Winter chills

It is cold and icy outside at times now and the washing is more trying. Lotus has been making some progress in the speech area although it seems we have a lot of work to do for the rest of the year. And Charlotte has been having some orthodontic work with quite a bit to come. Charlotte has done more Chinese dancing display's at school and it is so lovely to see the gusto with which she wants to perform. And Lotus seems to be able to sing every Chinese song that Charlotte has picked up at school, although perhaps not 100% clear on all the words, but the tune is there. In regards to Lotus going to school next year I have been on the fence, although currently I think she would cope just fine. She is growing up so fast it seems. We sent the letter for the students in China to let them know we are coming, although I have no chance of reading it given the style of writing in their language. Out the west of China there have been a number of cyclists who have blogged their experiences with plenty of photos so we have some idea of what to expect. We could visit the Gobi Desert but would need 2 days for that so will miss it. My father has been a super sleuth in trying to gather information which has been a wonderful way to keep his mind active. He has pulled out maps of Shanghai and worked out where we are staying etc. Want to visit that underground Childrens clothing area and hoping my father can take kids to the museum across the road meanwhile so I can get some peace. Lotus started gym, not that we needed another activity. By the time we go to China I want her to walk more. Charlotte has done art after school with a fabulous lady at a community centre. They have some wonderful people who are like retired artists who share their knowledge. We will do swimming for one more term before taking a break. Lotus gives her teacher such a hard time. He is such a soft mannered young man, but you can see him to tell her to 'get back to the wall'. I feel for him as she sure can give you a hard time. In his case she regularly jumps on his back as he brings another child down the pool, constantly goes under the water when he is trying to tell the children what to do, swims around his legs when other children are trying to float on their back etc. Occasionally we have bribed her with 'if you want dumplings for dinner do not jump on Tom's back'.... We often end up having dumplings in a Chinese area on the way home. The other day she seemed to do backward somersaults while waiting for the other children to come back down the lane. In music Lotus loves it but is often tired and at times non-compliant. She says that ballet is poofy and boring, but then dresses up and plays like a ballerina at other times with her sister. Life is never boring with children. The kittens have grown a lot and Puff eats up any meat in seconds.