Spring is here!

Talking

Like most children, Vera is very chatty. I'm amazed by her imagination and growing sense of where she fits into the world. This morning, as we looked out of the window and it was raining she said that "mamma, the sun is playing hide and seek as it is raining and he doesn't want to get wet". She has a very strong sense of who she is and is certainly not shy. Last Friday, when we went out for a meal after work/nursery, when the waiter came to take our drink order, she proudly stated "hello, I'm Vera Collins". The waiter replied back, "hello Vera, welcome!) When he later came back to take the food order, she declared again "Hello, I'm Vera Collins". Last night, during dinner, we had a guy coming from a window company to give us a quote for a new front door and French doors in the dining room. he was in the hallway taking to Mark and we were finishing our dinner. Vera said "mamma, I'm sorry, but I have to go and talk to him. But don't worry, I'll be back to finish my dinner". Then she walked up and introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Vera Collins". She proceeded to show him her coin purse and told him that she had a thousand pounds in there! Potty training is going... slowly. When we remind her we have very few accidents, but at nursery sometimes when she is engrossed in play, she's too busy to go to the potty. We'll get there...until then, the washing machine and dryer are getting a good work out! We've (I say we, mainly Mark!) have started to get the garden ready for spring and last weekend we bought some new plants and tidied up the front garden and planted a few pots. Vera helped out and also picked up last year's apples on the floor in the back garden. On the Sunday we went to a place called the Tropical Butterfly House, about 20 miles from here. They are a member of BIAZA so focus on conservation work as well as education too. A really nice place, but a freezing day for sitting outdoors and watching bird displays. We spent a few hours there and had great fun watching the meercats, lemurs, owls and turtles among other things. A lot of walking and fresh air, so a tired Vera fell asleep in the car on the way home. Last Tuesday was pancake date (same day as the Swedish Fettisdagen, when we eat semlor). Next year I will be more organised and bake some! Vera had pancake double whammy - at nursery and at home! She tried maple syrup as a topping but wasn't so keen, so stuck to the tried and tested strawberry jam! At nursery she loves helping out making play dough, painting and glueing. She's also started helping out serving the others at meal times and fetching their coats and boots when it's time to go outside. One of the nursery teachers said that this is part of their development when they get closer to three, to start helping out more. Will keep encouraging at home :-)