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