Day 272

This morning I had my first massage to try and stop my arms from falling asleep at nights. She apologised in advance for the pain this was going to cause, and said that she would try and go easy on me...Well this evening I really do have muscle ache, but it felt so good at the time!
After the massage, I met with Sabine and Katrin and we did some Halloween shopping for decorations for the party. After Katrin being told in two different shops, that we were too late, we had decided that we should get together quickly and go to a toy shop where we knew they normally did Halloween stuff, we got a LOT. Our Halloween party for the Kindergarden kids, is going to be great.

I had to rush back from there to make sure I was at the busstop to get Robert, then we walked up to get Richard at Kindergarden.
The weather today was beautiful so after dinner we took all the kids into the woods to collect some bits for the German Thanksgiving, which is at the weekend, and the Kindergarden kids decorate the church (that is on Friday)

Then at 5.30pm it was time for the boys football match. This is the boys getting ready (and clowning for the camera)Our goalie wasn't there so Robert stood in for him. He really enjoyed it, and was so proud of himself for saving some goals, unfortunately we still lost, but "only" 1:2 this time.

CU tomorrow

Day 271

Looking back on today it was quite a quiet day in our household. School, Kindergarden and Work in the morning. Robert has a new timetable, which means now on a Tuesday he no longer has to go to the school care on a Tuesday, as he has a late finish now anyways.
I finished my 32 hours for September and was able to leave at 10.30am. I popped to C&A to see about a new winter coat, but they all looked like "granny coats" to me, so I think I will stick with my old coat again this year!

This afternoon Robert went to his friend to play for an hour, and when I picked Richard up from kindergarden we picked Robert up on our way back.
I let them play on the Wii when we got home for half an hour, that is about all Richard can handle without getting into a paddy about something or other!

And here is what I have been up to all evening and during the hour I had to myself this afternoon
It is another birthday calendar this time for the girl who has to leave Kindergarden. I want to have it finished by the end of the week, so I have to keep busy!
CU tomorrow

Day 268, Day 269 and Day 270

Three days that I have to blog now, oh dear!
My computer has been having "issues" ever since it went to hospital with me to look after Robert and his tonsils. It crashes at least once a day - you know the dreaded blue screen. Well this weekend Florian has been trying to fix it for me. some of the tests you have to run on it take forever. One that said it would take 83 minutes took half of Saturday alone.

Florian has managed to fix the fact, that the printer and computer were no longer talking to oneanother. And last night when we went to bed, he was running another test on the computer. I have no idea whether it was successful yet, but I am sure I will so know if it crashes again!

So now to bring this blog up to date with Saturday and Sunday

Saturday
Really Saturday was pretty uneventful, Katrin came around in the morning and collected her coffee flasks and bits from the Kindergarden party. We then had lunch, then Florian and the boys went outside to play and I did some washing. Florian needs his red checkered shirt this week, as he is going to the Oktoberfest in Munich (wearing his Lederhosen!!)
I cooked my boys their tea (spinach with noodles) and then left to go out with my girlfriends. We had a lovely - all be it - short evening. One of my friends works shifts and she had to get up at 4am the following morning wo we weren't late, but it was fun to catch up again!
This is a silly photo of me and Richard that I took before I went out.
Sunday

Up nice and bright and early as usual with our boys. We went to the bakers and this time Florian's sister and the girls joined us there. It was the first time they had been and they are all for coming again next week!
We spread breakfast out there and made it lunch too. When we got back the boys begged and begged Florian to build the Carrerabahn up for them. Once it was built and they had driven round it a couple of times, come of a few times too many, they wanted the TV on, but as I was ironing and listening to Keith Urban, they didn't get what they wanted. But it gave Robert the chance to master the art of going round the track without coming off of it too many times!

We had Pizza for tea, which made a nice change. The boys only started liking Pizza in the summer, and it was great to see them finally tucking in!

Florian spent the evening working on my computer and I watched "big" with Tom Hanks, gosh he was young then!

Monday
I won't bore you about work, I was bored enough with it myself today.
This afternoon I took Richard to spend it with Katrin and I took Robert to the dentist, I noticed last Thursday that one of his back teeth had split (from the bottom up into the gums)...ewww... mum thinks it could have something to do with his operation and them holding his mouth open....and the doctor agreed. Not only had the top back tooth split but there was a bit missing on his bottom back tooth too! Thank goodness its his milk teeth!
The dentist fortunately didn't need to give Robert an injection and was able to remove the split piece without any pain for Robert. He did have to polish both the bottom and top teeth, but Robert didn't flinch. I was sooooo surprised and proud!

After the dentist we went and picked up some bits he needed for school, and then headed to Katrins to join Richard. We spent the rest of the afternoon there and then when we got home Robert finished his homework, then we all watched Blue Peter. The football match was cancelled cause of the rainy and cold weather - I was really pleased about that, no fun watching in the rain!

After the boys were in bed I decided that tonight I wasn't going to sit and shiver, I put this on...ooh it is so cozy and warm here now!
CU tomorrow

Day 266 and Day 267

I missed posting last night. I had a parents evening at school and by the time I got home and got the boys to bed, I had a throbbing headache (and I never get headaches) so I just went to bed. But all better now and ready to tell about yesterday and today

Thursday
We met in the morning to get our act together for Friday's Kindergarden fest. We seem to have everything organsied and ready to go (and as I am writing this after the party, I can safely say, we did!!)
In the afternoon for the first time ever I let the boys go out on their bicycles without me supervising them. I had to bake a cake for the Kindergarden party, and as it was the school meeting in the evening I had to do it in the afternoon. Once it was in the oven I joined the boys outside. I had just made myself comfy on the bench outside, when one of the Robert's friends came riding up, could I come with her, one of her friends had fallen off her bike. I got a wet towel and went to help out. Luckily it was "just" a very bloody graze under her chin. I cleaned it up for her and her best friend walked her home (otherwise I would have done it). This morning the girls all came up to me at the busstop and said thankyou. I was really touched!
I got back in time to get the cake out of the oven. It would have been a shame to ruin the pumpkin pie!

At 4.30pm I took the boys round to Florian's sister. She was going to look after the boys for me, whilst I went to the parents meeting. They were so excited to be going, and have been counting the "sleeps" for a week now!
Then it was off to the meeting for me. It was a very long evening, which I tried so hard to shorten, by volunteering to be on the parent council again, but it still went on until 9pm! So by the time I picked up the boys and got home, it was 9.45pm before they were in bed!

Oh and these are what the boys got to bring home with them - their cousins no longer want these books.

Friday
I had a difficult time getting the boys up this morning, not surprising really! Still I managed to get them off to school and kindergarden on time! Then it was time for me to get busy!
First Sabine and I took our car to the car park near the station and left it there for Florian, so that he could get to the Kindergarden party earlier. Then we both went shopping. Then we had to put the finishing touches to some games for the party. Robert had a short day, so it was off to the busstop then and pick Richard up. Once home we just had time for some lunch, then it was back to Kindergarden to start building everything up for the party, which started at 3pm.

And we are all really pleased and proud that it all ran really smoothly. The cake stand went down a treat, and we made quite a bit of money which will go towards a halloween party for the kids!
Everyone had a great time. And I got LOTS of photos. But just a couple for the blog.
This is Richard and Jonas (my friends son) dressed as ladybirds, they sung a song all about them, so cute!And this is the boys playing whilst the rest of us where tidying up before we came home!CU tomorrow

Day 265

I was back at the school library today, it is still soooo cute to see the kids get huge eyes when confronted with all the books there! And Robert was so proud that his Mummy was there helping out! Too cute! This time his book was a lot smaller than the last one, and he got to take it home himself!

This afternoon after homework, we cleaned out the chickens and the rabbit, then the boys got half an hour on their bikes, then it was time for football training. Whilst the boys were busy training, I went for a walk with one of the other Mummy's and her dog. We walked for at least 45 minutes, it was a beautiful afternoon and it was great fun walking!
Unfortunately I never took the camera today, so I never got a shot of us in the woods. I actually still haven't taken a picture, so I will just see if my model next to me will be obliging tonight...
Speaking of cats, he brought a mouse into the utility room and lost it this week. So I put my trusty mousetrap in the cupboard, where it smelt strongest of mouse...guess what, my trap is missing AGAIN! Not sure, whether the cupboard can be dismantled to get it back, will have to check tomorrow - after cleaning the cupboard first!

CU tomorrow

Day 264

Mmh work...did not go well today. The outcome of my conversation with my boss, was basically, you got the contract you asked for, you asked to reduce your hours to a 400 Euro job, and that is what you have. Yes you can have your old contract back, if you work your 10.5 hours again, and no you cannot work from home!
Mmh, when I asked about the tax they had also deducted from my meagre pay, she said to call personnel. They then told me, that that was correct, a 400 Euro job does not mean "gross=net" it just means I don't pay the social insurance contributions. Well I was so sure that it did mean "Gross=net" that I went in search of information on the internet. And yes it does, and I also found out that a 400 Euro job also includes holiday pay and sick pay. So I was slightly grumpy about what they are trying to do me out of. When I have calmed down enough to write an email, that doesn't sound too bad, I will send my boss the links and see what she has to say about that. Hopefully she will be forthcoming, as that is the sort of contract, I had been talking about all along, never realising that the firm was talking about something completely different.

OK enough about work. Today the boys went to the hairdressers. And don't they look cuteAfter that we enjoyed a bit of the sunshine, but unfortunately I had to bribe Richard to get his hair cut, and we had to go in and play on the Wii, but I did make them wait until 5pm!
CU tomorrow

Day 263

Work this morning. I sent the boss an email that we needed to talk about my contract, I'm still waiting on a response. Maybe better luck tomorrow!

Robert agreed to walk home from the busstop on his own today, and don't you think he looks pretty proud of himself!Richard wanted to wait outside for him, so I decided if that was the case, then I would get the camera out too, and document the moment - forever a "mamarazzi"!

This evening they had another game for the Bambini league. And wow, they won! 14-3!!!! And the kids had even more fun, cause they were winning! It was so cute!
And even this happening on the pitch next to theirs didn't deter themIt did me though, but that was OK, cause everytime I took a picture of the balloons, our team scored a goal! So I was allowed to focus my attention somewhere else!

CU tomorrow

Day 261 and Day 262

It was another fun-filled busy weekend for us. Saturday started with the shopping spree that never got done on Friday - meaning I went out and got all the presents that we needed this weekend. Gift vouchers from the toy shop for Richard's friends, baby clothes for the new addition to a friends family, and we were going to get Florian's sister a bbq as a present for their housewarming party, BUT it is the end of the season and the one we wanted to get, was sold out. So instead I got some coal, bbq-ing utensils and a gift voucher.
In the afternoon much to Robert's disgust, Richard went to a birthday party. Florian mowed the lawn (ooh nearly forgot we all collected apples off of the lawn in the morning and Florian then took them to the apple juice place and we already had collected 55kg!).
And at 5pm Florian and Robert set off with Katrin to the housewarming party. I stayed home to wait for Richard to get home from his party. He got home at 7pm and was most upset when Robert wasn't home, so much so, he burst into tears..he soon cheered up though when we got to the next party.
It was a great evening and it was lovely to see what lovely neighbours they have. We got home at 11.30pm, the boys couldn't believe their luck, that they got to stay up that late!
Florian and I then went out to make sure the chickens were in (their door broke before we went out) and when I went out, I made something pretty big jump, it was either already in our apple tree or darted up it, a LOT of apples fell down, making me jump too. And here I am looking to see if I can see what it was, never did see though!
The boys DID NOT sleep longer cause they were later to bed, they were stood by Florian at 7am on the dot fully dressed! AGH! When will they learn that sleep is good!!!
But as we had a breakfast date at 9am, we didn't chase them back to bed. We went to "our" bakers this morning and met with our friends, their 3rd child is approx. 4 weeks old, so cute. Florian would love another one himself, but me, not really!
After the bakers we decided to see how Florian's Brother in Law was feeling, we were expecting him to have a BAD headache, but when we got there he was out playing football in the yard, the boys and Florian joined in the game!We had a lovely afternoon there and left about 5pm. Then it was tea and bed for the kids. Robert was most disgusted as for some reason he didn't think he had been up long enough today...Mmh he looked tired enough, Richard even admitted to being tired. By the weekend they are going to be exhausted, late night yesterday, football game tomorrow, which means late to bed, and on Thursday I have a parents evening at the school, and the kids will be going to Florian's sister, but it also means another late night...oh well, we'll see how they do!
CU tomorrow

Day 260

Another day, where you plan it one way and it goes completely different. So this morning I had a long list of presents I had to go and buy, but before I left I phoned my doctor for an appointment (my arms go to sleep in my sleep, and I think I either need new glasses/lenses or I have an iron deficiency) well. when I phoned they told me they don't do appointments, just to phone when I have the time to go and they would let me know how busy they were. Well, I was on the phone, so I asked "how about now". She said, it looked good, only 2 in the waiting room, well, by the time I got there, there were 6 in the waiting room. It took an hour until it was my turn, and by then it was too late to go and get all the presents. So they are on my "to-do list" for the morning.
For now I have a prescription for 6 massages to release the tension in my neck, which might help my hands, and she took some blood, and gave me a note for the optician to have my eyes checked! So again a week didn't go by without visiting our doctor!

This afternoon I spent clearing all the data off of my old laptop, as we have sold it to one of my friends, and they don't really want all of my pictures!!

Ooh this afternoon my new handbag/camera bag came. I was going to order one in the States, but when they charge $61 for postage, I said no thanks, and we found this one at Amazon, and no postage!Cu tomorrow

Day 259

Today I went up to Kindergarden with my camera and had a super time taking pictures of everyday life at Kindergarden. Sometime within the next two weeks, they will become a calendar for one of the Kindergarden teachers who has to leave at the end of the month, so I am going to have to get busy! But today was all about taking the pictures. I obviously can't show any of them, but I did get one or two of Richard.
And here he is playing something called "Blinde Kuh" (blind cow) with his Kindergarden teacher. You have to put the mask on and feel various shapes and say what it is.
Richard couldn't get it from feeling and so here he is trying to smell the answer, it was so cute!This afternoon we visited a friend of mine and her two boys. It had been tooo long since we last saw oneanother, the boys all needed time to get reacquainted, but once they did, they too had a lovely afternoon.
CU tomorrow

Day 258

Shopping morning, and when I got back, I had decided to make a roast dinner, so then I spent the rest of the morning cooking, but the "yippee" sound from Robert and the empty plates, were worth it!

After lunch the boys played upstairs and forgot to come down when they normally do, and I didn't mind too much, they both appeared at 3pm and Robert did his homework. Today he was determined that I would not be rubbing out his letters and he did really well with them first time round, maybe he has finally got the message, that concentrating, makes homework easier!

And then it was time for football training, the weather cheered up for it and us Mum's got a good chat, and the kids a good game. And I also got two cute pictures of the boys thereCU tomorrow

Day 257

Not one of my better days today. I had a problem putting my hours into the system at work this morning and I had to phone someone to help me, whilst I had her on the phone I asked where my holiday had disappeared to. Apparently when I reduced my hours, unbeknown to me, they not only reduced my hours, but changed me from working for a certain amount of money per month (including sick leave and holiday) to working by hour, and only getting paid, what I work! And for a pittance at that... I was upset to say the least and am now not sure what to do about it. I have to decide just how I see myself working for them if this is all they have to offer...
Hopefully it was just a mistake, cause if not, for August I get next to nothing as in August I was off most of the month with Robert and his tonsils!

This afternoon it was parents council meeting about the upcoming Kindergarden summer party. We were sorting out games to play with the kids (so if anyone has any great ideas for indoors or outdoors do let me know) So far we have "pin the tail on the donkey (only it will be a pig)", egg and spoon race, musical statues, race in a sack (I bet that has a cool english name too, but I can't think of it right now!) and the rest I can't remember, but we wrote it down.

I didn't take a picture this afternoon so I thought I would take a picture of the kids cleaning their teeth, BUT they were fighting so much (as usual) that I forgot, so I just went and took a picture of their toothbrushes instead - these are the ones they use in the mornings. After breakfast we clean our teeth downstairs, at bedtime we clean upstairs with an electric toothbrush. (I know really interesting information, but one day in years to come, when I read back over this, I will find it interesting! grin!)

CU tomorrow

Day 256

Back to work, school and kindergarden for us all today, and today there were no glitches in the process (well, aside from the fact that we had to eat breakfast quicker, cause I never heard my alarm clock...oops!).

Homework for Robert wasn't so good today, we had had a little sticky blue note from his teacher, that he hadn't put much effort into his homework. So as she hadn't written what to do about it, I made him do it again! So he wasn't impressed, BUT he did make a lot better job of it!After homework was finally done, the weather had brightened up a bit, and we went out the kids rode their bikes and drew on the road with the chalks they got from Nanna which are now EMPTY but the road is really pretty! At least until the next rain!
CU tomorrow

Day 255

Another fun-filled day for us - one of those where we put 3 days into one! So the first part of our day was a trip to see Florian's sister and family. We were going to go to the village fete with them, but decided that as we had only an hour with them, that we would stay at their place and chat instead. It was a great morning and as always the boys had a brilliant time with their cousins and didn't really want to leave at midday. BUT we had to, as the next point on our agenda, was their football match! And they didn't really want to miss that either.

A photographer came today too, to take team pictures, so we had to be there on time for that. They did surprisingly well at their game and remember how in our last game we lost 12-1, well this game we drew 0-0, they played for 40minutes without letting a goal in, it was great. They had a lot of chances to score, but the opposing goalie was good too.
This is Robert on his way to get a goal...shame it was saved!After the game, we had our lunch there (sausage and chips) then we came home, where Florian wanted to fix our water feature, we found what was wrong with it. Can you see the little teeth marks on this important piece of cable....Some little critter underground, decided to feast on this, and with the holes in it, in went the water and no more power! GRRRRR! So far we haven't been able to find a spare part online, hopefully we will eventually, otherwise we will need to buy the whole thing again, and that is just too expensive!
CU tomorrow

Day 254

Oops a bit late today...
We were really busy today this morning though I got a lay in in bed. Florian got up with the boys and I got to catch up on a bit of sleep! I finally surfaced at 9am and joined my men for breakfast.
The boys and Florian then went outside, where Florian worked hard on sawing up some wood. We need to be prepared for winter...
And I tackled the ironing, I am now all caught up and ahead of myself, as I did all the washing Florian brought home with him today too!

This afternoon I went out and mowed the lawn, then my friends and kids joined us in the garden for a chat and playtime
Here are the boys all on their "building site"! Too cute!Whilst chatting away I went in to get the cappucino, and the dishwasher (that was supposed to be washing up from dinner) was flashing again! So After comparing prices on the internet, off Florian went and bought us a new one! Which has just finished its first round of washing up! Woohoo!

CU tomorrow

Day 253

Yeah, I finished tidying the boys bedroom - I think I have all the Lego and Playmobil back where it belongs, as for the jigsaw pieces I found all around the room, they haven't found the right boxes yet. How to teach them to look for ALL of the pieces when they put the jigsaws away!

This afternoon the boys went down the road to play with the girls and I did some weeding in the garden - yep, those silly weeds have found their way out of the ground again, and wow have they got roots. The lupins especially. But they are a bit eery, I was tugging away at a root that was really thick and going deep down, and it wasn't going anywhere with me pulling. I got a bit cross with it and tried at least chopping a big bit off with the trowel, well I struck the root twice maybe three times and it was as if the plant "let go", it came out with no problem at all - all of it! Creepy! I tried it again after the first time, and yep, the same thing again - very strange!

This is the boys down the road, their friend was about to try out her inline skates and they were fascinated!We picked Florian up at 5pm and went straight to MediaMarkt to have a look at dishwashers, the boys were not at all impressed and were really naughty in there and it was so hard to look and listen to all the man had to tell us about them, grrrr! Kids!
This evening however Florian has had the dishwasher out and looked at it, and I'm not going to say anymore than that...but fingers xed!

CU tomorrow

Day 252

Different sort of day today. It was a pretty rushed morning, but I made the most of the afternoon and did some relaxing.

So in the morning I had a firm coming to dry out the ceiling in the boys bedroom. I thought they might be putting up some sort of scaffolding thingy, so I cleared up half of the room - I would have done it all, but I HAD to go shopping and be back before they got here. So the boys now have a half tidy room - maybe I'll tackle the rest tomorrow - we'll see!

The shopping I HAD to get was a birthday present for Richard's friend. They had Lego games on offer so I got him one of those, I think he liked, and I will have to find out what the Mum thought of it, after playing it, as I am tempted to get the boys one for Xmas...

At three o'clock I took my little pirate, Richard
to his friends party and Robert went to his friends for the afternoon. Which left me on my own at home. I spent an hour on the housework, and then decided that I needed to relax. So I had a bit of a snooze on the couch, and then I did some scrapping (all my scrapping friends should watch my other blog on the 18th!!).
At 5.30pm I picked Robert back up and we had tomatoe salad for tea. Richard was brought home at just after 7pm. You could tell he had had a great time! I can't wait to hear more about it tomorrow!
CU then

Day 251

Richard went back to Kindergarden this morning, he is still on antibiotics, but he is no longer in pain, so I didn't feel guilty about sending him. Plus I had an unpaid job to go to this morning. I now work in the school library every other Wednesday, and today was my first day.
And the first class to come to the library - yep, Robert's! It was so cute. Robert came in and was all excited to see our friend there (she is the one that thought of me, when they needed some help), she said hi to him and then said "have a look behind me" and there I was sat! His little face lit up, so cute!
It was the first time the kids had been to the library, and they were so excited by it all, they were all allowed to choose one book to take home, this is what Robert chose
it was so big, that it was a very good job that I was there, cause I took it home in the car, it would never have fit in his bag! Looks like I will be taking it back in two weeks too!

This afternoon it was Katrin's birthday and we went there for coffee and cakes (well in my case apple juice!) it was a lovely afternoon and she was really pleased with our present. I am making her a calendar for 2011, couldn't do it all already as I don't have enough pictures of the kids. And when she has her printed version I will give her the files so if she wants she has something to print for Xmas presents!

This evening Richard was totally exhausted, bless him, I was glad when I saw that, that I had cancelled their football training. They have a game on Sunday and by then I hope that all traces of colds and such are gone!

Cu tomorrow

Day 250

Not much to write about today, without me whining and sounding like my boys. I spent 6 hours today working on the translation between normal Mummy things and housework, and that includes more washing up - at least nothing broke today (well, the key for the boys cupboard doesn't really count, does it?!)

The text didn't get any better and I learnt a lot of new words in both English and German, but I am pretty sure I will have forgotten them tomorrow, but at least the software we use for our translations won't forget and if it comes up again it will let me know!

Whilst Robert was doing his homework today (he learnt the letter "O" and the Number "2" today!) Richard decided that he really liked the tortoise Robert made at school and he made one too! (I drew it out on paper for him, but he cut and glued and gave it character!) here he is looking proud and so much healthier than yesterday!
OK, I'm off to bed now, CU tomorrow

Day 249

Well, Richard was still poorly this morning, but he didn't have a fever so after seeing Robert on to the school bus we went to work! I had packed a bag full of things to do there, and it worked really well...until....
he got terrible earache, he looked really rough. So after two hours there we packed our things back up and went to the doctors. He has an ear infection and now needs antibiotics. Poor thing. The good news though his tonsilitis has completely cleared up.
Back home, I decided to tackle the washing up before we picked Robert up again, BUT...
no hot water!! I went into the heating room to check the heating, and did actually recognise that the pressure was MUCH too low, but I didn't know how to fix it, so I sent an emergency email off to Florian. And waited. He was actually able to get back to me and talk me through it. Unfortunately increasing the pressure did not get me any hot water. So I had to call the heating company. The were with me within 20 minutes, unbelievably quick! Apparently the computer on the heating thought it was 3am and was therefore not heating my water. It is all working again now, and this evening I spent a lovely hour washing dishes!!

This afternoon I called on my friends for help, and Katrin came and babysat the boys in our garden for me. Cause I had to bring my work home with me, I have to get this translation finished by Wednesday after 4.5 hours of work on it, I have done 36%, hopefully tomorrow it will be easier. I am keeping Richard home again tomorrow until I am sure that the antibiotics are working, so I think he will be watching a couple of films in the morning so I can work.
I log in to my computer at work from home, so my computer there makes all the noises it would if I was sat there with it (my colleague didn't feel quite so alone today) BUT that also means it is as slow at home as it is at work if not slower (cause of the distance maybe) and I spent quite a bit of time waiting for the computer to catch up with my typing. That was really annoying, I don't suppose they will consider updating my computer but I will mention it, when I am back in the office!

And with all that I never got around to taking a picture today, so I just got a shot of my new boots, I ordered these winter boots online last week. I have been known to look for winter boots when the shops are getting their summer sandals in so I thought I would be wise this year.
OK time for bed now
CU tomorrow

PS: Dinphy had a couple of questions, Florian unfortunately had no time to look at the dishwasher at the weekend, so I have at least this week to hand wash it all.
And yes I did touch the lizard, it felt like a sweet wrapper down the back of the couch, and yes I squealed a bit when I realised what it was - ewww yuck!

Day 247 and Day 248

Well you know how we love to keep busy, yesterday we most certainly were.
In the morning it was time to say goodbye to our guests, we took them to the station at the airport, and got out and waved them off! I think they had a great time. It didn't take them long, once home to get in touch and ask if they could come in the next school holidays, so I think they enjoyed it here! And the boys thoroughly enjoyed having them, Richard wouldn't say goodbye in the hope they would stay and Robert shed a few tears!

From the station we went to Mum and Dads and swapped cars back. Opel were having an open day so we all went to see where Dad used to work and where my brother still does. It was interesting and I think the boys enjoyed it.
That was the view towards the stage, where they had some concerts in the evening, we weren't there then though. We were invited to my best mate's birthday. Between the Opel open day and the party I even managed to find time to make him a voucher. This year instead of a voucher for a book or something, we have invited him and his girlfriend to our favourite restaurant. Sneaky really, as now he has to come and visit!!!

Richard wasn't himself all day and actually laid himself down on the bench at the party, that was when we knew it was time to go home! It was a good day though

Today Richard woke up with bad earache, and didn't feel good all day, poor thing, here he is in the morning.
At 11am we had to take Florian to the station, unfortunately he had to leave on a business trip today :(
When we got back from the station, Richard was feeling and looking really bad, and he must have been cause he even agreed to go and lay down. He slept for about an hour and looked a bit better when he got up - not good but better.
Looks like Kindergarden is out of the question in the morning. But I HAVE to work, they called me on Friday asking if I would definitely be in, cause there was a really important translation to be done. I spent most of the early afternoon looking for a thingy that can log me into works computer. I really thought I had lost it. I couldn't find it anywhere. In the end I decided to start my search again from the beginning - and I found it in a fold in the laptop bag. Phew! That could have come really expensive!
This is one of the things I did find, on my search..a mummified lizard it was down the back of my chair! Ewww!

Oh before Florian left this morning we had to move the rabbit! He is now in his winter home (inside the chicken house) cause he had been digging tunnels! When we measured this afternoon with a stick and arm it must be at least 1.50m long! I think we were lucky he liked his food and came back each time. Now he lives with a stone floor, so he won't be digging his way out too soon!

CU tomorrow

Day 246

On the parenting side, today was a much better. Robert went to the busstop without me, as I was taking him, we met his friend and Mum at the crossing, and she knew what problems I had yesterday and didn't give him a chance to say no, and off they went, and I was able to go straight back to Richard - who today is much better "Mummy, my throat is a lot lot better today!"

Lunchtime I made pumpkin soup, it was delicious. And this afternoon whilst I was picking up Florian from the station our guests made this delicious apple cake, with apples from our garden!

Just a quick post as it is late and I want to quickly want to reply to a very exciting email I just got (doing a BIG happy dance)!
CU tomorrow

Day 245

Parenting is HARD work! But you know that! Richard woke up at 5.40am - Mummy my throat hurts all the time now, I want to go to the doctors NOW! And then he cried in pain, heart-breaking, I took him into my bed for a cuddle. 5 minutes later Robert was stood in the door, so he also crawled into our bed.
I had been hoping that Richard would sleep late and I could take Robert to the busstop without him, but that wasn't about to happen. It was really cold out, so I put the tv on for Richard and took Robert to the busstop (I told Richard to wake our guests if he needed to). My plan was to drop Robert off at the busstop and come straight back home. Robert was having NONE of it. When I told him what I wanted to do, his lip quivered he clung to my leg and then he started wailing - emotional blackmail - but it worked, I just couldn't leave him there in that state, I wasn't exactly a loving Mummy then, I told him that I thought he was behaving like a baby and not a school child, but it didn't help. So I waited there, wondering what Richard would be like when I got home, cause he too hadn't wanted me to leave! When the bus got there (of course today it was a couple of minutes late) I waited until he had found his seat and waved and left (normally we wave until the bus has left). Richard was waiting for me right behind the front door, luckily not in tears.
At 9am we were able to go to the doctors, it was sort of strange being there without Robert, especially when she called "Richard" in...it just didn't sound right! He has tonsilitis but at the moment he doesn't need antibiotics so fingers xed we got it in time!
The sun came out about the time we had to pick Robert up, so we both went to the busstop to get him. Robert said hello and then promptly ran ahead all the way home...not sure I was too thrilled about that either.

After lunch they all watched (the kids and our guests) "Space Buddies" (a film about 5 puppies in space) and then I turfed everyone out into the garden, to help me pick up all the apples. Mmh, we all went out, but initially not much helping going on. In the end though everyone except Robert helped. He just clowned around and talked back! Grrrr! And then he TOTALLY OVER DID IT! I turned around and he was studying a very YELLOW and large mark on our white wall by the terrace AGH! I screamed loud enough at him that I got asked by the neighbour two doors down, what the kids had done! I sent him straight in to his room and told him he couldn't come down until teatime, it was 3.30pm at the time! I was soooo furious and upset!! And I stuck to my guns, and he really did not get to come down until teatime. He missed the lawnmowing - that didn't go well either, I could not get it to start, finally I went and asked the neighbour two doors down! if he could perhaps help, and oops an important cable had come out! But that wasn't all, although it wasn't raining the grass was still pretty wet, and I gave up half way, maybe tomorrow the sun will dry it up some more, so I can finish!
Whilst I was mowing the lawn Richard and our guests were watching a film, so I assume Robert was REALLY upset about it all.
When I had finished I went up to him and he apologised right away. I asked him if he knew why he was there and he said "cause I was naughty!" - right first time. I let him come down after I had showered and he had to help me get tea, even though Richard was still watching TV.
And after tea it was time for bed. I hope he now knows that actions have consequences and he will think in future, but who am I kidding really! Although maybe now he will NOT paint the wall AGAIN!

Ok, thanks for letting me vent (in Mum's case AGAIN). And here is today's picture,
all of these apples have just fallen off of the trees and will now be fed to the wild pigs in the woods. The apple juice place doesn't start accepting apples until the 13th September, so until then the pigs get them!
CU tomorrow

Day 244

So, another day that was a bit hectic around here, but I did take a time out at the hairdressers, but with a slightly guilty conscience.
When we were having breakfast this morning, poor Richard said "Mummy, my breakfast is making my tummy hurt", I asked him exactly where, and he stuck his finger in his mouth and showed me. He has a sore throat. And the mean Mummy that I am, I sent him to Kindergarden, at that time he didn't have a fever, but I knew it was probably coming. And yep, he now has a fever and a very very red throat. All he has eaten all day is apple! Poor thing, doctor's tomorrow! Well it has only been two days since I was last there...

So first the promised "after" shot - look no greys! I'll get Florian to get a good picture of the overall look at the weekend, promise!
I phoned the dishwasher makers this morning, and the button that is flashing is bad news, I definitely (according to them) need a service guy to come and have a look, and that will cost €49 just for him to get to me, and then €60 for each hour he is here, and that is without parts and tax! Phew, thanks but no thanks! I'll see if there is a plumber in Florian at the weekend. Meanwhile this is half of the pile of washing up, that I had to tackle today! Ugh!This afternoon I also had Florian's nieces here, so it was busy in front of the Wii today!
CU tomorrow