Day 150

Another one of those busy busy days! The shops have now sold out of "Fleischkäse" (thats a pink meat that we will be having at the party tomorrow) and of turkish bread, which we will also be having at the party tomorrow!
I think I have everything so that no-one goes hungry, but you can never be sure. So I have a back up plan (pasta and tomato sauce) if it all runs out before everyone is full up!

The guests started arriving today (Florian's sisters and family) so it was a nice but quite busy afternoon too. Unfortunately Robert did one of his infamous "crashes" - fighting fit one minute, running a really high temperature the next. Only this time he actually fell asleep on Florian's lap. We put him on a chair and let him stay with us but snooze.


Hopefully he'll do his great recovery act too, and be fine in the morning and for the party
CU tomorrow

Day 149

Credits:
It's your Birthday by Cathy K. Designs
Number Flair by Flergs

Happy Birthday Robert! 5 years old already, sometimes it seems like just yesterday he was born but at the same time, it seems like he has been here with us forever! Love you darling!

He, we, had a great day - and Party! It was the first party without the Mum's staying and with his own choice of guests, and it went really well. We played "Pass the Parcel" which they don't know here in Germany and we took the kids on a "Treasure Hunt" where at the end of it, they actually got to dig up the treasure. they had a great time!

We took lots more photos than I thought we had, so many that I am having problems choosing, here are just a few impressions of the day!
This is Robert unwrapping his presents about 6.45am!!


and here he is listening to Nanna and Pop sing Happy Birthday at breakfast time!


And here they all are digging for the treasure, and finding it!


CU tomorrow

Day 148

Well I had no problem getting into work this morning - still fighting with my computer - I swear this one is older than the one they took away! and every so often it sounds as if it is about to take off or explode!
It took until lunchtime again though before I could work, they were supposed to install the translation software on it yesterday afternoon, whilst I wasn' t there, and they forgot!! So they had to do it this morning, well, they had difficulty and it took forever! At one point I went back to using paper and pen and a dictionary, I prefer the software!
but enough about work. did I say that we were all healthy again, spoke too soon. Florian is back home with a really bad cold, lets hope his early night has him feeling better tomorrow, its Robert's Birthday!
Speaking of which, here is my picture for today - this is what I have been doing this evening, packing goody bags, wrapping presents, and trying the sweeties (shhh, don't tell anyone!)

I got the girls that are coming little pink bags, I didn't think they would be quite so excited about Lightning McQueen!
I have also done a pass the parcel and all being well the goody bags, will be the buried treasure tomorrow, on their treasure hunt. Wish us luck with the weather!
CU tomorrow (and be prepared, it'll be more than one picture, I'm sure!)

Day 147

Fun day at work today, the man at the desk, decided that as I didn't have my own key, he wasn't going to let me in! 99% of the time, my colleague is there before I am, only today she was out of the office and our office was locked! normally no problem, but the man at the front desk, was having a bad day (me too!) and was not going to let me in with a smile!
I knew I should have done what I threatened and just gone home and come back to clock out again, but when I finally convinced him that I really should be let in, the computer there that supposedly had been mended, kicked up the same fuss as when I sent it to the IT department! Great, so I finally got to working about 2 hours after arriving! Not bad going seeing as I am only there for 3.5 hours on a Wednesday!
I can laugh about it now, at the time, not so much!!

Back home the boys and I mowed the lawn, remember the father's day card, apparently I too have to remember that its more fun, with one of the boys between your legs! At least for a part of the garden!
On the other half, they picked the daisies before I got there with the lawnmower!The large daisy at the front is one that Robert found after football training!
Robert loves the training part of the training, but when they put all but one ball away and play a game he tends to leave the pitch and finds something else to do! Mmh, I think I need to take him to watch the adults play, so that he knows what football is all about! I did think putting the TV on on Saturday evenings would do, but Dad informed me that football season finished this past Saturday, ooops! Can you tell, I'm not a fan!

CU tomorrow

Day 146

Boring day for my blog, housework and tidying up of the barn ready for our big party on Sunday - have I mentioned that yet, not only is it Robert's Birthday this week, no on Sunday it's Florian's and the following Friday it is mine! And both Florian and I have a BIG birthday this year, yep, its the BIG 4-0!! So that calls for a BIG party, which of course means, that someone has to clean the barn ready for it. Which is what I did or started to do this afternoon. Robert kept coming up and saying "you're making the barn all shiny and sparkly for my party, aren't you Mummy!" He hasn't realised yet that he is getting two parties!

But no pics of the barn until it is ready for the party, can't put the kids toys away yet, too many days that they "need" them before the party!

So I have been waiting for my "model" to come home. And he has just obliged, but look he stuck his tongue out at me!Obviously he wasn't too thrilled about modelling whilst eating!
CU tomorrow

Day 145

Shopping this morning our local drugstore has 10% off of all toys this week - great offer especially as I needed a few toys for Roberts B-day on Friday. I got his present, good job he can't read yet, so I can tell you I got him some new Lego (two motorbikes and a formula 1 racing car) and then I got some bits and bobs for his party on Friday. I also got some shopping for that done too. So, so far so good, its a busy week, you can expect me to sound a bit more fretful towards the end of the week, and it helps to vent on my blog, so don't mind me!

Roberts little friend and his Mum came around this afternoon, and we had the paddling pool out, lots of water, plenty of mud and huge amounts of fun!
here they are drying off after splashing about in the water! Cute aren't they! (just need Dad to photoshop the feet out of the pic!)

CU tomorrow

Day 144

Today was another beautiful sunny day, so much so, that I got the bedding washed and dried almost before lunch. When I hang it out in the garden, the boys sort of helped out! Well, pinched the pegs and had their own fun with them!Florian got back in the afternoon and got all the things on the roof off for the boys, but they had the most fun running around naked playing in the mud with some water - you can probably imagine the colour of the water, when I showered them later!
My eye is nearly back to normal, only one red one now, maybe tomorrow I will look normal again! And can get back to my contact lenses, I definitely prefer them to my glasses!
CU tomorrow

Day 143

Woohoo, finally some good news - my eyes are feeling much better! I am not sure that they are looking that way yet, but I don't really go around checking the mirror that often so I am not worried, and as you can see in these photos, the boys don't seem frightened of me, so I can't look too bad!We spent another day in the garden. Florian couldn't join us today he was at his 20 years Abitur Reunion (the equivalent of a High School Reunion). But he'll be home tomorrow afternoon to get all the bits that we shot onto the roof of the lower part of the barn! Just a warning for you Florian if you are reading this!!
CU tomorrow

Day 142

Today didn't start off to good. I got up and my eye was nearly swollen shut, so instead of going away for the weekend as originally planned, I went to the eye doctor. He took one look at me and goes "THAT does not look good" and prescribed some new drops, which have at least taken some of the pain away. But it still looks horrible! In fact that horrible that the photo I have I am not going to post on here.
Instead I went around and took a picture of the candles Florian lights when he is here. A much prettier sight than my eyes - believe me!Despite my eyes I still spent the day in the garden with my family, and had a nice time. I asked the doctor btw about how catching this conjunctivitis is, and we did everything right yesterday to avoid spreading it. Lots of washing hands and no kissing, was what he told me. So disinfecting everything yesterday too, on top of his recommendation should stop anyone getting it. Fingers crossed, and fingers crossed that my eye doesn't swell up again over night!
CU tomorrow

Day 141

Ok, sometimes when it rains it pours and I don't mean the weather! Florian also has conjunctivitis now, so he went off to the emergency doctor this morning (all doctors are closed today except them) and got some drops for his eyes too! His drops are completely different to mine and seem to be working much better! I have spent most of the day running to the bathroom to wipe the muck out of mine, and mine really hurt too! But despite all of that we did have a lovely day!
Mum and Dad came with my nieces and we had a barbecue and spent all day in the garden. The weather forecast for today was rain and thunderstorms, but nothing of the sort here, it was just right! The kids played on the trampoline, and all the other toys, here they are all on the slide at the same time!
And I wanted to show you the card the boys gave Florian for Father's day. they also got him a present - an airplane to fly in the garden....just what florian has always wanted ;o)
The boys had great fun with them, until they lost one right at the very top of the pear tree, and the other on the roof of the house opposite! Oops! Oh well, maybe sometime the wind will blow them both down again!
Anyways here the card.

Credits:
Why don't we...? by Sweet Digi Scraps - Round 3 SYTYCD contest at DSA

to be able to read the journalling better, just click on the image

CU tomorrow

Day 140

Well, what can I say, after so many weeks off work I finally made it in the this morning, only it is a good job that tomorrow is a bank holiday, as tomorrow I wouldn't be making it in - I - yep ME - have conjunctivitis now! It started at work and with contact lenses, that is not a fun thing to get, when you haven't got your glasses with you! Oh well, I managed to see enough to get me home after my time was up, and once there I put my glasses on, and it looks like I'll be wearing them for the next week or so!
But I didn't let it change any plans, this afternoon Robert went to his friend's to play and Richard and I went shopping. Then it was football training for the boys. here is Richard practising scoring!And Robert - look at that kick, it went in as well!
They were so cute. And on June 24th they have their first game!! That will be so fun!
OK, not much more on the computer for me, my eye is actually VERY sore, now I know why Richard was a bit grumpy when he had it!
CU tomorrow

Day 139

Woohooo! Richard went back to Kindergarden today! His eyes were much better today, he still had a a bit of "sleep" in them this morning, but his eyes didn't look sore anymore and no one said anything at Kindergarden, so I think we are finally over it!
I enjoyed my morning shop without any "help" this morning!
This afternoon my friend and her kids came around and the weather was beautiful so we were able to be in the garden all the time. Her little boy 10 months older than Robert broke his arm last week, and has it in a cast now, so there wasn't much he could do, but just being with my boys took his mind off of his injury and he looked like he was having fun!
They left about 5pm and just as they were leaving Robert's best friend came around, so it was more fun for the boys - here they are jumping on their trampoline!

Then it was out for a ride on their bikes, Richard is getting really good at it, I just have to get him to turn on it too, as he can go for a long while straight on, I have to then catch up and turn him around!
CU tomorrow

Day 138

So much for us all being healthy. Richard seemed all better on Saturday but yesterday afternoon the gooey stuff in his eyes was back, and this morning it wasn't something I could ignore and send him back, so Richard was home with me again today. I will try hard not to jinx it, but I think he will be back at Kindergarden tomorrow, his eyes haven't been bad all day, so with a lot of luck...
This afternoon it was very obvious that the boys were late to bed last night, and since they have been in bed not a peep, so obviously they were. hopefully tomorrow they will be in a better mood.

I went out and took a picture of one of my favourite flowers in my garden this evening, some sort of Iris, just beautiful. The lupins are crowding it a bit, but it is still surviving and showing off!CU tomorrow

Day 137

We had naughty boys today, but we survived. Robert showed his stubborn side this morning refusing to wear his coat outside, so we came back indoors until he put it on, BUT he wouldn't so we never did get back outside this morning!
This afternoon we went to friends for a birthday barbecue, it was lovely and warm so we did spend the afternoon outdoors.
The boys found a new friend to play silly games with them, here they both are trying to wrestle our friend! Looks like they lost! hihi!

CU tomorrow

Day 136

After the past week, today was a pleasure! This morning we all got up quite early and went to the hairdressers where all my men got a hair cut! here are the youngest, first Richard looking quite unhappy, but he was very brave and didn't fidget at all, he just eyed up the sweetie jar on the table by the mirror all the time!

And here is Robert having the finishing touches added to his hairstyle! We thought someone had exchanged Robert, he never ever sat this still for us, when we cut it!

After the hairdressers it was shopping (we needed more ice-cream and a pizza to go with watching the Eurovision Song contest), once home, we mowed and weeded the garden. It wore the poor kids out watching all the work going on, and Richard fell asleep on his Daddy's lap this afternoon, so cute!

My sleeping beauties! love how they are colour-coordinated with the couch!
CU tomorrow

Day 135

Daddy's home! And don't the boys look happy!
I am too, of course, but I don't have a pic of that. I do want to share this one of Richard, as it just about sums up my past week!
And you'll never guess why he was screaming like this.... it was because Mummy and Robert were singing "Bob the Builder" karaoke style. I know my singing isn't great, but I didn't think it was that bad! so funny!

Well, Robert was ill as well today, his super high temperature was back, so looking on the positive side of having both of them home from Kindergarden - I didn't have to brave the kindergarden teachers! I think I've found my sense of humour again. Thanks for letting me vent on here it really helps! And for the lovely comments. I think next week will be much better, at least I hope so!
CU tomorrow

Day 134

Note to self: Eat the chocolate you bought to calm the nerves before you go to Kindergarden to get either or both of the kids!
I didn't do that today. Robert was fine again this morning so he went to Kindergarden, whilst Richard stayed home with me (both eyes infected today, poor thing). When I went to pick Robert up, I had to take Richard with me, once at Kindergarden I got a BIG telling off for taking him. Not sure what they expected me to do with him. And my nerves are not the strongest today, so by the time I left there I was in tears, stupid I know, but I just couldn't handle it. I'm OK again now, although, I did put Robert to bed tonight with more Calpol and a very high temperature again. He said something about earache again - does it ever end....!

This afternoon we went in the garden, no kids there we can contaminate. We planted some of the seeds that the boys planted a few weeks ago. The zucchini (courgettes) to be precise. I found a spot near the compost heap, supposed to be a good place for them. We'll see. The boys weren't that interested but they did help a little bit with the watering!
As you can see, I am not expecting these all to survive the snail attack, and that is why I have planted them all more or less in the same spot! I did put lots of slug pellets down, so hopefully, some will survive!

CU tomorrow

Day 133

So I have decided to only post the positive things of today seeing as it wasn't much better than yesterday. So what was positive -
- it wasn't raining when we went to the doctors,
- we didn't have to wait too long
- the shop had chocolate for my nerves- my friend brought me some Tzatziki from where she works
- Robert's temperature dropped quickly after having some medicine - perhaps I should elaborate a bit on this one. I picked Robert up from Kindergarden and thought he was trying to get out of Kindergarden seeing as Richard is not going to be going for the rest of the week, he was complaining of a headache and walking so slow it was annoying. Only once we were home I touched his forehead and nearly burned my fingers (well you know what I mean!) he had a fever of 39.8°C (103.64°F). He didn't want any lunch, so I put him to bed, unheard of normally. When he woke up he had some Ibuprofen and by teatime no temperature. Fingers crossed all will be well tomorrow!
- Florian might be home an hour early on Friday! I hope so, a cuddle would be soooo nice!
- the boys played nicely for a little while - here they are sorting out their "fuzzy felt" without fighting!CU tomorrow

Day 132

What a day...!! It started off OK and just went downhill, but let me start at the beginning. I had to take my car in to be serviced today, no big deal, Opel pay for the service as it is a leased car. I thought I would go into town and then pick it up before picking the kids up, but it was clear from the start they wouldn't be finished until after lunch. Oh well, no problem, I got them to take me home and they sort of promised to bring the car out to me when finished, so I didn't have to go back WITH the kids.
Once home I get a phone call from the adult learning center, the cookery course I had booked for my SIL for Xmas has been cancelled - GRRRR! And it was such a great Xmas present!
Next a phone call from the car place - the service was going well, BUT the cable to the radiator had been BITTEN by a marten and was leaking - GRRR! That of course is not covered in the leasing contract, so another unexpected 50 Euros cost!

I then walked and picked the kids up at Kindergarden and GRRRR Richard has some gooey greeny-yellow stuff in the corner of his eyes.

So guess where we have to go in the morning! (Doctor was closed this afternoon) Conjunctivitis is going around at Kindergarden and it seems Richard has it! It was so embarassing phoning work again, but there is no way they will let me take him into kindergarden if it is conjunctivitis.

Then after lunch again, when they were supposed to be playing in their bedroom it went quiet agian - and this time they were playing with water in the bathroom - GRRRR! And this after being told that they were to ONLY play in their room!

Then we were all picked up to go back to the car place to pay the 50 Euro bill.

Once home Robert was playing in the kitchen whilst I was on the phone to work, he comes in the lounge - guess - yep SOAKING wet - GRRRR! He had driven his cars through his juice somehow and there was juice everywhere. But I was so good this time - I stayed very calm, gave him the kitchen roll and made HIM clean it up. This brought more tears than had I shouted at him, he was not a happy chappy, as you might be able to make out from this picture.

and it doesn't stop there! I have just been called upstairs by a very tearful Robert sat up in bed. Apparently he broke a giraffe at Kindergarden and had to bring it home to be mended! Yep, I have just been super-gluing a giraffe, which he conveniently forgot to tell me about, as he knew I might get cross about that too!
NOT a good day today, sorry for the rant, but I needed to get it off my chest!
CU tomorrow

Day 131

No pictures of the boys today, they are in the doghouse!! I had to take myself outside to have a good scream this afternoon, after discovering that them not fighting upstairs and being quiet, was NOT a good thing!
Richard called me over the babyphone "Mummy, Robert got me wet!" Uhoh what does he mean.. so I go charging upstairs, and once in their room I had to back out again. they had turned it into a LAKE!! Yep, no joking, there was water all over the floor (in front of Roberts bed). They have this Aquadraw thing, which means no crayon or pencil mess on floors or furniture, what it doesn't say on the box, is that boys get creative the older they get! And it seems the more water they think they need! They ditched the pen that comes with it, in favour of - get this - TWO bottles and one drinking beaker! I don't know how many times they refilled, but it will be at least until the weekend until the carpet dries out. Any good suggestions for helping that to speed up.

So I didn't take any pictures of the boys today, instead I want to cheer myself up, with this picture of the bunch of Lily of the Valley I picked yesterday. They smell so lovely!

CU tomorrow

Day 130 (Mother's Day)

Ooh I got a lay in this morning. Florian got up with the boys and kept them so quiet, and I didn't get up until 10am! Wow, what a great start to the day!
The boys were so excited when I did get downstairs cause finally they could get their presents for me out of the plastic bag, that they were hiding in! And here we all are me, the boys and their presents - the beautiful trees!


why are we sat on the kitchen floor? Well, the boys had hidden their presents under the table! Funny little boys!

and another milestone today! Look at Richard here, on his own no help on his big boy bike!
He has finally sussed out that looking ahead is what gets you where you want to go! He now only needs help in getting the bike going and being around when he stops is a good thing too, but he'll get there!

It was a beautiful day here today, unfortunately Florian had to leave this afternoon (meeting in Belguim in the morning) and missed most of it. The boys and I were at a neighbours playing for a while. It was fun.
Now I am getting ready to watch the Da Vinci Code (on English TV tonight), but I do want to wish my Mum "happy Mother's Day" here too! Love you lots and lots Mum!

Credits:
Miss Mae and template by Sweet Digi Scraps

CU tomorrow

Day 129

HA!! I've remembered!!

I got an award a couple of weeks ago from Bentonflocke (check out her blog here), she is a lovely German lady who visits me daily and leaves me the sweetest of comments, and this is the award she gave me, which I give right back! ;)


And these are the "rules":
The award is for “blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more.”

Eight might be difficult, so here in alphabetical order...

Danyale,
Dinphy,
Jennilyn
Leigh
Sara G.
Susie

Thanks ladies for your fun blogs and letting me stalk you all! :)

Now about today, Florian took the kids out shopping this morning, I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that tomorrow is Mother's Day here in Germany!! I enjoyed the peace and quiet at home!
This afternoon we went into the garden and as well as the daily jumping on the trampoline, we played with some bubbles too!

Until it started to rain, then we came in and watched the new DVD I bought the boys "Over the Hedge", I enjoyed it, Robert was frightened he was going to be frightened and spent most of the film complaining we were watching it! Silly boy, cause really it was just funny, not scary!
CU tomorrow

Day 128

Not really an exciting day today, doctors for a check up on our coughs this morning - she thinks my air passage way is probably inflamed from all the coughing, which is causing the strangling sensation at bedtime. I now have an inhaler so hopefully it will improve soon! But enough about that.
This afternoon it was more bouncing on the trampoline, but I didn't get any pictures then I forgot, so I just used my favourite subject for when that happens - Sunny.
here he is curled up on my lap!

CU tomorrow

Day 127

Busy day today, Richard was back at Kindergarden today, he seems fine again now, still a bit of a chesty cough, but nowhere near as bad as earlier in the week. And as I am still off sick, I sent him back to Kindergarden and let them know that if he was bad I was home and would come and get him. But no worries there, he was fine, and I had quite a quiet day. Broken only by some housework.
I picked the boys up a just after 4 and once home it was straight into the garden to make the most of the sunshine, which returned for a short stint today! Supposed to be gone tomorrow again, bother!
I ended up with my boys, one of the neighbours boys and robert's best friend all bouncing on our trampoline! They had a great time!
And whilst they were having a good time, I took some photos around the garden, and look who posed for me!!CU tomorrow

Day 126

Two major things happened today, first Robert had his first "play date" without me! Yep, he went to his best friends this afternoon without either me or Richard, and he looked and I am sure felt so grown up! And me, I was so proud of him. He even went with his best friend to football training, where I joined them after the second major thing of the day.
I had won a prize in a local photo competition and today I got to meet the mayor and collect my prize. I was one of the top ten with this photo (not my pic of the day btw)
, the full moon in January. The theme of the competition was the seasons in the village.


I won a voucher for 2 people to go to any cultural event of my choice in the village. So Mum, watch out, sometime we'll need a babysitter! ;)
Richard wasn't quite so impressed with the prize, I don't know quite what he was expecting but it certainly wasn't an envelope, as he loudly kept asking "where's your prize Mummy!"

I didn't take any pictures there, but I did take a few at football training which we joined after getting our prize. And Richard even decided that he did want to play football after all!
here they both are. but my photo of the day has to be this one of Robert after playing for an hour!

I think he will sleep well tonight!

CU tomorrow

Day 125

Richard and I spent the day at home only venturing out to take Robert to and from Kindergarden. The weather today is a bit chilly, so indoors was definitely the right place to be!
We did some paper mache this afternoon, but I think I was the one having the most fun! Robert didn't want to get his hands all sticky, and he really did have the least messy hands when we had finished! Mine were the worst, which is the reason I didn't get any pictures this time!

This is my picture for the day, Richard relaxing in the armchair looking at photos of us on the old calendar! So cute!CU tomorrow

Day 124

Well, first of all, Richard and I both have bronchitis, what is not helping the fact is the amount of pollen floating around at the moment - you can actually see it floating around at times it looks like a yellow cloud coming at you! Oh well, we have some cough mixture now, so with a bit of luck, we'll soon sound normal again!

The boys insisted on going in the garden today, and it was so cold to compared to the weekend! We didn't stay out there too long, but I did get shot of them playing.
Robert was flying an airplane and Richard was "doing drawing"!

CU tomorrow!

Day 123

Is it getting boring - it was another fun day in the garden! We barbecued again today, and when we mentioned that, Robert asked if his best friend could come and join us, as usual I had plenty of food, so no problem. And we had two very happy kids! well, three if you count his best friend!
They had to leave after lunch though, but we all stayed in the garden, until the weather changed. This photo was taken just before. The boys were having fun drawing. (Oh and Robert hasn't hurt his face, just painted it with dirt!)

It would be nice to say that we were all healthy, but no, Richard now has the bad cough too. So guess what I have planned for the pair of us in the morning!? Another trip to the doctors.
CU tomorrow

Day 122

Another lovely day here, so again I ignored my cough and cold and joined the family in the garden. In fact I even did the lawn mowing! Needless to say I am now worn out, but I'm not complaining! Oh before I took over the lawnmowing, look who was having a go!

I did a bit of weeding too, and look what we found whilst weeding - a "Maikäfer"- need to look that up in English, ok, that was easy enough, apparently it is the same in English "May beetle". According to my book they used to be a pest with millions of them flying around and now you are really lucky if you get to see one.

And as you can see, we really studied this little fellow!

CU tomorrow!

Day 121

Well, I am still full of cold, but determined not to let it get me down - just have to try not to laugh out loud too much, cause then the cough remembers to annoy me!
We had friends round this afternoon for a fun barbecue in the sun! Yesterday i would never have believed that we would be spending the afternoon and early evening in the garden, but the storm yesterday certainly cleared the air and today was beautiful!

The kids spent most of the afternoon bouncing on the trampoline and I got this cute shot again of Richard, but check out the jury in the background. Looks like our own garden version of Trampoline Idol!! So funny! Maybe that is what Richard was laughing about too!CU tomorrow - happy international scrapbooking day too!