Day 224

It's the small things in life that make you smile. But when you smile, they become the big things. The part of your day that you're going to remember. While I did fall up the stairs, swear and hurt myself today...that's not what I'm going to remember in years to come. No, instead I will remember the words "Thank you Maija, this is the best quiche EVER made!" coming out of a 4 year old's mouth.

That's how most of my day was today. Filled with smiles. I woke up when my alarm went off at 6:30, but thought, NOOOOO 15 more minutes PLEASE! And I reset my alarm. Not long after, I was laying there, eyes wide open, unable to fall back to sleep. Up I got to get ready. My nylons were not cooperating, so it took me a little longer than usual to get downstairs, but when I did...Nathaniel was the only one up anyways, and I had heard Tim taking care of breakfast for him, so I wasn't in any kind of a hurry. I heard Tim close the front door, and that's when I started down.

I got Nathaniel's 3rd breakfast, and soon started Josh's 1st. Not long after that, Zach was down and ready to eat. Because Nathaniel and Zach had done their homework last night, like they were asked, they had free time today. The 3 of us sat and played Ludo, while Josh sat on a step and read. After a while, I brought Zach up to do teeth and hair, and then we all got ready to leave. We walked up to the school, and everyone was in a joyful mood. WHAT A NICE CHANGE!

I dropped them off, and then walked up the high street to Boots. When I finished buying what I went for, I walked back to the house. I had decided to wear heels today, so by the time I got home, the bottoms of my feet were really hurting. I never realized how much more difficult it is to walk in heels on uneven surfaces. It's not comfy! I was also pretty hot by the time I got inside. I spoke to my Mom online for a bit, then did some laundry, and checked to see if I had proper ingredients to bake a cake. I didn't. I also remembered Heloise doesn't own measuring cups. Once all of the laundry was on the line, and I had put my own load in, I decided I'd go shopping. I went up to the co-op for the main necessities, and then headed to Braintree for my tea. He wasn't there. Sigh. Before figuring that out though, I had stopped at a few shops in search for a bundt cake pan, and some measuring cups and spoons. I found all but the pan, and when I was picking up the measuring cups...."Don't Stop Believing" came on their speakers! I knew that meant I had to get the ones in my hands. I couldn't stop smiling. Then, as I was making a B line for Starbucks, I spotted Claires and thought...Mayyyyybe I should check there for something I meant to pick up for Toni in Canada. THEY HAD IT! SCORE! I also got a little box to wrap it in, that had the same design. I left there happy, and that's when I discovered the Starbucks guyless Starbucks. Sigh. It brought me down a little...but I was still having a good day, and I had to focus on that. On my way out of Starbucks, I thought I'd run into another store and see if they had something I planned on picking up for someone else. They didn't, but I ended up getting something different, for someone different. - Confused yet? -

When I finished there, it was one more stop to pick something else I'd seen, up for my brother. That was done and in the bag, and I was on my way back to the car. Singing loudly, and smiling all the way home, I wondered if anyone was looking. Then I stopped wondering, and had fun.

When I arrived I realized I didn't have as long as I thought to bake the cake. It was 2 o'clock, and while it was only going to take 35 minutes in the oven...I still had to mix all the ingredients. OOPS! I put on the Glee soundtrack I have on my computer, and I got to work. I had it all done and in the pan ready to go, in good time. I opened the oven, the light on the front was lit up, and I shut the door setting my phone alarm for the appropriate time. I then did the dishes and folded some laundry until the alarm went off. When it did, I opened the oven door to see that nothing had happened. Odd. I re shut it, grabbed my things, prayed it wouldn't burn while I was out, and drove to get the boys.

Josh was the first one out today which is very rare. I was standing at Zach's classroom - where I normally do - talking to Steve and Michelle, when he came out to meet me. Eventually, after thoughts of a burning cake ran through my head, Zach and Nathaniel came out. We walked to the car, and then stopped to talk to Tina. Oops. I then got aggravated when the lady in front of me took AGES to pull onto the High Street. It was my fault I was in a hurry...well...technically it was the oven's, but either way...I should have probably stayed calm. I eventually got back to the house, and ran in to check the cake. Still, nothing had happened. I then realized I hadn't pushed the little hand that looks like he's saying stop, and I vaguely remembered Heloise telling me that that has to be done before the oven will work. OOPS! Glad the cake hadn't burned, but laughing at myself because it could have been done already, I shut the door, left it off, and got back in the car with the boys, to drive to the store to get some icing.

When we pulled into the parking lot Zach was asleep. He didn't want to get out, so using reverse psychology I told him we'd leave him there. Josh and Nathaniel crawled over him...he stood...and then began throwing a bit of a tantrum, pretending to cry and saying he didn't want to go in. I told him it was too late, as we were already in the parking lot, and I didn't care...he was coming in. He repeated himself a couple more times, and not putting up with it, I began to count. The "tears" stopped, and out he got. We closed the door, and he took my hand to cross the street. As we approached, he started talking about how he wanted to buy "Avatar". After hearing the way he worded it, I said oh, do you have money? He said No...but I want to buy it. Hehe. I told him I did not have money for it today (I sillyly, but happily, spent it on others...I didn't tell him that). We went in, and I searched for the icing. I found the exact brand I wanted, but they only had chocolate. I looked around a bit to make sure I wasn't missing it. Up until that point, the boys didn't know what we were there for. When I picked up the chocolate icing, Zach guessed I was making a cake and asked why, and if he could help. I told him it was already done. He then said he was a great dish cleaner, cuz he licks all the spoons. I told him I was sorry, but I had already washed all the dishes too. Oops. He seemed to be alright with it though. Especially when I told him I was making the cake for them. We went to the cash, I asked about the other icing, and it was determined they don't carry it. My Mom was right. <---You can put that in the calendar Mom :) I had seen the brand before, but guess I never paid attention to the flavours they had. Anyway, I paid, and we were on our way. We listened to the music fairly loudly all the way back. I was thinking about how I'd switch it to my CD and play Journey when a certain song ended on the radio, but it turned out I didn't have to! It came on next! I jacked it up, Nathaniel yelled out "JOURNEY!" and I smiled the whole way.

I had told each of the boys what I expected them to do homework wise when we got home, while I made dinner. When we pulled in, Heloise was already home, so Zach asked if he could do his flash cards with her. I told him if she wasn't working, that would be fine. When we walked in the door and he told Heloise he wanted to do his flash cards, she seemed a bit shocked. Mission accomplished.

I made dinner, and Josh read to me. I brought the laundry in from the line and folded it, and I did Josh's spellings with him while Nathaniel worked at the table. I also put the oven on for real, and popped the cake in. Everything was done and on the table. As I was dishing up mine, that's when Zach said "Thank you!" from the table. Standing in the kitchen, I was shocked. I then heard "This is the best quiche ever made!" Wow. That was it. That's all it took for me to breathe a sigh of relief. Those words were soon followed by "well it's Marks and Spencers that made the quiche" from Heloise's mouth...but I chose to semi ignore that. I heard Zach say "Well they can't hear me", and then he thanked them...but Nathaniel thanked me, and Marks and Spencers afterwards as well. When we had all finished eating, the boys had their fruit, and I iced the cake. I did their initials in star chocolates, while they played outside. I went out to tell them it was ready, and if they wanted a piece they could come in. They did, and Zach said he would look at it first to see if he liked it. I cut them all very small pieces, as I wasn't sure they'd eat it. They thought it was chocolate cake, and I told them it was a surprise. Josh said "Yup, it's chocolate". Then they each tasted it. Josh insisted it was carrot cake, and ate it all up. He really seemed to love it. I told him it wasn't carrot, but he doesn't care, he still thinks it is. Nathaniel liked his, but was too full to finish, so he put it to the side. He asked if it was a lot of work. "Did it take a lot to make it?" he said. I smiled, and said "What, you mean like would I be able to make it again another time?" And he said "Yeah!" So I said "If you like it, yes I could". He seemed happy with that response. I think it was Josh's carrot comment that put Zach off, but he says he only likes the icing, not the insides. Oh well, 2 out of 3 isn't bad. Heloise had been talking to me while they were outside, and said the cake smelled good. She then asked what it was, and I told her I wasn't going to tell them, but although you can't taste it, it's Tomato Soup Cake. She said "Oh...ever since your Mom told me that, maybe it's psychological, but I can taste it...I won't tell them though" - I hope she never does, cuz the response was much better than I thought. I cut a small slice for myself, so I could see that it tasted right, and I must admit...it was GOOOOOD! I felt very guilty afterwards though, and will not be having any more.

The boys played outside some more, and I had to set some rules to stop some arguing. I stood outside for a bit, but then told them I was coming back in to drink my tea, but if I heard any crying, fighting or unfairness, they were all coming in. It worked. They were fine. Josh ended up accidentally breaking the net, so he came in to talk to me, but the other 2 went on making tree houses and potions. They asked me to help them, but I was hoping to come upstairs and get started on this pretty quickly so that I wouldn't have such a late night. I don't know how, because I thought I came up at 6:30 ish...I guess it was closer to 7...but it's already 8:30! <--- Wow...how old do I sound? Anyway, I've had my tea, and now I'm going to jump in the shower, then hopefully talk to my Brother and my Mom a bit more, and maybe watch Desperate Housewives before bed. Until tomorrow...Good Night xx