Cloudy with a Chance of Cuteness

This photo isn't at all indicative of today. We all had so much fun in the morning mucking around, watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, had a friend come over for a chat, then drove to this awesome aquatic centre that we'd never been to before. However Harriet is still in the middle of this bedtime decision making process, which means that she's been going to bed any time from about 11-12am.

Remarkably she's managing to hold it together during the days enough to not melt down at every little bump and crack along the day's way, but she did manage to get upset at something we talked about (probably something as meanngful as where the book was, or who said what in a conversation a month ago). Bear was her 'face shield'. So I suggested she might like some more shields, perhaps some body shields. I piled all the cushions all over her body and face and she stayed all curled up in there...until I peered in through the crack at the top to grin down at her. She started laughing despite herself and pulled them down harder. I found another crack and, well, got her laughing again.

Harry had seen a photo in the local parent's paper of this children's slide and water play area. She was so taken with it that she cut it out and stuck it on the fridge. Today we were talking about going to the pool (just our normal local one) when she ran into the kitchen and came back triumphantly clutching the photo exclaiming, "Remember we can go to this one!". So we did.

When we got there we had some more awesome Mama time. For about an hour Jimbo played with Ted in the water where he happily giggled and gurgled away, while Harry pulled me from pillar to post in ecstatic mode. We went racing through rapids, sliding down the slides together, she sat on ym lap for the tube twisty water slides and we went generally a little mad. It was FANTASTIC. I had so much fun. Got home, had vermicelli bowls, made a banana bread and Harry hung out with me, chatting all the way. She is so opinionated, informed and funny. She genuinely makes me crack up laughing.

So yeah. This picture doesn't show our day up as it actually was.

So yesterday I had planned on my photo being Harriet with Papa Jimbo heading off into her first cinema experience to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. However it was 3D and probably just a little too intense for a child who cries in Enid Blyton stories. She told us afterwards that she was worried the big hands were going to "reach forward and grab me into the world of the movie". So it was back down to the front counter to get their money back. Ted and I were at home, oblivious to the lost opportunity that had befallen my wonderful daughter.

So today was redemption day. With 3D glasses donned we were going to watch Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Of course it wasn't actually *in* 3D but such small details are never a problem. I only got to watch about 2/3 of it before Ted woke but I had a couple of real laugh out loud moments, adn the 3D looked as though it would have been amazing.

I just love how she looks a little cross-eyed in that photo with those glasses on. And no, she rarely wears clothes. :o)