A ballerina, a pumpkin and a zebra

Happy Halloween as we have been saying all night! We can't quite seem to get this Halloween thing right. The last 2 years we have been short of goodies and so this year I thought I had it sorted only to find that we have had the quietest year since we have lived here! I think the fact that our clocks don't turn back until next weekend (I think!) and the fact that it is a day when the children finish school early has made a huge difference.

We went to see Tim in costumes like we have done for the last 2 years. They all looked very cute and were very good collecting candy and remembering to say thank you! Silas would have happily crawled around but then he would have got squashed so we carried him! The girls knew what to expect and were very happy! We even managed to bring home a princess Halloween balloon , which as you can imagine has made the children all very happy!

This morning Silas and I went to Renton to finish sorting out my new car and collect the licence plates. We did very well and arrived both at the garage and at school early, which was good. The garage were very good too and realised that doing the job would be easier than giving me the hire car that they were going to give me which meant that I was able to bring my car home again and I won't have to go back which is good!

Yesterday we had to take Mum and Dad to the airport in the morning, which was not fun! We have had a great time with them and it was lovely having so much help for such a long time! They won't be back until March so we have a long time until we next see them, which is a shame!

In the afternoon Naomi and Esther had dance and gym class. Naomi has moved up to the next class which means that i now have an hour or so each week with each of the girls independently which is great. yesterday I took Naomi for a walk and then a drink in the cafe and then Esther and I popped to the same shop that I went in last year to buy the Halloween costumes. This year she saw a pumpkin and decided to buy that - she looked very sweet!  I am looking forward to spending some time with each of them on their own, especially Naomi as she doesn't get much on her own otherwise. I know that we still have Silas but he is a bit easier some how!

On Monday, with Mum and Dad still here, we went swimming which was fun although we were worried at the start. The lovely warm little pool was closed off just as we arrived for cleaning and so we ended up in the big pool, which was quite chilly I thought! We were in there for  a while but just as we were leaving, we were able to go into the little pool again which was a great way to warm up! Silas surprised us at enjoying it and Naomi and Esther were doing really well with their swimming.

All the children have mastered something new in the last few weeks. Naomi has learnt the skill of blowing her nose, which is very helpful! Esther has learnt to peddle her bike and Silas is learning how to clap! He did it a couple of times this afternoon in the car, which is good! He is funny though as he usually starts to pat his knees if you clap for him!

That is all for now! I hope that this finds you all well!