For the last few months everytime we drive past a house with scaffolding up outside (be it a new built house or an old one getting renovated)it gets claimed by one of the girls. It's gotten to the stage where they've started sharing the houses.
"This kapputen house is mine Ciara, but you can have the next one."
Before this recent development we often had floods of tears when driving, if all the building sites tended to be on one side of the car and were therefore all claimed by one girl.
The other intriguing part of this stage, apart from why it started (I don't know), is that claiming the house is always followed by the statement
"my daddy will fix it",
if Z is in the car he is always asked to confirm this
"won't you daddy?" (good daddy that he is, he always answers yes!)
Now don't get me wrong Z is good with his hands but building from scratch or ground up renovations? Not very likely!!
My girls (according to them at least) are proud possesors of at least 40 properties in Germany and England (come to think of it in Belguim as well- although that was a new office tower beside the motorway- good luck fixing that one Honey!!). Not least the green Town Hall with a clock on in Fishguard, Wales, which although we only saw it 3 or 4 times and have been back for more than a month, regularly pops up in Enya's conversation.
PS For those who link to the picture don't be surprised that it's not green. I think the scaffolding was up because they've just painted it!!
26 Sept 2011
14 Sept 2011
Quiet books completed
So remember in April/May when I posted that I was trying to make quiet books for the girls..... well they are finally finished!!
They went with us to England and were great for keeping the girls entertained in restuarants and for short periods at my folks. The problem we had with them however was that Enya can't read/play with hers in the car as she gets car sick (poor kid gets it from me!). This of course meant that Ciara was not allowed to play with hers in the car either or tantrums ensue.
Without futher ado the pictures
The quilted front covers- my first attempts at free hand quilting
Enya spirals, Ciara hearts
Daisys we´re still practicing buttoning!
Shoes We haven't really started on these skills so not yet in use
Owls and Pigtails these pages are a huge favorite, clicking the leaves back onto the tree, tucking the owl back into his hole and playing with the girls hair
Clasps Ciara has conquored these 2 pages, Enya is still working on them
Cars Another huge favorite, probably the pages they play with the most for which I'm very grateful as these pages were very time consuming to make and personalise. My favorite pages too!
Letters Again not yet in use although they both recognise the first letters of their names as well those of my baby sisters and Z's.
If Z and I can just agree on the rules We'll start teaching them the rules for these games next: Noughts and Crosses (played with buttons instead) and Nine Mans Morris
A couple of friends have hinted they would like a quiet book for their kids for christmas, Given how long it's taken me and the fact I'm in the middle of knitting Ciara a jersey it certainly won't be happening this christmas!
PS had the 4 year old well child visit yesterday, need to go back in 6 weeks to get Enya's hearing tested again- they think she may have hearing problems, I think she just didn't want to co operate. She is great on non co operation!!
They went with us to England and were great for keeping the girls entertained in restuarants and for short periods at my folks. The problem we had with them however was that Enya can't read/play with hers in the car as she gets car sick (poor kid gets it from me!). This of course meant that Ciara was not allowed to play with hers in the car either or tantrums ensue.
Without futher ado the pictures
The quilted front covers- my first attempts at free hand quilting
Enya spirals, Ciara hearts
Daisys we´re still practicing buttoning!
Shoes We haven't really started on these skills so not yet in use
Owls and Pigtails these pages are a huge favorite, clicking the leaves back onto the tree, tucking the owl back into his hole and playing with the girls hair
Clasps Ciara has conquored these 2 pages, Enya is still working on them
Cars Another huge favorite, probably the pages they play with the most for which I'm very grateful as these pages were very time consuming to make and personalise. My favorite pages too!
Letters Again not yet in use although they both recognise the first letters of their names as well those of my baby sisters and Z's.
If Z and I can just agree on the rules We'll start teaching them the rules for these games next: Noughts and Crosses (played with buttons instead) and Nine Mans Morris
A couple of friends have hinted they would like a quiet book for their kids for christmas, Given how long it's taken me and the fact I'm in the middle of knitting Ciara a jersey it certainly won't be happening this christmas!
PS had the 4 year old well child visit yesterday, need to go back in 6 weeks to get Enya's hearing tested again- they think she may have hearing problems, I think she just didn't want to co operate. She is great on non co operation!!
11 Sept 2011
Eating update
I've been meaning to do an update on eating forever but just never got around to it.
We've been making gradual progress recently- for the longest time C and E refused to eat ANY fruit or veg. Enya occasionally could be convinced to eat apple but THAT WAs IT!! Finito no other veg/fruit passed their lips.
I discovered a book which gave me some peace of mind- it is full of sneaky recipes to get healthy stuff past the kids radar. Brownies with spinach and blueberries and the like. The best part is I don't feel guilty when they ask for more, I quite happily let them try more (yes, I know the amounts per brownie are quite small but it's still more than they would be getting if they didn't eat them). This gave me the courage to branch out and try some other things- pizza now always has an extra layer of pureed veg under the tomato sauce and cereal always has a bottle of baby fruit in it. The best part of it is they like the baby fruit so much they get a bottle to eat at kindergarten instead of the normal youghurt at break time.
They have also rediscovered avo and banana puree which is now a hot favorite at dinner time and are even trying corn on the cob. Previously they would refuse to try anything new, now they are prepared to lick new things and if the taste agrees, will then try a spoon. I know it's baby steps but we are making progress. Enya has even extended to begging Z for his tuna jacket potato, potatoes were a huge no-no. I must have the only kids in the world that refuse to eat french fries and crisps.
So in summary we are slowly expanding the repertoire of fruits and vegs that will be tried although we still have a LONG way to go. Hey it took me over 30 years to start eating anything other than peas, corn, carrots and apple so I guess genes do breed true ;0)
PS the girls have shot up again: Ciara is now 109cm tall (43 inches) and Enya is
104cm (41 inches).
We've been making gradual progress recently- for the longest time C and E refused to eat ANY fruit or veg. Enya occasionally could be convinced to eat apple but THAT WAs IT!! Finito no other veg/fruit passed their lips.
I discovered a book which gave me some peace of mind- it is full of sneaky recipes to get healthy stuff past the kids radar. Brownies with spinach and blueberries and the like. The best part is I don't feel guilty when they ask for more, I quite happily let them try more (yes, I know the amounts per brownie are quite small but it's still more than they would be getting if they didn't eat them). This gave me the courage to branch out and try some other things- pizza now always has an extra layer of pureed veg under the tomato sauce and cereal always has a bottle of baby fruit in it. The best part of it is they like the baby fruit so much they get a bottle to eat at kindergarten instead of the normal youghurt at break time.
They have also rediscovered avo and banana puree which is now a hot favorite at dinner time and are even trying corn on the cob. Previously they would refuse to try anything new, now they are prepared to lick new things and if the taste agrees, will then try a spoon. I know it's baby steps but we are making progress. Enya has even extended to begging Z for his tuna jacket potato, potatoes were a huge no-no. I must have the only kids in the world that refuse to eat french fries and crisps.
So in summary we are slowly expanding the repertoire of fruits and vegs that will be tried although we still have a LONG way to go. Hey it took me over 30 years to start eating anything other than peas, corn, carrots and apple so I guess genes do breed true ;0)
PS the girls have shot up again: Ciara is now 109cm tall (43 inches) and Enya is
104cm (41 inches).
7 Sept 2011
Monster Party
Having celebrated C and E's actual birthday in England with my folks [photo and post still to come....maybe;0)], we had the german celebrations last weekend. The weather was surprisingly fantastic considering that this summer has been one of the wettest on record. After a horrible last week we had over 25 C with sunshine on Saturday, we even had to borrow umbrellas to shade the terrace so we wouldn't get grilled during lunch.
As you already know I often refer to the girls as monsters (my pet name for them- not meant as an insult) so I thought it fitting to give them a monster party- they were delighted!
We were once again up until 3am the night before (morning of) the party but I think the cake, biscuits and party treats were worth the effort. I'll admit I chickened out of inviting loads of kindergarten friends to the party, we had 9 kids there as it was! However next year I'm going to have to host a kiddys only party and I'm shaking in my boots already (any offers of assistance will be gratefully accepted- mom, Ren and Jax ;0))
birthday cake
The 5 candle and cookies is because one of the boys invited had his birthday actually on the Saturday (he is celebrating later as all his friends are still away for the summer holidays)
Sugar cookies my latest hobby
The kids are still to impatient for proper party games so instead we did a bit of gingerbread decorating, which was fun for young and old alike! The best part was when they got tired of decorating, they just started eating the deco instead!
Enya
Ciara
Other party fun was trampolining (the girls got an early birthday present at the start of summer of a huge trampoline) and harvesting our landlords plums and blackberrys for them. The kids had a great time climbing trees and filling buckets-isn't great when chores are regarded as fun!
We finally got to bed about 2am that night but it was a great day and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
Planning has already begun for next yeat!!!
As you already know I often refer to the girls as monsters (my pet name for them- not meant as an insult) so I thought it fitting to give them a monster party- they were delighted!
We were once again up until 3am the night before (morning of) the party but I think the cake, biscuits and party treats were worth the effort. I'll admit I chickened out of inviting loads of kindergarten friends to the party, we had 9 kids there as it was! However next year I'm going to have to host a kiddys only party and I'm shaking in my boots already (any offers of assistance will be gratefully accepted- mom, Ren and Jax ;0))
birthday cake
The 5 candle and cookies is because one of the boys invited had his birthday actually on the Saturday (he is celebrating later as all his friends are still away for the summer holidays)
Sugar cookies my latest hobby
The kids are still to impatient for proper party games so instead we did a bit of gingerbread decorating, which was fun for young and old alike! The best part was when they got tired of decorating, they just started eating the deco instead!
Enya
Ciara
Other party fun was trampolining (the girls got an early birthday present at the start of summer of a huge trampoline) and harvesting our landlords plums and blackberrys for them. The kids had a great time climbing trees and filling buckets-isn't great when chores are regarded as fun!
We finally got to bed about 2am that night but it was a great day and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
Planning has already begun for next yeat!!!
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