"Sgusty"

This is Vera's favourite word these days, short for disgusting. She sometimes, although thankfully very rarely, uses it about food she doesn't want to eat. She must have learnt it at nursery as I would never use that term relating to food. Vera is a very good eater, but sometimes require a bit of coaxing. We are trying to make eating as drama-less as possible, as I dont want her to get an issue with food. We're trying to serve healthy and varied food and focus on the fact that she'll eat when she's hungry. During the December she was a very good eater, as she knew that she'd get to open one of the drawers in her advent house after dinner, where she would usually find a little chocolate. Of course, Christmas came with lots of treats in general and she does have a sweet tooth for chocolate in particular. It has been lovely to be able to spend so much time together and being relaxed, probably the most enjoyable part about Christmas and New Year and our time off. Santa brought Vera a new big girls bed, we've not been wanting to get one before, with all the moves and changes. But now she was ready for it and apart from being a little restless when going to sleep, it's been no issue whatsoever. She gets up at 8.15 - 8.30 and walks into us and climbs into our bed. All very civilised! We celebrated Swedish Christmas on 24th and started the day with tomtegrot (santa porridge, like rice pudding) sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon and of course hiding an almond. Vera had some, not bad for a first time. In the evening we had the traditional Swedish fayre, including ham, meatballs, herring, salmon, jansson, beetroot salad, red cabbage etc. I have really enjoyed all the baking and cooking, in a way, I just wish we had more people to share it with! After dinner, which we had in our newly cleared dining room, we skyped Sweden and watched mormor, morfar, moster, Magnus and the cousins dance around the Christmas tree! Before bed time we prepared a plate with a mince pie and drink for santa and a carrot for the reindeers. Christmas Day morning came with lots of presents and was followed by a lazy day cooking a traditional turkey with all the trimmings. And very lovely it was too! Shame we were too full to eat the home made chocolate mousse I had made! Weather has been a bit so and so, so we've spent a lot of time indoors, but enjoyed playing and watching films. We have managed a few outings though, including a play date in the park with Lily, my friend Emma's daughter, as well as a visit to our neighbour's where Vera played with Aurora and Leo. Mark has been putting together some of the new furniture we've bought and ripped up the carpet in the hallway. The whole house has the same cream carpet throughout. It is just an accident waiting to happen and not very hygienic. Whereas I can live with it upstairs, it just isn't very practical downstairs, especially not in a hallway. During winter. With child/ren (and me!) going in and out! The original floor boards underneath (the house is from the 30s) look ok, so the first step is to hire a sander and sand them down and varnish. Hopefully it will come out well! Now it's back to work for all of us and Vera was so excited about going to nursery this morning and playing with her friends and she was delighted to be met by her friend Evie when she walked in!