"Young People" and Technology

When I was growing up, I was one of the lucky ones that had a computer in the house. So in First Year of Secondary school, in Computer class, I found it very funny when the teacher was explaining how to turn the computer on, and teaching us about double clicking the mouse. After that though, computers became very popular and I grew up with all the teens knowing more about "technology" than our parents or grandparents. When i say technology, I mean computers, CD writers, mobile phones and mp3 players.
I will admit that I am not a wizz with MP3 Players, because I never "got" the idea of buying music, when you could just listen to it on the radio! Teens a few years younger than me would know more about wireless Internet and other stuff than me.

Recently Stewy got his hands on (as in he BOUGHT it second hand, not stole it!!) an iPhone, and gave it to me. While it might be a little wasted on me, I still love it just the same.

For those who don't know, its a touch screen phone. To unlock the screen you have to slide your finger from one side of the screen to the other, but in a specific spot. Imagine my surprise when Chloe held my phone for one of the first times, and was sliding her finger in the exact spot to unlock it, and she succeeded! Yes, younger people may be more "in" with technology than me, but that just takes the biscuit!

Chloes 2nd Birthday Party

I had been planning it for weeks. Picking up bits and pieces for it as I went along. The day finally came for Chloe's 2nd Birthday Party.

I had invited family, and Chloe's little friends from nursery in Church. I had invited 13 children under 3! I knew 2 weren't coming, so expecting 11. We made up 14 party bags "just in case". Well, I needed them! I forgot to count Chloe's Aunty (who is 8) as a child, even though she really still is one. Stewy had invited a little boy and I forgot to count him as Stewy had done the inviting.

Anyway, with some people not coming, some bringing more of their kids than just the one, we ended up having 16 kiddies including Chloe (not including Megan who thankfully slept through most of the party!) Chaos? Madness? No, it really was great fun!

As the children arrived I had them colour in a big Christmas Tree that I had drawn. They loved it! Then we played pass the parcel. All the little gifts were Christmasy. They really loved that as well.

Then, the hit of the day, I got them decorating cup cakes. This is something that I did as a kid at all my birthday parties. I had smarties and other sweet for them to stick on their cakes. And of course, icing. Red, green and white icing, to keep in the Christmas theme. They had such a good time making them and eating them.

After that they pulled their Christmas crackers, ate sandwiches and just ran around having tons of fun!

I had decorated a small cake into a Santa face, and we sang happy birthday to Chloe. She didn't blow out the candle, but was fascinated with it.

Then as people were leaving the children got to have a party bag. Now the party bags were mini Christmas stockings with chocolate decorations and candy canes inside. They were also a big hit.

When people left we finally got to open all the presents she got. She was spoilt! She got clothes, and shoes (she loves her shoes) and endless amount of jewelry. Bags, colouring books, crayons, activity books and story books. A fairy dress, a pink bouncy ball, a toy phone. A few babies (dolls) and a barbie. She loved them all! One of her favourite things was a card! :) The card sings happy birthday, and it actually says Chloe!

All in all, it was a really great birthday party. I loved having so many children here, running around having fun. I loved that Chloe wasn't being shy, and enjoyed herself. And Chloe's Great Granny Betty did most of the cleaning up (Betty couldn't stop cleaning if she tried!) So I didnt have much to do afterward. Great. :)

Locked In

I had just gotten in with the girls after been out shopping. I put Megan down in the living room and went to the downstairs toilet to do my business. Megan is screaming as she does not like it when I leave the room. Chloe is playing in the hall way.I come out of the bathroom and go get Megan. Meanwhile Chloe wanders into the bathroom and closes the door. With Megan I go to play with Chloe, knock on the door, shout "Helllooo", that kind of thing.

SHOCK

Chloe locked the door! Its a new house and I didn't even realise there was a key in the door! All I'm thinking is, "shes not even 2, HOW am I going to get her to unlock the door and come out!?". I look through the keyhole, the key is slightly turned. I txt Stewy and my sister. Stewy says to take the handle off the door and see if I can get to the key to turn it. Sister says to put a paper under the door and try shimmy the key out the door, hoping it will land on the paper.

Just then my Mother in Law arrived, she was coming to get Chloe to go out for a few hours. HA! she starts laughing at me asking what I was doing sitting on the hallway floor. All the while Chloe is playing happily away, hears her Nanny and says "Hello". My brother in law is with Mother in law (he is 16) and thinks Chloe is very funny saying hello and knocking on the door.

We finally are able to shimmy the key out the door (with much difficulty) but Chloe picks it up! We try to tell her to put it under the door (shes just 2 for goodness sakes..), no luck. Then, the crying starts. Uh oh. the key is on the floor and we get a wire hanger and put it under the door (we can see the key) Chloe freaks out at this wire thing almost poking at her and is kicking it. When we manage to hook the key on the hanger, she freaks out even more and grabs the key and throws it! This happens a couple (hundred) more times when Chloe starts to get tired. She hadn't napped yet that day and it was past nap time. She sits on the floor just bawling her little eyes out. Now we cant get to the key as she is in the way. We need a new plan. We have to take the door off its hinges.. anyone know how to do that?? No, nobody there had a clue.. So we need to break the frame of the door enough to be able to pull the door open without having to unlock it. I talk to Chloe and tell her to lie down and close her eyes to have a rest. She does and falls asleep. All the while my Brother in Law is busy wrecking the door frame!

We finally got it open and poor Chloe was fast asleep. I picked her up slowly but she woke up and wouldn't let me go for the next hour. Poor girl.