Christmas

This was, for obvious reasons, the first time the six of us were at home with just us at Christmas. This did mean we could do things in a bit more of a relaxed way: no piling all our stuff into cars, long trips, or any of that - but also no grandparents or cousins or any of those things we look forward to. Jay and I were able to go to a watchnight service for the first time in years as church is all online just now, and we were able to join (still virtually) some of our own church's activities over the holidays.

Santa came to visit some very excited children!

Miriam made a decoration for us

The girls were very excited to have all our presents under the tree. Usually we keep them in a box ready to go in the car for the big trip...

Christmas day involved a lot of virtual family visiting.

Lydia and Esther got some bath foam for their Christmas. Left unattended for about half a minute, they released the whole can!

Esther is really in to puzzles and got some nice new ones.

Thank you letters begin! Home schooling had an additional writing activity...

Christmas Holidays 2019

A final catchup on Christmassy things and all that went on in the holidays.

First up, the Church Nativity, where Lydia had a surprise upgrade from "shepherd" to a more central part...

All packed and ready to go!

 First, a fine walk out in the increasingly dark countryside near Granny's house.

I particularly like how moody this looks.

All set for Christmas night

Most impressed by the thanks-in-anticipation here

Just liking the irony of this one.

...and on to Christmas morning with a 7am present opening

Lydia has remained attached to this pen ever since!

and Esther LOVES here doll's buggy

On to Grandma's house and cousins to play with!

The end of a busy day. Naomi set up a little surprise for Lydia.

We had a few trips to Aden, where there are a load of new outdoor toys. Very nice!

Standard shenanigans setting up a family photo with so many small ones.

My family had a meal out a couple of days after Christmas - Esther got a massive load of ice cream!

Lots of time for fun games

We also made use of the sales to get some new school shoes: on to a good thing at John Lewis, where there is some Lego to keep everyone occupied.

Most trips north we drove along Aberdeen beach past Codona's and the girls have been consistently asking to go there for years. This time we did and they had a brilliant time!

Lydia was excellent at the penny falls 

And some treats as well.

I got this game as a present; essentially a bit like Tetris and right up my street. Hours of fun and there are two board so I hada a few races with the girls, who are impressively good at it.

Naomi set up a birthday party for me, complete with games. Here's pass the parcel.

My birthday!

Grandma's swing is still in good working order.

Another nice moody picture, this time in Grandma's front garden.

Naomi went for a nice long walk with Jay to have a bit of Mummy-Daughter time. There is now a new path between New Deer and Maud that provides a really decent walk.

Holidays nearly over, here we are back home.

Esther in her superhero costume.

Miriam had some spare clay left from making her snowglobes, so she gave me the red present here to put in my office. Here it is!

...and the extensive thankyou letter writing begins.