Advent Calendars

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I have put off buying advent calendars for the boys since October.  That is when I saw them appearing in the stores and every time we saw them the boys would ask to buy one.  Christmas just seemed so far off.  Then December arrived and I found myself rushing off to the store on my lunch break at work, hoping they still had some in stock.   They had a whole variety of advent calendars but I decided to go with Cadbury since I knew the chocolate tastes the best.  The boys were quite excited about having their calendars and have enjoyed getting to find their daily chocolate thus far.  I might have to buy a box of Roses for Ryan and I to share ever day. But how do you eat just one? Might be time to start making a lot of hot chocolate.  What are things you like to eat or drink to stay warm in this time of the year?

The boys with their sausages in a baguette for a walk home treat from school. 

Maddox with his Cadbury Advent calendar

Ronan with his Cadbury Advent calendar

Parent-Teacher Conference

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Ryan looking over Maddox’s school work for the term.
Maddox and Ronan playing with dominos while we were in the conference. 

It has been a rainy last few days…brrr.

After work today I took the train home to meet my partner at the boys’ school.  We were having a teacher-parent conference with my youngest son’s teacher after school.  It was really great getting to go through all of the work that he has done in the term thus far, and see what goals we together can help him achieve through the next term.  The boys had fun playing next door in aftercare where they put together a few puzzles and played games.  Ryan went off to University for a lecture and the boys and I got a much appreciated drive home since it was pouring rain and already dark outside.  I will need to get used to the rain here since it is not a warm rain like in Hawaii.  Better preparation for the elements is a must.

Holiday Make up

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I love sparkle.  It is that special word that makes diamonds so appealing to my eyes. However diamonds are expensive and I do not own one yet.  I do however have glitter, and that is this girl’s next best thing.  Today for work I used Urban Decay’s glitter eyeliner wand in silver above my black maybelline liquid liner and finished my Chanel mascara.  I got a lot of compliments at work from clients about my holiday make up.  I am going to see what other holiday looks I can do for the next month. 

Gingerbread Houses & More

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Tonight’s Christmas craft was this Gingerbread house.  Ronan and Maddox had fun but wished it was edible so it could be eaten later.  Maybe we will have time next month to make a real gingerbread house to fulfill their wish.  I am not sure how easy it will be to find a gingerbread house kit here in England.  So far I have not seen one and that would mean we would have to make one from scratch.  Could be a fun adventure with gingerbread and sweets!  If all else fails and it crumbles, we can eat the evidence. 
Ronan and Maddox with our finished Gingerbread house. 
Gingerbread house has a very glittery roof. 

Decorated with lots of candy and sweets!

Today Maddox brought home a Christmas wreath that he made yesterday with his class.  The parents of his reception class were invited to stay in the morning to help them with the Christmas craft activities they were doing with the kids in Nursery.  Maddox got to hand paint on a Christmas tree, make a decoration for the tree, decorate part of a snowman, fill in the colour on Santa’s sleigh, and make a Christmas wreath.  There was lots of paper, paint, glue, and glitter involved and much fun was had by all.  I really enjoyed getting to spend the special time with Maddox in his class.

Green handprints to decorate the tree at Maddox’s school
Maddox decorated his ornament for the tree. 
Maddox with his decorated ornament…with a quite a lot of glitter!

A sleigh ride decorated with paper and material in different colours.

Decorating a snowman with scrunched up paper. 

Last craft was to make and decorate his own Christmas Wreath which he got to bring home today.
Ready to Deck the Halls with Christmas Cheer! 

Nativity Scene

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We received yet another package from Mimi and Papa in Illinois which contained even more craft supplies for Christmas.  The boys are still wanting to do something every night from what we have so far, but my partner and I have been trying our best to pace the boys.  Tonight we were going through the supplies for the Nativity costumes and so it felt fitting to make our nativity scene.  We did not have any directions to follow, so the boys used the finished photo of the craft to figure out how to put it together.  They enjoyed putting together the three Kings which had the most assembling required.  Ronan finally took down the left over Halloween decorations from the shelf and we put them aside to make room for the Christmas crafts.  Below is a photo of the finished scene, but we will be hiding the Baby Jesus until it is time for him to arrive as to keep with the Nativity story.  With the craft spirits still going strong, Ronan went on to colour photos and made a very nice Batman one.  Perhaps he could visit the Nativity scene to see Baby Jesus too?  
Our Christmas shelf with the Nativity scene that the boys put together. 
The boys ready for the challenge of putting together a Christmas craft. 

What is more Christmas-y than Batman? Ronan’s drawing this evening. 

‘B’ is for Baking

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Easily one of the favourite past times of the holiday season is indeed baking.  The kids have been doing it at school and we have been doing it here at home with cookies, scones, and cupcakes.  Maddox came home yesterday with his gingerbread cookies with raisins to share with the family.  Ryan has been making scones now at home for tea.  I look forward to getting a start on our holiday baking once December is here…just a few days away now!


My partner is the King of our kitchen. Where I can throw ingredients together and it ends up in ordering a take-a-way, he can put together all these ingredients and make something mouth watering delicisous. These handmade whole wheat scones (pronounced SK-AH-NS) with currants were topped with strawberry jam and english clotted cream.  Yummy.