Monday February 20th - Day One of 'Photo Diary'

So, back again! I have finally found the charger to my camera, charged up the battery and set myself the task of documenting a week in our lives as there are lots of family who I am sure would love to see what we are up to:)

It started well as I realised at breakfast I hadn't ironed Naomi's uniform and we hadn't done her weekly spelling test (due today). So just a few additional things to cram into our morning. Nothing new really. Here is a fab shot of breakfast (note: I am not the photographer of the family, we all know that Ben is the genius in that department). Here is also a picture of Naomi putting on her long white socks (after I retrieved them from the laundry basket, clean I might add) and the girls all strapped in to the car. It is always touch and go if we are all ready to go exactly on time.

So, Mondays and Wednesdays Naomi attends Trinity Classical School. It meets in a large church not a mile from Ben's office. The school uses the Sunday school classrooms as classrooms. Naomi has a wonderful teacher (note to self: take picture of class on Wednesday) called Mrs Scholl. She is studying for her PhD in Ancient History and so part time teaching is ideal for her and is great for us. She has wonderful humour, a gentle manner and high standards. Naomi has about 13 classmates, most of which are girls. They start the day with morning assembly, not unlike the School Assemblies Ben and I remember. The parents and siblings are permitted to sit in the assembly, Lilja and I always do this (note to self: take pictures of morning assembly).

Here is a picture of Naomi signing herself in, Mrs Hamza is our very kind and sometimes theatrical school secretary. (Last week she dressed up as the Mad Hatter for their Alice in Wonderland Party).

After drop off Lilja and I played in the playground for a little while and then drove to her ballet class. One of the Mum's arranged a small ballet class on Monday mornings with some of the siblings of children at the school. It has been a great way for Lilja to make some friends and me too (there is always a bit of time for chat in the waiting area and we have had lunch after on a couple of occasions). It is a fair trek to the ballet studio, and first impressions were not great. BUT, Miss Rita is extremely gifted with little children. She keeps them completely spellbound for an entire hour. It is cheap as chips. In fact we have a dance studio just round the corner from us and I signed up Naomi at great cost, she lasted 2 weeks and hated it and has refused to go since. Naomi got the chance to go with Lilja one Monday and she also loved Miss Rita, so you get the picture:)

Here are some shots of ballet and tap....

Lilja with her pals Kate, Marcell and Juliette.

After Ballet Lilja was feeling a little under the weather and wasn't up to much so I attacked the laundry and cleared the girls closet. Believe it or not I packed away a large chunk of winter clothes, it is still only February but it was 77 degrees F today. I think we have had our two weeks of winter weather. Going from a country where you can wear winter clothes for 10 months of the year to one where you can for only 2 is taking a bit of getting used to. Need to start stocking up on t-shirts. Anyway, I digress! Lilja and I stopped off on the way to pick Naomi up from school and had new passport pictures done. Will be nice for Lilja to have a picture in her passport that actually looks like her. Picked up Naomi, drove home and Lilja decided that she would go to bed and promptly slept until 6pm. This left Naomi and I to fill the afternoon. Naomi decided that if the school were to have a Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe party (which they may well do as they have almost finished the book, the Head of school reads to the children while they eat lunch) she wanted to be the White Witch. She then set to to find every single bit of suitable white clothing to dress up in, and described exactly how she would like her hair and makeup done. I allowed her to raid my jewellery. It was fun. We did some baking (Banana cake for Daddy) and then piano practice. OK another story... the other day we were having some electrical problems with the car and popped into our local garage and I mentioned where we lived and the lady owner mentioned how her kids piano teacher lives just round the corner. So I ask for her number and she mentions that she has a long waiting list, very popular. I call, and yes she has a long waiting list. However, because of our school schedule we can do lessons a bit earlier and so Naomi got a spot. We are only two weeks in, but a budding pianist in the making you will agree. Her teacher is very nice and has two gorgeous golden retrievers that from week three will be allowed to come and sit under the piano during lessons, to our dog adoring daughter this is total bonus. Anyway, an aside, but here is a picture of Naomi practicing, under no duress from her mother (no comments about being a Tiger Mother, please ). Final picture.... dinner time in front of TV, Lilja has just got up from her nap, I make her some eggy bread she pretty much falls asleep on the table. Back to bed for her and leaves me and Naomi to wait up for Benj to get home from work. He had a big day today, he is off to Dallas for the day tomorrow so had lots to do.. That was Monday. Phew. See you tomorrow.