Day 212

busy day today, we spent the morning trying to tidy up the boys bedroom. I say we, but it should really read "I", cause everytime the boys found something to put away, they had to play with it first!! So basically I did most of the tidying up. BUT at least they can now play in there again, as they have floor space again!
This afternoon, well late afternoon, we went to pick Florian up at the station and then we met friends at the funfair, that is on near the station.
The good thing for us, was that it was really empty, not so good for the fair, but being there with 4 small kids it makes it much easier on the nerves. The boys enjoyed quite a few rides, this is them on their first ride.Richard always looks so serious, but I think he is just so concentrated on "holding on tight", cause that is always the first thing he tells me when he gets off "I held on tight, Mummy"
CU tomorrow

Day 211

So this time 4 years ago, I was probably dancing, or was I watching my Dad make his speach, or were we announcing that we were pregnant again... not sure, but I do know that 4 years ago I married the man of my dreams, today is our 4th wedding anniversary, our real one - the church wedding anniversary.
And yesterday as if they new, Aldi, had potted plants on offer and lo and behold they had the flowers that were our table decorations there. So I treated us to the plant. Thank you Aldi for thinking of us! hihi!Mum, if you are online, let everyone know in the comments what it is, cause there was no lable with the plant and I can't remember! thanks!

The boys were in a weird mood today, I finally plucked up the courage to let them out into the garden unsupervised by me, so I could get the ironing done, and how long do you think they were out there? Yep, 2 minutes, then they came and watched me iron, how silly!

So when I finished I took them to the playground at Kindergarden, in the hope that other kids would be there, but no luck to start with, one of their friends from kindergarden came about 15 minutes before we had to head back for tea, but I think they enjoyed seeing someone else other than me.
This was before she got there, when Robert was taking off pushing Richard on the "Nestschaukel" (nest swing).CU tomorrow

Day 210

So this morning I used the bribery tactic with the kids, when we went shopping. The bribe being that they get to choose which ice-creams we buy. Mmh, guess how long that worked for, right, right until we put the ice-creams in the trolley! Why o why aren't the freezers near the checkouts in Aldi! I suppose really they weren't that bad, as people still had the "oh, aren't they cute look" on their faces, but I really don't like them running wild in the store!
But we survived and I didn't forget anything completely. Had to go back in before we left to get Mum her card for the mobile, but I did remember it before I got back in the car!

this afternoon we spent in the garden again. I did half of the lawnmowing - only half because I thought the lawnmower was broken, when I kept having to get the grass away from the blade. But after speaking to Florian this evening, it was probably just because I was trying to cut the really long grass down too low, so I will have to try again tomorrow.
The boys during this time, were working on perfecting the mud building site or whatever they call it - I took a picture of it, so you can imagine what sort of mess they were getting themselves in to.And then I have this one of the pair of them bouncing or should that be - spreading the dirt on to the trampoline!CU tomorrow

Day 209

OK, so I finally worked out, that I got the numbers of the days all muddled up over the holidays and that is why I was out of sync with my other project 365 friends, but I will correct all of the days sometime soon, probably not tonight as I should be heading to bed, when I have blogged.

Like I said yesterday my friend and her kids came for the day and it was great. We spent all day in the garden and even had a barbecue at lunchtime. I had a good teacher on barbecuing, and I got the coals just right and the steak and sausages too. Thank you Florian!
the kids played most of the time in the bit of digging dirt we have for them, only they added a LOT of water from the paddling pool and they were caked with dirt - so much so that we had to hose them down before they could go anywhere near a bath!!!
Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of them at their dirtiest, but I like this one, I just love how they are both "sat", I couldn't do that if I tried, I would fall straight over and they sit like it for ages!

Not sure what we will be up to tomorrow, other than shopping, so much for trying to get it all on Saturday so I didn't have to take them to a shop, but we have run out of ALL breakfast cereals, so it is a must tomorrow.
Cu then

Day 208

Sunshine! It was a beautiful day today, we were outside all day. Starting quite early this morning, when we took the paints into the garden (the only place I don't stress about painting!) The boys wanted to paint some toilet paper rolls they had found in the bathroom VERY early this morning!Richard painted all morning really, Robert lost interest about 10 minutes after starting, but I think they both enjoyed their morning!

I know they enjoyed their afternoon and it certainly wore them out. I was VERY brave and took them to the outdoor swimming pool in the next village. Robert's best friend and Mum were going and wanted us to join them. I have always sworn I wouldn't take them to the pool on my own, but the Mum wasn't going to take no for an answer, and somehow managed to make me feel guilty about denying the boys some fun in the sun and water. So, I explained to the boys that if they misbehaved or did not do as they were told, when they were told, I would be taking them straight home, and went. And it was actually fun. There was a slide there and Robert had no fear whatsoever, he was up and down it like nobody's business. Richard and their friend were up and down too, only they braked at the bottom and then let us catch them!
I think now I will have to take them again! Only not tomorrow, one of my friends and her kids are coming for the day!
CU tomorrow

Day 207

More washing but I won't go into detail on that. I am off in a minute with my friends to a restaurant (www.cafedelsol.de) and Florian is babysitting the kids. Sounds good to me! Thank you Florian!
This afternoon we were in the garden, and whilst in England I got the boys some Spotters Guide Books and this afternoon they had great fun "spotting" various bugs and insects. look at my boys here, I am so pleased that already they are enjoying the books, I know it was something I loved when I was little!
Oh and just incase you missed it, the holiday report is below this post!

CU tomorrow

Day 193 - Day 205

I'm back! did you miss me? I missed blogging and choosing my daily photo, and having just gone back over the past 2 weeks worth of photos, I wish I had chosen them daily and made a folder for them! Anyways, we have been in the UK for the last two weeks and having a GREAT GREAT holiday, and a very busy one, with something different going on every day - be prepared for a LONG post. So here goes:

Day 193 (Monday)
On day 193 some of us went canoeing and this year Robert was old enough to go along! Doesn't he look cute in his gear. This picture was taken when we met everyone for a picnic a third of the way along the river. It would have been a great place for a picnic and chat. But the weather had decided that after taking Robert's picture the heaven's would open, and wow that was some rain. It wasn't too bad for Mum, Grandma, Richard and me, as we didn't HAVE to get back in a canoe and continue rowing. Actually when the picnic finished so did the rain, but it started again not long after they were back on the river! Robert had the time of his life, and was not in the least bothered by a bit of rain! And if it was up to him, he would have been back on the river the following day!

Day 194 (Tuesday)
Tuesday we took the boys to Dick Whittington's Farm Park, with the full intention of going in to the indoor playground. Well as you can see the boys were much happier outside on the go-karts, which are actually before you get to the till to pay. And when we did eventually get them off of the go-karts to go and pay, the girl there recommended that we came back another day as the indoor playground was quite full with older kids. So we got our rides on the go-karts on that day for free.

Day 195 (Wednesday)
It was another VERY unsettled day today, rain, sun, rain, sun all day, but going back over the photos, I think it was more rain than sun, as most of the pictures are indoor shots of the kids! Here is my favourite from that day. My Dad took it and isn't it just too cute!

Day 196 (Thursday)
The day the boys have been looking forward to for ONE WHOLE YEAR! Our return to Thomasland at Drayton Manor Park. And again it was a GREAT day for all of us. This year a whole crowd of us went. And Lee my brother loves rollercoasters, so I didn't have to join the boys on the "Troublesome Trucks Rollercoaster". Here they all (Richard, Florian, Robert, my brother and niece) are just before the ride set off. Richard said afterwards that he didn't like it, and he didn't go on it again, but Robert did. My second niece was with me taking pictures, but she braved it later in the day! We got to the park when it opened and we left as it closed - 8 hours at Thomasland, it was AMAZING! And the boys faces were lit up the whole time we were there! We certainly got our money's worth! And are already looking forward to our next trip there next year (yep we really are already booked up again!)

Day 197 (Friday)
After such an exciting day on Thursday we took it easy on Friday! Well, Florian and I and my brother and his wife. We took the kids to the indoor playground today (another very wet day) and whilst they played we sat on the side with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. When the four kids get together we really can relax as they play so nicely together!
This picture however was taken in the evening in Robert and Richard's room. they had a weird wall cupboard in their bedroom, which apparently is a perfect hiding place! (I wonder if they visited Narnia whilst in there?!)

Day 198 (Saturday)
My SIL checked the weather forecast and decided that it was OK enough for a trip to the beach (Porthcawl) today and we all went along, packed with waterproof clothing for all of us and wellies. Fully expecting that we would be on the beach dressed in them and digging sandcastles until the rain got too much for all of us. BUT we were in for a SUPER surprise. We had SUNSHINE all day, and I got quite a sunburn on my neck ( the bit i missed when creaming up). It was a GREAT day. This shot is when the boys went into the sea for the VERY first time ever. It was so cold, but it didn't bother them in the least! Soon after this shot they were back at the sea with only their swimming trunks on and wet all over! Not me I only got my feet wet!

Day 199 (Sunday)
Don't know what sort of plan the weather had, but this holiday it was hard to know just what we would be doing or what to wear, cause it was changing all the time. And Sunday was no exception, our original plan was a picnic in the Forest of Dean and playing time in the stream there. We moved the picnic to the indoors of my uncle's home cause of rain. But when the sun came out about 3pm we packed up all the kids and headed into the woods to play in the stream. Here are all the kids building a damn with Uncle Lee! He was the only one of us with wellies to brave the water. We left there when the rain returned. My boys were the only ones to actually fall in the water, but I had enough changes of clothes for them to do it twice, but I didn't tell them that. Once was enough!

Day 200 (Monday)
The weather looked beautiful when we got up, so we decided to take a chance and another trip to the beach (Barry Island this time). It wasn't quite as sunny as at Porthcawl, but it was still a lovely day. The kids braved the cold water again, running in and out of the waves until we caught them shivering.
Here they all are sunbathing (and yes Dinphy, they didn't lay still for long, but long enough for a few photos)

Day 201 (Tuesday)
Shopping today and on our own! Yep, Mum and Dad took all of the kids and Florian and I and my brother and his wife got to go shopping. We went to Gloucester to the outlet center there and spent all of our money I think. First stop was Marks and Spencers for clothes, then Next and then we decided it was time for lunch. Right next to Pizza Hut was a cinema, so after lunch we went to the cinema to see the new Harry Potter film (HP and the Half Blood Prince). It was good but only for those who have seen all of the films or read the books. Before the cinema we had popped into Toys'R'Us to get the boys a little present, we ended up buying something for all of us instead as it was soooo much cheaper than in Germany. A Wii, the main objective being for me to lose some weight using it, fingers crossed!

Anyhow whilst we were out enjoying ourselves without the kids, Mum and Dad had taken them all to the indoor playground again (it rained ALL day) and here they are enjoying a little picnic Mum put together for them. Salt sticks, Hula Hoops, cheese and apple!
Day 202 (Wednesday)
Today we helped friends take down their tent in the rain (nothing worse is there), and then we all went to the Dean Forest Railway (steam engines). We had been there 3 years ago, and that time it rained so much, that it was silly that we stayed, but this year we had sunshine, and I now know just what a lovely outing it can be. We didn't ride the train this time, we just watched them come in and go out again. And we had a drink at the cafe there, which is in a train, although we sat out on the platform. here are the boys playing around there. There is a picture too of how they fell down, but this is the cuter shot!

Day 203 (Thursday)
Today it was another visit to the Forest of Dean after doing most of the packing for tomorrow. We went to Beechenhurst. Once the rain decided to dry up it was a lovely morning. We had lunch there and then my brother, niece and Robert went on the climbing tower! They thoroughly enjoyed it! My niece was a natural talent. She got on it, was shown what to do and promptly went all the way to the top - THREE times in 20 minutes! My brother was proud of her and embarassed at the same time, as he was not doing so well. Although I think he made it up to the top once! Robert two years younger than my niece did really well too. He made it to just above the door (he is on the right) and that is my niece right near the top!
After that it was back to finish packing the car and to a restaurant for a meal.

Day 204 (Friday)
A LONG journey home. According to the TomTom when we left it was 1111km home. We left at 3.45am in the hope of catching the 8.15am ferry. Which we would have without a problem, BUT the other ferry company (P&O) had a computer crash and held up EVERYONE! It took all day for them to clear the roads into Dover. We were fortunate enough to be near the front of the traffic jam and actually in the docks, but had we left any later, I don't know when we would have left the UK. As it was we had to wave bye-bye to the 8.15 ferry but we did manage to get on the 9.30am ferry along with 30 other cars! It was empty as they still hadn't figured out a way to get the SeaFrance passengers out of the queue. it was unbelievable. I still can't believe they let it get that chaotic. Oh well, after 16 hours we were finally home! it was a VERY long journey, but all in all the boys were great, even if they do have VERY small bladders! Florian reckons he now knows why my Dad used to only let us stop once before we got to Calais, good training for us. Although we were older when we started having to make the long journey!
Anyhow here is a picture of Cologne (Köln), notice the clouds, they were very entertaining the whole journey, shame that every so often they had to rain on us.

Day 205 (Saturday)
I love going on holiday and I love coming home again, but the washing... not so much, here is half of it waiting to be washed, the other half is already folded up and waiting to be ironed! That will keep me busy!
We spent most of the day just relaxing and playing on our new toy. Robert is really good at most of the Wii sports games. A favourite is golf! Expect Wii pictures soon!

Wow, that has taken me over an hour to write, but now my "diary" is all up to date and I managed to only post one picture a day, although I would love to show more of the great pics we took, but there are thousands so I won't be posting here, I'll put them into layouts first and post on my other blog

CU tomorrow

Day 190 - 192

Just quickly popping online to show you the last three days of photos! Back soon with a bit more of an update

so this is Richard on Day 190 in the car! Just love his little face in this one!

And this is Richard again, after eating a "Smarties" Ice cream, you never would have guessed, would you! Day 191
And here are my boys and nieces enjoying (or were they fighting over) a game of connect 4. Day 192


CU soon

Day 190

Not a day for the garden today, although the boys did get to go for a walk at Kindergarden, but by the time they got home, I think they may actually have been worn out. So here they are doing a jigsaw or two!
Going to see some relatives tomorrow, so we are all very excited.
Bye 4 now

Day 189

Before Robert's little friend popped in this afternoon, we were busy taking all the red currants off of their stalks, and having great fun doing it. here are my little monsters at work.Once Robert's friend was here, though we never got around to actually making the jam, we'll see if we get around to it tomorrow, if not I might freeze them.
Not much else to report today, so I'll CU tomorrow

Day 188

A day of pampering for all of us, well I thought I was being pampered, I don't suppose the boys did - we all went to the hairdressers. No, not at the same time. I went in the morning, whilst the boys were at Kindergarden. I had a whole lot chopped off, and GONE are all the grey hairs that were all too visible!
Once I had finished I picked the boys up at Kindergarden, and we went straight to their hairdresser (one of their friends Mum's is a hairdresser), for a "short back and sides" - they look so cute now, or as they are boys I should be saying COOL!

This afternoon we played with the self-timer on the camera to get some pictures to show Florian and Mum and Dad our "cool" hair! Unfortunately the boys were the ones pushing the button and they upset the setting a bit, so we are missing some of our cool hair, but its still a cute picture!
After our photo session we went in the garden (between rain showers), it was hard to believe that on Sunday the boys were running around in only their swimming trunks, and still sweating. Today it was quite cold compared to that. But we found something to occupy us. We picked the red currants. The boys thought it was great fun, tomorrow I'll be making some jam (jelly) from them, after the boys get them all off the stalks for me!

CU tomorrow

Day 187

Busy day today, after shopping it was the dreaded ironing - wow, that was a lot of shirts that I had to iron, but all done now! The weather cooled down drastically compared to the last few days. I got caught in a rain shower when putting the shopping in the car, but it was actually nice to cool down! I did think of breaking into song "singing in the rain", but I was too embarassed!

After lunch the rain cleared and the sun came out and I took the chance to do the lawnmowing. But I think next time I decide to do it, someone needs to remind me to wear the wellies or something - look at my toes!CU tomorrow

Day 186

Busy fun day today! This morning Mum and Dad came with the girls (my nieces) and to bring our car back, which has finally had the missing part (cruise control) fitted! the boys were so excited about everyone coming, but when they got here, they both went and hid - strange boys!
They soon thawed out though and the 4 kids had a great time in the paddling pool, on the trampoline and in the mud!

We barbecued at lunchtime - delicious! nothing like a barbecue on a hot summers day!
And this afternoon it was off to the football field for the boys first "official" game! It was the "Mini-Bambini's" vs. "the dads, grandads and mums" (some of them). And the only rule being - the kids MUST win! And win they did! It was so cute, but so chaotic. Here are my two supposedly playing - looks more like tormenting Daddy to me!They got a litte trophy too, so cute, I'll have to remember to take a photo of them with the trophy!
CU tomorrow

Day 185

Hot, hot, hot! That's the weather summed up today!
But despite the heat we managed to get some work done in the garden. this time I remembered the "before" and "after" photos!
So here is our hedge before we sorted it out!And here it is all nice and tidy.
I think we did really well. Florian cut and I cleared up. Sunny has now lost his sleeping place on top of the compost heap, but this time there was so much that I just couldn't keep it free for him. He'll have to make himself comfy on top of all the leaves and branches now!

And I have to show you our first "official" produce from the garden - our zucchini. Its from one of the plants Mum brought up for us, the ones we grew from seeds, never survived the snails and chicken. Oops!

And I was so excited about the zucchini, that I took pics of its "journey"!

CU tomorrow

Day 184

Busy morning today, first I dropped the kids off at Kindergarden, then I went straight to the doctor to have the stitch out of my "operation" from last week. Finally this evening I have no plaster on my cheek. And in a week from now, I doubt very much anyone will see a scar!
After that it was food shopping at Aldi, then I should have gone to our other doctor to pick up a prescription for Florian, but oops, I forgot. I finally remembered at 12.50, they close at 1pm, so I gave them a ring, and one of the girls that works there, lives right nearby and she popped it in the letter box for me! I'll be taking a box of chocolates in next week for the girls there. So nice of them.

We spent the afternoon in the garden again, about 5pm it started clouding over, didn't cool down at all, though. A friend dropped by and her son enjoyed playing in the pool and mud with the boys! Florian got home just after they left.
But still no rain from the big clouds, but then at about 9.30pm the heaven's opened, I tried too take a picture of it, didn't turn out to well, but it is the only picture I took today, so its todays picture!CU tomorrow

Day 183

Work today so not much to report. Once home we went straight in the garden for an ice-cream, then whilst I was chatting to the neighbour over the fence, the boys got out what they wanted to play with - the paddling pool! they even managed to get the hose all hooked up properly too. But before they turned it on on their own, I went running over! Good job too, cause the hose wasn't on quite properly at the tap in the barn, that would have made a BIG mess!
Once the paddling pool was full, they transported the water over to their "digging place" in buckets, and this is where they played for the rest of the afternoon.We used the paddling pool then for cleaning of the dirt every so often! But it needed a proper shower before bedtime!

CU tomorrow

Day 182

Can't quite believe it, but summer is still here. So guess what, we were in the garden again with the paddling pool! the only difference being that today we had to leave it early to go to football training! But the boys didn't mind too much! Just putting socks on, was not quite what Richard had in mind, he wanted to play in his sandals with no socks on! :o)

I took the camera to football today AND remembered to get it out of the bag. I got some good shots of them all playing and having a good time!

Before I go to bed tonight, I am finally getting the poison spray out, I still have thousand of ants trying to take over my lounge. So tonight I am going to spray right along the skirting board and in the cracks and with a bit of luck, I will get rid of the invasion - it is NOT funny anymore - so wish me luck!
CU tomorrow