Before we were in our new house

We were in a temporary house in Danbury (we've been in our new house for almost 1 month now, so these are a little old). Anyway, it was near a bounce park, which Bluet and Ilona are actually at right now (it's a day off school for them).



The temporary apartment had a pool and a rainbow


And looked like this


They also had some swimming lessons to get them up to speed, and before school started


Made some Art

(Top Ilona bottom Bluet)

Bluet was so excited for school she made this


One time we went out for dinner

Some American Videos

Just in case you've run out of things to watch on Netflix. Right now Wilder is starting to speak, and sometimes makes a little sense (he seems to answer yes to questions sometimes), but mostly he says 'gum'

First Day of School

It's been a while so maybe we can work backwards from where we are now to Wilder's birthday, and see what happens. So yesterday was Bluet and Ilona's first day at their new school. Bluet is in Second Grade while Ilona starts kindergarten. They were both overly excited to discover that this meant that they would get to ride the school bus every day. It stops just outside our new house (which should come up in a later post if we are going backwards), and picks them both up around 7:30AM - so a nice early start for everybody, especially as we now have to make 2 packed lunches and 2 snacks every day.



Here we all are waiting for the first bus yesterday. The excitement levels in the house about riding the bus got so extreme that we had to go out many minutes early to wait, and so were outside for a while. Then the bus arrived, they both clambered on and off they went to school. The bus then returned around 13:30 to return Ilona (kindergarten has half days for the first week) and then around 15:30 to drop off Bluet. Both of them were extremely happy when they got home, and Bluet was so excited to go to school this morning that she had trouble sleeping last night.

Birthday Boy

As you are no doubt aware, Wilder had his first birthday this week. Bluet made some decorations, and made and wrapped a gift all by herself (which Wilder is holding below), then Wilder opened presents (with help from Ilona) and ate some cake.



We had a little party on the balcony with the neighbours

World Cup Fever 3

Yes, we all still have world cup fever. Here are Bluet and Ilona getting ready the morning of the last England game by opening football stickers, and the football sticker book Bluet made for herself. If you as Bluet about it, she will tell you that England win a lot, which I fear has given her unrealistic expectations.

Fork and Bottle

For 3 of the last 4 weekends, (or 4 of the 5, we lose track) we have visited the local eatery 'Fork and Bottle' for brunch. We like it because the food is good, it is child friendly and opens at 10am for Sunday Brunch.

Visit 1: For my Birthday, with Mike & Leila and their kids, followed by a walk in the nearby wilderness area. Note kids in the water. This will become important later


Visit 2, with Maria and Andrew; the kids returned to the water, but this time both fell in, and then Ilona sliced her toe open on some unknown sharp item under water. Lacking plasters, we bound it with a torn up nappy of Wilder's and I carried her back to the bus. She recovered quickly



Just before the kids fell in and Ilona cut her foot (she was carrying that big stick at the time).




Visit 3, one week later, we took our neighbours and introduced them to Fork & Bottle. No more injuries were sustained


Visit 4, this Sunday. Again with Mike & Leila (& their kids), where it was hot.

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