More of the same, then a Christmas party

Today has been a long day, but a good one. Let's get to it.

Beautiful sunrise this morning

Bekir working on the walls

Electric back boxes in

Windowman preparing a quote

Sweeping as he works

Working on the swing

I woke to a message from Halil saying his car had broken down so he was catching a taxi to borrow Thomas, which was of course OK. The sunrise this morning was very lovely indeed, and kept me entertained while I was doing my exercises. The men were a little late today but got stuck in on the walls and through the day they completed this first layer finally. Early afternoon the windowman came over to measure up for a quote for the door to the cupboard under the stairs and we, once again, took him around pointing out the broken fly screens and windows without tilt and turn for replacing. Let's see if they finally get that done. At the end of the day, just before we went out, Bekir and Halil set to replacing the damaged wire for the swing, putting a strong rope up in its place.

Rosie getting her face painted

Rosie about to race in the egg and spoon race

With Santa Claus

Rosie with her sparkles and painting

Straight after school we all headed out up the road to our favourite restaurant as they were having a Christmas party for kids and we wanted to take Rosie. It was chaos, but also a lot of fun. Rosie had a great time getting her face painted (twice) and playing games with the clown and also getting to meet Santa and having a gift from him. It was a lot of fun as I say but it was nice to leave and escape the noise!

So there it is - that was the day. Thanks for reading and back tomorrow.

Yet more plastering

Today was another very busy day for me, and there aren't that many pictures, but let's get to it.

Sunrise from the kitchen window

Step sisters

It was a lovely warm day today, though later on the wind did pick up quite a bit, and the sunrise was beautiful. I got Rosie to school on time and came back to find Thelma and Xena cuddling on the sofa.

Bekir working on an angled join

Halil plastering away

The men were in and working on the plastering all day. They are making great strides up there, but did pop out at one point for more materials and also to get some corner reinforcement for around the edges of the doors so I won't damage things if I accidentally bash into the corners while accessing the storage. It is looking great up there.

Rosie with her heart shaped balloon

Rosie enjoying the birthday cake

After school today Rosie went to a birthday party at a local restaurant and she had a great time. I was the only dad there but it was OK as I was welcomed and included as much as possible. When we left we got home to find Angela had got back from her trip so that was really awesome as well!

So there you are; as I said, I was busy and I'm very tired so a short snappy update. Thanks for reading and back tomorrow.

Rosie's Birthday Weekend

What a weekend, what a lovely time we've had, but how tired I am now! I'm going to try and get this update done and out so I can then go and sleep. It's been awesome and worth it though. Let's get to it.

Very excited for Party Day

The sun peeks over the hills

Shredding to be done

Rosie helps split up oranges

Lovely and warm sat on the patio

Lots of fun being had on the balcony

Rosie cutting the cake

With her birthday cake

So much mess, so much fun

Opening some presents

Saturday was Party Day and it started with excitement and dancing with me and Rosie before Angela and Grandma were up. The sunrise was lovely and then when everyone else was around I headed off to do the rest of my tidying and chores, including shredding all this cardboard and then hoovering the stairs. In the kitchen Rosie was helping Angela to prepare the party food and being a really big help. I then took her for some hobby time while the final preparation was done. Soon enough it was time for the party to start and the guests started arriving. I took up station on the patio to open gates and guide people in and it was a glorious day to be sat outside. By the time everyone had arrived the party was in full swing and the kids were having a great time playing loads on the balcony while the parents sat and chatted in the lounge. Towards the end of the party Angela brought the cake up and Rosie blew out the candles before helping to do the first slice. She was having such a great day, and her friends were enjoying themselves also.  As the party wound down the playing continued but then it was time for everyone to head off and for us to recover and relax. We allowed Rosie to open a few of her presents but kept most of them for Sunday and Monday.

Rosie copies out her Cyrillic alphabet

New cones make a great race track

Up a tree with Grandma

Solid lump of ice

Playing at Parkaza

Sunday was another lovely day; the present Rosie opened first was a magnetic whiteboard with Bulgarian letters and she put them all out and then was copying and writing them on the whiteboard. She then asked to play with her police car so we got the present from Grandma which was some new cones and they worked really well. Even when the wind picked up later in the day the cones did not get blown. We also did some hide and seek, climbed into the tree house and Rosie climbed into another tree for a short while as well (though she asked to get down almost straight away). Angela was working a lot in the garden as the lack of snow is now starting to be a problem so she was watering the garden. I also went to check the chicken's water and found the water tray frozen completely solid! I accidentally left the tap (which was also frozen) on after checking it and it was only as I drove out later with Grandma and Rosie to go to Parkaza that I saw it had defrosted and the chicken house was flooded. I quickly shut it off then, after a really lovely time at the restaurant, went in and swept the water out before shutting them away for the night.

Rosie with her presents this morning

Diva pose with her presents

Grumpy Xena is grumpy

Ready to head to school

This morning Rosie was up early and her first words were "Am I four!?" which of course today she was. We allowed her to open the rest of the presents from us which were a stereo and a karaoke microphone and we had a nice sing along before school. The grimacing Xena was her telling Thelma to back off, not that Thelma paid any attention. Rosie was off to school today and had a lovely time with being the centre of attention.

Bekir gets started in the corner

Fitting battens to secure the plasterboard to

This part is now finished

All around the chimney is done

We had the men in today and while I didn't get up to take pictures as often as I like, there wasn't all that much really to photograph. They spent all day putting up plasterboard and it really is a fiddly annoying job in this roof. Lots of "playing" as they say, however the progress is good and they're getting through it steadily.

Rosie with her new coat and toy

A new dolly, called "Baby Rosie"

Sat in the restaurant having a lovely meal

Rosie getting stuck into her food

Space for ice cream

After school Rosie opened the rest of her presents that she received from her friends at her party, including this awesome coat which she insisted on wearing when we went out for her birthday meal. We went to the really nice restaurant where we had taken her on her first birthday and it was, as always, superb. Rosie had burger and chips and ate the lot then followed it up with ice cream. Awesome.

So there it is; a long and awesome weekend of birthday fun. Thanks for reading, and back tomorrow.

A birthday weekend

We had no workmen today as Bekir had things to do at home but that means my update can be focused as I want on Rosie's birthday weekend. It was marvellous!

A beautiful purple dawn greets us

Rosie helping me with balloons

Taking balloons to tie on the front fence

Rosie holding the helium balloons

Before the party, dressed to have fun

A full balcony of fun and noise

Quiet drawing time with her best friend

Chocolate cake mush

After the party with Xena

Saturday was party day and we were up bright and early and with lots of chores to complete before the guests started arriving. First of all Rosie and I blew more balloons up and tied them together into pairs before heading outside to attach them along the front fence so people could find us easily. Angela was out at this time collecting helium balloons and some more food and when she got back with the helium balloons Rosie was over the moon. It was a busy time but passed very quickly and then we all got dressed into our party clothes and the first people arrived. To see Rosie's face as the first guest climbed the stairs into the living room was so precious to me and the day just kept getting better and better. We had about eleven kids and their mothers, all the neighbours and also our other british friends from down the road and it was just a magical time indeed. Rosie didn't stop playing and smiling and laughing and all the kids had a lovely time. Probably my favourite thing of the whole day was catching sight of Rosie with her best friend sat quietly drawing together on the table outside the new house. Perfect. Suddenly it was time for cake and everyone sang to Rosie and she blew the candles out then sat with Grandma to eat some. Everyone headed off over a period of a few minutes and then it was time for relaxation, a bit of play, then sleep. All in all it was a super busy day but just lovely.

Rosie starts to open her gifts, with help from the girls

Rosie playing with her gift from Grandma

Rosie dancing in her fairy wings

Playing with her toys with Grandma

Dragon gift surprise

Playtime at the end of the day

Sunday was another lovely day and we started with opening presents from the family, with Thelma and Louise in attendance helping her unwrap. It was a lovely way to start the day and she had a lot of fun with her gifts, including some walkie talkies that she has all the fun talking to us through around the house. They work really well from Room 13 down to the kitchen. Mum and I went out to view a house late morning which took far longer than planned but we got back in time to spend time with Rosie before nap time, and to have a call with my sister. After the nap we opened all the gifts she had received during the party and then sat playing with them until dinner time. Just before bed time I gave her the dragon I had printed and painted for her, which she liked very much, and then it was bed and time for the puppies to have a play.

And there you have it. What a wonderful weekend. Thanks for reading, and hopefully back tomorrow.