End of the holidays

Since arriving home from holidays it has been non-stop.  Mike's parents arrived for a two and a half week stay and have loved seeing how much the kids have grown in the last year!

The summer has been really hot.  We've had a stack of days where the temperature has been over 40 - and you really just cannot move.  We've had the air conditioning pumping non-stop, and have flaked out most afternoons, or gone swimming.

I have been to the staff induction week as I am starting another student placement at my school on the first day of term, next week.  Mike has been busy getting ready for the next school year.  There's so much work for both of us, and so little time.

Jie Jie starts school again on Tuesday, and is going into Nursery.  She's three and a half, and will be at school for full days - 8.30 - 3pm.... can't believe it, such a long day for such a little person.  She has the cutest little blue and white checked uniform and navy blue sunhat.  She looks so delicious!!

Home again and name changes...

As I mentioned in my last post, we have been travelling in Yunnan for the last 3 and a half weeks... such a beautiful spot in the world!  We were so lucky to have had such an amazing holiday.  Again, I'm going to refer you to my travel blog for what we got up to... it's worth a read even if I do say so myself!!
www.aboo10.travellerspoint.com

In the blog I kept for my trip, I decided to use pseudonyms for my kids... I have decided that going forward I will do the same in this blog...
So Ellie is now going to be referred to as Jie Jie, and Jamie is now Didi - these names are the Chinese words for Big Sister and Little Brother respectively.

It was lovely travelling, but it was precious coming home again and seeing the kids check out our house just to be sure that everything was still right where it should be!!  And as comfy as ever!!