Pam mingling in with the audience....!

....watermelon antics

Ah, que me pilla...

Pum got wet!.... didn't we all?!

Do you think Pum really did eat that roaring tiger???!!!.... that crazy clown!!

Pim and Pam (or is that Pum?!) hoping the kids will help them overcome their fear of giant rats....!!!?!!! You'd have to have been there....

Today was the Portal Nou Creche End of Year Party!! Jaime, Jorge and Llum did the honours and provided the entertainment for the afternoon! They stepped into the shoes of Pim, Pam and Pum... danced, mimed and clowned around for the kids and gave us all a great show!

Pim... Pam... and Pum... the Portal Nou clowns!!!

And here is our professional crawler. No longer dragging or shuffling, Malachy has mastered the art of proper crawling on all fours and is becoming increasingly adept at pulling himself up to a standing position and letting go! He kees falling but has got very good at landing so he doesn't seem to mind!!

Staying at home sick is not something Liam has ever really had to do. He's not great at it and keeps asking (almost begging) to go out. Here he is watching "Winnie the Pooh", a new obsession.

Poor chicken-poxer jamrobber. "Ay, Mammy, make it better"!

We let Liam stay up late the other night at the San Juan party and were surprised at what relatively "quiet fun" he had (compared to his usually over-excited party self) and at how he even "asked" to go to bed!! The following morning when we saw the swarms of chicken pox on his face and shoulders we understood why...

Sparklers! I was never a great fan of bangers and fireworks myself (gunpowder and flames in any shape or form have always freaked me out!). The highest point of the party for me had to be when the kids all lined up and paraded around fearlessly with their sparklers in their hands singing happy birthday to me!

Jorge livening up the party strumming on the ole guitar

The kids had their own table at the party. Main successes included pizza and pasta salad. As for Liam, just melon, thank you!

Carme, Jenny, Aitzi and Mar�a getting the table set for our San Joan supper

Sardinada de San Juan. My birthday (June 23rd) falls on the summer solstice, which coincides with the D�a de San Juan in Spain. Somewhat like Halloween (except with less fancy dress and no witches, ghosts and pumpkins). People have bonfires and let off fireworks and bangers all night long and have outdoor parties. In Catalunya the tradition is to drink cava (like champagne) and eat coca (a type of pastry). We had our own Festa de San Joan on Mar�a's rooftop terrace, complete with barbequed sardines!!!

This is Archibald (alias Archie). Soon to be big brother to Sinclair (still just a bump)!

This is Delphine. Or, better said, this is the face of a busy preschooler's mother who is just a few days away from the birth of her second son. She was due on my birthday. She's overdue now!!!

As I post this pic I think of how smooth and perfect his skin was then, just a few days ago -before the rampant bout of chicken pox ran riot on my little boy's little body! The poor pet is covered in spots and sores now!

Preferring the solid variety, Nico shows us his bar (as opposed to cup) of chocolate!

Max... another chocolate lover!

So you want to be in on the secret too, Mariona?!

Come here, Rita... I want to tell you a secret...!

An essential part of any fiesta here is the "Chocolatada Popular" -free cups of driking chocolate (the thick goooey kind Liam loves) for everyone in the audience!

Clowning around

A captive audience. Some of the creche gang watching the clowns in the Plaza Sant Agust� Vell last Wednesday afternoon as part of our local neighbourhood spring fiestas -Fiestas de Sant Pere.

Party time

Rut, Rita and Lola's mum... a party expert!

Kiran (Uma's little brother) and Malachy... future crèche mates!

Gorgeous Uma

The kids catching falling sweeties from Nico's big balloon piñata!

Little messer!

Jan: enjoying the party atmosphere at his brother Nico's party!

And from one party to another! Last Sunday after Nora's End of Daycare Party it was time for this guy's 4th birthday bash! Nico! Happy Birthday!

Our baby, Malachy, standing on his own two feet and pushing Nora's doll's walker!

Even younger baby Julieta... just 22 days old!

Chubby baby Martina... Felix's two-month old sis.

The face of disbelief: Dumbo is separated from his mammy...!!!

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Glued to Dumbo

OK, guess what these kids are doing!.. You guessed it, they're watching something on a screen! "Dumbo" to be precise, winding things down at the end of Nora's party!

Hello!

Luca and the balloon serpent

John Stone (Nora's -and soon to be Sam's- dad, and Rosa's hubbie) in his apron

Nora the helper donning her apron

MMmmmm... just some of the goodies that John, Rosa and Nora laid out for us this Sunday at Nora's End of Daycare Party!!! We really enjoyed it guys, thanks!

My two chivalrous horsemen

Nora up close