I haven't been writing for a good reason. There is nothing exciting happening. We finally have settled into a routine. Monday and Thursday are Big Munchkin's nursery days. On Monday, Little Munchkin has a music class in the morning and a swimming class in the afternoon. Tuesday Big Munchkin has a gymnastic class in the morning. Wednesday is our grocery shopping day and a dance class for Big Munchkin. Thursday is my 'rest' day. A woman who does ironing and cleaning comes in the morning. I take Little Munchkin for a free music class at the local library, if I feel like it. Often, we just go to hang out in the local shopping mall. It is also a day when I can get 'official business' done if I have any, e.g. visiting the embassy. Friday is a play date day. It is a day when we often meet other little friends of Big Munchkin. It is also a day when we go to a baby clinic at our Health Centre to check Little Munchkin's weight. Saturday, Big Munchkin has a swimming class with her daddy. Sunday is a 'meet-friends' day. It is a day when we normally meet our friends.

The most exciting thing that happened was an unexpected visit from my dad, who came over for just one day. I was really excited to see him since I haven't seen him since last December. It was also his first time seeing Little Munchkin. I hope dad does come more often.

Few things happened in the past week. We went to check out Bluewater Shopping Centre. I felt like going on my knees and kissing the ground with tears and cries 'Home Sweet Home'. The place is just like a normal American shopping mall with elevators, baby changing rooms, baby feeding rooms, plenty of cafes, restaurants, etc ... It also has a creche where a parent can temporarily abandon a two year old toddler. I just love that place. Lots of nicely dressed people with good strollers .... First time since I moved to London I felt that I was under dressed (which should not be difficult when once normal outfit is a first pair of jeans and a first tee-shirt found in the dark). The burger place where we went for lunch had high chairs, paper, crayons, children's menu and its own changing facilities. I still feel pleasantly shocked.

Little Munchkin had his first swimming class. It was a disaster. The class is with the company called Little Dippers and it is at the Guy's Hospital near London Bridge. I have to say that it is a first hospital in London I really liked. It is beautifully done, very clean and well organized. The class was in the hydrotherapy swimming pool - warm and shallow. As I could not go into the water on that day I got my husband to escape from work for two hours to take Little Munchkin swimming. I don't know why, maybe he was sleepy or he got scared of the pool, who knows, but Little Munchkin began to scream as soon as he got into the water. I had to carry him all around the pool, both of us wet, with my husband sitting alone in the pool. Little Munchkin kept screaming for the duration of the class. It was a disaster. Hopefully, it will get better as on Monday I am taking him there again.

Little Munchkin is now properly crawling. He also learnt to sit down all by himself. With his speed increasing daily he shows keep interest in the technology, specifically the TV and the TV cable box underneath.

Big Munchkin is well ahead her little brother in mischief. Yesterday, I opened a door to find two police officers on my doorstep asking if everything is all right since someone dialed 911 from our house. Apparently Big Munchkin has learnt to dial the police and had a chat with them. The officers were very nice about it. Unfortunately, Big Munchkin managed to repeat her performance today. My husband got a phone call from the police asking to do something about our child. Needless to say, we don't have a phone on the first floor any longer. So, if you are calling on my house number, remember I have to run all the way upstairs to pick up the phone. Give me an ample time, don't hang up too soon.

Big Munchkin is continuing her Dance, gymnastics and swimming classes. After a bit of disciplining by my husband, she's been a good girl and actually followed the instructions in all her classes. I think she had much better time herself, and all teachers remarked at her amazingly good behaviour. I hope it lasts.

Last weekend we decided to continue taking advantage of our National Trust membership. We bought it when we went to visit Stonehenge last summer. On Sunday we went to visit Eltham Palace. It is a house mostly build in the beginning of 20-th century, though some elements were in existence centuries earlier. The house is suppose to be a shining example of art deco architecture and it is. The surrounding gardens are well maintained and the moat is magnificent. It is full of huge fish. Big Munchkin was mesmerized.

On Monday Big Munchkin started her new nursery. I went to check on her there a few times during the day. At the end I do feel a bit better about sending her there. The emphasis on education there is somewhat lacking, but they do a lot of puzzles, painting, dress up play and other things that Big Munchkin likes. There is a lot of free play. She is going there only two days a week, so she might as well enjoy being a child and having fun. She seem to be fine there. I'll see how I feel about it by the end of the month.

Big Munchkin also re-started her dance class. It was a disaster. She would do nothing the teacher said. Nothing at all. We ended up leaving earlier because she was just completely out of control, rolling on the floor and demonstration how sleepy she is at 10 a.m. Hopefully my perseverance will bear some fruit, eventually.

Our return trip to London was not as easy as the trip to India. Our flight from London to Mumbai was a night flight, so both kids were sound asleep for the duration. The return flight was a day flight. So, we had to very awake kids. Little Munchkin was not too bad, but Big Munchkin spent the whole flight walking around the plane and screaming at any attempt to be seated down.

As we were fling to London, we full anti-terror measures were in place. Our flight was delayed by over an hour. My husband was pulled off the plane to identify and open one of the suitcases as something suspicious was found inside. That something happened to be a play-doh. On the hindsight I can understand the security. What were we thinking taking with us something that on x-ray would look so remarkably similar to the plastic explosives?! Well, it did not occur to us when we were packing. I can't blame the security, the fault was ours. And I'd rather have them to be overly cautious, then not cautious enough.

Few days after our return were spent on getting kids back into a routine, getting the house in order, and getting together with our friends. We went out for dim sum and ice cream, where Big Munchkin got her face painted. She made a lovely tiger.

Other than that, I've been trying to come to some sort of decision on Big Munchkin's day care. She is suppose to start a new daycare on Monday. I took her there last week for a settling in (to familiarize her with the new place). And I did not like it at all. I thought that the place was disorganized. It did not have enough staff. Unfortunately, they would not return my deposit if I pull Big Munchkin from there. And I really can't afford to pay for another nursery if I don't get money from this one. So, I am going to give her there for a month. I need to decide if I am going to keep her there after, or I am going to put her in a different nursery. There are three other options, but I amt not entirely happy with either of them. I have another two or three days to come up with a decision.