Where is the Easter Bunny?

Everyone slept well. The boys got up early as usual. Huffle and I got a well earned lie in. We exchanged our Easter presents out of sight ofthembiys so that they didn't feel left out. Huffle bought me a ball of wool and a Lindt bar of chocolate (Sea Salt - which I happened to drool over in a recent supermarket without him knowing) I bought Huffle a bar of Lindt chocolate (White choc and Coconut which he wanted to try, I didn't know though!) and an egg slicer (it was eggy!). our original plan for today was to go to Port Perry, watch the Easter Parade (yes another parade) and take part in the Easter Egg Hunt, but rain was forecast and everyone was tired, so once Breakfast was eaten, and while the boys played in the basement, Huffle and I went around the house hiding eggs and making up clues for each room. The boys searched high and low, Easter buckets in hand.

In every hiding place there was at least two eggs to find. Some small foiled wrapped ones, a couple of kinder eggs, some Smartie Eggs and a few hidden KitKats (at the time of writing this - 18:22) there are still two kitkats sitting in the front window!). It didn't take them too long. The house was cleared of eggs in no time and the buckets were filled.

Yesterday one of the mums asked me about the Easter Bunny. The kids here believe there IS an Easter Bunny who leaves them chocolate eggs. (Shouldnt it be a Chicken?). I don't think we have ever done that, but apparently it is a big thing here. So I had to prime Small and tell him he couldn't say "we don't have a Bunny", more like we did have one and we had eggs!!! No point in complicating things. Easter is also more of a family get together here with Ham served for dinner. Church goers especially make a big thing of Easter (which makes sense).

We played with the Birthday games Smallest got yesterday. Mancala (a strategy game), Pictureka and I-Spy (similar but both good games). Smallest had a Physics book and kit and the tried several things from it. Small also got his experiments book down and we all did a few things.

The boys played with their wrestling rings and wrestlers and also built some Lego.

We had a Roast Chicken dinner with Jelly and Ice Cream for pudding and skyped Grandma and Grandad. The boys played on the IPads while Huffle played on the computer and I did some sewing. Monopoly Deal was played several times and the boys got sillier and sillier until it was tea time and they settled down in front of Wrestling! Huffle and I played Table Tennis and I won one game wahoooo.

Huffle ironed his shirts for work, I blogged and emailed. Smallest blogged too.

 

We had a note from the Royals the other day to say they were happily cursing across the big ocean which was calm, with the weather not great but warm. They are attending educational seminars (not sure if I believe that!) and trying not to eat too much.

 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMALLEST

4:50 am when Mr Raccoon rifled through our dustbin outside our bedroom window. 'Nope, nothing in there' he sighed and off he went. Bloody Hell, we are awake now and we can hear that Sump Pump working overtime as the snow melts!!!!!

7:30 am Small and Smallest arrive in our bedroom announcing "IT'S BIRTHDAY TIME". We hid under the covers and then jumped out singing Happy Birthday. Then Smallest started to open his presents. First the ones from us.

A bean bag.......some tops.....a wrestling ring........a wrestler...........a game.........an angry bird and pig........

Then he opened his present that Moo had left, a pig book, some tops, an electric toothbrush where's Waldo book and a Club Penguin Card.

Then he opened all his cards where we found Noisy balloons.

Next were the packages that came through the post.

Walkie Talkies, Moustache Cake Cutters (yes you read right - wait till we use them then you will understand!). Books (still to look at and explore). Grandma skyped and 'sang' happy birthday.

Carnage after presents were opened

Breakfast was croissants and Pain au Chocolat. Then all got changed and started to prepare for the party. The boys actually hid in their bedrooms playing IPad while Huffle and I rushed around like mad idiots.

The first person to arrive was Al, bearing a huge present bag which was deposited on the table. His Mum left him to it. Smallest and Al explored the house whilst waiting for the next person to arrive, which was MadM, they too ran upstairs and his Mum left him. MissK and Ew arrived next, both with their dads, who incidentally have the same names. The dads stayed. They were really nice. A and T came next, their Mum left too.

Pass the parcel started. Small took charge, Huffle played and stopped the music. Forfeits were read and done, sweets were eaten and saved.

Then we played Shoot The Raccoon. Two pictures (coloured in nicely by Small and Smallest first thing), taped to the outside of the sun room window and they tried to shoot the Nerf gun at the Raccoons. However the guns didn't work well (Think we need new bullets) so we played Musical Statues instead, then Musical Bumps, another pass the parcel and lunch. Some of the kids didn't eat sandwiches! One only ate dry crackers! Most ate cake and all had ice cream. What's Jelly? Is it the same as Jello? No of course it isn't.

Cake came out, Happy birthday was sung, candles blown out. More Musical bumps and then Musical find your bit of paper. Very competitive. Some sulky kids who don't like to lose. Prizes won and given out.

Smallest sat and opened his presents and his guests chose what he should open next.

A remote controlled buggy, a physics kit, Lego, a football (not a soccer ball), game, ISpy game.

Everybody went down into the basement. There were four playing Table football, four playing table Tennis, two playing Table Hockey, one on the Eliptical - well that's more than we had there. I watched on. They played so nicely down there.

At 1pm (when we said the party finished), Small shouted, right that's it, it's 1 O'Clock, everybody upstairs! No, you can't say that. Al went first, very polite boy, very intelligent, nice Dad (Huffle and I think he has an air about him - like Al Pacino or Robert De Niro). Madm's mum came in for a piece of cake and a cup of tea. Ew and MissK and the Dad's went. Then A and T left. Ahhhhhhhhh. We had a really quick tidy up, a very quick Skype from Moo. Meanwhile Smallest trapped his fingers in the boot of Huffle's car. A bit of TLC and all was well.

We drove to the Park/Beach and had a long walk over the bridges. Smallest bombed down the hill on his scooter and fell, quite hard, a bit more TLC, a rub of the hands and all was well! Through the wooded area and along the lake edge. We attempted to Skype Aunt Pear and HB, signal wasn't great so we will try again tomorrow. We walked a fair way and then decided to turn back. It was mostly downhill and Smallest scooted off as fast as he could and disappeared. We weren't worried about him at first as he never runs (scoots) off, but then the further we walked the more we wondered if he had gone off the path (not like him at all, but he WAS now six), or down onto the beach. Huffle thought Smallest might have thought we were ahead of him and he was trying to catch us up. We knew the end would be the park and we didn't expect him to go any further and we HOPED he remembered where we had parked the car! Along the way we asked several people "have you seen a small boy scooting past". They all said yes. It was only when we reached a bit of beach and heard small cries and squeals that we really started to worry. Huffle and Small went down to the Beach to check, everytime I shouted his name, I swore I could hear him shout Mummy (Small also thought this). Huffle and I walked faster and harder and Small tried to scoot on ahead. Nothing. Huffle was starting to think about going back in the opposite Direction while I carried on when a couple said they saw him on the bridge not that long ago. We carried on. Small found him in the Park, just waiting for us. We told him he should not have gone so far ahead but he said he just wanted to go on the park, however, he wouldn't go on without Small so was just waiting waiting waiting for us! That was scary. I don't think he would be silly enough to go anywhere but I do worry about other people taking him. He says he wouldn't go with anyone and that if anyone asked him to and tried to take him he would just run away. Phew!

The boys played in the park and Huffle and I sat on a big rock and watched them. They payed for quite a while and then sat on the rock with us. We watched a man play with a remote control car that he had built himself. Ooooh how exiting. Lots of people were just staring open mouthed, amazed.

We were hungry and went to Whitby for Fish and Chips.

(Smallest's favourite). Grandma tried to Skype us while we were there but the signal and picture was bad. I think she was trying to introduce Uncle Grumps girlfriend to us, but not sure. We will try her again tomorrow. We drove home, the boys sillier than ever. When we got home we saw Drew and ClownRose and BabyMo so the boys and I went to say hello. Huffle made a pot of tea and we had tea and cake on the porch but the sun had started to disappear so we sat in the sun room with the fire on (the fire that is powered by one solitary hamster). Smallest played with his new remote control car and broke it within five minutes! I have to take it back to the shop!!! Then he built some Lego and I had to help. Huffle surfed the web looking for a holiday cottage for us.

Cyril uncovered..........BabyMo in her yellow boots......Ducky nearly out!

The boys went to Bed, very tired.

I have to say that we were very grateful to Small for taking charge of the kids today. We think he has found his calling in life. He loves to boss others around and Because he was that much older than them, they listened and respected him. Well done Small x

 

 

 

 

 

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Soooooo Tired

We have worked so hard today, we are too tired to write. So in pictorial fashion, here is our day.

Making Pass the Parcel

The cake gets mixed

 

Some pigs got made

More cakes to make

Ooh chocolate ones

 

Cake is done

Small makes flapjack

More pass the parcel

Boys decorate cakes, Huffle makes (and eats?) icing

Characters made

Icing

Melted Chocolate

Decorating

Pleased with his results

built the birds platform

...and a box of TNT

Put King Pig in place

Built some structures

Put it all together

 

The cake was finished

Added some Easter Decorations in and around the house

Sat outside in the sunshine

Had a five minute rest

Put up the bunting

We also cleaned, cleared and tided the sun room. Swiffed, mopped, dusted, de-cobwebbed, cleaned EVERYWHERE. Then baths and showers were had. Pizza eaten. Boys to bed. Presents wrapped.

SIIIIGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

 

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Snow is melting

Phil Spencer DID sell the house last night on Phil Spencer Secret Agent. That's 4/13. Maybe he'll get another series. Wahoooo. I also watched the Good Wife. I watched this before we moved here and then when we moved, Canada was a whole series ahead so I missed a big chunk in the middle. Now I am watching the new series and the the bit I lost in between. It's gets a bit confusing but at least it is filling in all the missing details. Plus, Huffle likes to play on the computer while I am watching but listens to it and occasionally looks up. He normally says, at least every other episode, OH I KNOW HIM, WHO IS IT? Then we spend ten minutes searching cast lists until we find them. Last night it was a man from scrooged (one of Huffle's favourite films from the 80's).

All the boys went off to school and work.

And then I went off to Yoga. I walked there because its not that far and I need the extra exercise. The house was gorgeous. We were in the basement. Seven of us. The rest were skinny, flexible and could easily tie themselves in knots. However, I gave it a go. It's been a long time since I did Yoga, and this was Power Yoga. The log burner was on and the room was hot. I was told to take my time and pace myself. Boy, they work hard. I enjoyed it though. It was just over an hour. No chanting or um yum Kippa bang (whatever it is they say). I met a nice lady. The lady who runs it is very nice too. Small's arch enemy's Mum was there - she grimaced at me (might have been a smile - hard to tell). Still, I have paid for five sessions and next week is circuit training. That will be tough I know, but I'm going!

I came home, had a coffee and a crumpet - it was hungry work!, watched an episode of HIMYM and then looked through the cupboards to see what cake ingredients we needed. I weighed myself. Have lost 3lbs. Wahooo. I have cut out my toast and butter weekday mornings and replaced it with either Weetabix or cornflakes and fruit on top. I haven't done anything else, I still eat all the wrong things the rest of the time. Oh I have started drinking much much more water. One because I have ongoing problems with Water Infections, and two because my skin is always so dry. Dehydrated! I try to drink a glass of water every hour, plus it stops me eating quite so much! I showered and went out to the shops.

I ambled around the store, picking up Easter Treats, getting extra presents for Smallest's birthday, then I started to look at my list to buy essentials. My handbag felt really light and I realised I had left my purse at home. I put my trolley (cart) in Customer Services and went home. It took me a good fifteen minutes there and fifteen minutes back. I picked up my trolley, carried on shopping and took it all home. I was starving as it was about 2pm, so I quickly put the frozen stuff away, made a sandwich and sat down to eat it. Then quickly put the shopping away before the boys came home and made their own mess!

Smallest picked up the post and was so very excited when he found two cards and a package.

Small had two lots of homework to do, which he made a good start on. Smallest had made a lovely Easter basket to put his painted eggs in and his Easter Egg Hunt finds. He drew a picture of Small and a lovely Easter Egg. Smallest did another blog post.

Huffle came home early and we played TT while the kids tidied up their mess in the basement. We all had dinner and the boys watched TV until bed.

Everyone is at home tomorrow. The cakes and jellies are being made and the Pass the Parcel being sorted. They do not do Pass the Parcel here but last year for Smallest's birthday we made our friends play the forfeit one. They loved it!

Smallest's two friends who cancelled can now come. Apparently they rang their Nana and told her they would rather come to the party than stay at her house, Whoops! Smallest is very happy.

 

 

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Bubbles, Alice and Hot Ribena

Huffle and I watched another Mad Men episode last night. Was that really how men behaved in the 50's/60's? Oh boy, I don't think I'd have got on well then. Far too outspoken.

Some more snow has disappeared, it is starting to go from around the house. The sun was out again today. Temperatures around 4*, it is staring to warm up for Grandma and Grandad's visit.

Small went off to school. Just two more days before he has four days off for Easter (including the weekend).

He loves kicking at the snow and ice, gradually breaking it all up.

Smallest played on the computer while I had my breakfast and blog hopped. Then while I cleaned the bathrooms, he had a bath, watched a bit of Alice in Wonderland with his Hot Ribena. Honestly, my kids are creatures of habit. I once let Small have a Film and a hot drink in the bath because he wasn't feeling very well, since then, they demand a bath with a film and a hot drink. (They don't always get it though - but it did give me time to have my shower and do some cleaning!). They get it from Huffle. I would much rather have a shower and then maybe a coffee afterwards - not at the same time. Which is just what I did next, after leaving a message for Moo to contact me - knitting problem!

Smallest read a magazine yesterday where they had the recipe for gingerbread (even though my gingerbread is the best in the world - so Smallest says) so today we made some. We didn't put Cinamon in because I hate it (though I guess that's a good reason for using it, so I don't eat it!). We did a good job. Smallest had his lunch and then we decorated them.

We made quite a mess.

He wants to take them into school tomorrow for his class for his birthday. I'm sure MrsW will be over the moon when she sees all the icing and sugar!! We have have two boys cancel for Smallest's birthday. We asked him if he wanted to add another two instead but he said "No it's okay, I don't mind". His four favourite kids will be there plus Small who he is desperate to be there, and his Daddy of course.

He then played on the IPad while I got some crochet done in the SunRoom, not so much sunshine this afternoon but still warm enough to sit in there comfortably. We skyped Grandma until Small came home. It started to snow briefly and then the sun came out and the grey sky disappeared. Strange! Small gave us a rendition of Old MacDonalds Farm on his recorder - ouch, it was lovely!

The boys played on the IPads, set the table and then Small did his homework (which he neglected to say was needed tomorrow!!!!) while Smallest grated some cheese and blended our soup.

Ummmmm Butternut Squash

Huffle came home. He helped Small with his homework. Small was told that he could not go to Cubs until his homework was done. He did it once and I marked it and made him do several parts again. Huffle checked it over and helped him to understand what was needed. He did some more but it was badly written and the spelling was atrocious. He used to be such a beautiful writer and speller.

While Huffle and Small argued about whether he should go to cubs or not, Smallest and I blogged (he has done a blog post - please read it). Small did go in the end but he has work to do tomorrow morning and no computer or IPad tomorrow at all!

Smallest, Huffle and I played Wii Mario Kart as a team and we won, after Huffle sorted out the remotes. Then while Smallest brushed his teeth and got ready for bed, Huffle and I snook in a couple of TT games.

Huffle went to get Small from Cubs. Today they had designed Kub Kars. It is very Scouty Canadian apparantly. (Correct me if I am wrong please!). It was a piece of wood that he has drawn all over and brought home some wheels to nail on. He can whittle it into a car shape if he wants!!

Both boys in bed. Teapot and gingerbread on the coffee table. Snuggled up in a blanket (well I am) in front of Phil Spencer. C'mon Phil, see if you can sell a house today haha!

 

 

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