As usual it was a fabulous meal cooked by Lorraine, then we just had a lovely time hanging out together; we went to the park and some people played frisbee while others sat around and chatted. Back at the house, the true Thomases (Anna & Abbie included in this!) played cards, while the spouses were left to chat- really not quite sure why they all seem to think that they can’t keep up with us! I would like to add that I won Photos are here

Cups of tea were served, along with some rather strange cake made by Esther – apple, raisin & walnut, with a layer of goats’ cheese in the middle. Turned out to be a bit like Marmite, either you loved it or you hated it. I want the recipe!
Eventually left, not that we really wanted to … home and bed.

Today we did separate things. Abbie and I went geocaching with my friend, while Steve did some food shopping and fiddled about with a Toyota Starlet, and Anna spent most of the day making a birthday present for a friend. Abbie and I found 32 caches today, and were still home by 4pm! The first of them had a ??5 FTF prize in it so that paid for our post-caching ice creams Others included a ring where we had to build up the digits for the bonus using a stencil – the numbers were like digital clock numbers so each stencil added a few more lines, which was a very inventive idea, I thought. The bonus was a safe, which had been embedded into a stump, so you had to collect the combination for that on the way round as well – definitely worth a favourite point on the Geocaching site. I kept trying to take photos of Abbie’s hair as it looked particularly nice today but she wasn’t really helping …

So, we got home for ice-creams and a quick shower; Steve got home in time to sling a shirt on before we headed to the Cathedral for evensong – Easter Monday is when the choristers are joined by the Old Choristers Association, so it was a full house and a massive sound, excellent. Then we scooped Josiah up and most of his possessions from his time boarding – I say most, as he always leaves *something* behind He’d had a brilliant time, as usual – he thinks it’s one big holiday, which it is, for him. I’m glad the chorister thing is so positive for him and that he doesn’t resent it at all. We missed him, especially yesterday with family, but he didn’t mind at all. There was more chocolate at the boarding house, too
So, home for pizza & salad. He then had to catch up on Dr Who as they hadn’t watched it!

Bedtime now. I don’t feel at all ready to go back to work tomorrow, but at least we have a short week ahead.

We popped in to see Steve’s parents after that, as Marg had been trying to get hold of me. I’d assumed it was to give some Easter treat or other to the kids, so I hadn’t been in too much of a hurry to get back to her – but lo and behold it was a totally unexpected Easter treat for me! Thank you again – my phone will never again run out of battery on a long geocaching hike

Got home to the girls who had been mooching around at home all day, painting and playing games and not a lot else – so we joined them. They and I had a nail varnishing session, we all ate hot cross buns for tea, then settled down to watch Groundhog Day.

Josiah came to three days of Landlubbers but then went back to school for Easter. I feel kind of guilty for sending him in to board, but he really thinks it’s a huge treat to stay at school for the duration. He’ll have a fabulous time both singing and chilling out at the Boarding House and won’t miss us at all.

Anna learnt the hard way that mid-week clubbing isn’t generally a good idea. She’d pestered us for ages to let her go to this under 18 club night last night, plus a sleepover at a friend’s, and we caved in eventually, but on the proviso that she was up ready for holiday club this morning. She has felt a bit wrecked today … poor child, my heart bleeds

And Abigail has had all her hair cut off.
She toyed with having it cut short last time she had a trim, and chickened out, but this time she’s done it.

It looks way too grown up for my liking, and she won’t let me take a decent photo. Ratbag.

In addition to holiday club I’ve been working on school stuff, trying to get my head around next term. Haven’t quite done it yet so there will be more work happening over the weekend. I have, however, completed the Angry Birds Seasons’ Easter update with three stars on every level and all (I think) the Golden Eggs found

Easter Saturday was spent mainly preparing for Steve’s dad’s 60th birthday party which was an open house affair from 4pm onwards. In order to help Marg keep it a surprise I did lots of shopping and preparing food earlier in the day. Of course Steve ended up with a customer on test drive as we were due to pick him up at 4pm but we weren’t too late. I think the party was a success, and certainly Russ looked pleased and surprised with his gift of a trip to Paris; Steve took them to the airport yesterday.

On Easter Sunday the girls and I left Steve watching the Grand Prix and we went to church. The rest of the day was spent doing normal jobs etc., no family roast dinner as it seemed a bit mean to do that without Joe! We might get one in later in the holidays, if I can be bothered to cook one!

Later in the day our friends Stuart & Liz arrived to stay for a few days. They fancied doing a night cache so we all went out in the evening armed with wellies and torches to re-visit one that belongs to my friend; only Steve & I had done it about 18 months ago now, so enough time had elapsed for us to have forgotten the way!

Monday saw most people having a lazy start; I got up and made cottage pie for tonight while they were all still in bed! Breakfast happened; there was some gameplaying and I think some people had showers, then after lunch we went out for a long walk along the Estuary from Exton to Exmouth, with some caches completed en route.

Fab to have Josiah home afterwards, though I did have to wrestle him to the floor to get a hug out of him! He’d clearly had a ball boarding at school over the past few days. After dinner we caught up with Dr Who, then the children went to bed and we watched a film (well, I blogged and faffed around with photos while the rest of them watched a film. Having fallen asleep during Dr Who at 8pm I thought I’d better keep myself awake somehow!).

Anyway, after that we dashed home and I made some rather nice roast parsnip soup, so there was a choice of that or Heinz tomato soup from a tin when my parents and brother came for lunch. They’re down to look at a car or two at the garage this afternoon but decided to come and see us too

As I write, Joe’s singing his way through a Passion Service; I did want to go but I’ll have to save it for next year. Hoping to pop in for evensong instead. In the meantime, the girls are baking simnel muffins for when Grandad and Nanna come back for a cup of tea, and I think I might watch The Sound of Music!

Must admit I quite like this newfound enthusiasm for baking; she made a rather nice looking Easter Bunny lemon cake yesterday, and we haven’t been allowed to cut into it yet!

As an aside, I was surprised to find that I haven’t used Good Friday as a post title before now, in 7 years of blogging – strange, but I haven’t!

Feeling a bit heathen as we didn’t get to church at all – mainly because Steve and his dad left at lunchtime so we only had the morning for family things. They are off for a track day tomorrow (Steve’s idea of a great b’day pressie for Russ – see, I’m not the only one round here who gives presents with an ulterior motive!), so I’m in for a quiet evening once we get home.

We spent the morning mainly at home, I took Steve to work, everyone did some music, Anna went out to meet a friend, and I had a friend round for coffee.

After lunch we went out for a walk at Haldon with more friends; I fancied doing a geocache and they have a GPS so they were the perfect companions We actually found two, on different trails at the Forest Park, and it was good fun. The rain had stopped and there was even some sunshine!

Afterwards we picked Steve up from work; Rich, Becca and Josh came back for a curry, bringing pudding and wine with them, so it was a lovely afternoon. Early nights all round before school/work tomorrow.

Spring (no snow here), hope, new life, the celebration of the crux of my faith, time with family and usually plenty of food and chocolate, makes for a good Easter!

We had a lovely day, from the hot cross buns and Grand Prix start to the morning, through church where Josiah did a short drama with his friend Billy as part of the service, and then a pleasant afternoon spent at Grandma & Grandpa’s house along with Steve’s sister and her family.

Yesterday we spent the day in town. Firstly we tried to take back a cello string that had snapped after a week. I was incredulous that the one music shop in town was closed, I mean, I know it’s a bank holiday but if it were my shop, I’d have kept it open. Anyway.

We wandered down through town, doing a bit of shopping in various places, and ended up at the Cathedral Green in time for a re-enactment of the Crucifixion. We hadn’t quite been spiritual enough to follow the whole Easter story as it had been acted out in various locations in town but it was good to be part of the finale. It was absolutely freezing; Anna commented that the guys up on the crosses next to Jesus really didn’t have to act much to look like they were in pain, and she was right!

From there we went down to Ivonne‘s birthday party where we had some delicious cake and a Wii bowling game to celebrate. The kids were starting to get a bit hyper and annoying by this point, Steve was selling cars so he was late arriving and we left pretty much as soon as he got there!

Invited more friends over for a roast dinner and a showing of La Vie en Rose in the evening, and that was great – the food and the film, not to mention the company

Today has been fairly boring really; we went into town and got a new cello string, popped in to Sainsbury’s, did some music practices, some jobs around the house, Anna went to play with a friend who lives a half hour drive away so that took an hour out of the morning, the other two made a nice looking Easter cake, and they all did some Easter crafty stuff.

Joe had a friend to play in the afternoon, supposedly to practice a short drama they are doing at church tomorrow, but also just to play. Billy came bearing tadpoles for us which was very exciting (for me!). Sorted out guinea pigs both here and at friends’ while they’re away, dropped Billy off, picked Steve up, came home and cooked some dinner. Anna was dropped home and they all got into pyjamas to snuggle in front of Saturday night tv, which is nice, even if we have ended up in front of 2 different programmes!

And then some from when we gave Caleb and Elodie their birthday pressies. Their birthdays are both in May so we’d been organised, and then decided we’d like to see them open them – so glad we did as the presents went down really well and they both spent the whole day in their dressing up clothes