Christmas in England

Its hard to believe that Christmas has already come and gone.  But now we have some time off from work and school to relax and spend time together, so its not completely over yet.

We had a very nice Christmas celebration in our new house.  The kids left mince pies and milk for Santa, and he seemed to have enjoyed them.

When we woke up on Christmas morning, we were all excited to see that Santa had been here, and he left some of the things they wanted most.

Ben had been asking for a "motorcycle" - a two wheeler without pedals or training wheels.
Susanna was hoping for this Barbie toy that includes the ingredients needed to make sparkly lip gloss.
On Saturday, we went on a quick trip to the north coast of Devon.  The drive was 4 hours, part on the motorways and part on some winding back roads.  We learned that Susanna is rather prone to motion sickness on this trip!  We had a nice stay at a small family-run  hotel - there was an indoor pool, a toy room, a restaurant and a bar!  And we had two adjoining rooms - one with single beds for the kids and one with a double for us.  The kids loved having their own room with its own television.  The town itself was very nice, though not as lively as its likely to be in warmer weather.  We tried to walk up this hill on Sunday, but found it to be waaay too windy.  We went back this morning for another try and found success!

Now we're back home and ready to stay put for a while.  We're looking forward to a few quiet days with not much to do.  Susanna goes back to school on the 6th - I'm sure by then she'll be quite ready to go!

Switzerland

We just got back from our pre-Christmas trip to Switzerland.

We had a nice, quiet, relaxing time.  Actually, all of us were sick, and Brad and I had it the worst.  Therefore, we weren't much in the go-out-and-see-it-all mood, so we took it easy instead.

We went to Basel, which is near where Switzerland meets France and Germany.  Its a nice little city with the usual charming Swiss architecture.  We thought we'd travel a bit in Switzerland but ended up staying in Basel the whole time.

The main purpose of the trip was to see the Christmas market.  We accomplished that!  It was fairly small but very nice.  Lots of different things to buy - Christmas decorations, of course, and also toys, jewellry, bags, and much more.  Ben and Brad enjoyed the hot dogs and sausages.  We all enjoyed the hot pretzels.

We also went to the zoo which was pretty much in the center of town.  It was a fairly small zoo with small habitats for some big animals!  We seemed very close to some of the animals, including the penguins (out for a walk) and the elephants.

The kids loved riding on the trams, which were like mini-trains right on the street.  Very easy and convenient.  And we had a few nice walks up in the side streets.

The weather was nice enough - no snow, and not terribly cold either.  We stayed bundled up but were quite comfortable.

Now we're back in England and its time to get ready for Christmas.  There are still some preparations to be made - gift wrapping, food shopping, etc. and not much more time!  The kids are very excited to see what Santa will bring them, and I'm pretty excited myself!

Orange

Just another quiet evening at home...  almost time to get ready for bed.  The kids were busy playing on the computer together so I left them and ran to the bathroom.  Upon my return, Susanna was alone at the computer, and my quick search for Ben found him in the kitchen enjoying an orange.  This orange.  Peel and all!

Christmas decorations

We got our tree today, and it is already decorated, thanks to Susanna!  We also have lots of gifts under it, too!

The stockings.
Susanna and Ben's cousins, Florence and Sarah, sent them special glasses to view the tree with.  When you look at fairy lights through them the lights look like snowmen or Santas.  I managed to get a decent photo of it!  (click on it to make it bigger)
My new hand-knit, made in England nativity.
The wreath on our front door.

Room on the Broom

Today we went to see Room on the Broom at a small local theatre.  My kids love the book (and others by the author/illustrator pair) so when we saw that it was being done in the theatre, we knew we had to go.  

Its a kids show, but it was done by 4 adult actors, and a handful of puppets.  I believe that this theatre group adapted the book into a play on its own, and it was really well done.  They had songs, a broomstick, and of course a dragon, and it was funny and engaging for kids and adults.

And of course Ben's favorite part was the dragon, who threatened to eat everyone in the audience, until he was distracted by the delicious-looking witch.  

Apart from the show, we had a relaxing day around home.  Ben hasn't been feeling well and we weren't even sure he'd make the show, but I'm happy he did.  But he really needed a restful afternoon, and he wanted me to snuggle with him on the sofa which was nice!

Susanna's school play is over now after three shows, all of which I attended.  I still have her song in my head all the time.  I really can't get over how great the show was!

Tomorrow we are getting our Christmas tree and we will continue to decorate the house for Christmas.  Only one more week of school before the break - I'm looking forward to them having time off, but I plan to take advantage of every free minute this week!

Nativity play

Tonight was "opening night" of the Christmas play at Susanna's school.  

The play is called The Little Fir Tree.  Three classes of kids were in the performance - Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.  So it was a big group of 4 to 7 year olds.

It was great!  All the kids were involved, and a lot of them had their own lines, or lines with one other child.  The youngest kids were divided into three groups (raindrops, snowflakes and sunbeams) and did group dances.  Year 1 kids did the nativity play, and the Year 2 kids had other parts relating to the Fir Tree.  The nativity was incorporated into the Fir Tree story.

Susanna was an innkeeper, and she stood with a boy and sang a couple of lines.  She did very well as did everyone else.  There were no real goofs and no one seemed too nervous.  There were many songs within the play and the kids sang them well.

Tonight was also the first night that we hired a babysitter.  Ben stayed home with her so that Brad and I could go together to see Susanna (and enjoy the mulled wine and mince pies they served before the show!)  She came highly recommended from a friend and Ben was fine.  We told her that Ben could stay up until we got home (around 8:15 - quite late for him!) but he didn't make it - he curled up on the couch with his blanket and just went to sleep.

Ben and I went to the matinee performance today, and there is one more show on Thursday evening.  Tomorrow night is a big Christmas street fair in town, so this is a busy week full of late nights!  

Random Christmas questions

My cousin Tami posted a list of questions (and her own answers) on her blog, and "tagged" her readers (who have blogs too) to do the same on their own blogs.  

So here are the questions with my answers.  If you have a blog, feel free to do the same!  (Easy blog post!)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually paper, unless it’s a funny shape and I happen to have a bag it will fit in.

2. Real tree or artificial? Real Tree for the first time in several years.  Its coming on Sunday!

3. When do you put up the tree? This Sunday.  This past weekend seemed too early, but now this coming weekend almost feels too late!

4. When do you take down the tree? By Easter : )

5. Do you like eggnog? Actually I’m not sure.  I think I tried it and liked it, but I know its bad for you so I figure its better not to get hooked.  There are plenty of other things I love to indulge in over the holidays!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Its hard to remember my favorite, but one that made a big impression was a little gumball machine I got when I was about 5.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Susanna (because she says she really wants make-up this year.)

8. Easiest person to buy for? Ben.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. I just bought a hand-knitted set off ebay (and yes it was made in England!)

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, if I actually do them.

11. Worst Christmas gift you have received? I am going to decline to answer this one.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Muppets Christmas Carol.

13. When do you start shopping? Usually before summer, but this year not until November as I had no hiding places in the other house.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.



15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Baked goods of all kinds.



16. Favorite Christmas song? 

Christmas Wrapping.

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We’ll be at home on Christmas day, but have trips planned before and after Christmas.

18. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning.



19. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Not enough time to get everything done.



20. Favorite ornament theme or color? Handmade, either by the kids or from someone else.



21. What do you want for Christmas this year? Fun stuff from the cook shop.

Merry Christmas!!

Little shepherd

Today was Ben's preschool nativity play.  It was held at a church near his preschool.  As you can see, Ben was a shepherd.  All the kids (around 30 of them) were dressed up in various costumes and seated at the front of the church.  Only a few kids had quick lines.  All the kids participated in singing songs.  Ben liked being in the play but seemed a bit bored sitting up there!

After the nativity, there was a school Christmas fair in the church.  They had games, raffles, crafts and food.  It was similar to the one at Susanna's school, but on a much smaller scale.  I got to run the Teddy Tombola stall - they put numbers on a bunch of prizes, and the kids buy tickets and try to match the numbers.  Sort of like gambling for preschoolers!  We all had a good time and plenty of treats!

The new routine

Our new house is a little closer to school than the old one.  So being on time should be even easier, right?

Unfortunately, it hasn't been.  Our move coincided with the start of some truly chilly weather.  This means I need to be getting in the car a good 7 or 8 minutes earlier than usual, just to get the ice and fog cleared from the windows.

For some reason, when we moved in March, it didn't occur to us that we'd need our ice scrapers.  But we do have a pitcher, and warm water works pretty well!

I was informed by another mum at school this morning that this frostiness is usually only temporary - not something we'll have to deal with everyday until March.  We'll see...

I miss my garage!  (okay, we have a garage, but I'm pretty sure a car wouldn't fit so I haven't tried.)

Pickle pudding

This morning Susanna walked into the kitchen singing about "pickle pudding".  I asked her what she was singing about, and of course she said that its part of the song, "We wish you a Merry Christmas".  I confirmed that she was singing "pickle pudding" and she assured me that she was, as that is how the song goes.

I said pickle pudding didn't sound very good to me, and she said that is actually quite good - just some pudding with pickles next to it!  Hmmm...  maybe we'll have to add it to the Christmas menu after all.

On the way to school, the song in question came on the CD player.  Its the John Denver/Muppets version.  Susanna listened, and realized its not pickle pudding at all, but PIGGY pudding!

She's getting closer, anyway!

Haggis

A few weeks ago, I had my turn at helping out with Susanna's Rainbows group.  Each week there is a theme, and the week I was there was Scottish night.

Ben came along with me since I had no where better for him to go.  He was a good boy during the hour; in fact, he was better than some of the girls!

The leader had the girls try a Scottish dance with some Scottish music.  Then it was time to try some traditional Scottish fare.

She told a story about a Haggis, a little animal with six legs (long on one side and short on the other) that climbs hills.  You can catch it by scaring it and making it roll down the hill into a net.  Then she produced a bowl and unwrapped a cooked haggis.  If you don't know about haggis, its not really an animal at all,  but a stuffed sheep's stomach that is a traditional Scottish food.  The stuffing has lots of good stuff like kidneys and other organs, and also spices and stuff to make it taste good.

The haggis was cut open (like a big fat sausage) and each girl was offered a spoon.  Some of the girls wouldn't try (mine included) but others did and they liked it.  Ben was eager for his spoon full and he went back for more along with several of the girls.

I have to say that Ben is much braver than me when it comes to trying new food!  Unfortunately, I don't know if he'll ever get the chance to eat haggis again - at least not if I have to provide it for him!

I'm back!

Just a quick post to say that we are back on the internet!  The promise of three weeks was somehow cut to two, so I'm very excited!  Though I could have used the extra internet-free week to finish unpacking...

My parents have come and gone since I last posted.  They had a good visit - my mom enjoyed shopping and my dad enjoyed our new leather sofas!  They did spend a few days in London seeing the sights and the big Christmas crowds.  They also enjoyed some good English food.

Now that Thanksgiving is past, Christmas seems to be right around the corner, which I guess it is.  Only three weekends left to get ready!  We have two short trips planned - to Switzerland before Christmas and to Devon (in England - about 4 hours by car) for a few days after Christmas.  We will celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day in our new house, eating a Christmas pudding and sharing Christmas crackers.

I hope everyone has fun preparing for the holidays!