Thursday, December 21, 2017

Christmas past

When I was little one of the best bits of Christmas was seeing the huge (there was three of us) pile of presents that Father Christmas had left us. We also had a huge stocking or in our case pillow case which had PJs, slippers, books and our new Christmas day clothes in.
Morning was normally an early start with my more excitable sister waking us up with a cry of "Santa been" Sometimes I would wake up briefly in the night and feel the weight of the stocking on my toes then snuggle back to sleep knowing he had been.  One year much to my sisters horror I slept until 9.00 and she had to wait down stairs with the gifts not allowed to open them untill I emerged.
Around 4ish Col wold wake, yellow, go to Mum and Dads room only to be sent back to bed. Half an hour later she would try again with the same results by 5.30 Mum and dad would have given up on trying to sleep and say that she can open her stocking. At this point Katie and I would get up (no heating in our house so never go out of bed too soon) and we would all go into their bed and squish in. Pillowcases would soon be unwrapped. Dad would let mum out one of his gifts. Mum would then get up and lit the fire and put the oven on. We would probably be sent back to bed for a bit.
Downstairs we would have to wait for everyone to go in together Mum and dad already in the room. As a grown up I not understand that this was too see our faces when we saw all the presents. They were always bundled high and all three would be m8xed up together so you had to find yours.
We would all out them different. Col would rip the paper off, cast aside the gift and go straight to the next. I would take my time and look at each thinges. I always be the last one to finish. The advantage of this being that the other would look on enviously however, if there was a gift where the others got the same Col would past me the presents and say what was inside until Mum yelled at her to stop.
At lunch family would visit (as we got older we took in turns visiting) and Mum would feed us the proper Christmas dinner. Then it was more presents, this time family once. As I got older this became my favourite part. It was nice seeing people unwrap gift from you. From quite young we alway brought mum and dad a present. One year we was allowed to buy Dads on our own in Woollies. 
Then tea would be cold meat and salad the best bit being the seafood platter. After that board games until late.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Christmas it nearly here

The kids are now off school and a mixture of chaos and illness has entered the house. Poor Penny missed her school pantof and play due to tummy bug and her dreadful cough. Izzy now has it and my clothes has a constant slimy trail along them.
The kids are bouncing off the walls, but luckily they are eager to help around the house. They all like dusting, hoovering and baking.

We have an activity advent calender, everyday a different Christmas craft or activity, though if I'm feeling a little lazy I do pop a sweet in. So far we have vi sited reindeer, Father Christmas,  made a Christmas cake and decorated it, made gingerbread men, did a treasure hunt, saw the light switch on, grew crystal Christmas tree, made fudge, made and painted tree decorations and door hangers. Still a few things to go. Including making reindeer food, hot chocolate gifts and the all important gingerbread house.

They say thing come in threes. Well our heating has gone just when the snow hit, the washing machine packed up, then we has problems with Currys replacing the new one which arrived damaged. The car is also playing up and I never know if it will start or if it will have heating. Brrrrr


Thursday, December 07, 2017

Deciphering

Sometimes my children seem to speak a different language and it some working out what they are on about.

PENNY
Was asking Penny about her day and she said she had been "singing to the Grandmas. Grandma there, Grandma there (pointing) Grandma there, in the nut place" etc. Couldn't work it out. Turns out she had visited Chestnut Street care home and sang.

JAMES
It is minecraft jargon, @ps, command blocks, super speed potions etc

IZZY
Random gippering with the odd word thrown in. Even harder when she is upset and crying to work it out.


Monday, December 04, 2017

Proud of Penny

Penny got star of the week last week. I know that by the end of the year every child will get it for something, but is it is absolutely fab that she has got it. She received for reading and phonics. It is amazing how quickly she has progressed since September. She is now spelling and reading basic words. One of her favourite games at the moment is to play teacher, so she must be enjoying school.

In other news James has his first wobbly tooth. With the amount of apples he is eating at the moment it will soon be out.