Rituals

Toby calls them a Mummy Day, these precious days we have together.
I so want them to be lovely, carefree, happy days. Filled with fun and laughter. But invariably, on Fridays, they certainly don't start off like that. 
I put it down to his tiredness, after 3 long days at kinder, I think he is worn out. Karen, his kinder teacher keeps mentioning how happy he is there now. He has lots of friends, and apparently doesn't stop running around and playing all day long.
So by Friday, I think he really is shattered.
This morning, was one of those really bad mornings. The kind of morning when I almost wish I had gone to work.
It all started when Daddy forgot to wave goodbye from the car. Hysterical tears began. Even though Luis drove back home to wave and even ended up coming back inside the house, for Toby it was too late. If he doesn't wave the first time, it doesn't count driving back and trying to make amends, apparently.
Fed up with the tears, I had a pre-breakfast shower to escape. This is not what what we usually do. Breakfast is always eaten in pyjamas on a Friday. And this break in the routine made Toby worse.
Several other tiny things were not done correctly, and the morning became disastrous.  With Toby saying, over and over, I hate this day. Today is a bad day. It breaks my heart.

I knew we had to just get out of the house, even though I had promised a morning of crafting.
To try and get back to some of our Friday rituals, and get Toby back on track.

I find it so odd, this need of Toby's to follow rituals.

There are a few he has.

On kinder days, Toby must eat his breakfast while sitting on the blue stool in the kitchen. On a non-kinder day he must sit on the green stool. This must never be altered.

His afternoon snack can only be eaten whilst watching Peppa Pig. If we have missed it, then he won't eat it. ( But screams in protest instead)

He must pick out his own underpants, and can never wear any that I have selected for him.

If we go to South Melbourne market, we must have sushi for lunch. And a macaron afterwards. Always. I don't dare to deviate.
Which is exactly what I decided we should do today.
Get back to some favourite rituals of his, and make the day right again.

So sushi it was. Then we bought fish, lentils,  fruit and vegetables from the market, followed afterwards by a trip to Chez Dre. To sip babychinos and eat salted caramel macaroons.

We go there so often, we even have our own little table, that is not even a table at all. It is so busy there at lunch time there is often a bit of a wait for a table. But we get special treatment. We get to skip the queue and sit on a little bench at the side in the shade, just perfect for the two of us.

And afterwards when we paid, we got a little surprise from the girl at the counter. She gave us a bag of imperfect salted caramel macarons to take home.
And after our little trip out, the following of a much loved ritual, the day was alright once more.

Tobi-Wan-Kenobi

A few weeks ago now, Toby and I went to the theatre to watch Giggle and Hoot live. (An Australian children's show, that I actually quite like)
Toby loved it, he is the perfect age for that kind of thing now. (Unlike the time we went to watch the Gruffalo, where only about five minutes in he started crying and we had to leave).
This time he really enjoyed himself, joining in with it all. Shouting out 'he's behind you' and all that kind of stuff.

I think the theatre struck a chord with him, and ever since he has been trying to re-create it at home.
Last week we spent a whole morning making paper puppets, all Toby's idea. After we had finished them he was determined he wanted to make a little theatre so he had do a show for all of his toys. I tried to fob him off, (there are dishwashers to be emptied and loads of washing to put on!!) but he went and found himself an old box and persuaded me to help him cut it out and draw a backdrop on the computer to stick in the back. I soon got into the swing of it, and we had a great time together creating our cowboy theatre.
Once it was finished we went into his bedroom where he lined all his toys up in rows, shouting 'Come and get your tickets! Tickets for sale!' We turned the lights down low, and made a show together.


He has even invited our neighbours to watch his theatre show. I helped him make tickets and he sold them at the door. We all sat on his bed with the lights off, and dressed as Obi-wan Kenobi he did a light saber display for us. (With a light up wand I bought for him).
It was very impressive.

And this weekend, he asked for me to make him a plait, so he can look like a true Padawan ( a Jedi in training, I am told) They all wear a long braid, tucked behind their ear.
I managed to find some wool that matched his hair colour, made a plait and attached it to a hair clip.
He was pretty proud wearing it, and insisted on wearing it on our trip to Red Hill market. Dressed in his full Jedi costume, with his braid. I loved watching grown men spot him, a smile and a special look passes on their faces. As if remembering their own childhoods, and that special innocence that allows you to pretend and dream.

Australia Day Weekend

Toby's idea of heaven, a 3 day weekend. Three whole days of being with Mummy and Daddy.

Lots of visits to cafes, lots of ice cream, lots of playing.

And after months of promising, Toby finally got to go on his first fishing trip, using the fishing gear he got for Christmas.

About an hours drive from home, we went to a trout farm. It was pretty cool. Ponds full of different kind of trout and salmon.
Toby was super excited to catch his first fish, a golden rainbow trout.
But fishing is hard work for a four year old...too much sitting around and waiting for Toby's liking. Not enough action. He has yet to the grasp the concept that sitting around contemplating the world is highly enjoyable.
So it wasn't long before we were packing up again and off playing mini golf.

And then it was on to a late lunch at the Olinda Tea house, before heading back into the city to go to a hip hop dance workshop for kids. And then on the way back to the car, we spotted the Rebecca boat. The boat that Luis had thrown me my surprise 30th birthday party on, too many years ago now. It was heading off to the tennis centre, taking people to watch Australian Open men's final. We managed to jump on board, and cruise the Yarra for a few minutes.

And then back home, to barbeque the fish Toby had caught.
It was delicious.

Growing up

Kinder has started back again for the year.
It's Toby's last year before school, and I can't really believe it.
We'll have 2 days together each week, just the two of us, and I want to make the most of them. Because he really is growing up, and before I know it, he won't be doing some of the stuff he does now. Like kissing me a hundred times and squeezing me close, saying I just love you mummy for no reason at all.
And the way when we are out somewhere, and something arises that makes him unsure, he'll silently reach for my hand, and squeeze it tight. His body pressed close to me for safety as we walk along.
I love how desperate he is to play pretend games with me. We play all sorts of things. His bed is often turned into cars or campervans, and we go off on adventures, chased by man-eating bats.  Or I have an imaginary son (gaw-gaw) and he watches in awe as he spies Toby, who is a world champion skateboarder, or break dancer. Or he is a Jedi teacher giving children instructions on how to use a light saber.
I love the way he still likes to do everything I do. He tried his first cup of tea today ( it's really just milk with a bag dipped in for 5 seconds) adamant that it was to be in the same tea cup I was drinking from. I could see he felt so grown up and proud.
I love the way he asks me, Can babies eat this? Is it only for big boys and grown ups? Yes or no? And I'll answer, Oh yes, it's only for very grown up boys.
And as much as it makes me worry, his reason for crying everyday before kinder is kind of nice too. He'll say, Today is a bad day. I have to go to kinder and you're not there. I just want to be with you, mummy.
And the way he makes me laugh. Oh, how he makes me laugh. Whispering cute and funny things to me, knowing I'll burst out laughing at him. Saying grown up little phrases in his beautiful little boy voice. 
That's random. 
What brand is this? 
I look stunning in this.
Oh!  Delicate, delicate! (when we try to cut his nails)

My beautiful, funny, grown up little boy.

Christmas and New Year

We had a lovely Christmas. Toby was so excited, and loved all of his presents, especially his Jedi Knight costume, and the Star Wars mini figures he asked Santa for. And he couldn't believe the muddy paw prints left behind by the reindeer.

We ate too much for lunch. We had lobsters and fresh prawns,  Luis's famous cerviche, glazed ham, roast beef and salads. Lemon tart and pavlova for dessert. It was a good day.

And ever since we have been on holiday. Doing bits of shopping, going out for breakfasts, and lunches and dinners. Catching up with friends. Toby had had a few play dates. Scootering in the park with Manon, and splashing around at the Children's Garden with Lily.

New Year's Eve was quiet and low key. We made mexican food and ate it on our roof terrace, and watched the fireworks at midnight, with Toby.

And for the first day of the new year, we took a day trip to the beach at Mornington. Playing beach ball.
And it has been hot ever since. A scorching 41 degrees today. We spent the morning at the pool, where the water actually felt cold, and the afternoon at home in the air conditioning.

Only 2 more days left until it's back to work.....

Christmas is coming

We have been doing all manner of Christmassy things.

A visit to Father Christmas last weekend.
And a visit to the Christmas maze in the city, with a treasure hunt to find reindeer.
A letter to Santa written, decorated and posted on Monday (requesting 2 Star Wars figures)
Christmas decorations have been made. It is amazing how good a lump of plasticine, a plastic cup, cotton wool and some cheap cupcake toppers can look!

The tree and house have been decorated. Toby just loved doing the tree. With nearly all of the baubles hanging off the same few branches at the bottom of the tree. Later that evening I subtly re-arranged them. He realised straight away the next morning what I had done, of course.

Yes, there is much excitement in the house. Constant counting down until the big day, and planning of things that still need doing. The gingerbread house to make and decorate, and deciding which biscuits will we leave out for Father Christmas? All the important things.
 Just 12 more days to go....

The artist

In a nearby cafe the a few days ago, we stopped for a freshly squeezed juice.

Toby got straight into drawing on the outside blackboard. He was so enthusiastic, his hands were soon covered in chalk. Then he realised it was easily transferred onto his trousers. Which soon became drawing straight onto his trousers with the chalk.

And then he announced, once totally covered in the stuff,
 Mummy, I look like an artist!

Thank goodness for weekends

It has been a bit difficult and tiring since we have been back, with our routine all out of sorts, and Toby spending more long days at kinder. I am hoping we are slowly gaining some sort of rhythm again now, and that Toby will start to settle down again. The tears and tantrums everyday are heartbreaking and exhausting.I think it has all led to an obsession with weekends.
He talks about them all week long.
When is the weekend? Will Daddy be home at the weekend?  How many days is it? What are we doing?
Endless questions and worries.

We have had some good weekends over the last couple of months.

Picnics in the park. Barbeques on the rooftop. Playing in the park. Chocolate brioche at Seven seeds cafe. Bike riding along the beach. Baking cakes. Playing light sabers with Daddy.

Taco truck picnic in the park

The beach

Summer puding and vanilla ice cream lovliness

Seven Seeds

Using "The Force' on Daddy

Hiding from the "Dark Side" at the park

Strawberry and vanilla cream cake

Sunshine, food, play and happiness. All beginning to make Toby a little happier.

Truly Great

We had such a wonderful time during our trip to England.

Seeing castles, the English seaside, ice-cream, fish and chips.
Birthday parties galore.
Spending lots of time with Gragely and Grandpa.
Toby playing with his gorgeous cousins.
Travelling in a London cab.
Playing dress ups, as Spiderman, knights,and pirates.

It is a bit sad to be back.
We had such a good time.
Truly great.