Here we walk home from a huge lunch at the newly renovated pub. Everything at the pub is lighter and brighter with more windows and even a little tiny window from another century, discovered after removing plaster from one wall. Oona and Kiefer are very happy that their mommy and daddy are back. The young woman at Sigi's side is her carer who is from South Africa. Oona loves the attention and no-one can get anything or do anything for her except mommy or daddy. 
Sunny warm day and Oona was in the pool 'two ones ' or twice. Kiefer liked his swim with grandad as well. Here we are in Mike's vintage Lagonda 1939 car. The car is a precursor to the Bentley. Mike took us for a ride around the circle and Oona wanted to go fast fast. She told Mike, "Daddy's car is better because it has a roof."
We are in Kent. Mike's landrover was packed to the brim with babyseats, walkers, scooters and all of us . We managed to get away just before A and S arrived home to prepare for their party. We are all very happy that Oona likes her bicycle helmet as god forbid the battle if she didn't. She wears it at all times. Here she is in the shepard's hut lighting a fire with Mike and walking among the snowdrops and primulas. Sigi looks well and is busy supervising planting trees on the property. We all plan to swim tomorrow thought the air is chilly. Pool is at 85. 'Til tomorrow.
Today Fabian and Annette invited us for tea in their garden. They live close to Oona's nursery school so we walked over to their place after school. They have a front and back very private garden with a little pond right in the centre of London. Oona helped Annette plant flowers and Kiefer had a good walk in the grass holding onto uncle Fabian. 
Oona's Tennis teacher is named Echo and he was wonderful with the little ones. They set up this miniature net and Oona is serious with the racquet that Danielle gave her. Kiefer and Nimfa came to watch. The woman next to Nimfa has a 5 day baby in her arms. She said that she is from Sri Lanka and just came here to give birth to her baby.
Oona has a logical answer for everything. If I ask, "why is Kiefer cranky?", she says, "because his teeth are coming in." If I say, what's wrong with the DVD, she says. "It's skipping. you have to blow on it like this ( and she demonstrates) and then clean it round and round ( and she demonstrates)."Here is Oona running in the park next to the flowers after swimming where it says "Keep Off the Grass." Oona can swim. Especially on her back. She kicks and moves very quickly across the surface of the water. Am getting the hang of the routine and getting more comfortable with everything. S and A phoned and said the scenery, food and especially the Arabian horses are wonderful and responsive. Oona told them in a very pouty tone ( she didn't cry) that they could only be away for ONE day. 
Yes! these really are azalia bushes blooming on the way to the park! Daffodils and tulips too. But the last two days have been quite chilly and require a coat. Kiefer is heavy! I was so happy that he is not mobile just yet but now wish otherwise as I carry him up and down the stairs. Nimfa who came today is very petite. I don't know how she is able to carry him. We had a very busy day even though Nimfa was here. She cooks and cleans and tidies and feeds Kiefer. Oona hardly eats anything but has all the energy in the world. She wheeled around the Paddington Rec track about four times on her bike. We flop on the couch after dinner and watch videos.
Arrived this morning, had a nap while Sonja and Alex and Kiefer took Oona to a fairy themed birthday party for her friend Jasmine. Here is Oona in her pink sparkly fairy shoes. She was not ready for a photo shoot so this is the best we could manage for the camera. Have been preparing for next weeks schedule by listening to Sonja and trying to commit to memory a spreadsheet type list of activities, food preferences and sleep schedules - pheww - I think-Yes I can! Oona already has shown me how to correctly load the soap into the dishwasher. All Kiefer wants to do is stand up, hold your two hands and toddle. Thank goodness he is not mobile just yet as he stays in one spot if you sit him down and surround him with toys. But it won't be long before he is off and running.
Today Oona tried to feed Foufou and Foufou took a swipe at her with his paw. He didn't actually nik or harm her, just scared her. Oona cried and was devastated. After we reprimanded Foufou, Oona grabbed her blankey and marched off with her little arms pumping and said, "mommy I want to go home." She had had enough of trying to make friends with Foufou in vain. 
We are a little bit fixated on teeth. Here is Oona checking out the teeth of the bear that welcomes people to a shop on the main drag in Oakville. And here is Oona using the rubber resistance band to do"excises" with Nana. Oona counts with me and as I do my repetitions. 
Last night before bed, Oona sat on the window seat and watched giant snowflakes float down on our little pond. This morning woke up to a white ground, white roof-tops and a frozen white pond. Sonja had to buy winter boots before the day’s activities which included going to see great grandma Galberg for lunch. Here is grandma Galberg and Kiefer. By mid-day the sun shone and the roads were clear. Then off to Chris and Marianne’s for the evening where Oona made chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles with Marianne, played with Uncle Chris in the snow, and enjoyed her favourite dinner. Pasta! Phuew! What a social schedule! Then home to sit with granddad on the comfy couch with milk and a huge bowl of fresh popcorn and “one more episode of Winnie –the –Pooh.” We have seen all the Winnie videos the library owns - maybe more than once.
Today we packed our swim bags and with great excitement arrived at Oona's favourite pool only to find classes in progress and no swimming for us. (better we should study the timetable brochures) So here we are at twilight with plan B.
Most of Oona's outdoor activity around here consists of chasing Foufou, our cat, around the house, under the bushes and among the flower beds. Foufou trys to avoid Oona at all costs and Oona becomes very frustrated. Finally! here he sits with her as they both watch Winnie the Pooh bed time video. Oona leans away from Foufou because if she sits too close the cat leaps away. She did reach over to pet him but asked first, "he bite me?" She told us all on her own, "Button bites people, Jack Growls and Beano is a good dog."
Well no one would believe the parsnip with the spaghetti roots at the Winter Fair, so here is the picture. And here is Oona grocery shopping at Whole Foods. The little car is attached to the buggy and Oona did not want to leave it. We also went kiddy shoe shopping and Sonja bought Oona and Kiefer running shoes. We had to estimate when Kiefer would be running.
Today we all went to the huge Royal Winter Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. The fair is the largest indoor fair and equestrian competition in the world and has been held every year since 1922. Growers, breeders, exhibitors from all over Canada and some international come to exhibit their animals and compete for the best cow, horse, goat, pig or vegetable. 
Here we are again. This time in Canada. Sonja, Alex, Oona and Kiefer arrived safely and reported that no one cried on the flight. Yesterday Alex biked into town with the yellow bike buggy attached to Allan's bike. Both Alex and Oona had a dental checkup - Oona's first. Oona sat in the chair with one leg bent and crossed over the other at the knee and allowed me to check, polish and apply flouride to her teeth while she held mister thirsty (saliva ejector). She was sooooo relaxed. Easy, as if it were nothing. Then again she had watched her daddio and he is also very relaxed. She pushed all the buttons on the chair and gave him a ride up and down, backwards and forwards and laughed.
