EXPECTATIONS

Well I certainly did not expect us all to become so ill during advent! I had plans some good well thought out plans for the dark evenings yet first week of Advent meant I had to watch Reuben burn with fever for about three days after which he did not seem to get better that much. What I thought was gona pass was about 1 week long illness with antibiotics and culminating with him being unable to walk for nearly a whole day something that was explained to me as the virus getting to the legs and causing something that is almost like arthroitis?!...thank God he seemed to have gotten over it so no need to go hospital. It really has got us more in tune with each other. That week we had slept in eachothers beds literraly. Reuben was very weak and needed mummy so slept with him, most nights he had one or two nose bleeds too so that also frightened him. Daddy slept in Reuben's double bed....and watched over Zac...but often it would seem by the morning we would have all been somewhere else than our on beds....I even tried out the spare room one very difficult night when I was tired and needed a couple of ours of sleep. Zac was coping relativley well however missed his little fights with Reuben. I knew R was not well as he never seemed to welcome Zac;s pleeds for fights and such. I watched that extraordinary unexplainable thing that touched me. I asked Zac often to be considerate with R who would be burning with fever and asleep while Zac played next to him....and he would respond by putting his fingers on his mouth saying "sorry buben" and walk with me in the kitchen leaving toys behind happily to do something else. (this would never happen under normal circumstances of course). He even kissed R goodnite and walked upsairs without his brother....! reuben was missed every morning when Zac went in his bedroom and found a rather large BUBEN (in the form of daddy)...his question was "buben?" he was so happy when reunited with R downstairs. So as we were housebound for over a week...we decided to put up both the handmade Christmas Advent Calendar and the Christmas Tree. Off course I don;t like my calendar as I did not get it done to perfection and I ended up seeing lots more interesting ones off course...but boys got very excited they liked it.  The putting up of their Christmas tree will be forever treasured. They got soooo excited. Zac mainly took the decs off while me and R were gently placing them back on.

This CHristmas tree is very special. You wont probably see but there are some cute little characters there decorations from grannny all wooden and handpainted which she probably had for some time. Some of the other decorations are as old as Reuben. I tend to go tranditional as I think its colourfull and rich just like the story of Christmas. I am still to make their Christmas stockings and that is another challange...however 2-3 week of Advent meant Zac got very ill and now I am ill too....yes fever, weakness and tierdness not very nice.....still...so much to be thankful for.

 I am so happy to have seen Reuben's nativity this year. I went both days and I was pleased to see him centre stage with baby Jesus right there in the stable. He was a Hen! very important....I hope later in life I can explain to him that being near Jesus is the best place to be no matter what. He impressed me days before by telling me the story in such a heart warming way. Reuben enriches my life (our life) in so many ways.I am so aware of how grown up he is yet how cheacky and childish he is too. I wish I could write down all the treasure moments with him but I just dont get around it. I am very proud that he works hard latley all his spellings are fanatstic 4 out of 4 and his maths is always very good.....had several certificates already....one at special HEad Teacher Assembly. I also can not tell you how very thankful I am for him being in a Christian School where he learns daily about God and lessons that I hope will hold him in life no matter what.
I love his prayers and his understanding of things. I wish I could embrace it so eagerly too God that is....but often I am ratty, irritable, frustrated...and the life that I chase gets in my way to be that simple and eager God loving person. Perhaps its a time I can start that....?!  - Well i do each time when my son tells me how much he loves God. This week he has told me about the story of the temple in Jerusalem where a light was always burning....and Hannukah. I quickly quizzed Jeff Salter his Godfather (who is Jewish) and updated myself on the story....I was so encouraged....the candle was the sign that God was never ever away from his people....wow! Reuben is facinated with candles and so we have candles burning everywhere. Yes, God is with us! I deeply believe that too....!

At church on Sunday, we had toy service. He my lovley Reuben while we listened to the service prepared this. I loved it so daddy took a photo. I was so pleased when we went to buy toys for other children, both Reuben followed by Zac have spent their own pocket money and left the shop without something for themselves....I AM TERRIBLY PROUD. I wish I could be like them too...but I am sight tracked easily...often.

So now that we are well into Advent, a few good lessons have been learnt....although I had already managed to not do unnecessary busy and crazy shopping, write thousands of cards and respond to the 21st century must have demmands.....I am pleased to say I feel good (even I am ill) I am glad we are safe and warm and really hope we can all be enjoying a very happy Christmas. I hope and pray Reuben gets his prayer answered and his wonderful God who is the coolest transformer ever can indeed show his special care and send some snow just enough to let him feel HIS special assurance of LOVE. Happy Christmas Everyone! Remember to treasure the moments, have loads of cuddles and tantrums....swich on or off as required....by your own heart and soul. Tune in and out as you feel is appropriate but most of all embrace that who is the reason for the season...JESUS! I will, we will at least try and mean to do so.

 

that November that is December!!!-

 How has November become December?! This morning Reuben was eager to tell us that "mummy you know that November is now December and its gona snow soon" - he has been soldiering on at school not missing one single day even the horrid tummy bug seemed to have cleared a lot of classrooms of children.

 Would you think this is in church?! Yap we had a petts blessing service so kids were in their element!!! Seems they have really taken to this rather large chicken who belongs to our vicar's wife! So this was the sunday when I was ill in bed but they all had a fab time.

 As we now have daddy around a bit more the boys got to enjoy some Training:)) I must say I am so delighted that both of my boys are still madly in love with trains. All Reuben wants for Christmas is TRAINS. (please don;t buy any more or else need to buy more draws and storage....)

 Even though I did say no more playdates during the week we had a few kids around from Reuben's class. We had Samuel and Emily and in this photo Sophia (tongue out) and Olivia. IT was a really good play date as they actually did a lot of drawing and playing and seemedto be just what they needed, It helps that those invited around came with their delightful mums so we could do some good old chatting over coffee.

 Olivia and Reuben....! They are so cute! I have to thank Olivia for giving Reuben a good impulse in wanting to learn and colour and write at home.

 Another beautiful girlfriend is Eva! Reuben seems to be invited to all birthdays nowadays....and at Eva's bday party he was one of 3 boys invited. Lucky him may I say. Here they are having a swing :))at Rochester Castle today (2nd December 2012) when it opened the usual Christmas Garden!

 Now, I have been very busy working hard on planning the Christmas Fayre at R's school and I had a fantastic good team working just as hard with me. When R started school I purposefully kept out of the way and did not get involved in school trips and such. A year later a mum (and very good friend of mine) approached me to say she needed enforcements as really it did not look like we were gona have a Christmas Fayre and how sad that would be afor children.....I thought about it and got in! My other very good friend has been single handedly organising it for a few years but she had decided to call it a day so I was aware I needed to thread carefully as it was a special thing I was taking on especially as my good friend has done such great job before. I am blessed as my friend who handed over has been supportive and very helpful to me and I must thank Leah for our success. (Thank you huni).
As for how the evening actually went?! - well, we had mince pies donated by cook.net (250 of them),  bottled water (through coop shops), mulled wine (thanks to Eva's daddy), three fabulastic Harrods Hampers (thanks Jerry Dispensiri), lots and lots of tombola( over 120 items all new and unopened), a fantastic book stall, all classess contributed with some sort of a stall, yummy mummies got together to do airbrush tatoos and nailpainting, and cakes galore!!! yes it was fantastic to see money raised in only 2 hours £1000. I was buzzing afterwards and it took me forever to fall asleep!

 On Saturday (yesterday) we had seen Dickensian Festival 2012 start and as always it was fantastic if you discount the overpriced rides and the cheesy music and basically the fake snow:)) but kids love it and so do we as they get soooo tired after being out we can put them straight to bed.

this afternoon Sunday!!:))) we had two kids singing and practicing their (we wish you a merry Christmas...songs) it was a bit funny let me say why...Reuben bless him was very eager in singing JINGLE BELLS....but it went something like this
"Jingle Bells, Juble Sale, JIngle all the way
Oh what fun it is to die in one huge open sleigh...."
oh it was funny!!I do remember a similar situation when I was young probably his age and my parents had every evening devotionals so we sat through some church songs that were big words and often I would only catch the end of a word I did end up singing my own version of some hymns for quite some time after...until my mother has told me exactly how it did not make sense...still....sweet memories.

It is Advent finally! My favourite time of year! It would be even more favourite if I could enjoy it but thats another story. that Michael Bubble CD keeps playing but each time I want to sing along.....I get intrerupted by some misfortune in and around me so I often give up. Still, I am happy that I managed to make a Advent Calendar for the boys....they seem to have embraced it. I made it in such a way that I am intending to use little cues to the Christmas story so that Reuben and Zac will learn as we go along. Today was Angel Wings. I asked R who brought good news of Jesus....being born. He looked at me he said: "easy, the angel" so for that he got some sweets and we read that bit from the Bible. This reminds me soon there is the Christmas Nativity at school and I did ask Reuben what part he will be playing...he told me he was gona be  a HEN! not sure where that is in the Bible but should be fun....! Also asked him who was being Jesus at his Christmas Nativity to which he responded "Jesus is misreable" - I was unsure what he meant but he kept sounding like miserable...I said that wasnt very nice thing to say....but bless him he soon put me right "mummy you know its like when you cant see him" - aha, so INVISIBLE!!!! now I know.

I am intending to enjoy this Advent with my family. We have each other and thats amazing. Jonathan is working from home and we see so much more of him. We must embrace this time cause it is indeed very special. I am crafting a lot these days, boys love my creations and often sit with me. I also plan to rest and try and have fun as it seems there is always so much to do.....some things I need to learn to leave to that day called tomorroW! For now...HAPPY ADVENT EVERYONE!

 October has been and gone and wow it was spectacular!  So much to be thankfull and so lovley to be cosy and enjoy the beautiful colours around us. I got the boys to do some tree climbing...to explore things from slightly higher grounds:)) It was not considered a good idea by a lady who passed by but I couldnt care less as my boys were excited to explore. Its got very cold so have not done much outside but we never the less had busy few weeks and days.

 Reuben and Nicholas had spent a few good days together. Its interesting to notice the things they can do together and the "grown up chats too". Reuben really is sooo happy with Nic around...and I love them hanging out as they do get on fantastically.

 We had three days with the cousins around. It was so so nice. We had nice big meals and a lot of playtime. The cousins played a lot of hide and seek with the boys and wii, 3ds and making things and trains and cars and all. We even cought a mouse one dinner time ....it was so much excitment I felt bad taking him out to be terminated:)) bad mum but hey ho had to be done.

 I was meant to blog about this some time...! At parents evening we had a look through Reuben's books and work so far and found this booklet which he made entirely....I loved reading his story...yes it was SONIC but I was so excited to see one of his creations....the story was so simple but so lovley and his writing so expressive...

 At his best friend's NIcholas's brother's bday he decided to be a green tiger!! Looks more like a green indian to me but hey ho!:))) I loved the way he and his friend decided to be red and green tigers:))

Another moment with beautiful Anna! Anna and Peter were my saviours as weather was rubbish but they did not seem to care....they enetrained them so well. Thank you Anna and Peter you made half term so much special and boys had a blast....!
In a nutshell we had been very busy. I am helping curently putting together a Christmas Fayre at R's school which takes a lot of energy and of my time but its all lovley as we have a lovely crowd of people....involved. It feels like winter in so near however we are only in November still. Shops are full of Christmasy things and it all seems so so very very early. As you probably noticed no pumpkins or scary outfits as we do not CEMEBRATE or COMMEMORATE, even OBSERVE Halloween. Reuben asked and I explained and he is happy. He and Zac are not majorly into dressing up and I also have said there is no need to beg for sweets when we always buy them then. No ammount of cutness about this festival will ever convince me its one worth of celebrating, dressing up or fussing about. I would rather like to celebrate REMEMBERANCE DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY...personally I don;t see the point in haloween ...not even for fun...in fact I can not believe people go so crazy about it here in UK. We have celebrated ALL SAINTS day and boys have remembered those they love but are no longer with us and we had lit some candles to think of them and also to encourage them to think of dying as a passing from dark to eternal light. Interesting to me is how Reuben grasps almost loves the idea of heaven of light...of a place where everything is so happy, most of all it has touched me when he said: "I really want to go heaven mum...thats where my grandfather is...and since he cant come here maybe I could go see him tell him I love him I miss him and give him cuddles! he also thought about how he must miss us all...."the train of thought is amazing. Since then we established that when and if he will indeed go he will see Jesus and Grandad and lots of poeple he loves and will love him...and we also hope to be there one day...! You might ask why all this talk, why do we talk about heaven and could it all be in vain?! Well, I hope I can give my children that special assurance of HEAVEN that I was given as a child, I hope and pray they will learn at least a little of what I was thought and that little will be enough to carry them when life is difficult and when all else fails. I personally believe because its real....more real that words and other things. Its also personal...my little oasis....in the whirlwindy world...!
Back to Reuben...we also did some swimming together just me and him and it was lovley. I got to chat to him and learn about him and understand him so much better. I love him dearly...thank God for our beautiful bright and generous loving Reuben.

21yrs old again!!! ujra 21 eves!

There comes a time in a woman's life when she keeps being 21!!! and I think I had reached that age:) What a wonderful bday I had. I had a rubbish year so far I guess and its no secret I wasnt gona plan much for my bday. I had so much fun and I was deeply touched by the ammount of people who showed me just how much they "love" me. First of all, my husband and boys sang happy bday to me. finally after 12 years my husband understood it wasnt cards and big words I was after and he just provided the coolest and chillaxest possible day for me. He even babysat while me and my best friend Elena went to have lunch with the Romanian girls at the local chinese. The day was then followed by a number of well wishers, phone, email, at my house....it was like I was the most special person ever! In the evening...my English girlfriends have organised me a chillaxed evening and so I was showered with attention, love and beautiful gifts! THANK YOU ALL. THe biggest surprise was my COSTA COFFEE CUPCAKE!:)) I even posted it on the Costa Coffee website and they loved it too!

 Eljon az ember eleteben az az eletkor amikor egy nappal sem tud oregebb lenni mint 21! Igy hat ujra unnepelhettem a 21ik szulinapom!:) Hogyan telt a napom? Hat annak ellenere hogy nem terveztem nagyott es igazan nem volt kedvem nagy unneplesre....ferjem es fiaim enekkel koszontettek es sok puszival. Ferjem elobszor 12 ev soran nem ajandek, kepeslap es nagy szavakkal hozakodott elo hanem megtett mindent annak erdekeben hogy egy szuper napom legyen. A baratnokkel (roman lanyokkal) ebedeltem es lehjobb baratnom mel aki ugyanaz nap unnepli szulinapjat mint en. Jonathan vigyazott a gyerekekre mienkre es Elena era. Aztan a jok kivanok hoszu sora es persze a sok sok virag ajandek, telefon, sms, email es csengo ..
Nagyon kellemesen telt a nap, este angol baratnoim egyszeruen elarasztottak szeretettel, figyelemmel, figyelmessegekel es egy nagyon edes kave csupor formaju kaves torta ami a kedvenc kavezom neve COSTA caffee. Annyira jol esett meglepetesuk....nagyon feldobtak. Nem tudom szavakba ontenni de nagyon jo napom volt es valahogy a nehez ev utan....olyan volt mint egy kis friss es uj varazslatos oazis.

 Boys were so excited to blow my candles on the home cake which was white chock cake my favourite!:) A fiuk nagy orommel fujtak el a gyertyakat a feher csokis tortan ami a kedvenczeim kozze tartozik.

 Elena couldn't be there with me on this evening as her hubby was preparing her bday romantic dinner...but one of the cakes was for her. the lady next to me is Cheryl my boys AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL Godmother, my friend and my sister in many ways. I was thinking of my life when I blew the candles out! I wished for many things....but mainly that I will have always true friends...ones that love and care and are not afraid to show it and that I can also be such a friend.

 The weekend before my bday we all went to Longleat. A place we planned to visit about a year ago and its taken us this long to get there:)) It was my bday treat to feed the girraffes (my favourite animals together with Zebras) it was such an amazing treat.To be able to show the boys all the amazing animals and stop and watch them was amazing. I was so happy because the weather was amazingly beautiful and I really got the most of a mini holiday. We had amazing comfortable rooms overnight and lovley company of the Vasile's my best friend Elena and her family.

 Szulinapom elotti hetvegen, ferjemmel es gyerekekkel (csatlakozott legojbb baratnom Elena es csaladja is) elmentunk egyik leghiresebb Safari parkba Longleat ba. Nagyon szeretem a girafokat es a zebrakat es almom volt hogy atadhassam reggelijuket a gyerekekkel. Hat nagy elmeny volt ilyen kozelrol latni annyi allatott es kedvenceinket is. Nem tudtam elhinni hogy eso helyet szuper nap sutott es egesz nap elvezhettuk a Safari parkot. A szallasunk is kituno volt es a gyerekek nek felejthetetlen elmeny volt hogy legjobb barataikkal tolthettek a napot es a hetveget.

 the park has a few very interesting little corners one of which was POSTMAN PAT village. It was a place where Zac but not only were truley at home....it was a pretty good place. I recommend it to everyone it was indeed a fab weekend.

 A Safari parkban nagyon sok elmeny ben volt reszunk egyikuk a Postman Pat mese vilag volt. A fiuk el voltak a kis sajat magassagu vilagban....:)

 The monkeys...how very strange it was to see them jump up and down cars go for short rides try and take things off cars and having to be taken off the cars at the end of the ride as they obviously loved being on them so much. One cheeky monkey decided to chew on the windscreen wash jet nosle:))) I did not think he could get it but he did. ONe of them gone...silly monkey when he got it out he dropped it...then tried going for the other one...but gave up..maybe not so silly after all.Boys were facinated:))

 DO a deer a female deer....wow! This was one of the many we saw. I was facinated with her (him). Looked so clean and so surreal. Made me think of Christmas....but it was my bday so shoved the thought to the back of my mind.

 Indeed a bit of a strange one....as the tiger got up to walk to the other side and really did not bother about us driving up to him. He seemed so comfortable with cars. I kept wondering what would happen if he jumped on the car...but no. It was such a pleasure to see these wild animals this close...upclose and presonal...and guess who was told off for opening the window and taking a photo....?!:) ups sorry might have been.

 Back at the hotel! The boys were winding down and was time for homework. Reuben loves tracing...and writing...he was very busy..except in this pic he got distracted...easy really ....TV was on and there was something interesting on:))

 And since its R;s blog and I just took it over with my bday stuff...I must mention that my boy who is one of the youngest in his class has been awarded a certificate of merit in his school assembly for his good MATHS. I was so happy for him. He works hard, attends school regularly and has not missed any day....he is dedicated and is a great ambassador to his school. THe week after he got his certificate he brought home this little certificate. I was surprised so I asked what this was. The teacher told me that Reuben does really well and every week they have a 3 minute challange both at maths and spelling. He seems to do 100% with his maths challange and so last week he was given yet another certificate.  His blending and spelling also good however his writing is more of a struggle but I am told partly because he has unusually long fingers and difficult grip on the pencil but we are working on it...considering he is just 5 I think he is pretty good. don;t ya? He is really so good in so many ways he teaches me some good lessons about life!:) I love his dedication to what is his life now. He seems to be so at ease with how things are and tends to happily fit in. His school is brilliant. THe teachers are amazing...thinking back to how I was at school at the massive ammount of homework, the physical and mental abuse we got for making mistakes or not doing things right....I truley admire and appreciate the way kids are thought in this country. Being a COE (religious school) means they have daily christian devotional or time for learning about God and they observe all Christian festivals. I see him pray and he is geniuinly interested and understands aspects of Christianity. He prays beautifully...I love when he prays....! And in this photo he insisted he needed to be like a hedgehock...he loves Sonic the Hedgehhock.

Es mivel ez a fiacskam blogja es elloptam kicsit es magamrol beszeltem akkor most rolla is. Draga kicsi Reuben 5 evesen mar masodik osztalyt jarja, hihetetlen nekem az ahogyan jar az esze es hogy annyira jol bizonyit az iskolaba. Nagyon szeretik ot a gyerekek es a tanitonenik is. Iskolaban (kereszteny iskola) minden nap van ahitat reggel es egyszer egy heten az egesz iskola istentisztelet en vesz reszt ami kb 1 oras. Annak kereteben kituntetik azokat akik nagyon jol bizonyitottak valamiben. Kicsi fiam kituntetest kapott egesz iskola megtapsolta es nagy orommel mondta az igazgato neni azt mondta kituno matekos es nagyon ugyesen dolgozik matekbol. Azt is hozza tette a igazgato neni kepet is akart vele csinalni..:))
Erre ra kb egy hetre ujjabb kis kituntetessel jott haza. Kerdeztem ez most mi? A tanitoneni elmondta hogy minden het elejen 3 perces vizsgajuk van ugy matekbol mint betuzes es irasbol. nem tudom magyarul hogy mondjak azt amikor 4-5 szavat kell betuzni...szilabizalni?!: Hat a fiam azt mondjak 100% an mindeg matekbol tiszta jo es a szotagozasbol is jo. Az iras kicsit nehez de megallapitottak ennek oka is van. Sajnos a fiuk nem igazan szeretnek irni de emelett meg az is van hogy nagyon hoszu ujjai vannak neki es nagyon roszul fogja a ceruzat. Kaptunk vastagabb ceruzat es egy olyan muszert ami segit neki jobban fogni a ceruzat. Mondhatom soha sem gondoltam ezekre a dolgokra...es kis feladatokat is kaptunk amik segitik ot abban hogy az irasa is nagyon jo legyen. Nem tudom igazan elmeselni micsoda fantasztikus tanarok es tanarnok vannak itt ezekben az iskolakban. Ha visza gondolok hogy mi hogy tanultunk...ahogyan repultek a pofonok, a sok sok kiabalas, a hibazas es a pofon ill a rosz szo, a nehez oldalak amiket orakon at irogattunk....huuuu durva most ahoz voszonyitva hogy itt minden jatek esz jatszodva tanulunk....es a hazi feladat 1 x egy heten 5 sor mindegyik sor egy egy szo amit aztan meg kell tanulni irni, olvasni es szotagolni. De annyit csak nagyon buszke vagyok a fiamra! Halas Istennek erte mert annyi mindent tudok rajta keresztul megtanulni es jobban megertenni....szive nagyon nyitott boldog es nagyon kiegyensulyozott, Az iskolaban mindeg dicserik hogy figyel masokra es nagyon oszinte.

YEAR 1 in proper big boys school as begun...first day was soooo exciting....and for the last few weeks I heard nearly every day that school was fantastic and he loves his new teachers. Please don;t be fulled this photo does not tell he is shy and a little taken aback with going to school this is we are aware its not summer anymore. Its actually freezing in the mornings so out came the fleece jackets and no flippy floppies for mum either:) Reuben rides his bikes most mornings to school...they have a bike area and we also ride back home at the end of the day. He really is a trouper! - He loves being among the first ones at school and dashes in without turning head back once:) - He tells me he is straight in to do CBBies dancing:)) morning activity....! I love that he has so far nearly every day come home with various good behaviour, good at something stickers and we also had STAR OF THE DAY sticker!! YAY!

Yes! Grinning monkey has aquired rather a few medals. The big fat one has been given to him for taking part and running the Medway Mile, the one underneath it was Bickmore Park go carting, some for his football (which sadly he no longer wants to do until he is older as he really does get upset when people mistake his legs for the ball) and he has a few medals that he got when he took part in smaller competitions. He loves his football trophe and the wining cup from the Buckmore park. Every once in a while we look at them and talk about winning but not with any price. He is loving his room as it has only his things in it. Currently he is into SONIC characters but loves his lego and Mario too....

I know I keep saying its so nice to be able to walk to Rochester Castle and watch the ships go bye and often various good activities around there. We like to use bike, scooters and make a trip out there every so often. Here daddy has taken them for an icecream and they are telling me how the older boys were doing real acrobatics there....! Both boys are so good together. I am not to keen on their eveing pretend fighting sessions but I think boys...well thats what I am gona have to cope with hey?! We are busy still swimming, football (trying to keep that light burning...but might take a break) cycling at our much loved cyclopark and enjoying the various activities at home in between....really not much time to get bored or waste. I had refrained from play dates after school as both boys get tired and we tend to do things together but this week we had two playdates. I think I will stick to no playdates as both boys were rather excited and turbo -ed when needing to get ready for bed...:))
I am just amazed at how school is taking over our lifes....not sure I am likeing it. Nearly every day we have some homework activities and this week we have to attend a MATHS session (this for teaching us how to teach maths to our 5 years old). Reuben is almost the youngets in his class. I have no concerns about his phonics as he knows all letters and numbers and confident blender:)) (yap that means he can put letters into words), what I am slightly worried about they now have to write words some of which are 4 letters and more. Joined writing and proper writing when they had not really got confident at writing just individual letters....R can write most letters individually but gets disheartened when needs to write long words....I can totally feel his pain...! I will be back with update!

 Wow, everyone started talking about the end of summer holidays and even us feel the stranged and mixed feelings that come with that. For starters we are certainly much cooler and we are noticing the difference when trying to enjoy a coffee in the garden in the mornings.....but it does not really feel bad just something in the air is noticeably telling us back to busniess:) For us business means SCHOOL starting again and off course juggleing things around the boys. We certainly had an unplanned chilling and relaxing summer which is why I chose this photo first. I had a massive selfish ME time with my boys because it felt right and needed. Reuben has been most days a delight and I can say this is certainly the best summer we had for ages.

 Chillaxing! one of the most noticeable changes in our family life is seeing the boys (yes both boys) totally being happy at home and knowing how to entertain themselves and each other. Reuben is still big on outdoorly things, always embracing whatever activity we planned or not and at home always happy to juggle the 3DS, wii, Ipad, various character games, NIJA LEGO (he has many of the lego ninja figures if not all and most of Mario or Sonic figures), I love love the conversations he strikes among his characters sometimes using incredible gramatical impossible tenses and making it really cute....I also notice that often he prefers acting out a story rather then telling it which gets very much of a fun game as he  inacts them. This photo describes him so well..ready for some mischief and enjoying a pose!:), being aware of us watching him and encouraging him. He is indeed so very very grown up sometimes...and he did enlighten me about a thing or two during this summer...I will treasure these moments forever....as they are so unique and such a insight in his little self.

 After our summr holiday in Romania we had a quite week of settleing back into home life (rediscovering their toys, rooms, etc) catching up with several close friends especially Elena and family. So other than a few days spent local we were busy settleing in back home when we had the urge one Sunday to go explore London. I most like the impromptu things these days....we were going to cyclopark (more later) but Zac fell asleep and snored so beautifully we decided to carry on driving...Jonathan took us through Stratford and showed us some of his latest work  (see the sculpture at this link http://danesyardkitchen.com/gallery/ ) and we found ourself in Greenwhich and around the Olympic park....we had scooters and all and decided to get out the car and explore. We had a picknick with us so we were well equipped. Boys got excited about the prospect of trying the cable cars and I MUST SAY IT WAS TRULEY WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENY!!! The boys were in awe of what they saw and so were we!  So we had an afternoon of experiences GREAT!

 On the Thames....some fun in the bubbles as we call them....! Reuben got Zac very excited. When we asked the man in charge if Zac could go he said he is far to young and he wont give us back the money should he decide he did not like it. We took a risk, well I did because I guess I am the pushy one here:)) and well Zac just loved it and he was copying his brother most times...no he did not shed a tear...not did we loose any money in fact people were praising him...pointing at the bubble saying "wow look at that little one" (needless to say I was the proudest mum in London) and at the end I did feel like asking the man to give me back the money purley because he has no idea and was so stubborn on talking us out of it....and I prove him wrong!:)

 Do I need to say much more?:) a moment of sheer happiness!!

 Scooting around Greenwich was brilliant I loved the fact that I did not need the buggie and had to gallop with the boys and it was all so much easier.

 WE had been doing some homework at home but here Reuben and NIcholas were doing a lot of colouring 2 hours worth of sonic, mario sheets colouring....I was enjoying some peace and quite and they were so so into it I did not even know I had the boys....another great afternoon well spent.

 Cyclopark!!!!- has anyone seen this amazingly great place?! Wow! This is where we are gona hang out from now on...in fact I shall move in next door...:)) the largest cyclepark in Europe. A fab place for all. Beautiful play area, skate park, caffee, and two great cycle routes for familes and professional cyclers. I was so refreshed by my experience there its hard to explain. We had seen Reuben learn how to cycle in July (without stableisers) and then in only few hours he tackled a bumper route which is really for 8+ years old. We had to once again fight to get them let us let him on this but it was worth every little puppy eye....and convincing.

We live in such a fantastic place Kent is known as Garden of England, is surrounded with amazingly beautiful Cathedrals, Castles, National Heritage places, English Heritage and plenty Farms and places kids can hang out. This is by far the best for the more active children. It might be seen as a little expensive but I'd rather spend money taking us all out and enjoying excersize in fresh air - than getting into cramped, airconditioned play places and parks that are either too busy, exposed or have been vandalised....sadly. But back to the boy!!:)) he has certainly surprised us with his massive physical ability the perseverance and endurance in tackleing such a big challange and he was totally extatic when older boys shook hands with him and said how cool he was!!!...I hope and pray that Reuben will find it in himself to be able to positivley embrace the school with its challanges of less play, more study, new teacher, shorter days (after school), less freedom and I hope to be able to support him to become a strong and able child who knows well his limits and his abilities, who knows that every single goal that he sets is achievable just as he achieved the full completion of his bumper track, with support encouragement, ambition, self believe and a lot of hard work, some falls, some tears and a lot of excitment....
Year 1 - School hear we come!! hope you are ready for us....!!! more about this soon.
We are enjoying the last few lazy days! - we had daddy home for almost all summer which was an added bonus!!

Romanian Holiday

Hi! I wish I knew how to make what was 2 weeks really wonderful time HOME in Romania, communicate to you my faithfull readers what we had experienced. We had decided to go back to Romania in August as my parents were celebrating 50 YEARS of being married something that we certainly felt was worth celebrating. Here is a pic of how it was all set up...(my dad made the gazeebo?! I provided the table arrangements, and my creative mum sorted the voil and the summer coloured umbrellas)

It was a wonderful hot summer holiday. Our flat is self contained above mum and dad's (my old family house). I was able to look down on the grand garden first thing and last thing each day which I loved. I remember being young and dad and mum talking about how one day they will extend and make more room for us all now I actually lived to see their many dreams come trough and enjoy the fruit of their hands.

 My dad makes amazing things...the strairway the covered area (where my brother parks his car, he does live in the other half of the house) and the garden with the various nice metal works.

 As it was sooo very hot we often gone to the TIME OUT caffee where the best coffees were enjoyed and my lovley sister in law Irenke and Hannah my niece came with us too. It is not something that locals can afford often its a luxury still at home to go to a caffee:(( I found that a bit sad but I am glad we were able to enjoy it there.

Another thing I often heard when I was young was that my little town will one day have its own thermal water spa. I was so glad to be able to take kids there and they had an amazing time. Boys really did enjoy it and I was once again so glad I lived to see it happen. Again, a bit expensive for the locals but such a great little treat when they can make it there and enjoy the nice warm water and a little swim.

I am sorry about the washing....but this is part of my parent;s garden we lived in it day and sometimes night too. The brick wall...stands between our garden and the old communist orphanage (I used to hate being in the garden for I heard many unwelcomed and upsetting cries from the kids who were dumped there and mistreated...now I am glad to see it empty and I hope there will never be again sorrow behind that wall). On the other hand the wood you see piled there is the wood every good man has to provide heating for their home for the winter....! The inflatable pool was our saviour when days got madly hot!!

 We also went to to the hills surrouding my town because my town is totally surrounded by hills and mountins. I was able to enjoy some peace and quite and a rest with my older sister Ellie. The gentle noise that this gorgeous stream provided was truley relaxing and Zac loved finding stones that upset the serenity of it all and splashing us as he threw them in the water....:))

 My older brother now 46 surley is a big kid at heart got into the freezing water with Reuben for some splashing....! It was about 50 cm deep here. Reuben loved it so much I had to pleed with him to get out. Don;t kids feel cold?! Lucky things.

 With the cousins looking for some treasure:)

Back at the house....my dad thought R how to make a fire if he was ever stuck in the woods or wanted an impromptu BBQ:)) this was one of the most exciting evenings. they had carried the wood (yes proper wood), set the paper in the middle, used matches and set fire....kept the fire going and well occasionally stuck a stick in it...lets hope we do not have this recreated at home:))) or else Fireman Sam must come and help us and we might have to move to ROMANIA:))

 I was particularly proud of Reuben for the way he enjoyed Romania. Not once has he mentioned missing England, it was just natural we were there. He made friends with everyone....often kept chatting to them even when Romanian boys felt embarrased at their English or lack of it and hid away from him. Reuben insisted on following them and smiling at them then holding his hands out to them inviting them to play. I love seeing how kids really interact with no spoken words. Here we were playing in the nearby town's playground with my childhood best friend Erna's children Matyas and Toni. They really bonded as after a good play they decided they needed the toilet and since we couldnt find one they all together decided to water some trees (actually all watered one poor old tree) and came back to report they made an X sign on the tree....I live the rest to your imaginations:))

Back at the house....the kids got aunty Irenke and Hannah in the pool as they were, fully dressed...and why not? the sun will dry you soon said Reuben....and like that Aunty Irenke (who by the way adores my boys) did just that, Hannah followed.

What were we doing? Well, Jonathan who never gets in the water...was up to no good...

 Now, this is something coool unique and full of vitamins...on the negative side it does stain teeth....fresh BILBERRY (yes that is correct) latin name vaccinum myrtillus this is something unique to our part of the world. Has amazingly fab qualities but I have to say Zac's nappies were something you would never want to experience....however has def helped with getting them vitaminised....:)

 Both kids loved loved these BILBERRIES they are sooo yummy they had them every day at any given time...when offered with this irresistable smiles on theoir faces. Mama had even made jam and we have some in the fridge...yumm.

 Basketball at my old highschool PE field. Harry was the coach and he was an amazing help while at home with childcare:) He was faithfully with us at all times and making sure none of the English cousins had a moment of boredom....wish we could have brought him back with us. He is such a wonderful and cute kid.

Hanniel (Blue T shirt) my eldest nephew was at hand to make sure boys had a good time while at the park. Hanniel is studying in the nearby city...we had enjoyed trying out the trams in Oradea (and we got and old fashioned strange one) and he speaks brilliant English.

 another picture of the thermal spa we enjoyed every so often.....

 Aunty Rebeka has stayed with us and travelled with us in Uk all of July (THANK YOU REBEKA) was and is my DREAM SISTER, I can not say how much I love her (she is the one holding Reuben) I am not ashamed to say that since I had Reuben and Zac, she has spent most of her holidays with us. She lavished and entertained my children with her undivided attention, love and care. This is such a special photo for me as we saw Betty (blond niece) and Harry (the boy on the floor) first time a few days after we arrived home. Boys were thrilled (as you can see ) to see them. Hannah (pretty flowery dress) lives in my parent;s house (with her family) and boys loved having her at hand too. I love how happy everyone looks in this photo.

Ups. Back at the STRAND (spa) boys had a fab time with yet more cousins. In my home town live quite a few of my first cousins. Its great to hook up with them too. They are very close to me as we grew up together and spent most days together...really they are like my siblings too.

 And fnally the event!  It was sooo exciting!! Mum and dad have really done such a good job....just look at these summery colours and the imagination....My dad's actual hard work in making mum's ideas come true...could there be a more ideal couple?!

 At church Reuben got to be a "sweet" distributor....with the Pastor's daughter Boroka. This meant that he had the job of carrying a basket full of sweets through the church and offer people sweets after the service. He was brilliant at offering sweets. One moment I will never forget was when he has gone out his way to find this old gypsy woman who was waiting at the gate of the church for some left overs and offered her the same way sweets as he did to those who were in the church hall. I loved how oblivious he was to the difference between those who were in and these few gypsys outside. he has noticed them and wanted to share with them.....I love that there was no fear, no prejudice and no sense of they should not have what we have...I silently prayed..."GO BOY" stay like that all your life!

 A picture with the happy couple....I am so proud of my parents!! Can you tell?!?!

 A rare moment...all four of us together....not sure where the fifth one has dissapeared my sister Rebeka....but indeed its hard to get us all together. My brother (blue t shirt) lives with mum (massive house with many rooms and more bathrooms:)) he is 46, then its my sister Ellie (lives in Slovakia and she is 42) then the boy I always wanted to marry as a young girl Misi (my older brother) he is 42 and lives locally few streets away from my parents;s house, and me off course far away in England....the ever so young, fresh and beautiful one:)))

 I had been waiting for this moment for such a long time. This is the brother who often saved me, stuck up for me, scared all my boyfriends away, scared me away from all the friends he had whom I eyed up for myself, the one who fulled me around, dearly loved me, held my heart, who was my rock and my shield, and the one I could not fall asleep in the evening until he was at home, the one that used to take me on crazy bike rides...got me to drive, let me share his drinks, his dreams....I miss him so so badly. I want to be a child again when he is around me because he made me feel so safe, he also was the most hilarious and funny boy. I hope he feels the same way about me...I hope he also misses his little sister...and I hope we will still share many happy memories....cause God knows how much I love him.

 And finally the family....I cant but get emotional when I look at this. My mum and dad I think also can hardly believe their eyes. Two young people set on their journey with very little...to have gained sooooo much....I look at my nieces and nephews at my beautiful sister in law's and my big and generous brother in law....I am so blessed so very blessed. My boys and us have experienced such a unique and brilliant time of true true FAMILY time. All cousins together with their mums and dads and grandparents (two of them)...we ate together, sang together, laughed and cried together...we needed no words at most times cause LOVE NEEDS NO LANGUAGE. I know we won;t all be together again like this for some time...but I will treasure these moments these special times when my boys (including my gorgeous and faithfull loving husband) had exeprienced FAMILY HOLIDAY. I pray that we are able to hold these memories and treasure them....so that when life gets tough we can look back and scoop up some love...to keep us afloat. For now, LONG LIVE THE HAPPY COUPLE and massive THANK YOU TO ALL MY FAMILY FOR GIVING US SUCH A SPECIAL TIME.

I asked Reuben what was the best he remebers of Romania, he said EVERYTHING and WHEN CAN WE GO BACK?!:) He misses his cousins and mama, tata and REBEKA and wants them all to come for Christmas....! Well done Reuben for being a brave, happy, content, enthusiastic, funny, adventurous and loving boy through the two weeks of your holiday in ROMANIA. You did have an amazing time....and I am sure you will remeber it when all the photos will get printed in your album.