Ooooh yeh bewteh*

I slept badly. I was awoken by, what I thought, was one of the boys singing, which in fact was owls. I jumped out of bed. It was freaky. Huffle told me what it was really and I tried to go back to sleep, acutely aware that it was nearing that horrible time when the Water Softener started. I think I must have fallen asleep just before it went off. I also woke up smelling smoke and Huffle went off to investigate - apart from that he slept fairly well.

Smallest got up just after 7am and Small stayed in bed till 7:30. They had breakfast and went off to school. Smallest went off to Eniskillen today (I thought that was in Ireland!). It rained for most of the day, luckily swimming is over for a while. It's horrible bringing the boys out of swimming with wet hair when it is freezing outside.

I went off to a lady's house in the Hamlet for coffee. We had a really nice chat. She is lovely. We are going to do it again. She has a gorgeous house. Very English looking.

I drove from hers and went straight to my knitting group. I got quite a bit of sock knitted. We had a real laugh there today too.

Huffle met me when I finished and he took me for lunch. We had a gorgeous Fish and Chips, tucked away in a little alcove. It was lovely. When we finished, we went to a charity shop and bought Huffle a jumper for 'Ugly Jumper' day at work and he managed to pick up a pair of Calvin Klein Jeans for $4. I was disappointed that the Christmas shop was closed - ran out of stock! We also found a lovely bakery that made yummy cakes and biscuits and we took a box home. Beautiful shortbread and Cinamon buns and Christmas biscuits for the boys.

Why does it make him look older?

We skyped Grandma and Madamme Courvoissier. We were talking about her and Grandad when they first met and she said he said "ooooh yer bewteh". I wasn't sure how to spell it and Huffle told me about a site that had Leicester Dialect. We looked it up and laughed about the words (most of which we knew).

*As taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/around_leicester/2002/11/leicester_dialect_collins_english_dictionary.shtml

Huffle watched the cricket while we waited for the boys to come home. I went and visited the Royals and picked up some Teazels we cut in the forest. She is going to come over later or tomorrow to help me create the outside urns and make them Christmassy. Smallest had had a good visit to his farm but can't tell me much about it because he can't remember. He had made a gorgeous star out of milk weed seed pods.

We went into the loft and made Moo's bed, put away the train track and generally tidied up. Smallest and I made a Welcome Banner to take to the airport tomorrow and Small made some paper snowflakes for her room.

 

The boys had their dinner and Huffle sorted through a huge pile of paperwork. This evening we listened to Michael Buble sing Christmas songs (bit early for songs but they boys liked it!).

Small's friend rang at 6pm to see if he wanted come over. I drove him there, had a chat with his mum about school etc and came home. Huffle and Smallest were playing on the Wii. I went on the bike and crocheted and played a little bit. Huffle did some more sorting. He has made the computer room much more organised and tidy. I told him he should work from home now as it wouldn't be so stressful. He wasn't sure!!

Smallest went to bed, Huffle read to him. I got our tea and Small came home. He had had a great time. He went to bed and we watched TV. Elementary - brilliant.

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Shop till you drop

I had a terrible night's sleep. I was awake between the hours of 3:55 and 5am because of the water softener. Arrrggghhhh. And every time I woke up before that, I was checking that Huffle was breathing. What a nightmare.

When I got up it was cold. The ice on the inside of the sun room was covering the windows.

This icicle was still there when the boys got home and they threw a football up there to knock it down!

The boys went off to school. Huffle had a little lie-in, breakfast and then settled himself in front of the Golf with instructions to rest, rest, rest. I went off and did some Christmas Shopping. I started in a supermarket and picked up lots of bits, no food (that was later). Then I went to Homesense (winners or TKMaxx) and picked up some lovely things. I had parked in the middle of the strip mall and so had to walk backwards and forwards to the car. It was freezing but I felt better than driving from one shop to the other.

I saw this and wanted to buy it but knew Huffle would complain as we already have three grapevine wreaths. I wonder if I can recreate it?

Next I had a coffee and a toasted bagel at Tim Horton's (not my favourite but I was desperate). Next was the Tire. I picked a few Christmas presents in there and Marks, reloaded my car and popped into Dollarama. I bought the boys a Nutcracker man each. They both really like them (though they scare Huffle) so they had them today. Smallest put his in his room and Small put his in the living room.

I went back to the supermarket and picked up some food and then as I was attempting to drive home I noticed a windscreen replacement man in the car park. $70 and 20 minutes. I left the car with him and went back into The Tire. I bought some more drawers for the loft. A Bargain. I went back to the car and he was having trouble filling the crack in my windscreen. I paid, he filled it again, and again and again. Then I drove home. Huffle was bored. He is not very good at relaxing. He had watched golf, cricket (in the bath), attempted to clean his car but was too tired after one side!

On the way home Small rang me from school to ask if they were supposed to go on the bus or wait for me to take them to the library. I said I would pick them up. Then when I got home I didn't want to go out again so I rang school and asked them to come in the bus. They must think I'm stupid!!!!

I put all the shopping away, had a cup of tea with Huffle and waited for the boys. We skyped Grandma to see if a package we received was for now or Christmas and the boys opened their nutcrackers. Small did his homework, Smallest blogged and then we skyped Aunt and Unc Pear.

Unc Pear doing the duck face!

Smallest helped me fill the dishwasher - his new job is to put the tablet in and turn it on. He loves it.

We all had dinner. The boys played on the Wii. I went and organised my new drawers. Huffle did some online Christmas Shopping and rescued the kitchen when the dishwasher had black smoke coming out of it (a rubber spatula had fell onto the heating element and melted).

The boys went to bed. I cycled and played Mario Bros, had a shower and sat down and crocheted for the rest of the evening.

Thank you to all those who asked about Huffle today. I passed on everyone's thoughts. He is okay,still tired. I think it would've been better to have given him the monitor straight away as he has too long to think about it. Still, we have to wait and there is nothing we can do about it.

 

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What a day!

Disturbed nights sleep again. All of us. Wind blowing the vents. Smallest thought he had had an accident but hadn't. Small so tired he couldn't sleep!

Huffle went off to work. Small went off to school. Smallest and I sat waiting for his friend M to arrive for the morning. M arrived and the two of them disappeared into the basement, playing Wii, Lego, tabletennis, table football. Then they rushed upstairs to his bedroom, playing his CD's, dancing, hiding,looking at books. Then it was downstairs jumping on the furniture - OH NO! WE DONT DO THAT IN THIS HOUSE. Up, down, Basement, Up down, basement. It was a whirlwind which I was glad I was no part of. The pair of them where like two sillies all morning. In the meantime I got a phone call from Huffle's boss. OMG! Huffle had chest palpitations and they had called an ambulance. He had been checked over by the paramedics and was given the all clear but they took him anyway to just check. He has to be given a monitor for 48 hours next week. Apparently he was experiencing this earlier in the week but didn't mention it to me. I am not happy. He should tell me, I think he will in future - he didn't want to bother me!!!! His Boss and Secretary stayed with him all the time and as I had the two boys all morning I decided not to go. I was going to go later but Huffle wasn't there too long and endedp coming home. I spent a long time Skyping Yahoo - lovely friend (miss her).

I took M to DayCare and we met his friends there. When we got home Smallest was still very silly so I told him he needed to calm down. He sat and nicely did a puzzle. I put away my Summer Tyres and attempted to put away the Canna and Dahlia Bulbs.

Huffle came home, had lunch, skyped Grandma and we all went and watched some of Star Wars on our bed. Smallest got bored and ended up having a bath. We skyped Moo (not long now).

I crocheted and made dinner. Huffle rested. He has been given the rest of the week off. LizzieDotDot skyped me and we had a chat (miss her too).

Small came home from school, achey from Rock Climbing but desperate to go and play at his friend's house. His friend rang, I gave him a lift, came home, made burgers for they boys dinner and Carrot, Tomato and Spinach Soup for me and Huffle.

Mrs Royal visited, had a cup of tea and a chat. Small played on the computer (while it worked - it is going back again!!!). I picked up Small from his friends house and came home and we all had dinner together.

Small had a bath and soaked his aching limbs. Smallest went and 'entertained' him. Huffle watched some TV and I blogged. I'm exhausted - what a day!

Congrats to Kate on being pregnant, shame she has to have that horrible morning sickness. I haven't heard a lot about it here, only from the BBC Radio I listen to all day.

 

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Winter Tyres - check

It seems everyone slept better last night - thank goodness.

It started out as a mild day and ended in very wet rain. The boys went off to school (computer banned in mornings for now as teeth cleaning wasn't being done properly). Smallest and I sat and started a puzzle, Small put some clothes away and then played with Rush Hour. They went off to school. Drew some lovely pictures on the windows. Smallest went to school looking like 'where's Wally' going to a Stoke match.

Small and Wally (Waldo) waiting for the bus

I had to take my car to the local Garage to get the Winter Tyres put on and the girl who works there took me home as I needed to be there to take delivery of a new Cooker. The time of delivery was between 7am and 5pm. At 10:30 I got a call to say it would be within the next hour. So I tried to unplug it but the plug was so big, I couldn't pull it out. I called Mr Royal who came along on his 'White Horse' to help me. He thought we should turn the fuse off first and then he managed to get the plug out. What would I do without him?

I had a good clean behind it and out a sign up to say "no mice please, it's new and I do not appreciate droppings in the warming drawer, warm though it may be!!!"

I crocheted, swept, swiffed, mopped, dusted and crocheted. After an hour, they arrived. They took the old one out. Asked if I just wanted it put on the kerb - YES, did I want to give them a tenner to take it away - NO, would I mind if they just took it anyway? IF YOU WANT! Cheeky muppets. They ask you when you buy a new appliance if you want to pay for them to take it away. I can't remember how much it costs. Then the drivers ask if they can take it away for a tenner (presumably straight in their pockets) and then they take it anyway (Probably make some money from it). oh well, at least it has gone and I don't have to ring the City to take it away.

Old vs New

It was very complicated and took me ten minutes to work out how to boil the kettle for a cup of tea. I spoke to Grandma and she suggested I sat down with a cup of tea and the instructions. It's a bit complicated but simple really. I got a call from the garage to say that they rang Huffle by mistake and she told him I needed my brakes sorting. He told them to go ahead. She rang and said it was ready and could pick me up if I needed. I decided to walk even though it was pouring with rain.

I got wet through, paid the bill, picked up my car and drove home. I studied the instructions a bit more, made a Rice Pudding for Small (his favourite) and then made a Tuna Bake for dinner. While I was cooking the potatoes, they started boiling so I pressed the button marked 'simmer' and it instantly stopped boiling - clever!

The boys came home and played some more Rush Hour while I finished dinner and tidied up. They set the table for me and played on the Wii till dinner time.

Small had trouble at school again with someone hiding his coat AGAIN. He spoke to one of the teachers that he knew would do something about it. The two boys (from both days) we called to see the teacher. Lets hope something will be done. On Saturday, Huffle and I have been invited out to KP & A's house for KP's birthday. One of the boys parents (that hid his coat yesterday) will be there. That should be interesting!

I had a call from Smallest's teacher to say that Smallest and a girl had bumped heads and Smallest had a purple mark above his eye. i didnt even notice. but now I can see it, it looks awful. It was an accident.

This is after we had iced it for a half an hour. May be a black eye or a bruise tomorrow!

The boys and I had dinner together. Huffle came home and grabbed a quick cup of tea before running off with Small to take him to Rock Climbing with the cubs. Smallest and I played Rush Hour and watched The Gruffalo and then played Mario Kart.

I put him to bed, read two stories and waited for Huffle and Small to come home. I also crocheted. Trying to finish an imp for Smallest's Christmas present.

Just found a mouse in a trap. Yuk, please move it Huffle!

Small had a fabulous time rock climbing. Huffle was his belayer and encourager. It was very hard work but he loved it.

 

 

P.s. a little note for Gromma (who thinks I am not Canadian enough!!!!).

Hey buddy, today I got my tires changed. Now I'm good to go. I used my stovetop kettle on my new range. I didn't have to put the old one out for the garbage. Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh, then I broiled the top of the potadoes to make them reaaal crispy. My purse that holds my change purse is falling apart as I use it all the time. When I picked up my truck from the gararrrge downtown in the Hamlet, it was raining so I wore my wet wicker and my rubber boots. Gotta run now, My cell is ringing. See ya maaaam. X

 

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Dirty Paws

We had an awful nights sleep last night - all of us. I struggled to get to sleep and then kept waking up. Huffle was restless. Small coughed like a seal. Smallest thought he heard footsteps at his door, ran into us and ended up in between us for a while till I had to take him back to bed. All very tired this morning.

Huffle went off to work and tried to book some flights for us (just me and him) to go to New York just after Christmas, but unfortunately he couldn't get the great deal he was expecting to get. Back to the drawing board on that little break.

Small went off to school reluctantly. I felt awful sending him because he is obviously not well. However, he has a rock climbing session with the Cubs Tuesday night and there is no way he can go if he's not at school. I thought if he got worse then he could come home, but he said he felt better. He did come home in tears though. Someone in his class (who has never liked him) hid his coat at home time and it took him ages to find it, nearly resulting in missing the bus. He was not happy. He asked me if he could punch him or hide his coat. I said NO, be the bigger person and rise above it. Show him he is not getting to you and get your friends to stick by you - he will soon leave you alone. Hope so anyway.

Smallest and I had breakfast and did a tiny bit of crafting. He coloured in his snowflake and I finished a card I made for a friend. We also managed to tody his bedroom and put all his clothes away. we have We did a bit of washing and drying of clothes and got ourselves ready to go out. It was mild today. A mere 8*. We went to the Thrifty shop - we were looking for an 'ugly Jumper' for Huffle's work as they have a competition mid December. It was shut so we will have to go another day. We popped tooth Post Office and posted a parcel. Then we went on to the supermarket and did a Big Shop. Smallest ate a banana and the end of the fresh bread while waiting for me to pack everything away. There were a few more shops I needed to go in but he was so hungry and tired, we came home. We skyped Moo, put the shopping away, had lunch and then played on the Wii. I also cycled 5.5km. I need to do more tonight as I am not walking every night. Also can't walk tomorrow in the forest as I am waiting for the cooker to arrive and I said I would go into work if it came early enough!

I have booked my car in tomorrow to have it's winter tyres put on so Smallest and I wheeled Huffle's Summer tyres back in the barn and wheeled mine out to the car.

This is Smallest kicking the tyre becuase it kept falling over

Smallest played with the Lego while I sorted the washing, emptied and filled the dishwasher and cleaned a bit and then he had a bath.

We played Rush Hour, a puzzle where you have to move the car out while moving the others. It is quite complicated but Smallest loved it. He was quite good with a few helps! Small came home and got into the bath almost straightaway. The boys had a hot Ribena and Watched a bit of Alice in Wonderland (while Small was in the bath again!).

I made dinner. The boys played on the Wii and we all ate in front of a film when Huffle came home.

 

 

 

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Sundaes on a Sunday

Huffle and I watched the final of I'm a Celebrity last night. I resisted the urge to look at my phone as I was following Ant & Dec on Instagram. I was convinced Ashley was going to win but I guess that Charlie is British and in a very popular soap. It has been very entertaining this year and we thank the person who put the whole series on YouTube - Brilliant. Now we are going to see if we an find Idiot Abroad 3.

Huffle and I got up late this morning and had a proper lie-in - lovely.

We all stayed in our PJ's till lunchtime. It rained most of the day so there seemed no point in getting dressed to go out. We had breakfast and then the games began. Smallest and I did an old puzzle of Small's. it is a lovely old wooden mickey mouse one. I told them I would never get rid of it and they asked why. I WILL SAVE IT FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND THEY WILL SAY 'DID YOU REALLY PLAY THIS DAD?' (I used a little baby voice), Small said " I think my children will be a bit more mature than that Mummy!" OH YOU DO, DO YOU? We played giant MrMen snakes and Ladders and then PopUp Pirate, Don't Say It and Build a Beetle.

Aunty A skyped and I was excused from playing while I chatted to her upstairs away from the noise. The three boys played two games of Jenga.


Huffle came up and said he'd had enough and let them play on the Wii to give him some space, and he disappeared up in the loft. I joined him and we were skyped by Grandma, Madamme Courvoissier and Grandad. I did a bit of crochet and then we went downstairs, made a roast dinner and put some decorations up outside.

We had dinner and then settled down and watched The Grinch. Half way through we stopped for ice cream sundaes.

We finished watching the film. Huffle e-bay'd for Christmas presents and I crocheted. We went into the basement and went through all the games and moved out the ones we don't play anymore (Garage Sale next year). We had a four way game of table tennis and were just about to start their tea when someone knocked at the front door. It was the mum of one of Smallest's friends from school (a different one to Fridays visit). She knew it was late but wondered if he wanted to go and play at their house. He was overjoyed. He had something to eat there and played and watched a bit of a video (funnily enough they were watching The Grinch too).

While he was out Small, Huffle and I played Ticket to Ride and Scrabble. It was his first proper Scrabble game. He loved it (Moo will be pleased).

Smallest came home very excited. His friend asked when he could play here. We are going to set something up. It's weird. One minute they have no friends and the next they are knocking at the door. Maybe we needed to get past that first year. PHEW!

We finished our scrabble game, Smallest tried to calm down by doing a puzzle and then we put them to bed. Read stories, tucked them in and then sat downstairs drank tea, shopped on the Internet and played table tennis. Now I did lie yesterday when I said I beat Huffle, but today I very nearly did. I don't want you to think I am crying 'wolf', I am getting better and it was very close tonight.

 

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Is it Pickle Jar?*

Huffle and I got up earlier than normal today as Smallest was due out of the house at 8:30 to deliver presents to the less fortunate from the Beavers. He went with his little friend from school and his friends Dad. He had a great time and they even stopped at Tim Horton's for TimBits (not MacDonalds as Smallest told them he doesn't like it there!!! - well done Smallest).

Small got up feeling poorly. His throat was hurting and he was losing his voice. We got ready and went out to the local Legion to have breakfast of Pancakes, Scrambled Egg, French Toast, Sausage. Lots of tables set out. Lots of people milling around. While we were in the middle of breakfast, the piano started playing Here Comes Santa Claus. In walked Santa. Small said "I think I know him!" I looked at Huffle and said quietly "That's that fat bloke that stands outside the Community Centre smoking". And it was, Small heard me and said, Oh yes, I thought I recognised him. Huffle said "well he can't be everywhere all the time, he has to have people who do his job for him at the smaller events". There was a very big queue to sit with Santa and Small wasn't bothered so we left there and headed for the local town.

I took them to the consignment shop to look at my lovely Green Chair and the sofas. We saw the sofas first. Small sat on one and Huffle sat on the other. Small liked the sofa and Huffle said "umm, yeah, well, maybe when it comes down a bit more..............." We checked the ticket and we need to wait until 5th December for it to come down in price. However, we talked about it later and Huffle thinks we should have something a bit more slouchy and comfortable rather than sit-uppy. I know what he means. We will think about it again on the 5th December if they are still there. Next I took them to see the chair. Huffle sneered at it and said it was an old persons chair, Small sat in it and wouldn't get out because it was soooo comfy. Huffle sat in it, looked at the price and said, "yes, buy it!" WAHOOOOOOO. We bought the green chair and headed to bulk barn for treats for the Advent Calendar.

Small was feeling worse so we went home. We put him in a hot bath, with a drink of hot Ribena, watching Alice in Wonderland on the IPad. Then he got his PJ's on and lay on the settee with a blanket. Smallest came home and we all had lunch and watched Polar Epress - that's it now, it's really nearly Christmas. We skyped Grandma and Grandad.

We all played Creationary and made many wonderful things.

Palm tree, helicopter, digger and the Great Wall of China (mine). *Smallest said "is it a pickle jar?" When I was making a lightbulb!!

Then we played Prehistoric Park - Small won. I never even got out of the first square. Booooo!

The boys went and played on the Wii. I went upstairs and made bunting and Huffle sat with me and played on the IPad.

After a while, Huffle went and ironed and watched Stoke beat West Brom (boing boing boing), Smallest helped me make dinner and then the boys soaked their feet again.

Smallest said "looks like your boobs if they were together Mummy!" nice!

We all ate dinner and then Huffle and the boys finished watching the football while I tidied the kitchen, put the bunting up and added a few Christmas Hearts I found.

We had a game of Junior Scrabble - I won. Smallest coloured in and Small watched wrestling and then they went to bed. Huffle and I cycled, played on the Wii and I definitely beat him at Table Tennis tonight (and I'm not even lying!!!!).

 

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