Ready for the holiday

Last day at work today and seems everyone had decided to take the afternoon off. I did the same (just to fit in ;) ) and was glad I did! Got all the last Christmas Shopping done in town and because I wasn’t pressured to get it done in my lunch hour I could relax and take my time. This also meant I could observe people elbowing their way around the shops and being horrible to their co-shoppers – Christmas really does bring out the best and worst in people.

Did the Tesco shop straight after and got all of the food for Christmas. Had to phone Mick to meet me there as it wouldn’t all fit in the car! Then we collected Rebecca from nursery together which was nice as it was the last one before Christmas and they'd had Christmas dinner.

At bedtime Rebecca was really sick, so we spent the night ferrying bowls and towels from bedroom to bathroom and taking turns to sleep on her bedroom floor. Fun!

Icicle, Icicle, Where are you going?

Today I balanced on the windowsill and leant out of our bedroom window to take photos of icicles. Only a scrapper would do this. I kept thinking of my friend who takes photos of her children’s dental work and hospital photos (you know who you are!) and then I didn’t feel quite so mad :)

Anyway, I love icicles and am really pleased with these photos (although I appreciate that I am no photographer!!!). Only problem is that I now have “Icicle” song by Tori Amos in my head and it won’t go away.

Icicle icicle, Where are you going?, I have a hiding place, When spring marches in, Will you keep watch for me, I hear them calling, Gonna lay down, Gonna lay down...

Braved driving today. Car battery was flat and after I’d scraped all the snow off I had to come indoors for a hot water, so we started out a little later than planned. Took my Mother-in-Law to Capture the Magic craft shop in Soham. It was a long drive and a bit slippy on the little roads, but a good trip. We had a lovely long chat about her days in the RAF packing parachutes – I didn’t realise what a complex and responsible job it was.

Mastered the Cuttlebug

Today Rebecca made her Christmas cards to Daddy, Amy, Carly, Jake and Uncle Hobbes. Each one had a photo of her in the snow with her snowman. After showing her the Cuttlebug just twice, she was churning out her own cards with no problem!! Don't think I'll ever need a cuttlekids set :) She then chose some stickers and coloured her cards too!

Christmas Preparations...

Oh dear, what happened to the last 10 months...oh well, that'll be something to add to the New Year's Resolutions :)

Christmas is coming, and Rebecca is really aware of everything going on this year. She is very excited about Father Christmas / Santa and all the Christmas lights and decorations.
Last weekend we made the Christmas Cake (the fruit had been soaking for a week already) and here is the little video of Rebecca helping me. She didn't like the noise from the mixer, so had to keep going out everytime we turned it on!

I'm really enjoying doing all the traditional things with Rebecca in the lead up to Christmas: advent calendars, decorating the tree, making gingerbread men, writing to Santa. And of course, making a wish when we stir the Christmas Cake. I don't know what Rebecca wished for, but it took a loooooong time :)

She is wearing a Brownie t-shirt in this video, as we had been to Christingle with the Brownies earlier that day, and of course she wanted to wear a uniform top (and then wouldn't take it off). Rebecca was asked to light the 2nd Advent candle which was lovely for her and she looked all proud of herself! She stood by herself to sing the hymns, holding the song words and singing along (her own little versions I'm sure). Afterwards she said "I singed with the Brownies didn't I mummy?"...

Snow Day

Thick snow fell overnight Thursday (17th) and Rebecca woke up to her first experience of real snow. She wanted to make a snowman but was off to Auntie Nessa's for the day as I was working from home and Mick was at work. So we got out of bed and built her first snowman at 8am so that we could all do it together.

Rebecca was a bit disappointed that he didn't move or want to come in the house like the one James builds in The Snowman :) I went through my button box for the eyes and buttons and as we didn't have a tangerine (like in the book) Rebecca settled for half a carrot...

At the Carwash

Another week has flown by! Rebecca seems to be settling into her new room at nursery, has been out for tea and cake with Daddy and "helped" me with shopping and cleaning! Teresa and Ollie were round for lunch on Friday and Rebecca was bossing him about "Be Gentle, Ollie!" - a bit embarrassing.

Teresa and I are going to Sing-a-Long-a-Sound of Music next month - can't wait. She is already working on a fab costume!

Rebecca went through the car wash today (in the car - we're not evil!) and wasn't too sure about the big brushes. Later she helped Daddy to buff the metal with her "special sponge".

Snow!

The most snow in East Anglia for 18 years fell last night. It was a bit slippery getting out of the driveway and to drop Rebecca at Vanessa's, but as most schools were closed the traffic wasn't bad.

Mick drove to York today to meet with Costcutter, and although I wasn't keen on him driving all that way, it was worth it as he was awarded the contract - hurrah!