Strawberries Sweeter for Red Nose Day

Maia came home yesterday and said that she wanted to wear her strawberry suit to school today.

"Uh huh?" I said...

"It is RED NOSE DAY and we have to Not Wear School Uniform" Maia said, in a tone that held a lot of authority for such a Small Person.

I will admit being a bit wary as nothing had come from the school to say "School Uniform not required on Friday. Feel free to turn up as your favourite fruit."

Anyway, time came to get dressed this morning and I figured the safest way forward was to combine the costume with the red elements of her uniform. Therefore, if no-one else was dressed up, she could whip off the strawberry and fit right in (ish), if she fancied it.

After a red themed breakfast (mini babybels, mango and raspberry smoothie and porridge) off we went, Miss Maia in her Carfield regulation issue Red Jumper, red patterned leggings and the strawberry suit over the top. We skipped all the way to school, signing Cauliflowers Fluffy (with particular emphasis on the "Strawberries Sweeter" line).

When we got there we saw lots of dressing up. Kids, parents, teachers. Maia turned to me with an expression that read "See!"

There was a kid there with a sombrero big enough to protect several of his classmates from any passing meteor showers, a few princesses and a Spiderman or two.

Cue much exclamation/spluttering when Maia arrived. Joshua came up and said "You are a STRAWBERRY!" to which Maia replied "I KNOW!" then they ran off to go Do Stuff. Happy Red Nose Day, kiddo.

Shine On, Springtime

"It's SPRINGTIME!" Maia bellowed at me last week when she spotted a bunch of daffs growing in someone's garden.

We were on the way back from a play in the park. Maia was stopped every 3 feet or so to look into people's gardens and pass comment on their choice of garden gnomes ("Look Mummy, that one looks like George!"). We stopped to play with ginger cats that crossed our path. She hit Excitement Level 7 when we passed her school and saw her teacher, Miss Keyworth, coming out.

"Miss Keyworth!" Maia said, sunshine shining in her eyes "It's SPRINGTIME!"

The sunshine is making fairly regular appearances at the moment, and her bounce levels seem to rise the more she gets.

I am glad we went for Sunshine as her (second) middle name - it certainly seems to make her happy.

Princess Paleo

Papi bought Maia a great toy when he came visiting. A block of plaster.

But this is a special block of plaster - it has DINOSAUR BONES inside.

Not only that, but these are special dinosaur bones - they are TYRANNOSAURUS REX bones!

Not only THAT, but these are GLOW IN THE DARK TYRANNASUARUS REX BONES!!!

When it comes to dealing with Things To Do with Dinosaurs, Maia tends to place lots of emphasis everywhere. And drops in a ROAAAAARRRRR!!!! or two.

Anyway, Maia has been scraping away at the plaster block for ages now, and is still excited about the prospect and process of uncovering her fossils. Once we do, we have top fit them all together to make a dinosaur bone model.

That kid has an attention span longer than mine - without a doubt. She is also pretty into the idea of a Paleontologist Princess.

Better than the old idea of Princess-Do-Nothing-But-Wait-Around-For-Her-Prince.

Blowing Her Own Trumpet

Now, on the list of A Few Ideas for a Peaceful Life, I think this one is probably pretty far down...given that it involves a four year old with a love of performing and a trumpet.

But man, she can actually get a pretty good sound out of it. And we get a great picture.