I ate everyfin that were purrin front o meh

Forecasts said that we would have freezing rain late last night but by the time we got up this morning, the warning had moved to 9am. By 9 it had moved to 10 and so on and so on until we finally got hit by it around 1pm. All school buses were cancelled and so I decided to walk the kids to school, not wanting to get caught in freezing rain of any kind whilst driving.

I then decided to have a very quick piece of toast and a sip of coffee before heading off to work. Jeff and Jan were there today and we potted up Aquilega, Corydalis, Salvia and more. For coffee break Jan had made some Tropical Shortbread. We left at 1pm when we realised the rain wasn't just rain anymore. My car was encased in ice and our drive was a skating rink again (I put loads of salt down yesterday too).

Huffle had already had his lunch and was on a call in the loft so I ate whilst watching Apple Tree Yard (such a good drama BBC), and then FaceTimed Moo until it was time for me to walk to school and get the kids.

MrRose saw me slide/walking past their house and sent ClownRose out to rescue me. He said I looked like a penguin. ClownRose gave me a lift to school and we slid across the school yard and put the kids in the car. Small, who is taller than us all, squashed himself in the boot (trunk), while MissMoll and Smallest squashed up on the back seat with the baby seat in between them. We all got home safely.

I made dinner and the boys did chores and piano practice. After dinner we decided we weren't taking Smallest to football practice as the roads were too icy. Shame as the 'meeting' was tonight to finish answering the questions the club never answered last time. My question was going to be "was it your intention to leave us waiting for so long that we forgot what we were complaining about?" They allocated us just 15 minutes at the end of the boys practice. Wow, thanks! Later we found out that 1) the club want us to pay an extra $140 per boy as they overcharged one of the boys parents. 2) they want us to commit to next season as they want to get us new kits (bearing in mind the coach that was sacked is our sponsor). 3) new kits means more money from us. 4) there is no official Coach for the upcoming season. 5) ExCoach has caused a stir within the footballing world of the region due to a stinking letter he wrote and sent to many people, including the regional Board. BOOOOOOOOOOOOO! HISSSSSSSS!

I had some lovely messages today from Mim about crocheting and she has mastered some new stitches, nearly finished a hat and loving how her blanket is looking. I too finished a hat I started last night. Crocheting is SO quick.

 

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Painting the waves of weetabix

I didn't sleep again last night as I was thinking about crochet. Stupid, but I was wondering how I was going to teach a magic circle ARRRRGGGGGGHHH. Tired now!

The boys went off to school in a silly mood. Today they had JungleSport in the gym where the whole school got to climb. They said it was good fun.

I drove off to Mim's house which seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. She gave me detailed instructions but because everyone here calls Roads by their number and says North or South, I have no idea what they are talking about. For example, go along 1 south and turn east at 5! WHAT!??!??? So anyway, I used my phone GPS which took me along all the tiny roads and it was snowing quite heavily first thing. The roads, because they weren't major, weren't ploughed or Salted and at one point I came across a very very steep downward road. It was scary. Still, it was worth it because her house is beautiful and in the most gorgeous setting. She had made muffins, had cheese and crackers and fruit, coffee and tea ready. We had a really good session and today I taught them how to crochet a hat. It was tough as they only started on the basic stitches last week but they brought along their blankets they started and apart from the edges and some occasional stitches crocheted twice, I think they did really well. We went over some stitches and talked about how to make the edges better and hold the wool and then got on with starting a hat. Now they have a blanket and a hat to continue. Next week we are going to make flowers to adorn the hat. I had lots of lovely texts again about well the morning went and how they are looking forward to the next one. Hurrah.

I didn't have a lot of time when I got back, just enough to get changed and grab my exercise stuff to have my one on one session with ExerciseNic. Today was incredibly tough. She worked me very very hard. Lots of heavy weights, jumping jacks, star jumps, squat jumps, burpees, a couple of planks, sit-ups and press ups.

I came home and had my shower, watched a bit of Call The Midwife, continued the washing that Huffle started, tiidied up and started dinner.

Before I knew it, the kids were home regaling me with their JungleSport adventures and their day. MrsPiano came and they both had their lessons. Dinner was eaten and Huffle took the boys to Scouts and Cubs where they painted cardboard waves for the float for the Winter Carnival parade on Saturday. The leaders had led for cardboard (appliance size) but Small decided they were taking in a small weetabix box. Apparently one of the leaders sent it back and said they didn't need it. Rude! Ha!

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Eleventh Tooth Lost

A fruit laden pancake breakfast started our day before we headed out to the train to take us to Toronto. It was cold though only -1* with a feels like temperature of -6*. Big coats, hats, scarves and gloves were definitely needed.

We started out in Downtown Toronto at lunchtime with a gentle walk up to the Theatre District, stopping at an overpriced, underseated coffee house for Hot Chocolates sadly lacking in chocolate but with a lovely frothy shape on the top, accompanied by cookies for the boys and a decadent chocolate and orange scone for Huffle and I. We had to stand due to the poncy freeloaders who used the majority of the space for their oversized coats and many laptops attached to the free wifi. We queued the wrong way and no one told us and we were annoyed before we even ordered but it was too cold outside to try and find somewhere else.

Huffle liked this penguin made from all sorts of metal things.

Making our way to the theatre, we pushed our way inside and through the throng of people eager to get out of the cold ready to see STOMP! Huffle bought us these tickets ages ago. Next to Huffle was a spare seat full of coats and I asked if he had anyone sitting next to him so I knew whether I could put my coat and bag on the floor or whether I had to move to let someone through. I AM SITTING THERE said a self important man who managed to get in on my photo of us all.

The performance was excellent and far exceeded my expectations. It was comedic, entertaining and innovative. There were so many different things they used as percussion instruments including brooms, dryer hoses, dustbin lids, trolleys, matchboxes, lighters, bins, buckets, sinks, water containers, basketballs, plastic bags, newspapers, sticks, pipes, pots and pans and signs, as well as the body, clapping, finger clicking and feet tapping. It was endless. The kids loved it and so did Huffle and I. The eight performers got a standing ovation at the end for their last matinee performance and it was well deserved as they all worked by very hard.

Going back out into the cold we walked to our favourite Gelato place and shared pizzas before having a Gelato. Huffle and I had a Truffle Oil, Mushroom and Rocket one and the boys had a Marguerita. Gelato flavours eaten today were Salted Caramel, Raspberry, Bueno (kinder bar thing), Nutella.

Once agin, back out into the cold to walk down to the Distillery District where they were hosting the Toronto Light Festival. Most of the shops were closed but all of them had some kind of light display including various light effects around and about.

Smallest got to cycle power a moving horse image. It made him look like he was riding the horse. Very clever. It would have been nice if there were more interactive things for the kids to do.

This is the kids playing 'Hot Larry'. Huffle was very pleased!

Back on the train (just $33 for us all round trip - the train announcer said "please keep your feet off the seats, I know it's comfortable but we don't let you sit on them naked either". Comedian!) and a drive back home. Smallest lost a tooth in the car, thank goodness, he has been driving us mad with his constant wobbling of it. Hope the Tooth Fairy comes tonight, she is not overly reliable!

Small, Huffle and I watched The Voice UK before Small went to bed.

 

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Happy Clappers*

All the boys watched their beloved Stoke lose today after breakfast. I sat in the bedroom and knitted another heel while watching The Gilmore Girls with my coffee.

Small's throat was still sore but not quite as bad. Mine was a little sore too and we both stocked up on vitamins and orange juice, plus I made Small a hot lemon, honey and ginger before we left him relaxing at home and took Smallest to his football game.

The first game with CoachE in charge. CoachE decided he wasn't going to shout at the boys, not even while they were on the pitch and instead said they were their own coaches. Not sure what that's supposed to mean but they won anyway. It was a tight game. *The Away fans had a strange clapping technique. It was a kind of rippling applause which went on far too long and too often. Huffle and I tried to carry on the clapping after they finished just because it amused us. Smallest did pick up an injury from clipping one of the other team. He bashed his knee and we whisked him away as soon as the game was finished to get it iced. It still hurt him at bedtime, hopefully it will feel better after a good night's sleep.

We came home, forced Small off the XBox and had some lunch and watched The Grand Tour (so inappropriate at times, especially for Smallest). Huffle planned our day out tomorrow while I knitted and the boys played on their tablets. Late afternoon we started a new Harry Potter film (Chamber of Secrets).

 

 

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Daddy smells of sneeze

Huffle had to go into the office this morning and he took full advantage of the Chilli Cook Off they had there at lunchtime. His meeting was cancelled but not before he had driven all the way there.

The boys went off to school. This morning it was around -11* and it felt very cold. Smallest almost went out wearing his thinnest trousers with a big hole on the knee. What is he like? How many times do we have to tell him what to wear for the Weather! I threw the trousers away even though they are his most favourite.

I went off to knitting and attempted to knit my heel. I had to undo many rows and start the heel again but this time with help and supervision from ShopKeeperEl. However I dropped a stitch quite far down and had to undo it all again. When I got home I pulled the sock off my needles and unravelled it all back to way before the heel. I never really liked the colour when I changed it anyway so I used a different wool and sat and put it all right. Obviously I had to stop to make dinner and eat it but I finished the one heel tonight before bed. I am very happy with it despite my hand hurting from knitting too much on too small needles. I have to get the other one done tomorrow before I forget how to do it again.

Suffolk and I went for lunch at the local cafe and then went looking for storage boxes for her again. She didn't get any. Just before she left to go home, she decided to take me through the drive through to teach me what to do. It all went so quick and I couldn't understand anything anyone was saying. I don't think I'll bother. I'm not a huge fan of these places that have drive throughs anyway. Today we asked if the shop had 'sticky back plastic' but that didn't translate very well over here. In the end we found to thanks to a helpful patient shop assistant. It is called Contact Vinyl. Of course it is!

At home I knitted until the boys came home and then went and picked up Smallest's friend to come and play for a couple of hours. His parents came to pick him up but neither left their car, wound their windows down or said Hello or thanks for having him. Bit rude! Small did some homework that needed to be finished tonight. It was choosing his top ten songs and explaining why. I didn't get to read it but I was surprised by some of his choices. He isn't feeling too well with a sore throat. I made him a Mummy special Hot Lemon, Honey and root ginger, gave him some aloe gel and made him have painkillers. We asked him to keep his bedroom window open too to give him some fresh air. We need him to be better as we have a day out in Toronto on Sunday.

After dinner, the boys played on the XBox and I carried on knitting while Huffle and I watched TV.

 

 

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No Shadow - Early Spring

It's Groundhog day today and Ontario's Groundhog did not see his shadow and so predicted an early Spring for us. Wahhoooooo.

The boys went to school although nearly missed the bus due to Maurice being early for once in her whole bus driving career. Of course, that was the only time I let them go out later because I don't like them Standing outside in the cold waiting for her. Typical!

Not long after they left, Suffolk arrived for our adventure to Ikea. She left her car here and I drove along the dirty 401. Dirty because everyone's car is dirty from salt and mucky snow deposits and the roads have remnants of dirty snow left on them. We got there minutes after it opened so it wasn't busy. I wanted baskets for our new shoe shelves and she wanted wooden boxes for her hats, handbags, gloves, scarves etc. I came back with six baskets, one of which was half price in the sale room and an IPad/cooking book stand which I have wanted for ages but they always sell out before I get there.

The drive home was better than the drive there, despite the new snow falling and incredible winds! Huffle had had his lunch by the time I got back so I ate by myself (Suffolk works in the school afternoons) and then I went for a trip to CostCo for a few things.

Late afternoon, ClownRose called to see if I could get MissMoll from the bus as she wasn't back in time but at the last minute MrRose arrived home so I didn't need to do anything. ClownRose was so grateful that I was going to help her out that she brought round a bottle of wine. Ahh bless. I had a glass with my dinner. Lovely.

Small and Huffle went off to football while Smallest and I stayed at home, finished off our Sheep and Wolves film and started watching Finding Nemo. Smallest must have been so little when he last watched it as he can't remember any of it. Good film.

Later Huffle and I watched the new series of The Great Pottery Throwdown (BBC). Love it. Makes me want to Potter again.

 

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Gerf

Small had a busy day today. He got up early and I took him and his snowboarding stuff to school for 7:45am for an 8am basketball practice. He got in the team and they played two games after a full day at school. They didn't win but they played hard and his teacher was pleased. They have a tournament sometime next week I think. The list of questions I asked him to answer before he left for basketball were completely forgotten and I had to call the school later. After his games, he was driven to the ski hill where he had missed his lesson but had time for his hot dog dinner and plenty of snowboarding. Huffle went and joined him later. They had a good time.

Smallest went to school on his own, despite the snow falling during the night and the roads being fairly thick with it, the bus was running. He got to present his castle that he made and he was happy that his drawbridge, attached to a thin stick and string with three knots in it, worked well. This was part of the Pulleys and Gears module they are doing.

I went to aerobics and worked hard. We did 200 various types of squats OUCH and what seemed like hundreds of press ups and lunges, plus I changed my weights from 5lbs to 7lbs and there are two of them so that's 14lbs really!! On the way home I stopped to look at one of the ladies computers. I managed to get her on enough to change her passsword but I think it has properly died!

Lunch with Huffle before he disappeared back into the loft for the rest of the afternoon while I made Cottage Pies for dinner. Today I have clocked up over 12,000 steps, mainly from walking around the house and kitchen. I did many loads of washing and drying too.

It snowed considerably and at one point I was planning on going for a walk and it was a white out blizzard. It did settle but not too badly. Huffle cleared the drive and then it fell on top again. whoops!

Smallest came home. He is asking for lots of cuddles at the moment. He says it's because he is tired. I'm tired too and I never tire of cuddles from my baby - I always say he gives the best cuddles. We played a couple of games of Pictureka, he did some homework and played on his tablet before dinner he practiced piano. One of his tunes, The Entertainer, is going to be his Talent Show entry. Wow, that's a hard one.

This evening I took him to his football practice again. It was nice because Angel was there and we got to sit and chat. It seems the team have a new Coach as well as the old assistant coach. He is one of the Dads, was a coach at another club but got sacked too and the boys seem to like him. Smallest and I came home and watched a bit of a film called Sheep and Wolves.

Huffle and Small came back from snowboarding and it was quite late so small went straight to bed after his shower.

 

 

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