Vancouver!

Hello there! We have returned from Vancouver today and have had a fun and busy weekend! I hope that you are well and that it is cooler with you and that it stays cooler for a little while! The weather is fresher here now and we’ve even had some rain which is good for the plants!

We had a wonderful day on Thursday, too! Last Monday, after our family trip to Pine Lake Park I emailed a group of friends to see whether they would like to meet us there for a picnic day on Thursday. I had also said that if anyone knew any friends who might like to join us then they would also be very welcome. This meant that on Thursday, I had no idea who would be joining us for the day but figured that it would all work out in the end and it did! I am really glad that we did it as we all had a fun day! Claire and Greg came with us too and we able to enjoy the shade and a walk round the park. In the end there were quite a few of us but all of us met at least one person who we hadn’t known before, which was nice!

We started off at the playground which the children all loved and then moved over to the picnic tables for our picnic. After lunch Greg read the girls a story and then my fringed Helen from church made a craft activity with the older ones. It was lovely as the babies were happy, the girls were happy and it was very relaxing! After this we went down to the lake and the girls then spent nearly 2 hours in the lake! They loved it! They were happily splashing about and floating on various things as well as swimming and playing in the water. I had 2 very tired little girls when we finally left at 4:50 but they were very happy! We hope to repeat it again but it will depend on the weather!

On Friday morning we packed up and set off for Vancouver. In practice we left a little bit late as we got very held up at the border, but we had also stopped for a leisurely lunch in Bellingham on the way up. We decided though that we ought to try to get to Canada for lunch as the border crossing would take less time! We arrived at our hotel around 6ish and I managed to find the girls some tea whilst the others went to buy the shopping! We had to do a bit of furniture removing before the girls could go to bed as we had to move the double bed to allow Naomi to sleep in a fold up bed in our room. Esther as usual slept in a closet on her little blow up bed, which she obviously likes as she slept really well again!

Unfortunately, Tim and I had a terrible night! It was really hot and to try and cool it down we had to open a window, but then it was so noisy that it kept us awake. The window didn’t open outside but into a glass covered balcony, the purpose of which we were unclear as you couldn’t go out onto the balcony, it just meant that there wasn’t any air coming in!! When the girls woke up in the morning, Tim got up with them and I had another hour in bed! It helped a bit!

After breakfast we set off into Vancouver and went to visit a new museum that they had opened called Storyeum. This was a brilliant place and one that I would recommend to anyone visiting the area! It was like a theatrical performance of the history of BC and it enchanted us all. There were several small snippets that gave the history from the First Nations to present day and it was extremely well done! Esther loved the singing – at one point the sailors were banging mugs together and I could see her trying to do the same with her fists!! Naomi enjoyed the stories and asked lots of questions!!! She was particularly riveted by this life sized steam train engine that appeared in the last snippet of the show! Esther was convinced that one of the men in a soldiers outfit was a prince! It was very funny!!

We were urgently requiring lunch after we had finished at the Storyeum and unusually this proved difficult! There were some expensive places but it was difficult to find somewhere for us all to eat! Eventually we found somewhere and it was OK but not brilliant! It was very slow too, which is unusual for here! After lunch we went back to the Storyeum to see the dinosaur exhibition that was on! The girls enjoyed digging in the sand for dinosaur footprints and Naomi, Tim, Claire and Greg stayed onto see the moving exhibit. I took Esther back to the car at this point and she fell quickly asleep! She was funny as she was literally talking one second and then was asleep the next! Naomi was very brave and was not scared at all by the dinosaurs, particularly as she was quick to realize that it was all “tend” (pretend!)

On route home we stopped off at an amazing ice cream store that had 220 different flavours of ice cream for sale! They rotate the flavours from a choice of 500!! We finally settled on our flavor and enjoyed our ice cream before heading back to the hotel. The hotel had provided a fan for our use and so last night was a lot more comfortable, although I still didn’t sleep too well!!

Claire and Greg went out to see some fireworks last night and Tim and I went to bed!! This morning we went to Stanley Park and the girls really enjoyed the steam train and the farm! Esther went round and stroked all the goats, sheep and pigs at least twice and Naomi enjoyed stroking the rabbit! We found some lunch at a café and then came home. We had a good journey home really and found a jolly immigration man, which amazed us enormously! He was pleasant, friendly, talked to Naomi and even laughed!! We had gone through the quieter of the local entry points, which may explain it but none-the less, we were very surprised! We concluded that he cannot have been in the job long!!

We arrived home at 7ish and it was a quick tea, bath and bed for the girls! They have been very good during our travelling though, helped by the DVD player I am sure!! They watched Nemo on the way home today!

We are planning a quieter day tomorrow and I am hoping for a good nights’ sleep tonight!

Anyway, that is all for now! Hope that you are all well!

Camp!

Hi there! How are you? We are fine and relieved that the temperatures have dropped a little in the last couple of days! How is the weather with you?

Well, our friends, Claire and Greg arrived safely but later than planned on Sunday night but they were still up and about on Monday morning and went into Seattle on the bus! The girls and I were up early on Monday as they were going to church camp for the morning!

It took a long time to get into Seattle on Monday and we were a little bit later than we hoped to be, but the children quickly settled into there activities and I was able to leave them with out any problems. I tried to find a Babies R Us store as I wanted to investigate some things for the baby but I was unable to find it! I came back to church and met a friend in the café, who I sat and chatted to for a while, which was fun!

In the afternoon, Vanessa, Maddie and Alex came round to play in the garden and the girls had a great time playing in the paddling pool. Alex enjoyed it too and was quite happy sitting in the shade which was good; otherwise the poor love gets very sore knees!!

In the evening I had to pop out to buy some milk and some petrol, only to discover that they are digging up Gilman Bld every night this week and it took me ages to do an otherwise quick task! I watched amazed as one man didn’t follow the policeman’s directions and went down the lane that was being stripped of the tarmac! I don’t know what happened when he met the construction men! The policeman blew his whistle very vigorously but the driver completely ignored him! I expect that the construction workers made their point to him though!

Yesterday the girls went to camp again in the morning and I went round to see Becky, which was really lovely and we had a good catch up! Eli and Darin were at camp and so we just had Zeke to look after! He is such a smiley baby that he was very easy!

After Naomi had been to her Gym / Dance class, we spent the afternoon at home which was very relaxing; we did the same today too.

This morning I went to Fremont to do a bit of shopping and to enjoy having a peaceful cup of coffee and a read of my book whilst the girls were out! Today was the girls’ last day though as tomorrow Esther has her Gym class which would mean that we wouldn’t get there until it was almost time to go home! Instead, we are gathering several old and new friends together at the lovely park that we went to on Sunday for a picnic and a play! It should be fun! On Friday we are all going to Vancouver!

Anyway, I am afraid that is all our news and so I will write on Sunday hopefully once we have returned from Canada!

Take care!

It is too hot!

Oh it is too hot!! Even now at 10:45 it is 84 degrees outside and about 92 inside!! I know that it is hot with you too, so we are all suffering together, which is odd when you consider how far apart we are!

Anyway, I hope that this finds you all well and keeping as cool as possible. I can’t believe how much I am drinking at the minute! The fans are on permanently when we are in doors and I would have given someone $5000 if they could have fitted air conditioning on Friday!

We have had a lovely few days though and have managed to find nicely cold places to visit!! On Thursday, after Gym class we went to the little zoo, which was great fun! The girls wanted to feed the animals first so we went there and the Alpacas gobbled up their treats very quickly! Esther was brave enough to try this time but couldn’t get the idea of holding her hand flat and I was very worried that she was going to get her fingers bitten. However, she didn’t and she enjoyed feeding them! Naomi is a pro at it now and doesn’t need mummy to help at all!

After feeding the animals we went to see the reindeer which looked very forlorn in their half shed coats! Then we went to see the parrots and the girls loved trying to make them talk! We were watching the parrots being hosed down by the keeper and they loved it! They were standing on the perches with their wings spread open obviously enjoying their shower! It was very funny!

In the afternoon, Nicole came to play with the girls and I did some housework. On Friday morning, Brooke came and I did some more housework before going out to the KidsQuest museum again to meet with Paromita and Subarno for the afternoon. Since my thermometer read 111 outside (admittedly in direct sun!) we were very glad to be in a nice and cool place and we had a great time. IT was quite quiet when we first arrived which was great as we were able to position ourselves by the door and let the children wander to their hearts content!

We stopped off at the supermarket on the way home and ended up having a latish tea before putting the children to bed.

On Saturday, Tim had a church meeting to attend for the first bit of the day and so the girls and I did some shopping before having a cooked lunch. In the afternoon we went round to Vanessa and James’ house to celebrate Alex’s first birthday! We had a delightful afternoon - the girls played in the paddling pool with Alex and then they had a birthday tea! I had taken some cookies for Esther and so she was delighted to eat them whilst the rest of us ate birthday cake!

Yesterday evening, Tim and I watched a very good film called “Downfall” about the final days of the Third Reich as seen through the eyes of Hitler’s youngest secretary. It was very well done and it was very good, although it was not an enjoyable film if you know what I mean! I can recommend it, especially if you are interested in history or in that era.

Today we went to church this morning and then came home for lunch. After the children’s rest we went to a lovely lake called Pine Lake in Issaquah that was truly beautiful. It has a designated swimming area, with life guards and a very shaded play ground which we didn’t get to use today! I am planning a picnic there with some friends on Thursday. It was very relaxing and the girls adored it!

This evening Tim has gone to collect our friends Claire and Greg from SEATAC and they will be visiting for a few days! Tomorrow the girls are off to church camp in the morning and I had better go and get the things ready for them! I will have a few hours to myself for the three mornings that they are going! I am planning on going shopping!!

Naomi did a brilliant job at writing Alex’s birthday card yesterday and could write the words, Alex, Naomi and Esther if I told her what letters to write. I had to laugh though as I asked her to write a little ‘e’ but instead of writing a lower case ‘e’ she wrote a small capital ‘E’! It was very funny! Today she said to me, “mummy I have eaten one of Esther’s crisps” and when I said that she needed to give Esther one back, she said to me that it was in her mouth!! Tim and I laughed and said that we didn’t mean that one precisely!

Esther was being very particular on Friday and was very cross with me for not putting my bathmat on the floor in front of the shower but over the bath! She said “No mummy” and helpfully moved it for me!!

Anyway, it is too hot to write anymore and so I will end it here!

The Parrot in the Petrol Station!

Wow! It has been hot with you today! I hope that you have all kept well, out the heat and have drunk plenty of water! I heard that they had even shut some schools but not work places so I expect that caused chaos too! It has not been quite that hot here although it is rising again over the weekend! When is the hot weather due to end with you?

We are fine here, although I am weary after a disturbed night with Naomi. She had tummy ache last night although was mostly fine today. She was tired and grumpy though this afternoon, crying at little things, which is not like her. She wasn’t too dreadful though and we generally had a good day. I hope that she sleeps well tonight and is back to her normal self tomorrow. Esther was her usual cheeky self today though!

We have had a quieter few days but it is getting busy again from tomorrow onwards! On Monday we had a chores day and took the window screens into be mended in the morning and did some shopping in the afternoon. In the evening, Tim and I had some friends round to dinner, which was fun and so it was a quick tea and bath for the girls so that they were in bed before they came. We had a good evening!

Yesterday we spent a lovely morning at home playing at going shopping and doing some craft activities. We all enjoyed it very much! We took Naomi to gym/ dance class at lunch time and after we had had a short rest, went to the park to meet up with Fritzi and Caitlyn. We had a lovely afternoon. The girls all played really well together and it was not too hot! The mums nattered and we left reluctantly later than we should have done really! I went out last night to baby sit for Vanessa and James and so I left Tim to put our 2 to bed which they enjoyed. Naomi told me this morning that Daddy didn’t just sing the songs with his voice but also used the piano too! I think we had all had a peaceful evening – I managed to mend 2 poorly teddies and tighten a pair of Esther’s trousers, so it was quite productive!

Today we met up with Vanessa, Maddie and Alex in the KidsQuest museum, which was fun – the girls got very wet from the water play and Alex really enjoyed being able to crawl unimpaired!! As we left we went into the Pet store to see the animals and the girls had a ride on the merry-go-round and in a car – for a $1 it was good value!!

This afternoon we picked up a pair of new (hopefully tougher) glasses for Naomi, popped to the shop to buy the usual bread and milk and then went to the park! The girls both rode their bikes around the loop before having a short go on the playground! A successful afternoon all round I think!

Naomi made me laugh this morning! She and Esther went outside in the garden to play straight after breakfast and the grass was still a bit damp from the dew. Naomi was telling me that it had rained and I said that I didn’t think it had. She just looked at me and said “Mummy” in this all-knowing, slightly despairing tone as if to say “don’t be silly Mummy, I know better!! I did try and explain about the dew, but by this time, she was convinced that I was making it up!!

We had great excitement on Monday at the petrol station! The man queuing for the pump next to mine had a parrot loose in his car. As I was filling up, the parrot was on his shoulder but then by the time I had finished, it was sitting on the top of the seat, eating a cracker. As we drove passed it, Naomi could see it out of her window, but Esther couldn’t so I had to complete this tight fiddly maneuver to turn the car round so that Esther could see it out of her window! The man clearly wondered what I was doing! They were both delighted to see it though and very excited that it was eating!!

I was explaining to Esther that her Godparents were coming on Sunday and said that Aunty Claire was her Godmother! Well, Esther has been watching Cinderella too many times as her face lit up at the mention of a Godmother and looked very disappointed when I said that she wasn’t a fairy Godmother! I still think though that Esther is expecting to see Aunty Claire arrive with wings and a magic wand! It was funny!

Naomi was able to feel the baby kick the other day when we were having stories! She didn’t want to keep her hand there for too long though as she told me that she wanted me to concentrate on reading her stories rather than the baby kicking! It made me laugh as we also have a picture of Naomi holding a babybel cheese and having a cuddle with Esther. I always want to add the caption “which do I love most, my baby sister or the babybel cheese – the cheese I think!” This time it would be, “which do I love most, the baby or my stories – the stories!!” Bless her! She is sweet though – she was tickling my tummy the other morning and saying that she was tickling the baby!!

Well, that is it for now! Keep cool and I will write on Sunday!

Market!

Hello! Hope that this finds you all well! We are fine here and have spent our weekend enjoying the sunshine with friends!

The girls and I were busy on Thursday morning, going first to Gym class, then doing the food shopping and then having our fringes trimmed! It rained on Thursday afternoon and we went over to see Maddie for an hour, which was good!

On Friday the girls and I went to the park in the morning and then they played in the garden with Nicole whilst I did the housework. In the evening, Tim and I started to watch the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, which we finished last night. We really enjoyed it – it is funny and unusual! We are now hoping to go and see the 2nd one at the cinema in the next couple of weeks!

Yesterday we went to the local farmers market and bought some wonderful raspberries and blackberries. Unfortunately we have all enjoyed them so much that we have hardly any left and we had hoped to freeze some! We’ll have to go again next week! It was great fun; we all enjoyed the wander round and then we went into listen to a brass band that was playing in the barn. Tim and Naomi were dancing whilst I was showing Esther the ‘man who was banging’ on the drums! There were older couples dancing ballroom dances in the middle and then Tim and Naomi were jigging about at the side! It was funny! Everyone enjoyed themselves!

In the afternoon, James, Vanessa and the children came round and we had a lovely time in the garden. The girls played in the bouncy castle and with the sand and Alex really enjoyed playing with the sand. The poor boy kept on wanting to crawl on our concrete patio but it kept on hurting his knees! We tried all sorts of things to persuade him to stay on the mat but he always wanted something just off it! Vanessa will be glad when he starts to walk I think!

The children had tea together before going home and we ate some of the cake that the girls and I had made in the morning! It is very tasty – it is a normal Victoria sponge cake filled with raspberries and topped with some butter cream! Naomi and Maddie also wanted to add sprinkles, which has resulted in a very colourful cake!!

Today we went to church in the morning. I somehow jinx the nursery class as everytime I am down to do it, it is very busy! However, we had a good morning without too many tears and then we went to Kirkland to the Summer Festival that was going on there. It had many of the usual stalls and a stage for musicians, but by the time we arrived the music had mostly come to an end, which was a shame! We had a wander round the stalls though and the children were given free beach balls and balloons! Unfortunately Naomi lost both her balloons which was upsetting but she was pleased by her beach ball though!

When we came home the girls helped Tim water the garden (and themselves!) before it was time for tea! They were both asleep quickly tonight and I don’t think I will be long in following them!!

Esther continues to do well with her potty training although we are still getting on average a puddle a day! Yesterday we had a puddle free day and we were delighted! It usually occurs when she is busy either watching the television or engrossed with playing with something but we have managed to go out and about without a nappy on yesterday and today which is great! Oddly though, she finds it difficult to know when she wants to poo! Most children gain this sensation first but not Esther! I don’t know why I am surprised!! It’ll come in time I am sure but it is a bit trying in the meantime!!

Naomi is fine and has been telling us in the mornings all about the dreams she has had!! I am not sure how many of them are actual dreams and how many of them are in her imagination! She is funny and was very proud of herself this afternoon being able to help Daddy in the garden this afternoon!

Well, that is it for now! Will write on Wednesday!

Farewell again!

Hello! Hope that this finds you all well. We are rather sad here tonight as we have had to say Goodbye to Mum and Dad this afternoon and we won’t see them again until October. We have had a lovely time with them and the girls and I will miss them especially! Esther and Naomi have both said this evening that they want to go to England to be with them and that they want to see them. It is hard!

We have made the most of the last few days with them though and have done a few fun things! I had to take Naomi to the Ophthalmologist on Monday morning whilst Mum and Dad had a wander around Gilman Village – a nice row of shops nearby! Naomi did really well with her eye test and was able to read the letters to the lady rather than trying to guess the name of the obscure picture as usual! How is Naomi supposed to know that the thing up there is an old style telephone? She has only seen them in a museum!! I also ordered Naomi a new pair of glasses and requested ones that were virtually indestructible! Let’s hope these are better than the current pair!

We met mum and Dad up at the village and they had found an English shop selling English food amongst other things! Well, naturally we had to go back and I also had to buy some proper chocolate! It is quite pricy, which my English friends and I agree is probably a good thing but at least I can buy some chocolate hobnobs if I feel the urge!!

After this, we decided that we would go to the Museum of Flight, which I knew Dad would enjoy and we all did!! The girls found quite a lot to do and enjoyed sitting in the fighter planes and especially “flying” the model plane! Well, the nose went up and down and the plane went from side to side when they moved the stick! They both also really enjoyed sitting in the “big plane” and playing in the children’s area. Dad was able to have a good read around and then we all went to see Air Force One and Concord. You are able to go inside them, which was great and I hadn’t been able to do that before! We had a really good day!

When we returned home, Mum and I left Dad with the girls and went to the wool shop, also in the Village. We were there for ages choosing the wool as the pattern specified a particular make which we couldn’t find anywhere and we needed help choosing an appropriate alternative. We succeeded eventually and Mum has gone home with almost a suit case full of wool and some more to be delivered!!

On Tuesday morning we had quite a long time at home before popping to the shop to buy some more plants and a shower curtain for Mum and Dad’s new house. I then dropped Naomi and mum off at Naomi’s ballet class and took Esther, Dad and I home for lunch. Mum really enjoyed watching Naomi and Naomi really enjoyed the class as usual! She beamed and beamed as she was doing it!

In the afternoon we went to the park, which was fun and today we went to Bellevue Square to measure the children’s feet and to let them have a play on the boat as it was a miserable morning! After lunch we took Mum and Dad to the airport and then came home via the park for a bit. Tim is out this evening and so I have written a lot of emails – my hands are beginning to ache!!

Esther has done brilliantly with her potty training this week and we have been brave and gone out with knickers on!! We have had a few puddles – mainly because we think that she gets confused between wearing a nappy and knickers, but she is definitely getting there slowly and I am proud of her! I have been extremely grateful that Mum and Dad have been here to help this week with the potty training! They will go home with the refrain “Edda Wee wee” in their ears I think!!

Well, that is about it for now and I will end it here!

Hope that you are all OK and I will write on Sunday!

Policmen and Baskets!

Hello there! I hope that this finds you well. Has the heat wave ended with you yet? It has got hot again here this weekend and we have been amazed at how quickly the weather can change in such a short time! It was really quite chilly on Wednesday!

On Thursday we had a very routine morning, as Esther had her Gym class and then Naomi, Mum, Esther and I went shopping. Dad was at home! After that we had an early lunch before we all went into Redmond. The girls and I were meeting friends at the park and Mum and Dad were going to have a mooch around the shops! We all had a lovely afternoon until I had a very disastrous half hour or so!

We signed up again this year for a weekly basket of fruit and vegetables that are delivered to Microsoft, but unfortunately they are only delivered to a few places on campus and this year it is not at all accessible for Tim. Consequently we have missed a few of the baskets, which we are not too pleased about. As we were going to be in Redmond, I suggested to Tim that I would collect the basket this week but asked him to let them know that I might not get there before 5:00pm. Unfortunately, the people who distribute the baskets were not in a very helpful mood and said that I either collected them before 5:00 or it got thrown away.

So the girls and I left the play ground early – not easy when they are having a lovely time with their friends!! – and set off to get the basket. I hadn’t gone far when I realized that there was a police car behind me with his light’s flashing – a sign that they want you to pull over, which I did. I was truly mystified as to what I had done but it appeared that I didn’t stop at the stop sign, I only paused!! I could see that there was nothing coming so I had carried on – obviously not a good move!! Anyway, the policeman didn’t give me a ticket, but delayed me and I arrived at the building to collect the basket to discover that I was too late and that the basket had gone! I was very furious!!

After that we had to go and collect Mum and Dad and then we came home! In the evening, Mum and I went shopping although we didn’t buy anything except a couple of books in the end! Still it was good to have a wander!

On Friday, we went on a wool hunt but with no success. We did find lots of plants for the garden though, which has transformed our back bed enormously! In the afternoon Tim and I went away for the night, which was great! We were only in Seattle and so we had a walk and a meal on Friday night and a lazy Saturday morning before returning to Issaquah for lunch!

After lunch we all went to Chad’s 30th Birthday party, held at his parents’ house near Monroe. Well, their house is a beautiful wood cabin that his Father built but it is in the middle of nowhere! We only found it because we were fortunate to come across Melinda putting up signs to the house – we’d have been totally lost otherwise and I am not sure that I would find it again! To get to the house you have to go down a dirt track, I was so relieved to see Chad’s Dad and not a man armed with a gun at the bottom of it!! Mum and Dad were getting nervous that we might need our passports!!

We had a lovely afternoon, although Naomi hurt her foot, which was upsetting and she was rather freaked out by the large dog! We left around 7pm and the girls had one of their twice yearly late nights! Esther was a star and went to sleep and slept really well, but Naomi was a shocker! She woke up around 2 am and it took her until 4am to get to sleep. I got up to her 7 times. I was not impressed.

Consequently she and I were too tired to go into Seattle today and so we went to the park, whilst Mum and Dad took Esther to the Aquarium. Everyone was very upset as the original plan had been that Mum and Dad would take Naomi up the Space Needle but she was not in any fit state to go. Even at the park, she was telling me that she hadn’t any energy! She and I both went to sleep this afternoon and she was a lot more cheerful when she woke up!

This afternoon, I stayed at home whilst the others went for a woodland walk and for a splash in the lake, which they enjoyed! I cooked the tea, and then it was bath time and bedtime for the girls!

Well, that is about it for now, I will write on Wednesday but will have had to say Good bye to Mum and Dad then. Until then, bye for now!

An American Parade!

Hello there! Hope that you are all OK. We are fine and glad that it has cooled down a bit here! What is it doing with you? I hope that it isn’t too stormy! We have had a few thundery showers, one of which woke us up in the middle of the night on Monday! The girls slept through it though.

So we have celebrated July 4th here yesterday! It was fun! Our neighbourhood was involved in the Issaquah Children’s Parade and so we all went to walk (or cycle in the girls’ case) through the town centre! The girls were a bit bemused but it was fun and we were one of the first to end up in the field where the other activities were. This was great as it meant that the girls were able to have their faces painted and to have a ride on a pony without having to queue for too long! The girls were very brave and enjoyed their pony rides! I was impressed! They also liked the little motifs that they had on their faces and managed not to smudge them too!

It was lunch time when we came home and after lunch we stayed in the garden, playing with the bouncy castle or in the paddling pool. Dad and Tim did some DIY which was great – we now have a new blind up in the dining room which will make a great difference on the sunny days! It was a good relaxing sort of day!

On Monday we did some shopping in the morning and the girls and I went to see Vanessa, Maddie and Alex in the afternoon. Mum and Dad were busy in the garden which was lovely of them! We had a good time with Vanessa and the children and the girls all loved running in and out of the paddling pool! Alex was able to go in the paddling pool too and tried to drench all the girls with his splashing! Since they were warned not to splash him, it was a bit one sided, poor things!!

Today, we went to the zoo, which the girls really enjoyed as usual! They were keen to see the gorillas and the giraffes again and also the baby elephant. We managed to see all the things they wanted to see as well as the butterflies. They have opened an indoor play area at the zoo and the girls spent a good 30 minutes in there playing on the climbing things. Naomi and Mum also did some educational things too! Esther just wanted to climb inside the dinosaur egg and to have the shell built around her! She enjoyed pushing her way out!

WE were all tired when we arrived home and it was 4pm so we had a bit of playtime and did some sticker books with the girls before having an early tea and early bed for the girls. Mum and I popped out this evening and found me a large sun umbrella for the garden, which is good! We are hoping to have an evening shop tomorrow if Tim doesn’t mind!

Naomi has been entertaining us with her stories; everything is “a ‘mergancy” at the minute for one reason or another and she is regularly ringing the police on her phone to tell them of the ‘mergancy”! It really is quite funny! She has done really well this week at not wearing a night-time nappy and so far we have not had any mishaps!

Esther is doing brilliantly at her potty training and is really able to tell us when she is needs to use the potty. You don’t have long to get her there and even she says “quick, quick!” these days! Still she is doing very well and we are all proud of her and she of herself! I am not yet brave enough to go out with her not in a nappy but maybe next week!

Well, that is about it for now! Will write at the weekend!

Whidbey Island in summertime!

Hello there! Hope that this finds you all well and not suffering too much from the heat! Mum and I have looked on the BBC Weather today and it looks as hot with you as it is with us! Stay cool!

It has been a real scorcher of a week here with Monday reaching temperatures of over 100. Consequently the girls and I did as much as we could in air conditioning on Monday, going shopping in the morning, having lunch out and then going to the library before we met Mum and Dad in the afternoon. We met Mum and Dad really quickly and were in and out of the airport in about 20 mins – a real record! There had been an accident on the journey down which had slowed us up a lot which meant that by the time we arrived, Mum and Dad had already collected their cases.

We have all had a lovely week this week and have enjoyed catching up with each other again. On Tuesday, the girls, mum and dad and I set off for Whidbey Island which didn’t give mum and Dad a lot of time to get used to being here but it meant that we then had a good few days away, which was nice. Whidbey Island was lovely and we stayed in a great holiday home that I would both definitely recommend to others and would consider returning to. We found that there was lots to do, most of which we didn’t see as we were at the beach and so we definitely haven’t exhausted it yet!

On Tuesday we had a good journey to the house, arriving there by lunch time and then after a rest we went to find a beach. The beach was a bit stony but we did find some sand and we had a good afternoon although it was quite chilly! It was very windy and was the only day that we could have had our cardigans on but of course we hadn’t taken them with us!

Esther was sleeping on a special air bed and she slept brilliantly after she worked out that she needed to stay in bed and not get up every five minutes! I had to be quite firm with her at first and in the morning she said “Mummy said No, Mummy cross!” which showed that the message was understood!! It hadn’t helped I think that Esther and Naomi had; been playing in the bed and using it as a boat, which had confused her I think!

On Wednesday we went to Oak Harbour a large town on the Island that had a great play ground for the girls and we were there a while. It was hot again that day and we were not out in the full sun for too long. In the afternoon we had a fruitless search for a sandy beach and then ended up in the garden of the cottage, playing with the sand pit and the play ground that was for our use! In the meantime, I also found out about a sandy beach in the south of the Island which is where we went to on Thursday.

The beach we found on Thursday was in fact the same one that we had been to in September with Pam and Ken! The tide was out, which left a lovely shallow pool that the girls spent ages running in and out of. They really enjoyed themselves! They also had fun in the sand, mainly jumping on the sand castles that Grandad had built for them! After trying to wash some of the sand off (with not much success!) we had a picnic in another park that also had a play ground.

The girls had a bit of a play in the play ground after lunch before we came back to the house again. Then they played in the sand pit and on the climbing frame as before. On Friday we packed up and were out of the house early, which meant that we had a fairly long time in Langley before heading home again.

On our way home we stopped off in the toyshop in Issaquah and Mum and Dad were able to buy Esther her new bike as her birthday present. WE were all pleased that we found it so easily and Esther is very proud of it! She now has a bell and a tassle which she enjoys playing with! It has a handle, which will make my life a lot easier!

It was lovely to see Tim again on Friday especially as he wasn’t well whilst we were away, which was a shame! I think he feels he has missed out on a few nights of X-BOX playtime! The girls were pleased to see him and only Daddy could finally comfort Esther on Friday night hewn she was awake for ages!!

On Friday night, Naomi went to bed without a nappy on and has had 2 successful nights without wetting the bed! She has had a dry nappy in the morning for a good few weeks but I was waiting until we returned from our trips before I let her try without them. I am sure that she will have the odd accident but I am hopeful that she will soon learn from them if that occurs! She is very proud of herself though and I am pleased for her!

Esther is also being toilet trained!! We started yesterday morning and already we can see her making progress. She is better without any knickers on at all and so whilst we have been at home we have let her run around without any on. She is doing really well I think, given that she is really only 2 years and 2 months and is very excited about wearing Elmo knickers! I haven’t yet been brave enough to go out without a nappy on her; I am going to wait a week or so before I try that but I am pleased that at home she is really beginning to get the idea! We have had a few puddles – enough to make me think that leaving having the carpets cleaned until she is properly dry is a good idea! I will keep you posted on her progress!

Yesterday the girls, Tim and Dad went to the park with the bikes whilst Mum and I went shopping and in the afternoon we went hunting for Elmo knickers for Esther and a new blind for our dining room window. Tim also bought some new toilet seats! The girls’ one has fishes on it which has delighted the children!! He chose a boring white one for us – I am most disappointed!!

Today we left the children at home with Mum and Dad whilst Tim and I went to church! The girls had a good time playing in the garden with the ball pool and they also did some painting! This afternoon the girls went to KidsQuest museum with Tim and Dad whilst Mum and I did some more shopping before we went hunting for a play house we want for the children. We have now settled on one and hope to get it delivered soon!

Mum and Dad have enjoyed seeing the children as you can imagine and are amazed at Esther’s language development in such a short time! Dad was particularly amused by Esther saying “Leave me alone, shut door” to him one day when he was putting her in the car! They have also enjoyed being bossed around by Naomi when she is in one of her ‘management’ moods! She loves to make up and dictate games but they are very long winded! It is very funny! She had us all playing blow football the other day in a café in Oak Harbour which was very funny! She really is a quite a character! They both are!!

Tim and I have enjoyed looking at all the videos that Mum and Dad took of their new house before they came and we are amazed at how much cupboard space that they have and the fact that Mum can fit into so many of them!! Seriously, we think it is a great house and are looking forward to seeing it properly when we next visit the UK (probably next summer!!)

Anyway, that is about it for now, I will write again on Wednesday as usual. I think mum is kindly and busily doing the ironing again and so I had better go and see if I can stop her or at least stop her from ironing pyjamas!!

Until then, Bye for now!!