-26* to +24* in three hours

A terrible night's sleep from Huffle and I but the kids slept beautifully. The alarm went off at 2:45am - not nice. I woke the boys up. I can't believe how quickly they got themselves dressed (bit different to a school day). Huffle wanted us to be in the car by 3am and we managed 3:05am due to the fact that I couldn't get the front door to lock, thankfully in the end it did. We had packed everything in the car last night and when we got in the car my phone wouldn't switch on due to it being too cold. The temperature was -20* (feels like -26*). The car (we went in Huffle's) was very sluggish and slow and the heater took for ever to get going. It was soooo very cold.

By the time we got to the airport car park we were toasty warm and then we had to reluctantly ditch our coats, hats and gloves and walk to the monorail. Everyone's teeth were chattering but at least it didn't take us long to get inside where it was warm again. Huffle had done all of our online checking in etc so we joined the bag drop line, only to be told that we had to print out our baggage tags. Out of line and back to the machines showing it each of our passports and then back on line to drop our bags. Except that you don't drop your bags, you get them weighed and then take them with you to US border which is in the Canadian airport. Luckily our queue was much shorter than the Canadian queue. Our border official had a sense of humour which is helpful at 4am. He tried to copy our accents, talked about football and laughed when I said 'Orlando' in a British way! After being fingerprinted and photographed (not the kids) we went and dropped our bags off and joined the customs queue where we met Craig Revel Horwood (or a lookout/soundalike).

Out of the four of us, they chose me to be swabbed (I must look more dubious) and then the machine randomly picked out Smallest to be searched. They swabbed him instead of searching him and we went off to find some breakfast. Starbucks was the only place we could find open at that time. Just before 6am we boarded our little plane. Three seats each side of an aisle with very little leg room and we watched the sun come up as we took off. The boys played on their gadgets (no films for us today).

Smallest's 'smelly' basking in the sunshine on the plane.

One the plane there was one toilet for the whole plane (obviously not including posh section), which caused a little amount of trouble towards the end of the flight when everyone decided they wanted to go at the same time. I only go if I really have to (not a fan of those small spaces especially when as soon as I get in there, the clouds decide to be very bumpy) and the rest of the family waited for landing.

We found our way to baggage claim and picked up our bags easily and then went to get our hire car. A bit of a sales spin on trying to sell us every kind of insurance, toll pass, extra bigger car etc etc and then we were on our way. We were all hungry so stopped at a diner place. It wasn't great but it was okay and they were nice people. Huffle then took us straight to a beach where we donned our shorts and sandals and plonked ourselves right down.

The boys went straight into the water even though it felt really icy to me. The waves were huge (quite big Mrs Rumbleskins) and were knocking the kids over. No-one else was in the water and we later found out that there was quite an undercurrent there which is probably why no-one was swimming (though it really was cold in there). It was quite cloudy but still lovely and warm and then it started to rain. Then it got heavier and we decided to drive the 1.5 hours to our house and pick up some food on the way. The traffic was horrendous but we found it in the end. Smallest looked at it from the outside and said "this is the worst holiday home ever, I at least expected two floors!". The cheeky monkey. Once he got inside and found we all had a room each and we all had a bathroom each and the pool was heated, he decided it was the best place ever and wanted to live here for the rest of his life.

We popped to the supermarket for food and a kindly man packed our bags and then walked us to the car with our trolley. This made Huffle very uncomfortable and he said "I can take it from here" but he insisted. He even put the bags in the boot, so Huffle felt obliged to ask him if he should tip him. The man said not to feel obliged, it was just part of the service. Huffle edit - for those who know Larry David it was Definately one of those moments.

When we got back we all went into the pool. It was lovely. We played for a while and then got out and had a quick bite and a drink and then all had showers. This was a rigmarole as I had only brought one bottle of shower gel due to the fact I thought we had one bathroom between us. I ran between Small and Smallest's bathroom passing things to and fro. They put their clothes away and Smallest ended up in Small's room watching his TV (but he wasn't allowed in the bed!!!).

It has been a very long day and we have been up for hours and hours. I hope we sleep tonight.

 

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Hours Away from warmth

Both boys were still in bed when I got up. Small was asleep and had to be woken and said "but aren't we going on holiday?" And Smallest lay in bed reading his book. "I thought we had to stay in bed because we were going on holiday". Tomorrow - you wallies! Then Smallest came downstairs wearing the clothes we had put out for him to wear on the plane.

-21* with windchill of -30* this morning which actually hurt my bare ankles as I was looking for sun hats in the sun room (sun room Pah, we should be calling it the chiller at the moment as there is no way you can go in there voluntarily). Despite the coldness, I made sure the boys were outside and ready for the bus this morning.

Huffle worked from the bunker and I ran around the house looking for things we hadn't yet packed, including my sun hat which I was convinced was hidden under a couple of feet of snow when we built the snowmen originally. I never did find it!

Huffle worked from the bunker and I spent the day washing, packing, charging, clearing, tidying and sorting. I managed a Skype with Moo and a quick Skype with Grandma and Grandad.

During the charging of various devices we lost the DS charger and found it again, we realised Small's IPad wasn't ever going to charge ever again,

When the boys came home they showered, tidied their rooms, packed their flight bags and played on the wii. There was some confusion over whether the piano teacher was coming or not (Smallest passed on a message!!!) and she never appeared so we had dinner early, cancelled Scouts and Beavers and watched Tv and went to bed early.

See you in Florida (hands waving frantically with an excited grin on face).

 

 

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Hello John

More snow overnight accumulated. We think about 6" fell and it carried on for the rest of today. Relentless!

After breakfast, Huffle went off to the walk in doctors and the boys and I played Tumblin' Monkeys and Super Mario Bros. Huffle came back after being diagnosed as having an infection (he has stuff to make him better now). We left the boys playing on the wii and packed all their holiday gear (definitely packed Small's favourite small's!).

Huffle and the boys played on the wii while I finished off my knitting. I now have one Yoga sock which I ended up making in just two days! I might take the other one to do on the plane.

Out and about

No snow in the car park but a nice big puddle

We went out for a late lunch. It was a nice relaxing place and we took our time. Whilst I was taking photos, I noticed that someone close by to me was using AIRDROP (for those not familiar with such technology, airdrop allows you to drop photos onto another's Apple device quickly). It said that John was close by so we took a photo to send to him.......

But we chickened out at the last minute. It would have been funny though wouldn't it?

The restaurant we were in had 2-1 cake offers so we took advantage and brought two pieces home for tea later. Back home we started on the unending task of clearing the snow. Everyone got stuck in. The boys were working to earn money for holiday. Eventually we finished and the boys decided to tunnel through our biggest snowman while Huffle and I went for a walk down to the bottom of the garden. Huffle didn't quite make it though as he got stuck clearing the snow off the trampoline. We cleared all the snow off and then came in for a cup of tea that Small had made for us.

Shovelling, climbing, snow angels.

Trees, icesabres, icicles and Rusty fence

Trampolines, shovelling, snow, garden, bench and more snow

Everyone played on their gadgets (well I was blogging, is that playing?).

Tea was eaten whilst watching Brother Bear and the end of the snowboarding film from yesterday and then we sent our bears to bed so we could eat the last of the cake they didn't eat.

 

 

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But they're my best pants!*

More snow through the night making the roads, cars and drive completely covered once again, adding to the huge pile of snow everywhere and making everywhere feel artic like. We had a nice lie in and the bigger boys watched football while Smallest and I played on the wii. I knitted and watched a bit of the sewing bee while the football continued and the smaller boys played on the wii until they argued and we sent them off for showers.

We played a few games with lunch in between and it carried on snowing. The forecast for Florida is looking nicely warm for when we arrive and I think we are all very ready for some sunshine (though there is rain forecast there too).

Another classic family favourite - Prehistoric Park. The boys thought it was hilarious that Huffle had to play as a blonde girl!

The kids stuck these stickers on Huffle's back without him knowing.

After dinner we watched a film about snowboarding, Huffle had a bath and eventually the boys went to bed.

There has been no snow plough all day on our road. Where is it? We are hoping it doesn't come during the night and wake us up!

I feel like we are trapped in our home with the snow making it difficult for us to get out and the cold making it too cold to do anything. We HAVE to get out tomorrow!

*Small talking about his holiday pants (undies) when we told him to take a clean pair from his holiday pile.

 

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Granny Sitting

Another broken night's sleep due to the ferociousness of the winds outside. When we got up this morning the new temperature gauge I brought yesterday (I think the old one froze!) said it was -21* so I looked at the weather forecast and it said it felt like -32*. Imagine how pleased I was then when the school bus failed to stop, the driver just cast a cursory glance in our direction and drove off. When it is that cold outside I make the boys stay inside. The bus was early and should not have gone. Arrrgggghhhh. I had to drive in my Pj's with my long coat over the top (not even any pants/undies). Not impressed at all.

Ice patterns on Small's window

On the plus side, when I got home, Small's sandals had arrived from Next as promised. Brilliant (thanks Mrs Rumbleskins). I finished my hastily left breakfast, whilst watching a bit of Britsh Sewing Bee and then got ready for picking up The English Rose for a nice calm morning of knitting.

It was a full table there today with plenty of silly slobber. I managed to get quite a bit done. I got offered a job today. One of the ladies at knitting asked me if I wanted to sit with her Grandmother two to three days a week for a few hours each time. Not doing anything special just being company for her. (I had previously mentioned I might be looking for a part time job and I already help her Mum do gardening in the Summer). I originally wanted to work for some company for myself and to meet people of my own age so I told her this but she asked me to think about it. She also wants me to garden for her too.

Suffolk and I went for a leisurely lunch in the cafe and had a good laugh and a chat before going to the post office and chatting in there about the Canadian flag. It is 50 years old this year and I was asking what the previous flag was like. Apparently it had a small Union flag on it (I like the sound of that). We did some perusing in a book shop and then came home.

I noticed our barn had some amazing icicles growing from it so I went to take some photos. Unfortunately the snow is very deep and although I trod very carefully I sunk and got snow in my boots brrrrrrrrr. Huffle thought I was a burglar and came to challenge me as I let myself in (he can't hear anything in the bunker, he didn't even know I had taken the kids to school this morning).

I sorted washing and prepared dinner and before I knew it, the kids arrived home ON THE BUS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THIS MORNING! A quick snack and drink, a grab of their towels and swimming stuff and off we went for another weeks swimming lessons.

The boys did well at swimming, Smallest in particular is much improved in his breast stroke. When we got home Huffle almost had dinner waiting for us which we were very grateful for as we were hungry. We watched the end of Kangaroo Jack (the one with the kangaroo wearing a hoodie!!).

The injury list has decreased considerably and the only person suffering at the moment is Huffle with his hip!

 

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Product of England - Wine Gums

When the big footed boy and the big balding guy (Huffle edit - yet somehow devishly handsome) were snowboarding last night, they said it was getting really cold and that the snow was blowing up the slopes. So during the night, it must have got colder and colder because although the sun was shining really brightly and it looked a really nice day, it was in fact -17*C with windchill of -28* but it still felt even colder than that!

I slept really well and my toe was much rested and although still very bruised and sore, is feeling much better. Phew, I did not want a wheelchair around Disney like Grandma had (especially because the cast of Lion King pat your head sympatheticallyish like bongo drums). Small was complaining of a sore leg (football and snowboarding related), Smallest has an ache in his lower back (I took away a pillow as he had snuck another one in his bed), Huffle has a sore shoulder where he did a 360* fall apparently and I have aerobic aches. That concludes the illness and soreness rosta for today.

The boys went to school, one very grumpy and upset with me (big foot) and the other one in a silly chimpy mood. Huffle worked in the bunker and after a slow breakfast and a half an episode of Call the Midwife, I went out for some retail therapy.

I stupidly parked in the middle of the car park where I then walked from the car to the various shops (about four). It was soooo cold I really thought my ears would snap off. I came out of one shop with my coat undone, no hat, gloves or scarf and my nose hair (just a delicate amount a lady would have) instantly froze. I ran to the other shop and shuddered as I walked in. I got a few funny looks and a couple of sympathetic ones too. It's really difficult because the car is well heated and the shops are overheated so unless you can get dropped off at the door, you freeze. I bought myself a couple of pairs of new shorts and found a few tops in the sale. I was very pleased with myself and did a bit of birthday shopping too. Its amazing how good you can feel after a bit of shopping - should have done it days ago but then I probably wasn't in the right frame of mind then!

I had a bit of a skid on the way home. Although the roads were fairly clear of snow, the wind was so strong that it kept blowing the snow across the road. I came across a pile of snow and skidded all over the place. I tried to remember that you should always steer where you want to go and I think I tried to do this but my car was beep beep beeping at me telling me I had lost control - NO! Anyway, no damage done.

I got home in time to have a lovely lunch with Huffle in the warmth of our own home with the wind whistling dangerously outside. I did my holiday ironing and started to pack my case so I can concentrate on helping the kids later with theirs. We checked the weather report and the temperatures are variable between 18* and 30* wahoooo - that's positive too, not minus.

I finished watching Call the Midwife, did some tidying and started on dinner. Today is our pancake day. Not Canadian Pancake Day or British Pancake Day (we were busy Tuesday) but our house's pancake day, therefore I made 'proper pancakes' as Smallest calls them, the crepe type, the thin ones you toss on the air and they fall on the floor. The ones you add lashings of freshly squeezed lemon juice to and a fair sprinkling of icing sugar and roll them up. Ummmmmmm.

When the boys came home from school, Small was my friend again but Smallest had the grumps this time. I asked them both to do homework, showers and start packing. Smallest decided he didn't have time for all of that so stood there arguing with me for 20 minutes about it all. I told him if he didn't stand around moaning he could have done it by now but he replied that I was stopping him doing his stuff because I was talking to him!!!, OMG! I think the pair of them need a holiday! I know I need a holiday!

After dinner, Huffle and Smallest played on the wii but Smallest go upset because he lost and because Small went to play on it next (he has a huge problem with Small staying up later than him especially if he is playing on a gadget).

Small and I played a game and the boys finally went to bed.

 

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Smoozing

Last night, as we were putting the kids to bed, I stubbed my little toe on something sticking out from under the bed. It hurt but not as much as other times when I've done it. However, it started to swell and I couldn't bend it and then a bruise started to come out on one side of it. I iced it during the evening and then had to put a wheat pad on it as I couldn't get it warm when I was in bed. All through the night, everytime I turned over, it hurt so much. I have stubbed many a toe during my time and am convinced I've broken a few or at least cracked them. I know there is nothing you can do with toes so I just hoped that rest would help.

This morning it swelled again and the bruising was more and it hurt to put my slippers on. I got the kids off to school and practised wearing my trainers to see if I could do aerobics. I felt I could and I went leaving Huffle in the Bunker.

I didn't give Aerobics my all as I was scared I would do more damage but I did most of it (except the jumping lunges). I came home, had a quick shower and left to have lunch with Suffolk. She made me cheese on toast which was perfect with a cup of tea and silly chatter. We both went off to Pottery where this week we made a Sushi Boat (or a loose change and key holder if you are me) with chopstick holders (or a curly fish if you're me). I had clay left over so I made a baby sushi boat and another curly fish (they reminded me of those red papery fish you get in crackers that roll up in your hand). Although this was quite easy I found it so therapeutic and the chatter was interesting. For example, out of six of us, two are British, one is Swiss/French and the others are Canadian. Todays conversation went something like this.

Canadians : well the British don't annunciate which is why we can't understand them!

British: you mean how we say Toronto and Water and you say Torronno and Waader?

Canadians: Oh Yes! But the British don't say any vowels, just the 'A' like they do in Australia! They also talk really fast whereas we speak slowly!!!!!

Britosh: WHAT! What are you talking about? Rightio then!

It was quite funny because then we started noticing the Swiss/French teacher was saying "Smooz out ze molecules". So we all started smoozing the clay. They all joked they were going to make something really special next week because I wasn't there. On our fifth week we will be glazing all of our pots. I can't wait. One of the girls who has been lots of times before, uses all the leftover clay to add to a wind chime she made out of old forks and clay. Clever, I might have to try that.

I'd like to get the boys signed up for this, I think they'd eally like it.

I popped back to Suffolks for a cuppa and then came home where I found Smallest had finished his rough homework and Huffle was nearly finished with work. I played on the wii with Smallest until Huffle finished and then I made dinner while Huffle and Smallest played Football on the wii.

After dinner, Huffle went off and joined Small on the slopes while Smallest and I played a bit more Mario and then watched TV before bed.

They said it was freezing but both had a lot of fun.

 

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