They could never be blue

Dom is especially keen on getting the right number of fingers into his pictures. Legs - not so bothered.

Each had a wooden horse

An email flickrmail conversation presented for your amusement -

Hi. My name is Susan *********. I am working on the pilot of a non-profit program called Connecting through Literacy Inmates Children and Caregivers (CLICC). I am currently searching for media the depicts children reading, alone, with other children, and with adults. These photos will be used in a semi-animated CD-Rom that delivers instructions to the kids. I am hoping you may give me permision to use the photo Reading Together. We would of course credit you for your work.

The project will be connecting children aged 8-14 and their mothers, who are incarcerated, through books. The children and the mothers will each read the same book simultatneously and then work together over email to complete varioups literacy actvities. The prupose is to give the moms and children some common ground - books - through which to connect. Not only will this project better the literacy lkevels of both moms and children, but it will connect them emotionally. The moms and children each have a mentor to guide them. The moms will learn parenting skills and the kids will be taught coping and communication stategies.
Pleas contact me at *********@gmail.com or at *** *** **** if you are interested and/or if yo'd like more information.

Thanks, Susan

After some nifty googling by Jobley, we replied -

Assuming this is you - www.ctappleseed.org/projects/cicc.shtml - you are more than welcome to use the image of Helen and Dominic reading "The Smartest Giant in Town", although he was only two at the time if that makes any diiference to you.
No need to credit us and good luck with the project.
Jim
(P.S. Might be worth including that link when seeking permission to set yourself apart from the spammers).

It then gets better -

That is indeed us. Thanks so much for your permission. I actually wanted to use the photo of the older boy and baby reading together on the couch - also titled Reading Together. Is that alright with you?
Thanks, also, for the tip on including the link. I am new at this and can't believe I forgot to do that.

I have two photos titled 'Reading Together' (one, two) - which did she mean?

we're not sure which picture you mean, but it's either his mum (in the dharmas t shirt) or his grandma (in the white cardigan and wearing a lampshade) - either way it's given us a giggle and it's fine to use either/both as you see fit
Jim

Is looking like a boy worse than looking like an inmate? Hmm...

Jim,
Oops. Sorry I got confused with all the photos I've been putting otgether for this project. It'll be the one with mum. Thanks so much. It's such a lovely photo.
Susan

Whatever.

Ewar Woowar

Helen was retelling the story of how she was hit'n'run by a car whilst on her pushbike as a child in York, the driver never to be found.

Dominic gave it some consideration, then responded in the most serious tone available to a three year old,

I will find him one day Mummy.

I sees 'im, 'e sees I

So Dominic isn't alone in loving a sing-song - like most kids his age he knows all the words to Bob the Builder, Postman Pat, the Barney song, every nursery rhyme you can think of (and a few you can't) but he doesn't stop there. Dominic's taste is a little more eclectic, largely (but admittedly not exclusively) thanks to the efforts of his Aunty Jobley. Hence we have probably best forgotten early 90s hits, West Country classics and supporters songs. Enjoy.

Pachomp-pachooey-chomp

Yesterday, Helen tried Tilly with her first 'solid' (i.e. non milk) food and things went pretty well. Her reaction could be pretty much summed up as erring on the slightly interested side of nonplussed which is a step up from Dom's abject horror of a non-milk diet and constant reproachful looks for trying to use a spoon.

Aside from that, Matilda is trying to besmirch her own 'perfect baby' good name by steadfastly refusing to be anything else other than breastfed. We've spent a small fortune on various teats and sippy cups, but she is yet to be persuaded that milk by this different route is by any means an acceptable substitute. Such is the ruckus she raises that we're loathe to leave her with anyone else, and even in my most hard-hearted guise (headphones on, trying to ignore her crying herself to sleep) a few hours of babysitting the pint-sized gastronome inevitably sends the blood pressure skywards. Our next step, in lieu of a better suggestion, is the bottle-or-nothing for 24 hours tactic as recommended by several of the more Victorian baby-help manuals. We've not yet decided when we'll be attempting the infant Guantanamo but my advice would be to steer clear of us whenever it is or run the risk of reaping the super grumpy whirlwind. Bring on the Jehovah's Witnesses.

On top of that, my littlest friend has caught Helen's cold and wiped enough of the resultant snot into her eyes to contract the traditional conjunctivitis. Nevertheless, good times.

Santa Monica Boulevard

Sitting at the dinner table, apropos of nothing, Dominic was hit by a revelation

I've had a good idea, why don't I be a good boy all the time!

If only.

Black and Snowy White