Pointy sticks at the ready... and a few choc biscuits and brews too.

[carrotsandcelery]

blackCat do you have chickpeas in the cupboard? You could make some falafel burgers for yourself? We had them for lunch today & DD1(3.3) still loves them

The falafel burgers for you are a great idea BlackCat. I definitely prefer them made with coriander than parsley though. It is a handy way of using fresh coriander if you have bought a bunch and have lots left.

I have still to hoover the hallway. I had better get moving as the dcs are off to bed in a mo.

I have just drunk a G&T in the bath

Bliss! bessie

I have just hoovered the hallway and most of downstairs, hung a load of washing, PUT AWAY the ironing that dd had to finish and put dd to bed.

Time for a and a film.

Well done on the PUTTING AWAY bit carrots, I managed to put the DDs clothes away yesterday, but CBA to do ours!

IT'S SNOWING!!!

Now to go and read how productive everyone's been today.

Oooo, carrots, a new member of the family. Good luck!

Very envious of bessie's alcohol soaked bath. I don't think I've sat in the bath since I was pregnant (I had special medicated bath stuff to use daily since my skin went all weird).

ScoutCamp had a lovely day, if not very productive. We had a lazy morning and Toddler had a shower with his daddy (which meant I had 15 minutes peace ). We then went to this HUGE fabulous toy/model barn/shed/store thing and spent way too much money on more train things for Toddler (he won't get most of it yet, but we found some things we had never seen before or things were really good price). Toddler had a great time playing with the toys they had out as well as looking at all of the displays.

Ta Das for today:
clean toddler (yay!)
got Toddler ready for the snow (dug out his snowpants (think you might call them snowtrousers or snowdungerees here), got him new boots, made sure he had thick socks for his boots, made sure he had at least one pair of tights that fit (I put him in "girl" tights when it's really cold for an added layer), got him a sled(ge))
made sure we had food/milk for tomorrow (Scoutcamp is at the top of a hill and all roads leading to it are full of those d@mn speed hump things that nearly take off the bottom of the car and trying to get up the hill and over the humps when it's icy is the pits)
washed up Friday's dishes ()
took out recycling to bin
laundry -- bedsheets, work shirts, jeans & sweatshirts, swimstuff

Still to do tonight:
wash up tonight's dishes/pots/pans
hang up laundry (to ensure it's dry)
fold sheets & swim stuff
take out trash to bin

I expect, given the weather (see "made sure had food/milk"), we'll stay at ScoutCamp tomorrow. I full expect Toddler & MrScout to go out playing and of course I'll have to take lots of pictures to send back to AmericanScoutCamp. I have lots of little jobs to do tomorrow like change all of the sheets, iron work clothes, etc. Oh -- and drink lots of hot chocolate!

That is an impressive list Scout. Well done!

It feels like we haven't had a family day out for ages. It is half term next week though so there is a bit more opportunity for a day out soon.

There is a lot coming to the cinema for dcs - I may have to rope my dparents in though as dd wants to see slightly older films now whereas ds is petrified by any hint of peril.

Of course we may just be at home settling the dogs with each other.

Sorry everyone, I got excited about the snow.

Doesn't feel impressive, carrots. Guess I had higher expectations for today.

Oh, I did menu plan for the week and write up a shopping list. Won't go shopping until Monday, though. And I put our bird feeder on the window (got it over Christmas) so hopefully if there are any hungry snowbirds out there they'll come and say hello.

We try to do "family" days at least one day a weekend. Partly because MrScout doesn't get to see Toddler during a normal work week so it's good for the boys to get out and do something together. Sometimes it's something simple like walking into town and going to the coffee shop for a drink (Toddler loves doing this -- it makes him feel grown up to choose his drink from the cold cabinet, then to pick the seat/table and he'll regularly sit with a book while MrScout reads a newspaper). Last weekend we went to one of the parks and fed the ducks. Tomorrow, like I said, will be outside playing in the snow (we have a green space (not big, just a space before the bramble & the path to town) across the road, so a perfect place to get pulled around on a sled(ge) and make snow angels).

Eeek DD1 has snowboots - that is it! The road is white outside now - could be fun in the morning! Hope everyone is warm? My mum bought me some goat (hair) socks last week & they are lovely & warm

bessie We just got TS a pair of wellies with good grippers on the bottom. I'll layer him up in tights and thick socks before putting them on. He needed wellies anyway and since they'll go over & under his snowpants I thought they'd be alright. He I won't want to be outside too long anyway.

We have no snow yet

Ironically we have all the snow gear and have had for months.

It is me who wants the family day out but ds really wants to stay at home (part of his problems) so if everyone else is not keen it feels mean to drag them all out because I am bored.

We do more in the summer when it is easy to do outdoor stuff for free.

I am not so bothered this week as I have been out more during the week. It is when I spend the whole week at home and then everyone wants to stay home at the weekend that I go a bit mad.

We got TS his snowpants during Thanksgiving 2010 since while we were at AmericanScoutCamp Cambridge had a lot of snow so I thought "oh, I'll get a pair for our return." We didn't need/use them after that. I actually considered getting rid of them a few months ago but thought "no, I'll keep them just in case." So glad I did! They were big for him last year so hope they'll be okay for tomorrow. We always have tights for him. We were given some hand-me-down wellies but shoes/footwear are one thing I won't put on/use hand-me-down.

It's so pretty out!

morning all WE HAVE SNOW!!!!!
started 3.45pm and went on til 10..quite deep
a quiet day in the zoo house
ds went riding-borrowed dd leggings under trousers(not impressed but desperate not to be cold)and multitude layers.survived and had hot choc when returned...also got to ride his favourite pony-minty an old white chap that doesnt always do as told(bit like ds).hes still on lead rope and they did lots trotting(i stayed home with the girls dp took him and sat watchin gin the car!)
not much flying done.lots comforting warm things consumed(soup for lunch/pasta and beans for dinner)
we have had meat fre main meals for 2 wks now-(ham sarny last sat lunch)
kids quite looking forward trying new thing s now(helps having old fashioned puddings for added stodge!).quite nice for me too as its easy to get in a rut with same old menu wheeled out.eating lots lentils and spinach so probably getting more iron than eating cheap processed meat.also little zoo seems much less tantrum prone-think thats probably better balanced sugar levvels from all the pulses.

today ive written menu for the week and wrote shoping list.we shall be venturing out to shop at 9(40 min trudge through snow-kids love it!!)
p.m might get dp to take them sledging while i do some baking for lunchboxs and whe i need something nice between meals

hope you all havea good day!

Morning all,
We have no snow But yesterday I saw a few cars driving with snow on top so I guess they have it somewhere near here .
We had sleet and rain yesterday now it is sunnyish but cold.

We all have colds so not a well household!

I am thinking I might try to make leek and potato soup some time today and we also have a quiche in the fridge so just need to decide which to have at lunch time and which for tea time.

Not sure what else I'm doing today although I must get some more washing done.

Morning all.

Flying is temporarily suspended due to SNOW woohoo :o and ds1's friends party later.

Todays Tada's
Snowman built
Snow train built

To Do
The bare minimum.
kick dh out of bed

Hope all the blackcats&kittens feel better soon.

carrots congrat on the new arrival in the family :o

No snow here but it is really frosty and sunny so it is a beautiful day. Dh has taken our dog for a 20 mile or so run so he should be tired by the time the new dog arrives (or still out and tired when he gets back to find her here).

I have s&s both bathrooms, loaded the dw and put it on, cleaned the worktops and I am about to put a wash on.

Dd has tidied and dusted the lounge and further decluttered the vestibule (all ready for the new dog I think). The dcs have also made her a little welcome banner.

The hallway needs hoovered, despite doing it last night and there is a little more ironing waiting to be done from yesterday's load. I have folded some of it and put it away but I needed a as I hadn't had one yet today.

I also think I might make some soup and do a roast dinner (toad in the hole probably) since we will all be able to eat together.

So I am just really doing maintenance today and the odd hot spot that might be brewing.

Toddler is HATING the snow. He loves the idea of snow, and looking at it, but being out on it or in his sled is NOT FUN MOMMY! At least he's not the only toddler on the road who's not impressed.

MrScout's taken TS into town so I've done some washing up, washed down the stove, and did a little vacuuming. I'm about to clear off the ironing board and iron the work shirts while the boys are still out. Then I'll do the beds (strip & remake them -- though Toddler's might wait until after his nap). Trash needs to go to the bin (didn't get it out last night) but can't face sliding out to the bin so might get MrScout to do it when he returns (before he enters the house).

Mine were not keen on it when they were small Scout. Very, very short bursts were ok and they had to stay dry.

As they get older they tolerate the cold and wet a bit more and are more keen on a bit of sledging.

Our old girl rabbit - now eating dandelions in the sky - used to love it on the sledge

I have folded up the laundry and put it away, done my ironing, dd is doing her ironing and our soup is made.

The dog hasn't arrived yet. I am worried they have changed their minds and can't do it.

Carrots we also have sunshine and no snow.
about the banner for the new dog. Hope she settles well.

bessie I have never knowingly tried chick peas so don't know if we would like them. Might be something we could try in the future

We are having a lazyish day at home. I cooked an English breakfast for DH and I at 11.00am (Felt the need for something comforting). The DC had beans and toast as they didn't want any of what we had.

This afternoon I need to:
get dressed
wash up
do washing
sort tea
DC homework.

X posts carrots

Hope the dog turns up.

Me too BlackCat. Still not here.

I love chickpeas BlackCat - they are a staple in our diet. Buy a can and try them. They are not hugely expensive - maybe about 75p at the moment. They used to be a lot cheaper.

carrots Has your new family member arrived yet?

My brother hated the snow until he was about four or five. Could only stand on perfectly dry bits, not even wet ones. At least TS stood on shoved (wet) parts of the sidewalk and MrScout said he stood on slush in town. We had him so wrapped up I'm surprised he could move. I did get some pictures of him in his sled before he completely melted down.

Had to pause in the ironing -- ran out of water in the iron. So am letting it cool down so I can refill it and carry on. Put the bin bag outside and MrScout took it to the bin. Toddler's having a toasted sandwich with MrScout and as soon as he's finished he'll go for a nap. Then I'll crack on with a few more things. Really fancy just curling up with a blanket, a hot chocolate and a DVD though.