2 ½ year check up.

Every now and then kiddies go to the pediatric nurse for a routine check up, to see that they are "on track" development wise etc. They go less often as they grow but today it was time for Erin's 2½ year-check up, last one was at 18 months old. I think that this time around it was mainly the language development they were checking...

She got to draw, tell the nurse what the animals she was shown and what noise they made, which car was the small one. Easy peasy for our little miss! ;) The nurse said that Erin, linguistically, could easily be taken for a 3½ year old...! :) Then she got to kick a ball and was supposed to jump up and down with both feet together but she was not going to do that. ;) Being a determined little girl was a good thing according to the nurse. :)

Today's measurements were, 95 cm (are kids measured in inches or feet? I never learn...! 3'1" ) from top to toes :) and 15,8 kg (35 lb) "heavy".... :D

Next check up is at 4 years old, which is the one Anton's going to in two weeks... :)

We also talked a bit about the swine flu shot, which we've decided not to give the kids. It's not been an easy decision by any means but we've based it on what we've researched and our gut feeling. I'm not worried that any of us would get terminally ill if we were to get this "new" influenza. I don't know that this is the right decision but it is the one we've made...

I have been considering to take the flu jab myself, still undecided though... This is because I'm going to be back working in the department store over the holidays and I will be in a much more exposed environment than I've been for a long, long time... Again...I'm not worried that I couldn't handle the flu if I got it, it's just that I need to work and I'm still mainly the one "in charge" of running the household and it would be a pain if I was bedridden for even a few days. So, on this specific case pros are slightly more than cons... but as I said...still undecided...

Seems like one could go on and on about this flu... :/ No one knows, how bad is it going to get? When is it going to culminate? How long before we've been through the worst of it...?? What are the long term effects of this influenza and the vaccine???

Wishing you all good health and peace of mind, whatever your decision has been,
♥ E.

Got them back...! ;)

Mum was looking a little bit tired when we came to get the kiddies this afternoon. :) She very rarely wakes up that early (5:10!) and usually enjoys a good lie in at the weekends. She's quite a night owl my mum so even turning in "early" (about 1!?) is way too late for getting up with our ones. :D I bet she went to bed as soon as we'd left (about 7)! ;)

It was lovely having a quiet morning but after lunch I started feeling ready to go... I missed them...! :) All is as it should now, with Mister-man snoring away and hearing Missy-meeps talking in her sleep... :D

Thanks mum for giving us some time to ourselves and for your patience with our wee trolls...! ;)

♥ E.

tgif

We were done with our assignment for the week on Thursday so yesterday was a extra day off. *lovely!* Mum was working from home so we decided to pop by. Mum said if the kids were up for it they could get to stay the night, so we packed some extra stuff with us just in case.

Anton's been at mums once or twice over night but Erin has never slept away without having mum and/or dad with her so I wasn't sure how things would go. I mean, they meet their Mommo about once a week so I knew it would be fine if they decided to stay...I just wasn't sure they'd want to stay when we weren't going to. :)

No probs at all! :D We put on the usual "tgif"-movie with some snacks and said our good bye's... I was a little bit nervous 'cause it is still about a 45 minute drive home...and back again if they would be terribly sad at bed time...

When we were home again both Stephen and I were sort of..."what now...?" :) How sad is that...!? *lol* We opted for the sofa and a movie - twilight. Nice, both the chilling out on the sofa and the movie, which was really good! :)

Before we went to bed we figured out that the last time we both had a lie in together must have been 28th October 2005...! Because the next night my contractions started and two days later Anton was born. :)

Of course I "had to" check in on kiddies too during the evening and was told over msn that they were fine and that they'd gone down with no trouble to mums and spotify's lullabies... :) She sent me a photo to prove it too... ;)

It was a bit strange going to bed without hearing Anton's snoring and Erin's mumbling but I managed it... ;) and woke up hungry about 9. :) S is still in bed...

On facebook I read that our lovlies had woken mum up at 5.10! :)

Now I'm going to enjoy my morning coffee.

♥ E.

♥

Thanks Renee!

♥ E.

The stuff one finds on the internet..?! :)

On countless occasions I've stumbled across things I would have never read or known about had it not been because of the internet... Everything from tiny little gems that has lifted my spirit when I've really needed lifting, to truly awe inspiring stories that will stay with me forever. Sure, I probably would have spent some of the time I spend online doing better things for myself and the family but then again... I've gotten to know many truly awesome people online and they (and all the other "random" stuff online) have helped me grow - as a woman, mother, friend... :)

I can't even remember what I was doing (on MIS I think!) when I found this quote "You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should..." I love finding quotes and poems and such so I did a quick search and found "Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann. I thought it absolutely beautiful... and just had to share! :)

♥ E.

Desiderata -

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even to the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Nursery photo.

Every autumn the nursery takes a group photo of the kids and we received ours in the mail last week. The photographer always does a really good job, rarely any silly faces or such, and this year was no exception. :)

♥ E.

Halloween and Birthday party

Erin insisted on me leaving her to put herself to sleep...! Hmmm... I'm giving it a go but I can hear her chittering away to herself...that's OK but if I hear bouncing in the bed she's had her go... :)

Tara's Halloween party on Saturday was lovely! We all had a great time. :) Nice to socialize for a change, and in English is such a bonus! :D

Erin was dressed up as a faerie and Anton was supposed to be a leopard but changed his mind just before getting ready to go. He wanted to be an "princess" too!! :O I had only loaned two outfits from my big sister and since A had a tantrum about wanting to be a princess, E quickly realised that she'd "gotten" the better deal (clever girl! ;)) and no-way that she was going to swap and go as a leopard instead...! *sigh!* :) So...what to do...? What other cool things could he want to go as, that I could "make" in no time...?? *panic!*

How about an...alien?? (he has no idea what one of those are!) Yeaaah! :D Since no one knows what they look like, Stephen and I grabbed whatever "weird" stuff we could find, put them on Anton and I painted his eye brows blue and TADAA we had us an alien! *lol!*

Saturday's party, which I'd dreaded, turned out better than I could have ever imagined! :D We were well prepped and organised beforehand. Family arrived about an hour before the little friends and we had time to catch up a little bit before the boys dropped in and played and ate and played and had some cake and played a little bit more before it was time to go again. No problems at all...just a few little tears which were all made better with a little blow and hug from his friend. *sweet!*

He got some really great pressies too. Duplo, Lego, games, clothes (Spiderman!) and the best one was without a doubt a Spiderman costume! :D No last minute changes today when they had a dress up party at nursery... ;)

Will update with photos soon!

♥ E.

p.s. She did manage to put herself to sleep! :D

Anton's 4 today!

Anton two weeks old, Nov. 2005

Our little man is not so little anymore... Today he turns 4! ♥
4 years old!?! I really, truly, honestly can't believe it...!

We're all organised and ready for family and little friends to arrive. :) I'm not as stressed now that we're all set up... ;)

Thank you Anton, for brightening our lives and giving Life a purpose. Love you! xxx