Kersten Family Overseas: Our baby turns four!! "Just call me Princess Holly mum!"

Holly really enjoys life here in Wales. Her outgoing personality has made making friends easy. She has several special friends. Isobell, Sophia and Alan from nursery. Sophia is also the daughter of Holly's childminder so she loves going there on the days that I work.
For her birthday she wanted a pink princess party and she also wanted her friends which includes the above mentioned and our neighbours Megan, James and Katie (10) our fourth daughter.

Holly eagerly opens her gifts. Sophia and Julia found it really hard to leave her to it.

Opening a 'fluffy' dog which she just loves!

Holly still has a strong will which has been evident from the age of two, sometimes she can 'assert' herself if things are not as she would like.

Nursery describe her as a 'character' and are able to happily manage this streak...however last Monday when I was at work I got a phone call re: her having a fall at breakfast club and banging her head...the club staff were quite concerned it must have looked bad. She was ushered inside and told to sit on a chair. She refused to talk much to anyone about it. When she was asked where it hurt she said "I don't remember", this comment I think escalated their concern. They got Sophia to ask her questions and Sophia quickly worked out that it didn't really hurt and that Holly couldn't work out why everyone was making such a fuss. She can often take a knock or a fall (which looks bad) but she bounces really well.

Several staff members were frustrated/annoyed that she wouldn't communicate more about it. I assured them that if she was really hurt that you would know about it. They wouldn't let it go, and I heard more about it several times that week. All my girls are quite robust and don't cry easily, its just how they are.

It is however nice to know how concerned all the staff were and how well they look out for the children. I had a conversation with Holly about how she could tell people how she was feeling...lets hope it sinks in.

She has picked up a bit of an accent Oma tells us on Skype, she also
uses words like 'Wellies', 'poorly', 'trainers'. She will frequently say "we are not from here, this is not our home", almost in a manner to remind me. I think she has conversations at nursery about her home being in New Zealand. She also says "we are in England, and we are living in Wales".

Its going to be hard for all of us to leave the friends and special people we are enjoying here.