today

today i am having a long sleep because mummy took me swimming and i swam under water and kicked and splashed a lot! we went to a class with songs and actions but my favourite was sitting on the edge of the pool and after 3 being plunged down under the water. i wanted to do it again and again.... no wonder i'm so tired!

yesterday

Yesterday Zach and I hung out with his friends Duke & Rebecca (and my friends Gill & Karen). We see them every thursday. They are 6, 10 and 15months old so all at quite different stages. We love watching them all grow and change. In a few years, littlest Duke will probably be the tallest of them all, taking after his Dad.

Zach & Rebecca

Gill & Duke

We then went for a walk and met Aunty Triona for a delicious hot chocolate at Natasha's Cafe - beside Wandsworth Common.

Zach was so happy to see her, he couldn't resist an over-excited grab and chomp of her cheek - perhap it was a kiss.

reaching up high, clapping

on the move

Zach is on the move!! ...



Yesterday Zach discovered this little inch-worm manoeuvre (belly firmly on the ground)! It gets him around and polishes our floors! He still finds it a little tiring and frustrating.


I can see this is going to open up a whole new world!

Here he is contained in the laundry basket with a rice cake!

President Obama

"we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord"

It was wonderful and moving to watch the inauguration of 44th President Barack Obama today

weekend jamming with daddy

where's zach?

a few things i like doing

practising my ABC

reading my favourite book

wearing Gran's hat!

Sebbie's party

On Saturday, we went up to the Baker Street Jones' to celebrate Seb's birthday.

Roo and Zach shooting the breeze

The six UK Jones boys (we have to say 'UK' now that David has joined the 'Jones-boys gang' - keeping up the side in Oz)

the delicious CAKE!! (made by Anita with her cool train mold). I looked down and discovered Zach tucking in to an enormous piece of cake - he LOVED his first ever cake experience!

Hats!

Zach trying out the original 'Poozer Cruiser'!

Zach and Mummy

Sam and Zach enjoying Tom & Anita's marvelous puppet show (see video below)


Puppet show finale!!

Sebastian is TWO!

Happy Birthday Sebbie! Lovely party (and great train cake Anita!).

Freecycle Christmas 08 (S)

We had an amazing Christmas down in Hampshire with the whole Winter family. Richard, Jane, Johanna, John and Rudy all flew across the pond to join Matt, Anna, Joseph, Eliza, Vivi, Triona and the 3 of us. We had a splendid time together with lots of yummy meals, crisp walks in perfect sub-zero winter weather, a massive bonfire and general family-togetherness. Sam missed his family in Oz (plus new nephew David Nicholas born on Christmas day) but was treated with a visit from the Baker Street Joneses.

We loved having so much time with all of the family, each of whom we love dearly.

We had a Freecycle Christmas this year. All of our gifts were either homemade or from our own belongings; driven by a combination of credit-crunch thriftiness (being frugalistas) and wanting to cut down on consumption. It brought a deeper personal element to gift-giving as well as a bit of nervousness! Overall it was a huge success.

On New Year's eve we celebrated with lots of cousins who came to visit, including newly engaged Kirsten and Tom.

We were very lucky to be able to take over Anna's Grandfather's house for the full 2 weeks. This gave us plenty of room, with a huge dining table for all of us to fit around, big fireplaces to warm our toes and sit by playing games or chatting, and lovely grounds to get some air..


Mealtimes


Vivi & Zach


Eliza & Rudy


Christmas day


Fun with Papa & Gran


Out and about


Baker St Joneses come to visit


New Year's eve gathering


The group shots



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Happy New Year

Zach playing his Christmas maracas to welcome in the new year!