Day 67

*YAWWWWN* Another restless night. I woke up around 1:30, tossing and turning aggravated me, but I eventually fell back asleep, only to wake up again at about 4:30. Ugh. Closed my eyes again, and got to sleep until 6:30. I do like this new - bed early, up early - routine...but to be completely honest, I'd probably like it more if it was - bed early, up late -

So 6:30 rolled around rather quickly, I dragged myself out of bed, and got ready. Opened my little wardrobe - which I have now devoted an entire shelf of, to my make up and nail polish :D - and I picked out some eye shadows to match my hoodie.

Went downstairs to help the boys with their breakfast and homework, and of course, enjoyed a bowl of cereal. Once the 3 of them were done reading, flash cards, and times tables...we started drawing. Nathaniel decided we would have a competition. We would each draw a picture, and when we were finished we would write the name of whose we liked best on a piece of paper that would later be read out. I must admit, I felt pretty special when it was revealed that I won.

Got them all ready, coats, drink cups, bags and shoes...and piled them into the car. I drove Josh and Nathaniel to school, and then when Nathaniel's class went in 10 minutes late...I raced Zach to his school. The two of us listened to his Christmas CD, and he bobbed his head along with the beat. The parking lot was packed as it was market day, and I was sure the lady in the car behind me...was going to get out and punch the lady in the car in front of me, if she didn't get out of our way fast! Horns were honking, and windows were rolled down. The one in front was waving her hand. Then more hand gestures came with angry tones, and rude faces...and then the cars started moving, we all got into spots, and everything was fine. Sort of. (I hate market day). By the time I got Zach to the door it was closed. Luckily there were other people who had dropped their children off at Josh and Nathaniel's school as well, so I wasn't the only one who was late. Zach went in...and of course, his name had been changed to a different hook AGAIN. I don't know why they do that. For sheer confusion I think. We finally found it, hung his coat and jacket, leaving his lunch box on the cart, and he went in without a thought.

From there, as it's relatively close, I went to Starbucks. I didn't get turned around at all this time! I knew exactly where I was going, in each direction! I was so proud of myself. I pulled into the parking lot, and as the shops weren't open for another 10 minutes, I got a great spot. Jumped out and went to Starbucks (beat the rush) and ordered a decaf grande soy dark cherry mocha. The first sip I took...*BING* CHERRY! All I could think of was Joey from friends saying "Bing cherry vanilla...grab a spoon!" The rest of that episode followed in my head, but I won't quote the entire thing as I'm sure if you wanted to watch Friends...you would be doing that instead of reading this. So...as I'm walking back to the car, drinking and quoting (in my head)...I came to the realization that the drink was indeed good...but would I have it again? Probably not. I'm trying to figure out if it was just the mocha that was too much. The hot chocolates in England tend to be a little richer so I'm thinking maybe the dark cherry syrup might taste better in something else...but what? Any suggestions? Oh, and I love their new sleeves!! Look at the snowflakes!!! Do ours have those? I've never noticed. They have all kinds of different tasty treats too!!! But I don't have Mom to share them with :(

I drove away and proceeded home...like I said, no problem there. When I arrived, I took some pictures, cleaned my room up, folded some laundry and looked at the ingredients for the fairy cakes Heloise asked me to make. I found the butter but realized it should have been taken out of the fridge before I begun, so I did that, put it on a plate, and put my shoes back on. Now it was time to go to the grocery store. I found that without a problem too. Missed the turn into the parking lot, but that's nothing new. I knew as soon as I'd done it that I had to turn around. I walked in and found it very hard to get passed the CD's and DVD's without taking a look. So I stopped. I refrained from buying Star Trek (probably only until the next time I see it for sale), and picked up James Morrison's new CD. I then walked over to the produce section (where I was supposed to be), and picked up some fruit for the boys. Plums, Apples, Grapes in my hand, along with my new CD, and I walked to the cash. I walked past the first few and was about to go to the counter where there was just one lady in front of me...and another cashier told me to go all the way back to the front of the store as there was an express line there. I said it was ok...but she didn't seem to care. So I did what she said. I got to the car, and not timing anything right (thinking it would have taken me longer), I set back to Zach's school. When I got there, I was 45 minutes early. Well...I got a good parking spot. Listened to some of my new CD, which was great! Turned the car off...set off the alarm, turned that off...and then set my phone alarm to wake me up in half an hour. I was out like a light. I hope no one was watching me because I was way too exhausted to care what I looked like, and I am sure my mouth must have been open. 30 minutes later, my alarm went off. I woke up and jumped out of the car. Stood in the windy cold for 15 minutes, until they finally decided to open the gate...and luckily Zach was one of the first out. He handed me everything from his art work to his jacket, and luckily I noticed before leaving that he'd forgotten his school bag. He went back for that, and we made our way to the car. I buckled him in, and started the car. He asked if my Christmas CD was in there, so I put it on for him. We're driving along, and all of a sudden he pipes up. We had just finished listening to "Last Christmas" and the song had literally just ended when he said "I'm special!". I laughed quietly and said "Yes, you are!" He said "Why does he want to give something to someone special?" and then said "And what does he want to give them?" - For those of you who don't know, the lyric is "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away. This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special". So I explained the lyrics to him, and that was that. The music went back up and he sat quietly in the back, listening so intently.

I had asked him earlier if he wanted to drop the car off at home and walk up to get the boys. His answer was quite smart, saying "No...then we'd have to stop at the house, get out, and walk...this way, we can drive straight there". So, we pulled up to the school and were early for the 3rd time today. (We got there early this morning as well). We continued to listen to the music, and just as it was time to get the boys...Zach fell asleep. I picked him up, and went into the school yard. After a while he got heavy, but his cuddles were nice nonetheless.

We waited in the wind that didn't seem to bother him, and Nathaniel came out. Josh was soon to follow. We walked to the car and Josh thankfully remembered then, rather than later, that he had forgotten his lunch box for the 2nd day in a row. I helped him cross the street, and he ran back to get it. Once he got back, I got in, started the car, and headed home.

The 3 of them grabbed their snack, and I made dinner. This time in the light! It was much easier. Battered fish, potatoes and green beans were for dinner. Nathaniel tried to figure that out before hand, but I've started a new rule where they're not allowed to ask me what's for dinner because they'll find out when it's on their plate in front of them.

After they ate, no one left the table until everyone else was finished. Almost. I had to start making the fairy cakes...and seeing as Zach was taking AGES to finish what was on his plate, I started cleaning up and told Nathaniel he could leave the table if he was coming to read to me in the kitchen. He did that. Finally Zach finished and brought his plate out to the kitchen (they're learning!) The other 2 had gotten ready for Judo, Nathaniel had some fruit and Josh had his dessert and fruit. Heloise came home, and as Josh and I had been looking for measuring cups, I decided to ask her where they were. She didn't have any! She has scales :| They don't work for small measurements though. Nope, she just guesses. Did you know that 250 grams is the same as 9 spoonfuls of sugar. And if it's 250 grams of self raising flour, it's 9 heaping spoonfuls. If it's just regular flour, it's an even spoonful. You can't just dump it in though...you have to sift it...WHAT?!?!?!?! THEN...get ready for this. You don't mix it yourself, in a bowl, with a spoon. No. You put it in a food processor type thing. Crazy. Anyway, I did that while the boys were picked up for Judo. Zach helped by licking the spoon, and the mixing tool from the processor.

I poured the batter into the paper cups and popped them in the oven. I then mixed what little icing was there, Zach chose the colour and I spread yellow over the tops - until the icing was finished - and placed percy pigs on top. (Those things are deadly. Very addictive. They're not necessarily delicious...but there is something about them). I couldn't finish them all off, as there wasn't enough icing to go around, and we had to wait for Tim to bring home another packet. I placed the ones that were done in the utility room to cool down, and sat with Zach for a bit to watch Tom and Jerry while he gave me cuddles. Once his was cool enough - the icing wasn't solidified, but making a child wait that long is torture - I got up and got his. He polished it off in seconds. That's when I decided it was time for bed. I came up, and had a shower. Checked my e-mails, and now I'm going to upload some pictures, and go to sleep. Good Night xx

OH and I may have forgotten to mention yesterday...Josh learned how to tie his shoes while I was away! Here's a couple of pics of him proving it.