Last weekend we bought Isla a scooter. She helped her dad to build it, with Evie looking on while grabbing her toes. Isla couldn't wait to have a scoot around in the garden and was soon getting the hang of it! This week she scooted a little of the way to toddler group, a lot of the way back from toddler group and around our street when it hasn't been raining. We went to the parks in town a couple of times this week, and Isla has really enjoyed getting out and running about with Evie looking on from the pushchair. Isla (Andrew and I also) had fun feeding the ducks and swans in town, and scaring huge numbers of pigeons. We all enjoyed a visit to Isla and Evie's cousins where the scooter came in handy.
Evie's 'best' at the moment (favourite thing in Isla language) is to stand up while having her arms held. This always makes her smile! We had a lovely moment last week when both girls were grumbling in the back of the car, Evie because she was tired/hungry/couldn't see us and Isla because she didn't want Evie to cry. Evie spotted Isla and they both started laughing at each other and felt much happier. Isla always makes Evie smile and laugh at home if Evie is a bit bored.
This week Evie has been sitting on the floor a lot more and watching Isla with her toys. The jungle animals are having a drink after playing hide and seek, although maybe the elephant is still waiting to be found. We had a full house of children on Thursday, with two more baby girls and their older siblings to entertain. Isla particularly enjoyed playing hide and seek, and Evie was just loving having other children to watch. Isla has been promised that they'll play policemen by one of the older children next time they come round. Hungry hippos was also a hit, although three red balls have strangely vanished so the hippos will have to stay a bit more hungry.
We had a quick trip to the library this week, and we found some great books. "A cat called Scratch" and "Harry and the dinosaurs have a birthday party" are a couple we have been enjoying together. Scratch is a cat with a flea, who goes through many things to remove the flea including hoovering himself (his tail gets sucked up the hoover). At the park, Evie had her first brief go on a swing, although feeling a bit peckish at the time meant she didn't enjoy it fully! Isla loved the swing and is starting to move herself by pumping her legs; being pushed very high is obviously preferable!
Isla's been doing lots of drawings, and colouring in with her Maisy book. We bought a Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse CD set which has songs on that Isla loves.
Evie has been grumpy at mealtimes despite being sat at the table with us, so we decided to give her some food to play with. This really gave her something to think about and she concentrated really hard on the strange slippery squishy toy (roasted pepper) and the harder beige toy (potato). Nothing heading for the mouth yet, but true to form everything ended up on the floor eventually!
Evie has started to really love going in the bath with Isla in the evening. She kicks her legs like crazy and splashes Isla a lot! I'm looking forward to taking them both to the swimming pool when Andrew is here too.
We've been doing a spot of baking this week, inspired by the nightly Bake-Off show. After more gingerbread biscuits last week, we baked some fairy cakes this week. Isla chose pink icing and they looked really pretty with shimmery pink sugar and stars on them, didn't last long though! I made chicken empanadas today for lunch, which were tasty. We've also been having apple crumbles as a treat, although Isla only eats the crumble mixture before it is cooked.
