small talk...

Two little 4 year old friends having a chat...

Bucket jnr: I'm going to see my sister.

friend: I'm going to see my brother.

Bucket jnr: My sister is big, she's 9.

friend: My brother is big, he's 9 too.

Bucket jnr: Wow! 9-2, that's really big.

You just have to laugh. Sam xx

Teacher's gift...

It's that time of year again and what is more appropriate than an apple for the teacher.

The pictures are of the same apple but just thought I'd show the different sides to it. You'll also notice, if you click on the link, that I didn't do the stalk but added a button on the top and bottom instead.

Many thanks to The Wool Food Mama for showing me how to make this time and time again.... Sam xx

Torch fun...

We went on a family day out today to see the Olympic torch as it went through our medium-sized town. The kids were allowed to go, with it being classed as an 'educational day' - in other words, they weren't skiving off.

So we trekked into town, it started raining of course but we were prepared for all weathers (our sunglasses were tucked in a pocket).

Now when I've gone into town normally, even on a busy Saturday, you can generally get around quite easily. But today was a total nightmare - I had totally underestimated how many people were going to show up. Mr Bucket was amazed enough to mutter "I didn't think there were that many people in ......".

Luckily we found a fairly decent place to stand and we could even see enough so that we could spot the torch when it went by. After about 10 minutes we were trapped in our space, there were loads of people crammed in behind us but it wasn't that bad as we started having a joke about the situation with a couple of women standing next to us.

Well...the time the torch was due came and went and we could hear cheers further off somewhere down the town so we knew it was on it's way. Then a police car went by, sirens going, we cheered. Then another....and another....and another....four police motorbikes....police van.....and another.........anyone for speeding on the motorway???!!! Only joking but it seemed like we had all the police force going through our town.

More cheers heard....sponsor bus...and another...and another...and yes, another. All with very happy cheery young people trying to get everyone to cheer even though we've been standing in one spot so long that our feet are numb; we were sweaty and (dare I say it) a tiny bit bored by now - BRING THE TORCH NOW!!!!!

Then it was there, right in front of us. An oldish man dressed in white, jogging along and holding it up for everyone to see. It was a lovely gold colour - MY PRECIOUS (sorry, couldn't resist the film reference there) and then he was gone.

It was over, well not totally as I think there were other things going on but I'd had enough. So we decided to go home, grab a milkshake on the way and then disappear off for a pub lunch. Except we had to try and get through all the other people - all I'll say is one word.....SARDINES.

We did make it, eventually, and we made it home with enough time to grab the car and disappear to a welcoming pub lunch. Not a bad day and I'm glad we went but I'm also glad that we'd warned the kids what to expect.

Would we do it again?....probably. Sam xx

p.s. sorry no pictures but I really couldn't be arsed. There'll be enough on the local newspaper site that I can print off if I want a memento and it was so crammed that all I would have done was get a picture of the back of someones head - eeuurgh.

Why is it...

 aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!

You can wait in ALL DAY for the postman but as soon as you step out the door, you get that annoying card "we tried to deliver your parcel..."

Whenever you have something planned to do, that's when the kids are sick...

I have loads of crafts to do but no time to do them in...

When filling out a job application form, they want to know the smallest things 22 years ago...WHAT??!! I have no clue what I was doing at 2pm on a Saturday 3rd March (ok maybe it's not that extreme, but it feels like it)...

You can do a full shop (and we all know what that means) but there's always a day when there's NOTHING to eat...

I can wash things up at least twice a day and there are STILL empty dishes lying there...

I'm sure there's more....oh yes, one last one...why is it when you have sooooo much to say, you can't remember a thing. Sam xx

Night out...

For the first time in...I haven't a clue how many... years, Mr Bucket and I went out for a night out. It was to celebrate our anniversary (15 years) which was a few weeks ago but this was the nearest date for everyone to be available.

So first we packed the kids off the the Grandparents. You know they don't mind that much when you have to prompt them to say goodbye as you're walking out the door.

Then we got all glammed up which is a lot harder to do when you haven't been out in absolutely ages; have NO idea what is fashionable (I generally live in jeans, t-shirts and favourite converse) and don't want to look like mutton dressed as lamb.

Then we went to an early evening showing of Men in Black 3 3D and it was brilliant. I've always love the MIB films but this one seemed more polished with better action and special effects. I even caught myself giving vocal encouragement to the gorgeous Will Smith, luckily not loud enough to embarrass myself though.

My only gripe was the 3D glasses - when are they going to sort some out for people who wear glasses???!!! I had to balance them on my glasses and only when the lights went low did I relax enough not to feel too stupid wearing them.

One other thing.... am I the only person who shovels so much popcorn in my mouth (hoover-like) that I end up with it going down my top and then I have to try to reach it without anyone else noticing what I'm doing.

Food was next and even though a Chinese was our first thought we eventually went to a Tapas Bar. I'm a tapas virgin, I had a vague idea how the food was served but I had to ask the waiter how many dishes was 'polite' for one person - we ended up with three each.

All I can say is DELICIOUS!!! Definitely going back and may even take the kiddies along too. Although, may be paying today for all the oil that a lot of the dishes used (along with chillies and garlic). Sam xx

Sports Day fun...

Yesterday was a scorcher, which was definitely a good thing as it was Bucket jnr's Sports Day.

I went up to his school lugging a bag of picnic goodies, camera and his spotted dog which he'd asked me to bring and sat down in the sunshine chatting to another mum.When I looked across to Bucket jnr he looked really miserable so after a quick run across to give him a hug, sat back down to watch all the kids.

The kids did brilliantly and had a great time but Bucket jnr sat and looked like it was the worst day ever. I waved and grinned at him across the running track and he eventually cracked a smile when I stuck his dog on my head and bobbed it up and down as though it was waving at him.

Just another typically sane mum then.

He lined up for his first running race and I got up and walked a little way forward to take a picture but as I was aiming the camera I saw that he was looking for me. Cue the arm waving and shouting his name, he eventually saw me but missed his cue to go. Luckily he's a fast runner and came second but I knew that I'd pay for that one later - I put him off - bad mummy!!!

His second race involved beanbags and he shot off, Speedy Gonzales I swear - he was determined that he was going to win this one. I kept sitting during this race.

Afterwards we munched and chatted with other mums and kids and generally just enjoyed the day.

Good thing it was yesterday, the weather today would have been awful.

Giveaway alert...

 

Source: Modern Country Style

 Not me, not yet anyway. But if you go over to Modern Country Style Sarah has a giveaway for one of two Emma Bridgewater mugs celebrating Dads and Father's Day.

All you need to do is follow her blog (which is great) and leave a comment or two to be in with a chance.

Sam xx