George and Arts and Crafts

George enjoys arts and crafts, this mouse made from a kit

A Red Cape

When I was growing up my mother had sewn a red cape for my brother to play in. I think he pretended to be a superhero. I used it too to be a hero or a princess. It was one of those play items which lended itself to all sorts of make believe. So it's not surprising that a year ago I found myself sewing a red cape for my sons with neither them nor I knowing what it was for or if it was for anything at all.
I needn't have worried. Said red cape has been Superman, an accessory for school's Red Nose Day (charity fundraising day) and now a king's robe. I'm tempted to rank this as invaluable as legos and play doh.

Creativity

Henry's mother's day card to me. Believe it or not, it's a picture of his Daddy! Eyes, nose, hair, arms, legs and feet. What do you think?
He's not just an artist, Henry's also a chef. Here are his star cookies.
One of George's talents is as a builder - he built this house out of Duplo. Inside the shovel-door, there's a man watching TV.

It really is a nice idea, to let little children sit with small furries on their laps for short periods of time. Our boys were appropriately excited. Perhaps a bit surprising since they live with two cats, but the cats are young-child-phobic so the boys haven't really pet or stroked many animals!
Neither husband nor I admitted to the kids that those little pigs bit both of us, drawing blood from me... Their requests for a guinea pig as a pet was swiftly and decisively vetoed.

Gung Hay Fat Choy

The boys were treated to Chinese New Year Celebration in Birmingham city centre. Crowds, check, rides, check, food, check, drumming, check, dancing, check, Chinese dragon, check and fireworks, check! They said they want to go again.
Happy Year of the Rabbit!

George turned 5! He had waffles for breakfast, then opened his presents. Quick lunch then out bowling with family friends (they have two boys just about G&H's ages). It was his first time bowling - he enjoyed it, even more than bowling on the Wii. He got to blow out candles and have Ben 10 cupcakes. Then he had his passport photo taken for a renewal passport, and dinner out at his favorite family-style restaurant. He was a tired boy at bedtime, but happy.

Christmas was a bit flat for the boys, because their parents were too ill to properly build up the season. However, they enjoyed opening a few presents, having Christmas dinner, and then travelling down South to visit their grandparents and cousins for Christmas #2. Henry helped make mince pies, there was Christmas dinner #2, and then they came back home to trial their Santa presents - 2 new bicycles with stabilisers. (Not sure what this may say about them but George excels at braking and Henry enjoys going down slopes FAST. He doesn't have the hang of braking yet.) Here's hoping for 2011!