Christmas 2018

Penny was up at 3.45am luckily there was a slight nod to the fact Santa had been (she didn't bring her stocking in) then snuggle sleepily in between us. Which meant I go no sleep for the rest of the night.

James pops up with an excited "Santa been". Bit dismayed at us shushing him as Penny was still asleep. 10mins later they are both ripping paper off. Katie popped in to join us (quite a bed full).

They woke Izzy at 7 to open hers. She has yet to understand the Father Christmas leaves presents but she certainly know who Father Christmas is. 

Then flying downstairs to a mass of presents. 

James - Nexo lego, Minecraft toys and books and a tablet.

Penny - large Barbie house, mermaid and fancy dress.

Izzy - Ice cream cart, Peppa pig and robots.

Mummy - coffee machine, handbag and gin.

Daddy - London trip, blanket and books

Katie - dress, and tools

Rod - truffle food and tools

Katie and Rod went home and we headed for Christmas dinner at the Red Lion. It was yummy. Poor Grandad didn't get a look in at his cheese board though.

Afternoon more presents and games. 

A busy day but very enjoyable. 

Boxing day we headed to John dads. For tea and more gifts. Then John mums on the 28th. FoLlowes by a party on New Years day with Hol and Vic and families. Lastly Col and Marley. 

Now the decorations are away and the last of the food is being munched. Today the kids and me went back to school. It is all over too quickly. 

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.

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

Cbeebies Panto Fun.

We are not in a Christmassy mood, thanks to a trip to see Cbeebies Panto. I was lucky enough to get tickets from the lottery draw. 376,000 people applied for tickets. So we were thrilled to get to see it last Saturday.

It was an early start as we gphad to travel to Leicester. We also had to wear our party dress and Christmas jumpers. Only mishap was we forgot the kids coat and had to buy Penny.a new one. We thought we were looking at a morning of queuing, but thankful they were well organised and we waited only 40mins before we were issused with ticket and seat numbers. After that we wandered around the Snow Queen themed activites that Cbeebies had put on. 

There were people dressed up in strange and odd costumes. Penny was a little shy to begin with, it was all a little too different for her. We did a treasure hunt and collected letters to win a prize of a swashbuckler set. A quick stop of popcorn, lunch and a coffee for me and Col, then we made crowns and headed outside. Outside was a snow storm, which my lot loved. We all had a go at ice skating for the first time. Starting very carefully using the penguins to balance. Marley quickly skating off, having no fear of tumbling down. James and Penny also ditched the penguin to have a go on their own. It was loved by all of them. They had a go in the circus hut, juggling, hoops, spinning plates and diablos.

Then it was back to the theatre for the show. It was great. We saw lots of our favourite characters, including Mr. Tumble and silly Cook and Lime. We were taught a song and the actions and joined in during the preformance. The kids loved it. We are all hoping to spot ourselves on telly when it is shown at Christmas. 

Afterwards we braved going to a Vietnamese restaurant. The kids got to eat with chopstic,s with Penny thought was great. She has taken some to show her teacher. 

It was a great day. All of the children behaved fantastically. We are really proud of them. 

4 reason why I hate toy advent calenders.

I love, love LOVE the run up to Christmas. The lights, the sparkle, the gorgeous smells and being able to wear boots.

One thing I absolutely hate is the toy advent calender. The chocolates are bad enough. Last year we left it too late to get a dairy free advent calender for Penny (not made that mistake this year, one is already tucked away) so we improvised, using a paper picture one and giving her some Haibo every morning. Was this good enough, no, no and no. We had tears and tantrums until one morning I hid it until she sorted herself out. James on the other day lived and breathed for that tiny, chocolately goodie. Every morning instead of bursting in our room with kisses and a cuddle it was 'can I have my advent calender'. Grrrr

Which bring me to toy advent calenders and why I hate them.

1. It is just greed, greed, greed. I'm sure the same thing was said about chocolate one when they first cames out, but compare £1 chocolate to £20. It a huge different especially with three little darlings to buy for.

2. The toys are crap. The lego ones consists of a few brick that you have to guess ehat they vaguely look like. You know you will be sweeping them up with the wrapping paper come boxing day.

3. Once again, greed. My lot get enough stuff at Christmas. Yes, they get presents from Santa, Grannies, cousins and next door (they are super lucky). They also get parties, Santa trips, panto trips, Christmas days out.

4. They are everywhere, at some point my kids will twig (especially now James can read) what they are and ask for one. I will put my foot down.

I have also mentioned that the family advent calender won't happen this year as it is too much for three children. This is a fabric one, most of the time it contains things like, make gingerbread men or house, make reindeer food, make cards, decorate the tree, party games, visit to Santa. Stuff we do anyway, sometimes there maybe a lolly in there or a chocolate. We alternate it sometimes with the children. It worked last year but though it would be too much this year with three of them. James was disappointed and saud the best thing was making the gingerbread house. So looks like we are doing that again.
Beaver are doing a reverse advent calender, ever session we take a some food and near Christmas it gets given the food bank. I like this idea, except I keep forgetting yo take stuff in.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

So, this weekend I managed a night out with some other mums. excellent evening. The next morning the kids bound it bouncing on the bed asking for the Christmas tree to be put up.
So, three Christmas later (Is pulled on over) we head for Sleaford Christmas market. we are all well and truly  in the Christmas mood now.

There is no stopping Is at the moment, she is walking all over the place. we also have a few words, bath, mum and cat.
The picture is a rarity in our house, the kids were promised the tree would go up as soon as the living room was tidy.

New Year clear out.

After the extravagance of Christmas and New Year, I have decided to the a sort out of mind, body and the house, much to the dismay of James and John.

House: Currently, due to the influx of Christmas toys, my living room looks like a nursery.  Walking from one side to the other is like an obstacle course And I keep losing Penny in the clutter. So, much to James' annoyance his new toys are gradually creeping upstair and being put away. However,  much to my annoyance James is sneaking them down again. Thankfully due to me having larger hands and not having to walk upstairs using the banister, I'm winning and the living room is slowly becoming more bearable.

Body: Everyone over indulges over the festive periods, but I worked out the other day that we as a family have not had fresh veg for over a week. Cheese and biscuits are not an acceptable meal.  James has got into the habbit of asking to eat tea on the sofa or his digger while watching TV. So the Christmas chocolate have been hidden and tomorrow I'm off shopping for veg. Homecooking to back on the menu.

Mind: 2014 sees me returning to work. So I need to get my bum in gear and sort myself out. This includes ringing schools I previously worked for and telling them I'm back. Organising my resources ready for those days when you are faced with 30 children and no lesson plans. Finally getting myself into the habbit of getting up in the mornings, something I have always struggled with.

With these in mind and my New Year resolution of making more effort, we or I'm going to have a busy few weeks. I wonder how long it will last.

Christmas present in Chester

This weekend the family visited Chester. John treated me as a Christmas present. It is a place I have always wanted to go and I wasn't disappointed.

The Christmas lights and trees were still up, which made the streets look beautiful. Our hotel was opposite the Roman amphitheatre so we had a great view of it and the river from the window. James loved clambering about on the stones (takes after his Dad) and was fascinated by the thought of lions being there.

We all enjoyed the early morning walk along the river and crossing the suspension bridge. People had placed locks with their and their sweethearts names engraved on them on the bridge. Quite sweet really. The walk ended with a big fat fry up at the Cafe on the Wall.

The Rows (Tutor style shops which had two levels) were lovely. It was pleasent looking round the Rows, climbing the different levels, peering in shops that sold gorgeous things that I could never afford.

We also had time to visit Deva Roman Museum.  Deva was the Roman name for Chester. It was OK, I think it could have been better. James liked it, as there was a hands on area upstairs. I enjoyed looking at the different finds from archeological digs in the area. There was a part of a dig in the cellar, but you couldn't see much.

We also visited the cathedral.  I was impressed that there was no charge, but a donation, unlike many cathedrals we visit. There was a a display of beautifully lit Christmas trees around the quad. The cathedral was stunning inside. We were luck enough to visit while the choir was practising. I could have quite happily sat listening to them all day.

Chester also has the most complete city wall in the UK. We were constantly up and down on it, using it as a way to walk round the city. It was handy as when James was beginning to get fed up of walking he woukd quite happily walk on the wall.

I would love to go back again. Maybe without the children, not that they were a pain, on the contrary,  they were very well behaved, but it would be nice to go and have a romantic break there. To treat ourselves in the champagne and chocolate cafe and have a beautiful meal that didn't come with a colouring book. Maybe when they are older.

Cake Flops. I mean pops.

As stated in the previous post, that amongst all my Christmas goodies was a cake pop kit. So I decided to channel my inner Jane Asher and have a pop at making some. Armed with my pretty pink silicon pop mould, Victoria sponge batter and a rather poor instruction book, I dreamt I would be turning up at my sister's party tomorrow with arm fulls of delicately iced treats.

This is what I aimed to achieve.

I started off well.

However, due to an inbalance of cake mixture my pops had a flat bottom. I thought I would be able to disguise it with the decoration.

The finished result.

Not quite what I was aiming for. These were the best, the rest refused the stay on the sticks and slid down them rather pathetically. Penny and John enjoyed eating the dregs. I'm too ashamed to take them to Cols tomorrow (hangs head in shames).

Totally Spoilt

This Christmas I have been complete spoilt by my family and friends. It just goes to show how well they all know me. These are a few of the goodies I got this year.

A fabulous handbag which will go completely with my rockabilly dresses and will make a change from carting round a changing bag.

A very posh handbag, so posh it comes in its own bag. So posh, I dare not use it. So posh, I'm thinking about hanging it on the wall to stare at it and occasionally stroke it.

A wine making kit and 2 bottles of Stags Breathe whisky, my favourite. So 2014 is looking very merry already.

A weekend in Chester. It is a place I have always wanted to visit, as it is steeped in history.

A mass of cake decorating, cake pop goodies and bread making things. These will keep me very busy. Hopefully everyone will benefit from this gift.

Some gorgeous clothes. My New Year Resolution is to make more effort with my appearance, so these will help, as will the make up and smellies I received.

A external hard drive. I'm on a mission to sort all my photos out and keep them in one place in some organised order.

There are lots of other bits and bobs. I'm very grateful to everyone. I'm hoping the presents we got people are just as well received as mine.

Christmas 2013

We have had a lovely Christmas.

James, at 2 years old, had a lot more understanding this year. We put out the mince pie, carrot and sherry for Father Christmas. After watching Snowman and snowdog, we had a chocolate off the Christmas tree and had a look out the window to see if we could see Father Christmas.  

Christmas morning,  James had completely forgot about Father Christmas. He didn't see his stocking at the end of the bed. John had to go and check if he had been. James liked to explore each present before he opened the next. He walked into the living room, he didn't notice the giant stash of presents right I  front of the door. Ohhhh. It wasn't long before he had helped Penny open her Little Tikes activity house and have a good play in it. Up went the fire engine tent. He was so excited to find he had a roly digger. 

The morning soon whizzed by, leaving the toys was a little too much for James, but there were the only tears of the day and soon past with the excitement of seeing Grandad and telling him about his digger. 

Christmas dinner was lovely. James was well behaved. He is normally went we go out, but this was 3 courses, so a long time for him to sit. Penny fell asleep during pudding, not before getting cuddles from all the staff. 

Everyone came back to ours for the family presents. I think we were all pleased and spoilt rotten.

Right. I'm calling it Christmas.

Right, rubbish telly on, sherry poured and breathe.
Today I have mainly be running around doing a food shop, trying not to turn into one of those fantic woman who shop like the world is coming to an end and has a trolleys full of tea bags.
Today was a mission, we had a plan with the aim of doing all the last mintues shopping done, in, out without have a meltdown eithervthe kids or us. I dropped John and James in Lincoln in find a toy and a few prezzies and Penny and I headed to Morrisons. Success, only took us 1.5 hours. Note to self, write the shopping list in order of the store set out next time.
So, we celebrated by opening the Christmas nibbles for tea and watched the Goonies.

Dusting down the decorations.

It is that time of year again where I find myself crawling into the cupboard under the stairs, groping about in darkness to find the Christmas decorations, tree, slightly damp wrapping paper and a box of crackers which I hope still have some bang in them.
I have to say I'm not one to go over the top with the decorations. We tend to have a nice classy tree and a few choice ornaments and candles. I have a feeling that once my children start school and bring home the cotton ball snowman, doily snowflakes and carrier bag wreaths, my classy will turn tacky and I will turn into my mum. My mum would let me and my sisters decorate the tree (when I say decorate, I mean throw as much stuff at the tree before my two sisters got a chance and arguing) then whilst we were in bed redecorate the whole thing herself.
I have started a tradition in our house. Ever year my children get to choose a new decoration for the tree. The idea is that when they grow up and have a home of their own, they can take their decoration with them. Last year James chose a huge wood star, which our tree struggled to hold, but he was only 1 and at tbe time he was obsessed with cats and stars

Christmas Part 2

John and I told everyone about the baby over Christmas. Most were very surprised, but pleased for us. All the family know now. I think we will wait a bit, before we tell friends, because it is still very early on. I have a blood test on the 4th Jan which I hate. The scan date is on the 7th Feb hopefully mum will have James for a few hours because I don't really want him in the hospital, sometimes there is a long wait.

Moved

Well we have been in about a 2 weeks. It still feels as if we are living someone else's house and it takes a moment to work out which room I need. I'm also not just to having so many doors in a house and they are doors which work and shut correctly. It feels like we are living in luxury, we have hot running water, which we didn't have before unless we put the tank on, after 5 years of washing our hands in cold water it is bliss. We also have a garage, extra bedroom, dish washer and a lovely large dining area. James was a little unsettled with the move. I think it was because we kept having to go back to Boston to clear out the rest of the stuff. He looked in all the kitchen cupboards saying gone gone gone in a little sad voice. He also came running into the bedroom and stopped mid flow and look very confused and sad. Since the moved we have had a few rough nights where he wouldn't settle and if he woke up I think he was confused and took ages to calm down. He has also been a little mardy in the morning again due to the surprise of being somewhere different.
Managed to get the Christmas shopping finished today, I went into Boston and had a facial and eyebrow wax and did a little shopping. Now I give up, everyone has got at least one gift so that will do. Going to enjoy the run up to Christmas now and chill out.
James and I ventured in to the local community last Saturday. We visited a local church group who had put on a childrens Christmas activity morning. It was really pleasant and everyone was very friendly. We have been invited to tea and toast with them on Friday. We also had a trip to see Santa at Heckington windmill. James was slightly wary of Father Christmas and the only thing he said to him was 'clock' and 'tick tock'. He did however enjoy the windmill.
Had the second scan last weeks., baby looks fine, I have to have a 3rd scan nearer the due date but we will panic about that at a later date.
 

Christmas.

We have had a lovely Christmas. It has been very busy and hectic but really nice. Christmas morning John and I got up about 7:00 James woke up just after us. Father Christmas had been a left a few present in his stocking at the end of his bed. Because Mum was coming round we made sure he was bathed, feed and changed before he began opening his present. He didn't really

get the idea and ripping the paper off and needed a lot of help.

Santa had also left him presents under the tree and together we opened a bouncing Zebra and a car. Mum came round for a bit before she went to Cols. She got me a load of pans which was exactly want I wanted and a lovely jumper. James got a phone, activity table and a stacking hoop set. John got a dressing gown.

We met Dad, Janet and Paul, Grandma and Katie at the Fleece in Burgh for Christmas dinner. It was huge and I couldn't eat it all, John helped me.

At home we opened more prezzies. Spa days, telescopes, toy work benches loads things. We played games until late.

Boxing day we have lunch at Dads, then went to John dads for a few hours. It was nice to see them all, Jess and Harvey were there. We had tea at Dad, Col and Peter and Marley were there. It was nice to see them.

The next day we went to Johns mums. Had a lovely meal that she had cooked. Yesterday and today we have had a day off. Just chilling and playing with our presents. x

Busy Busy

We have been very busy getting ready for Christmas and working. The Christmas tree no longer looks pretty and tidy, as James likes to try and pull bauble baubles off so the bottom half of the tree has nothing on it.

James can now clap his hands. He also seems a lot more interested in things now. He like to roll his ball off the steps and see what happens.

We have started to look at houses ready to move. Have 2 appointments on Saturday. Looking forward to it.

Christmas decoration are up.

We have finally got our tree up. The plan was to do it last Friday, but unfortunatly Katies managed to get stuck in a hole. She was walking on the pavement in Hamton and stepped into a water board hole. The cover wasn't on it. She managed to get her foot trapped ballerina style and couldn't get it out. Que the police, firebrigade and an ambulance. Thankfully they got her out, put her foot was a mess and so she went to hospital. We all met her there. Hence why the tree had to wait. She is at dads now, her leg is all strapped up and she can't put any weight in it.
So the Christmas tree went up on Monday. James helped, then stopped for tea and after he went to bed we finished it off. We were worried about he grabbing and pulling it over but so far he has been fine. He doesn't like us tell him no. He just cries at us. He ought to start getting use to it as he will be hearing it for many years. X

All gone

Why is it as soon as it hits the 6th January and the Christmas decoration are removed, that everyone instantly forgets Christmas. all the hype up to it, the shopping, seeing people you don't really like, writing Christmas cards to people you haven't seen in three years, the decorations and cooking. Then it is over and done with in a matter of a day (two if you are luckly like me). It seems so sad.

I haven't made a New years resolution. I'm no good at keeping things like that. There are many things that would make me a better person. Listening to people instead of talking over them, tidier, dress smarter and do more actie things. But then that would be me. Because I am a lazy, untidy, scruffy loud mouth (only when I'm with people I know otherwise I'm quite shy). 

Good news is I got my amazon money back so relieved because quite poor after Christmas and with not working over the holidays. I have got 2 days a week every week this term, whihc is great. 

Sam x

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Hi.

I have turned into a fair weather blogger. I'm getting so lazy at doing this. This year I'm going to try hard to write down my thought more frequently. 

I had a fab Christmas, got loads of lovely goodies from Father Christmas. The new year was random as the rock and rock band we have booked to see turned very song into Jazz. I hate most Jazz music. So did what any normal person would do and drank until the music sounded good.

Had a shock last weekend, was looking at my credit car account on the net and found a £47 had been taken out not by me. Discovered  Amazon was the culprit. There was a free next day delivery so ~I signed up for it. Unfortunately didn't read the small print and because I didn't cancel it after a month they charged me. Very annoyed. Got it sorted though and my money back by cancelling it on the website and Email Amazon. Not a great way to start the year. 

x