Is your dad cool?

Trampoline

I'm taking a long weekend this week (... worked too many weekends of late). The weather is very grey and drizzly in NL at the moment. Yesterday, myself and Lottie enjoyed a walk on a very cold and deserted beach. This morning's fun took place in a children's play barn near Delft (see video). Only a week until Sophie goes into hospital so we're trying to pack it in. Not much to report here. Lottie had a run-in with the neighbour's Beagle the other day. Since they moved in they've both strained at the leash to rip each other's little throats out, with Lottie usually being the main aggressor. However, the other day the Beagle ran out of its house and the two of them had a fight. I wasn't there but Jo tells me that Lottie is not a good fighter ... in fact she squeeled like a pig. It's a bit embarrassing that our dog is so weedy, particularly as she's all mouth and trousers when it comes to kicking off.

Date for Op

We just heard that Sophie's due to go into hospital on 10 December and have her operation on the following day.

Mummy, Sit Down!

Recently Sophie has insisted on a bedtime story before she goes to sleep and yells "boooook!" if you try to put her in the cot without at least 3 stories. In addition to bedtimes, she sometimes climbs into a chair with her suggested reading matter demanding, "Mummy (or Daddy), sit down!", while pointing to the place next to her.

Her top four bedtime books are:

(1) Hooray for Fish;

(2) The Hungry Caterpillar (Thanks to Aunty Amy and Uncle David);

(3) That's Not My Fairy (Thanks to Aunty Nikki); and

(4) Noisy Noisy Mermaids.

First chuck

Whenever we're at the beach, Sophie likes to try to throw Lottie's ball using the stick device. I got this first successful attempt on film today. Go Sophie!

Wrapped up

It was a bit bracing at the beach today. Even Sophie, who normally eschews thermal hats and gloves, kept covered up.

Sinterklaas has arrived

Today Sinterklaas landed at the harbour in the Hague and processed throught the streets accompanied by 400 Zwarte Piets. They will spend the next few weeks assessing the local children and the lucky ones will get presents on 5th December. The naughty ones will be carted off to Africa to be sold into slavery.

Waiting in anticipation with the neighbours

Enjoying the parade

Do not approach the Sinterklaas!

One of these small things ....

... is staring at the TV

We've been to IKEA

Miniature furniture .... as promised!

Storms

The dearth of activity here is probably related to the fact that we haven't done too much. We saw the storm surge photos on Amy's blog. On the opposite side of the North Sea we've also had a bit of a hooley. I just got back from taking Lottie for a walk to the beach and there we had to climb over the flotsam and jetsam (... how come people at sea get through so much Right Guard?) and battle the wind, surf and spray. The foul weather meant we've had to find alternative forms of entertainment for Sophie. Jo and Sophie are now season ticket holders at Sea Life in Scheveningen. It's a short bike ride away and you can watch sharks from a transparent underground tunnel. You get the idea. There are also buttons to press which is what Sophie likes best I think. This morning we went to one of those soft play warehouse places out of town where parents can sip coffee and watch their kids clamber through spongified scaffolding. It's bitter sweet watching Sophie enjoying clambering around, knowing that she'll be fairly immobile in a few weeks (... no date yet). Sophie has also got some miniature stuff from IKEA (furniture, easels etc). I'll post some pics later.

Slide

Sophie enjoying a ride on the slide