Of icing and ducklings

After school the day before yesterday we made the icing for our gingerbread and we all did some icing. Ian chose pink, George chose blue and I got green.  We made royal icing for the first time ever and it worked well; the icing bags are glad bags with the corners cut off.

I showed them what to do and then they did their own interpretations.  You can see the concentration!

Yesterday on the way home from dropping off the boys I heard some peeping from the drain and had to come back with my camera; very hard to get a good shot when you're not used to the camera and also the lighting in there wasn't good and I didn't want to use the flash and scare them

Can you tell what they are?  4 wee ducklings; no sign of Mum and this morning there was only one and no sign of Mum.  This afternoon no ducklings at all, but no signs of wee corpses either so I'm hopeful Mum found somewhere better for them to live.

I'm in the midst of sorting out birthday party stuff; bought some fabric crayons and pillowcases and they're going to decorate their own pillowcases as well as the treasure hunt; gives them something to take home that's not a bunch of lollies too.  I've got the press to set them too so it should go well and should appeal to both boys and girls.  Also got the balloons and party blowers and cheerios (cocktail sausages for the non-NZers reading).   I've also taken time to cut out fabric for a tiered skirt for me; with enough left over for a top.  Also a couple of t-shirts for me and will do a couple for the boys too.