Snakes & monkeys.

I am very aware that this blog tends to focus more on the boys in the family than the girls, and I apologise for that.  I will do what I can over the next few posts to redress the balance!  And in that spirit, here's a lovely one of three quarters of our family.  Louis continues to be a good big brother - Ellie was crying the other day, and when we got to her, Louis had already put his toy digger on her head.  (That's a positive thing!  He loves his digger, therefore...)  

A couple of these pics are from immediately post-Christmas - I'm still mopping up the various cameras we use!  M's parents bought Louis a Monkey costume for Christmas.  We kept it in the bag for a bit - at the last music class before the break, Louis had really been unsure when the class leader got a monkey puppet out of a bag as if it were alive, and we didn't want to freak him out with a Monkey bigger that him!  In the end, he wasn't really freaked, more... mildly disgusted with the whole thing!

Pictured here infront of his new trike - he loves it, and cycles round the block (or at least, is pushed...)  (Don't worry - we don't let Louis leave the house dressed like that!)

Elizabeth's been a bit of a handful recently - she's always been nocturnal, but last week it reached a bit of crescendo of up all night, needing someone with her.  (We might have turned a bit of a corner recently, will report back soon.)  I took the following photo at about 4am, just after relieving M from her (much longer) shift.  (M is taking the Lion's share at the moment, and I'm trying to bully her into letting me help, with limited success.)  But when she smiles at you like this, it's all worth it.  Even if it's gas.

What's new in Louis Land?  Wellies!

Running around outside like an idiot!

And washing his hands!  I think this is from Lalaine, it's certainly not from M or I!  He has a little stool, and he drags it up to the sink.  He's got the hang of the two-way tap (he got it faster than Michelle's mum did!), and he splashes in the water, washes, then dries.  It's pretty cute.

M took Louis out last week for Dan-Dan's second birthday, with Helly, and Kane & his son Keegan.  They went to Gondolania at Villagio, and by all accounts, Louis had a blast, running around like a banshee, shreiking and laughing.  Good.

Doesn't he look old in this pic?

Quick artistic pic of Louis at fairy godmother Allison's backyard.  (More on this later.)  (This post is starting to feel like one big tease - lots of trailers for coming attractions!)

Last thing for today - I took Louis out to grab a burger for a weekend lunch treat.  We were sitting there, minding our own business, when a young local lad came in and dropped a snake on me!  Good job I'm not phobic!  The lad ordered his ice-cream, and I introduced Louis to his first snake!  (Baby anaconda for those of you interested.)

He was cool - he's seen them in books, and in The Jungle Book, so he know's the score.  Look at the prod he's giving it!  Poor snake!

Oh, and I got this email this morning.  We only planned to stay for a couple of years!

Twelve years, and Doha can still surprise.