Kiefer celebrated his one year birthday, reached for his sparkly candle and sampled with great gusto, all the cakes, cookies, tarts and ice cream on the table. Here's Oona leaping about with joy in her frilly pink skirt because her daddy arrived by bike from Florida. Kiefer runs. We have cordoned off the outside balcony so that he has no access to the exit and stairs which he loves. Here is Kiefer's view from his giant outdoor playpen. He can watch his daddy waterski. More to come.
Party is over, guests have gone home and we are watching TV.
Oona helped prepare for her mummy's birthday with great gusto and busy little fingers. She set candles into the little cakes, had a taste of everything, and handed balloons to everyone. Foufou, however, is not amused and will crowd into my lap at any opportunity. Not only does Oona chase him, but now so does Kiefer.
Kiefer has a very sweet little guest from Montreal. His name is Cormac. Cormac's mummy is Sonja's good friend and Oona's Godmother. Kiefer walks everywhere without hesitation and can do a 360 and an about face. He especially likes to go for stairs when no one is watching. Here is Oona at her badminton camp adjusting her 'mask' or safety glasses. When the instructor asked what "What do you remember from yesterday, Oona answered, "You have to hit the birdie."
Here's Sonja and Oona scooting around in the whaler. And here is Oona in a pink frilly ballerina skirt that she chose when shopping. Oona went fishing, boating and skampering around on the rocks with it on. Kiefer fell into a hypnotic trance on the boat. He became quiet and still and just stared out into the open. We swam but the water and air are still a bit cool and fresh.
Here's Oona giving "baby Sophie, baby Sophie" an Eskimo kiss. And here is Inga, my seventeen year old Latvian relative, thinking we are all crazy because we sang her Happy Birthday when her birthday is in January. Inga has been here for a month and is sad to return home on Wednesday. She loves kids and has been a great help especially when Oona, Kiefer and Sophie are all together. Moreover, when I enrolled Inga in the following she did not complain, and went cheerfully to, ESL (English as a Second Language) classes with old people and met Harold from Korea, Burl-Oak Canoe Club where Connie Lee the olympic level coach yelled at her for falling in the water from a racing kayak, St. John's Ambulance First Aid Coarse for babysitters where she sat inside for a full sunny day but received certification in the end. Congratulations! Inga you did a great job! well done, nice work!!!
Kiefer toddling on his own in video format did not upload to the blog. So here is Oona in her new bikini at the pool in town. Will try again with the video. Kiefer is too cute for words with his little paws in the air as he stumbles towards Sonja.
At 6am (11am London time) this morning Oona, after adjusting her princess hat,woke us with a cymbal clang or two. I foolishly left a basket of percussion instruments in the upstairs playroom close to our room. Kiefer joined in by banging on a miniature steel band drum. By afternoon everyone faded. Allan and Sonja biked to town for coffee with Oona and Kiefer in the bike buggy. On the way back Kiefer nodded off on Oona's shoulder.
Here's Sophie with her mummy watching nana at Sophie's first ever fashion show. The man who I walked down the runway with in this picture and who modeled men's golf wear will be my client tomorrow morning. By the third outfit Sophie had had enough of this frivolousness and happily slumbered away for the rest of the show, leaving mummy and nana to indulge in a very tastey lunch.
Easter Sunday we took the train to Kent and had a wonderful meal with eggs from Sigi's chickens and blossoms from her garden decorating the table. Here's Oona doing a WoooHooo when she found this chocolate bunny at the base of the tree during the egg hunt. Oona, Alex and Grandad went for a swim afterwards. I am very sad to be leaving everyone tomorrow. I put Oona and Kiefer to bed last night and I won't see them 'til the summer . Oona has a never ending stream of dialogue and questions and her mind is working at all times. Today on the train home from Kent , out of the blue, she asked Sonja, "How Kiefer get out of your tummy?"
Oona and Kiefer went to the hairdresser today. Oona looked in the mirror afterwards and said "a new girl!" Here's Kiefer after a little hair gel to give him a mini mohawk. Had Lunch at Carluccios in St. John's Wood high street and then a late dinner. A and S went to see the Reader. I stayed home, babysat and nursed my cold. Chilly rainy day.
Finally! A picture of Oona. She has been camera shy all week. She has fizzy water in her 'wine' glass. And here is Kiefer doing his very favourite thing - booting around the kitchen in his flying saucer -full speed ahead. Where ever Sonja is, there he goes in a flash. 
Sadly we left the countryside for home and took the train into London and then a black cab with Oona sleeping in the pram, Kiefer in the baby seat. When we got to S's front door lo and behold she did not have a key nor did I. So I went to Starbucks for coffee, chips and juice. S phoned A on my phone and he came very promptly and unlocked the door. We really cut it close to Kiefer's dinner time. He is still happy camping on the front step but not for much longer. Oona is under her blankie or "flankie" hiding from the camera. I will rise early and galavant alone tomorrow.
Oona and I swim every morning for a long while. She dives to the bottom from the side and off the steps with her little arms out stretched in order to pick up her goggles or some other object. In the afternoon she swims again with Sonja and sometimes with Kiefer if the sun shines. After swimming this morning we all walked down the lane to the pub where we had cappachinos, Oona had a babychino and then helped set the menus on tables. Alex designed the new signs. This signpost sits up very high, is very distinctive and distinguished looking and can be seen from afar. Below is the little window unearthed while doing the reno. Yesterday Debbie and I got a bit lost in the Kent countryside while on an errand for groceries. Daffodils, green grass and sheep with their little lambs everywhere. Very nice place to be lost. We did find our way.
