Day 274

This morning Florian took the boys swimming, whilst I stayed at home. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, and I was able to finish the curtains off in the lounge

Well, they are almost finished, on the left there is one panel missing, when we were hanging them up yesterday we decided that it needed a bit of colour in the middle too, but we hadn't bought the bit for an extra panel. Oops. Mum and Dad are coming up to visit on Wednesday and have offered to get that bit for us, so I can finish it off then!

In the afternoon we all went for a walk (the same one Richard and I did with our cameras the other week), the weather was beautiful, I even walked half of the way in only a T-shirt. But it was a bit chilly at the playground without a fleece jacket on.
Here are some of the pictures:

Not sure what they are actually doing to the ground there, there is often a digger moving the earth around, but whatever it is, the boys loved this "playground" as much as the one we were heading for!

This was taken seconds before an argument broke out over who should really be on this thing. So they weren't really working together!

CU tomorrow

Day 273

I got up at 8 today, not sure when the boys got up, but they were arguing when I opened my eyes - and I could hear that upstairs even though they were downstairs! Oops!

Once I was up I went shopping and got the boys and Florian some rolls for their breakfast. When I got back though Florian was still in bed sound asleep. Robert who still wasn't dressed went up and woke him up and got himself up properly too.

After breakfast Florian suggested we go to IKEA, I took a bit of convincing today cause of Richard's diet, but decided he could always have a dry roll there. As it happened the first thing we saw when we got there was the kids menu, and I don't think you can really go wrong with pasta and a tomato sauce. At least I hope not. First we went around the shop though and after 20 minutes of that, the boys were able to go to Smaland (the play area there). Whilst Florian and I went and sorted out some new curtains for the lounge. 

Once we were all sorted we picked the boys up from the play area and went for lunch at IKEA - Robert and I had the Swedish meatball dish (Köttbullar) and Richard and Florian the pasta and tomato sauce. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. And for dessert my men had soft ice!

When we got home we started putting them up, but then got a phone call from Florian's sister asking if we wanted to join them at the Chinese - we just couldn't say no, so this is only how far we got. 

We still have to put the net curtains up too, but that is now waiting for tomorrow!

CU tomorrow, with proper pics of our new front windows!

Day 272

You know when you oversleep, you seem to be playing catch up all day, well that was me until about 3pm today (I finally caught up with everything then!)
I turned the alarm clock off a few too many times this morning and I only then turned the light on, when I heard Robert go back to his bedroom after a trip to the loo! And when I looked at the clock it was already quarter to seven. Oops! Luckily today is guitar day, so I was driving to school anyways, it just now meant that the boys HAD to come with me, and not go on the bus!

We got to school on time, and Richard and I found his ADAC safety vest, now to remember to write his name in it, before he goes out with it on on Monday. After that it was off to work for me. I was busy all morning so it was a good day. At 12 I left and rushed home, Florian had already landed and I still had to do the hoovering. Good job I did go home, cause Florian phoned me - he couldn't find his train ticket, was it in his purse. As I was home I could check, it wasn't so he then had to unpack his suitcase to find it. But he found it and texted me he would be at the station at 2.15pm. Mmh, that was going to be a bit of a rush. First off to school to pick the boys up from guitar. Once there though I first went to chat to Robert's teacher to find out how he was getting on. She was quite pleased with him, but agreed that some of the things that have happened at home this week do point to ADS and that we have to help him cope at school. Its good to have the teacher on your side.
I then rushed to get the boys, one of the girls was still there and she normally leaves to catch the bus 5 minutes before the boys, oops. When she said that her coat was still hanging out by her classroom ("miles" from the guitar lesson room) I offered to take her home to take the pressure off of her. I think the teacher was grateful, she was substituting for the real teacher and hadn't been told that the bus leaves really shortly after the lesson finishes.
We eventually got home (after dropping the young girl off) at 13.40, luckily Florian had texted again that the train was running 10 minutes late. That gave us a few minutes for us to have something to eat. Just a banana and a bit of toast.

We picked Florian up at the station and we were all excited that he was home (still are) then it was back home via a bakers to get some rolls for "lunch" - can you still call it that at 3pm?!

Florian bought some presents home for the boys - T-shirts in the national colours, some sticks that are pencils for Richard and hotwheels for Robert. I tried to get a picture of both boys in their t-shirts but Richard was having none of it. So this is the only picture I got and Robert is happy, he just didn't want to show it!!!

Florian is doing really well fighting his jetlag he is still awake (10.15pm) but when I have finished this, I think it is bedtime!
CU tomorrow!

Day 271

Work this morning and the boys made their own way to the busstop. I didn't leave though until I saw one Mum walking back home from the bus stop. I don't think I can ever leave without knowing they are actually on their way on the bus. No worries about that tomorrow, seeing as I am taking their guitars to school.

After work I popped in to town and treated myself to a new jumper! Perhaps I'll get a picture at the weekend. After that small shopping spree I had training, it was fun as always, and so far I am not sure what will hurt in the morning, so maybe my muscles are slowing getting used to all the training! We'll see

I picked the boys up at 4.45 and we waited at the bus stop for all the other football players to turn up at 5pm to go off to football! Whilst waiting there, Richard corrected his homework and also told me, that he has lost his safety vest that they got from the ADAC. GRRRRRR!!! He only wore it today for the first time! Kids! So tomorrow again, I will be looking for my kids clothes at school, its not funny anymore!!!

On the way to football, the heavens opened, but unfortunately for me, by the time we got there it had stopped and Robert got to play his match. I was frozen right through by the time they finished, today was not a good day for outdoor football, the wind was a lazy one and it went through instead of around!

Robert is No. 6

One more sleep and Florian will be home, he is at the airport as I type and if I have worked the time difference out right, he'll be taking off in 45 minutes! But he won't be home until sometime tomorrow afternoon, so he'll be exhausted by the time he gets here. But it will be great to have him home again!

CU tomorrow

Day 270

Library morning today and a chance for me to chat to Richard's teacher about NOT giving him the fizzy water, and to find out if she could help find Richard's PE bag. It went missing on Friday and so far hadn't been found again. Well by the time the class got to the library, the PE bag was back on the hook it belongs - phew. Richard was really upset that it was missing last night! No one knows how it got to where it was found, but at least it is back!

After library I headed straight home to try and cook another bowel friendly meal! And this one was delicious! Both boys loved it and Richard even said "Mummy you can even make this meal when my tummy is better" - I made "Hühnerfrikassee" which is chicken in a creamy sauce with rice. I substituted the traditional asparagus and peas for carrots, but still yummy! (link to German recipe).

I played Yahtzee with Robert before we went to art school, and he actually really got a Yahtzee in one go. He was really excited, and of course even more so, when he beat Mummy by over 100 points!

At art school today they used aquarell paints, they had great fun again, and I enjoyed wandering around the mall! But I only picked up bits the kids needed for school.

Now for today's picture - Robert with his new gap (the one to the left of the upper front teeth).

That silly tooth fell out around 4.15am. And I was the first to find out! And at 4.20am I wasn't too decisive, when he asked me where to put the thing! I finally decided that on my bedside table was the best place - meant I didn't need to move and he did go back to bed and back to sleep!
And guess what, when he went to get the tooth to put under his pillow, the tooth fairy had been. She's a busy little fairy!

CU tomorrow!

Day 269

...or day 1 of Richard's new diet!
After my English lesson at Kindergarden I started making my chicken noodle soup for lunch. Not really difficult but I had never done it before. I thoroughly enjoyed the soup, the boys however not so much. I don't think they were impressed at all - oh dear not a good start to his new diet. Dinphy, you asked if it is difficult to keep too, not sure yet, I have a list of do's and don'ts, the dont's include - any type of cabbage, onions, raw vegetables and fruit, the do list I got from the doctor is white bread or toast (but not too much), steamed or boiled vegetables, rice, egg, chicken and ice cream. Not much to go with there, but I have since found quite a good German website with a more comprehensive list (Marie-aari.de) and as to your other question, yes, when it is all balanced out again he should be fine with things (in moderation) again. Fingers crossed.

This afternoon we went shopping and got the toast bread, some rice crackers and some Zwieback (that is like baby's rusk) Richard was quite excited about it all, even the rice crackers, I think they taste like you are chewing cardboard, but as long as he is happy!

When we got back home it was really pouring outside and I let the boys watch a film, they watched "Rio" I saw some of it and it was so cute, it was like watching Mum's bird Elvis get up to mischief! Too cute!

After the film, Richard wanted to do some reading and when he was sat with me and the book, I got a cute picture with my phone.

He has only learnt 5 letters so far (O, L, E, A and M), but a few he knows the sounds of, so off we went sounding out the words, he did really well and was very pleased with himself.

With all the rain we were sure football training would be cancelled, but nope at 5pm we were up at the football field, it was really chilly but dry, so training did happen!

I put the fire on again this evening, I needed warming up again after sitting around watching the football training!

CU tomorrow

Day 268

My computer is playing up tonight, so I am not even going to try and attempt to post a photo (it could take til the morning the speed the computer is working) but hopefully it will let me blog.

So this morning I went straight out after the boys were on their way to school. I wanted a few bits that were on offer at Aldi. It's been a while since I have gone on an offer day and wow - it was packed, I barely got a parking space at 8.02 and it opens at 8!
I think most of the people there wanted the small kids clothes, but I was there for jogging trousers and bed sheets. It was so busy there, that I postponed proper shopping, as I just couldn't concentrate and in places I couldn't even get to the food!

Back home I got on with my translation for work and at the same time did the washing! Both are all done now!

In the afternoon Richard and I went to the doctors to hear the results of his stool sample. Well of the bacteria in the intestines he has too few of the good ones, and way too many of the ones that cause gases. And that is the reason for his tummy ache. We now have to change his diet and try and get the balance in his intestines right again. It means a lot of things he cannot have, all of which he wanted this afternoon (like the doughnuts he saw when we went to get him some different bread!)
I was a bit flustered with the news, but like Mum says if I do get it all totally wrong it just means more tummy ache for him. But I am going to do my best to get it right. And tomorrow to start us off we will be having yummy chicken soup - one of the things on the list of things he can eat!

Robert spent the afternoon at my friends with whose son he has a love/hate relationship. Luckily today was a good day and they actually enjoyed one another's company. And he didn't come home until gone 6pm! He got his maths test back today and he got a 2 - well done Robert! He wrote a music test today, but I haven't heard how that went yet!

OK, off to bed now
CU tomorrow - hopefully with some pictures!

Day 265, Day 266 and Day 267

My computer decided to slow right down on Friday night, so I gave up on blogging and such and just turned it off, and yesterday we were away, so I now have some catching up to do!

Day 265 - Friday
I felt a bit unsure translating today, but by the time I left again, I was back in the swing of things and promising to do a translation for work on Monday from home. (I may have to ring them Monday morning and cancel on them as Richard wasn't feeling to good this evening - his tummy really hurts he says and he doesn't want to go to school - we'll see in the morning, but back to Friday). I came home after work and swapped cars, I wanted to stop and get chicken food and straw on the way to picking up the boys and their guitars from school, but there is no way that would all go in my car, so I took Florians and it all fitted no problem.
Back home I had to cook lunch, I chose something new again, but it was nice and quick to cook. We had steak with gorgonzola sauce and pasta. Richard said "Mummy you can definitely make this again!" Phew! Success!
After lunch we didn't have much time and we had to go out again. It was the Kindergarden summer party, all the kids that started school this year were invited too, which is why we got to go. Katrin and Sabine had organised a raffle and they did a great job.

We bought quite few raffle tickets and I got some great prizes - three of which from the gym I go to, so Florian and I can try out some different things from there. Cool!

The Kindergarden kids put on a great show for us all, this year they did "A very hungry caterpillar".

We stayed until about 6.30, and then I was just too cold and for the first time I came away without helping with the tidying up, I felt a bit guilty but then again, this time I was there as a guest really!

When we got home I put the fire on - first time this season, it was heavenly. I stopped feeding the fire though when it was 30°C in the lounge!

Day 266 - Saturday
Today we went to stay at Mum and Dads. We left home at 9.15 after fighting with Robert to turn off the Wii. He just gave me killer looks for most of the trip down south! But once there he cheered up. We got there and all went straight out again.
Dad took the boys to the open day at Opel, and Mum and I went to the Loop, a shopping centre there. Mum and I had a super time, it was lovely to just wander the shops without the kids around. AND I got three new tops in the sale in one shop. One of which I had been eyeing up online but decided that 30 Euros was way too much for a T-shirt, but now it is mine at just 12 Euros! Bargain!

The boys and us got back home at exactly the same time and we spend the afternoon enjoying oneanothers company.
Here are the boys playing with Nanna and Pop's Lego - sorry about the angle, I was showing Dad how the viewfinder now can work, and not paying attention to how I was holding it - good job I normally look through the viewfinder properly!

And Mum and I tried it out too, taking plenty of pictures of her orchids.

and in the evening we went to the restaurant for chicken and chips (or in the boys case Schnitzel and chips) Delicious. Lee and family came along too, it was a great evening.

We got home at about 10pm so the boys were really tired, but unfortunately as they were sharing a bed, they didn't get to sleep as quickly as I would have liked them too.

Day 267 - Sunday
The boys were up at their usual time, it didn't matter to them that they had had a late night, they just do not know the meaning of "a lay in" - shame! I suppose the lure of the ipod and nintendo might have had something to do with it!

But as it was it was probably better as we did have a schedule again. They both had football games back home. We got home at about 11am and by 11.45 we were at the sports field ready for Robert's game.

Robert is No. 6 with the yellow vest on

They played really really well, but unfortunately the other team played better, they lost 2:4. After Robert's game we had lunch there, I had this

it was delicious! Maybe I need to learn how to make that gravy so we can have it at home!
At three it was time for Richard's game, again the kids tried so hard, but we just didn't put the ball in the opponents goal.

Look at Richard trying to push past!

I'm lucky that my boys just love playing and are not too disappointed when they don't win. After Richard's game we went home (it was 4pm by then) Robert still had to revise for a test in Music tomorrow and I was cold again. And guess what I did after revising with Robert - yep, I put the fire on again. Lovely and cosy here now!

CU tomorrow

Day 264

Work this morning, when I went to start the translation I had been working on was no longer in my inbox - very strange - when I asked about it, it turns out that what I had finished had been sent to the person who wanted it, without informing me or asking me if it was ready to be sent out. GREAT - I hadn't reread it or corrected it, it was a really difficult translation and whilst translating I knew I needed to go through it again and make it sound like real English and not "Denglish", especially as the person who was to get it, is from Ireland. Well needless to say she was not impressed with my work, and it has been taken off of me and my colleague has started over and is doing it again (with a little help from my first try). I still can't believe they would just send off something unfinished without asking me at least first. Now I have to rethink how I work, do I now have to leave the last hour of each day for proofreading - but then that won't be the whole text. And sometimes you need to see the whole thing before you can spot silly mistakes, like all sentences starting the same or something similar. Oh well, maybe now I'll only get the easy stuff to translate and that wouldn't be too bad either!

After work, I went for my sport, it was fun again, but already I can feel muscles I didn't know I had! Back home I had leftover peanut chicken, and then I am not sure what I did but before I knew it, I had to go and get Richard from the bus stop. Then after he had had a drink at home we were off out to pick Robert up from his sport. Tea then and bed for the boys. Where did the day go!

I only took two pictures today, one on my phone which I posted to facebook this morning and one on the little camera of the same view, that would be this one! If only I had had the "real" camera with me, I may well have been late for work, the light this morning was so amazing!

CU tomorrow!

Day 263

My freezer is now working properly again, so this morning I went shopping and filled it up a little bit with some essentials, now I just need to get that chart made to put on the freezer, so I know what is in there at all times! Maybe I should have been doing that this evening rather than thumbing through old food magazines - looking for new ideas.
When I got back from shopping, I went round to Katrins, where we were all meeting to pack up the things for the raffle at the kindergarden party on Friday. We have 400 prizes! Not bad - well at the time we only had 390 prizes, but I went shopping this afternoon and picked up 8 more things (two whoopey cushions - the kids will love them).

Lunch was delicious, today I made Peanut chicken schnitzels, and there was some leftovers, so instead of defrosting the curry tomorrow, I'll be having chicken again, yummy.

This afternoon after their homework the boys and I had a few games of Bingo, before it was time to leave for art school. The boys had a great time there, and I went shopping for the raffle things and I also got some bits for the rabbit and some special chocolate pudding for Richard.

And with all that going on, I forgot to get the camera out, so here is a screen shot of something else I have been doing this evening!

CU tomorrow

Day 262

This morning I got all of the ironing done after my English lesson at Kindergarden. I had two new kids join me today, so if they both stay I am back at 8 kids! They all had fun again, and I know I did! When I got home from Kindergarden, look what I found! Cheeky cat! I wonder what he is trying to tell me!!!???

I watched Glee whilst ironing today, season 3 is in the post on its way to me, so I need to watch seasons 1 and 2 again before it gets here!

For lunch today, I used Gino's pasta cook book for a simple tomato sauce for the spaghetti, and yep it was really simple and the boys loved it! So no more Miracoli for us!

After the boys had finished their homework, we went out for another walk. Not quite as far this time, but very interesting. We took Robert's exercise book with us and we went to a pond in the woods. Robert is doing all about ponds and such at school, so I thought showing him the real thing in the middle of the woods, might help him getting the knowledge to stick. Not sure if it did, but it was beautiful there. All around the pond the ground was covered in moss, so it was all bouncy when we walked around.

I had planned this walk today as the pond is really close to the football pitch and both kids had training today, so when we had finished "studying" the pond, we got the football out of the car and the boys had a kickabout before everyone else got there.

I stayed for training this time, as there were a lot of Mum's to chat to, it was good fun. Back home the boys needed a bath, and they got a bit longer one, as Florian phoned just as I was about to wash their hair, they weren't complaining though!

CU tomorrow!

Day 261

First things first, Florian arrived safe and sound in Brazil - and no exciting occurences, that puts my mind at rest for a little while! But at least all the valuables are in the hotel or office now. So now to our day.

The boys had school and whilst they were at school I got all the washing done and also the shopping, and whilst I was doing all that I was also defrosting the freezer. When I went to put some of yesterdays left over curry in it, I had to take something out and found steaks from 2009 in there. So I decided to empty the whole thing and start again. I had to get the hairdryer out to help out a bit, but now it is all defrosted and tomorrow I can start refilling it. Only with system this time - well, that's the plan!

In the afternoon after finishing their homework, Robert went to play with his friend and Richard and I went on a photo safari. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time. Here are my pictures

The first shot!

Paparazzi in the making - topless chickens?

Looks like we are on holiday, doesn't it! Beautiful here!

Got a new favourite photo of Richard! Love it!

Autumn is coming the asters are out!

Someone was waiting for us, when we came home!

and here are some of Richard's

My shadow Mummy!

I'll take a picture of up the hill!

Mummy told me that the fairies get rides on these - and that this must be a sort of busstop for them!

Love the flowers

And another beautiful view!

When Robert came home, his friend's Mum came with him to apologise. Although both kids knew that Robert isn't supposed to play Wii during the week, they convinced his mum and dad to let them play by not indulging this information! KIDS!!!

One bit of good news, on Robert's timestables test he got 70 out of 72 sums right! Well done Robert!

OK, time for bed now
CU tomorrow

Note for me: Made a delicious Broccoli-potato bake from scratch and the boys ate it all up!

Day 259 and Day 260

Day 259 - Saturday
We went out shopping in the morning, after Florian told me all about his colleague's experience in Brazil (having his rucksack stolen and nearly being held up at gun point) we decided that he needed one of those money belts that you wear under your clothes. So it was a trip to the outdoor store for us this morning. As it was close to MediaMarkt we popped in there too, and the boys bought themselves some more Skylanders for their Wii game! And we also picked up a compilation CD of all the current hits and had a good sing-a-long on the way home from the shops! The boys particularly love "Whistle" by Flo Rida, so cute when they sing along!

Florian went out in the afternoon to do some sport as his neck is really bad at the moment, and the boys and I found all sorts of songs on Youtube to watch and sing-along too! We had fun. When I left the room to answer the phone, which we very nearly missed due to our sing-song, Lucky decided to have a cuddle with Robert. Too cute!

In the evening we met up with Florian's sister and family at the Chinese restaurant, delicious as always. I got Florian to take a picture of me in my new skinny clothes. Seeing as we forgot last weekend!

And yes they still fit even after a meal at the Chinese!

Day 260 - Sunday
This morning we tackled the cleaning out of the chicken house. Yesterday Florian had been in and sprayed it all out with something, so today the little crawly things were mostly dead, that made going in there much much easier. We cleared it out, hosed it down and really scrubbed, hopefully now the buggy things will leave us alone! We'll see!

For lunch I cooked Jamie Oliver's Rogan Josh Curry, it was delicious. I wasn't sure when I was cooking it, but ooh, now I can't wait for Thursday when I can defrost my portion of the leftovers! Here is a picture of it half eaten - nearly forgot to take this picture!

The boys tried one spoonful but weren't that impressed, but I had anticipated that happening and had made them tomato sauce to have with their rice.

In the afternoon after packing Florian's bags we went into town and had an ice-cream before dropping Florian at the station.

Richard was particularly upset about Florian going, its going to be difficult next weekend when Daddy isn't there, but we'll manage!

OK; time for bed now
CU tomorrow - have a safe flight and journey Florian

Day 257 and Day 258

Day 257 - Thursday
I had work in the morning, and was actually busy all morning. After work I had my sport, it was fun again, and it was nice, when the guy I registered there with back in June came in and congratulated me on my weight loss. I told him I was good for his business as all the girls from the busstop (the other Mummys) are signing up as they can see it works!

Back home I cooked out of my new cook book - I had prawn omelett - I don't really think you need a cook book for that recipe, but at least it gave me the idea, it was delicious! The boys of course were still at school.
I picked Richard up from the busstop at 4.45pm, not quite sure what we did til we had to pick Robert up from sport, I think Richard did some colouring.
We picked Robert up and he was excited that he had managed to finish all his homework at school. Unfortunately this was spoilt by yet another message from his teacher "Robert hurt people in the playground with a rope" (writing it like that it sounds like something from Cluedo!) Apparently just another game gone wrong. I gave him a lecture on how skipping ropes are supposed to be used for skipping and skipping only. And after talking to the other parents involved, found out that Robert was just around at the wrong time, but he still needs to know that it is for skipping!

Our babysitter joined us for tea again, and this time as the parents evening started half hour later it wasn't quite such a rush. The boys were excited about her being there and when I left they were all playing yahtzee together! Cute!

The parents evening took 90mins longer than that of the first class last week. Some parents just like to hear themselves talk, but when it comes to putting their name down as PTA they all chicken out - strange that! Well after going around in circles for 30 minutes, a friend put me and another friend down to do it, and as it is not together with "madame" I am quite happy to be doing another term (2 years again).

I was back home at 10.30pm and the film the babysitter was watching was just finishing so in a way it was good, I didn't get home earlier!

Day 258 - Friday
School this morning, Fridays I drive the guitars to school and today it was just the guitars the boys went on the bus again! But before I set off I went to the bus stop with them as I had to have a word with another boys from the village. Yesterday Richard came home and said that he had stolen his pencil. Well I took the lad aside this morning and asked about it, and to cut a long story short, it was in the boy's bag and Richard now has it back. At school I told the teacher about it as they need to know, this boy is already in their sights and now they have proof that he was stealing. I feel sorry for him as I do believe his home is to blame for all his troubles, but not on my watch!

I was a bit later to work, cause of all of that, but not a problem. After work I went to the bank for Florian and got him some dollars for his upcoming trip to Brazil, then it was back to school to pick the boys up.

In the afternoon Richard went to his friends to play and Robert and I did his homework. He got a test he wrote last Friday back and it was not good, so he had a lot of corrections to do.

I cooked Mum's curry recipe for tea, only I made it really really mild. It must have been good, Robert cleared his plate. Richard wasn't too sure, but he ate nearly all of it too!

Off to bed now, so I'll do the pictures in the morning!
CU then

Day 256

This morning I took 14 (!!) Schultüten (those cones the kids have when they start school) to school on my way to the library. Tomorrow the photographer is coming to school, and the first year kids have to have that there with them for the pictures. And I offered to take all of them from the village to school seeing as I am at the library anyways! I didn't realise quite how much room they would take up, but luckily Florian's car is here, so I used that to get them to school.

Library was fun as always, it was Richard's first proper visit to the library and he was really excited, as was the rest of the class too! So cute! We seem to have hit the jackpot with the teacher, she came to the library with the class of course, and I don't think we have ever had a class so quiet come! She certainly has them under control, but in a fun and loving kind of way!

I cooked our meal again from scratch today, and it had to be well planned, as straight after school, the boys had a hair dressers appointment. But with Roast Chicken it is quite easy to plan!

Here are the smart looking boys, all ready for the photographer tomorrow. Robert's pictures will be different with his blue and green hair, but never mind!

Richard refused to go to art school today, I think they probably just needed a break from all of our rushing around, so I didn't push it and let them play for the afternoon. It did us all good I think. We even played a round of Yahtzee together, which Richard won!

I also hung up Robert's marathon picture, certificate and number! He is well-pleased with it!

CU tomorrow!

Day 255

What a day! I started my day by phoning Robert's teacher as she asked me to, and had the wind knocked out of my sails, when she said that she thought that Robert might have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Generally speaking it means he is not capable of concentrating for longer and it is classed as an illness. She wants to monitor him for a bit, but then I would have to have him evaluated either by the school psychologist or at the doctors. Some forms of this come from additives in the food, so again, its me and the cookbooks. For the rest of the day I have felt like I am not really with it, its all quite a lot to take on board.

After my English lesson I went shopping and decided maybe some retail therapy might help and picked up a skirt and jumper and some photo frames. Later I am going to get printing some picture for them out and hang on the walls (better do that tomorrow, cause the boys are in bed now!)

I put one of my new cookbooks to good use at lunchtime and made "Chicken with a Lemon Butter Sauce" for us. It was delicious, Richard wasn't too sure about the sauce, but Robert had seconds!

And I know exactly what went into that. Now I have to start religiously documenting what we eat every day and hope that we can eliminate some of our problems!

In the afternoon I monitored Robert's homework closely and he got it all done, he did have to be reminded of his German homework, as he came to me and showed me both Maths and Religion homework, and said he was finished - oops! (This is part of what the teacher means) When he had really finished ALL his homework we went into town as I had forgotten to get my contact lense cleaner in the morning and whilst we were there we went for an(other) ice-cream! Richard didn't have much of his (which is probably good as it is full of milk) - he managed to knock his onto the floor, he broke the dish and even though I managed to salvage quite a bit of ice-cream he wasn't going to eat it!

Back home we played Qwirkle waiting for football training to start. But we had a storm just before training was due to start and it was cancelled. I then let the boys watch one of our new films -"The smurfs"!  Speaking of storms seems that right now it is raining hard again, as I have no picture on TV...grrrr!
I might be watching a film to this evening if this keeps up! Not my day today is it!

CU tomorrow for a better one - I hope!

Day 254

A very busy and productive day today, with its usual ups and downs! First up I had promised work that I would log on for a couple of hours in the morning to do some translating from home. Well after taking the kids to the busstop I did log on and got busy with the translations, doing them in the order they were scheduled for. After about 45 minutes I got a phone call at work, they had scheduled them wrong and the one that really needed doing was the one last on my list. So I stopped what I was doing and got busy on the other translation. The other two translations should be waiting for me now on Thursday - we'll see! After translating it was time to get busy with the housework - the washing was already on the go, but the ironing needed doing!
Today was a music kind of day, so I put on Take That Live and started with my sing song! Goes so much easier when you are not concentrating on the ironing!

I washed the boys bedding and quilts today just in case it was something in there giving Richard tummy ache I disinfected them too! You never know.

Richard came home just before 1pm and had just enough time to have a sandwich and then it was off to the doctors. We didn't get any answers today, he probably does have a lactose intolerance (is that what you'd say in English) and we should keep the milk out of his diet, but as he has still had tummy ache all week, it is obviously not the only thing wrong. We are now going to send in a stool sample and hope that that can give us some answers. For some reason though this is not covered by the health insurance, and we will have to pay 105 Euros ourselves, but somehow we have to find out what is wrong with the poor lad! Fingers xed this will work!

When we got home he quickly finished his homework and then it was off to his friends birthday party. He was really excited about it, even more so as it was a trip to Takka Tukka Land!
When I got home Robert came home too, he had been to Sabine's for lunch and finished off his homework there. Only when he got home and I checked he had no where near finished his homework. I don't know what to do with him, I had another message from his teacher to phone her at school in the morning, as he just keeps forgetting the homework. For starters there will be no Wii what so ever during the week, as it seems to be making him rush the homework and what easier way than forgetting half of it!

He didn't finish his homework until gone 5pm, hopefully now that we are all caught up, it will seem less for him now!
When he had finished he helped me finish making up their beds again and also feed the chickens. They are not laying much at the minute, not sure why though. Still got plenty of eggs at the minute though!

Richard got home about 7.30pm and then it was straight to bed, but he had had a great time and he has already told me he has a lot to tell me about in the morning!

CU then!

Day 251, Day 252 and Day 253

Day 251, Friday

In the morning I was trying to let Robert finish at least his maths homework, and I wanted to know what he should have done for his German homework...hmmm...this didn't go quite according to plan. I found out that he hadn't even got his German homework with him, how did he even expect to get it started....Kids! And he was determined to go as slow as possible with his maths homework. By the time we left the house to go to school, he was in tears and I was fuming - what a start to the day!

At school, I tried to find Robert's T-shirt that he forgot at his tennis lesson yesterday, no luck there, apparently the tennis lesson is completely separate from school and I would have to try and get hold of someone there. I went to the tennis hall (just opposite school) in the hope the cleaners would be there, but no
luck. I found a phone number, but I never did manage to get anyone on the line.
After having no luck, I went off to work. Nothing to report from there.

After work I went to pick up some books I had "won" on Ebay, the person selling them lives really close so to save on postage, I picked them up. Got some more good ones for school! Then it was on to get the boys and their guitars from school. I tried again at the tennis hall, but although I could see the T-shirt, I couldn't get at it!

Robert's friend came round to play in the afternoon, he left quite early though as he got bit fed up of my boys arguing with one another all the time.....I wonder if they will learn now?! I couldn't referee as I was busy doing the lawnmowing, its getting a bit more difficult now as the apples are all falling from the trees and they have to be collected up first!
Florian phoned before he got here and I sent him to the tennis hall on his way home to see if he could get in. but he had no luck either!

And with all that going on, I forgot to take a picture, but I do have this lovely one of Lucky!

Day 252, Saturday
Soccer Mum and Dad weekend it is this weekend. Starting with Robert's game. For his game we had to meet at 11am The game I think was at 12. The weather was beautiful in fact it was so lovely that we should probably have all been wearing sun cream, still at least I had remembered the sun hats!

Unfortunately Robert's team lost 5:0, but I think they had fun.

Later in the afternoon Robert went around to his friends house to play, and we went shopping. We had to go and get Richard's little friends a birthday present each (twins!). We also picked up a DVD which we are going to watch as soon as I finish blogging! On our way back to the car, I saw that C&A had a 20% off kids clothes sale, so we went in there. We got both boys new winter coats, so that was a good deal. Richard then needed the toilet so I got a bit longer to wander around C&A, by the time they got back, I had sorted out a pair of trousers and t-shirt. I tried them on and liked them, but the trousers were a bit big, so I tried on a smaller pair and woohoo they fit! I really have lost weight, not only the scales say so, but the trousers too! I am so excited and a tiny bit proud!!

I wore my new clothes to Katrin's b-day party in the evening and got loads of compliments there. Obviously wearing fitting clothes shows off the new figure!
The party was fun and the boys lasted out until 10pm, and when we all got home we all went to bed, an early night for Florian and I and a late one for the boys.

Day 253, Sunday
And another football day. We had a late breakfast as eating before the game would have been a bit awkward, but after Richard's game the kids all got a voucher for sausage and chips, so they didn't go hungry.
Florian got a few pictures of Richard in goal, unfortunately they too lost 5:0, but again they had fun, so nothing to worry about!

After the football we surprised the boys with a visit to the ice-cream parlour - yummy! We all had a spaghetti ice-cream, Richard had a special one, just chocolate, chocolate ice-cream, chocolate sauce and chocolate sprinkles, he loved it!

OK, time to watch "The Hunger Games"
CU tomorrow!