It’s quite remarkable how summer seems to have only just properly got going, and yet September is already waving at us from the not-so-distant horizon. Welcome to another week in our family chronicles — I hope you enjoy looking through the pictures and reading along!

Quite often, it isn’t the spectacular adventures that strengthen our bonds the most. Of course, a wonderful big experience shared together, something everyone will talk about for a long time afterwards, is lovely — but I’ve always had a particular fondness for the little moments of everyday life.

Like the evenings after long days, when Mike and I cook together and, for once, the children aren’t snapping at each other or throwing building blocks because they’re just as overstimulated as we are. We have a little ritual for those moments: I turn up the music, and the children dance around like absolute lunatics in the play area between the kitchen and living room. Obviously, this isn’t ideal for anyone who enjoys peace and quiet — but won’t it all be quiet enough one day? And won’t we miss this then?

After our cooking-and-dancing episode, we sit down to eat together. Henry has already been fed by then and, very kindly, is usually asleep. Family dinner sometimes goes surprisingly smoothly these days. Cutlery clatters, plates and chairs are pushed around, somebody complains about the particular variety of nuggets on offer, and the girls chatter away. Considerably more subdued after all that dancing.

Usually Mike then takes Villie to bed, reads her a story and tucks her in — only to fall asleep himself with her in his arms. Liv and I have our own little bedtime ritual with finger games and cuddles. She’s a big girl now and falls asleep on her own. I shall not go into the nightly wanderings of both girls across the upstairs hallway, either into their sister’s bed or together into ours. Some things are perhaps best left undocumented.

Last week I continued working on the interior and renovation of our new Town Hall, including furnishing my Mayor’s Office and the meeting room. Mike and the children came along to keep me company, and we spent a wonderfully relaxed afternoon there: Henry safely in Daddy’s arms, me moving furniture around, and Liv and Villie enthusiastically stamping old papers and forms. Naturally, there were different stamps and different papers. One needs a proper selection. Pens and crayons were involved as well.

That made me smile, because family lore has it that I too was a passionate stamper as a child whenever I was allowed into my father’s office. It therefore seemed only natural to introduce the children to this fantastic activity at an appropriately early age.

On Wednesday, I was out and about in town as a roving reporter and managed to capture the moment when Mike, in his official capacity as our real estate manager, ceremoniously handed our new resident Arthur the keys to the old petrol station. It isn’t completely furnished yet, but I don’t think it will be long now.

The children, meanwhile, were absolutely fascinated by an antique truck Arthur had parked outside the garage, and when he let them climb inside and play, Arthur Murphy instantly became their very best friend. Unfortunately, the mood changed slightly when we caught them trying to operate the gear stick. As you can see in the pictures, Liv looks deeply concerned. Nobody quite knows why. Perhaps because the plan failed and we caught her? Rumour has it…

Villie had a teeny-tiny tantrum, but when Arthur opened a box of sweets and they were each allowed to choose a treat, balance was restored to the universe. That evening, we took a little family photo in our playing corner in the conservatory — and the truck remained a major topic of conversation for quite some time afterwards.

On Friday, I had been invited to a wedding which did indeed take place — just without me, as you can read in my blog post for AVAgirl on friday.

The highlight of the week, however, was an afternoon at my sister Ava’s. She had set up a little paddling pool outside her house and invited us over for a cosy afternoon by the water. The girls were in the pool faster than I could say “beach ball”, and their delight was enormous when Auntie Ava promptly decided to climb in and chill with them. We drank cold lemonade, listened to oldies, and Doggo Daisy joined us too — initially regarded with considerable suspicion by Liv and then, within no time at all, reclassified as her new best friend.

We ended up with such incredibly lovely pictures. I’m really looking forward to updating the various family photo walls around the house. Note to self.

Saturday was International Cat Day, which of course had to be properly acknowledged, so Mike and I hung up a banner in the Cat Café and took a photo to mark the occasion. (Cats Hollow „Purrs & Pastries“ Cat Café : https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Zvjaginsev/101/42/55)

And an update on our new family name: My Sis Dveliande had already renamed herself Dveliande of Cats Hollow last week. Somehow, I absolutely love it, and one by one we’re now changing our names too. So we have effectively become The Family of Cats Hollow, with my sisters and me forming the Cats Hollow Sisterhood.

I love it — and I strongly suspect there won’t be any more name changes for the foreseeable future.

The next room tour will be here in a week. I think you’ve had quite enough to read and look at for today!

I wish you all a truly wonderful new week and send you lots and lots of love and peace.

Yours,
Annie of Cats Hollow