My first day’s holiday during lockdown and I couldn’t have picked a nicer day really. Steph was still working her shifts but it made for a much less stressful weekday than normal plus we still have a full weekend to come! Chalking that up as a win.
Due to the gorgeous weather I basically threw the kids out into the garden with the bouncy castle and paddling pool and it worked a treat to keep them off any screens for most of the day.
I’ve been told to stop bleating on in the intro so I’ll get straight into the top 5:
1. Steph suggested we play a guess who game on her phone whilst sitting out in the garden soaking up the rays. You hold your phone on your forehead and it displays words/names etc which the other person has to describe and you have to guess. Initially it seemed like a bit of light hearted fun but I quickly realised that my wife isn’t the best at choosing specific (or indeed helpful) descriptive words. Shouting out that “It’s an American thing” is not going to help me guess quite as much as she clearly thought. To be entirely fair, she did get much better in the later rounds and I became the problem with my distinctly poor knowledge of singer and actors! 📱
2. E announced today that she was having a break from our daily walks. “I’ve done plenty Daddy” she protested when I said that we really should get out and about. I mean what makes her think she gets to choose? I’m the adult. I’m the boss. I’m the responsible person who spends his life worrying about and looking after his children and trying to bring them up in a safe and happy environment, knowing what is best for them whilst they mature and learn about the world. I ended up going out with only M. 😖
3. I needed to pop out to run some errands today so took the kids with me as it feels like they haven’t been in a car for months. E is in the process of drawing some pictures for all of her school classmates and she wanted to post the ones she’s finished and I also needed to pop into the butcher and the baker. Unfortunately the whole village was there stocking up on BBQ food so it took longer than planned. On the way home I said to E that after the butcher and the baker all we needed was a candlestick maker. She did not get that reference at all! She kept asking what candlesticks were and when we pulled into our street she helpfully reminded me we hadn’t been to see the candlestick maker yet. Bless her. 🕯
4. The preparations for M’s birthday next week are ramping up and as always they are being led by Steph. Can I order some decorations, she asked? Yes of course but don’t go overboard was my response. That was my voice of experience after trying to rein her in during previous celebrations. Well, today saw the start of the deliveries. It appears we have a Mickey Mouse theme as a large cardboard cut out of Minnie Mouse arrived along with a variety of themed banners and, strangely, themed paper plates, cups, napkins and a plastic tablecloth. I’m loving the theme, but given we can’t have a traditional party and so there’s only four of us here, I’m not sure all of this is strictly necessary. Maybe I’m being harsh and in fact M will really appreciate all the effort his parents have put in to celebrate his special day. 🥳
5. We had a FaceTime call with my mum tonight, timed so the kids could say goodnight before bed. E was adamant that she wanted a bedtime story, but for a change she wanted to “read” it. This meant she made a story up on the spot which really wasn’t what we were expecting. It was about a King David and Queen Mammy who lived in a big castle with Prince M and Princess E. The castle wasn’t scary though as there were no squids (random much?) and there was just a kingdom. She then proceeded to list out a whole bunch of extended family (including Grandma) and announced that they were the servants but they had to live in another house until Coronavirus goes away. I really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! 🏰
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