Day 31

We got up this morning and it was snowing, fortunately it stopped at about 9.30am and hasn't restarted...
The boys were quite excited to go out in it this morning and we let them out there on their own. They were trying to build their igloos some more, but they also got a couple of footballs out, and were trying to play, needless to say that didn't work so well, when the snow is more than knee deep for them!
Florian joined them later on and then off they went for a ride on their bumslides, Florian however took them on the sledgeDon't they look cute!
Robert went out again this afternoon with Florian and they made "the biggest igloo in the world" - with what Mum says is the "most snow in the world"!
Richard stayed indoors with me, he was on the Wii and I was scrapping!
This evening we watched "Inkheart" and I really enjoyed it, now I have to see about getting the books, it will be a big change to read in German (the author is German, and I prefer to read the original where possible) I normally only seem to read in English!
Off to bed now, fingers crossed I don't wake up to more snow!
CU tomorrow

Day 30

Did I mention the snow in yesterdays post, I don' t think I did. Well it has been snowing now for 48 hours, it has been on a break since about 5pm, but by the looks of the sky it won't be long before it starts again!
We have so much snow it is unbelievable. And I really, really don't like the stuff!
I took some pictures of it this morning though before Florian swept some paths free (I helped a little bit)We played Mouse Trap all together before lunchtime. After lunch Florian started the recovery of our pictures from the EHD and..... IT WORKED!!! Yippee, all my pictures have been saved, it cost just over 80Euros, but it ws worth it! Now fingers xed this RAID system doesn't go belly up on us too!

When the snow finally took a break, Florian and the boys went out to clear the paths again and to play. The boys got Florian to help them build an iglooThey had sooo much fun out there, when I see that I "almost" forgive it for snowing..I was however watching from inside our warm lounge with a roaring fire going! Whilst the boys were out playing I posted about my new CT on my other blog, I would have been scrapping, but I didn't want to open anything up that might have endangered my pictures! But now that is all finished, I am itching to open my scrapping programme! Have to get Florian a February Calendar page made, before Monday!
CU tomorrow

Day 29

Phew, I am exhausted! But a good sort of exhaustion. Today was Richard's birthday party his first with his own choice of friends!
I spent the morning shopping for it, tidying up for it and getting everything ready for it. About 2.45pm I was actually ready for it - it started at 3pm!

We were all in fancy dress, the boys were firemen and silly me, asked if I had to dress up and the answer was yes "as a princess" - the only thing that might be considered a princess dress is my wedding dress, and if I am honest I don' t think it still fits me. So I showed him my pirates dress and i was allowed to wear that!

The guests and Florian arrived at 3pm, and the party was on!
this is the cake I made for the partyI found the idea online, but I can't credit the cook for it, because I only saved the link to the photo and not the blog, but it was delicious. It is just crumbled chocolate cake (I bought muffins) and then chocolate pudding and another layer of crumbs! Very yummy!

As usual we didn't take nearly enough photos, too busy keeping the kids happy! But I did remember to also take a picture of the tea they got!Unfortunately Richards friends - the twins - are very fussy eaters and only ate the ears, Robert didn't eat the hair, Richard not the tomato eyeballs, only one little guest ate it all! BUT they all
thought it was great fun!

And now I think I need a week to recover. We played "pass the parcel", "musical statues", "Topfschlagen" (thats a German game, where you blindfold one child and then they have to find the saucepan by banging a spoon about whilst crawling and listening to the other kids say hot or cold! and then they had a LOT of fun with some streamers!it was a great party and I am sure the boys Loved every minute of it
Now it is time for bed, have to wake Florian on the couch though first!
CU tomorrow

Day 28

Can you believe it, our Richard 4 (FOUR) today! He was so cute this morning, when they both came charging into my bedroom (looking for presents) and Robert and I started singing "Happy Birthday", Richard put on his cross face and stomped his foot "No, not now, when my friends come"! Bless him, I told him it was OK, that his friends weren't coming until tomorrow. He was OK then with unwrapping presents, but Robert and I weren't allowed to finish our singing!

He was very pleased with his presents, Mum and Dad got him a Space Rocket/Shuttle from Matchbox, he loved that (and Robert was quite jealous), Robert got him (well sort of) some colouring things (pencils, crayons, paints all in a suitcase) and we got him the game "Mouse Trap". He played with EVERYTHING this afternoon and loved it all!

In the morning Robert and I made the layout above, Robert did all the dragging and dropping. I did have to convince him not to put the things on Richards face!

We also baked some fairy cakes for the afternoon, even though it was only us today! But it gave Richard a chance to play with his presents.

My exchange EHD got here this afternoon, so we will be busy at the weekend salvaging our pictures! Wish us luck!
Time for bed now, got 6 kids running around here tomorrow afternoon I'll need all the strength I can get!
CU then

Day 27

So doctors today for Robert, his fever was still way to high this morning. His tonsils apparently are not covered in puss this time, and his ears are free, so we have some homeopathic medicine to get his fever down and hopefully nothing else will develop. I do have a prescription for antibiotics should his tonsils get bad over the weekend. Guess who will be playing doctor then!

As for the Kindergarden problem, well I had to delay my chat with them until I picked Richard up again, because we had to go straight to the doctors this morning. I worried about it all morning. I am not known for keeping my cool in such situations. But I did! I went for the innocent approach rather than accusing and just asked if they knew what had upset Robert yesterday and told them what he had said. The poor girl looked just as shocked as I had yesterday, when I told her what he had said. So I am giving Kindergarden the benefit of the doubt, and I can only assume that maybe the other children had said he couldn't have the drink. Oh dear! Perhaps it was only able to happen because he wasn't feeling well...Let's hope it was the last I hear about a sandwich for breakfast. I managed to get my point across again, that he is not having one. And if I do have any troubles, the doctor has offered to help me out. I told her what had happened yesterday incase it did have something to do with Roberts temperature.

That was the most exciting part of our day really. I played a lot of Ludo with Robert, they played with their teddies and the combine harvester, too cute!

This evening I started some preparations for Richard's Birthday party. I have got all the kids coming a little material bag, and they will be drawing a picture on there at the party, and then that is where they can put the sweeties they win, and I have some treats to go in there at the end of the party too. Well tonight I wrote everyone's name on them.Can't wait to see what they all decide to draw on there!

CU tomorrow

Day 26

Work today, so not much to report really, except I need to rant! Remember my last rant about the sandwich versus apple at Kindergarden! Well today, when we got home, Robert was in tears when he asked me for a drink. Very strange - I asked him what all the tears were about, and he told me, that he wasn't allowed a drink at Kindergarden, because he didn't have a sandwich!!!!!
I only hope that somehow he got the message wrong, because if he didn't then tomorrow I may just explode there! He was really thirsty anyhow. As for the tears when he was sat on my lap, I gave him a kiss, and not again - he has a huge temperature!Looks like another trip to the doctors again in the morning.
Cu tomorrow, when I will report, just what happened today about the sandwiches! By the way I watched a programme about the fact that way too many kids are obese by the time they start school, I am determined that if my boys want Apple for their second breakfast that is what they will be getting, regardless of what Kindergarden wants. I just have to make sure that they stop hurting Robert, whilst I get my way!

Day 24 and Day 25

Sorry I never got here to post last night, we had a very adventurous evening, but I'll start at the beginning.

Mum and Dad were supposed to be coming to visit today, but when they got up this morning it was snowing where they were. Which is sooo unusual, as its normally us with the snow, we had nothing. Dad didn't want to come, understandably, so we had to decide if perhaps we wanted to go there instead. It probably took me a good 2 hours to make up my mind, but as Florian said he would drive, we went!
We had a lovely time there. It was Xmas when we last saw them, so it was about time we went. The boys showed off there new toys and also showed Pop their skills at draughtsI did warn Dad that Richard is not a good loser yet...! Still working on that one, so Dad see the full blown paddy when he did a move Richard did not like! ;o)

We left a bit earlier than normal, as it didn't stop snowing all day, the trip home was OKish, unfortunately it had started snowing in our area by the time we got there, and the roads had not been cleared yet. But Florian got us home safe and sound.
Once home Richard was asleep in the car, but Robert was awake, so I let Robert walk to the front door. And that is where the trouble began!
I couldn't get the key in the lock, and no amount of jiggling it, would make it work. Florian tried next with his key, but the problem was, we had left a key in the lock from the inside! AGH!!! It was 8pm, snowing and the kids very tired.
Our neighbour was out sweeping the snow when we got home and he sent me and the kids indoors to his wife, whilst he and Florian got to work, trying to figure out how to get in!
There was no way we would be calling the emergency lock smith, they can be SOOO expensive. It would be cheaper to replace a window than get the locksmith.
so whilst me and the kids were sat in the warmth playing "pairs". Our neighbour and Florian were busy. 2 hours later we were able to get in. Don't we have the best neighbour ever!

The boys finally got to bed at 10pm, and were most disgusted when I wouldn't read a story! Much too late for storytime!
What an evening, hopefully that was the last time, we got locked out!

today in comparison, was really boring - work in the morning, and in the afternoon I let the kids watch a film "Der kleine Eisbär" a German one about a little polar bear called Lars. I was sort of hoping they might have a little nap, but they didn't - I did!

Here they are in one of the positions they watched the film in! Silly boys!CU tomorrow

PS: the data on my EHD can be saved, we now just need for WD to send us the replacement drive so that we have somewhere to store the saved data. So still a bit of finger crossing needed, but it is looking VERY positive!