Playgroup

Playgroup doesn't start up until February (at least our Wednesday playgroup doesn't), so one of the mom's decided to have an impromptu playgroup in her house today. It was supposed to start at 10:00 am. Ellis rolled out of bed at 9:00. Needless to say, we were a tad late (11:00). I had phoned first to clear this with her. We took the ferry - we had just missed one - and either they've changed the schedule, or I never understood it. It seems the ferries to New Farm only come every half an hour - that doesn't seem right, but we waited and waited and I was going a little bit batty by the time the ferry came. At least the driver seemed to be in a hurry today so it was a quick ferry ride.

Candice - the hostess - just moved from Portland, Oregon. She has two kids - one is almost exactly Ellis's age and I think the other one is around 2. The other mom's were from the Portland area (they met at New Farm park and they come from the same suburb in Oregon - small world). There was also a guy there named Steve, who is a GP. I wasn't sure of his connection to the group as he didn't seem to have kids with him, but last year he worked in Sechelt and knows Jen's doctor - Bella.

Candice's house was just what we were looking for in a house - big yard and covered porch and right across from New Farm park. Lucky them! They had good toys too - stomp rockets and giant car ramps. Ellis discovered the car ramps inside as we were about to leave - yah, that made it a bit harder to leave. He did have a turn on a tricycle when I wasn't looking. I think the peer pressure got to him.

Afterwards we wandered to the library where we picked up yet more Mr. Men books. I'm starting to see a pattern in the books - the author basically uses the same story but just changes the name. Mr. Noisy lives in happyland and has to learn to be quieter. Mr. Quiet lives in Loudland and can't take it so has to move to happyland. Mr. Messy has a visit from Mr. Neat and Tidy and Mr. Lazy has a visit from Mr. Busy and Bustle. It's getting old. The author has quite a racket going - plus, there is merchandising now to go with everything. I've seen a lot of Mr. Happy shirts (and so has Ellis). I really need to find him a Mr. Contrary shirt (I've seen Little Miss Contrary, but haven't seen the Mr. Men equivalent yet). Perhaps Colin can whip us up one :)

We had a great afternoon. Ellis was glued to the tv, Rowan puttered around putting things in his mouth - ah it was bliss. We went for a quick swim (Ellis wouldn't get out) and then it all deteriorated from there. I tried letting Ellis read himself to sleep, but it's not working. I can hear him moaning and muttering from his room. "my stove is heating up" "I fell out of my bed." "I'm not going to sleep." "I have too much pee in my diaper."

I'm ignoring him.