Farmor and Farfar and Lukas have come over for a visit for a few weeks so they can be here for Thor’s baptism and so Lukas can spend his summer holiday with Bo. Bo’s taken time off work as well, so the house is busy and full! Since there is a recession on – Mr. Brown denies this but all the signs are there, including the maxi-skirt coming back into fashion – we thought it would be a good idea to buy a sewing machine. But of course there is no such thing in our tight family budget. So Farmor and Farfar offered to buy it for us in return for eating us out of house and home (just kidding, we love having them here!). It also counts as an early birthday present for Bo. So we are now the proud owners of a Husqvarna Viking Emerald, Swedish quality made in Taiwan. Now to learn to sew…

Turns out the Wii Balance Board wasn’t measuring right because of our soft carpet. We’ve sorted out that problem and now my BMI isn’t good at all. I’m definitely overweight… But the workouts are still fun. Even Ilias is allowed to go on the Balance Board now, and he knows he MUST NOT JUMP on it!

I got a Wii Fit and balance board for my birthday!

Tried it yesterday evening. It weighed me and tested my balance, and apparently my BMI is already perfect, but I still feel (and look) very stretched and flabby from childbirth. Anyway, it seems like great fun, and I might actually get fit from doing the exercises. If the children give me a chance to play it that is. Since you’re not allowed to throw or jump on the balance board, I’ve put it out of reach for only grown-ups to use at the moment.

Ilias watched yesterday and he absolutely loved the step aerobics class! I preferred the yoga-exercises and the balance games are fun, but hard to do. Probably need some practice.

I’ve just now received a letter from FInD (Families Information Direct) allowing me to book my place in the course you need to take to become a registered childminder. I went to an information session months ago, thinking I’d quickly qualify and get to work as soon as Thor was born. I was told then I couldn’t even start the course until May.

In hindsight, that’s good enough for me. Imagine me trying to start work now, with Thor still not on a routine and me not entirely recovered yet from the birth! Or trying to do the course with that huge belly I had.

So, I’ll take the course now, one night a week from May until July, and possibly start in September. Thor will be almost 6 months old then and Ilias will start full-time school in Reception. Of course, Helena will be at Nursery half-time… I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it! I plan to take on just one or two extra children, just to supplement our income a bit.

Soon, I’ll be officially qualified to raise children, imagine that

Yesterday I tried some of my new BIG pots and pans, to cook for seven people…

I got them from my dad for my birthday , which isn’t until May 6th, but I opened my presents early

I steamed two broccolis in the steamer pot and made cheese sauce in the saucepan with rounded bottom. And it was a succes. I’ve still got to try the spagghetti pot.