Year's gone by

As in a year has gone by.

Not going to feel guilty, just going to catch up.

January: cold, work. Elias stoppd crying when I dropped him off at school thank God, that was so stressful for me and him, bless his little self. Xavi was normal and content.

At Signora Luisa's we always get mandarines:

February: Cold, work, Elias being stoic and Xavi being fine. Xavi's 2nd birthday, Elias very sick with ikky vomiting bug. Carnevale includes throwing lots of confetti in the piazza and Elias dressing up as a wolf for school.

 

 

I made a moon cake for home and a fire engine cake for daycare

(poor Elias was so sick later that day):

 

March: Warmer, work. Typical walks around town trying to keep busy on the weekends.

April: Easter break... phew. Love spending time with the kids. WISH I could work part-time. René leaves his job...  and hey, rotten hours, rotten pay and rotten treatment (+ his character, let's be fair) means that it may work out better in the long run. So be it.

May: René increasingly grumpy so we decide he needs a time-out. At the end of the month he goes to Cuba for 2 months.

Elias' end of year school party in the school's courtyard:

Oh, and I get the car wrecked - yay! Huge relief!!!

June: I work part-time to be able to deal with the kids. 10 till 2ish. B.L.I.S.S. I pick up Elias at 3.30 which is wonderful. Mum comes to visit for a week. It is nice but super hot and of course me being at work means she is alone until 3. She is not too happy at the time about this but then forgets her unhappiness when all is said and done. Sigh... Elias grand, Xavi grand.

Peace and love and hanging out at home:

 and at the park:

 Xavi randomly took off his shorts and went to stand at the swing, waiting for someone to push him:

 Elias is in the bushes at the right, chasing Xavi:

 Ice creaaaaaammmmmm!!!!

 Hugs from Signora Luisa:

July: Elias and Xavi at Cristina's for daycare / summer school. Mum pays for Elias, thank you. Elias falls and has to get a stitch in his head but is the BRAVEST boy EVER, especially seeing they do not use anaesthetic... The doctor is Senegalese and named René. Thus the family myth of Doctor René is born. Our very own René returns at the end of the month and the kids adjust well after 2 months' absence. I get accepted on a MA at the University of Birmingham after a lot of research. I'm very excited!

August: Summer holidays begin. Swimming pool and battling the intense heat.

But we do it. We go to the park at 6 pm some days! Water pistols feature heavily in keeping cool. And we had a AMAZINGLY FUN day in Mamma Jo's garden:

 

 

 

 As well as doing some random dressing up as Zorro and serious laughing in the park on the swing:

 

Or just took off our shirts

 Next year we must go the the UK because the heat is silly.

We also went to the acquarium in Milan:

and to the big park:

 

  

 

and to our favourite Chinese restaurant where Elias has "dragon cake":

September: Elias' birthday, Great Big 4!!! I make a dubious looking car cake but bless him, Elias likes it all the same:

 

When school starts I make 28 gift baggies for the class and Elias takes cake and drinks. Total Mum moment:

Work starts again, so does school. Sigh... Elias OK to go back. Xavi OK to go back. Elias starts swimming lessons - yay!!!

 

And weirdly, I decide to get the boys Christened. On a Friday afternoon, Ian is the sole godfather. He is practising so at least they ought to get the religious bit from someone. Don't want to be totally hypocritical. Mum is thirlled.

October: New timetable. Daddy has to take Elias to school 3 days a week and pick him up the other days. Xavi fine. Elias swimming is going well. Wish they had more sports for 4 year olds...

November: Work, school... Huge clothes donation from the Villis family is keeping Elias clothed and warm. We are living WAY below the Canadian poverty line - unbelievable. Elias no longer wants to go to the park after school so most days is at home with Daddy. I'm a little worried but as most working mothers, am happy he is OK. Still...

Some parents are unkind to René at Elias' school one day but it gets sorted... for now, not without some drama. Life is getting trying and a move is becoming more likely. Xavi is doing OK and sleeping better, thank heaven!

December: Here we are! The boys and I go to church one Sunday (see above re: hypocrisy - I am not a church goer or a believer in the traditional sense but I do want the kids to know what a church is seeing as I have decided to Christen them). Christmas has come and gone. Elias knows the Christmas story and I have taken the kids to see the nativity scenes and told them the story. Elias performs in his first Christmas pageant - he is a dog. It is sweet. Mum comes for a week - she is still here as I write this. So far, so good although it can be tiring for me. Too many presents and I have actually held some back - is that weird of me?? My studies are progressing but I am drastically behind so must get onto that pronto. Assignment due January 31... We went ice skating and will go again!

Christmas display at daycare:

 and at pre-school:

 It snows and we make a real snowman!!!