Sept holidays so far!

We are midway through the September holidays. I love the week long holidays because they give us some time to recharge, not having to rush and have our schedule dictated by school runs, meals and naps. I rather like the idea of being somewhat laissez faire in our routines, such that the children do not have to nap by a certain timing, lest we face the ugly 1am sleep monster.

So, what have we done so far? Well, we...

Built a tent
Cooked up a storm
Stayed in a hotel
Sang out our hearts
Painted the skies
Ran around the race track
Played pretend... alot

Heh.

With the exception of Hockey Pokey, we have been staying home really. Both littles took turns to run a fever. S' fever was especially scary, hitting 39.9 degrees one evening. We are praying that N is spared, so that we can continue our holiday plans for the rest of the week.

While the rest of the country is out celebrating and rocking all kinds of learning outdoors, I'm learning to be thankful. For the rest and from escaping the haze. The newspaper advised children, pregnant women and the elderly to avoid being outdoors and i guess since we hit 2 out of the 3 mentioned groups, we ought to heed their advice. :)

Really though, i'm enjoying watching the littles play together. I marvel at how far their imagination can take them and the pure giggles that explode from their exploit of the far ends of the earth. They are at such a precocious age, innocent enough to not demand that i bring them out, but daring and imaginative enough to make the most of what they have. And that i think, defines fun.

Took out our rusty camera to capture their master pieces! This is the first time they are drawing before painting their works in water colour. One depicts a flower garden while the other, a playground scene. Not too bad for children of a lazy mother who finally relented to let her children paint after countless demands!

Tenderhearted

Sometime ago, the little girl went on an excursion and that left the littlest boy with me and a whole day to ourselves. There was no fetching, no rushing around, just the house with all its toys and books.

The day went on as usual until somewhere around the time where we were supposed to fetch his sister.

'Where's JieJie? I want her to come home', he blinked at me innocently.

'She's not coming back today, her teachers brought her out.'

With that, he went about his usual business, pottering around the house, pushing his Thomas train around and pulling books out of the shelves. I thought he was pleased with having mummy all to himself. I myself was rather glad that I managed to pull off some learning with just us - most of our home learning are simplified lessons from his sister's. We also played with trains, read some books and picked up ALOT of toys. Total mummy time!

Recently, I conceded to a friend that there really is no fairness when it comes to having more than one child; in the sense that there is no way of making up for the years of undivided attention that #1 gets for.. well, being #1. With that, I decided that fairness was not as important as observing each child and giving them what they actually need based on their character and temperament (bearing that we have fulfilled their physical needs).

Anyway, back to my littlest boy. Not long after, he began to look aimless and started rolling around the floor, a sign of boredom. I should give him credit for trying to pick himself up, because after that, he attempted different activities, but most of them with one arm supporting his head, much like a bored youngster in class.

And it dawned upon me. Momma isn't as fun as his sister! This little boy missed his sister. The one who orders him around, who tells on him (I confess that I use this trait as a method on keeping tabs on him too) and who squabbles with him on a daily basis. Perhaps these things aren't as significant as the times where they squeal around the house playing tag, or cook up a storm in their kitchen, or pretend to wash the clothes and make a mighty mess of the toilet. Or maybe it is both the fun and the fights that make everything, well, more fun.

I think it's both. I think it's the fact that they have a companion in each other. Never mind that not long ago, one couldn't speak much and the other just started speaking in full sentences. Never mind that they don't always play with each other as much as they do alongside each other. And never mind the fact that often times, they both fight for the same toy and end up being punished with no toys at all. It's just having each other that matters, and they got it right at their very young age.

The two of them always amaze me. Not only by the mess they can garner, or the speed at which they can pull out their toys and books. But mostly, by how tender and soft they are. Their hearts are so ready to give and receive, without fearing that there's not enough left for them. Children are really special, and there's so much to learn from them. I can't wait to see how they interact with the new baby :)