Don't kiss snails!

I had a dream about returning a Rubix cube to Tesco and they were asking me how long I wanted to wait for a replacement or for it to be fixed and then I was woken up by Smallest. To be fair one of our Rubix cubes is broken but it's a bit sad that that's all I ever to dream about!

The boys went to school. Small now has mainly free periods where he reads a book he has already read in order to get a slightly higher mark for his report card. Today he brought home a schedule for his Graduation Trip. They are going to Ottawa and it looks like they are mainly going to museums. One of the evenings they have a dinner dance and he has to take formal wear. Ooh fancy! I hope the weather is better than it has been just lately. Today we had rain, hot sunshine, thunder, more rain, more sunshine, lots more rain and some sunshine. Very weird unsettled weather.

I took Moo to work after the kids went off. We had a brief time in the garden digging up Colchicums before we got rained on and went in for early coffee and a brownie. Eventually the rain stoped and we got to plant, weed and pick strawberries. We had to go in for shelter when it thundered and rained again. At some point the rain stopped very briefly and we went home for lunch with Huffle who had the usual Tuesday Boiled Egg ready for us. We brought home lettuce, a jar of horseradish sauce, a silphium (cup plant) and a stachys.

A very rainy potage

Lovely climbing hydrangea

Moo helped me plant up some plants in our garden before we came in to escape the mosquitoes and Moo went on rain watch to keep an eye on the washing. Of course, it rained again. I don't know what's happening with the weather, it's officially Summer tomorrow!

After dinner we left Small at home watching the Blue Jays and playing on his tablet and took Smallest to his football game which was another far away place. This time Huffle went on the Toll road which was much less stressful, quick and easy. Smallest's team lost but they played hard. The pitch was awful, bumpy and rough with more weeds than actual grass. The ref was terrible and it was the first match that we have been to where our Coach shushed the parents when we should have had a penalty. Smallest played exceptionally well as usual and I made him and Dan men of the match. We got rained on. It was quite cool too!

 

 

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Zero to both is the score

At some point during the night, Huffle decided to put the fan on as it was very hot. Unfortunately our ceiling fan has the light attached so when you switch the light on, sometimes the fan comes on. Also when you turn the fan on, sometimes the light comes on. Last night I was startled awake by the light. I wondered what it was.

The boys went to school. Both are winding down now. Small found out that it's pointless to go to school on Thursday (his graduation from Elementary school) as there would be no work to do and no one else would be there in his grade. Ummmmm. Smallest got invited to a paintball party this coming weekend and is very excited. I had to sign the obligatory waiver saying he could be shot, blinded, disabled and I would not sue. Ha! We'll see about that!

Huffle worked mainly from Small's bedroom and was found skulking by the barn when his new solar lights from Vietnam were delivered. I helped him to string them and have no idea what they will look like. We'll have to wait until the sun goes down or maybe even tomorrow when they get some solarness.

I left Moo doing washing and went to my exercise clas which is normally in the afternoon but we switched it around. Although my arm is better after last week, I did trap a nerve in my shoulder and it is now suffering. ExerciseNic made sure all the exercises we were doing were not hurting me though.

Once home, I had my shower and Moo and I went to get our hair cut. Moo likes her hair being cut here and I only have mine cut once a year (except it might have been longer!). Moo had a lovely cut and I had half of my hair cut (ie half the length). I think I had about five inches off but it needed it despite me saying I wanted it on my shoulders, it's a little higher than that but nice.

We came home for lunch with Huffle and introduced Moo to our occassional lunchtime viewing programme, Gotham. I'm not sure she was impressed and to be fair it was a bit weird today. We went to the paint shop and picked a white/grey for the bathroom. The greys were so varied it was difficult. We popped to the cafe for a coffee/tea and went in a couple of shops before coming home. We bought Small some shorts and Smallest some ice poles (freezies).

Moo sorted washing and sat in the sunshine while I made dinner. The boys came home. Smallest helped me to clean out PeterCrouch before setting the table and playing on his tablet. Small cleared the table before Smallest set it and he too went on his tablet. No piano lessons today, I thought I would give them a break after their recital.

After dinner Huffle took Smallest to his football practice, I took Small to his football practice and Moo went with Garfunkel to the Garden Club on my behalf and learned how to prune.

Lovely second flowering from our clematis

Small's team won 2-1. He was the Captain and he organised his team very well. They only conceded a goal when small came off for a break. I walked round and round the track until I did over 12,000 steps and then sat and watched the game. Towards the end there was thunder and lightning but they carried on playing.

We currently (10pm) have a storm warning that lasts until the early hours of the morning. Small got up not being able to sleep as it was too warm and too noisy. Huffle disappeared into the basement. Smallest slept and Moo went to bed.

 

 

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Little Bob Big Shorts*

This morning we made Huffle's Fathers Day breakfast of thick toast and various spreads. It was a very nice change to what we normally have. Afterwards he opened his card and presents. Plants (knifophia, hollyhock and primula), a spoonerfly for the garden, some fudge and a painting from Smallest. Plus we gave him the big smurf from the garage sale last week which was at DonNoQuotey's house, which he was very pleased with. We sent Huffle onto the porch to chill while we set up the presentation.

Today we performed BritainsGotTalent. The sofa was set with our Union Jack tablecloth with upturned ramekins for buzzers and a foil covered bowl for the golden buzzer. Smallest was dressed in a suit as DavidWally, Small had a shirt open showing a hairy chest as SimonCoward. Moo had on a low dress as AmandaHolding and I had a long dress and hair up as AlyeshaPixie. We played our video, beautifully edited and put together by Small and ad libbed through the performance with Huffle watching as our audience. I think he liked it.

We all cleared up and got ourselves slowly ready for Smallest's football practice. The weather started off today with extremely heavy rain and a bit of thunder but by the time we got to football it was scorching hot again. We found a place in the shade and played Top Trumps. Moo is truly one of the Jammiest game players EVER! At the end of the practice, Smallest gave one of his coaches a packet of Walkers Cheese and Onion Crisps that Moo had brought over for him. His Dad is from Leicestershire so he knows walkers very well and was extremely happy but said they probably wouldn't get home before he ate them all.

Feeling hungry, we headed for our favourite pizza place and all had a calzone. Yum yum. After our dinner we went out to the lake where we were stopped by a security man and told we couldn't have a BBQ without a licence. It was very busy and our aim was just to wander the beach and sit and relax (as Smallest had forgotten his shoes and was still wearing football boots!!). However the beach was gone due to the very high water levels of the lake. There was nothing. Instead we sat and watched the kids playing on the Splash Pad (not ours as they were either too old or not hot enough). We tried to push Moo in the water fountains but she knew what we were trying to do and managed to escape. *So we watched a tiny boy with shorts too big who was desperate to join in the fun but a little too scared to go through the water jets. It was nice just sitting and chilling and laughing at the little ones.

Back home we chilled on the porch with an ice cream and had a visit from MrsRoyal. We watched the final of BritainsGotTalent and the boys went to bed.

 

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MrBenn and the Tornado

For some reason we all got up early today. We decided as it was going to be a busy day, that we would have pancakes (well Moo decided, as we gave her the choice of breakfasts this morning). Everyone helped and we sat and merrily chomped our way through them.

Smallest and Moo played table tennis and Small and I made a start on Huffle's 'Father's Day thing'. It took us most of the morning and Moo and Smallest joined us and helped. I think we are all ready for Fathers Day now bar the fact we didn't have any present for him at that stage.

We weren't going to go out this morning but as the boys had their piano recital this afternoon we decided to go out to Port Perry and look for presents and go for an ice cream. It was hot and Moo and Huffle went off for ice cream while the boys and I went to the farmers market to see what we could find. We didn't do so well as I ran out of money so we got an ice cream, found Moo and Huffle and watched the dragon race that was going on at the lake. The boys and I went to a few more shops and finally got in the car and went off to the Recital.

Today there were six kids playing. They all did well and you can tell their pieces are getting harder. We had snacks (cheese biscuits and strawberry Shortbread yum yum) and drinks (lemonade) afterwards and a chat with everyone. We left just as the rain started and a few rumblings of thunder and then on the way home we had a storm warning, then a tornado and hail warning. Not long after we got the unmistakable siren on the radio informing us of a tornado nearby and to go home immediately which scuppered our plans to get Huffle something else. He had to drive though zero visibility rain, thunder and lightning and bearing in mind he does not like storms one little bit, he did very well shielding his eyes from the lightning, peering through the rain and trying to find the road. It was not very nice but we made it unscathed.

Ew and Smallest

The recital boys (the other three were girls and were not allowed on the same seat as them!)

We sat at home waiting for the storm to subside which was heading straight for us but in the end it missed us and we went back out to pick up some nice bread for tomorrow's breakfast and tonight's tea. The boys chose some nice plants for Huffle while he went off for supplies. Outside it looked like there had never been a storm nor rain. The puddles had dispersed and the sun was out again, just a little less hot. Weird!

We watched Britains Got Talent with our tea.

 

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Pallets and Cucumber Pins

Smallest had to go to school early so he could get to his Robotics Competition. He was very excited and chatted all the way in his rooby roo voice. His team got sixth place out of fifteen and a medal. He was pleased and had fun. He made a catapult that could fly over a wall! Small got to teach one of the Grade 5's how to play the Tuba so he has someone to take his place in band when he leaves.

Huffle worked from home and cut the grass and tended to the pool. Moo and I went off early to the Mall to look for a dress for me for Small's graduation. I don't want anything too special as it would be nice to be able to wear it again and I didn't hold out much hope as I am a peculiar size and shape. However, I didn't realise how peculiar I was until I started trying things on. Also we got to Mall too early as the shops don't open until 10am. WHAT?!? Oh yes I had forgotten. So we started with a coffee which was too hot to drink so we had to be very Canadian and wander round with our lidded cups. We probably went into about ten shops (bearing in mind I'm not really a clothes shopper and I don't really know which shops are good and which are bad!). I tried a few things on and one was okay and we said we would remember it if we couldn't find anything else. Mostly all the things were horrendous and it should really guilt me into dieting.....................

We did end up with two dresses which were so cheap it doesn't matter if I don't ever wear them and one of them just had too much material but we wondered if a bit of sewing might make it better. We are going to have a look tomorrow to see if we can do anything. I have a pair of shoes that go with everything and I love them dearly but I can't find them. They would have been perfect for Graduation as I have to dance with Small and he is so tall and my shoes are so high. I hope I find them.

We met up with Suffolk and two of her friends for a birthday lunch. It was very nice and relaxed and we stayed for ages before coming home in time for the the kids to get back.

Huffle had been in the pool. I could tell because his shorts and towel were on the line. That prompted us to go and see if it was warm enough. It was 24* and Smallest went straight in, a dive bomb. I followed (brrrr). It was cold but once you got out and sat in the hot sun (31*) and back in the pool again it was nice. Small came in and was followed by Moo. There was plenty of silliness and just as Small got out to play on his IPad, Huffle came in too. We bought some nice chairs up and sat and relaxed for a while watching Smallest and Huffle play before we went in for dinner.

This evening we left Huffle watching the BlueJays and went into the loft to film our Fathers Day Spectacular. We cannot say anymore ..............................

 

 

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It's only five hours to Alaska

Huffle went in to the office this morning. The boys went to school. Smallest presented his Wolverine (the animal not the superhero) project to his class. Smallest had a presentation from MAD which talked about drink driving. He said it was pretty much common sense but I think it's an important topic to discuss.

Moo and I had a nice late breakfast whilst waiting for MrBasement to come and put the bathroom shelves in. He spent all morning here building them and fitting them and I was very pleased with the results. Previously he wanted to make them out of melamine but I wasn't convinced and so he bought wood and I think it was a good choice.

I took Moo for a walk down to Garfunkel's house as she had gone for a forest walk last night and picked some wild rhubarb (she knows I like rhubarb). We had a nice chat with her and came home with a bag of lovely rhubarb. Plus she is going to take Moo to the Garden Club on Monday for a pruning demonstration (and goodies of course) because Huffle and I will be at football with the boys. I'm hoping she remembers some of it to tell us afterwards.

When we got back MrB had nearly finished and came and had a cup of tea and some chocolate with us before going on to his next job. After we had lunch we went off to Costco for a few bits. Today we got to try some Chia Seeds in yoghurt (yuk), some cantaloupe melon, sweet crisps and Moo had some berries that were too pippy. We also popped to Solutions for bathroom stuff. We picked up three baskets in the sale and an Eggy Boiler.

Still needs painting

We got back just in time for the kids coming home. We made fish cakes for dinner and afterwards played badminton and set up the golf net so the boys could try out their new clubs. We came in in the end due to too many mosquitoes.

Lovely blooms

 

 

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A plethora of pigs

I woke up to horrible news once again. The fire in the tower block in London. How very sad and awful.

Everyone slept so well and no one woke up on time. Luckily Small woke us at 7:30am and our day began. The boys went to school and Small got his High School Schedule. For his first semester (a term) he has Maths, English, Science and French but for his second semester he has easy subjects such as Music, Business Technologies, Geography, Gym. That's a difficult start to the year but at least he will get it out of the way, plus he will have done his community hours already too (he is doing a summer camp for Councellor in Training which gives him his full hours (40) helping at other camps). Smallest brought home his Roman work where he had made the Mouth of Truth. He got an A for this (he was disappointed he didn't get an A+ as he only missed out because his teacher clicked on the wrong presentation which had a slide missing!).

I went to aerobics and did half a class (ie one armed) though my arm is feeling much better. It was very hot in there today but there were many laughs. I came home and went straight out to buy food. The cashier was very nice and friendly but did ask me about my red skin. I told her I had just come from an exercise class and she asked no more.

Huffle and I had lunch together, watched some Gotham and I went for my shower before going to pick up Moo from the airport. Whilst gettting dry, I thought I would check whether her plane was delayed or on time. In fact it was due in early and was landing 25 minutes earlier than planned. I had to leave fairly quickly with wet hair.

The traffic was heavy but moving on the way there and I made good time. I gave directions to a lady who didn't know the airport who was meeting someone off the same plane. The fact that I sent her the wrong way was irrelevant, she found it in the end. She asked me whether it was true the 'elevator' wasn't working, how long it took to get through customs and where the toilets were. Then I met a lovely man who was meeting his brother in law and wife off the same plane and we chatted about the fact his wife was from Rugby UK and had had been in Canada for 58 years. Moo appeared and when she tried to get to me, she was blocked by a young couple snogging. She kept saying excuse me but they were locked together. They did apologise eventually but Moo just said she was jealous. The traffic home was horrendous and we crawled along for half of the journey. When we finally got free of the slowness, we decided to come off the highway early which was a mistake because we got stuck in the worst three lanes into one lane traffic and couldn't get out. I tried to change lane but couldn't get back in so we went to the next exit and then we got stuck there for ages too. Once off the highway we got stuck at every single traffic light. I was fed up of driving by the time we got home.

More Jedi in the airport.

The boys were full of smiles and hugs as soon as she came through the door. Her bag was emptied instantly while I made some burgers from roasted parsnip and lentils. Yum yum. The boys all had Huffle made beef burgers. The boys picked a treat from Moos bag after dinner and the Huffle and I took Small to his football practice. Moo and Smallest stayed at home.

Small's field was in a locked fenced area. Unfortunately no one turned up to unlock the fence and everyone had to climb over a six foot chain link fence. I have never seen that field unlocked yet though Huffle has once. It's very unfair to make the boys climb over, one side gravel and the other grass. What happens if one of them fell or got stuck on it? Very bad! Huffle and I had a walk round the track several times and sat and watched for the rest. Small worked very hard.

The terrible fence and our shadows

Smallest was in bed when we got home, Moo had read to him and he was reading his new Beano comic. Small showered and went to watch his TV in bed and we watched a Life Swap thing on BBC. A fisher woman from Lancashire swapped lives with a business woman from Taipan. It was really good and very interesting.

New bloom

 

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