CHOCCIE CHAT 04/09 - 04/15

[NickyNoo]

That's so sweet Marie, I love it!

Thank you Denise

Lis, yes I blogged! Did you faint? And yes, the kitchen work is at *that* stage, of driving me mad - I really want to bake, but can't summon up the enthusiasm to rifle through all the boxes of stuff to find the bits I need , everything is in a box somewhere in the house. The dust on everything is horrid, and the clutter of boxes is maddening, but it will all happen a bit faster from now - the floor tiles are delivered today, the electrician comes tomorrow, and when he's finished the plasterer can come and make the walls 'good'. And then we can fit the kitchen. Phew!

I've just been watching a robin sitting on our garden fence, singing its little heart out in the morning sunshine, so I'm feeling very springy right now . It also helps that my Sprout kit (love that name) just came, it's a beauty!

[AnnaB]

I love that house Marie...!

It sounds a bit frustrating with all the kitchen mess Nicky... but oh, you will be so happy when it's ready! And yay for the Sprout kit arriving...!

I hope the kids will be ok despite the late night, Lisa!

Johan just texted me, telling me that he bought a car. It was no surprise... luckily... he was there yesterday and went back today to check on some details... and apparently things seemed ok. It's always a bit scary with these big decisions, isn't it? I don't know when we'll be able to collect it. It's a Ford Galaxy, with the possibility to have 7 seats. Also, with 5 seats, there's a lot more space in the back seats than we have today. I've been so uncomfortable between Alva's and Linus' car seats... And it'll be good to be able to fit more kids in, when driving friends of our kids etc... I just need to get used to driving such a big car! I'm a bit scared.

[mison]

How exciting about a new car Anna! That means you can drive us around when we finally manage to visit Actually Sven´s around your town today. He is visiting different companies that make stuff for their company today. He left early this morning and will be back tomorrow at lunch...

No sun here today, just rain. The weather reminds of fall actually...Maybe the earth has flipped over so I now live where Sharmaine lives... I think we will stay inside all day today. Maybe do something crafty, or bake something. The kids would like that I think. And we really need to sort out Alice toys before her birthday. She has a lot that needs to be sold or given away. Just need to convince her about that.

We did sleep in today. I was surprised when the UPS guy called the door at 7.30, and then I went back to bed until 9 when both kids woke up. NO, the UPS parcel wasn´t something scrappy, it was shoes for Max. We did a 4 pair order from Endless.com on Sunday. Sandal and trainers for Max, new running shoes for me (half the prize compared to here) and new Teva sandals for Sven. The rest was shipped with DHL so I guess it will be here tomorrow. I´m a bit excited even though it isn´t scrappy stuff, I really need my new shoes!

Well, tell me what your day brings ladies.

[NickyNoo]

Morning!

Just a quick drive-by for me today......it's chaos here more than ever, the electrician is here making lots of dust, Paul is still pulling stuff down, and Sam has a friend here. They usually love to play on the PC and Wii together, but the electricity is on and off all day, so they're having to play the old-fashioned way . I'm taking the 3 boys to the forest in a bit though, there's a brilliant visitor centre area with tons of huge wooden play structures, we love it there. We're taking a picnic so I ought to go and make that.

Yay for the car Anna!

[DeniseM]

exciting news about a new car Anna. I don't have a big car either but a passat wagon. My car is being worked on so I drove Bill's big ford 150 truck. it was so weird but I actually sort of liked it. wouldn't want to pay for the gas though.

Marie I swear I was just dreaming about buying some shoes last night!! really, how strange. I am desperate for some new shoes. I have 2 pairs that I wear most days, my tennis shoes and than my black danskos. It's getting pretty boring. last night I was dreaming of pretty, strappy things.

Nicky how is the moving at school going? are you finished with that? between the kitchen and school you have a lot going on. hang in there!

I am off to work. My allergies are horrible today, my head feels like a lead weight. Can't wait till summer hits so no allergies until next year.

[mison]

Denise - check out Endless.com, they have a lot of really good shoes on sale, and I think they have free shipping, or at least, they have cheap shipping. And I´m sorry about you´re allergia - have you asked for some cortisone shot? I got something called depo-Medrol. It was cheap, and I got better within a day.

[AnnaB]

I hope you had a lovely time out in the forest Nicky!

Denise, feel better soon! The allergies sound bad. Is it like this every spring?

Marie, I hope Sven is having a succesful trip. What kind of company does he work for? Or is it his own company?

I have too much to do. We've made some progress re the Harry Potter birthday party on Sunday (I made a Golden Snitch today, or rather 6 of them... blog post) but I feel very unorganized and short of time. We're out of town all day on Saturday, and that sort of complicates things. Hopefully the kids will be happy with what we accomplish, even if it's not 2 hours of constant and fabulous entertainment.

[mison]

Marie, I hope Sven is having a succesful trip. What kind of company does he work for? Or is it his own company?

No, it isn´t his own company, luckily... He works for a company that makes pumps for transporting water from for example mines, subways and big buildningsights (roads for example).They did deliver the huge pumps that they used to pump water into the boat in the movie Titanic. They have recently been sold to a big company in Switzerland called Sulzer. Well, Sven is the Works Manager there which means that he is in charge of getting all the machines they use to work, and he also helps developing new pumps. I think the companies the visited makes things in solid iron - things that need to be molded (gjutna).

I´m sure the party will be ok Anna! Max turned out just fine, and we had the same lack of time and preparation as you. Here is some last minute tips for you to get an easy way out...

- buy ready made cupcakes and make crema cheeze topping and put on.
- make a easy meringue cake - buy ready made meringue and put it in whipped cream, chocolate souse (ohoj) between.
- buy a big box of different icecream and make an easy ice cream stand in the doorway.
- an easy game - take two similar big toy cars. Tie a sting in each of them and then tie one end to a stick. Let the kids race against each other buy rolling up the string on the stick so that the car moves forward. They must have both hands on the stick and roll it with the fingers.
- take different things from your home, like buckets, logs, shoes etc and let them in two teams build a pyramid out of it. Limited time the one who makes the highest one that stands for more than 45 sek wins.

[AnnaB]

Thank you so much for your ideas Marie! Some of them are really helpful! I feel a bit more in control today, luckily!

I've been creating table decorations, a sign that says "platform 9 3/4", simple cloaks for Alva and Linus, and I've labelled some glass jars where we will put some fun things like "blind cats eyes" and "bat poop"... I think it'll be a fun party.

[DeniseM]

Great ideas Marie!
Anna, your party is going to be wonderful. I wish the boys had been at the perfect age for a Harry Potter party. we will need photos!

I am relaxing with a glass of wine. I will be working tomorrow and sunday this week so I think it's a good idea to just chill tonight. Care to join me ladies?

[happydays525]

Mison...that is the very same dollhouse I think that I had when I was a little girl!! On the back of the dollhouse is there a little cut out (hole) that would be where the steps are? I used to pretend that was a secret clubhouse for the kids in my doll family. What's the brand name on the front/bottom say? I have so many memories of playing with that dollhouse! I wish I still had it! You did a fantastic job re-decorating it.

[mison]

Mison...that is the very same dollhouse I think that I had when I was a little girl!! On the back of the dollhouse is there a little cut out (hole) that would be where the steps are? I used to pretend that was a secret clubhouse for the kids in my doll family. What's the brand name on the front/bottom say? I have so many memories of playing with that dollhouse! I wish I still had it! You did a fantastic job re-decorating it.

Glad you like it! It is actually a Swedish brand dollhouse. The brand is Lundmyr. They are very common here, I beet both Hanna and Anna had one as a child. They even have furniture that looks like IKEA furniture. Maybe they sold them in US too? There is a hole in the back, but that is for the electricity box. It´s just under the steps. It world be really fun if it is what you had. Rather cool if a Swedish dollhouse found its way "over there".

I actually think my granddads brother who lived in Seattle bought one for his doughter once.... Maybe you are my unknown second cousin

[DeniseM]

Hey ladies. I was supposed to work tonight at the restaurant but drove out there and it was sooo slow so they sent me home. Usually I would not be happy about that but tonight I was. Now I am home, did some work on the crop playlist, put together the Bingo word list and have made the beds with clean sheets. I am about to make some tea and sit with Bill and watch something on tv. Have a good night ladies.

[mison]

That sounds nice Denise. Well deserved!! Right now I wouldn´t have anything against beeing sent home eighter. But it won´t happen. Not in the middle of the night...

[Sharmaine]

It's a student free day here today and Dave is still home on days off. YAY
Have a hospital appointment with Megan in a couple of hours but for now we are all doing our own thing. I like days like these
Back to school/work for everyone tomorrow and I'm hoping I get a day at home