Developments

Yes, I'm back again and we are all doing well. Work is killing me though :)
Unovandu is a doll. He is in a very good mood most of the time and he is just too adorable at the moment. Venotjari is getting her own mind and we do disagree alot. But sh eis great too.
She has started writing. This morning she wrote her friends' names - at leat the short ones with only 4 letters. And she counts to 100 and makes her Mom very proud.
Unovandu has finally got all 20 milk teeth - yippie!!! I need to upload some fotos... need to do it soon...

Uno"th"a"th"i

Unovandu is being very verbal of late.
Tody he nearly pronounced his sister's name correctly.
Instead of the usual Unothathi, he called her Menotjari.
He rolls the "r" so well, that it really sounds like Menotjarrri :)
I burnt his ear last night. He had an ear ache and the doctor said I should cut up an onion, put it in hot water for a while, let it cool down and then put it against his ear. I did not let it cool down enough... "bad Mummy!!!".
Today his ear is looking good, so I hope it was not that bad...

Latest phrases

We are back from the land of the brave and life is back to normal - same old, same old :)
Unovandu is indulging himself in his "terrorist"-phase. He loves beging naughty, not listening, and giving everybody his sly little grin.
The coolest phrases of late are:
- peanut butter marmelade (for Mama Tuhupa)
- goats and "theep" (and uncle Ujandja having a good laugh)
- apriko"th"e inne ho"th"e unne "th"tinker dazu
- (h)anda akeyo (h)en (h)ou"th"e

Progress

Many things have happened and I have not been too good at keeping the blog updated.
So where do I begin... in the order in which things come to my mind
- Venotjari has turned 4
- Venotjari can write her name (she learned how before she turned 4)
- Venotjari LOVES drawing. She draws at least 1 picture per day
- She knows the alphabeth (nearly - a couple of difficult one she can't write yet
... yes I am the very proud Mom babbling on about her daughter.. and am loving it..
- Unovandu has settled in completely in the kindergarten (no more crying, when he is dropped off)
- Unovandu has learned more words, but still cannot really speak (only in two word sentences)
- Unovandu copies EVERYTHING his sister does
- Unovandu wants EVERYTHING his sister has
... making it very difficult for the very proud Mom to be "fair to all" at all times...

I can write my name

A person, a rainbow, flowers, a crown, the sky and the sun

Girls (and guy) at Venotjari's B-Day party

The kids in Wangeoorge on a short holiday with Daddy (while Mommy is in Thailand working)

Unovandu sings and Venotjari talks

Venotjari is a big girl now. And big girl gets her hair braided...

And this is how she looks like with her hair done...


The video showing Unovandu singing and Venotjari talking did not quite work out. So that will need to wait. Anyway, he loves riding his bicycle (without pedals). He basically did not go on his Bobby Car at all. But on the Laufrad he is really good and becoming faster everyday. After just one week of "intensive" training, we can go on longer walks and he keeps up on his bike. Really cool.
He started his "training" exactly 3 weeks ago and now he is close to being a professional... :)

Denmark vacation- absolutely wonderful :)

Highlights of the holiday:
- Monkey, monkey, monkey thi
- "ich bin der kleine Wassermann, der ganz genau weiß was er kann, oh ja oh ja..."
- Jumping on the Trampolin



Daddy and Venotjari on bike in Copenhagen

Mummy and Unovandu on bike in Copenhagen

The whole family at the Baltic Sea

Venotjari again...

Daddy and the kids

Time for a nap...

Adios amigos...

Unovandu

Venotjari

The beach... (without "Bunker")

The beach with more "Bunker"

The beach... with "Bunker"

The kids

The House

The family

And once again I can say: They have grown :)
He can now name the ALL members of the family:
Mummy
Daddy
Thathi (Venotjari)
Vanu (himself Unovandu)
He is now really starting to express himself verbally and that is really becoming lots of fun, as the interaction reaches another level.
Venotjari is also such a big girl. She has started reasoning and discussing what she wants and why she wants it. When she tells you something about what happened during her day, it is well explained and all makes sense.
They remain lots of fun to be around :)