Day 243

Nothing ever goes according to plan around here! So this morning I got us all out of the house at the right time, to the busstop on time, and that is where it all went "wrong"! It was really cold this morning, so much so that our heating came on, and at the busstop, Robert came over to me after putting his bag in line (that is how the kids queue to get on the bus!) and then he comes over to me "Mummy, my ear hurts" and he follows this up with his really bad cough! Uhoh, they told Florian at the doctor's that if he complains his ears hurt or he gets a fever, to go straight back to the doctors. So that's what we did! Robert and I took Richard to Kindergarden and then back home to wait for the doctor to open.
Robert watched TV and I did the ironing until it was time to go.
His ears are still a bit inflamed but nothing to worry about. We have a different cough mixture and some nosespray to try and beat this cold now.

Richard was at Kindergarden all day today, so I decided to try out a different meal for lunch and we had Chicken Madras (a Maggi packet) I was sceptical whether Robert and our guests would enjoy it, but Robert even asked if I could make it again! Next time I will test it on Richard too!

This afternoon after lunch I packed the dishwasher and....it has decided to quit its job! There is a couple of lights flashing one of them says "water stop", I have checked the filter and the pipes, but I can't see anything that looks drastically wrong. So tomorrow I will give the makers a ring and ask them for some ideas...wish me luck!

This afternoon I made sure that the kids and visitors got some fresh air, we went for a walk across the field and then picked Richard up at Kindergarden. Our nephew now knows what it is like to live in a village, as I think everyone I know was out and about on our way there and back, and I talked to them all! It was so nice to see the sunshine again, it just needs to warm up a fraction more and it would be perfect.

Tomorrow I have a hairdressers appointment so today is the before shot!Really really needs doing!

CU tomorrow with the "after" shot!!

Day 242

Work today, nothing much to report there, still working on my translation into German of an English text written by a Spanish speaking Mexican....challenging to say the least!

This afternoon was quite a busy one really. I got all the washing done, I unblocked a sink, I fed all the animals, did homework with Robert, got in touch with someone to dry out the boys ceiling (here a picture of it, the only one I took today!), cooked for 6 of us, packed and unpacked the dishwasher, went into town and got a bit of shopping, got some contact lense cleaner, sorted the dry washing and put it away, I still have the ironing to go, but I think I am top of it all!
The boys spent the afternoon on the Wii with their cousin, they loved the fact that it rained all afternoon! Probably the only little boys in the village!
I was a bit worried about the football game they were going to be at this evening, but at 4pm it was cancelled, phew, the rain would have soaked them to the skin within minutes! Professionals can go out and earn their millions in it, but the little ones...I don't think so!

Our visitors watched both MIB films this evening, but between them I made them watch Eastenders too!
CU tomorrow

Day 241

How do we do it? Again we packed three days into one. The morning was spent on the Wii, at least the boys and our guests were (I got last weeks ironing done, I was running behind!). Then at lunch time we went to the bakers, the boys got to run about and we had a nice cheap lunch!

When there was a break in the rain, we drove into town and showed our visitors the "Schloß" and the "Dom", beautiful in the sunshine, but that wasn't around. I hope it comes out for them sometime whilst they are here!
We also showed them where the shops are, in case they want to do some window or real shopping and they also know where I park my car, when I work. So tomorrow when they go into town, they now know if they want a lift home, rather than get the bus, they have to be at the car park, dead on twelve, or I leave them behind!!

From there there wasn't really time to make our way home again, so we drove into the "Rhön" which is a very pretty area close by. We took our visitors up to the highest point, and we actually got out of the car, ooh, it was so cold! Not the best of days to be sightseeing up there!
The boys got a souvenir from when we went and hid from the wind in the shop, they chose a semi-precious stone each and a spinning top!

And from there we went to another of our favourite restaurants, where we met up with Florian's sister and family. It was a delicious meal, and the kids all had great fun together. There is a little lake there and the kids found a raft there, and after asking if they were allowed went out on it. I was a little worried, but decided at some point you have to learn to trust them... Seeing some of these pictures, maybe I should have waited until they could swim, but it all went well...CU tomorrow

Day 240

Well today we packed 3 or more days into one, as you will see as you read on!
First of all, Florian took Robert to the emergency doctor to see about his cough. We were pleased that it is really "only" a cold, and unless he develops a fever or earache, he can go back to school on Monday! BUT we didn't let him play football this morning. As it happened though, we were too late to the tournament for him to join in. Yep, you read right, we had nother football tournament this morning. Whilst Robert was at the doctor's I took Richard to his friend's with his kit and all, and they took him with them to the tournament. Apparently he did really well this morning. Shame we were late getting there.

After the prize ceremony, where they all got their little trophy (even Robert as he is part of the team), we took our visitors to "our" restaurant for lunch. It was delicious as usual and watching the ever changing weather out of the window was fun too, then again, rain is always so much more fun from indoors!

After that we gave our visitors quick instructions of where to find things in our house (like Wii games, food, etc) we left them to their own devices and went to my nieces Birthday party!
Here she is blowing out her candles
And I have to show you this shot of my brother bbqing, the sausages were a bit fatty and wow, there was a LOT of smoke!!
We got back about 9.30pm and much to Robert's disgust he had to go straight to bed! Florian and his nephew are now playing on the wii!!
CU tomorrow

Day 239

Busy day today, this morning I had to take the school cones back to school. The photographer is coming on Monday to take pictures of all the kids with them. I collected all of them up and took them in.
Whilst I was sat in the corridor waiting for the break, I could hear the class singing...so cute. When they had finished I then heard the teacher shouting "OK, you 4 at the back, come up here to the front! You were being silly, pulling oneanothers t-shirts!" Then after a few seconds "Robert, come to the front now!" Oops! he is not the little angel he makes out to be!
The four of them then had to sing the song on their own! I heard that too, such a shame I didn't see it too!
When I went in, I asked Robert if he had been naughty...Noooo he said! Cheeky monster!

I picked my friend's daughter up at Kindergarden today, and when we got home, I asked if she fancied lunch with us, of course she did. Her Mum then came with her sister, who also wanted lunch with us, so I had two extra kids for lunch, the boys thought it was brilliant. And my friend got a break!
It rained most of the afternoon so the Wii got a good workout today!

Florian's train was delayed by 57 minutes - typical he would have got 50% back if it had been an hour! And when we got home from that, our visitors arrived. We have Florian's nephew and girlfriend staying with us for the next week!

Bedtime today didn't go so well, Robert has a really really bad cough, and I probably should have taken him to the doctors this morning, but I didn't want him to miss any school, but tomorrow morning we will have to take him. It was nearly 10pm before he got to sleep. Here he is after I got him up for a milk and honeyThat didn't help, so I then got him up to inhale some salt water, and that seems to have worked. I hope he gets to sleep til morning! Poor poor thing!
CU tomorrow

Day 238

Hihi, today was another normal day, no wait, normal would mean something exciting happened, no today was a normal "boring" day!

The boys were up before the alarm clock this morning, that is 5.45am!!! But it meant by the time I had had my shower and was ready for them to get dressed, today they were awake, much less stress for us all!
But getting up early had its downside too, by 4pm this afternoon they were exhausted! We were on our own cycling today, so when they started falling off of their bikes more than usual, I brought them indoors and let them relax watching the TV.

This morning we had a delivery of oil - see I told you boring!! But most of the day I spent searching for a present that Sunny had left somewhere in the lounge. It was giving off a really really horrible smell (screwing up my nose remembering it!) I thought it was near where I am sat, and I emptied the cupboard, looked behind it, put gloves on and checked IN the couch, I hoovered the room, I moved all chairs, but I could not find the dead thing!
Sometime early evening I was up the other end of the lounge and smelled the smell there so I got down on my hands and knees, and I found the "smell" under our bass speaker! I have since had words with the cat, but you know that look they give you..."I'm listening, but I don't really care!"...so I assume it won't belong before I see some more presents from him!

Now the day was so "boring" (just kidding) that I didn't take a picture, so whilst thinking about what I could take a pic of, I remembered Mum asking what sort of homework Robert had. So I got his homework out again and got a picture of today's German homework!
CU tomorrow

Day 237

Well I am pleased to report, that yes today is decidedly more boring than yesterday. In fact it was totally normal, woohoo!

I got the kids off to their respective places this morning and had breakfast in peace after checking emails and such.
then off I set for the shops, Robert needed a new tyre and innertube for his bicycle and I wanted to get Richard some new shin pads for football. Well I was successful with the tyre and bits but not the shin pads. Much to Richard's disgust I didn't get any, they were sold out. BUT my friend had a brainwave and we asked my neighbour who has two boys, if they had any old ones, and yep, she did! Richard was over the moon. And I saved a lot of money as all she wanted as payment was maybe some help with English homework in the future!

This afternoon we started preparing another leaving present for one of the girls at Kindergarden. She loves only the yellow sweets in certain packets, so we bought lots of packets and today we sorted all the yellow ones out for her. My friends busy sorting!At 4.30 off me and the boys went for football training, and yippee today no rain, just blinding sunlight, which made it difficult to watch them! I think it wore them out, cause not a peep since they have been in bed. Bless them!
OK, speaking of bed, time for me to go there too
CU tomorrow

Day 236

I'm going to start with the only photo I took today and it isn't a very good one at that, but when you read the rest of this post, you will probably understand why I never picked up the camera this afternoon.
So this I took whilst stood at the traffic lights with my mobileit is where I now work! Whilst I was away my colleague and I were moved to the offices in the middle of town, and doesn't it look posh. It is a bit like working in a museum and that at any moment some tourguide will come waltzing in the office going "...and here you can see..."!

But now about my day, work was pretty successful I finally finished a translation all about safety at the workplace, and as there was only 30minutes left I decided not to start something new and headed off home at 12.30. I stopped on my way home at the supermarket to get a loaf of toast, I thought I would make Robert and I some cheese on toast for lunch.
I pulled into home enjoying the sunshine and was getting the keys out to unlock the door when I spotted something VERY wrong at the door. There on the bottom step was Robert's school bag!!!!
He wasn't due home until 1.30pm, I was in plenty of time, wasn't I. I called him, run up and down the road a bit calling. Fumbled for my phone and called my friend on her mobile "have you got Robert?" - No, I'll be right down. I then run to our neighbour - have you seen Robert, his bag is at the door - No, I'll come out and help you look, don't panic...too late for that! I ran around the house then, still no Robert, when I came out the front then, my other friend was there and she too didn't have Robert, but she knew where he was. Apparently he had arrived home on the 11.49 bus and had been picked up here by his friends Mum and was there.
We went to pick him up there. THANK GOD this all only upset me and not him. I had visions of him being in such a state that Mummy hadn't picked him up at the busstop and then had not even been at home, that he wouldn't want to go back to school, let alone let me out of his sight. But he took it all in his stride, told me and Carolin that he was heading there anyways when she picked him up, because Mummy had told him that today he would be with Leon at the school care.
What had happened, was that the teacher FORGOT that they were both going there and had put them on the bus after their lessons. He did remember and phoned Carolin, who said she would catch Robert and look after him. What Carolin hadn't reckoned on, was not being able to get hold of me! All my friends who had my mobile number were out! And she also hadn't realised that Robert had left his bag in front of the door. Had it not been there, I would have gone in and found her message on the answer machine.
I am so grateful to her for looking after him and not making a big deal about it, so that he thought all was OK, but I am a bit of a nervous wreck right now. still brings tears to my eyes to think of my baby on the doorstep all on his own with no one in! I was ready then and there to tell work to either let me work from home or I was gone (who knows it may even have worked, there is a lot to do at the moment!) I have calmed a bit now, and I don't think the teacher will EVER forget again, so all should be good. But WHAT A NIGHTMARE!
The teacher phoned this afternoon and apologised, I was just so relieved to have Robert in one piece and not showing any signs of distress that I accepted his apology. But I am sending my numbers in to school, so that I am informed too next time! (which will never come!)

I still managed to spend a quite nice afternoon with my friends and their kids. We all went to pick up two of our kids at Kindergarden at 4.30pm and then we all stayed there and the kids played on the playground. It was nice to enjoy the sun, after all the rain in the past days! In fact that rainbow I caught yesterday was after the storm, which only about 15km away was a tornado - I didn't think we had them in Germany and certainly not near here!

CU tomorrow, with hopefully a boringly normal post!

Day 235

First day back at work after what seems like forever! But first I had to get the boys up and out, which was not too easy after a later night last night!
Florian stayed home today to try and get our leak in the roof sorted out. Luckily he found a firm that could get to us today, they said they would be there in the morning, but that didn't happen, but they did get here this afternoon and were able to fix it, before the big storm this evening! Such a relief
Here they are up the roofAfter they had finished at our house we sent them down the road to our friends who got struck by lightening, and they were able to fix the damage there too. They also told them how lucky they really were. Had the lightening not found the electric cable on its way to earth, they would have had a fire up there, phew, so lucky!

This evening the boys had their first match in the Bambini-League! And it was an away game, the boys were so excited about it. Our team even scored their first goal and the first goal of the match. Unfortunately the other team scored 12 more goals. Oops we lost 1:12, but all the kids had fun I am sure. Now we just have to somehow teach our team, that you don't stop once you have kicked the ball, but keep running in the direction of the goal, and some of them need extra tuition on where the goal actually is! hihi! Never mind!

And this is a shot of the sky after the storm this evening, and I swear, I have not retouched it at all, it really was orange with a rainbow!CU tomorrow

Day 234

Another scorching hot day...well so we thought until about 4.30pm. But let's start in the morning. I got two mice in my mousetrap today, so I think I must have the one that originally got away now! So Sunny can restock now I suppose - I hope not though!

This morning Florian was very busy in the garden, he was redoing the cementing which had gone wrond the first time around. He was busy painting the water thingy and all sorts of other odd jobs, whilst the boys were cycling around.
In the afternoon Florian's sister and family came around for a bbq. When they got here we had some homemade ice-cream this time I had made "Nutella" ice cream, it was very nice, and I will definitely be making it again!
Then we started the bbq, and for some reason the weather saw that as its cue to change completely. It went for scorching to black in minutes! We moved the bbq to undercover expecting rain, but we got better, it hailedand here are the kids collecting it up by the bucketful!As fun as it was watching the storm, it wasn't good at all, as we have a leak in the roof, which is leaking into the boys bedroom. Tomorrow I will have to get the professionals in to see about fixing it all. Whilst they are there we will get a quote for having the roof done, oh dear, not what we were expecting.
And at my friends house the lightening struck their chimney and found an electricity cable to get to the earth. LOTS of their appliances that were on or on standby are now completely broken. NIGHTMARE!!
Here's hoping there are no more storms tonight and no rain too!
CU tomorrow

Day 233

Oops, yesterday I went off on a tangent and forgot to finish my story about the mousetrap!! So, after working and cleaning my way around the kitchen cupboards (and wishing for probably the only time ever, that we didn't have such a big kitchen!) I actually found the mousetrap again, it was down behind the fridge, there was a ledge there, and it was stuck right at the back about to fall down completely.
I couldn't quite reach and thought I would wait for Florian to get it out, but after cleaning that area, reaching right down was possible and I got it out, expecting to find a mouse hanging from a paw or tail BUT ....NOTHING, it was shut but empty!
And no I was not relieved, cause now I don't know where the mouse is, Florian did end up with some work, I made him take the bottom of the cupboards off so we could look underneath the fridge for the mouse. It wasn't there either, so somewhere we have or had a mouse, maybe without a tail...maybe he escaped and Sunny caught him and had him as a midnight snack...I'll probably never know...
And now on to today

Shopping this morning and as the boys were pretty good whilst we were out, we decided to treat them, we were going to go to McD's, but changed our minds and went to "our" restaurant around the corner. It was delicious.
We had a bit of a scare, when Richard bit the glass whilst drinking and it broke in his mouth, but nothing happened, no blood or anything - phew! It frightened him though and after that he never did finish his lunch, but he had had a lot by then anyways.

In the afternoon Florian got busy with all of the bits we bought at the DIY store. He laid the cable for the water thingy properly, he took some of the path up to lay it under, dug a trench in the garden for it, and drilled holes in the wall to indoors. He was REALLY really busy! And silly me forgot to get any pictures of that, my bad!

I took the boys to a birthday party and enjoyed the peace and quiet that brought with it. It was too hot for me outside, so I suggested I try my new toy out! Florian bought me a part to my mixer, and icecream maker...
And here is the first batchand definitely not the last batch, it was delicious. This is Straciatella (white chocolate, cream, yoghurt and chocolate sprinkles) YUMMY!

I picked the boys up again at 7pm and whilst i was chatting with the Mum, Robert fell off of the b-day boys bicycle, and he now has a very grazed knee! He wanted to hop home on one leg, but I convinced him that walking normally was the best way to make it heal. And by the time we got home he was running and jumping again. Only when we went in did he remember that he was hurt, but I had seen him running so he couldn't fool me!!

X factor started again on TV so I have been enjoying that tonight
CU tomorrow

Day 232

So last night on my way to bed I went to put something in the kitchen and heard a rustling sound on top of the cupboards, I stood quietly and heard it again, a mouse! I moved our mousetrap to the cupboards and headed for bed.
This morning after putting Robert on the bus (no problems today, all he needed was a kiss and cuddle before queuing) and Richard into Kindergarden, I went to get the mousetrap down...uhoh... no sign of the mousetrap.
I went and got the ladder and started looking around that area, no luck, so it was time to get the things on the cupboard down. It was horrible up there, grease and grime from a long long while.
So I got out the kitchen spray and set to work, cleaning it, I was so surprised when the top of the cupboards came up white...Is it embarassing to show these pictures of before and after, probably, but then again, I don't think many have spotless tops of cupboards and Mum told me the ones in the flat they bought were worse, so I'll post them!
This is whilst cleaning, when I started it was all dirty brownAnd after!After homework and lunch the boys were upstairs playing. All of a sudden the babyphone (which is on all day everyday) started "beeping" meaning that it had got switched off upstairs. I didn't think anything of it, until I heard one almighty crash and a lot of screaming.
When I got up there, Richard was screaming and Robert looking all guilty. They had taken one of our office chairs into their bedroom and were spinning on it. And Richard fell off!
The most annoying thing about it all, was that they knew they weren't allowed to do that, cause they switched the babyphone off! GRRRRR!! Kids!

They still got to go outside and ride their bicycles only 30 minutes later than usual.
My friends son, learned to ride a bicycle this afternoon he went from scooting his bike without pedals to riding one with in about 10 minutes! No stabilisers nothing! He looked so proud and so did all us Mum's watching and helping. So funny how kids will listen to other Mum's and work it out, but when their own Mum tries to teach them, they can't or is it won't!

We were watching Miami Vice (the film with Colin Farrell) tonight, mmh I'm not even going to bother with the end, I'd rather watch CSI Miami any day, and I can't even say "good acting" really, I think it is more music video style than film...still at least we only paid 3 pounds for it!

Off to bed now
CU tomorrow

Day 231

Poor Robert, when it came to getting on the bus this morning he had a few tears and a "I want to stay with you!", but I put on my "Mean Mummy Act" and pushed him on the bus, telling him that he had to go, that I loved him and would pick him up later...he looked so sad as he sat on the bus. It was heartbreaking...
I did see him again about 20 minutes after that, as I had to get his stuff for art class to school. He had art in the second lesson this morning and his things were still at home (too bulky for his bag), so I dashed to the school after putting him on the bus and Richard in Kindergarden. I made it, and I even made it into their classroom without him spotting me, but not on my way out. He wasn't tearful anymore and he was pleased to see me. To take his mind off of me leaving him there, I asked him what he wanted for lunch as I was going shopping. We had "Nanna's spaghetti" (spaghetti bolognese).

This afternoon the boys finally got a decent ride on their new bikes. Up and down the road they went, then my friend needed to take her dog for a walk, so we all went. Here are the boys racing ahead on their bikes!Oh and today Robert didn't have quite as much homework, so no really grumpy face today!!

CU tomorrow

Day 230

OK, the moment of truth came this morning...and it all went really well. I didn't have to drag Robert to the bus stop, in fact he seemed quite excited to be going on the bus. We got there at a good time too, as he didn't have time to start getting worried, by the time he had queued up, the bus came around the corner and on he got, with a smile and not crying. It made it so much easier for me!I spent the morning enjoying myself clearing up from yesterdays party, and I really do mean enjoying myself, it was great not to have to do it with the kids between my feet. And the cat stayed out of my way too, it was soo much easier!

Robert's first day was a long one, he had 5 lessons and his bus didn't get back until 12.49, but he seemed fine about it all. Seeing as I forgot to get pictures of him leaving I got some of him coming home, here he is just off the bus.He had rather a lot of homework for his first day, he had 4 different sheets of colouring in to do, and he really did not want to do it after one sheet, but again I was all hard with him and told him there was no playing until he had finished, so he did. Here he is looking grumpy about it alland here when he was nearly finished!
After homework, they went out to ride their bikes and at 4.30pm it was time for football training, it is so great that finally I can let Robert run around again.
It did rain at training but it was still on, as now they are officially a team and are playing in the bambini league, their first game is on Monday at 6.15pm! Too cute! Soccer Mom duties coming up, I wonder whether I should volunteer to wash the smelly kit first (its new and not too bad ...yet!)
CU tomorrow, with another "School update" I think this week is going to be all about school on my blog!

Day 229

Today was Robert's BIG Day, should I get all sentimental about it, nah, you all know about that bit!

So he woke me up at 6.30am this morning with the words "Can I play on the nintendo?" and then he went down and got it, came back up and came in again "Mummy? Do I start school today?" "Yes, are you looking forward to it?" "Yeah! I have been practising numbers in my bed, ask me something""What is 2 plus 2?" "That's easy peasy Mummy, it's four!" It was so cute and set my mind at rest that all was going to be OK.
And all was OK, until we got there and he wouldn't get out of the car, he finally did get out (all of this in the pouring rain!) but then he decided to put up a fight and Florian had to drag him crying into the hall! He looked really panicked. Mum and Dad were already there and they managed to cheer him up in time for him to enjoy the ONE hour programme. It was good, but it was much too long for the youngsters starting school, I know they will have to learn to concentrate sometime soon, but not on their first day.
Once the programme was over, Robert got to put his bag on and go and join his class, and they went to the school classrooms on their own. Us parents and relatives got to have some breakfast.
After another hour we could pick up Robert, he came out looking so proud with his "Schultüte", don't you think?!Then it was back home to unwrap the presents, and wait for Mia and family - Mia started school today too! She too looked so proud when she got here. We had planned a bbq, so bbq we did, even though it never stopped raining all day! But we did eat indoors! We all had so much food, that we didn't even need any tea, and not much cake got eaten either, although these two cakes my friend made for the two school starters are nearly all gone!
We had the best day, I just hope Robert gets over his fear of school, he was in tears at bedtime, saying he didn't want to go. I didn't give him too much sympathy, as he has no choice, and after a little reminder of me meaning business - as in I told him about how for 6 weeks when he started Kindergarden he cried every morning and every morning I continued taking him, I gave him a tissue and told him to go to sleep. So far so good! I had better remember to take some tissues when I drop him off at the bus stop tomorrow!
CU then

PS: Thank you Bentonflocke and son, you made Robert's day today too! Check this pic out!

Day 228

Note to self: Do not leave everything to the last minute and try not to pack three days into one! Doesn't work!
Can you tell, it has been a busy busy day today, I can't even remember what happened first...
oh yes I remember, Richard went back to Kindergarden today! He wasn't too thrilled about going without Robert, but I think by the end of the week he might be used to it!
I then went shopping, yep more bits for Robert starting school, he needed new sports shoes, I thought I might be able to use the ones which he had a Kindergarden, but when I picked them up from there this morning, they no longer fitted.
I got him them at the second shoe shop. I also got a present for Mia who also starts school tomorrow.

Back home it was tidy up time, and cooking time! I got lunch prepared whilst tidying up. After lunch, I baked pumpkin pie for tomorrow.
Then Florian took the boys out to a colleague who was selling his son's old bike. And here it is, now Robert's new bike (it even has lights and gears!)
And here is a pic of Richard on his new one (Robert's old one!) He managed to get the wheel stuck in the drain on his first round on it, so funny!What you can't see on the pics, is that we were actually out in the rain, it was a fine drizzle (an English rain) that stayed with us all day!

At 7.30 it was my first parents meeting for the school, we now have his timetable and all sorts of information. My mind is spinning!
After that I got Robert's bag ready for tomorrow and made cards for the kids!And now I am exhausted and off to bed, still have a floor to mop before we go out in the morning
CU tomorrow

Day 227

Well, we nearly overslept, but luckily Robert was stood at my bedside at 6.20am asking if he could play on the Nintendo! We had set the alarm for 6am, but had obviously rolled over!
luckily our drive down south to Florian's nephew's christening was without any hiccups, and we even made it with 20minutes to spare! Phew!

Florian is now godfather to this little lad (sat on his Dad's knee)
We stayed for lunch and then coffee and cakes in the afternoon, we finally made it home about 7pm. Again the DVD players in the car were worth their weight in gold, not too much complaining about the long trip in the car!

CU tomorrow

Day 226

This morning I got to go shopping on my own, I wanted a new pair of black trousers and some bits for Robert starting school. I dropped all of my boys off at the sports field, where they could have breakfast and a bit of a kick about, and headed to the shops. I got all of the bits I needed for Robert, but the choice for black trousers was limited, and the only pair I tried on, looked like riding trousers, not me at all! Never mind, I enjoyed my shopping spree!

Back home, we were all outside admiring our garden, when our friends joined us. The kids all had a picnic in the garden together, and we spent the rest of the afternoon together.
We now also have a new addition to the family. Meet HoneyPie (the boys named him!)Another neighbours granddaughter had stopped caring for her rabbit, and asked if we would like to give him a good home, so he is here to stay with us now, the boys (and the rest of the kids) were very excited about it!

As today was supposed to be the only sunshiney day we decided to barbecue, and invited our neighbours to join us, it was a very impromptu bbq, but delicious and great fun.
CU tomorrow

Day 225

Well, as Mum reckoned from reading my blog, you would think all I have been doing is sitting outside reading, I will let you in on the bit of housewifey work I did today...I spent 2.5 hours ironing (with my new iron!) That kept me busy all morning. The boys were with me for the first part, as we watched Toy Story 2, then they went upstairs to play on Nanna's nintendo, and I finished the rest singing along to Keith Urban!

But I admit this afternoon I was outside agian watching the kids cycle up and down the road again and again! Until it was time to pick up Florian at the station. The boys stayed with their friends and I picked Florian up on my own.

Once home it was straight back out for a bbq organised by the kids football club, it was supposed to be a camping weekend, but it was rained off. Not that it has rained YET, but it has been raining hard and the ground was much too wet, and the forecast for the night is NOT good. I'm not really disappointed, and the bbq was fun.

Back at home Sunny entertained us for a little while as you can probably see from these pictures
CU tomorrow

PS: Dinphy I got it wrong about the numbers on our door, you need to check bentonflocke's comment on Day 222

Day 224

Look I can still smile even though it has been raining for most of the day! So much so, that I never got to take the picture I wanted to, so you get me today!
This morning my friend and I took the boys shopping, oh they were thrilled ;o)
We went to the garden centre and got some bits and bobs to make up a pretty basket for the front garden. In a break in the rain we actually managed to get it all planted this afternoon, but it rained so hard after we had finished I couldn't get a picture, so you'll have to wait!

Whilst it was raining hard we hid in the barn with the kids, who would have loved to go out in the downpour, and were most disgusted with us, that we wouldn't let them!
CU tomorrow

Day 223

So today I remembered all I was supposed to when I set off across town this morning. My contract is now right where it should be, the letter I had to post is on its way, and I was able to relax and chat with my friend, whilst the boys played with her daughter! It was a good morning.

This afternoon the boys and I went out the front, this time I took my book with me (House of Night Series - Tempted by PC and Kristen Cast) and whilst they played I sat on our new bench and read! Ooh it was good! After about 30minutes of that we were joined by our friends, so more chatting for me! At 5pm they had to leave and the boys wanted to play on Nanna's Nintendo so I enjoyed another 30minutes with my book on the bench....I could get used to that!

This lunchtime I built up my new toy, now I just need to have more time to make lunch and I can play with it
Florian got me a new mixer/chopper as my one broke. One teeny tiny bit of the handle broke and now the whole thing won't work anymore. This time I have one, where you can buy spare parts if something silly like that happens again!

OK, now I am going to chop my kiwi up, I am trying hard to spoon it out between sentences, but this one is so hard, I am just making a big mess of my T-shirt, I look like Richard! (Sorry darling!)
CU tomorrow

Day 222

This morning I had various things to do, one take some cards to the post office, two - drop off my sick note and contract at work, three - shopping! Not too difficult really, but I managed to fluff it up anyway. We started with the post office, no problems there, then it was on to "see where Mummy works", we pulled into the car park and there I remembered my contract which was still on the kitchen table - oops!
So tomorrow we will be driving across town AGAIN! Only I have spoken to my friend who lives close to where I work and she will be home tomorrow morning, so we will stop by for a natter and something to drink. May as well make the most of me messing it up today!

At 11.30am my friends husband dropped their kids off with me, as he had something to do, and I babysat til about 4pm. The boys thought it was great having their friends around, and even more so, when I made them a picnic at lunchtime! Here they all are enjoying (well, actually waiting for me to chase a wasp away!)Cu tomorrow
PS: Dinphy, those numbers on our door are what we get every year on January 6th, when the 3 kings come calling 20 + C (aspar) + B (althasar) + M (elchoir) + 10, the Numbers at the beginning and end are the year, and then they sort of sign it. I never wipe it off as I think it brings us luck...who knows!

Day 221

Robert made it through the night without any medicine or calling for me...looks like we are on our way back to normality. We actually made it right through the day without any painkillers, I'm so proud of him, and I keep telling him, so that he wants to continue this way! It still hurts him to drink, as all the things he likes drinking are a bit sour, but my SIL has suggested I get him some babyjuice as they are a lot milder, so that is what we will be buying tomorrow!

This morning we went to the doctors to get my sick note and some prescriptions and we also went to Staples where they were filling up the children's school cones (remember the one I made with Robert Day158) with school goodies for free. Robert got some pencils, scissors, an exercise book, a rubber (eraser for my American friends), coloured pencils, felt tip pen, balloons and bubbles. Of course the balloons and bubbles were the most interesting for Robert!

In the afternoon Robert's friend came round and they played nicely for a while upstairs until they heard me outside with my friends and then they all came down and enjoyed playing outside! Whilst we chatted.
Then at 6.30pm we all went down to the village festival for sausage and chips! It was a fun evening and the boys were thrilled that they got another late night! And I'll see if I regret it tomorrow.

And here is what I did to decorate the garden today...
My SIL's mum made this for us for our birthdays and I have finally got around to hanging it up on our front door!CU tomorrow

Day 220

Mum and Dad came to visit us today, the last time we saw them was when we were in the UK so it was great to see them again.
They bought us two new plants for our garden, a butterfly bush and a hydrangea, we have already planted them, they look great.
Florian tackled the water feature today and finished - WOW! I love it!
All our neighbours love our new look garden they all keep stopping and admiring and if we are out there showering us with compliments, its fun!

Today was also our annual Blueberry Parade in the village - here is one of the floats from it.
Just a quick post as I am really late tonight (I was watching Sherlock (Sherlock Holmes brought into the 21st century) and there were no adverts and looking away you missed bits!)
CU tomorrow

Day 218 and Day 219

hihi, did you miss me last night?! I went out on the town (well village) whilst Florian babysat the kids, but from the beginning.
Friday morning it was tipping it down with rain, my friend phoned, could her son come around, he had been asking to come and play with my boys from about 6.30am onwards!
She brought him round and I turned Toy Story on for them and went about the washing and odds and ends, and my friend got to do her shopping in peace!
After Toy Story they all played nicely for the most part. I did separate Robert from the younger two and let him play the Nintendo, and that kept the peace!

In the afternoon Florian texted me, that he had managed to get the early train (I wasn't really expecting him until 10.30pm), and that meant that I could go to the festival in the village with friends.
We had a great evening, there was a good live band on and in their breaks the DJ got it all right too! We left at about 1am, by which time I had lost my voice...oops. That's what happens when you know all the words to all the songs (except one, but I caught on by the end of it!!)
It was a fun evening, thanks for babysitting Florian...

Saturday (Day 219)
Shopping this morning, not that the kids were too impressed with our choice of shops...we went to one garden center and to the garden department of two DIY stores! We were looking for some stepping stones for our front garden, and we found something we both liked in the last shop!
We also got a water feature for there too, but we haven't built it yet, first we need to sort out the electricity problem, but it will go in the big tub thingy on the right of the picture.The kids all had a great time jumping from stone to stone, once they were laid, and sitting on the bench in the shade.

In the late afternoon Florian's sister and kids came around (taking a break from unpacking) and we all went to the festival for a sausage and chips.
CU tomorrow

Day 217

OK, whilst in hospital, I wasn't too disappointed that summer was taking a break, but today... Where has the sunshine gone!?! I had socks and a fleece jumper on most of the day, and outdoor play was limited to only an hour and then the rain ended the day!

It was a rough night for me, Richard was obviously pleased I was home and chose last night to see me every 1.5 hours!! AGH, and when he finally finished that, it was Robert who got me up, poor thing needed another dose of Nurofen!
When both of them were actually stood in my room it was light, and I assumed it was just about 7am, but when I did roll over and look at the clock it was good to see 8.43am!! So a bit of a lay in after a bad night!
Shopping in the morning, the boys were actually really good, and it wasn't too bad. I did end up with a lot of stuff that we don't really need, but when Robert said he fancied...I just had to buy it, anything he eats is a good thing at the minute!

I got a present for a new addition to our family, my cousin had a baby boy on the 2nd. It was funny when we went in the shop as the boys were picking out all sorts of things for the new baby, but they couldn't quite get that it can't do colouring in yet, and no it can't play with cars...Mummy wants to get him something to wear...so Richard chooses some very bright but rather large shorts!! Too cute! Finally I showed them how big the whole baby is (smaller than said shorts) and that he is only 4 days old, and I think they got it. At least choosing what to get then proved easier!

In the afternoon we went to our neighbours for the boys to play and us Mum's to watch Garth Brooks in concert! (are you jealous Florian!) Then at 4pm the weather brightened up, so we took the chalks and went and drew some cars, tractors and horses on the road! Until the rain came and cleaned up for us!

Not done much this evening, I just seem too tiredCU tomorrow

Oops nearly forgot todays photo, here are the boys playing on their borrowed Nintendo game, they love it and as expected are much better at it than me!

Day 216

HOME SWEET HOME!

I am not sat in the dark trying to type quietly for one and I am sat on a couch and not a hard chair, home feels good!

However I think we wore ourselves out. Having been in hospital for a week, we should have taken it easy today, and we didn't.
We got home and my friend and kids popped round to welcome us home which was great, I'm not complaining, just explaining.
Then I was just going to cook lunch and Florian remembers that he hadn't told me his sister and family were probably coming...oops 5 more mouths to feed. I was relieved when they changed their minds, but we did pop over to welcome them to Germany. I wasn't sure we should go, as Robert was looking tired already, but ROBERT insisted he wanted to go and he was really excited to see his cousins again. And it was good to see where they will be living now. We left there at 3pm as we knew some neighbours were popping in to see Robert and my reaction to our "new" garden. Here it is - I tested the bench mmh,.... kids at Kindergarden/school, a good book and a cold drink...sounds perfect!unfortunately Florian never took a before picture, so you'll just have to take my word for it, that there were more weeds than plants in there. Even if they were very very pretty weeds in the spring (lupins), and the other ones would have been very pretty in a few weeks time, but they were taking over and it really did look a mess. Love it now, and once I have my bulbs for spring planted it will be perfect!
Anyhow in the afternoon we ended up with 7 kids and 5 adults, then at 5.30pm we threw everyone out and took Florian to the station as he has to work now that I am back home.
After that we stopped at the video store and got Robert a game for Nanna's Nintendo DS, which is supposed to console him, when the other kids get to ride their bikes up and down the road!
He chose a game about Yoshi (from Super Mario), I have tried to work it out, but I think they will sort it out quicker than me. At least on the DS he won't be using up as much energy as on the Wii, for once I want it that way round.

After all this at tea-time Robert was exhausted and his throat started hurting so much it felt like earache and he started screaming. I gave him some Nurofen, but it took its time working this time. He only ate one slice of salami and then just wanted to go to bed. I hope he feels better tomorrow and I will try to keep it a bit calmer for him, although I do need to restock the fridge first!
OK time to enjoy my comfy chair some more!
CU tomorrow

Day 215

ONE MORE SLEEP!!!

I tried this morning to get us home today, but the doctor wouldn't really let us go, only if we signed something, etc. So I said we would stay...it was a long day.
Robert decided that today would be a day of pointing and single words only...not much fun. He also didn't eat a lot either. But when you ask him he insists it doesn't hurt, well if that is the case, why won't he eat...if he tells us it hurts he can have some medicine to make it easier to eat...I suppose I had better say sorry to any future daughter-in-law now. Sorry but he is male through and through and I did try...honest!
I got him to eat one slice of toast bread at tea-time only by threatening that I wouldn't play tabletop football with him, unless he ate it all up! (that was after he ensured me that it didn't hurt)
I hope that tomorrow spaghetti at home will tempt him to eat.

We did play football, but whilst we were waiting our turn we played our other favourite hospital game "Rush Hour" There are 40 cards in the game from beginners to experts and Robert has done them all except the last one, maybe in the morning...
I am impressed, I got the game out on the first day we were here, for me to play with and Robert took it off of me and was better than me! It's a really fun game and good for concentration...

OK, off to bed in a bit, so that tomorrow comes sooner
CU from home tomorrow!

Day 214

The days just get longer and longer in here, I'm sure someone keeps playing with the clocks here.
The most exciting thing about today was the work on the building site, after having built the construction to make a wall over the past few days since we have been here, today they filled it with concrete...and yep, this really is my pic for the day.
We were both rivetted to the show at one point, so it deserves to be featured. Not sure what the builders would think about being featured, but they did at one point actually wave to Robert today! By the way we are on the third floor and they were walking on there as if we were on level ground...made my knees go more than once just watching them!

Florian and Richard came in the afternoon, I am sure the boys miss one another, but the minute they are in the room together they start tormenting one another and before 5 minutes is up, one of the other is crying about something...KIDS!!!

Florian has been busy in the front garden again today and I am not going to recognise it when I get home. But the best bit, they will have done all the work and I get the good bit, I get to go shopping for new plants! But it might have to wait til the kids are back at Kindergarden/school, not sure how much fun plant shopping would be with them...
CU tomorrow

PS: Mum is home again now, and on the mend! Thanks for thinking of her!

Day 213 and what is happening at home!

Robert didn't sleep very well last night, lots of nightmares, whimpering and crying, I finally got out of him it was cause he missed Daddy and Richard, I tried to comfort him, but he still didn't really settle. When the nightnurse came in, I told her and she said it could be pain too, that was making him unsettled so he got some medicine and did sleep till morning, although he was still whimpering in the night!
Then someone else was admitted to the ward, and was evidently in a lot of pain the poor child screamed for at least an hour, so I didn't get much sleep last night! Never mind, we weren't exactly busy today!

Florian and Richard came about 10.30am and found us in the downstairs playroom, well actually we were just leaving to go and get a drink and some medicine Richard and Florian left soon after to head for McDonalds for their lunch, and they came back at about 3pm. When we all went to the ice-cream van. Robert made me ask if the ice-cream man also came if it was raining, cause he had read the weather report for tomorrow! As long as it isn't raining cats and dogs he will be there, so Robert was relieved!
After our ice-cream it was back to see if the ball had been found, no luck there, until one little boy suddenly started playing with our boys...mmh I wonder if he had it in his pocket...whatever I had two happy little chappies again.
Even more so, when I decided that we should all play together, poor Robert was on my team, and I must admit I am a huge handicap! So we lost twice, but it was fun.
After our tea Richard and Florian went home for theirs, and Robert and I watched TV and played UNO.

At some point today I read our new book to the kids and Florian took this picture of us!
He also brought the cable for the camera with him so I got all the pictures he has been taking these last few days, and now I know why he never made it back to see us yesterday afternoon....
him and my friends have been really busy in our front garden now! When I left on Wednesday this was a mass of green (all be it mostly weeds, but green!)By the time I get home they may even have finished tidying it all up! They are all amazing - crazy but amazing!

OK going to watch Glee now, I feel like some uplifting show tunes!
CU tomorrow