us. To relieve my tension, I feel I need share some of the utterances from my 2 and a half year old's mouth that actually make me laugh. Most parents intend to (and some quite successfully) keep a diary of these marvels, this is my best effort... stay tuned!

cwubbers: covers (sheet, quilt, blanket)
Mr E fancies anything that covers his knees. His morning ritual involves getting up on our bed and joining us under the "cwubbers". Unfortunately, he has graduated to the correct pronunciation, however we still giggle at the memory!

sexercises: exercises
I'm not actually sure that Mr E has made the connection as to what exercises actually are, however when I am wearing shorts and sneakers, I am doing my "sexercises"

cwick: cricket
Mr E can actually say cricket, but he likes to shorten words, so for a while he was getting under our "cwubs". I'm not sure how he intends to shorten "sexercises"

cup of cawfy: cup of coffee
a morning treat

juicy: juice
the rare occurance that he actually lengthens a word

tiga: Guitar
if he is playing the drums, then I get to play the "tiga". If he is playing the "tiga" I have to play the drums

nice and smoovy: banana smoothy
well they are, aren't they?

Taimi vs Axe

NB... not for the faint hearted... slightly gross...

I am currently typing with one hand... thankfully my right... why?
WELL...
Yesterday, Andy and I were busily attempting to build some steps in our garden. I was digging the steps out, Andy was building the retainers. I came across a root in the ground that needed to be removed so out came the log splitter. What happened next is a slight mystery to me and, of course happened rather quickly. What was going to be my last attempt before getting my stronger counterpart to have a go ended up being a bit of a disaster. Somehow, my finger got crushed between the axe and a stupidly positioned spade and before long, we were on our way to the hospital with two blearey eyed children, one panicky husband and one mortally wounded me who was cradling a bloody, very painful finger...

If there is one way to bypass the queue in an emergency room, take a teatowel covered in blood - works a treat! I was still out-done by the man delivered through the ambulance door with chest pain - what's with that?... life threatening vs broken fingernail!!!

Finally, the doctor with quite possibly the worst bedside manner attended to me. He mumbled something about removing the nail, stitching the nail bed and x-raying for fracture and administered some panadeine forte and a "ring block" which should deaden your finger completely... huh! He returned a hour later when the (not so effective) block was beginning to wear off and attempted to remove the nail. After some severe kicking and screaming (from the patient), he decided to put some local right into the wound (I am wincing even as I writer this)... which also didn't work but he proceeded to remove the nail anyway. At this point he shared with the nurse in my presence that I had no pain tolerance... he is lucky that I was too incapacitated to test his pain tolerance!

He thought it best to administer another "ring block" before he stitched me up, which, you guessed it, didn't deaden the pain.

Having had a couple of tattoos and piercings, half a day of induced labour and 2 cesareans, I have never experienced such pain.

I may need therapy...

Zazzed again

There have been plenty more Zazz purchases since my last blog about them but one stands out in my memory and the story so closely resembles that blog (http://taebuch.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-subscribe-to-zazz.html)!

In September, we purchased this AWESOME present for Mr E for Christmas for an ABSOLUTE bargain. It arrived while I was out. Andy rang me, barely able to get the words out, and begged me to come home so "Mr E" could open it... For those of you who aren't great with dates, there's a good couple of months before the great day arrives.

Needless to say, I was forced to be the responsible grown up in this situation and, even though Mr E has seen the prize we are now hoping that his memory won't hold out and December the 25th will be full of surprises for him.

As for you though... check it out!