Wilder's first joke

Wilder likes to ask to go outside all the time, saying 'outside' (and perhaps shoving his or your shoes into your hand). However, he also knows that bathtime is the end of the day and bed follows. So one day this week when he was in the bath I asked him if he wanted to go outside, and he looked confused, then he laughed as I said 'that's so silly' and now he laughs everytime you say 'outside' while he is in the bath, and says 'outside' himself while he is in the bath, and then waits for you to laugh and joins in. It is very funny.

World Cup Fever keeps on going

Bluet even came downstairs from her bed when she heard the cheer as England scored in the second half. She was not subjected to the trauma of the penalty shoot out, which was less traumatic than normal. Bluet and Ilona are also enjoying the football stickers.




Wilder meanwhile is sadly too young to be enjoying the best world cup since 1990, but here he is in the bath

Hats

Just as Ilona has learned to wear gloves and hats, it looks like spring is coming. The sun is out, and hopefully that means more playing in the garden.

Emily just came back from a business trip to Boston with new hats for Bluet and Ilona

Wearing Bluet's jumper

Ilona drew some minions

These are pictures I took of Bluet and Ilona - they chose the poses after I told them I was going to take a photo for Emily while she was away

More fun from Zurich

Here are some other places we have been. Zurichorn park can be reached by water taxi, and has a Henry Moore sculpture which Bluet likes very much.

As does Ilona.

Meanwhile, Ilona now pulls herself up to stand anywhere and everywhere - here she is at a playground down by the river, which is known as the bird playground (by us) because there is a big bird cage of tropical birds there. Today she was standing in the living room and lifted her hands for half a second, standing free. She also takes steps if we hold her hands. Walking cannot be far off. She can also crawl very fast, and is interested in learning to go up (but not necessarily down) stairs. This is not my favourite game.

And then at the end of a long day of standing and crawling, eating and napping, nothing makes Ilona happier than the bath, because she knows shortly after that she will be able to go to bed, which is her favourite time of day.

Texas Blue Bonnets

If Bluet's Mum had been born in Texas, chances are she would have been called 'Blue Bonnet', not Bluet (Full name 'Texas Blue Bonnet Corse Collins'). She has learnt all about Blue Bonnets (the Texas State Flower), where she was also told not to pick them, but nothing was said about sitting in them, so here is Bluet doing just that. She told us it was like a bath.

Bluet's Big Bath, and other stories

Today Bluet was in the bath, the tap was running, and running, and running, until Bluet was in the deepest and best bhth she'd ever had.

Here is Bluet playing outside our house with her 'umbrella' (a stick)

And here is Ilona getting up

Tomorrow we are off to New York City, so expect lots of photos as we revisit our favourite old haunts on what will surely feel like a trip home.