Sun at last!

The sun has come out at last! The snow has all but melted.

Saturday

Veronica was coming over to clean the house, so we were all up and out at 9.30am. The girls and I had takeaway breakfast from McDonalds (blush) on the way to swimming lessons. Afterwards Hannah's teacher said she should move up a level, and Ellie's teacher said she's progressing really well.

They were having a Healthy Kids Day in the YMCA, so we headed over to see what that had to offer. The girls had a bounce in the castle, a ride on some bikes, and spent ages learning to cast with a flyfishing rod. Hannah was really good at it!

Next year maybe I'll sign her up for the children's triathlon.

Next we headed to Play and Learn in Freeport to get Maddie a present, then to Gritty McDuff for lunch. It wasn't all that warm, but we had a lovely time sitting outside eating lunch, and playing on the swings, kicking a soccer ball about, and finding worms.

At 2pm it was time for Maddie's party, so we headed to the Emrich house. Ellie was invited to the party with several other gorgeous five year old girls - there was a lot of high pitched squealing and just generally being adorable. Meanwhile Hannah was also invited so she could play with Max and his stepbrothers (who are lovely). So there were light sabres and guns and a lot of fancy dress.

At some point Pie and Lulu came over from next door, then they all headed back to their house, while I got to talk to Landis and Mitchell. Was talking to Mitchell about his music - I hadn't realised he has made so many records.

I snuck off to LL Bean at some point too. Swapped Mark's slippers and had a nosey around their Spring Sports Expo. Hmm, which tent to buy? And should I buy some cross country skis there while there's money off?

Later, after dinner, Hannah and I cycled to Handy Andy's for ice cream and met Mike and the others there. First Andy's ice cream of the season... we'll be going to the Lobster Shack and Kettle Cove ice cream place next...

Friday

I had one of those days at work where my brain was melting by 3.30pm, having had two meetings in which I discovered that all the goalposts are moving. So I left the 3.30pm meeting and went straight to the supermarket for something to put on the barbeque.

Meanwhile the girls had had the day off school, and spent it driving around in the Mustang with the top down, and sunglasses on. They went to the Children's Museum, saw the fire truck, then had a picnic lunch at the Eastern Prom.

Came home to find Carl had done a great job on the upstairs hallway. Instead of being dull green it's now a lovely cream, with white doors, and all of a sudden is much lighter. Still needs another coat all over, but it's going to be great. Then we'll do the bedroom in sage green, then the upstairs will be done other than the stairwell - which is going to be a complete nightmare.

We barbequed ribs and burgers for dinner, then had our first campfire of the season outside. The kids went next door to play on the swings and (it turned out) in the mud.

Roll on summer :-)))