Painting ornaments

During Emma's naptime today, Tom, Lily and I painted some tree ornaments from kits I bought locally a couple of weeks ago. I had initially intended for Emma to do them too, but wasn't sure the paint was of the easily washable kind. That and the fact that the ornaments were breakable made me think that perhaps this wasn't the best activity for a two year old!

When we had finished, I got Tom and Lily to write their name and age on the back of their ornaments so in future years we can remember who did what and when. I like to think the Podlings will enjoy rediscovering their homemade ornaments each Christmas as we put up our decorations.

 These kits were going for a song in our local Home Bargains

Tom painting a Christmas tree

Lily paints a Star

Tom's colourful Christmas Tree

Lily's red and green 'elf' as she called him.

I even had a go myself! The paintbrush in the kit didn't exactly allow for fine detail work, but I had a lot of fun anyway!

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Making gingerbread

The Podlings and I made gingerbread biscuits today. We made the biscuits in the morning and then had lunch.  During Emma's naptime, Tom, Lily and I watched a Christmas film and drew pictures whilst munching on candy canes and then we decorated the biscuits when Emma got up. It was basically just a really lovely day with my three favourite little people that I don't want to forget. I love the holidays!

 Emma loves to beat eggs. You can see from her face how seriously she takes the task.

 Cutting out biscuits

Emma didn't see any need to wait until we baked the biscuits and was basically content to stuff her face full of gingerbread dough instead of cutting out shapes!

Gingerbread shapes ready to be baked

 The really fun part...decorating the biscuits! You wouldn't believe the mess they made!

 Some of our gingerbread creations.

Finishing off the leftover icing is one of the perks of homebaking! 

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Letters to Father Christmas

The girls wrote their letters to Father Christmas this afternoon. I made some nice paper for Tom as well, but he told me that he wrote a letter to Santa at school and he didn't want to do another one!

 What Emma wants for Christmas is anyone's guess, but she had a great time writing her letter!

Lily's letter reads:

Dear Father Christmas,

I have been a good girl.

Art Table

Grown up scissors

Crayons

Pens

Cuddly angel toy

a biros pack

Harmonica

Cuddly toys

Love from Lily

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A festive afternoon

"When, what to my wondering eye should appear,

but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick."

-From 'The Night before Christmas' by Clement C. Moore

Yesterday afternoon we took the Podlings to the Trentham Estate shopping village where we had heard you could see some real reindeer. Sure enough, there were two reindeer outside the Santa's grotto, both of whom conformed to the 'tiny reindeer' of the poem. One of them was actually still quite a baby and certainly won't be pulling any sleighs this Christmas eve! The Podlings were all thrilled to see some real reindeer and whilst we hadn't once tried to tell them that these were Father Christmas's actual reindeer, Lily's parting shot to them was "See you on Christmas Eve!".

After seeing the reindeer we wandered round the shopping village and picked up a couple of extra gifts before heading off to Sainsbury's to pick up some milk. Who should be waiting outside Sainsbury's but Father Christmas himself, courtesy of the Lions Club. Lily and Tom had a sudden attack of shyness and hid behind me when we went over to see him. I suspect Lily was shy because she had been a bit of a monkey all afternoon and didn't want to be asked if she had been a 'good girl' by the man with the naughty list! Emma, on the other hand, wasn't in the least bit shy and went right up to him. Her bravery was rewarded in the form of a lollipop, which is about all Emma wants for Christmas anyway...she loves them that much! All in all a very festive afternoon!

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Snow!!!

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A Christmas card from Lily

Tom and Lily were happily employed in writing out their Christmas cards last night when Lily suddenly asked me how to spell 'whole'. This was a bit of a change from the previous 'How do you spell (insert classmate's name here)?' refrain. Turns out she was writing out a card for all of you, so I thought I'd take a photo of it so you can enjoy it!

'To evree budee ni the whole wid wurld.

Have a wundfl crisms'.

or to put it another way...

"To everybody in the whole wide world.

Have a wonderful Christmas.'

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Let there be light

The newest edition to our festive home. Mark bought us this lovely window arch last weekend and it now takes centre stage in the bay window in the lounge. Now we don't pull the curtains until we go to bed so we can sit and enjoy it in the evenings. I love Christmas!

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