Countdown to Christmas Day 12

Today I had to nanny in the morning.  I was expecting to have this whole week off, but I ended up working all week long – but I didn't mind.  The kids were so excited for Christmas and we tried to fill our time with Christmas crafts and other fun things that we normally wouldn't do (like watching a movie or going to a biscuit party!).  Today as I was leaving the dad handed me a large bunch of beautiful red, green, and white flowers along with a very touching Christmas card signed by all of them and a bit of a bonus. 

I started looking after these kids about 4 years ago.  I love them as much as I love my own nieces and nephews and I couldn't have better parents to work with. This arrangement kind of (luckily) fell into my lap those years ago and I am so grateful for it.

Countdown to Christmas Day 11

The one and only present under the tree came in the post today from America. I am excited to open it - anything from home is so nice!!

In other news I have a cold.... Boo hoo!!!

In other news, if anyone who reads my blog has read Stephen King's book: 11/22/63, please tell me (Amy???) - I have a question... (and yes, I realise how festive a Stephen King book is :)).

If you look closely you can see the remains of the customs slip. I tore it off before looking, I didn't want to spoil the surprise.

Countdown to Christmas Day 10

Watching 'Elf' with the twins.

Countdown to Christmas Day(s) 8 and 9

I know, I forgot a picture yesterday – well I didn't really forget, there just wasn't anything too memorable that happened yesterday.  Rain, Waiting in the Car,  Rain, Cold, Still Waiting, etc.  Anyway…  I will make up for it today with 4, yes 4 pictures!

The twins and I were invited to a cookie decorating party today, thrown by a lovely Sister from church.  Because we go to church near the American Base, I am lucky enough to have started to meet and make friends with some amazing women – who happen to be American – who happen to do “American” things like throw cookie decorating parties.

We had such a good time.  The twins couldn't stop talking about it and I had a really nice time getting to know the women better.  The best thing about it was, that I was invited to the party before she even knew that I was looking after the twins.  That might not be a big deal to most, but as someone who has been excluded from lots of family and church things here in England because of my lack of children – it really made me feel good that I was invited to a child based event – EVEN THOUGH I DIDNT HAVE CHILDREN! SHOCKING!  It feels so nice to be included as a friend, not excluded because of my infertility.

Anyway…. (I could say a LOT more but, I’ll leave it – seeing that this a public blog).  Here are some of the pictures:

There were so many cookies – gingerbread and sugar cookies and lots of fun decorations!

“M” and I decided to be twins and she got the reindeer clips for her hair and I got matching earrings (lucky me!).

Keeping with the “American” feel of the day, We got back to the twins house and I put on FM100 – Here it is playing one of my favourite cheesy Christmas songs – “Hey Sannna” (That is how they said it in Utah).

Here is “M”’s Lego nativity.  Pretty creative, I’d say!

Today was such a fun day.  It has been really hard this Christmas to be away from family – but making new friends who I have a lot in common with both religiously and culturally (I realize now how much I’ve missed being around fellow Americans) really cheered me up and has been a great highlight of this year’s Christmas.

Countdown to Christmas Day 7

My lovely niece singing the song, “You’re Important” from her school nativity.  I love the words – simple, but important to remember.

Countdown to Christmas Day 6

These pictures were taken about 3:30 this afternoon.  I was relaxing watching A Christmas Story (yes, on English TV) and waiting for the forecasted snow, that still hasn't shown up.

Quite relaxing.

Countdown to Christmas Day 5

Here are some funny things J said today while I was watching him and his sister….

M and I are looking for a party dress – J heads downstairs…

J:  I am leaving, you girls are wasting my TIME!

-

J:  What if we pooped out money, then if we wanted to be rich, we’d just have to go to the toilet.

They had a birthday party today at a soft play centre.

All the Christmas trees there were decorated just in the front – kind of like mine.

These are the only gifts we bought this year (at the end of summer).  They are for our nieces and nephews – 7 this Christmas, 10 by next (no not an announcement just 3 due next year).  The first year we were here we got the few that were born books – a tradition that has continued ever since.  It makes things really easy – knowing what we are going to get them each year. 

Countdown to Christmas Day 4

Babysitting again today – we finished our clay craft from Tuesday.  We made Christmas tree’s in the clay with thumb prints and painted them.

My clay project was a bit more simple.  I love the story of the Forgotten Carols and it became a tradition to go and see the show every Christmas, until I moved to England.  I really miss seeing it every year but, I have the DVD and the children's book (and the necklace, and the decorations, and the CD).  I have gone through phases of loving different carols for different reasons, but this year the carol – Mary Let Me Hold Her Baby – really hit home:

Mary let me hold her baby
Her newborn son
Though I'd never be a mother
I felt like one

Mary let me hold her baby
So she could rest
And ever since that night
I held Him
My life's been blessed

Those like me
who can't have children
Still can be mothers
Something in His eyes
convinced me
I could serve so many others

Mary let me hold her baby
So soft and warm
Mary let me hold her baby
And I was reborn

Something in His eyes
convinced me
I could serve so many others

Mary let me hold her baby
So soft and warm
Mary let me hold her baby
And I was reborn

Each carol has a special ornament and this one is just a simple rag that the baby was wrapped in.  So that was my craft – an ornament for my tree of a simple white rag, to remind me of the song and the message of the song.

Countdown to Christmas Day 3

Today I did a bit of babysitting and even more sleeping (trying to get rid of a pesky migraine).  So the pictures aren't the best - but, its still a post right?

The first picture our our nativity.  We bought it it Belgium a few years ago and I had to have it because my Grandma used to have a much bigger one, she’d bring out at Christmas time.  I remember spinning it round and round and just watching it at many Christmas parties. When I saw it for sale at the market, I was sold!  Unfortunately it was the trip that Chris got his wallet stolen from his pocket so what started out as a fairly reasonably priced souvenir turned into one expensive one.  But, I love it and love the memories it stirs up.

This second picture is just the view from every window that faces the church.  Luckily my bedroom isn't facing that way – or I’d feel a lot less festive about it.

Christmas Countdown Day 2

Words to describe today:

WINDY, freezing, bitter, working, cosy, roaring fire, crafts

Countdown to Christmas

Hello Few and Faithful Readers:

Because the money tree in the back garden isn't growing (I lie, we don't have a back garden or a money tree for that matter), I thought I might document my Christmas this year as a kind of gift to my most favourite women – Mom and Grandma.  It isn't much but I hope that the countdown in (mostly) pictures will be a little something from me to you.

This year Chris and I decided to get a real tree for Christmas.  Chris had never had a real one, and I hadn't since my childhood (yes Amy, I am excluding the tree we had in the apartment).  It is just the right size and now that I have to do the hoovering I realize what a pain the pine needles are (I know, mom – you told me so!)  The candle topper (or hat as Madie says) in the picture is from a friend and, it has to be my favourite decoration.

This is Madie being Mary and the teddy being baby Jesus. She’s gorgeous isn't she?