Toon time

Mum won an auction on Trade Me for a big stack of toys ($20!), and inside the stack were some foam cartoon characters to liven up any kidlet's room.

These were just begging to go up in the playroom, but as Braeden is on search & destroy (ie suck to death) these days, they had to go up with caution.

Here's where hot glue & windows come in handy. Wayne assures me that the glue won't damage the windows or the toons, and I bow to his superior DIY skills.

Braeden loves his new room, and I confess I didn't get much work done the first day it was up. Far too easy to sit in there and play, or take a book & have lots of reading time.

Speaking of reading.. Lynley Dodd is a very firm favourite. I love how she captures the essence of animals. The day I had to go walkabout in labour we went to a bookstore (which is where we saw the 'wide valley' version of Braeden's name, LOL) and came away with a Lynley Dodd book of four stories. I swear she must have snooped on "The Gremlin P" when Grem was younger, sleeker and more able to resemble Slinky Malinki before she had six kids and lost her figure forever.

And as for Stickybeak Sid.. anyone who's had a lorikeet can recognise the antics and expressions. I must check out who her illustrator is.. they are equally skilled at channelling animals.

Presently we've got "Hairy McLary's Rumpus At The Vet", where a Cockatoo starts off a chain reaction in a very Cocky-like way.

Great stories, and it's very cool to have the excuse of reading to a baby when you're found clutching one. Barry Crump's "Mrs Windyflax & the Pungapeople" (illustrated by Murray Ball) is another fun read, and of course we can never forget Dr Seuss.

Sadly, Yurtle The Turtle was not available at our local library. (sob) I may have to track it down & buy the wretched thing ;-)