Our new 'pets'

When we recieved a new book in the post this week, filled with ideas of things to make and do, it was a hard job to decide what to do first. In the end we chose caterpillars made out of egg boxes and straws. Since it was a sunny day, all the mess stayed outside!

It was Esther's first real turn at painting, and she had great fun. Emilia enjoyed showing her what to do, in typically bossy big sister fashion! So we now have two caterpillars, which keep appearing in different place around the house. They were named by Emilia.

Goggle the swimming pool caterpillar

Rover the caterpillar

A Sunflower at last!

Finally one of our sunflowers has a flower!! Don't know what's happened to the leaves though!

New School

Emilia started her new Pre-School last week. She has enjoyed herself a lot and has adjusted to the change of location/teachers/friends very well. So far she's earned herself two stars, one for being helpful and one for writing her name. She enjoys the 'cafe' they have at snack time, where she is allowed to pour her own drink, and has been very productive with painting, sticking and drawing!

She's also very proud of her uniform, particularly the long socks, and she hopes to be able to wear her new pumps for doing PE in the school hall very soon!

Long may it continue!

She walks!

After months of being almost there, several pairs of ruined trousers (at the knees) and a few days of hesitant practice, we are now confident to say that Esther is walking. She took some tentative steps on the ferry home from France, and has done a little more each day since then. She is very proud of her achievement, and we are pleased to not have aching backs anymore!!

In the end, she did go earlier than Emilia, but only by a month. They both seem to prefer talking to walking!!

I was going to post a video, but it came out sideways, and I haven't worked out how to rotate it, so it may follow in due course ...