Brace yourself – it's a long and picturesque one:

At long last – a photo of the war poster I had framed and gave to my husband for Christmas - kindly donated by one of the most inspiring women in all of D'Land:



Looks good, methinks, on the wall there next to pictures of me and my kids and the heirloom barometre and Raven's handprint and the little shelf I picked up from the charity shop.

Speaking of charity shop, The Table Lamp has been sold. It's gone, never to be seen again and never to come live with me. Sad... but okay.

---------

And another former D'Lander, Plume, who is also inspiring, kind, and generous – not to mention one of the most courageous people I've ever known – sent a teddy with hearts and a goat t-shirt for Christmas:



The bear now lives in Raven's cot and gets lots of cuddles every night.

---------

For Valentine's I got my dear husband absolutely nothing. (Bad wifey) But he got me a mirror and the most gorgeous hyacinths, that are now in full bloom and generously sharing their beauty and scent of spring with all who care to notice:



He also got me the brass cauldron. Not for Valentine's, though, but I thought the hyacinths looked quite delicate in the cauldron on its little legs.

---------

Speaking of Valentine's, Adam, the kids and I all went over to the little Yellow House on Valentine's to clean. That wasn't much fun. But it was such a gorgeous day and the island on which the little yellow house lies is also rather spectacular, but driving and taking photos is not a good combo, so all I managed were these two from the bridge:





My granddad helped build that bridge. He told us every single time we ever drove over it, and it appears I am continuing his tradition. He worked on the roads. A labourer. He also drove one of those street sweepers that you never seem to see any more. Well, not in Denmark anyways. Last time I saw one was in Paris, I think. Early morning on Mont Matre.

---------

Anyways, as it shall soon no longer be ours, I shall take this opportunity to post a picture of ou little yellow cottage:



There's actually some good news – at last – regarding the sale of the house. We're going to see a neighbour on Saturday to talk about him buying it. He was absolutely gutted when he heard we were selling and horrified when he heard to whom we were selling. Not that he doesn't appreciate our predicament 100%, but unfortunately selling it to the developer will have an enormous detrimental impact on him and the local community as a whole. So, he'll buy it! Yay. Especially 'cos knowing what we know now about the buyer, we couldn't sell to him anyways. It just wouldn't be right.

---------

We've just celebrated Fastelavn. You know, the holiday related to Lent, Carnival and Easter involving dressing up, making mischief and – in the case of Danish tradition – beating the crap out of a barrel hanging from the ceiling (a bit like the pinγta tradition, I guess).

I bought a couple of masks for the kids. Guess who this is:



For the actual event at her nursery, which my mum, Arthur and I all attended, Raven didn't don the lion mask. Instead she went as a princess...

Here she is with my mum after taking a swing at the barrel:



- And here she is at the same event playing peek-a-boo with Arthur:





I bought that dress for 10 kr / £1 / $2 at the charity shop last year and was horrified to find it only just fits her now as it's the first time she's worn it. She looked so pretty in it, though. Much nicer than the shiny pink princess outfits I've seen in the shops and that most of the other girls wore. Well, I thought so, anyways. The tiara was a present from Adam's work mate for her 2nd birthday and the heels were a present from the babygroup in England. Clip-clop-clip-clop.

---------

I've finally finished another two little bags – they're for a friend of mine in England. Well, they're for her two daughters, actually. I'm sending her some chocolate and of course some Spunk ;)



I'm quite pleased with these bags. They're quite spring-like... I think. I hope the little ladies will like them. The youngest is a month younger than Arthur and the eldest is same age as Raven.

---------

Speaking of Raven and Arthur (again), here's some sibling pictures that are just too good to miss:







Arthur absent-mindedly playing with Raven's hair, ears and head. They're both watching a film on youtube. It was just one of those moments where it made so much sense that we'd had Arthur so Raven wouldn't be an only-child.

Oh, and before you ask; yes, Arthur has a nose bleed. He fell on his head whilst walking. They both take after their father in this respect - they get nose bleeds from the slightest injury. 

Anyways, they're just so good together, Raven and Arthur. So, so fond of eachother and more so by the day. Long may it remain so!





That last one in the bath is such a classic. I dare say most everyone with siblings close in age have shared a bath with their sibling and many also have the photo to prove it. I have one with me and my bro. Maybe I'll dig it out and post it some day.

---------

Speaking of peas-in-a-pod and being good together; Arthur absolutely loves helping his daddy doing the laundry and it's enough to melt your heart seeing those two on the floor folding nappies:



---------

And finally, for no reason whatsoever, a couple of snaps of my kids eating:





---------

In other news, I am still tormented by thrush, I still haven't found a job, Arthur's starting nursery on Monday, Raven's moving into preschool on April 1st, Adam's was 32 yesterday (I got him tea bags from England, which he loved) and I have now lost 11.4 kg / 25.1 lbs, which takes me just over half way to my first target loss! Well done, me!

---------

Mette, just forget about Raven's bedroom and Angel. We've made alternative arrangements.