Happy Christmas!

A little late posting this - just can't seem to find enough quiet time to get it done. We had a great Christmas, quite quiet but very nice. Both the kids seem to be full of germs and Beth particularly is fighting off some bug. However, it didn't seem to have any effect on her ability to open presents!

Toby had no particular requests for Santa but Beth was very hopeful for a Barbie doll. Thankfully Santa had read her letter and listened to her requests and she got one along with lots of clothes. Toby was more than happy with his Buzz from Santa, complimented with a Woody from Gran and Grandad.

We had been rather mean this year with presents as they already have so much but everyone else was very generous and they both ended the day with lots of fabulous presents. Toby was very happy with his wizard outfit complete with authentic Harry Potter broom from the film set! Both loved decorating their own wellie boots (thanks J & A) and Toby seemed to be having some interesting thoughts about what he could do with his chainsaw!

Before I forget, I sadly can't steal the compliments for the cake, that was courtesy of Grandma. Thank you to everyone for all our lovely pressies, thank you cards will follow at some point . . .

As a little break from Christmas celebrations, we did go for a visit to the National Space Centre in Leicester with Auntie Jane. Most of the information was way above the kids comprehension but they loved some of the experiments and the film we watched. Toby was obviously very taken with it and has been talking ever since about the rocket blasting off. :)

Christingle

On Wednesday 15th there was the Christingle service at church combined with the school nativity play. Beth was an angel and looked very good in her costume (along with about four others in the same one, courtesy of the local supermarket!). Beth didn't have any lines, just singing and she did very well - she has been singing the songs for the last few weeks and I think I could probably have joined in with most of them.

The nativity was a slight variation from normal as it was called Angels and Aliens and was about a spaceship that landed near a school where the children were practicing for their nativity play. The school children tell the aliens the story of Christmas. I suspect it's just a way of creating more characters as you can only have so many angels and shepherds! It went very well and I don't think anyone forgot their lines though one of the kings got stage fright and one was off ill.

All the children were given christingles, yes, even Toby!! Amazingly he seemed to appreciate the responsibility and was really careful with with it. Beth was mesmerised by hers - you can see her (fifth angel down) just gazing at it. The church looked fab lit by just the candles and it was a lovely evening.

Happy Birthday GG Harry

December 4th was Great Grandpa Harry's 90th birthday over in Northern Ireland. So, on Thursday (2nd) we dug our way out of the street through a foot of snow and headed over to Liverpool to catch the night ferry to Belfast.

Strangely, once we got out of our village the weather wasn't too bad and the snow gradually disappeared. Of course the kids were very excited about the ferry and loved the bunk beds. The crossing wasn't too bad though given the choice I may choose to go first class by plane!

On Friday (and again on Sunday) we spent some time on the beach. It wasn't quite beach weather so we hadn't taken our buckets and spades, but the kids had a great time splashing in the puddles and lobbing stones into the water. Toby of course fell over at least once but thankfully, for once, it wasn't straight into the water.

On Saturday it was the party for GG Harry. The house was filled with family and friends, there to wish him Happy Birthday and ply him with chocolates and sweets (he has something of a sweet tooth!). The kids loved running around, meeting new people and getting a lot of attention too.

Sunday evening we caught the ferry back home all ready for school on Monday morning. We all hope you had a very Happy 90th Birthday Great Grandpa Harry!