Remote Controlled Cars

When I asked Bluet what she wanted for Xmas, she told me she would like make up and a remote controlled car (she'd played with one when we ran into a school friend in the school playground one weekend last year, and loved it). The make up came in the stocking and from Abatha, but we neglected to buy the car. Fortunately, and without knowing any of this, Uncle Nick got Bluet and Ilona both a car. Here they are in the school playground trying them out

Marching on

Hello again. Not much has happened in March, TBH. Even as I look at my photos to remind me, there really weren't any events of note. So for the Missourians out there, here is what Ilona found and chose to wear the other day:



And here is Bluet's choice from yesterday:


& Ilona in a different outfit, I think also yesterday


& Bluet's painting clothes from Saturday


& Ilona's too small raincoat to take Bluet to kindergarten last week


Yesterday at the animal playground (Wipkingen)


& last weekend riding bikes at the school playground

What we've been up to

Well, just before New Year we took the train to a small town just outside Basel where there is a water park attached to a hotel (and little else). We stayed the night and the kids spent a good part of 2 days jumping into the pool with abandon (and armbands). This was enjoyable for all, but because of all the water, no photographs exist.

Anyway, here they are before we set off. (and a photo of Bluet when we went for a walk in the woods near home


Meanwhile we are now back in the swing of things.

A couple of weekends ago we bought a basketball to use in the school playground. It is almost as big as Bluet. Also, Ilona has been riding her bike.





Bluet had her haircut last weekend, I tried to do a before and after. Here is how it turned out (the before after, not really the haircut).

A modicum of snow

When we woke up on Sunday morning and looked out across the garden, we discovered that it had snowed in the night. Bluet, of course, was delighted and excited. Ilona was only excited because Bluet was excited, as until now she had no idea what snow was. Sadly it had not snowed that much, and it soon melted away, but before it did we had time to go to the school playground and build the world's smallest snowman. Happy winter, everyone!

Also, Bluet ate some garden snow

World's smallest snowman

Bicycle Rider

The last few weeks, Bluet has more or less mastered riding her bike. Last Saturday she was very excited to work out how to steer and go round in circles

Sunday afternoon fun run

Emily left this morning to attend a meeting for one day in San Francisco (she is back on Tuesday afternoon, 24h on a plane and 24h in America). After she had left and Ilona had napped we headed to the school playground where there is a 100m running track. Bluet and I did a couple of running races (she definitely won the one where I was also carrying Ilona), whilst Ilona did lots of standing and some quite fast walking. There was also a Dad and his kid flying a small remote controlled biplane which entertained them both, as did a big patch of virgin snow which Bluet quickly filled with footprints (with a couple of handprints from Ilona, until she learned it was 'cold').

Bluet stops and poses for a photo (saying 'cheeeese', as you can see)

Snow with footprints, handprints and tyre tracks

Moving surprisingly fast