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Yesterday my twin nieces had their birthday. Everyone went over to my brother inlaw's place for a family lunch and the opening of family presents. A great deal of fun things for two girls turning four. I noticed a fair amount of Peppa Pig going on. We ended up discussing a possibly Jenner trip to Peppa Pig land or Lego land in the near future. Think of the conversations about sandwiches! After lunch Mr. Jenner and Dr. Jenner had to return to work/home to attend to goings on. The rest of us stayed on for the proper party with more children/parents arriving. It was such a pleasing and relaxing afternoon despite a million children running around. There was a loose theme of a pajama/princess party though not every child dressed up. There were presents opened but most of the kids weren't paying a great deal of attention. They were too busy playing with toys or trying out the bouncy castle that had been rented for the occasion. Senor Onion and his cousin E. spent much of their time on that. Best fun ever. The weather wasn't sunny by any stretch of the imagination but it wasn't cold out. Even Miss Biscuit had a go on the castle. Adults and children alike bounced until they were good and worn out. Then my Mother inlaw and I put out the fairycakes that she had made. My brother inlaw made great quantities of tea, and that was served to guests. Later on there was a proper cake so that the girls could blow out candles. Miss Biscuit decided to help with the blowing out of candles. I have to give points to my sister inlaw for having a sense of humor about it and saying that Miss Biscuit was practicing for when her birthday comes up in just over a month. You can tell that there was a period where we Jenners were quite productive and so there are a pile of grandchildren who are quite close in age. Ideal in a way when it comes to the business of play. Even though my oldest nephew is 11, he is good for encouraging the kids to go one way or another. (or getting them to eat their lunch.)
The conversation was easy and pleasant. I told another friend that these were the kinds of parents I could hang out with. A kind of calm approach to child-rearing with very little of the near mania I often observed in Seattle. It may just be the lifestyle in this part of the world. One I sort of forgot about since I was reared in something much like it. Sometimes living in the middle of nowhere, you have to be zen about the pace, and what generally happens. Maybe the limitations that come with rural life tend to be better in some cases because you aren't faced with a MILLION choices. It is kind of freeing. Though it is early days. I could change my mind about this in the middle of winter.
I can say that people have a much more open sense of friendliness here that throws me at times. I am a stoic native of Washington. Like most of my kind, we are polite but not leg-humping friendly and it gives new-comers the impression that we are aloof mofos. I admit that I just didn't want to intrude or presume on others. (The French might understand this one.) Now I live in a place where strangers call you, "My Love" or "My darlin'". Where people you don't even know will have a good long chat with you about anything. A bunch of smiling fiends. It is disarming, so it seems to be squashing some aspects of my introverted nature. No one is intrusive but people seem to have a knack for gently bringing about a comfortable moment. (Bill Bryson talked about this a bit.) Though maybe it is because I am American and so I am an oddity at the moment.
After the millionth cup of tea, and another go on the bouncy castle, it was time to go home. I dropped my Mother inlaw off at her home. (ended up getting the buckets and spades I had left there awhile ago.) Then the very tired children were taken home and put to bed.
Today it's stormy, so I am tidying things, thinking too much about throw cushions, and helping Miss Biscuit wrap up her baby-doll. Over and over.
The conversation was easy and pleasant. I told another friend that these were the kinds of parents I could hang out with. A kind of calm approach to child-rearing with very little of the near mania I often observed in Seattle. It may just be the lifestyle in this part of the world. One I sort of forgot about since I was reared in something much like it. Sometimes living in the middle of nowhere, you have to be zen about the pace, and what generally happens. Maybe the limitations that come with rural life tend to be better in some cases because you aren't faced with a MILLION choices. It is kind of freeing. Though it is early days. I could change my mind about this in the middle of winter.
I can say that people have a much more open sense of friendliness here that throws me at times. I am a stoic native of Washington. Like most of my kind, we are polite but not leg-humping friendly and it gives new-comers the impression that we are aloof mofos. I admit that I just didn't want to intrude or presume on others. (The French might understand this one.) Now I live in a place where strangers call you, "My Love" or "My darlin'". Where people you don't even know will have a good long chat with you about anything. A bunch of smiling fiends. It is disarming, so it seems to be squashing some aspects of my introverted nature. No one is intrusive but people seem to have a knack for gently bringing about a comfortable moment. (Bill Bryson talked about this a bit.) Though maybe it is because I am American and so I am an oddity at the moment.
After the millionth cup of tea, and another go on the bouncy castle, it was time to go home. I dropped my Mother inlaw off at her home. (ended up getting the buckets and spades I had left there awhile ago.) Then the very tired children were taken home and put to bed.
Today it's stormy, so I am tidying things, thinking too much about throw cushions, and helping Miss Biscuit wrap up her baby-doll. Over and over.
