Easter break

The four of us are off to the Lake District for a short break. We'll be back late tomorrow night, so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Easter.

"He is risen; He is not here." Mark 16:6

'Cats Bells, The English Lake District' by Jason Friend

Excuses

Me: Lily, don't throw the blocks on the floor. If you don't want to play with them, put them back in their box.

Lily: How 'bout you put them in the box. I got a poorly leg.

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Social butterflies

The Podlings at their toddler group party

It was the last week of term this week, so the Podlings had two Easter parties to attend before the holidays (my children have a better social life than I do!) On Thursday morning we went to our toddler group Easter party, where all the children wore the hats they had decorated the previous week. There was plenty of party food for the children and we all had a lovely time.

Tom wore his bonnet just long enough for me to snap a couple of pictures. Can't blame him for taking it off really...putting a boy in a fancy Easter bonnet is a bit mean!

On Friday, the playgroup held its Easter party, so I dropped the Podlings off at nine and went back up at eleven to watch the children have their Easter bonnet parade. It was quite obvious that the two bonnets that won the Easter bonnet competition had been made by creative mums, with little or no help from their offspring! I took some lovely pictures, but they all have lots of other children in them. I have a personal policy not to post pictures of other people's children on the Internet, so I guess they'll be staying in the family album.

Lily dressed in her party clothes, ready for her playgroup party.

Lily had her face painted at the playgroup party and was quite proud of her chick

Easter bonnets

Tom's bonnet

The week before last saw the Podlings and I making Easter bonnets at the toddler group we go to. I spent a happy half an hour the night before cutting out felt shapes and bending pipe cleaners in preparation for the craft session the following morning. Lily, lover of all things crafty, had a great deal of input in the making of her bonnet. Tom glued on a chick and a few feathers and then left me to get on with the rest. It tickled me pink that the majority of the children at the group had very little involvement in the making of their bonnets, but the mothers and grandmothers were all having a fabulous time!

Lily's bonnet

A Podling picnic

We've been enjoying some lovely spring weather this week, which has allowed us to spend a lot of time outdoors. The Podlings spent almost all day today playing in the garden and haven't spent much time in the house at all. Although the weather wasn't exactly tropical, it was just warm enough for us to enjoy our first outdoor picnic of the year.

The Podlings love picnics and would have them all year round if they were allowed to. We will sometimes lay down a blanket in the playroom or lounge when the weather is bad and enjoy an indoor picnic just for the fun of it. This afternoon I took some muffins, cookies, satsumas, Mini Cheddars and strawberry juice into the garden for a special afternoon treat. As we enjoyed our food, I read them "Polly's picnic" by Richard Hamilton. The story tells of how a little girl's picnic is spoiled by a succession of greedy animals and is one of the Podling's favourite books. It seemed fitting to read it whilst enjoying our first picnic of the year. No doubt it will be the first of many such picnics if the weather permits.
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Our Easter bunny

Every day for the past five days I have seen a small wild rabbit grazing in our back garden. Our garden has deep bushes and trees around the edges, plenty of grass and is quite safe from predators, so I'm pretty sure he's moved in. I finally managed to get a photo of him today, though the picture quality is poor as it was taken through the conservatory window and after a British winter the glass needs a jolly good clean. He's quite a little chap and the Podlings are extremely taken with him. I hope he sticks around for a while.

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Ummm....Why?

I don't know what gave them the idea, but the Podlings spent a happy ten minutes gathering up all the downstairs cushions and piling them up on the sofa in the playroom this afternoon. It kept them busy carrying cushions one by one from the lounge and the conservatory, which meant I was able to finish up what I was doing in the kitchen without Lily's usual assistance. I suspect the ultimate goal may have involved much jumping around (followed by much telling off by me!), but their tea was ready before I had the chance to find out.