How can this year be almost over?

At least, that is what it feels like to me.

They have put the Christmas decorations all over downtown! Noooo!

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I like to do photobooks of the kids to give to the family every year for Christmas, and I haven't even started on them this year. It is a lot of work to choose, sort and edit the pictures, not to speak of making the actual book itself, and then of course it takes some time for the printing and shipping. All this to say, if you are the usual recipient of said book, it might be a bit late this year. :)

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We are keeping busy over here. Neil is gone for 2 or 3 days most weeks (usually he is in Italy meeting with some of his suppliers), I am spending my mornings with the baby and the afternoons with all three kids. I try to get my shopping and housekeeping done with just the baby in tow, but we have quite a few other things to do as well. I am taking her to physiotherapy one morning a week and need to do exercises and stretches with her at home every day, another morning I am taking her to meet with her birth mother and father (which involves quite some driving on my part), then I am still getting treatment for my shoulder injury (although as of this week I am taking a break from manual therapy and getting it taped up and am "just" doing my exercises at the gym three times a week - at least in theory), and then of course between the five of us we have all kinds of other appointments that I try not to forget. Which reminds me that I wanted to schedule flu shots for all of us.

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Finn and Lily are helping me a lot with the baby, sometimes by holding and feeding her, and often by keeping themselves busy with crafts and games so I can tend to her needs.



Lily the awesome big sister!

Cuddle time on the couch at night

We all came down with a nasty cold, including the baby. :-(

She is handling those breathing treatments like a champ though and often sleeps through them. Hopefully she will start sleeping better at night again once she is feeling a bit better.

She has changed a lot since she came to be with us more than 3 weeks ago. Growing, gaining weight (a good pound already!), being more alert and interested in her surroundings.

And I think she enjoys having siblings as much as we enjoy having her here.

In other news, is a birthday garden party in November a good idea? But of course! All a matter of keeping warm inside (hello Glühwein) and out (hello smoky fire).

Cheers, Neil! (See him?)

All the entertainment Finn and Lily needed was the fire - the whole time we were there.

And this of course is not Glühwein, but children's punch. Just for the record.

I, on the other hand, might have had a mug of the good stuff, or two.

(Baby slept through all of the fun.)

Marshmallows!

Keep warm, wherever you are!