ugh blurgh

Sunday miseries.
Ailsa had 2 days off school last week, after puking up Monday night. pillows, carpets, duvets, blankets...just everything needs a thorough cleaning. But we got through that, and had a cheery few days, went bowling with another family, we've been sledding and making lots of crafts.
But then last night, it was Heather's turn. And John's turn. And my turn. So we have spent the day wrapped up, fire on, slowly sipping tea and juice, watching lots and lots of tv and creeping towards feeling ok again.

Now, inspired by Tracey, I will point out all the positives.
It is Sunday, so no one had to go to school or work.
Even though John and I are both ill, neither of us were all alone for the day to try to cope. And we could take turns doing 10 minute bursts of cleaning before taking yet another nap.
Sunday children's movies on tv, Strictly Come Dancing, Cbeebies.
Ailsa. She helped enormously and cheerfully.

Can everyone cross their fingers that this bug bypasses Claire and Laura please.

fluffly snowflakely

Weee!! We have had 2 days of lovely fluffy snow to play in. Heather made a sweet little snowman. They all tramped around in their Canadian snowboots (thank you super sale shopper Maria), the label of which reads, "designed and manufactured for harsh Canadian winters". And I am just back from an evening walking in the snow with my friend/neighbour. She invited me to a shopping evening at her kids' school. I bought lots of super little stocking stuffers, had lots of nice chat and two free glasses of wine, downed very quickly! Hence, all the blog exclamation marks!!!!!

Sunday Musings

In case you were wondering, Heather earned herself 7 pence this week!!! I really thought she might only have 2 clear days, but she seems to be mastering the art of self control.

Spent the weekend helping with lots of homework, reading lots of the papers, dancing, watching Strictly Come Dancing, building sparkly girly forts out of the packaging from the new fridge-freezer, playing in the park and TKMaxxing it. Sharon has 4 new party season outfits and John has a new leather coat. (Canadians: TKMaxx=Winners).

No pictures of my fabulous new haircut. I can't claim to have channeled my inner Halle Berry, more my inner Jamie Lee Curtis, or Judi Dench. But I look and feel pixie-fabulous. There are no pictures because it is widely believed in this household that the family scapegoat (who, very conveniently knows no words in her defense) has sneakily dropped it in the garbage.

A few recent cute Claire comments:
*getting ready for school in the morning, me shouting to John, "What time is it?" Claire shouts, "It's 7-2-5!"
*Mum, is it Friday today? "No, it's Tuesday". pause. Oh, I LOVE Tuesday!
*as soon as you sit down at the table, "Is zere any desseht?"
*and singing, "I HOPE MY LEGS DON'T BREAK!.........walking on, walking on da moon."

A New Behaviour Chart

We have used a handful of behaviour charts sporadically with Ailsa and now it is Heather's turn. Why are they excited when I threaten to make a chart? Heather woke up this morning and said, "Where's the chart? Did you make the chart? You said last night you would make the chart!"
This chart will be to make a black mark for every.single.foot.stomp.she.does. At the end of the week, she can have a penny for every day that is clear of black marks.
Let's hope it helps me because my instinct, when she is stomping, is to stomp LOUDER and HARDER with both my big adult feet and shout "Stop Stomping!" I suspect I will be making thick, deep black marks on the chart. But seriously, this has got to stop. Long-time readers of this blog may remember me referring to Heather's foot stomping all the way back in February 2007. That's three and a half years. The floorboards are wearing thin.

Wishing it wasn't so cold and dark

So I'm looking over the holiday pics and remembering how fun and relaxing and warm it was...
a long lunch out:messing about in boats with Dad:

flirting with a fisherman:

swimming with Mum near Turtle Island:

Laura's a Leaf Kicker

You can put her down on a path and she heads straight for the scrunchy leaves. These pictures are from the last couple of weekends, enjoying the cold fall sunshine.

Happy Halloween

The 4 witches of camperdown set out down the road terrorising their neighbours, stealing candies all the way, telling well-rehearsed Jokes - Ailsa the spider, mummy Heather, tiger Claire and Laura pumpkin. Plus school Halloween disco and Rainbows and Brownies Halloween parties....it's over for another year.