This Spring's Fashions...

...are being modelled for us by Master JoJo.
This cardigan, made by Mum 4 years ago, has already been put to good use on LissaLou and CassCass. And a beautiful blue top most impressively handknitted by Judith. The bootees come courtesy of Ingrid, and stay on nicely.
And just to show he doesn't spend all his life in his basket, here he was this morning happily kicking and gurgling away while we ate our breakfast.

Best Friends

In case you hadn't noticed, we are on Easter holidays right now, so there is plenty happening and plenty of blogging material!

Today we had a lovely trip to the Heath with LissaLou's best friend and her family, including a chilly picnic, playing in the sandpit and ice lollies in the cafe:

Arms folded, legs crossed - spot the nursery girls!

Grannies!


One mouthful ice lolly, one mouthful chip! Yummy!
It won't surprise you to know Baby JoJo slept all day!
Learning to skip - I never realised how tricky it was!

What Happens When Daughters Get Hold Of Cameras

When 2 year old daughters get hold of them, the following are possible:

- strap dropped in toilet (sorry, no pictures!)

- camera goes AWOL for a long period (see Sunday!)

However, when 4 year daughters get hold of them, the following result (note the influence of Evs on these photos!):

I think she shows great promise!

Growing Lad!

As part of my sorting yesterday, I put away all Baby JoJo's newborn clothes and brought out the 0-3 ones. He is growing so fast, just look at the size of him!

The girls adore him and love to hold him, or squeeze the air out of him, not quite sure which...

He is increasingly active, here he is trying to punch the octopus
I thought this one was cute! It is a rare thing that he is able to lie on his mat without a sister joining him!

Becoming French Citizens

Armed with photos and every single important document imaginable (you can never be sure just what they will require so better to be on the safe side!) Bertie and the girls set off for the French Consulate in Kensington yesterday. Bertie said it was amazing how God cleared the way before them, as there was exceptionally no queue, LissaLou was great and CassCass only had 2 tantrums, the staff went out of their way to be helpful, and whilst contemplating the huge queue at the post office to get 4 stamps for an SAE (we had to forget something!), a lady kindly gave Bertie 5 stamps from her purse...free of charge! Many thanks to her if she happens to read this blog!

The passport applications have all gone through (apparently CassCass has been classed as having green eyes, I am not convinced on that one!) and Baby JoJo has been added to our livret de famille, a highly useful french document which we have just got hold of. My mum even gets a mention on it, much to her delight! Here are the girls at the Consulate:

I looked further into the prices of passports and here are the results:

UK adult £72 French adult £46.88

UK child £46 French child FREE

UK ID card sky high probably French ID card FREE

Er, anyone see a common theme here?! So I am highly tempted to get a french one myself and save us all money by only ever renewing these rather than our UK ones! Would that be highly unpatriotic...??!!

Following the business part of their trip, the girls got to the fun part with a visit to Kensington Gardens and its marvellous playpark, complete with huge sandpit and viking boat.

And what would a day out be without a lolly?

Which apparently lasted an awful long time for some!

Meanwhile, Baby JoJo and I had the most peaceful day and I got lots of cleaning done, hurray! In faith that this snow is finally at an end and spring really is here, I put away the winter clothes and brought out the summer ones. Lovely!

Mugshots

No, it's not the Wanted poster from your local police station. This motley crew are in fact our usually charming children, and the poor things will be lumbered with these photos for the next five years. We discovered that they could hold French passports in addition to their UK ones and (the deciding factor for me!) they are issued free of charge for children (take note British Passport Office!). So Bertie is off to Kensington to get these sorted.

As ever, the finished product gives you no idea of the considerable time and trauma taken to get there. Whilst LissaLou was snapped in seconds (with due warning not to do the smile that Tatie Evie doesn't like!!), CassCass had a major tantrum and was finally snapped clinging to Daddy's leg with bonbons as her bribe! Meanwhile, poor Baby JoJo was tickled, washed, undressed, called to, squeaked at...all in vain as he slept on! Finally he managed to open his eyes for a split second in between tears, phew! Our thanks and respect to the lady serving us, who actually comes from a neighbouring island of Guadeloupe. (She got a wine gum too!)

I am so thankful that this won't need to be done again for another five years by which time they will all be co-operative and smiley children. I hope.

The Largo Lassies Reunited

It was great to be able to meet up yesterday with my ex-flatmates from St Andrews, three lovely ladies whom I have now had the pleasure of knowing for nearly 13 years! Their friendship has been so valuable to me, teaching me important things like where milk and meat come from (I was a Londoner born and bred, how was I meant to know such things?!) and how to dry my hands without wetting the toilet seat (270 degree turn if you must know). We have seen each other through studying, relationships, multi-coloured hair, magic pants, phds, weddings, jobs and now have the fun of the kids' stage. This was our last get-together before we set off, so thanks to you all for arranging and making the effort to come, not to mention taking Baby JoJo off my hands for a few hours! Thanks also to the husbands for sitting through the baby talk!