Drowning in Plastic

I am ready to wave the white flag and up sticks and just move into the Lego factory. It would be easier and more cost-effective all round.

Don't get me wrong; I love the stuff - the ability to induce zen-like calm in my little men is worth untold riches. The fact that they can entertain themselves literally for HOURS with it, well, ditto.

But my floors! People - it's EVERYWHERE! It gets into places even dirt can't reach! I find it everywhere, just EVERYWHERE even in the garden!

Needless to say this Eid they are hoping for even more. And I'm quietly despairing of ever being able to see my carpet again.

My Floor

The boys had a retro moment last week, and literally the entirety of my sitting floor was one whole farm yard. And I didn't have the heart to clear it away. Not just because it is probably the closest thing to my own farm I'll ever likely own, but because no matter how cluttered it gets, wooden toys never look ugly.

The Obsession that Never Dies

Boys. Never did two boys love cars as much as these boys of mine. Obsessed does not come close. Monster trucks have been a constant and steady obsession for several years now. They want to be monster truck drivers, have their own team and compete in the Monster Jam world finals. When I broke the news that they were on the wrong continent, without batting an eye they told me they would miss me.

I'm just going with the flow; you can't fight a tidal wave...

And today I am going to be...

Today we are Crusader Flying-ace Kung-fu Knights of the Round Table with a tool belt and a disposition to listen to Famous Five tapes...

... who needs Walt Disney.

Play

Digging out some old toys for some refreshed play in these winter afternoons. It won't be long before I'm bundling these up for good to put in the attic; these used to be everyday staples - now they are a novelty for old-times sake.

The Way We Play

Sometimes, when the planets are aligned just so, I find the boys playing like this - the way I imagined they would and should play when I was new to this parenting gig. Before the brain damage had been wrought. I find them making stories up, imagining new worlds, co-operating, on the verge of singing an a capella version of Kum By Ah and generally being the Waldorfy Free Range homeschooled free spirited geniuses I thought they would be.

And then they get a clue and go back to normal.

But while it lasts, it's a wonderful wonderful couple of hours...




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Apples for Crumble...

Days are beginning to merge into one as Ramadan rolls on; we live for iftar with as much mindful living as we can.

We fill our weekend with games, reading, playing and, for 'tis the season for it, apple crumble with whipped cream!

Our apples are still reddening up on the tree, and soon, insha'allah, they too will be made into pies and crumbles. And as much as I look forward to the coming season, I do so want to hold onto this one as much as possible!

What was your weekend like?


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So this weekend....

... this weekend the mini-man got into K'Nex.


Yeaaaaaah....

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Starman - The Greatest Show on Earth

The midget is in a new role - astronaut. He still fights darleks and cybermen, but now on behalf of mission control rather than as the Doctor.





From his seat in the shuttle he has constructed an elaborate array of props - a till becomes his computer, an egg box the keyboard and missile launcher buttons, a tube is a gun, a tape recorder with mic becomes his radio communicator, and a picture is a video screen to talk to mission control. He has his doctor's bag in case anyone becomes ill and a pile of scratched CDs to reboot his mainframe in case there is a lockdown.



This play goes on for hours, sometimes the play carries on over to the next few days. Sometimes I am his passenger and sometimes we fight darleks together.

Most of the time I sit keeping him company soaking up his littleness, in awe of an imagination I never had as a child, amazed by his inventiveness and in total love for this little soul who I'm allowed to scrunch into huge big cuddles and kisses all over for as long as I want and be hugged right back. Masha'allah.



I wouldn't miss this show for anything.

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