Christmas Holidays (Part 2)

Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Christmas this year felt really magical as Harry now properly understands the idea of Santa and so was really excited. We started Christmas off on Christmas Eve with our family tradition of reading The night before Christmas and then putting out a mince pie and a carrot for Santa and Rudolph. Harry asked us how Santa would get in to deliver his presents as we don’t have a chimney. We assured him that Santa would be able to come to us as he could come in the back door. Strangely Harry was not keen on the idea when it came to bedtime so we said that Daddy would wait up and let Santa in, which seemed to be ok.

In the morning both boys were really happy to see their stocking were full of presents and we opened them together in our bed. Harry was especially pleased he had got the things off his list, a blue cat, a magnifying glass, an umbrella... Then downstairs under the tree where the presents from us and family and friends we were not able to see over the holidays. We got Harry a childrens camera and a tool kit, which was a massive success and he spent most of the day ‘fixing’ things. Ollie got a peppa pig laptop but I think his favourite toy was Harry’s Woody figure.

After breakfast we packed up the car and headed over to my parents for the day, where all my family were eagerly waiting for the boys to arrive so they could start the next lot of present giving. The boys were quite spoilt but in a good way. Mum cooked us the most amazing roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings, it was delicious, and we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and playing with all the boys new things.

When the boys were tucked up in bed we had a quiz evening. One of my brothers, Andy and his girlfriend Rachael hosted a great quiz which Luke and I won!

Boxing Day saw more of the same fun but for those of us who where up to it there was a walk along the river.

It was a beautiful, cold, crisp morning and although it didn’t snow on the 25th or 26th there was so much snow still on the ground in my mind it was a white Christmas.

Christmas Holiday (Part 1)

Christmas Eve/My Birthday

Thank you to my wonderful boys for making it such a brilliant birthday, this is just a little run down of our day.

It really started on the 23rd when Luke came home from work with an enormous bunch of orange and pink roses. Which he made out that Harry had asked him to buy on his way back, it was very sweet.

On the morning of my birthday we all had croissants for breakfast, the boys gave me some presents and a homemade card, then we headed off to London for the day.

Big Ben and Trafalgar Square taken from our car window.

My present from Luke was for me to have time alone to shop in Anthropologie with his credit card while he watched the boys. It was fantastic; the Regent street shop is massive so it took me quite a long time. I choose some beautiful china, a new big squashy handbag and a pretty apron.

After spending time in Anthropologie we had a look about in a few more shops, a little trip to Hamleys, pizza for lunch and then birthday cake in the humming bird bakery.

Little (poorly) donkey

The boys and I are currently ill with some kind of virus. We have not left the house for four days, the boys have been living in their pyjamas and in fact today was the first day I have got dressed in to normal clothes.

This morning Harry was meant to be the donkey in the nursery nativity but as we are sick he couldn’t go.

I am so disappointed! I was really looking forward to seeing him in his costume, singing all the songs he has been practicing at home over the last couple of weeks.

However he did put his costume on today and looked very sweet watching TV in it.

December photo project

I love December and to celebrate it this year I am going to do a photo a day project over on my flickr site.

You can see and read a little bit about what we are up to here.

Happy December

(my favourite junk shop find - a vintage Father Christmas jug which this year is holding a baby poinsettia)

We woke up on December 1 to a very Christmassy scene, it had snowed!! Then it snowed some more and some more and now we are snowed in. That is what happens when you live in a village at the bottom of an enormous hill with the only way in or out being a bendy road up said very steep hill.

We have been making the most of the snow as it doesn’t happen that often in the UK. Harry is now old enough to properly hold on to his sledge so we have been sledging down some great hills, which he squealed with delight at, wanting to go faster. Little Ollie on the other hand has not really enjoyed it so much, as the snow is too deep for him to walk in and he has had to be carried a lot, plus he has a nasty cough and cold.

When we have not been playing outside I have really enjoyed the slower pace of life the weather has brought with it. Lazy breakfasts, staying in our pj's, sitting about reading, watching DVD’s while eating masses of popcorn. . . I have used the time to do lots of cooking, baked some cakes and bread (which everyone has loved) and sorted out all the Christmas decorations.

We have also been busy making all our Christmas cards.

I had found some vintage Christmas books by Richard Scarry and Noddy stories in a charity shop and had been saving them for a project. With some glitter and sequins they were perfect for cards and gift tags.

Is it too early for decorations? I don’t think so and have put a few of my favourites out, Luke calls it Christmas corner.

There will definately be more going up this weekend.