Men and Boys

I was doing some weeding on the terrace. I'd built up both a sweat and an impressive pile of weeds. It was hot so I was wearing a hat, which at the time I thought was incidental.

Leah wandered out and, seeing my endeavour, made an appreciatively loud Ooohhh I'm impressed type of noise. Emboldened by the fact that she was clearly impressed by the sort of figure her green-fingered father cut, I ventured further, seeking yet more adoration for such exploits.

- Yeah, Leah. What do you think? I self-agrandised.

- It's amazing, she replied, playing into my self-agrandising hands.

- What in particular? I milked.

- You're wearing a hat. This was a little deflating. What about the weeds? The toil of the soil, Leah?

- A hat, she repeated, a little bemused. A pause, as if to clarify her thoughts.

- Like a man.

Evil Genius

Christmas morning breakfast.

Having had no idea 48 hours previously who Santa was, nor what the all fuss about Christmas might be, Leah was converted to Christmas quicker than you can say "Chocolate For Breakfast."

So, her stocking long since ripped and stripped for goodies, I opened mine. Within lay a huge chocolate Santa. Good on you, Mother-in-law, I was already looking forward to Christmas movie matineee, tea and chocolate Santa on the couch in front of the fire. Ah, It's A Wonderful Life.

Leah, unbeknownst to me, had other plans for my kindest of edible gifts. As you'll agree: it borders on the genius:

Step 1: Ingratiate Yourself

Like an angel, Leah started offering some of her tiny little chocolates from her own stocking, circling the table, smiling at her beaming nearest and dearest.

"Here you go, Grandman... Here you go Mummy, it's for you... Here you go Daddy, I got a chocolate sweetie for you..."

Step 2: Become Invisible

Having lost all adults around the table in a round of glowing comments, she had, as such, become invisible.
"Purest altruition," we said. "Ah, the innocence. Not an alterior motive in sight!"

The object of her affection was the highlight of my stocking. Now, under a cloak of invisibility, Daddy's chocolate Santa was removed, and without fuss a quite place was found at the other end of the kitchen.

Step 3: Eat... until you get busted!

Step 4: Evil Chuckle. 

The simple joy... of getting away with it. 

Like I said: Evil Genius. If only I can harness these powers for good... 

Facially Honest...

Leah: you're 26 months, not 26.

At 26 months, I worry about Leah's language. She speaks wrong. I worry that because she's far from immediate family, she doesn't really get how families work, namely that we're the parents and ultimate figures of control, and she is the subservient minor. 


She speaks to us exactly as we speak to her.  


It's a problem. To illustrate:


While Katie was in conversation, politely ignoring Leah's attempts to interrupt:
- "Mummy.. Mummy... (no response)... Katie... Ka-tie! ...  Hey, BABE!"


Sitting on my shoulders on the way back from the doctor, passing the video shop.
- "Hey, Dougs! Let's go get a movie!" 


"That's a not." This has become a catchphrase, as in:
- Parent: "Leah, would you like some fruit?" 
- Leah. "That's a not."


- "Come on, Leah, it's bed time." 
- "That's a not. (Lies down, starts kicking feet in the air) "I'm doing pi-la-tes."


Woke up at 2:15am to hear Leah, sounding ominously wide awake, shouting: 
- "Daddy... Daddy"
I wander through to her room 
- "Leah, do you know what time it is?"
- "Yeah... It's Party Time!"


It was so not party time. 

Leah

A couple of no-so-little Leah from Justina. 

Leah, Jardín

Each day, from 9.30 till 12-30, the noisiest one in the house goes to jardín, kinder, which is conveniently 10 metres from our front door. After her love affair with her previous jardín, San Benildo and her beloved Nancy, it was always going to be tricky for Construir to meet the warm, creative, groovesome standards we'd come to expect.

Well, little need to worry in Argie kinders. Leah skips out of school each day, strokes her teacher lovingly on the cheek, tells her she loves her, says ciao and proceeds to act out, sing and retell everything that has happened since morning time. A little in English, a little in Spanish, a lot in a whole new language which is kinda hope catches on, otherwise we've got some work to do.

At less than 100 quid a month, it's beyond a bargain; particularly as the original plan was 930 - 1230, but after a brief chat with Katie, they said it was fine for Leah to stay and have lunch and a siesta there too. Extra costs for the extra 2 hours? Six pesos. One British pound. Vamos.

Like her dad, the main focus of her school day is break time, when they have coffee and cake. Well, leche and a tita, milk and a biscuit. First thing we get told when she gets home? When, how, how many and what type of biscuits she had. Quite right too.

Romi, the teacher, gets a mention at least every few minutes in the afternoon, and usually gets a good night too. Her classmates are listed endless all afternoon and evening. A different bunch to my kindergarden in Girvan, all of whom were called John, I think, even the girls. Leah lists Pedro, Sofia, Lucas, Wenchi, Lorenzo - or rather Lolo - , Santi, Avril, Violeta, Carolina...

... all of whom celebrated Leah's birthday last week, as she'd 'missed' her birthday during the holidays, which provided her a wonderful opporuntity to be bossy, telling them all where to sit, how to sit, what to eat, when to eat it and how to present her with her present.

Photos above. Enjoy.

Loona

Medialunas. Croissant-like bite sized pieces of joy.

To Leah, a 'loona' makes it almost worth getting out of bed in the morning.

For me, there are times that without the prospect of a 'hangover sponge' - gracias a Sylvie - I don't think I'd make the morning at all...

Goldalot and the 3 Bears

Couldn't post this on youtube, no idea why, so trying again here.

Portera Porteñita

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Peek-a-boo

"Can't talk, I'm busy"