Nicolas tries to outsmart Maman

About a year ago, I got this great scam started whereby I had Nico convinced that "Maman knows everything".

The initial goal for this was two-fold: 1) to get the kids to listen to me, and, 2) once I unveiled the truth, to get them to understand that when I actually don't know something, I would look it up or ask questions until I eventually know.

Whether I remember the answer is a totally irrelevant thing.

Nicolas even got his friends in his class to believe it. I went through a lot of trouble not bursting out laughing whenever they (and the teachers!) came to me to ask about it.

So eventually I told them the truth, and life just carried on without any fuss.

Earlier this evening, Nicolas asked me something and I said distractedly:
"I know.
- How do you know?
- ( I couldn't help and the words came out of my mouth) Because you know, I know everything.
- Noooo you don't!
- Yes I do!
- Oh yeah? What's... *thinks quickly* one gazillion times one gazillion?
- It's a gazillion squared.
- What's a gazillion square?
- It's one gazillion times one gazillion! Go check with Papa."

And off he trots.

A few seconds later, I can hear Bas chuckle.

Lil' punks

I got hair chalk a year or so ago and finally got round to putting it to good use.

Colour wheel for Nicolas, red and purple for Eloïse.

Poem

Lunches, check. Backpacks, check.

I have spent the last month and a half immersed in a Six Sigma course, abandoning a few chores as I try to come to terms with a rather failed work/life/studies balance. 30 hours work, 27 hours studies, 15 hours active parenting per week, that doesn't quite leave me much room for a social life, sleep and general house duties.

Herewith enterth Papa, who generously takes over full childcare during the week-ends. However today for some reason Eloïse was not allowed on an outing. So after an afternoon of reading books, cuddling and learning how to make loom bracelets, I had an enormous amount of course material to catch up on (compounded by the fact that I helped David on Friday and Saturday). I asked Bas to make the kids' lunchboxes for me, which he did.

"Where do you put the lunches?
- Nico has his lunchbag, Eloïse's backpack is too small for her lunchbag so items will go in loose."

So Bas did as he was told.

There is a backpack sitting in the fridge.

Nico the Baker

Nicolas' first cake... A happy cake for Holger's birthday, recipe supplied as part of homework.