Half Term Winter 09

The girls were home from school last week for the half term holiday. It was a chance to do some of the things that we never seem to get around to in a normal week, and we got to relax a bit as well.

Josephine came up to me when I was in the kitchen the other day and said, "Want to have a cuddle with me?" It was so cute!

At the playground


Styling hair at the One O'Clock Centre


Tate Britain


Josephine the baby


Making sugar mice


We started watching Meerkat Manor at home, then went to the Battersea Park Zoo to see the meerkats in person


At the Battersea Park Zoo

Valentines Day

Josephine made a Valentine card at school. When I asked her who it's for, she said, "It's for Valentine's Day!" Duh. Pascale got to wear whatever she wanted to school on Friday, rather than having to wear her uniform. It was a big event.

The kids have half term holiday this week, so they get to wear their pajamas all day and don't have to go to school.

On Friday, we were walking through the park on the way to the library, and the girls spent a few minutes chasing pigeons. It was just warm enough to spend a little time outside without being really uncomfortable. It was the first day when I could really believe that spring is imminent.



Pascale made a new toy


Josephine went to a birthday party where they had a face painter and lots of balloons.

Josephine made a valentine card at school.


Pascale made a valentine card, too. Her writing is really nice, isn't it?

Snow in London

Last week's snowfall turned out to be the heaviest in 18 years! The kids got TWO snow days! It was a welcome distraction from our routine, and it was nice to spend some time outside. At this time of year, I sometimes have a hard time living in the moment, and find myself looking forward to spring rather than appreciating what is happening now. The snow certainly snapped me back to the moment, and we had a lovely time playing in it and drinking hot chocolate.




Playing in the snow in our back garden



The view from my bedroom window


Bernie took Pascale to do crafts at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and they made a house and a playground.



Josephine barricading herself at the Science Museum



Pascale asked if she could borrow the camera

Pascale at the helm again.

It's snowing!

It is snowing as I type. The above photo was taken from my window minutes ago. This is only the third snowstorm since we've moved here, so it's kind of an event. I don't even know how I'm supposed to find out if school in cancelled, but perhaps I'm resourceful enough to figure something out tomorrow.

Pascale has progressed far enough with her reading to read a simple book! They send these books home from school for her to read. They're really simple to match her reading level. They problem is, they are so simple that she only struggles through and reads the book maybe twice before she has it memorized and she's not bothered by all this reading nonsense any more. Good thing they seem to have an endless supply of these books at her school.

At Josephine's school this term, each week is devoted to one child, and they concentrate on something that child is interested in. This week is Josephine's week, and they are doing music! She's bringing her guitar in to show everyone. Maybe I'll let her bring in the drum set, too.

It appears as if this week's photos are devoted to precipitation and cubes.

Josephine has spent countless hours lately playing with her blocks


Then there are the legos, which are more Pascale's domain


Outside Pascale's school