Day 360

Hmm, anyone else notice, that I have lost some days somewhere along the line! You know why that is, its cause I am the only one still doing this, and I can't check on other peoples blogs whether I have the day number right. Never mind, I know that I will have done all 365 days by Saturday!

This morning we went to the bakers and met with a few from Kindergarden, the kids got to have a great run around and burn off some of their excess energy. Robert was actually organising running races with all the kids at one point!

After lunch (back home) we sat down and watched my Xmas present - Take That Progress Live DVD! BRILLIANT! The boys came down from playing upstairs just in time to listen to one of their favourites too "The flood" (Standing on the edge of forever....) and they both joined in with the singing!

Then it was time to visit Florian's sister and family and exchange presents, the presents I got the girls were a big hit. I took a chance and got two of them a really good set of sketching pencils and a book each about sketching. They loved it! Phew! The boys got some more playmobil, they were thrilled. And we got Florian's sister some new champagne glasses, which the three of them (Florian, his sister and BIL) tried out, and then tried them out some more and some more! I drove home!!

We didn't get in until 10.30pm Florian reckons it is good practise for the boys for New Years Eve! We'll see how well that goes!

So photo, I didn't take one, so I will see what I can find now to take a picture of! OK, so this is a picture of what the boys did in the morning and what we all watched in the afternoon!

CU tomorrow

Christmas - Day 355, Day 356, Day 357, Day 358, Day 359

We went away for Christmas so I am a bit behind with blogging, I'll try and catch up now! Let's see how much I remember!

Day 355 - Christmas Eve (Saturday)
We started the day with rolls for breakfast, and finally the Nutella was running low and I remembered the "thing" that Dinphy and Hans gave us, when we visited in October. It is to scrape out the Nutella jar and not leave a bit behind. It worked well as you can see.

After lunch we set off to stay with Mum and Dad - well visit Mum in hospital and stay with Dad. We stopped at the hospital first to see Mum, I think we wore her out!
Back at Dads we got everything ready for Father Christmas' visit! Here are the boys putting out his cookie, milk and Rudolph's carrot!

Day 356 - Christmas Day (Sunday)
Well if I thought they might sleep longer as they went to bed later, and as the room is darker than at home, I was wrong! They were up at 6.20am I think and went charging to see if Santa had been. There was no stopping them, once they saw their sacks full of presents!

And by 6.45am, they had finished unwrapping everything!

They loved all they got and got to work playing with it all. Here is Richard with the electrical experiment set! One of their favourite presents.

We went to visit Mum after breakfast and took all her presents, well all the ones from Dad (the ones from us, were still with Lee and Ramona) Dad got Mum a new toy - an Ipad! Now she can be in touch with the world from her hospital bed! At 11am Lee appeared with the girls, and I left Dad to go back with Florian and the boys and took his car to get home, to start cooking Xmas dinner with Ramona! We were determined not to be stressed out, and this paid off! We got the dinner ready and on the table by 1.15pm! Perfect! And we even succeeded in getting the gravy to taste nice! (we added some sherry!)

It was delicious, and we were quite proud of ourselves! If you look at the picture and think - where are the brussels, we cooked 3! in with the beans, and they were all for me. Only when we dished up Zoe wanted one on her plate. I thought it would be passed back but she ate and enjoyed it. So when we do our Christmas dinner again in February (with Mum and Ulla home) she wants her own brussels!

After lunch, we all went to hospital for Xmas tree presents (and of course to visit Mum). We took Mum and cracker in as well, and made her wear the hat for a picture!

It was a different sort of Xmas day without Mum and Ulla there, but the kids didn't notice and had a great time!

Day 357 - Boxing Day (Monday)
And now for a completely different Boxing Day. First stop today was a trip to visit Mum. She wanted to play on her Ipad, but she couldn't get it to dial in to the internet. Florian couldn't succeed either. So when we left we took it with us to Lee, for him to get it working and we picked up the girls and took all the kids to Frankfurt! Where we first went to "Old MacDonalds" for lunch.

And then it was a trip to our first 3D film - Puss in Boots

I was very sceptical about the 3D part, but it was fun. And the kids all reached out at least once to try and stroke Puss or catch something!

When we got back to Dads we had another delicious buffet meal (prepared by Ramona and I)

Day 358 - Tuesday
After visiting Mum in hospital we headed back home. Lucky was pleased to see us (here he is cleaning Robert!) and never really let us out of his sight for the rest of the day!

The boys got to play on their new Wii game. And Katrin popped around with her kids for a coffee.

Day 359 - Wednesday
Another lazy day really, well for me at least. I spent the day reading my Xmas present, well a book on my Xmas present - I got a Kindle. I actually finished the book, it was really good, and not one I would have perhaps picked up in a shop, but a recommendation from the Kindle shop. (She can run by Melinda Leigh)

The boys played on the Wii in the morning, and in the afternoon Robert went to play with his friend, and Richard and Florian watched Cars2. Then Robert appeared back home with his friend, hoping to play on the Wii - didn't happen, the new game Lego Star Wars is only for 2 players!

Richard got out his "Bügelperlen" (plastic bits you make into a pattern and then iron) and when Robert's friend left Robert joined in. Here they are very busy making things!

Mum sent a picture today too, she had been given the xrays of her leg. Oh dear, there is more metal than bone in there I think. I have a bionic Mum, so I think that will make for a speedy recovery, right!

OK, finally all caught up! I'll be back tomorrow, promise!
CU then!

Day 354

Well, all that praying helped Lee's MIL and she made it through the night on her own and all is looking a tiny weeny bit better, but we'll keep praying!

This morning we were invited to a birthday breakfast, which was fun and delicious. We left just after 1pm but we could have stayed a lot longer, as when we left they were just getting the cake out. But I wanted to head home and get the ironing out of the way for Xmas!

Xmas, that is going to be completely different this year, Mum will not be coming home. She is on complete bedrest until at least tomorrow, so going home with four clumsy grandkids around is probably not the best of ideas. But it will be soooo strange! Richard asked if Santa would take Nanna's presents to hospital, or whether we would have to deliver them. So cute!

We had a delivery today, which I wasn't really expecting until after Xmas, but it makes for a good present to ourselves. We have a new dinner service

I had been eyeing this one up at Tchibo (yep, the coffee shop) sometime in the summer, but it was much too expensive really. BUT they are having a sale now, and I got it all for less than half price! I love a good bargain!

Oh I nearly forgot we popped in to see the birthday girl again after picking Florian up, and they live on a hill, so you have to go down some steps to get to their front door. Robert was speeding ahead (as usual) and decided to jump the last few steps....and guess what he twisted his ankle! Unbelievable, why do we keep shouting "here" at the minute! The birthday girl is also a doctor (she took Richard's stitches out back in October) and when we left and he was in tears putting his shoes back on, she checked it for us, put some cream on it for him. When he went to bed, I gave him some Nurofen for the pain and hopefully tomorrow it will all be forgotten!

CU tomorrow

Day 353

Day 2 of school holidays! And what did I remember this morning, the ambulance bill from Richard's finger accident back in October. I have paid the bill, but the insurance should be paying me, but they told me, that I should wait for the hospital bill. Well if it is even coming, its not here yet, and I didn't want the insurance telling me in 2012 that I should have claimed it in 2011, so I had to pack up the kids and head to the insurance.
The kids wanted a Brezel whilst we were out, so I promised them one if they were good. they were really good at the insurance, it was when we got to Aldi, that it all went wrong! Nothing drastic, but I had to tell them to behave a couple of times too many, so they didn't get their Brezel in the morning!

After lunch and playtime, it was tidy up time! Oh dear, I went up at 2.30 and we didn't finish til 5.30pm. It probably would have been a lot quicker had I had help, but they just kept re-finding long lost toys and playing! At one point I caught Robert flopping onto his bed again...I was livid, but I kept my cool, and told him "if I catch you doing that again, you will have to pay 50cts, and I will put it in a money box, so that when your bed breaks again, we will have your money to pay for it"! Well, not 30 minutes later, I was sending him to get 50cts out of his money box. He really didn't expect me to go through with it, but I did and he was really cross with me. He even said that I was a thief. I tried to explain it all again to him, I think he still thinks I am a thief, BUT I think I got the message across, and maybe with a bit of luck, he won't bounce on his bed again!

As I spent the afternoon tidying up the boys bedroom, I didn't get any ironing done, as I had planned, so I have done quite a bit tonight. And look who thought it was a great idea, that I did! (needless to say he didn't get to stay there long!)

I need some good vibes tonight for Lee's MIL, she has been taken off the breathing machine and it is critical that she makes it through the night breathing on her own. Send lots please!

CU tomorrow!

Day 352

What a day!
For starters today was the day of Mum's operation, she was gone all morning and didn't get back onto the ward til about 2pm. All went well, but it was a LONG operation, it took 2.5 hours to put her leg back together again. The doctor came and told her that it was really complicated, but it is all back together as should be. She hasn't got any visible screws anymore, it is in plaster now. And from what I can see on the pic she sent me, it looks like the kids might even be able to draw her a picture on it...not just yet though!

It was Richard's last day at Kindergarden today and Robert's first day of school holiday! Mmh, WHEN does school start again... I already can't wait! Just after nine, when I was sure the shoe shop would be open, I told Robert to get his shoes on we were off to buy him a new pair of snowboots. Oh dear, he did not want to go. He told me he either wanted to watch TV or go and visit his friend. Even the fact that he needs snowboots did not convince him, he thought his wellies would do fine! So I ended up counting him out to get him out of the house, great start to the day! I have to admit though, with the promise of a Brezel when we finish the shopping he did behave quite well. AND we were in luck that the first pair of boots we found and tried on fitted and he liked them, phew!

Back home, the first thing he said when we got in was "can I watch telly?", erm no! So whilst I was unpacking the shopping, he found his camera and started watching the videos he had made of the TV programmes...I took that off of him and told him to find one of his toys and play nicely! NO CHANCE! He decided then that he would stick to my side like glue, I had the cat on my lap at the time, when he didn't find himself something to do, I found him something to do. He had to help put the clean towels away and then help collect the dirty washing in their bedroom and mine and then much to his disgust, I made him help sort it!! After that he did go to his bedroom, but I don't think he actually found anything to play with, cause I could hear him crying over the babyphone. (I ignored it, so I don't really know what it was about, hurt pride I think!) After 15 minutes in his room, it was then time to go to Kindergarden to pick up Richard and give the teachers their Xmas presents (cookies in a jar). Then we all went to Katrin's to take yet more pictures of Kindergarden kids! Yep, Katrin needed some pics of her kids with Santa hats on!

This afternoon Robert's friend was due to come over at 2.30pm, at 2.10pm Robert came down from upstairs trying to tell me something, but Richard beat him to it "Robert fell on his bed and broke it!" Robert's version was "I was under my bed and stood up and broke the bed" - I sent them both back upstairs to calm myself down. I was still quite grumpy from the morning, this was the last thing I needed to hear. I calmed down a bit and went upstairs to see the damage...well, 30mins later Richard and I were on our way out to buy a new slatted frame (Lattenrost). I couldn't face taking a grumpy Robert out shopping with me, so he got to go to his friends house instead. I know that wasn't really right, cause he sort of got treated for doing damage, but...
We got the slats for €35,-- and headed back home. And then came the BIGGER problem - how to get to the bed. I think ALL the lego and toys were there. I just got grumpier and grumpier. and it didn't help that the culprit wasn't here to help, I could have kicked myself for taking the easy way out! Anyhow Richard and I got busy, well, I got busy Richard spent most of the time watching me working! First we had to tidy things away in order to find the bed. Once I found the bed, I had to unscrew 15 slats, that was 30 screws, and I am not the best with the power screwdriver, I hope I haven't damaged it too much! Half way through doing that, I heard kids outside our house, and thought it might be Robert. I went and checked and he and his friend were here thinking they could now play here. Well, I am not sure Robert's friend knew what was happening, he got sent home and Robert had to come in and help! When I told him that if he didn't help he would be sleeping on the floor, he got to it! We have not finished the tidying up yet, but he is sleeping in his bed and not on the floor, and tomorrow we continue tackling the mess in there!

What a day! Oh and I nearly forgot, I actually started the day finding out that I had ruined Richard's winter coat. When they came in from playing in the snow yesterday everything was so wet that I decided to dry it in the dryer....BAD idea for Richard's coat, the zip melted!! I can't just have the zip replaced though, cause it melted onto the inside of the coat, and there is no way I can repair that. LUCKILY we have quite a stock of winter coats, and he does now fit in the next size up, even better it was a blue coat, so not too many complaints from him, when he saw the damage, but I am still annoyed at myself.

And with all that I didn't get a picture again, but I did stand up from my comfy couch and take a picture of my Xmas cards, we got a whole pile yesterday and it is slowly filling up! This year I am using the backing of the frame that Robert and Richard broke in October/November for the cards, a bit different from the string we used to use!

CU tomorrow!

Day 351

I didn't really sleep too soundly last night, my cough...! So this morning as it was no better, and Xmas is on the horizon, I went to the doctors. Our doctor is still not back, so I tried one that my friend/colleague recommended, and I was very happy with the practice there. I don't need antibiotics, and have some herbal cough medicine, and hopefully I will be all better by the weekend. Florian told me in no uncertain terms that he doesn't want what I have got, and if it wasn't Xmas he would stay away! I hope he didn't really mean it! ;o)

Back home I took it nice and easy today, well, if I move too much, I end up coughing so probably best this way! I made some homemade medicine that the doctor recommended - onion syrup! Actually it is not as yucky as it sounds. You just chop an onion and add 3tbsp of honey and stir, then leave for a few hours. The juices of the onion are drawn out by the honey and that is what you have to take. It is surprisingly sweet.

I had to pop to Katrins, to help her print something out, I couldn't help over the phone even though the problem was user related and simple to solve!
Robert was home early from school, his last day. And oh did I mention it, we have LOTS of snow! Yep much to the delight of the boys it had snowed over night, and it is still snowing now! After lunch his friend came to play and they spend all afternoon in the snow! They built a great snowman!

When Richard got home, he joined them out there, and they then all made giant snowballs!

When it got dark I made them come in, much to their disgust. They watched last years CBeebies Christmas Panto on TV, they are definitely British at heart, they really joined in with it, so cute!

Mum has her operation tomorrow, and the doctor came by today to discuss it with her. They don't know until they look inside whether she will still need the framework, but they will be putting some metal in and then it will be at least 6 weeks before she can put weight on it again (better keep her safe in the bathroom then!) He also made sure that her feet were clean and toenails cut! Not bad, eh!

Ramona's Mum is not so good today, she has a bit of a fever. And the doctors have seen something on the lung that shouldn't be there and tomorrow they will go in and have a look (no, I don't know how, but I dont think it is that evasive). So worrying! Keep praying for her!

off to bed now - onion syrup first ;o)

CU tomorrow!

Day 350

Work this morning. I have a new laptop there but only until the new year, when my colleague will get it. But as I was there today I got to test whether it was working OK. Shame that I couldn't test it on some work! Translating 58 words is not a lot, and I left at 10.30am.

I went shopping to get the boys a book each and to try and correct the mistake the in-laws made in their Xmas present to them. The books they chose for them, were aimed at much younger kids and just wouldn't be read anymore, what I picked out for them now, will be though!

Back home I started to cough, and I don't think I have stopped since then. It is so annoying, it is like a tickle at the back of my throat...and I don't seem to have the right medicine at home. Could be a trip to the doctor in the morning.

Both boys were out in the afternoon. Richard was still at Kindergarden, and Robert went to his friend - again! I got my new toy out and had fun cleaning floors. Like Florian said, he never thought he'd hear me say the words "clean the floor" and "have fun" in one sentence!

I have also spoken to some of the Mums who had pictures from me of their kids, and they are all really happy with them, and that makes me really happy!

So and now to the damper of the day. I was on the phone to Mum this morning and we had to stop cause she needed to go to the bathroom. Mmmh, next thing I knew I was getting a text message "Got to go for Xray, slipped in bathroom and landed on bad leg" - knocked me for six again! Enough already!!
Well I got to talk to her before she went and she is sort of OK, it has been bleeding, but after the Xray, they didn't whisk her off to the operating theatre, so it is probably OK. Maybe we'll find out more in the morning after the doctor has been!

As for Ramona's Mum, she was woken up for a little bit today, and unfortunately the first thing she said to Ramona was, that she didn't want to go back on the machine, she wanted to die. Ramona told her, that wasn't an option. I suppose the fact that she was able to talk, and that she was being grumpy is good news really. Just not what Ramona needed to hear!

I'll leave you with a pretty picture of our tree!

Back tomorrow
Take care!

Day 346, Day 347, Day 348, Day 349

Oh dear, I feel slightly overwhelmed, how am I going to catch up with 4 days! The computer was so slow, that blogging wasn't on! And Friday, some bad news knocked me for six, so I didn't even try! But one thing after another!

Day 346 - Thursday
Busy morning today, the car had to go in to have the scratch on the left hand side fixed. I got to the repair place at 7.45am, which I thought was in plenty of time to be back at Kindergarden at 9am, for my English lesson. Well, I got there at dead on 9am. Perfect planning I suppose.
After my English lesson, I had to take more Kindergarden pictures. Such cute kids, but again, I can't show the results. BUT I do know that the parents were really pleased with the pictures!

From there, I walked to Katrins, where we were making the Kindergarden teacher's Xmas presents - Cookies in a jar. And there I was able to organise my kids for the day. Katrin picked up Richard from Kindergarden, so that he was home quickly and I could get him back for the afternoon. And Sabine's FIL picked Richard up from Kindergarden at 4.30pm, cause by then I had my English student round for her lesson, and couldn't get to pick him up. Thank goodness for such good friends.
Robert went to a friends all afternoon, so when Richard came home and my student had left, it was time for him to get creative!
He made a sea scene with gloopy glue, blue paint and other bits and bobs!

Day 347 - Friday
No car still today, and I got extremely wet on my many journeys to and from Kindergarden, but that is about all I really remember from Friday. Cause sometime just after lunch I got a call from Mum, with some more really really bad news. Ramona's Mum, the boys surrogate grandmother, was taken into hospital, and it was NOT looking good. She had been sat on her bed, when Ramona went round, and could hardly breathe, Ramona got an ambulance, and the ambulance crew weren't sure she would even make it to hospital alive! NIGHTMARE!

Needless to say, I didn't remember to get a picture today.

Day 348 - Saturday
Ramona's Mum made it through the night, but has been put into a coma, or as they now call it - a deep sleep, to help her mend. But later in the day Mum called and said, that my brother had gone to the hospital with Ramona as it was not looking good. More worrying!
We did get to the forest to get our Xmas tree. And I got a few photos of that. We were really good this year, our tree only cost half of what it normally does, and I think it is only half the size, but it is BEAUTIFUL as always - see for yourself.

Day 349 - Sunday
No flashing missed phone calls when I came down this morning, no news is good news, right. Yep, it is, she is a tiny bit better today, the antibiotics are beginning to work (she has pneumonia, and as she only has one lung, she is struggling hard). We just have to keep praying for her.
Florian worked all day on my computer, and it seems to be a LOT better, only if I use my email programme it all seems to slow down, so I might look into changing that, any suggestions?!

OK; I have Michael Buble on the TV and Gino da Campo has just joined him to make Gingerbread men, I need to pay attention, seeing as mine were deliciious but VERY very hard!

I got this cute pic of Lucky today

He isn't at all interested in the Xmas tree, he walked over and smelt it when we put it up, I think he decided it smelled too much like outdoors and is ignoring it! So funny!

CU tomorrow, promise!
OK, struggling to shrink the pictures, I'll post them tomorrow! CU then!

Day 345

Computer has slowed right down again, so I am only gonig to post my picture and run ´today. Here are the obys after their  art lesson. Check out my chimney sweeps!

They were printing their cards,and they got what looks like most of the ink all over them! Luckily it washed off in the bath!
CU tomorrow

Day 344

Work this morning, and when I had finished what I had saved from yesterday, there was nothing else to do, so I got busy with my Xmas cards! Someone spotted me doing that, and then found me something else to do. I thought I was right back as an apprentice again. I had to get things out of one folder and put them in another, and yes it was just like that, as stupid as it sounds! It had something to do with all the stuff having to be in the same sort and colour folder, sounds a bit OCD to me, but I'm not there to question things. Once that was done I got to do some copying, haven't done that much copying since my apprenticeship! Still I finished it all in time to finish my Xmas cards, so if you are on my list, watch your letter box soon!

When I got home, Posty pulled up at the same time, and she had a HUGE parcel for me! Yep, I am testing something again, this time it is a Philips Aquatrio. That is a cleaner for all hard floors, it is a hoover and mop in one! Here is a picture of mine, and I have linked it to the project page, if you want to see more

After lunch (and the loose women) I went to Kindergarden and Robert went to visit a friend. I was taking some more pictures at Kindergarden, some of the Mum's wanted pics of both their kids, but it had to be in the afternoon cause of school. No problem, I love taking pics!
Richard wasn't so sure, cause he had to come home early, because I finished taking pictures before his day ended. Once home however he was happy, cause I let him paint. He made some more light sabres out of kitchen roll rolls!
Whilst he was busy with that, I was busy playing with my new toy. Wow, I love it already, and I have only done the kitchen floor so far. I get to keep it for about 4 weeks, and then I can either send it back, or by it for 200 Euros less than normal - it will still be 249 Euros though, so I have to be really convinced by then. But so far so good!

Been fighting with my computer again tonight, although blogging is easier today (you can probably tell, cause I haven't written much more today than the past few days!), but photoshopping is out of the question, and I have red eyes to get rid of :o(

OK, back to CSI Miami now, wish it was Glee, like Dinphy is watching, but Sky got the rights to that, and I have to wait!
CU tomorrow!

Day 343

Work in the morning and when I texted Mum from there, I found out that she was learning to use the zimmer frame this morning! Its good they are getting her up and about, but I think it is also really exhausting too.

I was actually busy all morning at work, and I still have a little bit to do, when I go in in the morning. So I didn't get to leave early to do the shopping. Not a problem though, I have enough to last for another couple of days.

This afternoon Robert and I waited in vain for my English student, she had had to stay at school longer and forgot to let me know. Oh well, we played Qwirkle whilst we waited, so we weren't too bothered. At 4pm the rain took a break and we walked to pick Richard up. The pair of them then decided to run all the way home, I couldn't keep up with them. Little monsters!

I have spent the whole evening now just trying to sort out my pictures that I took at Kindergarden, all I wanted to do was to put them in files by kids. On a normal computer this would have perhaps taken me at the very very most 30minutes. It has taken me all evening! At the weekend, Florian is going to wipe it clean and start again, I hope it works, cause this is no fun. I daren't even open Photoshop, cause if just explorer is this slow, then I hate to think how long it is going to take me to edit the photos!

Nothing much at all on TV tonight, so I am really going to have an early night tonight! And I'll leave you with a picture of my lap warmer having his supper!

CU tomorrow

Day 342

Today after an early lunch we drove down to visit Mum in hospital, and although Mum still has a LOT to go through, seeing her in such good spirits has put my mind at rest, at least a little bit! I was allowed to take a couple of photos (both of which, I have also shared with the world through Mum's facebook page!)

Mum was also allowed to get out of bed, for the toilet and a wash today, that too is a great sign! Fingers crossed now that all continues to heal well.
We stayed with Mum until the boys got to be too unbearable (it's full moon) and then we went to get on Dad's nerves! He had a game of tiddly winks with the boys and then we all watched "Prep and Landing" a Xmas Disney film, which we all fell in love with last Xmas. It was fun watching it again.

We left at about 5pm to come home and we stopped where the motorway used to end at McDonalds for a Happy Meal. Funny how the boys can behave, when there is a treat at the end of it! I told them that I would not stop and carry straight on home, if I had to shout at all! It worked!

Now I am going to put poor Florian through yet another XFactor, but it is the final, and then he won't have to suffer again until next year!!!

CU tomorrow!

Day 339, Day 340 and Day 341

Woah what a few days, my computer is playing up a LOT which is why I am really late blogging,...

Day 339 (Thursday)
So after taking all those pictures on Wednesday at Kindergarden I was back there again on Thursday, but first my English lesson. I had a new girl join us today, and I think she enjoyed herself, so hopefully she will be back next week or in the new year!
After English I took my camera into the groups and took lots of pictures of the kids at play! Again nothing I can show on here, no yes I can, I took one of Richard on the play mat there.

In the afternoon Richard went back to Kindergarden and at 4pm we picked him up and it was off to Robert's sport group and Richard and I went to our English lesson.

When the boys were in bed, I tried to work on the computer but it was so slow again, that I decided to restart the computer, BAD decision. It tried to run an update and it ran and ran and ran. I started at about 9.45 and at 11pm I went to bed and it was still trying! So annoying!

Florian had an appointment at the skin doctors and unfortunately the spots that they looked at, came back as having cells in that can turn into cancer - ooh hearing that C word is NOT good. But positivity is what conquers cancer, so we'll start early. He'll be having all the suspicious spots out on the 22nd of December and then all will be good, right!

Day 340 (Friday)
In the morning when I got up, the computer was still trying to run the update, so I "killed" it and then restarted and it worked again (still slow, but working)
I had a hairdressers appointment at 8am and am now looking young again. After that I went to Woolworths who had a 20% off sale, I got the boys another couple of Xmas presents. When I came out of the shop, I saw that Dad had just tried to call me, and that is when the day started going downhill (remembering that I am trying to ignore what Florian told me last night)
Mum fell down the cellar steps, from top to bottom, when Dad phoned the emergency crew were there, and she has broken her lower left leg. And was off to hospital.
I spent the rest of the day in a bit of a trance and with a lot of deep breaths and pacing. And waiting for various updates.
I did get to talk to Mum and she sounded fine, that was before the operation to put it all back together.

What a nightmare! BUT at least it was only her leg, it could have been so much worse, so it was a blessing in disguise! I'm still shaken though.

I did take a picture though, even if it was with my mobile. I got a picture of the kilometre clock in the car, cause at 3pm I hit the 15.000km, which is all we are allowed to do in the car. Every km from now on costs a few cents.

Day 341 (Saturday)
Spoke to Mum this morning and we will be visiting tomorrow, Mum did send me a picture of her leg (with screws and such coming out of it) but I can't get it off of my phone to post it here, it has saved it somewhere, but I can't find it!
We kept ourselves busy, I made a vegetable soup for lunch, which even the boys liked. Although Robert didn't eat all his and was most put out, when afterwards he couldn't have some sweeties!

After lunch, I made some gingerbread biscuits with the boys, they are really yummy! And we are going to take some to Mum tomorrow. And I'll be back with a picture of them tomorrow, can't face fighting the computer trying to get the pictures off the camera, so I'll post it tomorrow!

Off to bed now
CU tomorrow

Day 338

I had a GREAT time this morning at Kindergarden. I took over 600 pictures of the kids, and now I have a lot of editing to do. But I think I will enjoy that too. I haven't even managed to look at them all today, as my computer is soooooo slow again! But I am hoping that tomorrow it will be feeling fitter! I did manage to shrink a couple of my test pictures with Richard!

In the afternoon we made some Xmas decorations (Nikolaus brought them) aren't they cute!

After that it was art school.
I am going to keep it short and sweet caus it is NO fun typing like this!
CU tomorrow

Day 338

Happy Nikolaus! Today the boys got a taste of Christmas, when they went to bed they put their shoes out, and when they got up (and after getting dressed) they found that the presents were "under" their shoes and not in them. They were much too big, and pretty plentiful! Here they are unwrapping

They were both over the moon with their goodies. They both got Lego Racers (from us), Robert got some Lego Technic and a DVD about big machines (from Nanna and Pop), Richard got a box full of crafty things and a Mr. Maker DVD (from Nanna and Pop), then both together got a DVD "Ice Age - A mammoth Christmas" (from Derek and Sandra - an early xmas present, as at Xmas you don't really need a xmas special dvd, you need it in the run up) - A big thanks to all the different Nikolaus's

After the unwrapping and breakfast it was time for school, Kindergarden and work. I left work at 11am and popped to the car dealers and asked about getting the scratch down the side of the car fixed, it will cost between 400 - 500 Euros, so we don't need to involve the insurance as we have to pay the first 500 Euros anyways. So next Thursday and Friday I will be without a car!

In the afternoon I went to choose pictures from those I took the other weekend. Now I will be making them a calendar and having some pictures printed! It was fun going through the pics with her.

At 4.30pm it was time to pick Richard up from Kindergarden and of course the first thing we had to do when we got home was watch the Ice Age Xmas special. It was fun, and I am sure we will be watching it a few more times before Xmas. And after that Richard asked to watch Mr. Maker, but first he had to go and get ALL of his craft stuff. So cute!

Tomorrow I am taking pictures at Kindergarden, so wish me luck!
CU tomorrow

Day 337

Busy day today, I was going to take Robert to school along with the biscuit dough I made last night. Today was baking day at school. When we dropped Richard off at Kindergarden, I bumped into another school mum and she was on her way to school to help with the baking. So guess what, Robert got a ride with them and saved me a trip! I still however needed to go into the village and post some parcels, BUT I could go when the post office was already open and not have to hang around until it opened!

At 10am I picked Richard up from Kindergarden again. We had an appointment for an evaluation for school, to see if he is "fit" for school. He had to copy three pictures, have an ear and eye test, answer some questions, say what the missing picture is, repeat some made up words, correct the doctor when she said the wrong words, hop on one leg, jump from side to side, and I think there was more, but I can't rememember it! He actually enjoyed himself! After that I took him back to Kindergarden for the rest of the day. I got home just before 12 and lo and behold, Robert rang the doorbell minutes after I arrived in. He was supposed to still be at school, but apparently he told the teacher, that Mummy was poorly so he was allowed to go home and didn't have to go to the afterschool group (where he goes when I work). Cheeky monster, he knew fully well, that he did have to go there, cause I didn't know when I would be back!

At 3pm it was back to Kindergarden to get Richard, and then off to an old people's home where the art school had an exhibition of the kids Picasso pictures opening! The kids faces, when they saw their pictures in frames on the wall, so cute! Richard was so excited he had to take a picture of his picture!

And before we left, I got a picture of Robert with his picture too!

Before they went to bed tonight Richard wanted to clean his shoes, cause tonight St. Nikolaus comes - we'll see tomorrow if they have been good enough boys!

Oh and when I went to get the camera to get the pictures off for the blog, I happened to look out of the window....and oops, we have our first snow of the season!

CU tomorrow!

Day 335 and Day 336

I might get a bit frustrated with this blogpost. My computer is running on dead slow again, and I am typing without seeing what, so excuse the spelling mistakes! So I have some catching up to do. We were playing Rummikub last night, and I forgot to blog until it was a bit too late!

Day 335 (Saturday)
All my men had a hairdressers appointment in the morning and are all very smart now. Robert has spiky hair, like Daddy only with a green fringe, and Richard had short hair but NOT spiky! Robert stayed at his friends to play so only Florian and Richard came home. When they got in I went out shopping and they baked a cake! Which we all tried, except Robert, who is obviously NOT my son, cause he apparently doesn't like chocolate cake, WHAT???!
Here is Richard and his big piece!

IN the afternoon we let the boys watch the nxt part of Starwars (The empire strikes back) Richard wasn't really ready for that much Darth Vader and he had a bit of trouble getting to sleep, but he managed with my li8ttle teddy keeping him company!

Day 336 (Sunday)
We went out when the rain stopped this morning to get some pictures for our Xmas cards (and no I am not showing them on here). And as we were already out and about, we ended up at the Sieberzmühle for lunch, yummy! When we got back we just had time to look at the pictures and then we went out again. Florian's niece was playing with the school orchestra and we went to watch.

After (they only played two songs) we all went to the bakers, and even though the buffet is only on til 3pm and we were there at 3.05pm we still got to have buffet, it pays to be good customers!

When the boys were in bed, I hang up my stars, It is impossible to get a good picture, but this gives you an idea!

OK, back to Beyoncé and then bed
CU tomorrow!

Day 334

Today I feel a bit better than yesterday and to hold on to that feeling, I didn't actually do that much! And that was good for me, I'm sure!
Well, I did do something, I kept driving back and forward to Kindergarden. 4 times to take and pick Richard up, then a 5th and 6th time for football! This afternoon that was at 12, 1, 3, 4 and 5!! Oops!

Robert finished his homework and then went round to play with a friend. He stayed there until 6pm, so when Richard came home from football, I let him play on my computer! Before he went to football, he had watched me finish a Xmas card, and was itching to have another go. So when he was home, I let him. And I got a picture of him on my phone!

Florian had an appointment at the skin doctors, and unfortunately he spent a long time waiting to see the actual doctor and missed the normal train. He didn't get home until 8.30pm. He went to have a mole checked, the one we wanted checking is fine, but they did take a sample from another place to send away to be checked. In the case that it is something that needs looking at, he will hear from them in 2-3 weeks. Here's hoping we don't hear!

CU tomorrow!

Day 333

This is going to be a short and sweet post I think, cause not much happened around here! Both kids were where they should be this morning and I got no phone calls, to come and pick them up! And I got to rest a bit. I sat myself on the couch (away from the computer) and just napped all morning! I think it did me some good, as this evening I am feeling a bit better! Still coughing, but I don't feel dizzy anymore so my ears must have cleared!
Richard went back to Kindergarden after his lunch, so it was just me and Robert, and he was on his best behaviour. He spent most of the afternoon building Lego in his room - bless him! When he did come down we played a game of Qwirkle, before it was time to pick Richard up!

Today was the first of the Xmas specials on CBeebies, so the boys were allowed a picnic and to watch the Octonauts BUT to be allowed to watch it, they had to pose for me! Nothing like a bit of bribery! But aren't they cute!

CU tomorrow!