So I’m back from London and had a great time. It was a nice vacation, but it was very lonely at the hostel. Everyone in my room went to bed at 10:00! So I wandered around in the day and then went to the movies at night. London is really, really expensive. I was converting everything to dollars so that was motivation to restrain myself from buying lots of stuff. The reason I went there was to attend the Knitting and Stitching show and that was fun, but also expensive. I also visited my friend Ingrid and stayed with her for a couple of nights. That was really fun too. She also has 6yo twins and I enjoyed visiting with them too!

The day after I got back, Michael left for the states to attend the memorial for his dad. He is going to be gone for 2 weeks. One week in Texas visiting his family and the next week he has to go to Boston and Montreal for work. All I can say is thank goodness for kindergarten!!!

The boys really like it there and have no problems with me or Michael saying bye. There are so many things that engage them and they really enjoy it. But they are really happy when I pick them up too. Every day when I pick them up, there are these 3 older girls that help them down and talk to me. It is so cute the way they very excitedly run up the stairs to tell them that I’m here and help them down the stairs and sometimes help them put on their jackets. The whole time they are trying to stroke their face (something that the teachers do to all the kids). Every time any of the kids see me, they turn around and yell “Rowan and Elijah”. Too funny! The boys also take their naps there, most of the days it’s ok. Some days they don’t sleep at all or only for a short time so those days I have them nap when we get home. After I pick them up, we walk to the park and feed the ducks. I’m trying to teach them “small pieces” but they ultimately throw 1/2 the bread piece in.

We also had our first speech therapy appointment yesterday - 40 minutes each. I had to entertain the one that wasn’t in the room so I don’t know what she does with them. At the end, she told me that my “homework” is that we have to practice “in” and “out”. The car is IN the garage, etc. They did really well though and there was no problems separating them. I think the kindergarten really helps with this.

And the big news…they no longer use bottles anymore! I was so sick of washing bottles and really, they are almost 3 and shouldn’t need it anymore. The last few months we haven’t been giving them milk, just the nipple that they use as a pacifier. And at kindergarten they don’t have bottles at all and it’s ok, so I figured it’s time. Last night was the first night and they both were super upset and cried for about 15 minutes. I told them that the bottles were broken and then they quieted down and said “oh, bahlow bokeen” and then went to bed. Rowan woke up in the middle of the night and cried a little, but then fell back asleep after a couple of minutes. I debated whether or not I should give them the bottle for a little bit when they got up, but then figured it’s best just to do it cold turkey. And sure enough, tonight when they went to bed, no fuss and Rowan said “bahlow bokeen” and lied down. Wow, I thought it would be at least 3 or 4 nights!!! I still have the bottles around, but will probably throw them out next week if there are no problems (which I don’t think there will be). I may keep the nipples and cut off 1/2 of it so if they ask for it, I can show them that’s it’s “broken”.

That’s pretty much all the news fit to print! We’re lonely but managing…