Back in the U.S.A.

We've been back in the U.S.A. for a week now, which has been eventful, and flown by. It started when our plane had to make an emergency landing in London because one of the three hydraulic systems had sprung a leak. The landing was the same as any other, and then we sat on the runway while they fixed the problem. This took 3 hours, and as you can probably guess 3 extra hours on a plane with kids is no fun. However, we then flew safely across the atlantic. When we landed we stayed at Newark airport, because we'd missed our connection, and then early the next day we flew to St Louis. When we arrived we discovered that Hamil had been bitten by a snake in the night, while camping (he is now fine). Like I said, eventful. And then while we were preparing for our canoeing/camping trip that we leave for in a few minutes, we had two flat tyres in 2 days on the canoe trailer. Still, everything seems to have settled down now and the kids are happy playing outside and inside with plenty of other kids (a friend of Emily's, Kara, is here also with her family; they are coming canoeing too). So, here are the photos I managed to upload so far:

3 cousins, watching spongebob at the neighbours last night, where we went for a picnic

Another scorcher

Last weekend was almost as hot as the previous one. Anyway, on Saturday Bluet and Ilona had their hair cut (Ilona for the first ever time) and then on Sunday some friends came for brunch. Not as desperate a need to cool down in the river, but we did get the paddling pool out.

So here is Ilona playing in some sand at Sihl City

And here is Ilona at Sihl City another day (Saturday) post first haircut. Note plait

And here is Bluet at her playgroup, which she went to for the last time last week, as when the school year resumes she will be going to kindergarten every morning. She liked her playgroup (ever day she asks what day it is, and what we do on that day, except Tuesday and Thursday 'I go to playgroup' and Saturday and Sunday she plays with Mama and Dadn), so I expect she will like kindergarten just as much.

Just before we had visitors with kids we moved extra tables and chairs into the garden, including Bluet's painting table. Which went down a treat.

And as a treat, here is a happy Ilona the other morning,

So tomorrow we fly to Missouri. So the next post will be from there. (Today Maria and Andrew made a flying visit to Zurich, one night on their way to somewhere else, which was fun but all too brief. Too brief for photos, anyway. I didn't even get a picture of Bluet covered in spaghetti from her spaghetti and meatballs from spaghetti factory

Bon voyage!

HOT

Last weekend was hot with a capital H-O-T. Over 30C for the whole weekend (which is too hot for regular human life). So most of the weekend was spent cooling down in water.

1. In swimming costumes on the porch

2. Just chillin' in the garden

3. In the paddling pool in regular clothes

4. Don't forget to do your exercises!

(not pictured, 2 (two) trips to the nearest outdoor swimming pool).

A video from the weekend

Demonstrating advanced football and scooting skills