October's Special Events!

October has been such a rainy month, and far more gloomy than we like to remember.  But somewhere towards the middle of the month the skies cleared enough to show that rain had turned to snow up in the mountains, leaving us with this beautiful morning view!  (and then it continued to rain for the rest of the month - mostly!)

 

 We had a number of special events to celebrate in October.  One of th early ones was Lauren's baby shower.  Lauren is a new TASIS mom who arrived this August with a 13 month old and was 7 months pregnant.  Very brave!  We had a sweet little get together for her at Carolyn's house to celebrate the new baby coming, and it was just in time, because she had the baby the next day!

Eowyn adores Jamison (or baby, as she likes to call him) and she equally loves Carolyn.  She won't sit on just anyone's lap!

Lauren, Cassidy, Carolyn and Eowyn

 Oct 11th was a busy day.  First a baby shower in the morning, and then Drake's birthday Party in the evening.  It was definitely full on!  Drake's party had to be at McDonalds this year, which caused quite a stir, since most of us have never ventured into fast food places with our young ones.  Poor Kat had such trouble finding a venue, and being 5 or 6 months pregnant at the time, couldn't handle the idea of hosting and cleaning up after, so she bit the bullet and went with what was available.  The kids were wild and wacky in that small room, and I can't say the woman in charge got their full attention for the activities and games planned, but Liam says he had a great time, so it all works out in the end.  We were careful not to highlight and advertise the name so he can quickly forget the details and just remember the overall good time had.

noise makers and party hats - Birthday Boy Drake and Liam

The party scene

 Our dear Jen has been sorely missed this semester.  I can't believe she's not here and we are!  We were so glad to see her for a quick weekend visit in mid October.  The kids still remembered her too, which was awesome.  Honestly, when she walked in for dinner it was like good old times, and it was hard to really remember that she wasn't here anymore.  We had a fun an easy pizza dinner night with the Dibberts, Josh, Jen and ourselves.  Plenty of time to catch up and hang out at our house.  I also got to spend some of Monday morning with her before her flight out.  She came with me to take Liam to school, which he LOVED!

Heading to school on Monday morning! 

The school parking lot

Leigh has managed to sneak around her birthday many years, but this year we weren't going to let it slip by us.  We decided to have a girls afternoon without kids (woohee!) and do a fancy High Tea for Leigh.  After volunteering to host, I realized just how unprepared I was for such an event.  We don't have cloth napkins and table clothes, or teacups and saucers.  Never mind the tiered cake stand, tea pots and all the rest that goes into it.  What I did know, was that the food itself was pretty easy to do, so I went with it.  Thankfully, and with a lot of help from my friends, I managed to procure all the essential items to transform our boring dining room into an elegant tea room.  And so the credits go to: Courtenay - napkins and runner and tiered cake stand, Kat - tablecloth, Alessandra - cups and saucers, and Celia for the silver spoons, cream and sugar jugs, cake platter, cake cutter, teapots.  I think it turned out really well, and we had a chance to see Christina with her new baby Emeline for the first time too!

Christina, Alison, Kat, Leigh and Carolyn (missing: Courtenay and myself!)

 I was thrilled to take mims to visit my hairdresser Deborah, and I think Mims agrees, she did a fabulous job.  Here's the before and after!

Where did all that frizz come from?

All gone! Her hair was shiny soft and smooth by the end of the hour and half!

We enjoyed another visit with grandma (Eowyn calls her Gramgram or Grandma GAIL!) I'm only sorry for poor mims to come in the rain yet again!  Still, it's always fun to see the new ways these kids interact with her, and it keeps their relationship with her really alive and familiar.  We are grateful for her comings and goings to Europe each year!  Eowyn was happy to hang out and play with her when I wasn't around, but of course if I was, she'd make a big fuss!  Liam loved his time getting hugs, and reading and playing with his grandma too.  

Trying to get a picture of the three of them wasn't easy!

A sweet one of Liam and Mims

A trip down town gave Eowyn some extra attention and a chance to play with the toys SHE likes in manor.  She was thrilled about this horse!

Of course the big event for the month was Halloween.  Since TASIS wasn't doing anything formal we decided to join up with some of our expat friends on the hill and take the littles for a little version of the event.  It was perfect because they are so young and just beginning to understand what's happening.  Liam loved his costume - handmade by me using various things found around the house, and Eowyn was stuck with a Jets cheerleader outfit for lack of more inspiration!  

The best part of the whole thing was that they were thrilled to trick or treat for about half an hour at 4 or 5 houses in the little nucleo and then we went to Alison and Fords for some dinner and hanging out, and we were back home by 7:30pm.  AND, after collecting the candy and being excited by the whole process, Liam hasn't asked me once for some.  The bag got hung up on our coat rack and I think it's still there!  He didn't eat a single piece!  WOO HOO!

Costumes! Look at Liam's Knightly face!

Knight and Cheerleader!

Sassy chearleader

Surprised Knight!

Trying to assemble the group of Trick or Treaters!  Eowyn was terrified of the girl in the ghost outfit and kept crying!
Back row: James with Eowyn, Alison with Elle, Ford with Neve
Front row: Grayson, Liam, Stirling, Isla, Sam (don't know the two on the end)

Liam wasn't sure what to do with the Trick or Treating bag - this was his idea!

Motley Crew!  Stirling, Grayson and Liam

Excited about ringing the door bell!

It took a few tries, but they started to get the hang of it (we only did about 5 houses in total and all close to one another so it was really painless!)

After party at Elle's house - the kids tuck in to dinner.

Long Weekend in Amsterdam and The Hague!

We're so glad we just went ahead and booked our long weekend at the end of September.  Nava had invited us to come after her visit in May, and it sounded quite do-able.  It ended up being such an enjoyable and relatively easy weekend trip, and Nava being Nava, really made us feel so welcome and comfortable.

We left at lunch on Friday and were at her house by 8pm.  This included driving to Malpensa, the 1.5 hour flight, and the train and tram from the airport to the Hague and then to her house.  All of it was smooth and painless - thankfully.  Nava's little house is so sweet - a lovely combination of old and new - and in a lovely lovely area.  We got the kids to bed and enjoyed some chatting time with Nava for the evening.

Saturday's agenda was a day in Amsterdam.  But not until we had gorged ourselves on the most delightful bakery treats from an AMAZING bakery right around the corner from her house.  We didn't feel rushed, but still made it into Amsterdam by 11:30 with an easy 40 min train ride.  We lucked out with the most beautiful weather all weekend.  Blue skies and cool, but not cold temperatures.  We were able to wander around the Jordaan area (love!) and eventually make our way to the Pancake Bakery for some yummy pancakes for lunch.  More wandering through the quaint boutiques etc and just enjoying the sights of the city, with a quick purchase of a pair of boots from a vintage store for me =)  The kids fell asleep on the go, taking turns in the stroller and Eowyn sometimes in the carrier, and by 5:30 we'd found our way to a delicious surinamese restaurant.  And all this and back to the house for bedtime at 8pm!  It worked out perfectly!

Delicious breakfast with a sweet view - the kids are happy!

Deliciousness

The adorable walk from Nava's house to the tram stop - with apples falling from the trees!

A selfie trying to get us all in (sorry Liam!)

Arriving in Amsterdam with blue skies all day!

Meandering around the canals

Gorgeous foliage on a building

Satisfied customer at the Pancake Bakery

Quintessential Amsterdam - bikes and boats

Ann Frank's house with reflections in the windows

So quaint - I heart the Jordaan!

Starbucks pit stop

Train ride home to the Hague

 Sunday we debated heading back into Amsterdam, but decided (After another bakery laden breakfast table!) to check out the Hague.  Again, the pace was just right.  We walked all day - popping into many of the shoe stores which ended up costing us (a pair of lovely leather boots for James and me!).  And we stopped for lunch, yummy snacks etc.  Our last stop for the day was a persian restaurant which was a real treat.  The only tough part was Eowyn's epic meltdown before the food came.  Otherwise, another awesome day.  The kids did so well with just being pushed along or carried, and sometimes walking.  And again we were home and had them to bed at a reasonable time so we could relax and chat together.

Another delicious breakfast

Post breakfast reading on the steps!

Walking through the embassy area of the Hague

Unbelievably beautiful day

Munchkins at play in the parliament square

James carrying his weight

An afternoon treat of delicious waffles and those crazy caramel cookie things!

A comfy bed to crash in - Nava gave up her room for us, and her bed!

 Our departure on Monday was equally relaxed as we had a lunch time flight to catch and all morning to get there.  Nava was even off because she was leaving that day too, so we hung out and got organized in the morning, and then she took us to the train station and we made our way back to the airport.  We had lunch, hopped on the flight - kids slept, we arrived home by 3:30 in Milan, and 5pm at our house.  Absolutely perfect for having little kids.  We are so grateful to Nava for such a fun time!

Final morning - cousins!

Waiting for the Tram

Catching Up on the Kids

With two toddlers life is speeding by and I can't seem to keep track.  So here's what's new (ish) from the last 2 months:

Eowyn:

She has more teeth! Two incisors up top, an new front bottom tooth, and something else on the bottom coming in.
She's talking up a storm using whole sentences and phrases, and has finally learnt both Liam's name and her own. (LeeeeAM!) She actually knows the names of most important people in her life, which includes Aunts, at least one uncle, grandparents and some friends (many of Liam's!) Favorite words and phrases these days - I don't wannit! Let GOOO! I want oussiide, numnum, I wanna go poddy, where's nanight? (her pacifier is now called nanight because she associated it with bed and going nanight), where's the witch?, witch ousside!
She's running, climbing and jumping like you wouldn't believe, thanks to her big brother who's always one step ahead.
The most recent toy obsession in the this house is puzzles.  I guess everything comes and goes in waves, but after Academic Travel James came back with 2 new wooden puzzles - 36 piece ones probably good for 5 and up.  Liam was mildly frustrated and needed help the first time, and now does both in a shorter time than it takes James (maybe even myself!).  Eowyn, despite the fact that puzzles are really new for her and pretty challenging, insists on doing these puzzles too - except it's really me doing them, and her helping.  She has figured out one technique to putting pieces together (the female end into the male seems to be the only visual cue), so if you give her the right pieces she gets some place.
With Liam is school in the mornings it has been interesting seeing her try and figure out what she wants to do when he's gone.  She's not developed as many games as he has, and sometimes, especially in the first weeks, she seemed a bit unsure of what to do next.  I do like that I have a bit of time just with her though, and she's definitely figuring it out more now.
Now, instead of one head poking out the bathroom window, you'll often see two, but more so, you'll hear them shouting and greeting the neighbourhood.  Eowyn does a very giovial "Ciao!" when she's out at the supermarket, or peering out the window.  She sometimes even says it like the locals: "ma ciao!" Or today: "Ecco! Ciao!"  I've also heard a "gracie" come out of her.

Liam:
School has been an interesting transition.  At first, from day one we had a very smooth transition.  He started school on Sept 4th and not a tear has been shed about it.  He did the first week coming home at 11:30am, and from the second on has been staying till after lunch for a 1:20pm pick up.  This has in general worked out fairly well, though Eowyn had to adjust a bit to a later nap, and she's always desperate to stay at school with him, but can't!
Around 2 weeks in we had our first incident at school.  Liam came home in a different shirt because he had a blood nose.  The teacher wasn't clear about what exactly happened, but said she thought a boy must have pushed him.  Thankfully Liam is as articulate as he is, and he told me that a boy threw a pine cone at his face.  He had a blood nose and a cut above his eye.  He seemed ok at pick up, but over the next 10 days it seems the same little boy was picking on him, and each day Liam told me of something the boy did that wasn't kind and made him cry.  It was my first true experience with bringing out the mama bear instincts.  Definitely a bit of a process for all of us in this house, but Liam needed to do quite a lot of processing about this issue of being bullied.  We talked extensively about his part and what he could do to feel empowered and yet not add to the problem.  I'm grateful to say that after our long weekend away he went back to school and reported to me that same day that "the mean boy was nice today!"  were his exact words.  And for the next few days I received the same report.  it seems there are other kids that he has had little issues with, but thankfully it doesn't seem like a targeted thing anymore.
We also had our first moments of him not wanting to go to school around that same time, so we were glad to see his enthusiasm for school wasn't squashed by the experience.
He seems to enjoy the activities and games they play.  He tells me of songs, and games, and lets me know when he's been painting me a picture.  The teachers don't offer a lot of feedback, but for the most part it seems he listens, as best he can, and picks up what's happening based on visual cues and what others are doing.  He has also begun to pick up a little Italian, though to tell you the truth, he hangs around with his old friends who all speak English. (Drake, Isla, and Stirling are all in the same class with Simona and Christina as their teachers, and Elle and Calvin are in the other class)  He currently counts very well up to 12 in Italian, and uses certain words or phrases around meals.  (Gracie, Prego, finito, anche io)
We are still hanging on, by a thread, to naps, but everything with Liam is a negotiation.  Sometimes I find it exhausting trying to argue why for each thing!  We may have a lawyer in the making!

Eowyn and Liam are getting on fairly well but are also in the phase of wanting what each other has, so we have lots of struggles and lots of shouts and tears in the house these days.  It's not a quiet time, that's for sure.  Despite the classic struggle over toys and sharing, I have seen some amazing big brother moments in Liam, when he has checked in to make sure Eowyn was ok, or offered her his high chair when she was in tears about where she was sitting.  He has a natural tendency to protect her, even though sometimes it aggravates us as he behaves like he is a parent too.  He definitely is looking out for her, and that's encouraging.  And she looks up to him and wants to do what he does and be where he is, for better or worse!

Playing Dress up in Liam's winter drawer!

Baby bellies - they were pretending to be pregnant, with balls

Liam's school symbol is the pear - I had to sew it onto all the required school items, including: a painting smock, bib, towel, bag, gym shorts and t-shirt, and gym shoes (well the gym stuff I just drew it on the labels) 

First day of school - Pick up time - all the kids lined up to go in after playing outside

Liam's first day of school seems to be a success! 

Ready to leave the house for school (Eowyn calls it 'cool) - Day 2

A sassy little girl at the playground for friend Iona's second birthday

"Makkerrs" are popular these days, mostly for tasting though at least there were a few scribbles!

Yeeeha!  They love these toy rides, even though to this day they've never been in one that's actually on!

Another dress up day for Liam - he has such an amazing imagination for games to play on his own - here it was a diving expedition and he needed all this gear to protect him from the corral! 

Eowyn's first experience with pigtails (though barely!) - she didn't last long though, as you can guess from her expression! 

Phones are another obsession - Eowyn calls the bumbums

Liam reading stories to Eowyn first thing in the morning