Diving

 Diving seems to be a red line going through many of our endeavors. Jasmin has become amazingly comfortable and calm underwater. being able to relax and hold ones breath comes first. She is good at not panicking or becoming scared. Putting the suit on is  going really well. Anders and I both take her out. And she loves it. Asks us when we can do it next.

This summer we intend to take the twins out as well. After all that practicing in the Dutch Tub, they are ready! The art of changing in cold weather is the challenge. Lesson One: Never get cold feet. Lesson Two: See lesson one.
We bring along two jugs of hot water to rinse the suits in first, and to shower in afterwards. Pretty luxurious, when it is only 5 degrees.

Fun on the terrace

Anders being a fireman now, there is a lot of work to be done. The three last Saturdays he has been running into burning houses. The whole corps was doing training smoke diving And here Lea and Noa take it upon themselves to clean up his helmet. Very serious business.

Following is a small story capturing Noa deciding to make figures on the terrace, but the rain never came, so we had to help him out. He is such a good boy.

apropos birthday magic

An old draft post from November birthday 2010

Spring tides

This past week has been  green interspersed with snow and hail. It was my birthday yesterday. Wonderful to see how the children are more excited then I am am. Whispering in corners, drawing secrets and giggling. Looking forward to something beautiful is half the joy. They made me a beautiful morning ritual, like we do, breakfast, song, gifts, hot tub in sleet and storm-winds at 6.30 am. You know, the usual!

After dinner we had a chocolate, almond flour-less torte with cream and raspberries. I am lucky and happy. And I MUST be an adult now, according to Lea. It happens when you get so old, there is no room on the cake for the amount of candles needed.... darn.

birthday rainbows. window wash included.

impossibles and paints

first pussy willows!

Some days are better left to history then others. but, as luck will have it, I had promised myself, and my dad, to start posting again, and today was to be the day, no matter what.
i could have posted on all the roundups and great snapshots I have from the last couple of months, but... today was pretty funny actually.
the kids are on a rampage mode these past weeks, the what-happens-if-we-do-this-mode, and how to run around and make the most noise. Or how to sneak away and be really quiet for as long as possible so no one misses you. I always KNOW when they are up to no-good. Just about 5 minutes too late.
today was no exception, Lea managed to empty TWO tubes of toothpaste, and Noa found the gold stamp pad, covered his whole body (  in the nude mind you) and decided he was going to be.. well, i never got that far. When to laugh and when to say "i think we should take better care of that wall my friend". I laughed, he got furious, I had interrupted something holy, and then he laughed in the shower. And now Lea has a bright idea....

Of course then they surprise you by saying something profoundly gentle and compassionate, play falling rainbows in the stairs, and sit starry eyed as a I read for them before bedtime. Impossibles.

this beautiful rainbow silk i ordered from an etsy shop named desertdyeworks

it is a miracle. they actually learn how to read, whether one will it or not. hey ho for curiosity.

Christmas/ Epiphany Roundup