Singapore

Clarke Quay, opposite our hotel. Singapore is very pretty.

En route to the zoo. Taxis are always a highlight for the kids. Not sure if the driver was too thrilled with Zach bellowing Justin Bieber continuously.

Daisy checks the water for crocodiles from the zoo boat.

The horse ride was a big hit.

So sedate, Rosie the horse fell asleep!

The zoo also had a splash play area. The kids loved it.

Baby orangutan overhead alert! So cute.

On the zoo tram. Me and the two big kids had an elephant ride just before this. We have no pics as Sebastian shat all over Andy just before the ride. Nice.

Tickle you under there! Sebastian gets to know his little cousin Ben.

Smile! But where's Flynn?

Oh, there he is!

Cool building in the background.

On the Flyer with Blake, Ness and kids.

Zach models his stripes on the Flyer.

Flynn, Zach, Daisy and Zac.

We had a fantastic five nights in Singapore. It was fab to see Blake, Adrianne and Flynn and meet baby Ben for the first time. He's gorgeous! It was also great seeing Ness, Bob and Zac. I even managed my first post Sebastian night out with Ness and Adrianne (with feeding pitstops), yay! We did lots of wandering, coffee and eating out. The kids loved the rain, fresh air and especially the zoo which was AMAZING. Having orangutans hanging overhead had us all gobsmacked. Can't say the flights were fun but they went ok, I actually managed a whole movie on one of them! We didn't take enough photos of everyone (and I have none of Adrianne who was looking amazing), boo.

Bx

School's out for summer!

Zach with his teachers, Lisa and Shinari.

Daisy with her teachers, Miss Collier, Mrs Reeve and Miss Queenie.

I left Sebastian in his buggy outside Daisy's classroom for a few minutes (top mothering!) and came out to find him surrounded by a gaggle of girls.

Oh the excitement! No more morning rush, no more lunchbox uninspiration. And tonight, Matthew, we are off to Singapore! Five night there then on the NZ for six weeks. Woooooooooooooo! Better keep packing.

Bx

Ballet

Daisy and Hannah, little ballerinas.

Jump!

Balance.

Zach and Lucy, agents of mayhem.

Jumping fairy wands.

The class.

On the sidelines.

Daisy started ballet this term and has been loving it. She had her end of term open day yesterday so we were allowed in to watch. She's very good at pointing her toes and sitting/standing up straight.

Bx

Sebastian at 4 months

So handsome.

Oh!

Actually, I'm two days late, he was 4 months on the 17th but my excuse is that I've been sick.

He's doing really well, eating lots and loving the action packed house around him. He weighs 7.2kgs and is lovely and chubby. He often doesn't sleep all that much during the day but is normally happy and is generally a very easy little chap to have around. He sleeps well at night but also likes to eat at night - let's hope that doesn't last too much longer! He's been rolling from back to front for about a month and his favourite thing is to pump his legs and arms furiously when's he's in his bouncer so he rockets up and down. He makes lots of sounds and likes to mimic me. He also loves to suck anything he can get his hands on (or his hands for that matter) and failing that will happily suck his lips. He's also pretty fearless and enjoys Zach doing dive rolls over him. Most of all, he's very very cute!

Bx

Football - spot the difference

Sebastian and Daddy gear up for the big game.

Sebastian says go England...

...just like Daisy did four years ago!

It's World Cup time hurrah! Well hurrah for Andy anyway, his work is sponsering the football dome at Barasti Beach Bar so he is going watch to England games on the big screen there. He tells me this is for work. Hmmm, I'm not convinced.

England were also playing exactly four years ago and we watched the game at Carlene and Dave's house in Clapham Junction, London, then stumbled home. There'll be no stumbling for me this year. I suspect there might be for Andy though (work, yeah right). The bottom picture is of Daisy. How much alike do her and Sebastian look????

Bx

Vienna

The entrance to our hotel.

Daisy with a daisy.

WTF? Zach was a bit flummoxed when it started to rain on him.

Starbucks, a soya latte and rain outside. Perfect!

Checking out the ducks: Obligatory holiday activity with kids.

Our baby loves his Baby Bjorn.

Chilling in the park.

Hurry up and take it, the sun's in our eyes! Daisy and Zach's pinecone lion.

St Stephen's Cathedral. I love the printed scaffolding.

Happy boy.

Oh, he's so cute!

The kid's suite with the conked out kids.

Our suite.

The horse and carriage ride around the city was fantastic.

Meals on wheels.

One of our horses.

Looking down a street with a cool statue thing.

The Butterfly House was great.

Don't touch!

Butterflies galore.

Me and the boys.

Attack!

Sword fighting.

Andy takes the load while I kick back.

The hotel gave the kids some very cute teddies.

This reception room was gorgeous. Daisy called it 'old' and 'no good for kids'.

We've just had a wonderful 3 night break in Vienna. We hadn't been before and were really impressed by what a beautiful relaxed city it is. Lots of stunning buildings, nice parks and interesting things to do.

Our hotel was amazing, right in the middle of town opposite the Opera House. We had two huge suites which were about the size of our house. The kids were very impressed by TVs in the bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas. Cartoons in the bath, it doesn't get much better than that when you're two and four. Don't get used to it kids, at 1000 euros per night for each suite, it's probably the nicest hotel they'll ever get to stay in with us. Obviously we weren't picking up the bill.

We spent most of the time hanging out in parks with a couple of trips to a playground. It was so nice to be out in the fresh air lying on lovely green grass.

Bx