just for laughs

we're all going to california to visit everyone (the list would be too long to write here) for the holidays.

this is something we're really excited about, as we've been planning it for months now.

the weather in scotland has turned pretty fierce recently, but thankfully, scottish people (and airports) are used to dealing with unreasonable weather. can't say the same for those stuck in or waiting to fly to london...

however, for kicks i'm sure, the whole family has been struck with the lurgy. lilah got it first and worst, and is (hopefully, fingers crossed) on the mend as i write this. steven has it now, after being coughed and thrown up on repeatedly for the past 2 days. but maybe he's seen the worst of it, too... i don't know.

mum is probably going to do what she usually does and hold everything together until the moment her head hits the pillow in sacramento, and then will be struck down with the mighty hand of Oog and not get up for a week.

(that's not going to happen)

really, though... as my dear friend lushly and i were saying earlier: we know how it's all going to end.

it'll all end in vomit.

xx

colette came for a visit

who says winter furry hats don't go with spongebob pajamas?

not our lilah.

(and certainly not me)

lilah got hold of daddy's wellies

daddy

i love

your

boots!

and then the computer broke

and there was a hiatus in the blogging.

but we're back in action and catching up as best we can before leaving for California to celebrate the festivities of the season.

in the meantime...

theia asked steven to do her hair

it's lovely

more signs of pure glee from theia P!

a rare sight to behold on film

the beautiful smile!

theia is old school, for sure, and doesn't smile for photographs.

or at your jokes.

but she will smile for me (sometimes) and Steven (always).

caught ya, sweetie!!

when the council decrees a Snow Day

two weeks ago, Britain (especially central Scotland) was hit with the first snow-storm of the year. i say first, because we have just begun the second this morning, and it is forecast to be blizzard conditions through the new year. but anyway, being a teacher in a primary school, and having a child in nursery means that when school is cancelled for her, school is also cancelled for me. which is really cool.

however, being stuck in a flat for an indefinite period of time with a toddler is not a good time... unless it happens to be someone else's lovely flat with someone else's lovely children for companions! good thing the Parker-Dixon's live so very close and don't mind us showing up day after day...

here is lilah and theia. lilah has stolen theia's lovely shoes and is gloating. theia is not so happy about this turn of events.

i have just told theia that she can wear lilah's shoes and now, she is feeling better about the situation. lilah doesn't really care because she's got a pair of purple princess shoes on.

away in a manger

lived a black gnome, a wee fairy man, a carnivorous grasshopper, and the remnants of last night's dinner...

which is to say, some poor soul's feet.

study in child behaviour

borderline cute / annoying.

for those who aren't parents, or who don't see a child on a 24/7 basis, this is super cute.

for the parent who is trying desperately to take 5 minutes to do something else, this is super annoying.

this is the reality of it. jazz up the idea of parenting all you want, but if you haven't got relatives or friends close by and it's all you, all the time,

sometimes it gets to a point where you need a break.

fellow parents, you will understand.

fellow aunties/uncles/grandparents... take heed and offer your services as often as possible so mum and dad can have a rest.

good morning

that's probably as high as the sun will get today

snow sliding

rock star in training

snow shots

this was just this morning

not many cars were attempting our street

the trees were hanging heavy

this one fell down an hour later

lilah loves the snow

the snow loves lilah

blue sky down the road

grey cloud up the road

snow in the mouth

let's get dressed

lilah rocks the snow-gear

yep, we're ready

let's get our hat and coat and

GO OUTSIDE!

BRRRR

just after saying,

"i can't do that"

she does it.

the snow is falling and it's cold outside

oh dear, oh dearie me

view from our window.

the vw behind the rover is ours... poor girl.

glasgow's 1st snowrall of the year: 27 november, 2010

advent wreath

steven and i spent saturday evening after lilah was in bed making this.

it's our first one.

there are candles in it now. one for every sunday before christmas.

to awaken from a food coma

one needs a little pull...

lilah's seconds

no tact, my love

to be fair, though,

she did finish them.

thanksgiving: people

these are the unsuspecting Brits and Scots

there's one fellow american (next to lilah) who truly knows the score

and is happily eating for two on this occasion (good excuse for more seconds...)

lilah is just happy that everyone came to play with her

there were 17 people (7 kids, 10 adults) in our tiny flat that night

to remember for next time:

there were enough chairs, but not enough forks.

thanksgiving: food

two chickens in place of a turkey

homemade cranberry sauce (best ever, with pears, star anise, and port featuring in the mix)

candied yams (sweet potatoes to the brits)

TWO stuffings: one veg and one with chicken

and mashed potatoes, applesauce, barley and pomegranate salad, macaroni and lentil casserole, and a green bean casserole.

we weren't fooling around.

movies we've watched this weekend

marc gerig was most definitely in the building on saturday...

he would have been proud

but i was a bit worried

after all, i was much older than three when my dad had me watch this one.

but steven and lilah seemed to be enjoying every bit of the last 30 minutes of

Close Encounters, until this happened...

and lilah came over to sit with me as Richard Dreyfuss went away with the aliens.

i know for a fact it wasn't him leaving that made her cry.

it was the aliens leaving that brought the tears.

so we discovered that lilah is sensitive to movies like her mother, and not able to suspend disbelief like her father.

this means: No E.T. till at least 6, for one. And countless others are scored off the list of watch-able films that i can't think of at the moment. If you'd like to contribute to the "currently banned" list, feel free. I'll take note.

***

on sunday, however, when dad went to work, i plugged in the following and we howled with laughter at the silly gango-stars (dinosaurs/gansters/goblins), along with many other things...

"comedians? get outta here!"

this dance sequence is brilliant. but that's only because

jack lemmon is brilliant.

"i can't have babies!"

"we'll adopt."

...

"but i'm a man!"

"nobody's perfect."

lilah has made it clear that she definitely wants marilyn monroe's

"Hair, Earrings, and Singing."

(i get her dresses - woo hoo!)

is this going to be a problem?

i mean, i don't think so... because everyone else confuses us anyway

even we confuse ourselves

but the fact that the daughter (that's you, lilah) is in agreement

that we are the same person

well, if that ain't somethin' tellin

i don't know what is.

slow motion tantrum

lilah's in a huff

this was her silent protest

pretty yogic tantrum

the "gone limp" trick has just reared its head

sometimes it is best to let the waves roll on by

and sometimes it's good to capture them

for posterity's sake

Tia has officially left the building

This is Meatball.

pronounced mEeht-bawl.

Poppa Jon, take note:

you've got some fierce competition...

Ian Dury is a girl's best friend

and Lilah is so punk rock.

second swimming lesson discussion

it's kind of odd...

but i'm trying to document everything,

warts and all.

the lantern walk

we went on the German Kinderclub's annual Lantern Walk at the University of Glasgow. the Lantern Walk celebrates the deeds of St Martin. There are songs (in German) and the children hold their lanterns and walk around lighting up the night.

it was 6pm

that's the University tower

it's oh so dark here

more swimming

totally looks the part

she'll be doing laps in no time

taking our medicine

propolis for the oogy days

just in case

the end of the impromptu halloween party

yes, that's a red leather jacket lilah is wearing and no, you can't have it

tom and honor.

lilah loves tom.

we love them both!

(tom dressed as frank the bunny from donny darko and was positively terrifying)