Sisters playing at home

Isla and Evie's favourite time is playing with their toys at home. We've had the Happyland and train set out quite a bit. Evie and Isla have been enjoying each others company a lot, with Isla reading books to Evie and enjoying having tickles from her! Isla likes it when Evie gives her big lucky dribbly kisses. Tonight Isla said that "Evie's tongue tastes of socks" which is slightly bizarre.

Isla made this special alien mask at pre-school:

Isla with her hair clips in:

During half term, Isla went to holiday club for a few hours and enjoyed a quieter time at the pre-school. She got the idea from some of the other children to turn Jura lodge into an ice cream parlour, and so we have spent time in the garden with Isla accepting deliveries from me and then selling me ice creams. They also did baking at holiday club, and Isla brought a cake home that she had decorated with lots of sprinkles. She said that they hadn't done any dancing that morning, and this is something she loves at pre-school. She likes dancing at home to Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Doc McSuffin songs.

Evis has been playing with the picnic basket a lot. She likes playing with the handle and taking things out of the basket.

Peppa pig world

Today we went to Peppa Pig World for Isla's birthday. It was brilliant! Isla started off a bit unsure of the rides, but after trying out her first one, she was unstoppable. She went on a few rides in Peppa Pig World itself, such as the hot air balloons which spin high into the air, and then onto riding a dinosaur! We went on the Grandpa Pig's boat ride twice, and Evie joined her on the ride the second time. After that, she went on the teacup ride TWICE with Andrew, and loved it very much, squealing with delight as she span round very fast. 

She wanted to go on all the fast rides, and luckily she was a couple of cm over the minimum height for most of them. She seemed the youngest on many of the rides outside of the Peppa Pig world tame rides. She went on a fast spinning ship called Kontiki, then went on the pirate ship TWICE with Andrew again! That was the favourite ride. She also met Peppa pig herself, and touched her hand which apparently was very soft. We took turns to go on the roller coaster called 'Stinger' with Isla, and it was great fun. She drove a digger, and also was the chief driver on a rabbit train. Finally, we all went on the hot air balloons and Grandpa Pig's train together before having to go home. We all had a great day and Isla and Evie were laughing together in the back of the car on the way home.

Lots of eating

It's been a little while since I last blogged but I've been taking photos quite a bit nevertheless. Most of my photos are when we are sat down eating. It has been very amusing and interesting to watch Evie get the hang of eating food. In the last few weeks, she's gone from just squishing food up in her hands and sucking it from her fingers (and spreading it everywhere), to being able to grab large chunks and bite bits off in her mouth. She is definitely enjoying the experience of eating and joining us properly at mealtimes.  And yes, she can actually eat despite having no teeth and not having pureed food, as shown by the evidence in her nappies!

Sweet potato wedges are her current favourite, along with large chunks of cucumber. Today, she tried melon and was sucking and chomping on it for ages. Just like Isla did at this stage, Evie tends to make a bee-line for grabbing at any meat put on her high chair table. She had steak for the first time last week, and liked sucking a strip for ages. She had sausage last night, and roast chicken on Sunday. Toast, bagel and yorkshire pudding go down well too! Pikelets (dropped scones, scotch pancakes) were also a hit the other week with both girls. Isla has been wanting to try again with many things that she sees Evie trying and enjoying.... although sadly not broccoli! Courgette, parsnip, carrot, potato, banana, pizza, pasta, omelette are all things Evie has been trying.

Isla has been trying out different hairstyles recently. She had her hair up on one side, like one of the 'pre-school ladies'. When she went to pre-school this week with a ponytail, everyone said how nice it was. 

Here is Isla helping bake some carrot muffins which Evie enjoyed eating:

Isla enjoyed washing up afterwards:

With the weather being mostly rubbish, we have done a lot indoors. We made some mini stained glass windows by gluing tissue paper onto plastic lids:

We've been getting out to the park when possible:

Isla and Andrew made some jelly, which both Isla and Evie tried:

We tried a soft play centre near us, have visited friends, and also been reading lots of books from the library and Cbeebies magazines. We also had a visit from granny Margaret and grandad David. The panda cuddly toy they brought had a trip to preschool last week to celebrate Chinese New Year. 

Isla likes Octonauts and has a squid toy from an Octonauts activity magazine. Here is her drawing of a crab: 

My amaryllis is flowering:

Evie trying some yummy apple crumble made with Essex brambly apples:

Tucking into some pear, steak pie and veg:

Evie likes having a kick about on the floor and can roll front to back. She seems to be teething so we've got some teething toys for her. She spends a long time examining her toys, especially their labels and likes touching different textures. Cups and rings are favourite toys. Standing up, sitting on the floor with cushions and being in the door bouncer are also fun for her.

Isla doing a drawing of Monts:

Yesterday evening, it snowed! Isla was very excited to finally get some snow this winter:

My attempt at a Sachertorte. Yummy!

This afternoon, nearly getting blown away: