I've figured out how to put up videos

This is from when we were in Wokingham looking at houses. For those of you not used to YOUTUBE, if it keeps stopping and starting best just to leave it running and come back to it when it's played though (the red line has to be full for it to play faultlessly)


Amie teaching Noah how to use the potty, this is from a few weeks ago. I like in particular Amie's Cheshire Cat grin, and the fact that you get to see just how quickly our little guy goes from smiles to tantrums!. Amie is smacking him on the bum at the end of the video :)

If wishing made it so... Amie and Noah both got distracted on their walk by the toy shop window.


Noah buzzing around at the chilren's museum on Sunday.


Amie looks a little disappointed with her prince charming

Anything you can do...

Noah has taken to copying everything Amie does.. in some ways this is a good thing because if I can convince Amie to behave herself, he follows suit. However the same is also true if she misbehaves herself.. in particular if she screams. I can usually tell her off sternly enough to make her stop, but once Noah starts screaching it takes a while to distract him from it. Makes me very unpopular on the bus!


There's really not that much in it size wise these days!


Sharing, for once! They came up with a novel way to go on the Snail at the same time all by themselves.

As well as copying everything she does, he also copies everything she says.. his favourite phase at the moment is "oh bother" and "very very greedy"


Matching hats. I bought this pretty hat for Amie but it was too small, so yesterday they had a sale in H&M and I bought a larger size one... Noah was very happy to have the same hat as his sister, and as long as he just wears it out the back I don't think we have to convince him to take it off.


Enjoying her ice-pop

Last Tuesday In Wedel

Amie's little friend Angelina comes to visit us on a Tuesday, and last week we cycled to the local estuary, where there is a lovely playground, and the kids can paddle in the water and get totally covered in sand.


High climbers, anything Amie does Noah tries to copy. He actually made it to the top all by himself!


After all the climbing it's time for a spot of lunch, but Amie's not so keen to share her grapes.


Amie and Angelina sneaking off to the river...


Noah admiring Angelina's bathing t-shirt

Successful mission

Playing tug of war with Lewis


Amie arrives at the airport, with her suitcase packed. She spent the whole morning walking around with it on her back, even though it was really heavy.. she was so excited to be using it.


Amie and Noah having fun waiting to board the plane at Hamburg airport

We're back from our trip to the UK, and have managed to find a house that we both really liked, in the little market town of Wokingham. We had a look in London in Richmond, and in Windsor, Ascott and a place called Sunningdale... but Workingham seemed to fit our needs best, although it'll be a 50 minute commute for Rich (some peace and quiet and time to read his books I think). Richard's friends Vicky and John bravely put us up during our trip, and I was amazed at how good the kids were. Our friend Caroline, from our old days in Holland who's parents live in Workingham was kind enough to meet up and show us around. It was lovely for Amie to meet Lewis again, they hadn't seen each other for 2 years, but still played like old friends. And I finally got to meet Aidan, Lewis' little brother, who's only a few months younger than Noah. Nana and Pa drove down to look after the children on Friday and Saturday, and it was such a relief to be able to view houses without them both running around and complaining of feeling sick in the car. But in the end we picked the 3rd house we saw on the first day, (I think we viewed 15) so we could have saved ourselves a lot of stress. Just 6 weeks left in Wedel!!!! Yah :)




Higher, Higher

In other news, Amie is home this week from Kindergarten till Thursday because they phoned this morning to say that there was an outbreak of measles. Amie doesn't have 2 vaccinations against it, so she can't go in till Thursday....... will try to find things to do with them both, since I've also no German class to go to either.

Children's Party in Wedel

Amie sitting very still getting her face painted as a butterfly. I'm not sure how effective the end result was, but she certainly seemed pleased with it, so that's all that matters.


SMILE

We were at a Childrens Pary in Burgerpark Wedel today, where we had to queue for an hour for the pony rides, but there was no way Amie or Noah were going to go home without having a go on them. I had to feel sorry for the parents ahead of us who'd also queued for an hour only to have their child scream frantically when put on the pony, and have to be take off after 2 seconds.


Not a great picture, but the only one we have of Amie on the pony (not that we're blaming anyone eh?)


This ones a bit better, probably because Rich wasn't chasing after Noah at the time


I'm not sure what Amie and Noah were doing with these packets of nappeis this morning....


... but it's clear Noah didn't want me to find out.


Having a rest after a hard days fun

Back from London

Emma and I had a great weekend in London, and Rich did a great job looking after the kids (so far as I can tell ;) )


That baldy head belongs to Ralph Finnes, we spotted him in the West End on Saturday night.


A walk in the woods


Amie showing Noah how to use the potty today.......


..but he still gets confused!

He sat on her potty today and said "wee wee", so I took his nappy off him to see what would happen (the answer is, nothing much). I'd rather not start potty training him so young, and with the house move only 8 weeks away, but I guess if he's showing an interest in getting started then it's no harm to encourage him and see how things go. I know a lot of women in my course potty train at 9-12 months, so it's POSSIBLE but I'm just not sure I want the hassel at the moment.




Noah and Upsy Daisy. He seems to use her as a sister substitute when Amie isn't around :)


Amie with her little friend Angelina




Amie and Noah sitting on a rock at the Wilkomm Hof in Wedel