You Don't Want to See the After Pictures

Here is the cake for Noah's sleepover birthday party. Chocolate from the cake mix Grandma Amy sent. And, yes, those are eggs on top. Not Easter eggs but fried eggs, gummy fried eggs. This party was fantastic from my viewpoint: Noah made the cake. Noah made the salad. Scott put the frozen pizza in the oven. Scott turned on the Charlie Chaplin DVD. Scott went into the front room at least 5 times between 9 and 12.15 to threaten the children with eviction to separate beds. I fed Aodh, enjoyed a bit of ice cream, got my teaching supplies ready, read my book.

The main characters in this comedy (well it was a comedy until about 5 this evening when tragedy struck. "Hark, what dread in Noah's eyes is kindled! By Heaven's merciful light! Let it not be fatigue!") were Finn, the birthday boy himself, and Alma. They thought there might be a burglar in the street, which caused them all to lose sleep and wonder. Overheard on my way to bed: "Maybe we should go to that house and ask if anything was nicked!" (Finn)

By the way, Noah got The Guinness Book of World Records 2009 and a telescope!

More theatrics

Jeeves announcing attendees to the Royal Ball.

If I May Be So Bold...

We just returned from the highlight of the school year. According to me. That is, The School Play. Noah and his cast members in P5, P6, and P7 have been working, working, working since Christmas on the production.

The basic storyline is familiar. beautiful young girl persecuted by wicked stepmother and ugly stepsisters longs for the ball and the bling, the soon-to-be king. But this production had so many wonderful twists and turns. For example, Jeeves the Butler. Jeeves with his straight back and and regal bearing, not to mention his ringing voice and elephantine memory. Yes, Jeeves is better known as Noah. But with the powdered wig and the faux English accent some (Tatie) didn't recognize him. In addition to Jeeves, we were enthralled watching Toaderina (Noah's friend Clark) as a very Ugly Stepsister, the Prince dressed as The King (as in Elvis), and my all-time favourite, Sadie. Sadie was played by some guy named David who "is alright but sometimes tries to argue his way out of it if he gets in trouble."

The play had romance, prejudice (eg. Lady Muck was from 'Ballymena, hey' and if you don't understand that you don't live in Northern Ireland), a bit of violence and jam tarts. What more could we desire? I was hating this week and now life seems grand. That is the power of theatre. In this case, the magic was worked by a group of 9,10 & 11 year olds supported by a few dedicated adults. Noah tells me I can see it again on DVD. I can't wait to part with the £10 required.

Happy Paddy's Day

It was a hoolie at the L'Arche Allotment today. Many people sporting green, Octavia and Aodh Emmanuel Patrick among them. This once was Aodh's hand-knitted 'Paddy Jacket' now more of a 'Paddy Shrug' but the hood works a treat still. The spuds went in the ground and a bbq ensued with our friend James's homemade veggie burgers. Noah did not use the campfire fork to eat his meal....

Leprechaun Hunt

Noah and Octavia got licensed to hunt leprechauns at the Ormeau Park on the weekend. They didn't find any but Baby Aodh got a daffodil faintly smelling of treasure. (Yes, Sharon, Aodh's sniff is just as lovely as a daffodil's.)

Greek?

The letters in Octavia's room have been busy. The other morning while she was at Mrs. Mac's I took a look and though perhaps Greek will be her second language. And here's a close-up:

However, when I collected her from Mrs. Mac's, I saw that the unit on sheep continues. Though there ain't much room for creativity in this particular lesson, I find it somehow comforting that sheep and wool get a whole unit in this preschool. Mrs. Mac is old-school. Even if kids are buying their jumpers (that's sweaters for the North Americans among us) at Dunnes Stores, they should know that the Irish/British way is to give a sheep a haircut, comb it, spin it, and knit it. In fact, they have knit-offs in some places where a group of craftspeople will attempt "sheep to shoulders" in a day! And some succeed. I think even some Greeks could do this if they tried.

Pink Bunny

Pink Bunnies like DESSERT.

Aodh little lovey

Look at this for head control! And, Aodh can stick his tongue out and laugh in his sleep. That's what you can do when you are 13 weeks old.

You can also hold the spuds when you go to the greengrocer's with your mama.