Phew, my oh my, the month of April is just flying by isn’t it? I don’t know about you, but our house always goes into over drive as the end of term approaches. I don’t know why the school has to schedule everything at the same time, but they do and it sure challenges my organisational skills.
We’ve had the craziness of end of term parties and friday fun days; coincidentally I consumed a lot of wine that night as reward for surviving the school term. We’ve had Easter bonnet parades at school; of course I’m now subsequently recovering from hot glue gun wounds as I burnt the midnight oil in attempt to finish Miss6’s Easter hat. And The Twins have been nervously undergoing auditions for the high school musical whilst also preparing for their yearly ballet exams. Naturally I got the task of helping them learn their lines. Of course this wouldn’t have been so bad if the school wasn’t actually doing High School Musical this year. Yes, the high school is doing High School Musical, amusing isn’t it.. A few days in I no longer thought so!
The Easter school holiday is always a busy time for the family. We take on extra ballet activities and begin the equestrian season, we carefully divide the holidays into fair amounts of time for The Twins to go harmoniously between mum’s house and dad’s house, and we also celebrate all of the girls birthdays in the space of 7 days. Yes, you read that right. Amongst the holiday period of Easter and Anzac day, along with numerous public holidays, each girl celebrates their birthday within a few days of the other.
As I’m sure you can appreciate, this is a logistical nightmare for Boss Mum and myself to navigate. It takes the combined efforts of our organisational skills to map out the specifics of which days The Twins will be with us and which days they’ll be at their mum’s (one of the components of having a blended family). To also foresee which days are public holidays and to schedule birthday parties around these days (whilst remembering that most school friends will have gone away for the holidays). And of course, with the birthdays colliding with the Easter long weekend and Anzac Day public holiday, it means we must also order gifts ahead of time. This is so we don’t find ourselves standing outside the Post Office at 5.05pm on thursday evening before the long weekend. Unfortunately, our organisational skills failed us and I did find myself banging on the door of the Post Office yesterday evening desperately hoping that the post office lady would take pity and allow me to collect the last of Miss6’s presents. Sadly she didn’t and with today being a public holiday and Miss6’s birthday falling on a Saturday this year, I must now squeeze in a last minute trip to the shops tomorrow morning to pick up a substitute gift. Quelle dommage!
What’s more, Miss6 (soon to be 7) still believes in the Easter bunny. I don’t know how we’ve managed to keep her sheltered from the hurtful school kids intent on ruining the magic, but I’m so happy that we have. Given that I’m all about holding on to the magic in life and living peter pan style, I’m a big supporter in going to great lengths to create a truly magical Easter experience. I’m also aware that this will most likely be the last year we get away with this. Although I am happy that we’ll get to rekindle the magic in a few years once Baby Viv is a bit older. And so in addition to organising the birthdays and surviving the school holidays with restless kids and lovely but slightly over-bearing grandparents, I’ve also been attempting to help the Easter Bunny arrange an Easter egg hunt of epic proportions. Stay tuned for the follow up post next week!
Further Reading: A Classroom Of Magic Is Learning At Its Best
I picked up a few craft activities whilst I was out doing some last minute shopping at the party store this week. I had thought they might prove successful in coaxing the kids away from the television for longer than an hour or so. It’s a tough ask isn’t it, I know you struggle with this as well! Which is why I had to pinch myself yesterday evening when I find myself happily sitting out on the pavement, my coffee going cold. It went cold because I was so caught up in watching the artwork the girls were creating that I preferred to get in on the action as opposed to sitting to enjoy the quiet.
In the nanny life, some days really stand out as memorable ‘pinch me’ moments. Moments in where I can’t believe I could be lucky enough to do the job I do. Of course there are the other days, those horrible bad days that leave you wondering why you’re in this mess. But you forget about those pretty quickly. Because it’s days like yesterday, afternoons where a simple box of this early stART Easter Egg shaped chalk by Micador transform your kids into giggling, smiling, creative artists. Kids whom are happy to spend their entire afternoon outside in the sunshine and thank you for letting them do the coolest activity ever that make it all worth it.
Further Reading: The Nanny Life (5 Things About My Job)
So whilst I’m still riding my high from yesterday’s memorable day in the nanny life, I’m off to wrap presents, to continue my exploits in the kitchen to finish the birthday cakes (why I volunteered to make the birthday cakes I don’t know) and to sketch out some colourful painted signs and decorations to accompany the epic Easter egg hunt. From myself and all the kids here at the Nanny Shecando family, Happy Easter!
Have you gone away on holiday this Easter? Do your kids still believe in the Easter Bunny? Do you have a go-to ‘get the kids out of the house’ activity?
*This is not a sponsored post. I simply had so much fun with this Micador craft activity that I felt compelled to tell you about it.
They are just gorgeous. I love the micador stuff just holding the crayons makes you want to draw a picture.
So true Sarah, the entire micador range is great. If only I had a money tree and then I could stock the entire craft room and play room with their stuff! And yes I’m not an artist in the slightest, my drawing is limited to stick figures and squiggly lines but micador crayons and chalk brings out the artist in me!
Love pavement chalk! Anything to get the kids outdoors is a winner in my book!
Absolutely Jody, getting the kids out of the house can be a massive task so any help is always welcome!
These are so lovely. I’d like some just to sit on the shelf!
They’re really pretty Bec, I’m sure they’d look great up on the shelf in the kids room 🙂
This is great. You’ve inspired me to bring out the chalks this afternoon! I have a look at they’re online store too and they have some great wall stickers on sale that I might get for the kids.
Thanks for sharing & linking up for Brunch with Mums Take Five (Nic)
I’m glad I could give you some extra ideas to do with the kids! I bet they’ll love it 🙂 Their store is pretty great isn’t it, I’m afraid I’m going to have to shut down my paypal account soon, I’m getting a little too impulsive with the craft activities. But it is all so reasonably priced. xx
It sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun at Easter. Enjoy!
It sure has been a whirlwind of fun activities and celebrations so far. I’m very much looking forward to a low-key day tomorrow though – a chance to recharge the batteries. I hope your Easter has been lovely also!
How cute is the egg shaped chalk, what a novel idea. Sidewalk drawing is so much fun, always makes me think of Mary Poppins. Sounds like there is so much going on there, hope you all have a wonderful Easter
It’s such a novel idea isn’t it. So simple and fun. And yes it always reminds me of Mary Poppins, it’s a movie I’ve grown quite attached to. I hope you’re having a lovely Easter. Thanks for commenting. xx