Tied to the kitchen

Well, not really but I have been in there a lot the past few days...pretty much every day I've had one, if not two, pick-ups including today. In the new year I will start putting every third order into the envelope again, saving up for Jen and I to meet in NYC. For now, the extra money is handy.

Yesterday I was at the post office with Lily, then later took both girls to Migros. In front of Migros was a fire engine and firefighters raising money. Buy a soft toy (cat or duck) for CHF10. I told the guy I'd buy on the way out. Anyway, as we were in the queue in Migros I saw the woman who served us in the PO. I smiled at her, then next thing I know she's giving Lily a soft toy cat saying something like she doesn't have small children. How nice was that? The kindness of strangers. I bought one on the way out, so both girls had a cat. Then the funniest thing is, one of my order pick-ups last night (a regular guy) came with the same soft toy cat for the girls! So now they have three of the same, and love every one of them.

Completely unrelated, but we are into the Dry Skin time of the year. Both girls have dry skin (I'm worried that Charlotte will develop excema and in the evenings Lily's hands and lower arms hurt her), across the top of Michael's hands have cracked and bled, and the skin on my hands and feet are splitting too. I noticed last night that I had red on my apron and hand and on Charlotte's clothes but had no idea what I'd been cooking at the time that was red. Then I noticed the tip of my index finger had split and was bleeding. Gross. It's still split today. And I just don't think we have good enough cream. Need to go back to the pharmacie I think.

Some good news on the sleeping front - night before last Charlotte woke around 1.45am and I put her in the spare bedroom (which she doesn't like). But the time she calmed down, I was able to put her back in her and Lily's room and she slept right through. And last night she didn't wake at all, and then slept in till 8am this morning. Perfect start to a Sunday. Michael then bought her into bed with us (Lily was asleep) and she played 'cuddle' and 'squeeze' and 'tickle'.

Speaking of the night before last (Fri. night) Michael had his work Xmas party...he caught the 5.20pm train into work (so they could all put their costumes on together and do make-up) and then didn't get home till after 5am the next morning. It was a good night by all accounts. A couple of things blew me away - the party was still going at the venue when MK left (he thinks it kept going till 6am) with bars open etc and the other thing in the 12 hours he was gone he only spent CHF2 (on the train fare to work). Rest of the night was at the company's expense, including the taxi home. How's that for generous? MK wasn't hung over yesterday, but he was VERY tired. Who wouldn't be after 3 hours sleep.

Last night we watched 'Bewitched' with Nicole Kidman (I watched it alone after MK fell asleep - see previous paragraph). It was OK, but not that great. My request last night was first Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and secondly Bewitched. MK said he didn't even see Charlie in the video store. Which is strange as I've seen it for sale in the shops. I can wait, not as if we watch or keep up with movies by any stretch.

MK has set up the webcam so the girls have had fun with Ma ma and Poppy (picture on webcam, sound through Skype). More so this morning when they got their webcam going.