The blog is back!

A trip to the seaside

Sports day - Kirin with Sandro and Beatrice

Mum's away in Paris with Auntie Judith, so the boys are having a barbecue

The Wetland Centre - sitting in an old fishing net

Like father, like son

A trip to Highgate Wood (Malik with, from left, Beatrice, Darcy and Mae)

It's been a busy few months (yes, that's right, months) and our wireless router was down. I know, I know, that's a poor excuse but thanks to some welcome prodding from our friends in Australia (thanks Hepburns), it's time to start blogging regularly again. I used to enjoy it so much, I'm not quite sure why I ever stopped. Actually, I do.. it's 9:30 and I just got back from work. That's not unusual!

Anyways, this blog is about our much more beautiful and interesting boys. We've been hanging out a lot with Kirin's friends and their parents. We're all connected by Bluebells, the nursery he has just finished, and there are a few of us like-minded families who have formed a bit of a community. The kids are a bit of a gang and play really nicely together; it's very sweet. Meanwhile, Malik and Darcy, another second sibling, tag along as part of the group. For some reason, all of the big kids like to make Malik the monster all the time and run while yelling, "Catch me Malik, catch me." He seems to like being involved.

The big moment for us is that Kirin has finished nursery at Bluebell's and will be starting school in September. It's a bit moment for him. It's hard to describe just how lovely Bluebell's and the woman who runs it, Anita, is wonderful. She's built a special place in a non-descript church hall and it's become a big part of our lives. Kirin has always loved going there and he loved Anita and the other women who work there.

I have to admit, I found myself crying as I tried to thank Anita for all that she had done for our first baby. Like me, she's a bit old fashioned in some ways; whereas much of London life feels like a constant competition with other parents over who gets into what school and how advanced your child is, her nursery is all about having fun and letting kids be kids.

Fortunately, we're not finished there - provided we can get him potty trained in time, Malik starts in September.