Winter is long (but we're still having fun)

Adrienn and Sofia taking a monkey-break from ice skating.

Adrienn at her dance class.


Ilona has started dancing too.

While his sisters were in their classes Sebasti decided to do
some stretches too while chewing on mama's water bottle.


The girls never tire of play-dough.

Basti's first encounter with Jello.

Playdates with two-girl families are great! Now if we could only find a family with girl-girl-boy...

Adrienn is into photography. Here's her portrait of Ilona's funny new doll.

Florida

Despite all warnings to the contrary, we ended up having a great family vacation in Florida. Except for the part about Disneyworld, which I hope to banish from my memory. Somehow Adrienn didn't mind that she spent the whole day standing in line to ride two really little rides (the carousel and Dumbo) and see one Mickey Mouse, and managed to come home happy anyway.

But all of us enjoyed the sunshine and white sandy beaches and being able to run around without much clothes on.


Adrienn next to one of her sand creations.


Ilona making sure papa doesn't turn into a lobster.


So many amazing finds at the beach!


Who is that handsome boy?


Sleeping like there's no tomorrow.

Being awake isn't too bad either.


Three little monkeys...

Teething biscuit are fun (but only before they start to dissolve all over the place).

Watching stingrays at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa.

The girls flying their own plane at Busch Gardens.

Sebasti likes his bath

Sebasti likes having no clothes on, and he loves water, so you can imagine how much he enjoys bathtime! Ilona always wants to hold him but she is only slightly bigger than he is, so sometimes he can be a bit too much to handle...
There, that's better, at least for now.
Camera-shy.
Maybe not...
can i see


CAN I SEE CAN I SEE

Mikulás came

In Hungary Mikulás (aka St. Nicholas/Santa Claus) comes on Dec. 6 and leaves little presents for the children who have been good all year, and who have left their nicely cleaned boots by the window before going to bed. Every year he makes a special trip to Canada, visiting our house and a few others.


Thankfully nobody found coal in their boots...


Ilona looking for her boots.

Making sure there are no chocolate kisses hiding in the toes.

Adrienn likes her new shimmering hairbands.

Sebasti slept through all the commotion in the morning, and wasn't quite sure what to make of this shoe and candy business once he was up, but he definitely enjoyed climbing on the table and looking out!

And now for a little sonata to start the day...

Sebastian has found a tasty snack

Violin recital

By far the best part about playing the violin is dressing up like a princess for the recitals (if she had it her way, Adrienn would be wearing velvet and satin gowns to school everyday). Here is Adrienn at her fall Suzuki recital a couple of days ago.



Now if only mama could figure out how to resize the video clips, she could upload the video of her performance. Must ask papa when he is not in math-land...

Weekend in the Adirondacks

We decided to go to America this weekend to see some mountains, having forgotten what they looked like after 4 years of living in 2-D (Ontario). In the Adirondacks it was already winter, and there was enchantment to be found everywhere.

It was our first serious hiking trip with 3 munchkins...


Ilona bundled up in5+ layers. It was not fun when she fell down.
But the girls had a blast rolling down the footbridge!

Fortunately snacks were plentiful.

The kids survived the two days of hiking but our poor jogging stroller finally collapsed and died after all those many years. Here's Sebasti in his new backpack!