We are pleased to announce the expected arrival in mid-July of our sixth child. We are all quite excited, the children especially. Bryna, in particular, is thrilled to become a ‘big sister’ Gaynor traditionally has relatively easy pregnancies and this one is about as well as could be expected for the sixth. It has been…

It’s me again, Joshua. Now I’m here to tell you about a piece of plastic that will give us annual entry to one of California’s most famous landmarks and theme parks Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. We were always hoping that Dad actually meant it when he said “We will probably get Disneyland passes because…

Since we shifted to the new house which until very recently contained no television set, there has been a veritable explosion of reading by the children. Part of this has been the discovery of a very decent town library and not so much to distract them. Our children really do love to read, though sometimes…

2nd of August: My Birthday I woke up about eight o’clock, changed he calenders in the kitchen.Then went and woke up everyone else (a bit anoying realy for them), it was time for presents yeah… but no Dad had to go to work and sort out some stuff (how unfair I don’t work or I…

Bryna recently learnt a new poem at kindergarten about a mouse family. She even has some actions that go with it. If your German (or at least your Bryna German) isn’t up to scratch, the translation is roughly: This is Sister MouseShe has such big ears,Such a big, pointy noseAnd such a long tail The…

Not quite a Bad Hair Day(TM) but Ariana’s coiffure had received a little attention from her sisters. It did remind us of a character popular with the children …

Ariana underwent day surgery at a nearby hospital after our family doctor verified a small hernia on her lower left-side abdomen. The whole process was very quick and (as an outsider tends to sometimes think of Germans) efficient. Her doctor’s appointment was a Thursday afternoon, immediately after which the doctor called his surgical colleague at…

This school year I have started some new subjects (Latin, geography & chemistry) and my classes have changed from last year. I’ve not done much study because I am too busy playing Runescape online. I have Latin with my old history teacher and he’s as blind as a bat and he reads a book the…