A Little Snow...

It started snowing last night, but it really wasn't trying very hard. It snowed again this morning. Proper snow this time, big flakes that looked like real snow, not the tiny grains that were trying to pass for snowflakes last night. I love snow! It makes everything look so fresh and clean and makes the air smell so crisp. I took my camera with me when I collected Emma from playgroup this morning and I took a few photos on our walk home. Lovely, lovely snow!

Sadly, it didn't last. A combination of sun and rain has now turned the snow in the lane to mud and slush and collecting Tom and Lily from school was a far from pleasant experience. It will be worse tomorrow as the slush will freeze overnight, turning the lane into a ice rink. I know from past experience that walking to school in these conditions is not fun. I am not looking forward to it!

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Tom's Violin Debut

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Emma and I had the very great pleasure of watching Tom play the violin in his very first concert this morning. I was positively brimming with pride! Tom's class have only been learning the violin for 10 weeks and have made incredible progress during that time. They played four pieces on the violin and also sang us a song. To perform all that in front of not only their parents, but also the entire school (staff and pupils) after only a few weeks of learning is a testament to both the skill of the violin teacher and the commitment of the pupils. I am very, very proud of Tom for doing so well. 

The sad thing is that, having made such incredible strides, Tom's class now have to pass their violins on to another class, so no more violin for Tom. This is, I think, an incredible shame. Tom has expressed an interest in carrying on with the violin, so Mark and I are going to look into the practicality (and crucially the cost) of a small violin and lessons. It is my great hope that each of the Podlings will want to learn at least one instrument. I know that Lily would love piano lessons (we have been holding off as we think she lacks the patience required at the moment).

Mark plays the piano and I play the piano and the flute, so it would be lovely if the children were musical too. I believe that learning an instrument not only gives great pleasure, it also teaches valuable lessons in discipline, dedication and commitment. I have to confess I had rather hoped they would choose instruments we already owned (piano, flute or guitar...my sister started to teach me the guitar, but I left home before we had got very far. I still hope to learn someday). However, if Tom really is serious about wanting to learn the violin, then it is certainly worth looking into. We would need to be sure that he would stick at it before we rushed into anything, so we will see.

I took some video from the concert this morning. Tom is in the front row, second from the right. I'm so proud of my boy!

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A Walk in Ilam Park

The entrance to Ilam Holy Cross church 

On the second to last day of my parents' visit, we took them to Ilam Park for a short walk. We thought they might enjoy seeing the Peak District and the park and the village of Ilam are so pretty. It was rather cold and we didn't stay for very long, but at least we got to blow the cobwebs away from being indoors all Christmas. We met Mark's parents there too and we all enjoyed tea (we always bring a Thermos!) and some leftover Christmas goodies in the car park before heading home.

From left to right, Mark's dad, Mark, Mark's mum and my mum 

My dad trying to persuade Tom to put his hat on! 

Lily looking thoughtful!

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Seeing in the New Year

My parents came to stay with us for a week after Christmas and were here to see the New Year in with us. The four of us were sat downstairs with our drinks waiting to hear Big Ben ring in the New Year when we realised that we weren't the only ones awake in the house. Tom seemed to be indulging in a bout of insomnia during the Christmas holidays and had been lying awake quite late most nights. On New Year's Eve he excelled himself by still being awake at nearly midnight. Since he was awake anyway, it seemed a shame not to include him in the festivities, so he was allowed a rare treat and was invited downstairs to join us. You can see from his face that he rather enjoyed the experience!

For the first time in his life, Tom got to hear Big Ben toll in the New Year (an absolutely essential part of any New Year celebration for the English. The New Year doesn't start for us until we hear the first toll of the bell) and he really enjoyed the fabulous fireworks they had in London. Ever the thoughtful little boy, a few minutes into the display he asked if we could record it "so Lily can watch it too." He enjoyed listening to Auld Lang Syne and we opened the front door 'to let in the New Year' and opened the back door 'to let out the Old Year', a tradition I've always been fond of. I loved introducing Tom to all these New Year traditions...it was so much fun to be sharing them with him.

Mark's mum rang up just after midnight to wish us a Happy New Year and was rather surprised to get to wish it to her grandson too, not least because Tom never usually talks to anyone on the telephone. It was obviously an evening of firsts! We let him have some lemonade and a couple of chocolates before tucking him back into bed, where he stayed until very late the next morning.

The cuckoo clock on the wall is showing the time as just before midnight! 

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Christmas Day Catch-up

Continuing with the festive catch-up, here are a few photos from Christmas day. My camera doesn't really do indoor photos, but although the pictures are low quality they bring back lovely memories. We had a really lovely Christmas with Mark's family and the Podlings had a wonderful time.

Emma managed to liven the evening up by locking herself in one of the bedrooms and removing the key from the door. We tried to get her to unlock it from her side, but she couldn't manage to get the key back in the keyhole. Mark's dad found a spare key, but couldn't get it to turn in the lock. The bedroom windows were locked from the inside, so we couldn't get in that way either. I was just beginning to calculate the cost of calling out a locksmith late on Christmas Day when my father-in-law realised there was something inside the lock. He unscrewed the door plate and managed to get out the paper that had been stuffed in there (probably by a Podling, let's be honest!). After that it was a simple matter of using the spare key to unlock the door and release the child within! Phew!

I was so proud of Emma because throughout the entire time she was in there she stayed as calm as a cucumber and didn't panic or cry. I was talking to her through the door, but she was so co-operative and very sensible. Good girl! We had a quiet little chat afterwards about not playing with keys and after that we kept the key out of her reach!

The Podlings all love 'The Gruffalo' by Julia Donaldson and were thrilled to each receive a chocolate Gruffalo from their Nanna and Grandad for Christmas. Emma was particularly thrilled to be able to tuck into hers straight after breakfast! 

Tom collects Ty Beanies and is particularly fond of the Beanie Ballz. Here he is holding Rascal...the main thing he wanted for Christmas. I love my boy, his wants are simple and few. 

Emma is an incredibly imaginative child and loves to dress up. One of her favourite gifts was this pink princess dress which came with a doll in a matching dress (which she is holding in the photo). She alternated between this and her ballerina dress (another Christmas gift) for the rest of the holidays. Getting her in normal clothes was a struggle!

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Baby Rowan update

My nephew Rowan. Look at those adorable baby lips and those little ears! I know I'm going to get terribly broody when I meet him...

For those who are interested, little Rowan is now out of hospital and is at home keeping his mummy and daddy awake at all hours! My sister has updated her blog with a short version of his birth story, so I will link to it here so those who are interested can read it. It was a pretty traumatic time for them, but there was a happy ending and that is what matters.

I am so looking forward to meeting my little nephew but I have a really persistent cough and cold that I am struggling to shake off before I can chance going near a newborn. It's driving me nuts...I can't wait to give him a cuddle! Thank you to anyone who said prayers for Rowan whilst he was in hospital. He is a thriving, healthy little boy now and very much loved.
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Christmas Baking

My Christmas cake, sponge for those of us who don't like the traditional heavy fruit cake. 

Hello, remember me? I appreciate that Christmas was now two weeks ago, but I have to play catch up with the blog, so you will have to put up with a few festive posts before I can move on! We spent Christmas at my in-laws' and when I asked if I could bring anything along, they asked me to bring some of my homemade cakes. I made milk chocolate crispy cakes, white chocolate crispy cakes and a dozen fairy cakes (I iced half of them with chocolate buttercream and the other half with vanilla buttercream). I also made a Victoria sponge Christmas cake for those of us who aren't too keen on traditional fruit cake. I had a lot of fun decorating it!

The sponge went down a treat and I have to say I was rather pleased with how it turned out. The photos aren't great, I just snapped them in a hurry as we were in a bit of a rush the last couple days before we left home. Lily had been very ill and I had lots of packing and Christmas preparations to do on top of caring for her. I was rather pleased I managed to squeeze the baking in too as that was definitely the fun part!

I decorated the vanilla fairy cakes with Quality Street chocolates. Soft centres of course! 

I made the Christmas chocolates on top of the chocolate fairy cakes myself. 

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