Expat Life

Enjoying Some Quality Time in the Winter Weather

This week I took Monkey in for his two-year checkup (four months late…).  And because he cooperated so well, I took him to get a special treat at a local deli / bakery.  That kid loves his baked goods.  (Disclosure, they also have really good lattes for mummy.  Any excuse for a good coffee).  The place has great food but unfortunately has no inside seating, just a couple of small tables out front on the sidewalk.  My intent was for us to get our treats, get back in the car, and head the few minutes home.

Monkey decided he wanted a croissant, I got a sandwich and a coffee and then proceeded to head for the car which was miraculously parked right out front.  But as I headed for the car, the little man headed right for one of the small tables they had outside and pulled up a chair.

Now, I know I’ve talked about the English winter weather before and how lovely it is.  On this day, it was in the 30s, grey, damp, and blustery.  The usual.  And my child has just pulled up a seat at a table where we can enjoy our bakery items and coffee in this glorious weather.  This isn’t a café in the south of France!  I’m thinking about how quickly we can get back inside.  Instead, I pull up the chair next to him.

We’d only been sitting there a few minutes when a stranger passes by our little table and looks me in the eye and says “you must have a stern constitution to be sitting out here.”

Stern constitution?  No.  Sitting outside in this weather has nothing to do with my constitution and tolerance for cold weather.  “I have a two-year old.”  I explain to the stranger.  And I am weak and unable to say no to him when it comes to things that really don’t matter.  Was it really going to kill me to sit outside for 10 minutes and drink my coffee?  Probably not.  Even though my sinuses might say otherwise.

Oh to be a kid and not think twice, just live in the moment.  And not care how many crumbs you get on your face.

February 23, 2012
Monkey's Self-Portrait
Motherhood

Taking His First Pictures

For the Little Monkey’s second birthday, I got him his first digital camera.  Nothing fancy but one specifically designed to take the beating you’d expect from a toddler, a Kidizoom Twist.  I blatantly ignored the labelling on the package that said age 3+.  But I thought he could have lots of fun with it.  And, clearly, this purchase represented my attempt to get my child interested in the joy of photography at an early age.  Goodness knows he’s got a camera in his face enough I figure maybe he can learn all about why mummy is doing this.

When he got this for his birthday it was one of those gifts that he gave a once over, pushed some of the buttons, and then moved on to the cars and trucks.  Not interested.  Gutted!  It’s been in one of his toy drawers now collecting dust for five months.

Well he’s recently rediscovered it.  The camera still has a number of features that are too complicated for his age. But he’s figured out how to do the one thing that matters, take pictures.  He can look in the little LCD screen at himself and push the shutter button.

They’re not the greatest resolution and they’ll never be considered fine art, but I’ll love these photos forever.

The Little Monkey’s first ever self-portraits.

February 22, 2012
Winter Berries
Inspiration

Playlist #2: Beating the Winter Blues

It’s winter, it’s England, it’s cold, and it’s dreary.  A LOT.  So I put together a few songs to motivate me to care less about the fact that it’s miserable and winter.

  1. Glad to Be Alive – Cowboy Mouth
  2. Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
  3. I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
  4. Have a Nice Day – Bon Jovi
  5. Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
  6. Beautiful Day – U2
  7. Shine – Take That
  8. Down About It – The Lemonheads
  9. Charlie Brown – Coldplay
  10. Stronger – Kanye West
  11. Bad Day – Daniel Powter
  12. Celebration – Kool & The Gang
  13. Holiday – Madonna
  14. Rain King – Counting Crows
  15. Always Look On the Bright Side of Life – Monty Python

You can also find this list on Spotify here.

February 21, 2012
Jump for Joy
Inspiration

Congratulations Penn Staters on Another Successful THON

The annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon was one of the most influential and rewarding activities in which I was involved during my years at Penn State.  This year’s event was held over the weekend and I’m staggered by the results.

In 1991, the last year I was involved, the year I graduated, we raised $785,835.  A figure that at the time was amazing to all of us involved.

But this year, twenty-one years later, they raised

$10.686,924.83

What an achievement.  Here’s my own little jump for joy to congratulate all the student volunteers and dancers that made this happen.

For the kids.

February 20, 2012
Football Practice
Inspiration

Links for the Weekend

This week I crossed the threshold into “soccer mom” territory as the little man went to his first ever football class.  At this age it’s mainly just a bunch of little kids running around like mad but boy did he have fun.

Things to worry about by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

A summary of the startling statistics about how the media targets children with treats.

How to become a visionary in your own life.  Inspiring lessons from inspiring women.

This has inspired me to complete a survey of the undersides of our toy cars.  I’d never thought about this before.

Police sketches of famous literary criminals.  For any bookworm, this is fascinating stuff.

Barack Obama has made us a mixtape!

We’re a big fan of dinosaurs in this house so I found these drawings of T-Rex trying to do everyday things with his incredibly short arms pretty darn funny.

Problem with Procrastination?  Try This: Do Nothing.  Oh, this is for me.

What happens in bookstores at night.

Dogs!  Underwater!  How can these gorgeous photos not put a smile on your face?  Well, at least if you’re a dog person like me.

Happy weekend! x

 

February 17, 2012