Skipping Playgroup

Ellis had said he wanted to go to playgroup and the waterpark on Friday, but I reluctantly decided that might be too ambitious, so we decided to just go to the waterpark. Of course when I told him that we were going to the waterpark, he gave his standard reply - "I don't wanna go to the waterpark"

We decided to meet up with our new Cdn friends - the mom is my age and she has a boy (4) and girl (2.5). We met at 10 and we were a bit late. Takes us a long time to get out the door in the morning. We're usually up by 6:00 am - so 3.5 hours and sometimes I don't even shower. Convincing Ellis he needs sunscreen takes a long time. Then there is the shirt and shorts selection. Usually, just as I'm heading out I realize Rowan needs changing.

We had fun at the waterpark - we set up our towel on the fake beach and managed to even have a little picnic. I've decided I don't really like the beach (sand). Rowan kept eating all the twigs, sand, whatever that was in his immediate vicinity and then having conniptions when I took them away. I think he's teething this week - he seems a tad grump. As we were packing up to hit the playground next, Ellis said "I don't wanna go to the playground."

As soon as Ellis saw the playground, he was off and running - he happily played there until a swarm of locusts (i.e. kids on a fieldtrip) came running through. We decided to abandon the overrun playground to go the library - they apparently have a good children's section. "I don't wanna go to the library" said Ellis.

So we went to the library. The children's space is called the Corner and it was great - as soon as Ellis saw it, he disappeared. I found him at a light box which had coloured transparent shapes. "Red and blue make purple, red and yellow make orange and blue and yellow make green" he said, demonstrating for me. He seemed like he could play there for hours so I went to talk to other mom and let him entertain himself. After a while I got bored and hungry so told Ellis we'd be leaving soon. "I don't wanna go" he said.

"We'll go to the cafe and I'll get you an ice cream" I said.

He still didn't want to go - that's how good it was.

I'm also not doing very well on the no treats no bribes front.

So I resorted to my "we're going anyway, let's go"

Next stop - cafe. I ended up getting Ellis a cupcake - it had blue icing. I'm also not doing well at sticking to my no artificial colours stand. After that we parted ways from our friends - they were taking the train home. Of course, Ellis wanted to go on the train.

"No Ellis - we are finally going home on the Citycat - something you have been asking all morning."

Actually - that was a small fib - we had to hit the post office so I could get someone to witness my signature so I could open a bank account. That was relatively painless except they sold toys in the post office - Dora backpacks, paints etc. I had to pry Ellis out of there and then we went home.

I had invited our Cdn friends for dinner on Saturday so I phoned Cyp in panic. "Pick up a vacuum cleaner on your way home." The one in our furnished apartment sucks (or I should say does not suck!) We were becoming inundated with crumbs and crud dropped by Rowan and Ellis at dinner. carpet really is gross when you think about it.

So that is now one major purchase down. We are slowly filling up our furnished apartment with stuff that we will have to move - great.