The Contrasts of Pre-Teenagehood...

I was tidying Miss 11's underwear drawer today (as you do when you put away the washing) and the contents got me laughing...

Besides the usual jocks and socks we had a water pistol (courtesy of Grandma for Christmas), a cuddly rug (yes, we still take one to bed) and little girl handkerchiefs.

Then we had panty liners, bralets, a spare razor, purses and beaded scarves. And a mouthguard and a pottle of trombone slide grease.

The trappings of childhood are slowly disappearing as the teenage years approach. And yet...the little girl is still there too. She still believes in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus...

I love you lots, my darling girl. Don't grow up too fast...

Miss 11 and her trombone...

Well, it's official, I can now dispense with the earplugs. Miss 11 is getting quite good with her trombone. She loves playing it which helps, and can now find the notes with relative ease. Trust me, this is a good thing because an out of tune trombone can sound like anything from a farting elephant to a sick cow!!!


She's off school today, sort of. She is doing three hours of academic testing for the Gifted and Talented Program for Year 8. She has applied for the music program but they all have to do the academic testing anyway. I felt a bit weepy this morning, having to let my little girl go and face this on her own....who gave her permission to grow up so fast?!



She is also doing really well with her hockey. Her team haven't won a full game yet (they won a few games at the grading carnival) but none of the losses have been walkovers. And my less than sporty child has developed a love of physical activity...YAY!!

And no, she is not sticking her jaw out - mouthguards are SO unflattering, but SO necessary. This game saw one of the opposition knocked out by a wayward stick to the jaw, when she stood on the wrong side of her opposite number - but she didn't lose any teeth!