Something funny

We got Tommy's trike out for Lizzie and this is what the kids came up with. Nice and safe.

We put it back in the basement.

Going to the cinema!

We promised Tommy -- at least two months ago -- that when Cars 2 came out, we would take him to see it in the theatre. Since then, he has asked me every morning if we are going to the cinema on that particular day. Sixty days later, I finally said, "YES, today we are going to the movies."

And so the babysitter came. (An important part of this experience for Tommy was leaving Lizzie at home, though when we returned he was very sweet to her: "How're you doing, Lu? Did you have a nice afternoon? Did Miss Alina take you to the playground, huh?" In his high-pitched-for-babies voice.) Eli had just finished putting Lulu down for a nap. The three of us set off to get hamburgers and fries for lunch before the movie. Tommy had a milkshake, too, and he just looooved his lunch.

(On Friday, as we crossed the street, he said loudly, "MOMMY, I'M NOT A VEGETARIAN!" and this is clearly true.)

Anyway, after lunch we made him walk around a little bit because we felt sick from overeating. Tommy was not impressed and shortly insisted that we go to the theatre.

When we arrived, he helped me pick up the tickets, which we had bought before because here you reserve seats for movies.

During the movie, he was unsure about the whole experience. He told me he wanted to go home; that it was hurting his head. He told me that he was scared. BUT, he stayed for the whole thing and then proclaimed it GREAT, and that has been his position since.

The news around here

* Lizzie finally weighs 20 lbs., barely.

* Tommy learned to swim! (Video coming.)

* Tommy's nanny got him a bouncy house (you know, his own personal bouncy house) but he already popped it.

* My solo flight with Tommy and the demanding, melodramatic, mama-hating toddler who has taken over our lives is two weeks from Saturday, and friends, I am worried that she will spend the whole flight screaming for her daddy. She will have nothing to do with me unless I am the only person available to her (or for very brief periods in the morning when Mandy has arrived and Lizzie just wants me to suffer a bit). But, the moment she sees Eli, she gives him huge dazzling smiles.

Hampstead Heath

Today (Sunday) we spent the afternoon at Hampstead Heath. It is just gorgeous, and we had matching weather (for the first time in July, I am not kidding). Anyway, we spent a couple of hours with one of Eli's co-workers from Curacao, which was fun, but made me feel like we should be at the beach. Oh, well. The kids had a lovely time. Here are far too many photos.

Tommy holding a baby ladybug:

Catching up a bit

One of our local playgrounds was just renovated, and the best part is the sand. It's clean and nice and there are huge rocks on top of which to build amazing castles. We head there whenever it's sunny!

Baking bread:

Eli took this one. Too many crocs. But look how small!

Ben 10

Tommy loves a cartoon character called Ben 10. He's seen two episodes on the plane (and for that reason alone is looking forward to our August trip) and we rented a DVD from the library with a few episodes for a special weekend TV treat. (For those wondering, Ben 10 really isn't so appropriate for a 4 year old.) Anyway, now he wants to dress like Ben 10. Which means he wants jeans, a t-shirt and a hoodie every day, and the accessory that makes it all happen: his watch.

Anyway, it's summer here and sometimes even shorts weather (which he is normally happy to wear), but he's dressing like Ben 10.

He woke up last night terrified that a salamander was in his bed and refused to believe that nothing was there even when we turned the lights on and looked, so Eli had to sleep on the floor for a few hours.

OH, and Eli also made it to "The Enormous Crocodile" despite being very busy with work. I took a movie, but it's pretty long so we have to figure out how to edit it and post some clips (the sweetest part is when Tommy saw Eli). The kids were super cute.

Work -- an update

Lizzie loves that I work because she has access to my pretty shoes (not just flip flops):

She doesn't understand why I wear only pairs.

Another cute shoe story:
Successful. What do we know from this? That Tommy should always be putting on his own shoes. Of course.

So I feel pretty settled in at my job. I'm not really on any big cases yet, but I'm doing a big project that is sort of fun. I would tell you about it but I had to sign a nondisclosure agreement, and I think a blog post might violate it. Sorry.

I really like the other associate in the construction group (we are three, soon to be four with the addition of a pretty junior associate). She is sarcastic (they all claim this is because they're British; I said my dad is American so what's his excuse), and she also knows all the interesting office gossip which I find both useful and interesting.

The hardest part of it all is (1) figuring out how to get home by 7:30 and (2) that it's a tricky transition for Tommy. He is pretty upset these days, and having fits about truly bizarre things (today's was about how he hates to wash his hands and didn't want to do it). But, we're working hard to give him lots of positive attention, which is frankly easy because he's such a good guy, and hoping that he gets used to it. I'm a bit worried that we're going to do two more big transitions -- the trip to the US and then starting at a new school. But, this is life. Or at least our life.

Lulu seems to love the nanny, and calls her mama. Nice, Lulu.