Playing with Rachel and Michael

Hello! This is Cindy. :) Nellie is still waiting for her operation, but I think she's sure to be okay! Don't you think so? Today I got to look after Catherine's little sister Rachel, and Carrie's brother Michael. They're four and five year old, and they're really cute! I love playing with them. :)

Anna let Rachel play with her doll Inga for the day, and she just loves her!
We started off playing Snakes and Ladders for a while, and Michael won most of the games. Finally, he and Rachel got a bit tired of it, so we decided to find something else to do instead.
"What shall we do, Cindy?" Michael asked me while I packed the game away.
Rachel got up and ran to the window.

She could only just see over the windowsill if she stood on tiptoe, and she looked sadly out at the grey clouds.
"We can't go outside..." she told me, with a sigh. "It's all rainy."
I thought for a few seconds, and then I had an idea. "Do you want to play with a ball?" I asked.
"Yes!" Michael and Rachel cheered together.
"Alright," I said, and I went to fetch a ball. I sat down on the floor with it and explained what we were going to do. "Rachel, you sit over there, and Michael, you sit down there, and we'll roll the ball between us, and catch it. We have to say who we're rolling it to before we push it."
"Okay," said Rachel, as she and Michael sat down.
"Can I roll the ball first?" asked Michael.

Rachel didn't seem to mind if he went first, so I said he could, and rolled it to him.
"Can I start?" he asked.
"Yes."
"I'm going to roll it to you, Cindy!" he said, and cheerfully rolled it over.

"Are you ready Rachel? I'm rolling it to you."

 Rachel caught it, looking very happy, and then a bit confused. "Who do I give it to?" she asked.
"Anyone you like," I told her.
"I'm giving it to you, Michael!"

We played 'rolling the ball' for quite a while, but eventually Rachel and Michael asked if we could play something else.
"Alright. What do you want to play?"
While they thought, I got up and put the ball away.

"I think we should play dolls!" Rachel said when I got back, hugging Inga.
"Nooo," Michael groaned. "I don't wanna play dolls."
"What do you want to play?" I asked.

 "I'll show you." Michael got up and ran out of the room.
 He came back in a moment and sat down again.

"I want to play with the parachute-man!" he said happily. "It's got a tiger!" He was holding a little parachute toy that Carrie gave him yesterday - the parachutist was a cute little tiger instead of a soldier, like they normally are.
"I don't wanna play parachute. I want to play dolls..." Rachel said, frowning sadly.
I wasn't sure what to do, but then I thought of something they would both like.
"I have an idea," I said smiling.

"What?" asked Rachel.
"I'll show you in a moment."
Rachel watched me with great curiosity as I went over to my bed and pulled a book out from under the pillow. It was a book of little prayers for children, that I was given when I was little, and I knew it had lots of beautiful pictures inside that Rachel and Michael would love.
"What is it?" she asked.
"It's a book of prayers. And it's full of pretty pictures. I'll read some of it to you, and you can both look at the pictures too."
Rachel smiled. "Yay!"
"You sit on the edge of the bed, and move up a bit, and I'll come and sit next to you so you can see the pictures."

 

"Come on Michael," I said, patting the bed on the other side of me. You come and sit here and we can look at the book together."

Michael got up and came to sit next to me.

I opened the book, and they both leaned in to see the pictures.

They liked the little prayers, too, and we spent ages sitting there and reading, until the early afternoon, when they went back with their sisters. :)
I had a lovely Saturday with Michael and Rachel. I hope you had a great Saturday too! :)

Meeting Catherine

Hello! It is Anna. Today, something very special happened. We met a new friend, who is called Catherine. I was the first to meet her today, and she is very nice. When I first saw her, I realized that she was blind. She was feeling along the wall as she walked, and her eyes were a very unusual color. When I ran up to her, I think I gave her a fright, because she turned very quickly, but she did not say anything.

"Are you Catherine?" I asked, putting my hand on her arm.
She seemed very shy, and she stayed quiet for a little, and then said, "Yes. Who are you?" "My name is Anna."
"It's nice to meet you."
"And you too. Are you okay?"
"I'm blind, so I have to hold the wall to know where I am."
"Would you like me to help you?"
She stopped to think for a while, and then she said, "Yes, thank you."

I took her hand, and started walking slowly.
"I'll take you into the lounge," I said.
"Thank you."
I did not say anything for a minute while we walked, because I wasn't sure if I should ask the question that I wanted to ask, but finally I did: "Were you born blind, Catherine?"
"No; I could see perfectly until three months ago. Then I got this rare eye disease, and my sight slowly got worse and worse, until finally I was blind. That only happened seven weeks ago, and afterwards, my eyes changed color." She stopped, and then ended shakily, "People say it looks horrible."
I felt very, very sorry for her, because although her eyes were very unusual, it was not ugly or horrible.
"I do not think it is horrible at all. They are a very pretty color, and it is just not what people are expecting," I said.
She said "Thank you," looking very grateful.
"I do mean it." I stopped at the corner of the lounge door, and said, "You must turn to the left here," and we walked in.
"How old are you?" she asked.
"I am 17. How old are you?"
"I'm 17 too. When's your birthday?"
"The eleventh of April."
"Really? Mine is the seventeenth!"
"That is great!... Stop here. There is a rocking chair to your right."

She reached out into the air and felt around until her hand was on the arm of the chair. I was about to help her to it, when we heard a shout.
"Hello Anna!"
We turned around, and I saw Sarah standing there.

"Oh, Sarah!" I said. "This is Catherine."
Sarah smiled.
"Hello Catherine," she said. "I'm Sarah."
"Hello."
"She is blind from a disease," I said.
"It made my eyes change color. I'm sorry if they look bad."
"No, I think they look lovely!" said Sarah.
"Thank you."
"Let me help you to that chair," I said.

 "Are you comfortable there?" I asked.
"Yes, thank you."
"How old are you?" asked Sarah.
"17."
"That's the same as Anna! I'm 16."
"That's nice... What do you look like?"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" said Sarah. "I didn't think of telling you."
"That's okay."
"Well, I have curly brown hair a little past my shoulders, freckles, and blueish eyes that some people would call gray or purple, and my hair is partly pinned up on the sides right now. Anna has long blonde hair, which is in braids right now, and brown eyes, and she's from Sweden."
"So that's where her accent's from!"
"Yes," I laughed.
"You two sound very pretty."
"Thank you," we both said together.

We had a very lovely time with Catherine, and we cannot wait to have more fun with her. She is a very special person, and we love her very much.

Getting Ready for a Trip!:)

Hello! Sarah here! I'm sorry we haven't posted in ages again; we really are trying to, but things keep getting in the way, or we run out of things to post. Something really great is happening this week, though! Nikki and her family are going up to a town near London, where they used to live, and I'm coming along! My favorite TV show is the 1973-76 episodes of Doctor Who, and the best bit is: one of my favorite episodes was filmed there! I can't wait to see all the places they used, and Nikki's excited too, because she also loves that show.:) But she's also a little annoyed, because she was hoping to get a picture of herself at some of the locations, and yesterday she just got a really nasty haircut, because the hairdresser misunderstood what she was saying. Well, she says it's really nasty, but I don't think it's that bad; it's just not really the kind of thing that goes with her personality, so that's what's annoying her.
Anyway, we're leaving tomorrow evening, so I packed this afternoon, and Anna helped me.

 We were laying everything out on the bed, and it seemed a lot more there than it did in the drawer or on a list.:P

"Here are some more," said Anna, putting down the clothes she was carrying.
"Thanks," I smiled.
"I think that they are the end," she said, satisfied.
"Good," I sighed.
"Where is your suitcase?"
"I think it's in the cupboard down the hall. I'll go get it." I skipped out of the room and dug my suitcase out of the cupboard.

"Here it is!"
"Good."
"Now let's hope it all fits!" I said, half-laughing. Somehow I always manage to set out just a little more than my suitcase will take.

We started putting everything in, and it was looking pretty good. I guess we are only going for a couple of days... but then it is a small case.

"Well," I said a few minutes later, "that's all it'll take."
"Are you sure?" asked Anna.
"Yes," I sighed. "But it doesn't really matter; the only things I had to leave out were spare socks and a blouse, and I can do without both of them."
"Okay."
"Now, let's see if we can close it." I started to lift to lid of the case.
"Wait!" said Anna.
"What?"
"We forgot something!" She jumped up from the bed and ran off to the table across the room.

She picked something up and ran back.
"You can't go without your comb!" she said.
"Oh, of course!" I laughed. "How could I have forgotten that?"
"Here." She handed it to me, and I put it in the case. "Now we can close it," she smiled.

I tucked everything inside and pressed down on the lid, and I finally got it to close. Suddenly I realized I'd made a mistake.
"I can't lock the catch now!"
"Oh, no!"

So, I had to let go of it, and we finally got it down again. This time, Anna held it closed, while I locked it.
"There!" I said, finally standing up straight. "We've done it."
"Finally!" Anna paused and then smiled. "Just a second!"

She climbed up onto the bed.

"Are you not going to take Mary?" she asked, holding the doll she gave me for Christmas.
"Of course, but not in the suitcase."
"Okay, that is good."
"For her or for us?" I laughed.
"For both!" We burst into giggles. "Shall we play with our dolls before we have to have supper?" Anna asked after a while.
"Good idea!" I said, pushing the suitcase aside and getting onto the bed.
"I am going to miss you," said Anna.
"I'll miss you, too, but it's only a couple of days, anyway."

 "Well let's make the most of your last day here then!" she said, smiling, and picking up her doll.

Putting up the Christmas Tree! :)

Hello, it's Nikki here, to tell another story with the photographs I've taken. :) Today, the dolls put up their Christmas tree. We're all sorry it was so late, but at least it's up. :)

This afternoon, Nicki was waiting in The Room for the others to arrive, while she arranged the tree's branches. I wonder how long they'll be, she thought. Just then, she head footsteps, and turned around.

 

It was Molly and Kit!

"Hi, Nicki!" they said.

"Hi, guys!" Suddenly Nicki noticed what kit had over her shoulders. "Kit," she asked, "why are you wearing tinsel?"

"I thought you might need some extra," Kit laughed.

"Ohh, okay. You wanna put on the lights?"

"Sure!" said Kit and Molly together.

Just as they were finishing with the lights, sprocket came bounding up to them.
"Hi, Sprocket!" said Molly.

"He's so cute!" said Kit, going to pet him.

"Sprocket's just reminded me," said Nicki, "Where's Benny, Molly?"

"Oh, Cait's looking after him today because Kit and I were shopping."

"I see," Nicki smiled.

  They were putting the tinsel on the tree, when Cait and Melody arrived with Benny. Shouts of "Hello!" flew for a few seconds, and then Benny was left to play with Sprocket while Melody offered to help with the golden beads. The tree got a little too crowded for Kit and molly, so they went to the window.

"We'll watch for anyone else coming," said Kit, while the others talked.
"I see Nellie and Sam!" shouted molly a few minutes after wards.

A minute later Samantha and Nellie walked in.
"Hi everyone!" said Samantha. "I think Kirsten's a little way behind us."
"Hello!" said Nicki. "Would you like to help decorate?"
"Of course!" said Nellie and Samantha together.

"Alright," said Melody. "Could you hand me some more balls?"
"Sure!" said Nellie, grabbing some from a drawer. "Here they are."
"Thanks."

Kirsten arrived soon afterwards, carrying a cat.
"Hey, Kirsten," said Molly, "is the cat yours?"
"No, I'm just looking after him for Christmas." Kirsten put the cat down. "His name is Benson."
"Oh, that's such a cute name!" said multiple voices.
"I like your outfit," said Nicki.
"Thanks."
"It's sort of... old-fashioned. I think it's cool."
Kirsten laughed. "It's the closest to "Christmassy" I could find!"
Nicki giggled back. "Come and help decorate!" she said.

"I'm out of balls again!" said melody a minute later.
"More balls, coming up!" said Kirsten, taking a huge handful.
In all the chaos Nicki was the only one to realize that Sprocket was growling at Benson, and ran over to stop him.
"There's Lindsay and Elyssa!" said Kit from the window.
"And I think that's Julie behind them!"
"That means we'll have everyone - except Anna," said Nicki. "I wonder where she is?"

Soon Lindsay and Elyssa came in, and the space around the tree got very crowded.
"Elyssa," Kirsten asked, after they'd said "hello", "what's that on your head?"
"It's a Santa hat."
"But it's blue!"
"I needed my outfit to be Christmassy!" Elyssa laughed.
"Isn't that from Nicki's pajamas?" asked Nellie.
"Yes, but she didn't want it, so she gave it to me."
"I didn't know you were going to wear it as part of an outfit!" Nicki laughed.
"Imagine being me and having to walk here with her!" said Lindsay.

Soon Julie arrived, and the tree was more crowded than ever, but nobody cared. They just loved decorating with their friends, and the tree was being decorated very very fast between all of them. Kit went to sit down and rest her feet.
"I'll come and take her place!" said Nellie. "I'm scared someone's going to knock over the tree if we don't make a little more space!"
Kirsten left to take Benson to another room where he wouldn't be growled at by Sprocket, and the other carried on decorating.

"I think we have enough of the balls on now," said Julie.
"Yay!" said Nicki. "Now we can start with the other ornaments!"

Pretty soon they had done everything, including putting up the little nativity scene, except for giving the tree a topper.
"We haven't got anything for a topper," said Lindsay. "What can we use instead?"

 "I don't know," said Nicki. "And even worse, Anna still isn't here, and we've done all the decorating."
"And she's the only one who can reach," said Kirsten.
"Do you think something's happened to her?" asked Molly.
"No," said Samantha, "nothing could've."
"Maybe she's just forgotten," said Nellie.
"Anna never forgets," said Elyssa.
Just then, there were footsteps in the hall. Nicki got up to see who it was.

"Anna!" she cried when she opened the door. "We've been waiting for you!"
"I am sorry I am late."
"That's okay. We were just worried for you. And I'm afraid we've done all the decorating."
"I do not mind. But I did bring you an angel for the top of the tree."
"You did?!" Kit yelled. "We were just wondering what we could use for the top!"
"I am glad that I am bring it, then," said Anna.
 "Us too!" said Kirsten.
"You can put it on," said Molly. "None of us can reach."

"Okay," said Anna, climbing onto the chair. She put the angel on the tree and smiled. "It looks so pretty!" she said.

In fact, it was so pretty, they even took a picture of it.
"Let's take our Christmas-card photos now!" said Cait.
"Yes, let's!" said Kit, turning on the lights.

We took lots of photos, but this one is the best. They're all together, with Sprocket, Benny, and even Benson! :)

My dolls and I hope you have a very happy Christmas, and we all can't wait for tomorrow! :)