The double whammy

I was washing the dishes when I started feeling cold.  Not the put-a-jacket-on type cold, but the I-think-I’m-coming-down-with-something kind.  A short time later, the aches came, along with the feeling that I needed to lay down and do nothing except be miserable.

When Daniel woke up from his nap, we went outside.  He and Hannah played in the sandpit while I laid on a picnic blanket soaking up some vitamin D to hopefully make me feel a bit better.  I did feel better while I was out there, but it was unfortunately short lived.

The next day was my fortnightly all day uni day.  I always have to go to uni once per week for 2 hours, but every other week I have a four hour workshop an hour after my usual class.  There was no way I’d last the whole day.

I dropped the kids off at preschool and daycare, came home, and laid on the couch, missing my lecture.  I popped some Panadol before heading out to my workshop so that I’d hopefully feel well enough to participate.  Workshops are compulsory after all.  Usually if someone is sick on the day, they can just go to a workshop on a different day, but mine is the very last one, so that’s not exactly possible.  I’m sure I could get a doctors certificate and then have to do some sort of other make up work, but we were making bread.  Every time I try to make bread, it turns out to be almost rock solid, caved in on the top, and not quite edible.  We were also doing sciencey things with the bread, but I was mostly interested in the bread making itself.

Lucky for me, the Panadol did it’s job and I was ok for the whole workshop.  My awesome lab partner (who funnily enough, worked for the same company in the same building at the same time as Aaron many years ago, but they didn’t know each other) and I followed the instructions to a tee, even taking the temperature of the water so it was exactly 35 degrees, in hopes that our bread would be awesome.

Only it wasn’t.  Out of the whole class, our bread was the very worst.  It wasn’t nearly as bad as all the loaves I’ve tried to make at home, but it wasn’t good either.  I guess I’m just not a bread maker.  Sigh.

That tiny loaf in the middle, that’s the one Sophie and I made. As you can kind of see, each one was slightly different. From left to right: Positive control (had flour, yeast, water, salt and all of the bread improvers), negative control (just flour, water, yeast, and salt) Vitamin C (F, W, Y, S, and vitamin C), Enzyme (F, W, Y, S and an enzyme that helps feed the yeast), and Fat (F, W, Y, S, and lard).  Even the negative control loaf was bigger than ours 😦

The Panadol started wearing off on the drive home and as soon as I walked in the door, the couch was calling me.

Yesterday I felt even worse.  I laid on the couch all morning while the kids watched Hiro of the Rails and played trains in the living room, getting increasingly bored with each passing minute.  As soon as 9 o’clock rolled around, we went outside so they could play in the sandpit, on the swings, and on their little tricycles.

“Uh-oh, you’ve got the crazy eye too.” Aaron said when he came home from work. “My  right eye is all red and gross.”

I hadn’t noticed my wonky eye.  I mean I guess I felt that it was uncomfortable, but amongst the chills, aches, fever, and gigantic swollen and sore tonsils, the eye wasn’t on my radar.

“Oh my gosh!” I said when I looked in the mirror and saw one bright red eye with pus coming out of the corner and bottom.

I opened my mouth as wide as I could and had a look at my tonsils.  The right one was still gigantic, and the left almost normal.  Both had pus all over them.

“I think I’d better go to the doctor.” I said to Aaron.

45 minutes later, I was back home with eye drops for the conjunctivitis (pink eye), and a 50 tablet pack of antibiotics for my very bad case of tonsilitis.

At least I’m on the mend now.  My fever is gone, and I think I’m feeling a lot better.  It’s hard to tell since I’m currently laying in my bed, and laying down always made it a bit better, but I’m not freezing or achey.  Just tired, which is understandable since I tossed and turned all last night and the night before.

Ugh, I hate being sick.  How Aaron and I got pink eye and the kids didn’t, I have no idea.

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Tips for going back to university

Those of you who are regular readers know that I started a university course (Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security.  I can imagine the intrigued/bewildered look on your face.  It’s the same look I get every single time I tell someone what I’m studying) part time this year.  I didn’t crash and burn in the first semester, and am part way through the second semester.

Going from stay at home mom to part time uni student wasn’t a leisurely stroll through the park though, so here are my tips for going back to uni, or as in my case, going to uni for the first time, as a mature aged student.

1. If you’re planning to do a course part time, make sure the course you want to do allows for part time study.  Even if the course handbook doesn’t specify, email the advisor to find out.  My course wasn’t listed as both part time and full time, but I made the effort to ask and was pleasantly surprised.

2. If studying externally is conducive to your learning style, see if you can do some, or all classes this way.  I did one class externally the first semester and one internally, as I am this semester, and it really helped with time management.  Not having to travel to the campus more than once per week meant I had more time for actual learning and studying.  Instead of sitting in a lecture for two hours, I watched the lecture on my iPad at home whilst doing the dishes.  I watched  (mostly listened) the weeks lecture every time I did the dishes, which helped all the info sink in and made the mundane task of doing dishes more bearable. As a mom, multi tasking like this is critical or there just isn’t enough time in the week to do all of the uni work, house work, and spending time with the kids and husband.  Some campuses have many online university courses available.

3. Figure out your learning style so you can study more efficiently.  Several websites have tests like this to help you, and most give suggestions on how to study based on your style.

4. Find out if you need a parking permit to park on campus.  At my uni, a parking ticket costs the same amount as an entire semesters parking pass.  And security checks the parking lot all the time.  A parking fine is not what you need in your first couple days of uni.

5. Find out which groups your university has and join any that you are interested in.  It’s a great way to meet peers, and get you involved in university life whilst making you feel like less of an outsider.

6. Realise that you are not an outsider.  There are so many mature aged students.  There may only be 11 people doing my particular course, but I’m fairly certain that we are all mature aged.  External classes are particularly high in mature aged students.

Me ready for a debate for my scientific literacy class

7. If you have kids, talk to Centrelink about your eligibility for childcare rebates.  As a student in NSW, you are entitled to get 50% of childcare fees back if you meet certain conditions and study hours.

8. Most campuses have on site childcare with reduced fees for students, which could obviously be quite helpful.

9. Talk to your partner or friends about what you learn to help it sink in.  I’m not sure that Aaron was very interested in hearing all about the biodiversity of life on Earth, but he humoured me anyway, and it helped me retain the info better.

10. Find out where your lecture theaters, and other classrooms are before your first session so you don’t wander around lost and end up finding it late, opening the door, and having everyone look at you as you enter when the teacher is in the middle of speaking. Plus you’ll feel less nervous if you know where you’re going.

*This post was brought to you by Swinburne University

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The obnoxious air conditioner

Beep.  Beep beep. Beep.  I sleepily opened my eyes, annoyed that I’d been dragged out of my deep sleep.  Beep. Beep.

ARGH!!! Seriously, right now?  It’s the middle of the night!

I braved the cold and crawled out of bed, bumping into things as I slowly made my way to the living room through the darkness.  I rifled around to find the remote that controls air conditioner.  I didn’t need any light to know which button was the power button.  Annoyed, I pressed the off button with my thumb.

Beep.  The AC turned off and the hard, cold stream of air stopped as suddenly as it started.

I walked back to my room, shivering in the middle-of-the-night winter air.

Beep. The stupid air conditioner turned itself on again, which is kind of ironic since the remote control for the unit claims to be an “intelligent remote control.”  I’m not sure what sort of intelligence thinks it’s a good idea to blast freezing cold air in the middle of the night in the winter, but that’s not really what I’d call intelligent.

The stupid thing isn’t even set to cold, it’s set to 24 degrees, with a little sun icon illuminating the fact that it’s set to warm.  When it turns itself on though, it decides the snowflake setting and 17 degrees is far more appropriate.

It turns on at the most random times.  At night, in the morning, in the afternoon.  No time is out of the question.  Sometimes it even fights with itself, turning on, then off, then on, then off again in quick succession, beeping with every on and off.  Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Until it finally settles on being on.

When I hear that obnoxious tell-tale beeping noise, I immediately run for the living room to push the off button before the house is filled with freezing air.

And then it turns back on.

I turn it off again.

It turns back on.

We fight for a bit, until I’ve thwarted it’s attempts at being on about 5 times and it finally gets the hint.

For now.  It will turn itself back on soon and I will have to win the fight again.

Aaron found it’s manual online to see what in the world the obnoxious air conditioner is doing. It’s not exactly easy to tell such things from the remote alone since it’s “intelligent.”  And by intelligent, I mean each button has a different picture on it that you need a manual to know what does.

The “intelligent” remote. Sorry about the blurry photo, at 5am on my iphone, I couldn’t tell.

I would just turn it off at the power point or unplug it, but….(excuse the horrible photos, it’s not even 6am yet, so it’s pretty dim, and they were taken on my iphone).

I don’t know where it is.  The unit is attached to the wall and all cords and power seem to be inside the wall. What sort of genius thought that up?  Sure it looks sleek, but what if there is a problem?  What If I want to unplug the ghastly thing?

When we turn it on to warm up the house (on the sun setting, of course), it runs for a little bit.

But then it beeps and turns off, only to beep again straight away and turn back on to COLD!!!

My daydreams lately always involve taking a baseball bat to it whilst yelling about how obnoxious it is.  Sometimes I do actually yell at it when I’m fighting to turn it off.

It’s clearly time to call a repair man.

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My name’s Henry

It seems like the kids are always fighting.  When one of them has a toy, the other wants it.  If one is drinking from a water bottle, the other wants to drink from that bottle.  A different one is just not the same.

Sometimes though, the nature of their fights makes me want to roll around on the floor in fits of laughter.  I don’t, of course, since I don’t want to scar them for life.

Although the subject of the fights differ, they always start, proceed, and end the same way.  Daniel tells Hannah something completely untrue just to annoy her, or maybe he thinks it’s hilarious, I’m not sure.  Hannah gets all defensive and tells him no, whatever he said is wrong.  He says it again, she gets increasingly mad, he says it again, she gets madder, and so on and so on, until I can’t contain my laughter any longer and they both come to me to back up their cases.

Daniel’s favourite way to torment Hannah with un-truths is to tell her that his name is Gordon or Henry (from Thomas the Tank Engine).

For your entertainment, here is a video of one of these hilarious fights.

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The silly mommy

It’s been ages since I’ve had to worry about teething.  I can’t even remember when Daniel cut his last tooth.  I should be able to look it up in his baby book, but I have yet to fill it out.  I know, that’s terrible, but with the second child, there’s just never time for fluffy things like baby books.  Not even his name or birth date graces the inside, it’s just an empty book.  He’s had all of his baby teeth, minus the two year old molars, for over a year.  I can’t even remember his particular reactions to teething.

Until now.  It’s two year old molar time.  Right now it’s 5:17am and he just started crying again (and now he’s sitting on the couch watching Thomas). When I was up last night with him, I had to administer a dose of Nurofen to take the pain away and allow him to sleep.  When I went in his room, he was standing in his cot screaming.

“What’s wrong buddy?” I asked him.

“I want to watch Hiro and naughty Spencer on the TV, Mommy,” he to told me with a pained look on his face.  That’s what he calls the Thomas movie, ‘Hiro of the Rails.’

“No, it’s the middle of the night Buddy, it’s time for sleep.  Lay down.”

He did, but soon started crying again, and gnawing on his finger.  I gave him some Nurofen and he went to sleep a little while later.

He woke up the night before last as well.

“MOMMY THE BOOGER IN MY NOSE, GET IT!” He kept yelling out whilst crying. But there was no booger.

As soon as I woke up from my heavy slumber, I had to pee.  Daniel was still yelling out about his non-existent booger as I groggily climbed out of bed and put my fluffy pink bathrobe on.  It’s winter over here, and darn cold in the middle of the night.  I didn’t bother with my glasses, it was dark anyway.

Walking with my right hand in front of me to feel for any deviations from my planned path to the bathroom, I set off.

As I pushed the bathroom door open with my pointer finger, I stepped forward into the bathroom.

BANG!

The bathroom door was shut.  I jammed my finger and walked nose first straight into the door.  Why I thought it was not actually clicked shut, I have no idea.  It was 3am, I was half asleep, it was dark, and I wasn’t wearing glasses or contacts.

I don’t know exactly what happened to my finger when it jammed, but it’s still really sore and if I use it, it hurts.

Oh well, at least I didn’t break my nose.  That would have been pretty bad considering I’m a bridesmaid in another country in less than a month.

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A dose of cute

Daniel speaks really well.  He knows so many words it’s not funny.  The longest sentence he’s ever spoken was 11 words.  He also loves to sing, but his vast vocabulary does not seem to translate into songs.  They’re pretty much mumbled garbledy-goop to the vague tune of the song he’s trying to sing.  It is adorably cute though, and no song is complete without a face full of porridge….

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Copyright 2013 Sheri Thomson

Go west – sightseeing in the Western Algarve

For many people, holidays in Portugal mean heading to the main Algarve tourist hubs of Albufeira or Vilamoura. Guest author Katie, a food and travel blogger from the UK, believes that while resorts have their considerable charms, getting off the beaten track is one of the pleasures of travel. She has put together a few highlights from her trip to Portugal earlier this year where she did exactly that.

To borrow the words of the Pet Shop Boys, I decide to take some time to Go West and experience some of the lesser known parts of the Algarve. Loading up the hire car, I head off as far west as you can go without falling into the Atlantic.

Laid back vibes

Sagres has the same sort of end-of-the-world feel that you get when looking out from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. So, I had been expecting a landscape that was wind whipped, dramatic and barren.

And, while there’s certainly no shortage of windy weather and spectacular scenery, Europe’s most southwesterly point also has something of a bohemian, laid-back vibe thanks to the surfers who flock here to ride some of the best waves in the world. Surf and gift shops line the road leading into Sagres and I stop to pick up some skull-and-crossbones pirate t-shirts for my nieces and nephews before continuing to Sagres’ imposing fortress.

Simply dripping in maritime history, Sagres is the place Prince Henry the Navigator built his famous school of navigation. And, his legacy still lives on with the Fortaleza de Sagres. Originally constructed in the 15^th century, it was rebuilt in 1793 after being destroyed by Sir Francis Drake.

As soon as you enter, you come across something of a mystery – a giant stone circle which some believe is an ancient compass rose, but which others think could be a form of sundial.

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/94002323@N05/8555886068/

Further in and ancient canons provide photo opportunities as children climb astride these once defensive weapons. But, the real attraction is the view. Visiting slightly out of season means Mother Nature is at her most ferocious, hurling huge white breakers against the cliffs.

But, despite the wind, the early spring sunshine is beating down. So, I take advantage of the warmth to eat lunch outdoors, finding a seat on the busy terrace at the D’Italia, which overlooks Sagres’ pretty square, the Praça da República. I opt for fettucine frutti di mare from an extensive menu that includes stone-baked pizza, pasta and salad, along with a piccolo menu for the little ones.

It’s the ideal spot to take in Sagres’ low-key feel and, afterwards, I take a short stroll to the Praia da Mareta, the closest beach to town and the most sheltered from the westerly winds, to watch the brave souls who have braved the Atlantic in March, before heading east to Lagos.

Chattering monkeys and charter yachts

It takes me around half an hour to drive the easy route along the coast from Sagres to Lagos, which, sitting along the banks of the Rio Bensafrim, is probably the western Algarve’s biggest tourist draw. The car parks are busy even in low season. But, I find a spot beside the harbour and cross the marina bridge to a promenade lined with stalls offering family fishing and dolphin-spotting boat trips.

I stop for an espresso at the Oasis snack bar, indulging in a bit of fantasy about which luxury yacht I would choose in the event of a lottery win – a catamaran, I decide, with a crew and plenty of sunbathing space.

Slightly more affordable, however, is my next port of call. A short drive inland to Barão de S.João and I arrive at Lagos Zoo. Open all year round, it’s not one of those big commercial zoos you struggle to get around in one day, but more of a cross between farm (with goats and ducks you can feed) and zoo. It costs around 14 euros to get in, but under fours go free and there’s plenty of shade for hot days.  I arrive at primate feeding time and watch as one of the keepers dons waders before setting off across the moats which separate the enclosures to give the lemurs and monkeys fruit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/glenbowman/1736465728/

Castles and carafes

From here, it’s around another half-an-hour’s journey – an easy trip on the A22 (although be warned, the Portuguese authorities have recently introduced tolls) – to Silves, which boasts the best preserved castle in the Algarve.

There’s a light drizzle that’s unlike any rain I’ve experienced in Portugal – I’m more used to heavy downpours that are over almost as soon as they begin. But, it doesn’t mar the trip. The entry fee is cheap – I pay around 2.50 euros for my ticket into the castle. And, you can walk around the thick walls, marvelling at the views over the village and surrounding countryside. There aren’t any safety railings though, so parents visiting with young children are keeping a tight grip on their little ones’ hands.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pat-neary/4733464987/

With red-stone walls, an abundance of citrus trees and winding backstreets, the rest of Silves is pretty sleepy. But, it’s perfect to get away from the crowds if the coastal resorts are busy and I happily stay for an evening meal at O Alambique. It was recommended to me by the girl on the ticket desk at Silves Castle and, I have to say, she was right. As dusk falls, there’s a roaring fire to keep diners cosy and I can imagine eating on the terrace will be a delight during summertime. Unusually for Portugal, there’s a good vegetarian selection so, despite being a committed carnivore, I opt for the pumpkin ravioli, washed down with a carafe of red from the neighbouring Alentejo region.

Even more food

I know I said exploring off the beaten track was one of the best things about travel, whether you’ve arranged everything yourself or you’ve booked a trip to Portugal with Jet2holidays, or another tour operator. But, one of the others is definitely sampling some of the local cuisine. So, the next day, I double back on myself a little, heading back to the coast and one of the Algarve’s most spectacular beach resorts.

Still a working fishing village, I find I take most of my holiday snaps here. Whitewashed cottages tumble down to the harbour, cobbled streets are packed with family-friendly shops and restaurants, and Alvor’s main beach is nothing short of breathtaking – mile-upon-mile of pristine white sand, backed by dunes that wouldn’t look amiss on the Northumberland coastline. At one end, the beach is wide and windswept but I walk towards Vau, where there are caves and coves explored by children playing at pirates.

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/suzyesue/4056371741/

Even this vast beach, however, does get busy in high season. But, you can find your own private spot by walking across the wooden promenades which have just been built over the dunes, to the estuary side, which tends to be visited by locals rather than tourists. Here, the water shelves gently, so it’s safer for children. And, if  the wind does pick up, you can watch kitesurfers being whipped across the waves.

The beauty about Alvor, I find, is everything is within 10 minutes walking distance. So, I head back into town for a shopping trip, passing by the blink-and-you’ll miss it entrance to the kids play park, which is in the old castle walls, before visiting the municipal market for some fresh fruit.

There are plenty of restaurants in the village, including two of my favourites – the tiny Piccolo Mondo which serves the best garlic bread I’ve ever had, and the non-flashy O Arco Da Velha, which has delicious prawn curry on the menu.

But, I decide to round off my road trip back at the beach. At the 5 Quinas, or 5 Crowns, the waiter brings me the fish-of-the-day to look at before it’s expertly grilled and brought back to my table to be filleted. Bay-leaf infused olive oil is then drizzled on my seabass, which I accompany with a crisp glass of Planalto.

It’s the perfect spot for families as it’s right on the dunes. So, while I’ve pushed the boat out with my last meal, there’s also a snack menu for little ones and, parents are able to dine in peace while they watch their children playing on the beach. There can be no better way to end a holiday than sitting here, watching the sun go down over the headland.

*This post was sponsored by Jet2Holidays

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How to keep your kids amused on a cruise holiday

I’ve been on a total of two cruises in my life-one with my mom from Florida to the Bahamas, and one with Aaron, my parents, and my brother on a very small ship with only a few cabins, on the Great Barrier Reef.  Both were pre-kids, and both were fantastic.

Me snorkelling off our little cruise ship on the Great Barrier Reef

I’d love to go on another cruise, but obviously things would be a little bit different now that we have two little balls of never ending energy.  I clearly know nothing about cruising with kids, but Emma Jane does, so sit back and enjoy her knowledge:

The idea of a cruise holiday conjures up all manners of wonderful ways to relax. Whether your idea of relaxation involves some quality time at the gym, a massage, live entertainment, or simply reading in the sun; a cruise offers so many great ways to unwind. But you can’t truly unwind until you know the kids are safe and having as much fun as you are!

Cruises make travelling with the family a breeze. There’s entertainment and facilities for all ages, which are professionally supervised, so you have the option of playing as a family or leaving the kids while you unwind.

The Westerdam in Sitka. Photo courtesy of My Cruise Stories (aka I stole it from my Mom’s blog)

 

On-Board Facilities

Cruise ships are renowned for their terrific swimming pools, whirlpools, and on some ships, even waterslides! Some ships offer rock-climbing walls, basketball courts, skating, adventure playgrounds and mini-golf! All these activities are a great way to spend time as a family and burn off some excess energy- guaranteed to get the kids to sleep at night. Research your cruise liner beforehand to find out exactly what facilities are available.

Some ships even have special cafes for kids (photo courtesy of my Mom’s blog My Cruise Stories)

 

Cartoon Character Visits

Many cruises offer themed appearances of cartoon characters, who host parties, live entertainment, and even fireworks displays. These are great for the younger kids (and those young at heart). Check out the family cruise options at cruiseabout.com.au to see the speciality range of themed cruise lines, including a great range of popular cartoon characters from Disney, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and more. These friendly faces will make lots of fun appearances during your holiday!

Children’s Centres

Family cruise ships offer a range of supervised care options. Children’s centres are suitable for ages from three to 17. These activities are a great way for kids to make some friends on your holiday. For the littlies, there are arts, crafts and lots of stories to stimulate young imaginations. For the tweens, they get a bit more space and the opportunity to make friends, hold their own parties, and make their own games. For teens, they can hang out and listen to the latest music, learn to dance, play sports, or for the more sedate, watch movies and chill out.

Day Trips

Last but definitely not least; the kids will love the day trips as much as you will. Open their minds with new sights and sounds as they learn about new places, cultures and ways of life. The options are as endless as the number of cruise routes, so take a look at the itinerary with the entire family in mind, and use the opportunity to give the kids a head start on their geography lessons!

Cruises are a great way to get some quality time with the kids, but also allow mum and dad to have some time together. The kids have the chance to make new friends and expand their horizons. With a wide range of options both on and off the ship to keep the kids amused, you’ll have no trouble finding time for that massage or finishing that book!

*This post was sponsored by Cruiseabout

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Copyright 2013 Sheri Thomson

The bridesmaid dress

“I’m definitely going to need to get this altered,” I said to the shop assistant as I tried on my bridesmaid dress for my cousin Jennifer’s wedding.  I’ve been waiting weeks for it and had to pay extra to get it from the U.S. in time for the wedding in September.

“You’re slightly too big for a size 1, and too small for a size 3, but we always order dresses too big rather than too small because it’s easy to take the in, but they can’t be let out.” They told me. “Just make sure that you wear a the strapless bra you plan to wear on the day when you take the dress to get altered.”

“I am.”

Awkward silence. “Oh.”

I think I probably could have fit in the size 1, but they didn’t have any in the shop when I ordered my dress, so we didn’t know for sure.

As it was, I pretty much looked like I was wearing a burlap sack, only not burlap coloured.  I was swimming in it.  Kind of like when I tried my dress for Lauren’s (my exchange student and host sister) wedding.  It too was ordered from the U.S., again in a size 3.  The rest of the bridal party tried their dresses on and looked fantastic, where as I looked absolutely ridiculous in mine.

A couple weeks and minus a couple yards of fabric later, it looked great.

My bridesmaid dress for Lauren’s wedding (after alterations…)

I took my new dress, which I can’t describe to you or show you a picture of because what fun is a wedding if everyone already knows what the bridal party is wearing?, to an alterations shop and put it on.

“That is big on you,” she lady told me when I emerged from the changing room holding up the strapless dress so my lack of boobs didn’t hang out.  Not that they could hang out, since they are virtually non-existent, but you know what I mean.

She pinned both sides and folded about a mile of the bottom up, courtesy of my short legs, before pinning that as well.

“Can you put the straps on too?” I asked her, pointing to the optional spaghetti straps that came with the dress, folded up in plastic bag attached to the tags.

“After it’s taken in, you won’t need the straps to hold the dress up.”

“I know, I just look ridiculous in strapless dresses.”

Ignoring all of the pinned up material that was hanging out everywhere, I looked in the mirror.  Phew, it was much better.

“Now I just need some boobs to fill it out.” I said jokingly.

“You can wear a strapless bra,” the lady told me.

“I am.”

“Oh,” she said, as her cheeks turned an embarrassed shade of red.

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Daniel’s birthday

For the last few months, Daniel has been obsessed with Thomas.  Not just Thomas, but all of the characters from Thomas the Tank Engine.  We have a cheap wooden train set from Kmart that came with a generic black train which he has dubbed Hiro after one of favourite characters on Thomas.  Then he decided to name all of the other generic trains after Thomas characters too.

We gave him a Percy train a few weeks ago, which he carries around with him pretty much everywhere he goes.  He asked for a Percy birthday cake, and he has a Thomas and Percy shirt that he refuses to wear because he’d rather carry it around and hug it.  I tried putting it on him a couple times which resulted in much screaming and attempts to rip the shirt right off.

Daniel amazed at his Percy cake. Percy’s face broke when I put it on and I didn’t want to make another one.

Needless to say, getting him all things Thomas for his birthday was a pretty good bet.  Even Grandma and YaYa got him Thomas stuff.  Good idea, right?

In theory.  His little face lit up as he opened his first present, his very own Spencer.  But then he opened his battery powered Thomas that chuffs around the tracks all by itself and that’s when things started to go pear shaped.  Not for Daniel, he was in Thomas heaven, but for us.  Battery powered Thomas was amazing.  Hannah wanted to play with him, Daniel wanted to play with him, and Daniel didn’t want to open any more presents.

Impressed with his Thomas birthday hat

Daniel screamed when I wouldn’t let him touch his Thomas with porridge laden hands at the breakfast table.  He refused to eat any more of his breakfast, instead preferring to have his hands washed so he could continue playing with his beloved Thomas.

Watching Thomas chuff around the tracks. I finally got him to wear his Thomas shirt without screaming!

He screamed when we wouldn’t let him take Thomas to bed.  We usually let him take trains to bed, and does every night, but He likes to have Thomas turned on, and we don’t really wish to replace Thomas’ batteries each morning.  He also takes a sippy cup of water to bed, which obviously doesn’t mix well with battery operated toys.

He cried when I wouldn’t let him take Thomas in the bath.  He made other kids cry at playgroup when he got to play with Thomas and they didn’t. Thomas is carried around every where we go.  He sits next to Daniel when he eats, he comes to the gym, the playgroup, to school inspections (we’re looking at schools for Hannah), and last night, he even came to a bonfire.  He got lost in the grass a couple of times, but he’s still here,  being carried around by Daniel right now.

I’m just hoping he’ll chill out about Thomas soon, maybe leave Thomas at home when we go somewhere, or at least let Hannah have a turn without screaming like he’s about to die.

If you enjoyed reading this, please vote for my blog. All you have to do is click the link below. That’s it… Clicking the link brings you to the Top Mommy Blogs home page. You don’t have to do anything else. Any clicks from my site to theirs is a vote.  THANKS!

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