We went to Cardiff to see R*bin H*od.
We met GFN, did some PJ shopping and had lunch on the outskirts of the city.
When we got there they had the usual swords, light up wands, butterflies etc on sale. Alice was insistent that she wanted a 'green stick' and wouldn't be talked into any alternative! The panto was fine and she loved it. I'd left it late to book anything (hence the timing at the end of the season and a weekday matinee) and we ended up near the back of the stalls behind 3 different school groups.
Alice watched all the events on stage with great interest and I continue to be amazed how much she understood and remembers. She really enjoyed it, sometimes from her seat, sometimes on my lap and also cuddling with GFN - she really loved him being there too!
A lovely day, fun times, great memories!
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Saturday, January 02, 2010
CHRISTMAS IN 1 PHOTO
Alice, aka 'The Princess of Bling', in a world of her own (sitting on the kitchen floor whilst I made lunch) playing her 'game like Mummy's'!
Friday, January 01, 2010
WEATHER
I'm British, I'm obsessed with the weather, it's a national obsession.
It turned cold nearly 2 weeks ago, before we broke up for the holidays, parts of the drive have been covered with ice ever since, it's NEVER been covered for that long before. The verges on my lane still had snow on them yesterday (can't comment about today as we had a quiet day in!)
We've lived here for 19 years. In that time I've woken to fresh snow on Christmas Day once, my first ever White Christmas was in the late 90s and was a complete surprise, it was just a dusting but it made it look how we think Christmas should be!
Last week, we had a White Christmas, we didn't actually have any snow falling on CD, but it snowed on the 23rd and that snow has been hanging around ever since - there's an Old Wives Tale, 'Snow that hangs around is waiting for more!' I'm quite convinced and understand the logic, I've just checked the weather forecast for next week and tomorrow is the only day in the next week where the weather is going to be a positive Celsius temperature! They're not forecasting snow just very cold, we're not used to it being that cold, I'm not looking forward to it and can see that we'll be moving into the drawing room to use the log fire! My toes are already cold at the thought of all that.
It turned cold nearly 2 weeks ago, before we broke up for the holidays, parts of the drive have been covered with ice ever since, it's NEVER been covered for that long before. The verges on my lane still had snow on them yesterday (can't comment about today as we had a quiet day in!)
We've lived here for 19 years. In that time I've woken to fresh snow on Christmas Day once, my first ever White Christmas was in the late 90s and was a complete surprise, it was just a dusting but it made it look how we think Christmas should be!
Last week, we had a White Christmas, we didn't actually have any snow falling on CD, but it snowed on the 23rd and that snow has been hanging around ever since - there's an Old Wives Tale, 'Snow that hangs around is waiting for more!' I'm quite convinced and understand the logic, I've just checked the weather forecast for next week and tomorrow is the only day in the next week where the weather is going to be a positive Celsius temperature! They're not forecasting snow just very cold, we're not used to it being that cold, I'm not looking forward to it and can see that we'll be moving into the drawing room to use the log fire! My toes are already cold at the thought of all that.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
On Christmas Eve we went to a Christingle service in A'g.We came home in the snow and the dark. After supper we got on with the crucial preparations, Alice chose the mince pie for FC, the carrot for Rudolf and together we set the tray, then she hung stocking while I took photos.
Afterwards we talked about the Christmas story and her bedtime story was the Nativity (in Alice's version it's the Baby Joseph with Brother Mary!)
She'd obviously been 'good enough' as the sack was overflowing with pressies, and FC was very good too and recycled the glass bottle!
CHRISTINGLES AND CHRISTMAS EVE!
We made Christingles at our local church service nearly a month ago! Then Alice was ill for her school service, my school service was earlier this week and the weather made going to the service a risk, so we missed that one too. But today we finally made it to another service - with GMA and my old parish church in A'g, a very different service and a Christingle with sweets on it (beautifully made in advance) - I hadn't seen sweets on a Christingle for many years!
GFN came for coffee this morning, Alice ate his fudge cake for him and he gave her the plastic tat train - which he and I then took many minutes to assemble, we seemed to recreate the Christmas cliche of the adults assembling the toys whilst the child played with the box! We watched the DVDVD (as Alice calls them) of her Nativity - she looked like she had head lice as she scratched throughout the performance, she didn't (just a hot head from the lamb's costume!) Then this afternoon we went to the Christingle service, home for a simple sandwich supper in front of the TV (HUGE treat) before laying out the goodies for Father Christmas and hang the sack up, then it was bedtime with the story of the Nativity before I came downstairs to start preparing tomorrow's meal etc but also a lovely, simple supper of smoked salmon and avocado, yummy!
Happy Christmas, I'm off to check NORAD, have you?
GFN came for coffee this morning, Alice ate his fudge cake for him and he gave her the plastic tat train - which he and I then took many minutes to assemble, we seemed to recreate the Christmas cliche of the adults assembling the toys whilst the child played with the box! We watched the DVDVD (as Alice calls them) of her Nativity - she looked like she had head lice as she scratched throughout the performance, she didn't (just a hot head from the lamb's costume!) Then this afternoon we went to the Christingle service, home for a simple sandwich supper in front of the TV (HUGE treat) before laying out the goodies for Father Christmas and hang the sack up, then it was bedtime with the story of the Nativity before I came downstairs to start preparing tomorrow's meal etc but also a lovely, simple supper of smoked salmon and avocado, yummy!
Happy Christmas, I'm off to check NORAD, have you?
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
From us to you!(How much longer will I be able to get away with dressing her up like this? She loves it, for now!)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
WHAT AN ADVENTURE!!
We had a busy morning. We got off to a late start after a poor night's sleep. I couldn't plan how the morning was going to be as I was waiting for a phone call, luckily it came relatively early and so didn't disrupt the day, it went well and an important decision was made (more to come on that in the New Year).
Then it was a morning of mopping up loose ends, a quick shopping trip for last minute chocolate presents, delivery of a late birthday card (why can't I get more organised?), delivery of some of the choccies and home for some lunch.
Then fun really began! J arrived with O (one of Alice's BFs) and baby R and we went off to see Father Christmas, we left in plenty of time because of the weather - there is still snow with thick ice underneath on minor roads.
Luckily we arrived with time to spare and it was magical as it started to snow. We caught a little steam train and travelled through the snow to see Jack Frost, 
the children gave him an icicle and in return he gave them a magic badge, then we travelled back to the station where the children rubbed the magic badges and Father Christmas came down the chimney! He told them a little bit about his workshop and the reindeer and then the elves helped him to give out presents. In previous years we've been on a full sized steam train (different location) and queued through a carriage to see FC in family groups. 
This year the train ride and Jack Frost were magical, so was FC coming down the chimney, but the actual meeting FC was better at the other train, but the presents this year were extremely generous and the snow added a specialness to the whole event. The snow also made the journey home treacherous - it took 40 minutes to get to the station and nearly 2 hours to get home, the first mile took nearly an hour! 
The delays in the journey were just due to the amount of traffic on untreated roads and the lack of ability to cope with a small amount of snow - we don't get enough snow to justify the investment in equipment that would help us cope, today my 4x4 COMPLETELY earned it's money - it kept us safe and stopped the mummies worrying! 
Luckily I have a treat bag stashed in hiding in the boot, the children (with only a little help from their mummies) were kept occupied and finished it in the dark while watching the snow. It was a very Christmassy, magical, slightly worrying but happy adventure, one that we'll never forget!
Then it was a morning of mopping up loose ends, a quick shopping trip for last minute chocolate presents, delivery of a late birthday card (why can't I get more organised?), delivery of some of the choccies and home for some lunch.
Then fun really began! J arrived with O (one of Alice's BFs) and baby R and we went off to see Father Christmas, we left in plenty of time because of the weather - there is still snow with thick ice underneath on minor roads.
Luckily we arrived with time to spare and it was magical as it started to snow. We caught a little steam train and travelled through the snow to see Jack Frost, 
the children gave him an icicle and in return he gave them a magic badge, then we travelled back to the station where the children rubbed the magic badges and Father Christmas came down the chimney! He told them a little bit about his workshop and the reindeer and then the elves helped him to give out presents. In previous years we've been on a full sized steam train (different location) and queued through a carriage to see FC in family groups. 
This year the train ride and Jack Frost were magical, so was FC coming down the chimney, but the actual meeting FC was better at the other train, but the presents this year were extremely generous and the snow added a specialness to the whole event. The snow also made the journey home treacherous - it took 40 minutes to get to the station and nearly 2 hours to get home, the first mile took nearly an hour! 
The delays in the journey were just due to the amount of traffic on untreated roads and the lack of ability to cope with a small amount of snow - we don't get enough snow to justify the investment in equipment that would help us cope, today my 4x4 COMPLETELY earned it's money - it kept us safe and stopped the mummies worrying! 
Luckily I have a treat bag stashed in hiding in the boot, the children (with only a little help from their mummies) were kept occupied and finished it in the dark while watching the snow. It was a very Christmassy, magical, slightly worrying but happy adventure, one that we'll never forget!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
RECENT HAPPENINGS
Thursday - Nana looked after Alice for the morning while I had a haircut - unfortunately it's too short and not the most flattering, it should be better in a month or so! Other than that we had a quiet day, Alice was obviously poorly and got worse through the afternoon, eventually we went to bed, where she vomited all over the bed and both of us at about 6pm.
Friday was another quiet day for her and she was still not herself, but no vomit so there was some improvement. I popped to her school to deliver the teaching staff their pressies and collect Alice's bits and bobs - they were very kind and had been planning for one of the teachers to call in with everything - that goes to reflect how caring they are. Luckily she doesn't realise all that's she's missed - a theatre trip, Christmas party with a visit from FC, Christingle service and Santa's Grotto, and the things that she did know about she was too poorly to care about, poor baby. I'm so grateful that she was well enough for the Nativity - think I'll have to swap days next year, I don't want to leave it til the second performance just in case (strangely I thought of this whilst I was there on Tuesday, Mother's Intuition?)
Saturday - we spent at home, I was still being very careful as I didn't want a repeat of Wednesday. We trialled a Christmas recipe and later on T arrived to help me bring in the Christmas tree.
Today was panto day. We went to Bristol to see S*now W*hite. Alice complained of a tummy ache after breakfast (that's how Wednesday started) but was OK. We both thoroughly enjoyed the panto, it was good but not as glitzy as last year's. I got quite emotional at the start, as Alice snuggled in whilst straining to see it all, marvelling at the change in the time since last year's panto and at how lucky am to be with this amazing little girl. It was obvious how much more she understood and enjoyed this year, when she got home she pretended to be the 'W*icked B*itch!' (I love free!)
Tonight I put the lights on the tree whilst Alice threw the tinsel pieces all over it - it was immediately obvious that decorating the tree is a rite of being 3 (and so different to last year when she was happy to watch TV while I decorated!) Not only is decorating a rite, but there's so much opinion to WHERE the decs should go - I can see that I'll have to do some discrete moving after bedtime - as I'm THAT picky too!! When I put Alice to bed I always talk about what we did today and what is happening tomorrow, I've already prepared her that she has to wait for me to decorate the tree!
Friday was another quiet day for her and she was still not herself, but no vomit so there was some improvement. I popped to her school to deliver the teaching staff their pressies and collect Alice's bits and bobs - they were very kind and had been planning for one of the teachers to call in with everything - that goes to reflect how caring they are. Luckily she doesn't realise all that's she's missed - a theatre trip, Christmas party with a visit from FC, Christingle service and Santa's Grotto, and the things that she did know about she was too poorly to care about, poor baby. I'm so grateful that she was well enough for the Nativity - think I'll have to swap days next year, I don't want to leave it til the second performance just in case (strangely I thought of this whilst I was there on Tuesday, Mother's Intuition?)
Saturday - we spent at home, I was still being very careful as I didn't want a repeat of Wednesday. We trialled a Christmas recipe and later on T arrived to help me bring in the Christmas tree.
Today was panto day. We went to Bristol to see S*now W*hite. Alice complained of a tummy ache after breakfast (that's how Wednesday started) but was OK. We both thoroughly enjoyed the panto, it was good but not as glitzy as last year's. I got quite emotional at the start, as Alice snuggled in whilst straining to see it all, marvelling at the change in the time since last year's panto and at how lucky am to be with this amazing little girl. It was obvious how much more she understood and enjoyed this year, when she got home she pretended to be the 'W*icked B*itch!' (I love free!)
Tonight I put the lights on the tree whilst Alice threw the tinsel pieces all over it - it was immediately obvious that decorating the tree is a rite of being 3 (and so different to last year when she was happy to watch TV while I decorated!) Not only is decorating a rite, but there's so much opinion to WHERE the decs should go - I can see that I'll have to do some discrete moving after bedtime - as I'm THAT picky too!! When I put Alice to bed I always talk about what we did today and what is happening tomorrow, I've already prepared her that she has to wait for me to decorate the tree!
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
NATIVITY
Yesterday Alice was in her first Nativity. I was at work so Nana and T took her to school and stayed to watch the performance. I found it very hard not to be there.
Today was the second performance and my turn to watch. Alice was a lamb. School provide the costumes, Alice would tell me nothing of what she was doing. As a 'little one' (still in nursery next year) she didn't have an acting role, she had to join in the songs and she had an instrument to play during one song. She stayed sitting throughout the performance, she told the others around her what to do, she remembered the actions for each song in the opening bars and generally was the first to start the actions or clapping, but she didn't sing! She wriggled a bit, she scratched her head a lot and even picked her nose - general 3 year old stuff! The performance was delightful and luckily it was filmed by school, the DVD is on order and I can't wait to see it again.
Today was the second performance and my turn to watch. Alice was a lamb. School provide the costumes, Alice would tell me nothing of what she was doing. As a 'little one' (still in nursery next year) she didn't have an acting role, she had to join in the songs and she had an instrument to play during one song. She stayed sitting throughout the performance, she told the others around her what to do, she remembered the actions for each song in the opening bars and generally was the first to start the actions or clapping, but she didn't sing! She wriggled a bit, she scratched her head a lot and even picked her nose - general 3 year old stuff! The performance was delightful and luckily it was filmed by school, the DVD is on order and I can't wait to see it again.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
CHRISTMAS CARDS
I've nearly finished writing the Christmas cards. I've discovered that my list is badly out of date, I found the bargain cards after I'd bought more, the cards are tiny - I'm worried they'll be lost in the post and I apologise to this year's recipients - Alice was very enthusiastic licking the envelopes and they're a bit soggy!!
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
CHRISTMAS COMES EARLIER WITH CHILDREN
Alice's term finishes next week, so nursery are in the midst of preparations for Christmas. Once it's started at school it's hard to avoid at home, so today we got out the little white light Christmas tree and, more importantly, the F*isher P*rice Nativity scene (Alice takes great joy in 'whacking' the angel to hear Away in a Manger!)
The countdown has begun! 22 days to go!
The countdown has begun! 22 days to go!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
THIS WEEKEND
Another busy one!
On Saturday morning Alice was invited to a double birthday party at a soft play centre (not our local one but one closer to school). Through a series of coincidences I discovered that there are other children in her nursery class who are adopted domestically (so not so obvious). I definitely felt a connection to their parents and have found some reassurance knowing that I'm not alone as an AP at school.
Then we went on to the Thai Adopt Christmas party. We both had a good time - Alice played lots of games, there were balloons and then Father Christmas popped in! As soon as Alice saw FC she stood up and waved and then said loudly, 'I'm over here!' (this was a direct result of last week's sighting of FC, he spoke to the little girl next to us but ignored Alice - she was making sure that it didn't happen again!) She was delighted to receive a princess torch (one of the original 3 items on her second list - all of which have since been eclipsed by the plastic tat of the Christmas train!!) For me the party was good for very different reasons, importantly catching up with other APs, gaining information and opinion but most of all meeting baby E (10 and a half months, just home from China, tiny, beautiful and totally gorgeous!)
It was a thought provoking day and an emotional journey home. Over night I found some calm in a decision and got the ball rolling on a new path, today I got to talk it through with 3 friends with very different perspectives, tomorrow I hope for a professional opinion.
This morning we were surprised by a last minute invitation to see FC arrive at a local community farm. The weather was atrocious but the friends are very special and we had lots of fun. Timings worked really well and we ended up with an impromptu visit to see FC - Alice has remained firm on wanting the plastic tat train (phew!) and FC today was delightful - patient, friendly, very traditional in a lovely setting, excellent value and a good gift (another torch!!)
PS, Photos - hopefully I'll receive one from yesterday and I'll find my camera to share a lovely one from this afternoon!
On Saturday morning Alice was invited to a double birthday party at a soft play centre (not our local one but one closer to school). Through a series of coincidences I discovered that there are other children in her nursery class who are adopted domestically (so not so obvious). I definitely felt a connection to their parents and have found some reassurance knowing that I'm not alone as an AP at school.
Then we went on to the Thai Adopt Christmas party. We both had a good time - Alice played lots of games, there were balloons and then Father Christmas popped in! As soon as Alice saw FC she stood up and waved and then said loudly, 'I'm over here!' (this was a direct result of last week's sighting of FC, he spoke to the little girl next to us but ignored Alice - she was making sure that it didn't happen again!) She was delighted to receive a princess torch (one of the original 3 items on her second list - all of which have since been eclipsed by the plastic tat of the Christmas train!!) For me the party was good for very different reasons, importantly catching up with other APs, gaining information and opinion but most of all meeting baby E (10 and a half months, just home from China, tiny, beautiful and totally gorgeous!)
It was a thought provoking day and an emotional journey home. Over night I found some calm in a decision and got the ball rolling on a new path, today I got to talk it through with 3 friends with very different perspectives, tomorrow I hope for a professional opinion.
This morning we were surprised by a last minute invitation to see FC arrive at a local community farm. The weather was atrocious but the friends are very special and we had lots of fun. Timings worked really well and we ended up with an impromptu visit to see FC - Alice has remained firm on wanting the plastic tat train (phew!) and FC today was delightful - patient, friendly, very traditional in a lovely setting, excellent value and a good gift (another torch!!)
PS, Photos - hopefully I'll receive one from yesterday and I'll find my camera to share a lovely one from this afternoon!
Friday, November 27, 2009
A NEW PARENTING PHASE
Last Friday we had a busy day which included watching Father Christmas arrive at the local Garden Centre. While we were there Alice spotted a train set and had to be moved on as she wanted to stay and watch it (in the box - there wasn't one set up!) Ever since the visit to the Garden Centre she has been talking about the train set, so this morning I stopped on the way home from taking her to nursery and purchased it.And the new phase in parenting - welcome (or not) to the world of expensive plastic tat!
Friday, November 20, 2009
BUSY DAY
Children in Need Day, Alice's school were having a Spotty Day, I'd decided that Alice would go as a spotty dog:- I bought her a dog set for her birthday (hairband with ears, tail and a nose that barked when pressed),
- I used an animal print (unused) dog bed to make a skirt and a new set of ears (hairbands are no good as they slip out easily if they're the fabric covered),
- I used an old (slightly stained) white top and printed glittery paws over it (learnt the lesson to put some filling between the front and back whilst printing!)
- I got a bargain poncho on an auction site
- I kept the face paints very simple!!
Nursery (usually a whole day) was just a morning session today - the whole school had a half day to celebrate a Saints Day. So after I dropped her off I went into the town and met a fellow prospective AP and gossiped over coffee. I managed to buy some more china - I love my spotty china, but in recent weeks I've broken a large and a side plate (I've had the china for over 5 years but these are the only pieces I've ever broken). This year Alice has started using proper plates (rather than melamine) and it's noticeable that we didn't really have enough china now it's in greater demand. They've also bought out a new piece, so I finally have a matching gravy boat! Then I went back to school for what I thought was a PTA event, mulled wine and minced pies, actually it was a school event - showing what the PTA fundraising had bought recently - it was a great opportunity to see the grounds and watch Nursery as they played outside - I love watching Alice in a different situation, she was happy to wave from a distance!
This afternoon we went to my school to watch and take part in another Children in Need event - they pompomed to a pop song. Alice wasn't happy to watch, she had to be on the yard WITH the children!
Then we popped home again, before going out for the final time today - to a local garden centre to watch Father Christmas arrive by horse drawn carriage. I didn't tell Alice about this until just before we left (I was waiting to see what the weather was going to do). We met one of her favourite friends there - O, Alice was more bothered about seeing O and his mum J - in fact she didn't think she wanted to see Father Christmas at all! When we got there she was transfixed by an animated display of elves and reindeer, then she tried to help herself to 2 balloons (1 for O!) - we weren't supposed to have them until we left so she had to leave them for a while, when we left she was adamant that she wanted a purple one. We saw FC but not up-close, we'll be going on a special train journey just before Christmas and then she'll get to share her list - at least she's consistent, she's sure that she wants a game like Mummy's, a torch (she's obsessed with mine) and a house for her hamster - so that's what she's getting!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
CHRISTMAS DAY 2008
Christmas Day, a day I find really hard, despite Alice's presence, I find it difficult to face memories of Mum and Nick and Christmases from the past. Usually I can remember them with a smile, it's more difficult on days like today where there are such specific memories linked to a day. I look at the Christmas tree and remember how Nick would turn the lights on as soon as he got downstairs in the morning, even before putting the kettle on. Every part of Christmas Day holds memories of Mum - probably as so much of it is based around cooking, even I remind myself of her sometimes, especially when I'm cooking her recipes.
However today had many, many happy times too. It's been the best Christmas without Mum that I've had. It's the 6th without Mum and the 5th that I've 'done' the Turkey and all the trimmings. Not only was it the best Christmas for a good while but it was also the best meal - not actually any better than previous years but less stressful to produce, probably because I'm more practiced at producing a roast and this year I used an electric steamer to do 3 of the veg (harder to overcook them and more space on the cooker). This year there was a rhythm to the day. Last year Alice vomited after I'd fed her lunch, this year she ate with us and though she's not completely well (chest infection with antibiotics) she definitely enjoyed the day and understood what was going on.
I woke just after 7am, within 15 minutes I was aware that Alice was stirring. We went downstairs soon after and Alice discovered her sack of pressies. She was very calm and I wasn't sure she understood until she was very quick to answer 'Nes, meese!' when I asked her if she wanted to open a present. She was very good - she ripped each present open, tidied the wrapping into a black bag before having a quick play with the contents and then moving onto the next present (sometimes with a bit of prompting from me!)
We had fruit and freshly baked bread for breakfast at around 9am and then got dressed. C arrived shortly after 10am (after I'd panicked about par-boiling the potatoes in time to put them onto roast!) T and her boys arrived a bit later and helped Alice to open presents from them - T's boys and Alice adore each other and their enjoyment of one another is plain to see.
Alice went to bed after lunch, it was lovely to share our Christmas meal with her this year, but she didn't sleep! (I think that her days of daytime naps are rapidly disappearing, ugh!) After 'nap' time we opened presents - Alice had mostly lost interest by then so there's still quite a pile under the tree for her. C left as it was growing dark and we made our way to our neighbours for a sit down and chat while the children and teenagers played and wound each other up. Alice had her first experience of a N*inetendo W*ii and loved it! She was ready to come home when I asked - not surprising after all she's done today and without a nap.
What I hadn't really anticipated was how much I'd miss Daisy today. Maybe my feelings were magnified by Pudding's imminent arrival, I'm not sure. Daisy adored Christmas - the tree, the turkey and most of all the presents! It was very strange to open presents without a Labrador's nose being stuck to the other side of the wrapping. Also hard to know that just a few miles away is a puppy who'll be home soon, who could already be home - I know I've made the fairest decision not to have her here for the chaos of Christmas but patience is hard!
Overall the best Christmas in years, Alice definitely enjoyed it too and that's the most important thing for me and our best present will be home within a week - now's the time to buy shares in kitchen roll and dog food manufacturers! Happy Christmas.
However today had many, many happy times too. It's been the best Christmas without Mum that I've had. It's the 6th without Mum and the 5th that I've 'done' the Turkey and all the trimmings. Not only was it the best Christmas for a good while but it was also the best meal - not actually any better than previous years but less stressful to produce, probably because I'm more practiced at producing a roast and this year I used an electric steamer to do 3 of the veg (harder to overcook them and more space on the cooker). This year there was a rhythm to the day. Last year Alice vomited after I'd fed her lunch, this year she ate with us and though she's not completely well (chest infection with antibiotics) she definitely enjoyed the day and understood what was going on.
I woke just after 7am, within 15 minutes I was aware that Alice was stirring. We went downstairs soon after and Alice discovered her sack of pressies. She was very calm and I wasn't sure she understood until she was very quick to answer 'Nes, meese!' when I asked her if she wanted to open a present. She was very good - she ripped each present open, tidied the wrapping into a black bag before having a quick play with the contents and then moving onto the next present (sometimes with a bit of prompting from me!)
We had fruit and freshly baked bread for breakfast at around 9am and then got dressed. C arrived shortly after 10am (after I'd panicked about par-boiling the potatoes in time to put them onto roast!) T and her boys arrived a bit later and helped Alice to open presents from them - T's boys and Alice adore each other and their enjoyment of one another is plain to see.
Alice went to bed after lunch, it was lovely to share our Christmas meal with her this year, but she didn't sleep! (I think that her days of daytime naps are rapidly disappearing, ugh!) After 'nap' time we opened presents - Alice had mostly lost interest by then so there's still quite a pile under the tree for her. C left as it was growing dark and we made our way to our neighbours for a sit down and chat while the children and teenagers played and wound each other up. Alice had her first experience of a N*inetendo W*ii and loved it! She was ready to come home when I asked - not surprising after all she's done today and without a nap.
What I hadn't really anticipated was how much I'd miss Daisy today. Maybe my feelings were magnified by Pudding's imminent arrival, I'm not sure. Daisy adored Christmas - the tree, the turkey and most of all the presents! It was very strange to open presents without a Labrador's nose being stuck to the other side of the wrapping. Also hard to know that just a few miles away is a puppy who'll be home soon, who could already be home - I know I've made the fairest decision not to have her here for the chaos of Christmas but patience is hard!
Overall the best Christmas in years, Alice definitely enjoyed it too and that's the most important thing for me and our best present will be home within a week - now's the time to buy shares in kitchen roll and dog food manufacturers! Happy Christmas.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2008
Phew, Alice was on the 'Nice' list!Christmas wishes to all - I hope that your Christmas is all you've hoped for and much more!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
THE POST WHERE I BRAG A BIT, BUT NOT ABOUT MY DAUGHTER!
Alice's sack.This has been yet another pre-Christmas project! I'm not a sew-er but with C's help (she cut it out and did Alice's name in applique and then told me how to do the rest). While we were making this sack we also prepared the bits for Little Sis's sack - now I need to choose a short name!!
I'm EXTREMELY proud of this sack - there's a history to draw-string bags in this house (another post entirely). I hope that Alice will enjoy this sack and that it will become part of her special memories of Christmas. This truly was a labour of love, a huge challenge for me and it did turn out just how I had hoped!
CHRISTMAS EVE PREPARATIONS
We've put out mince pies and cider for Father Christmas, hung Alice's sack and left a carrot for Rudolph (though Alice wasn't happy leaving it all by the fireplace!)
Then we read a story about Father Christmas's journey on Christmas eve and listened to the high speed music that came with it! After that we read the Nativity story and found each part of the story in Alice's Nativity set (Fisher Price, hard to find, but Alice LOVES it!) and then we read the Nativity all over again! Alice insists that the lady in blue is called 'Mummy' and not Mary and the baby is 'Gee-is!'
I gave her her new PJs - Up*sy D*aisy ones, a great hit! For the first time ever Alice got down from my bed and ran into her nursery for bedtime! (The reminders about Father Christmas probably helped!)
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