Silas 'Faniel

Hello! Welcome from a sleety and cold Seattle! I hope that the weather is more temperate with you than it is here! We haven't had snow on the ground yet but it is evident on the trees on the tops of the mountains and it is very cold! We have had lots of hail today too. Naomi calls it Hailey and then laughs as Hayley is the name of her best little friend at school!

We are fine and have had a busy week, although tomorrow will be a bit calmer. The house has been quiet with our visitors gone and the girls have been talking about Grandma, Grandad and Grandma Beads a lot and have been missing them, as have we all! We spoke to Mum and Dad on the webcam today which was good though!

On Monday we had a very early start as we needed to be in Tukwilla (about 40 mins from here) for biometric (photo and finger prints!) recordings at 8 am. This meant that we woke the girls up at 6:15 so that we were there on time. However being there so early meant that we were all done by 9:00 which was great and then we were able to get Naomi to school for the rest of the morning and Esther to Gym class at 10:00. After collecting Naomi from school, we came home and saw a man who came to give us a quote on air conditioning in our home; he was here about an hour and after that it was time to take everyone to the doctors for Silas' 4 month check up and immunizations. The doctors were very slow and I was very cross as Naomi ended up missing  a good chunk of her lesson. however, she got there for most of it. After this we came home and had a quick tea and the children were in bed for just after 7 which was good.

After the children were in bed, I went out again to a playground meeting and finally got home about 8:45. So it was a very busy day! Yesterday was slightly better as we didn't need to be anywhere at a special time in the morning. We went to get the cars' emissions testing done which was required for the car tax and then we went shopping. In the afternoon we met up with Ulrike and Rosie and the children and had a very chilly play in the park for an hour or so!

Today, Naomi had school in the morning and Esther, Silas and I were at home during that time. After lunch we went to the library and to the little food store which was fun. We chose some good books I hope! I even chose one about learning Spanish which I thought Aunty Helen could help us with when she comes next week!

The children are fine. Esther calls Silas "Silas 'Faniel" which is very funny! Silas was very unhappy yesterday after his immunizations but was better today. I started giving him some baby rice on Saturday as he was very hungry in the evenings and over night and he seems to have taken to it well. He holds the spoon and won't let go as if to say" Mother, why haven't you given me this before!!" Hopefully he will be more like Naomi to wean rather than being like Esther!! I will take it very slowly as he is still only 4 months but he is enjoying his tea time baby rice and for 2 nights this week he only woke up once and not until  3 or 4 am, which was lovely!

Silas is very active and loves to scoot around off his mat or play gym. He pushes off with his legs adn uses his arms as if he was swimming adn goes off both really fast and far! It is really difficult to change his nappy as you have to catch him before he scoots! He also likes to lie on his tummy if he has something interesting to look at. I put him in front of a mirror today and he could see himself and so he was occupied for quite a while!! He is lovely though and full of smiles. This evening Naomi came charging into the bedroom, to see Silas, making a silly noise and my reaction was to say to her "Naomi you will frighten him" only to then look at Silas and see him give Naomi the biggest grin ever!! He obviously knew that it was his lovely biggest sister and was just very happy to see her!

Well, that is about it for now! Take care!

The future's bright; the future's orange!

Hello! Hope that this finds you well and apologies once again for the delay in writing the blog! We have had busy days and busy evenings this week and I have run out of time and energy by the end! Silas, Naomi and Esther were all awake last night and Silas was awake for hours so I have been very weary today! I did manage to get to sleep this afternoon for a bit which was lovely!

We have had a fun week and are very sad that our visitors have to leave tomorrow. Esther was very upset this evening when I said that Grandma, Grandad and Grandma Beads were leaving tomorrow and said that we will be lonely. I tried to cheer her up by saying that Aunty Helen and Uncle Niels are coming soon and that Granny and Grandad are coming after that but she was still upset and convinced that she was going to be lonely. Bless her!

We had our usual day on Monday with Gym class and dancing in the afternoon but Mum was not very well, which was a shame. There was no school this week, so Naomi has been at home with us, which has been good as we have been able to do day trips once Mum was better on Tuesday.

On Tuesday Dad had his birthday and we had a great day in Kirkland. We parked by the lake and all walked up to the park for while but it was very chilly and so we were not standing still outside for long. We walked back through the town and spent a long time in the train shop, which the girls enjoyed and then we drove up to Woodinville and found the Hanna Andersson Outlet store which was great! I bought some lovely clothes for the girls for a reasonable price and would definitely go back again. I popped in to Top supermarket for a few bits after that and then Mum and Dad popped into the Eddie Bauer Outlet and bought Dad a leather jacket which looks very smart on him.

In the evening we had a birthday tea with a cake that had multi coloured candles! Naomi told Dad that he couldn't have 60 candles as the house might catch fire!! We stuck to 12! They were very jolly, even if they burnt very rapidly! We discovered on Tuesday that Naomi is a brilliant photographer and she took some amazingly good photos of Dad, Mum and Silas and Esther and Grandma Beads that evening and then some more on Wednesday. She holds the camera really still, gets all of a person in the photo and likes to choose and frame her pictures! I was impressed and need to charge up the battery for Tim's old camera so that she can take photos for herself here (she has been using Mum and Dads camera up until now!)

On  Wednesday we went to the park in the morning as it was lovely and sunny. Mum and Grandma went to Pacific Fabrics and loved it whilst we were at the park. After lunch we went to Ikea to buy the girls an easel from Mum and Dad as their Christmas present. It is a brilliant present as the girls have loved drawing or chalking on either side and have spent ages using it the last couple of days. I also bought some kitchen things to replace one that are either warn out or broken.

In the evening I went shopping with Grandma to QFC as I needed to go before Thursday evening and didn't think I would have time during the day yesterday. (I was right!) We went into Seattle yesterday morning and spent a lovely time walking through Pike Place Market before finding a great little French bakery for lunch. We went and bought some cookies from the cookie shop that sells sugar free and vegan cookies which is great for us and then went to Discovery Park to show Grandma how beautiful it is down there. Mum and the girls and I had a quick run on the beach whilst Dad and Grandma and Silas walked along the path flor a  bit. We were talking to a very interesting man who had started up the Issaquah Theater 20 years ago! He drove from Montana with a truck load of seats apparently! Anyway, he now lives in Seattle and was very chatty yesterday!

Yesterday evening Melinda and Chad came round for supper and pancakes which was great fun. The girls were in bed early as they have been waking up too early for them and have been very grumpy. They didn't do too badly today, considering that they were both awake last night. Today we went to Redmond in the morning to show Grandma Microsoft and to do  a bit of shopping and then the children, Dad, Silas and I were at home this afternoon. Mum and Grandma spent 2 hours in Pacific Fabrics and came home having had a lovely wander!

Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be good enough to go out in the morning either to Pine Lake Park or the the little zoo. If not we shall try KidsQuest I think. Somehow we shall have to get our visitors to the airport in the afternoon which will be sad! We have had a wonderful time with them. Esther has been very gentle and kind to Grandma Beads and they have had some lovely playing times together.  Naomi has had a 1000 stories told or read to her by Grandma or Grandad and Silas has been well cuddled and played with.

Dad has been a star this week and has painted our little downstairs cloakroom. He has done a brilliant job but we did a less brilliant job in choosing the colour. It is bright luminous orange and I am not at all keen on it! Tim likes it, so at least one of us does!! It really would be a great advert for the Orange phone company!! I am not sure how long I can live with it and might take a brush to it soon!

Anyway, that is all the news for now. I probably won't write on Sunday but plan to get back into the routine of things next week! Until then, take care!

Grandma Beads visit Week 1

Welcome from a wet Seattle and Happy Chinese New Year! we were at church today and sang in Chinese to celebrate with our Asian friends today! It was fun!

Mum, Dad and Grandma have now been here a week and we have had a fun but not too tiring week. The beginning of last week especially was very quiet as our visitors were getting over their jet lag and also the girls had their usual activities last week. On Tuesday we met up with Rosie and Ulrike at the boat for our play group and on Wednesday we showed Grandma around Issaquah whilst Naomi was at school.

We had a free day on Thursday and went to Factoria Mall to do some shopping and then went to the park in the afternoon. On Friday after school and music class we went up the Space Needle which was fun and also took the monorail into Seattle for a short trip!

Yesterday it was sunny and so we went across to Bainbridge Island which was very pretty and we had a good day there. Today Grandma came with us to church (where she was the oldest probably by a good 4o years!) and then came home with Tim and the girls. I stayed on to help interview a prospective church leader and came home mid afternoon.

The girls have thoroughly enjoyed having every one here. They like the fact that there are so many people to read them stories and to play with. Esther has taken Grandma "shopping" on a few occasions and has also played Doctors with her! Naomi likes to pretend at playing schools (with us as her pupils of course!) and has been drawing some marvellous pictures of Cinderella's carriage!

Naomi put on a splendid puppet show last week which was funny and a surprise to me; she knew what to do, which I didn't expect as we have not been to see one! Dad has become chief story teller in the car with Naomi asking him to tell her a "funny mixed up story" and so we have learnt all about "Billy the bee with a sore knee" and a hedgehog with dirty prickles! She has enjoyed them immensely!

Dad was pretending to do some magic last week and made Esther "disappear!" He waved her magic wand and then we all pretended that we couldn't see her. After  a while he waved the wand again and we could see her again! Whilst she thought it was great fun she wasn't too sure and looked a bit nervous when we were pretending we couldn't see her! It was very funny! Naomi I think got it but Esther clearly didn't!

Silas has been a star and has been smiling and gurgling at everyone! He has loved having all the attention and has been picked up and cuddled a lot! We sit him next to Grandma on the settee, which he loves as he enjoys being able to see what is going on around him. He is nearly laughing and gives out a short chuckle when he is being tickled!

Tim and I went out on Friday for a very nice meal in North Bend which was good! It was lovely having some time together and the meal was delicious! I would definitely go back again and recommend it to others!

That is about all the news for now! Will write next week sometime!

Visitors have arrived!

Hello! Welcome from Seattle! We are delighted to report tonight that Mum, Dad and Grandma have arrived safely this afternoon! They were early and so they were waiting for us all! We weren't expecting that!

We have had a lovely day today and it has been mostly warm and sunny - or at least when we wanted it to be! We went to church this morning and then went and had a nice lunch at a restaurant down by the water where the posh boats are. After lunch we drove to Discovery Park where I fed Silas whilst it rained a bit and then the sun came out and it was warm and sunny! We had a wonderful hour on the beach, collecting shells and walking along before driving to collect our visitors. There are some driftwood "sculptures" that people have been adding their pieces to and so we each added a bit to them too!

Once home it was lovely to show Grandma our house and the girls were very excited about showing Mum and Dad their new beds in their new room! This evening we have chatted and unpacked once the children were asleep. Esther was funny this evening, she suddenly said to Grandma "Grandma Beads (the children's name for her) you've not got your beads on!" We were impressed that she had noticed! Silas has been very good and has beamed and talked to everyone! Naomi has been chatting and very grown up too!

On Friday night Tim and I went out for his very late Christmas party. It was a fun evening and great to be able to have an evening without the children (Melinda and Chad - wonderful people that they are - baby sat for us!) I decided that I wouldn't wear the new dress that I bought and will take it

back and it was the right decision. The party was held in a club and so it was very very loud and hard to make conversation. Still we managed fairly well and it was nice to get to meet a few of Tim's colleagues and their wives.

During the day, I left the children with Vanessa and her Mum (also wonderful people) whilst I went to have a manicure! IT was my Christmas present from Vanessa, so it was good that I could use it for a special occasion. In the morning we had music class and school as usual, which was fun.

On Thursday we had the morning at home before going to meet Jo and Zoe at the park. WE haven't seen each other for weeks and so it was great to be able to catch up! They had all been at home for Christmas and we had experienced our long power cut so we both had stories to tell!!

On Saturday we had a slow day. Melinda and Chad stayed over night and then went onto see Chad's parents from here. We went shopping in the afternoon and then in the evening I was busy finishing up the clearing up and making cakes.

That is about it for now! I will write on Wednesday hopefully with news of the first few days of their trip!

One Slipper on .....

Hello! Hope that you are all well! Finally the girls are asleep tonight! They took for ever tonight when sometimes they go to sleep really fast! Esther even took her nappy off because she said she didn't need it any more! However, she still has quite a wet nappy in the morning and so I am not prepared to risk it yet! I hope they sleep in in the morning otherwise they will be grumpy girls!

We had a bit of an odd start to this week really. Esther suddenly and dramatically was ill on Monday afternoon. She had been fine all morning and had had a good gym class and lunch and then around 3 PM she suddenly went all hot and nearly fainted. She then said that she had a head ache and neck ache which really panicked me as I thought she had meningitis but once the paracetamol (Tylenol) kicked in she started to feel a lot better and so I guessed it probably wasn't meningitis. By tea time she was eating bread and butter and when Tim came home she was all smiles and giggles although she was still hot. Her temperature didn't really come down until yesterday morning despite ibuprofen and paracetamol. She still looks a bit pale and has dark rings around her eyes but other than that she seems fine apart from a cough and a croaky voice. It was all very strange.

Despite this we did manage to get Naomi to gym class, which was good but we didn't get to play group yesterday which was a shame. We did a bit of shopping instead. Today Esther, Silas and I met up with our friends Amy and Elisabeth and we all had a lovely morning. Esther and Elisabeth played so well together that another mum commented on it which was nice! Mind you I had totally lost track of time and suddenly realised it was 11:00 and we had to go and get Naomi from school!

We met up with Maddie and Alex this afternoon at the park, which was good! The children got very muddy jumping in a puddle and the girls took off their tights. Esther was complaining that her feet were cold and voluntarily and without prompting she went and fetched her Elmo Slippers! However only one of them made it on to her feet for longer than 90 seconds ( nearly 3 whole minutes!) before they came off again. Still it was a start!! She is a funny thing!

Well, not much news other than that really and so will end it here! Hope to write on Sunday but it may not be written until Monday as it will depend on how Mum, Dad and Grandma are feeling!

Friday morning!

Hello! Hope that this finds you well and that you have had a good weekend. We have had a quiet and peaceful weekend which has been very relaxing and enjoyable! We are all getting very excited about Mum, Dad and Grandma arriving this time next week! Well, I think it is passing Silas by right now, but then again most things do! He will love having extra people to cuddle him though when they arrive next week!

WE had a great morning on Thursday as we met up with Riley (Naomi's friend from school) and his Mum (Brooke) and sister (McKenna, who is in Esther's gym class) at the Bouncy place in Preston for a morning session of bouncing! the children had a great time and ran around like mad things bouncing away! Esther is still a bit unsure but she still enjoyed it too. Silas was fascinated by all the noise and movement, which was good!

Unfortunately, after we finished there we had to go and get 2 new front tyres for my car. Although it has fixed the problem, I was not very happy with the system because, although I booked an appointment, I still had to wait until the other cars had been dealt with before they put the tyres on. So, the car was there for nearly 3 hours which is a long time to entertain the children in a few shops with no park nearby especially when you don't know how long you are going to have to wait. Eventually though we did get home and after a rest for us all the girls played outside and then in doors whilst I sorted out Silas and played with him for a while!

In the evening, I went out to the new church group that I am going to, which was good fun!

Friday morning was a disaster though! WE have normally been getting into school around 9:01 or 9:02 something like that but on Friday we didn't get to school until 9:25. TI was terrible! At first, nothing much happened to make us slow except for the fact that I hadn't laid the children's clothes out the night before so we had to choose clothes before we could get dressed, but then everything started to go wrong! First Naomi spilt her water and so she had to go and mop that up, then she coughed into her sleeve whilst she had a mouthful of flakes and so, after breakfast, she needed to change it which meant taking her dress off first. Then Silas did a mega poo, one that normally I would have put him in the bath for but didn't have the time but it was all the way up his back and through 3 layers of clothing!! It was just one thing after another and I hope that it was a one off as we can't be that late again!

Anyway, after this disastrous start, things improved as Esther and I had a good time at dub dub (music class) and also did some shopping and got my hair cut before hand. I bought Esther a toy as a well done for coming out of nappies. It is an Ariel drawing board that has a reel of paper that you tear off and pull the next one through. She has enjoyed it although she was naughty today and scribbled all over the floor. It won't come off. I have taken it away from her for 2 sleeps in the hope that that might help her to remember.

We started the new session of music class on Friday and I was pleased that the music seems a bit more interesting this semester! The stories seem more interesting too and the children are older - about the same age as Esther which should be better for her.

After we collected Naomi, we went back to Target so that I could buy a pair of straightening tongs and a gift for Naomi from Aunty Helen. Naomi chose a OHP like thing that projects princess pictures on to paper that she can trace. It is good when the sun is not shining!! Otherwise it is hard to see the picture and the poor child was doing it on the floor of the laundry room where it is dark!

In the afternoon Kevyn came round to entertain the girls whilst I sorted out Silas and my clothes which was a good job done! In the evening, Tim and I were very lazy and were asleep early which was lovely!

Yesterday we had a morning at home; Naomi and Esther were pretending to be the sausages in the sausage roll when I was changing their sheets and were rolled up in the duvet! I was eating and tickling them which they found very funny! it was pouring with rain yesterday and so we went to the Barnes and Noble book store for a read of the books and to the pet store to see the animals in the afternoon.

Today we went to church this morning and then spent the morning at home, which was good. After church we went into Fremont so that Esther could go to the toilet and so that Naomi could see the Troll that lives under the bridge. They enjoyed that too!

Well, that is about it for now. I will write on Wednesday, all being well! Take care!