Christmas 2007

Happy Christmas! We hope that you have had a wonderful few days. We had a lovely day yesterday but Silas was shocking last night and was awake between 1am and 4am, mostly shrieking, so this has dampened our spirits somewhat as we are all shattered! I am hoping for a better night tonight!

We had a fun start to our Christmas celebrations on Monday as we went into Seattle to see the Carousel, the Macy's train and the Gingerbread houses. We took the car into Seattle but parked near the new tram line terminus and so we caught the tram into the centre, which worked well. It was quite fun and much easier with the buggy than the bus.

The children all liked the train, which we saw first and then we went and had some lunch. After lunch, the children and I went on the carousel and then we went to find the Gingerbread Houses. Each year there is a competition to see who can make the most elaborate house / shape out of Gingerbread and sweets. This year there was a world, a Chinese dragon as well as the Kremlin and  a couple of others. This year, the display was in the Sheraton Hotel which was disappointing as we had to wait about 20 mins to see the houses; last year it was in a shopping centre and we could just wander round and find them all at our leisure.

However, the creations were amazing especially when you consider what they are made from and everyone was impressed with them.

After having a drink, we came home and after tea, we wrapped up presents. Next year I am not leaving it all till the last minute; in fact all my Christmas shopping will be started in November! It was very late before we were in bed on Monday night and morning was here all too quickly!

On Christmas Day, the girls were up early for them but not too early and they were delighted to see the presents under the tree and their new stockings filled by Father Christmas. We opened their stockings together, which they were excited by and then they looked longingly at the presents! In the morning though, they played with some of their stocking toys and then watched the DVD of the Snowman that Grandma had sent them which they enjoyed. We also were delighted to speak to all of our families either by phone or webcam.

The dinner was cooked on time and we ate and cleared up before opening the presents. The girls enjoyed distributing the presents and Silas just wanted to carry all of them off. I stopped  him from opening one at one point, only for him to pick it up and walk off with it! He was a bit over awed by Christmas Day and all the presents and was much happier when I opened his tractor, his guitar and his hoover! He  has been hoovering a lot for me since then and I am sorry that the hoover doesn't really pick up anything!

The girls enjoyed their presents too and look very cozy in their new pyjamas! They have started to watch both "the Cat in the hat" DVD and "peterpan" DVD and have enjoyed their new toys and stories. They loved the capes that I made them and Esther wanted to wear hers on a walk this afternoon!

I was delighted with my new docking station and speakers for my Zune and Tim liked the guitar stand and microphone stand that I had bought him! It was all fun!

In the evening we watched the film "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", which if you can keep going through the odd bits is well worth it and I actually really enjoyed it! Last night, as i said, Silas was shocking so I hope it is a one off and not a phase!

Today we were at home this morning and Tim and I went to wash my car. This afternoon we went for a walk along some very well maintained paths and it was half of a route that Ulrike and I have done a couple of times. WE all enjoyed it and it was good to have some fresh air. Tomorrow we hope to be able to go further afield, but we'll see!

Unfortunately, Tim has been diagnosed with a kidney stone and, until it has been passed, he is not supposed to drive as he is on some tablets to help get rid  of it that can cause dizziness and fainting. So far, he has not been in too much pain (apart from Saturday night when it all started) which is good. Our plans are a bit vague as a result!

The children are enjoying having lots of people around! Tim, the girls and I played a new game from Granny and Grandad today which was fun. It is called "Crazy Chefs" and is a bit like a memory game with a twist! It is quite fun! During our walk this afternoon, we walked through the wood that looked a little bit like the Enchanted Wood where the faraway Tree is and we were pretending to run away from Dame Washalot's washing water and eat pop biscuits!

Silas is a pickle, there is no other word for it! He just loves to climb and his favourite place is on top of the dining room table at the minute! He also likes to press buttons and has discovered that the Carbon Monoxide Alarm makes a great noise! I don't know!

Anyway, that is it for now! Hope that you are all well!