Tour of Anfield

One of Noah’s Christmas presents was a tour of Liverpool’s ground.  He went with Grandad who also got a tour for one of his presents!!  Noah had a fantastic time…

He took his bear, Adam, with him….who is also a Liverpool fan.  They got to see the trophy cabinet, the players dressing room and had their photo taken with a replica Champions League trophy…

While they were on the tour I took Caitlin and Austin to town with my Mum to check out the sales.  They all had some Christmas money to spend so we went to a few shops where they picked something each.  When Noah met us we went for dinner and then he spent his money getting his name and the number 8 put on the back of his Liverpool kit!!

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Boxing Day

Today we had a nice relaxing pj day!  They all played with their many many toys!!!  Caitlin and Noah practised on their roller blades and Noah skateboarded up and down the hall!!!

Caitlin also filled her polly pocket water park with water which Austin loved!!

We also had another Christmas dinner!!  I love Christmas dinner!!  Noah also spent quite a while sending Austin up and down the hall on his skateboard…how there wasn’t an accident with the board or roller blades I don’t know….

Christmas Day

We actually woke up before the kids!!  I really thought this year that Noah would be up at an un-Godly hour with excitement but we had to wake him!  Austin came up to our room at about 7am but when we asked him he said Father Christmas hadn’t been!!!  He got in bed for a bit then we decided to go down and look!  Surprise, surprise there on his bed was a full stocking!!!  He then woke Caitlin and Noah up and they all opened their stockings.  We then went downstairs to see if he had left any other presents…….

Noah got his football studs that he had requested…..

…I love Noah’s excited face!!!!  Austin got a hotwheels track…..

Caitlin opened all of her presents really slowly and carefully….as usual!!  She got roller blades and books etc…..

Austin got a new hat which he looked very funny in….

Once they had finished opening their presents and eaten breakfast it was time to get dressed into their new clothes and go to Nanny’s for even more presents and Christmas dinner!

Noah got a ramp….cue excited face again!!

Caitlin was very excited because she got Lelli Kelly boots!!!!!!!!!  We had Christmas dinner with everyone…there were 18 of us this year and then there was more mad present opening!!!  Eventually we headed home at about 8pm!!!!

 

 

 

Christmas Eve

I’d been meaning to go for a drive to see the Christmas lights for a while so on Christmas eve we went to deliver a few cards that we hadn’t managed to pass on.  We saw some lights along the way but someone had recommended a road not too far from us.  I wasn’t sure exactly where it was but as soon as we pulled in we knew we were there!!!  I hadn’t taken my proper camera so I could only get a few pics on my phone and they really really do not do it justice!!!

About two-thirds of the street had lights up outside their houses….it looked completely amazing!!!!!!!!!!

There were loads of people walking up and down it and the kids were absolutely amazed!!!  I’ll have to go back next year with my camera!!!

Days 18 to end!

I’m a bit behind on the advent calendar update so here are some highlights of what they got for days 18 onwards….

Day 23…more terrible glitter pictures!!

Day 19..Austin in his play

They also got more pictures and a photo of the kids at the school groto!!

Gingerbread house

Today we finally found the time to make our gingerbread house!  They decorated all of the pieces….

…we then stuck all of the pieces together with the icing provided.  The instructions said to hold it together for 10 minutes so I did….it wasn’t stuck so we propped it all together and left it for over an hour….

…..and as I took this picture it all fell apart!!!!!!!!!  Ah well they had fun and enjoyed eating most of it!!!!!!!

Final Rainbows

This Monday was Caitlin’s last ever Rainbows and she jumped over the pot of gold to become a Brownie!  At school she was crying because she didn’t want to leave but when she got to Rainbows she seemed fine about leaving!

As it was the last one before Christmas there were lots of games and Father Christmas even paid a visit!!

At the end she got 2 more badges and a lovely book full of photos from her time at Rainbows….

Now it’s on to Brownies!!!  Although I’m not sure how Noah and Austin will stay up late enough to collect her!

Grandad’s birthday

Grandad’s birthday is very close to Christmas so we don’t always get over to see him.  This weekend they were looking after the kids so when they brought them back we had cake and presents for him.

We got him a breadmaker and lots of ingredients to go in it.  Just as he opened it someone burst the flour so no more photos..I was busy getting a bag to put it in before it went all over the floor!

Days 16 and 17….

Day 16 was another Christmassy picture drawn by Caitlin…very similar to Noah’s because he was sat next to her and just drew what she did!!!!!

Day 17 was another photo!  Photo’s always used to be the easy option for the calendar as I just took the photo (although getting them to co-operate is always a bit of a nightmare requiring chocolate bribes!!) but they have shut down our local developing lab so I now have to save up my printing before driving over there!!  Today was my 3 kings!!!

 

The Christmas Tag

I was tagged by Suburban Mum to do this Christmas questionnaire!  I love Christmas so here it goes!

What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?

It has to be the chaos on Christmas day!  My family does Christmas the chaotic way….about 20 of us pile into my Mum’s house and squeeze around a table for Christmas dinner, then afterwards we all swap presents, but not in a civilised way..in a completely manic way…but I love it!  I don’t think anyone has a clue who bought them what but there is paper and presents everywhere…and a lot of noise!  I also love Christmas shopping…..I get mine done really early but I always go to the shops in that week before to experience the madness because it makes me feel all Christmassy!!  I try to make some presents and always under-estimate the time that takes and so end up with a bit of a mad last-minute rush!!!

What is your favourite make-up look for the festive season?

I don’t wear make up so none!  I might paint Caitlin’s nails for her and curl her hair but no make up for me!

Real or fake tree?

We vary.  Growing up we always had a fake tree but when me and Richard first bought our house we got a real one.  We had real ones (that usually involved a lot of pruning around the back to get it to fit in its designated space) for a few years, we then bought a fake black one, then when that died we went back to real.  Then one year I noticed how expensive a real one was and the scrooge in me decided we’d go back to a fake one, it’s less hard work as well!!

Giving presents or receiving them?

Both!!  Now that I have kids I LOVE them having a massive pile of presents to open, but I also don’t want to spend a ridiculous amount on them, so they quite often get things they need like new clothes, bubble bath, new shoes to make the pile bigger.

Handmade Christmas cards or bought?

I usually make my cards for immediate family and close friends….in the past this has included little wooden snowmen, paper wreathes, a photo of the 3 kings, felt ice-skates….

(I have no idea if that photo is where I got my idea from – which I forget where – or my actual work!  So apologies if that is your photo)

But this year I am totally out of inspiration so I’m not sure what I’ll do!  The kids have made their cards, but I’m stuck!  Hopefully something will come to me……

What’s your favourite Christmas film?

I’m not really a big film person so don’t have a favourite Christmas film, I’d rather go to the Christmas markets, besides I never have time to watch the tele at Christmas I am always too busy making my cards or last minute presents!

What’s your favourite Christmas food?

Oooo hard!  I love a good roast dinner, with devils on horseback and super thick gravy!  But I also love all the Christmas chocolates!!  Oh and the puddings…but not Christmas pudding..yuk!  I did discover last year or the year before that I do like mince pies!  I have no idea why but I had always thought they were made of actual mince…as in minced beef!!!!  So had always refused to have one thinking that a pie covered in sugar but filled with COLD mince was not something I wanted to try!  I don’t know how I discovered they were made of fruit…but they are way nicer than I imaginined…not surprisingly!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am going to tag

Laura and Gemma

That bit was actually quite hard! Most of my readers don’t have a blog (or comment).  Not sure if Laura still reads my blog but if you do I’ve tagged you 🙂