Book and "mummy/child-princess/king"

It has been a long while since I took the time to blog. But after a small prompt, I am at it again. So much has happened since the last time I wrote. The kids are really growing up (part of their nature, I suppose ;)...). But it is amazing how fast they grow and develop. Unovandu still has not started speaking. Venotjari does the talking for him. She talks non-stop and one can have a conversation with her, as if one were talking to a grown-up. She understands everything and can express herself (and more importantly what she wants and does not want).

And all she wants to do constantly is "role play". When she is playing with me, I am "the child" and she is "the mummy". And being the child, I have to do everything she says and tells me to do. There is no room for improvisation. Which makes me wonder whether she has it from my upbringing - maybe I am too strict and should be a little bit more leniant.. ;)

Surprisingly enough when she does role play with Michael (she is the princess and he is the king), the princess does what the king tells her to do and if the king says he does not want to do this or that thing, the princess accepts it. Must be in the nature of the parts that each one plays. But still very interesting to see.

Otherwise Venotjari remains a sweetheart. She helps, when you ask her to, gets dressed by herself (although it takes forever and the vest and t-shirt are usually the wrong way round), she sets the table for dinner and is getting better in brushing her teeth. On the other hand, she has started not wanting to go to bed and can always think of a reason why she should not go to bed yet (I need to drink some water, the sun has not set yet, I am not tired, an insect in my bed has bit me on my arm). She does have a huge imagination. And she rides a biclycle with pedals... cool!!

The young man loves reading books. Once he sees the book (his favourite book at the moment is "a squash and a squeeze" by Julia Donaldson), she takes it runs up to me and says "book". He always has to sit on my lap while I read, and is really excited before the story starts.

He says "thank you" when someone gives him something and is generally a happy fellow. He has settled in very well at the kindergarten and they all love him. One of the girls in his group is Franziska and apparently, the first thing Franziska says when she wakes up in the morning is "Unovandu". He is a ladies' man already.