Christmas Eve

So it’s been a busy year, both at work and home with a lot of unplanned “stuff” that got in the way.  I love Christmas and always have – take after my Dad in that regard – and want Isaac to enjoy the magic especially while he’s young. We’ve been to a grotto, Christmas Tree Festival and Christmas parties, and most have gone down well, although this year Isaac seems to have decided Father Christmas is a bit on the scary side and we’ve had to use Mummy as a go between to get our presents!

It’s going to be a fairly quiet Christmas Day at home though so I wanted Isaac to get excited and enjoy Christmas Eve in the company of some of his little buddies.  So deciding to play Super Mum I arranged a special gathering in our close for the kids.  I created a Bauble Hunt (basically “hid” a few baubles around the close for the kids to find), made them all up some reindeer food to sprinkle on Father Christmas runway (our shared drive), and made hot chocolate and home made Xmas Star shortbread biscuits (yay me, not just buying something!).

The evening was really cute, and I feel happy (and slightly smug at my efforts). Thinking that would wear them out so they’d happily go to bed afterwards… ha ha not so much, as Isaac still came back in and demanded ANOTHER Octonauts.  Sadly the tv was already asleep and we instead had to go to bed with just stories, ANOTHER glass of milk and ANOTHER treat from the magic reindeer advent calendar.

So Super Mum finished stuffing stockings, laying out presents and working out some kind of cooking schedule for tomorrow before crashing on the sofa to watch a cheesy Christmas film.

 

Christmas Meme

1. Egg nog or Hot Chocolate? 

Hot Chocolate definately!

2. Coloured lights or white?

I do like seeing traditional looking trees, but I must admit mine is brightly coloured!

3. Do you hang mistletoe?

Nope.
 
4. When do you put up your decorations?

I put my office ones up the 1st week of December, the home ones about the 2nd week.  I like to enjoy them as long as possible…but before December is WRONG! 

5. Favourite Christmas movie?

Miracle on 42nd Street

6. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

What the truth about him being real?  I’ve always known he’s real.

7. Do you open a gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas day or Boxing Day?

Stockings on Christmas morning, main presents some time Christmas Day.  Although, if we’re away for Christmas we save the ones to and from each other for our second ‘Christmas Day’ which is once we’ve returned home. 

8. Real or fake Christmas Tree?

Real.  I love the smell of the pine!  Although I do have a small fake one in my office too.

9. Snow! Love it or dread it?

Love it while it’s looking pretty.  It doesn’t snow very often here though.

10. Can you ice skate?

Yes, but not very well.  I’ve been practising this year at Marwell’s Magical Winter.

11. Do you remember your favourite gift?

I remember my dad buying me a Tenor Recorder when I was younger which I loved and was a really big surprise – he’d not even told my mum! 

12. What is your favourite Christmas tradition?  

I’m a really big kid about Christmas.  I love sitting around after a meal with family and playing lots of board games.

13. What tops your tree – angel or star?

Silver star.

14. What is your favourite Christmas song or songs?

A Winter’s Tale. 

15. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Or is it still magical for you?

I don’t like it all starting in the shops so early.  However, I do still love Christmas time and it is still magical yes.

16. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Not too early, but I like to have it done by end of November so that I can enjoy the party season without getting stuck in crowds at the shopping centre.

17. Lots of Christmas decorations or few?

Ooo I love it looking festive – I don’t go for all out bling although it’s good to have a giggle at other people’s OTT efforts!  I do put up a tree inside and Christmas lights outside…and I even have some flashing reindeer.

18. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?

I do love the Christmas turkey with all the trimmings – particularly the sausages wrapped in bacon.

19. How many Christmas parties are too many?

Is there such a thing?!  I’ve been to 6 so far, and still have a few to go.  A good day’s break between hangovers is usually helpful!

20. Overall Christmas – hooray or nay?

Definately hooray.

Happy Christmas everyone!! 

Fuzzy Monster-Stockings

As it’s getting close to Christmas… and I *love* Christmas… I thought I’d share the BBC Shropshire website where you can find out what your name would be if you were one of Santa’s little helpers! 

Who are you?

It’s a Magical Winter at Marwell

Marwell Zoo are just preparing for their Magical Winter which officially opens on 1st December.  There will be an ice rink with lots of stalls around, santa’s grotto, storytelling, craft and gift making and also chances to buy some fun and different presents for Christmas – you can even adopt Holly the Penguin this year!  The activites will be open during the day, but also the park will be opening late into the evenings every day except Christmas Day right up until the 13th January so there will be plenty of opportunity for all to come and enjoy.

I saw the decorations beginning to go up last week, and even though most were still in boxes the few that had started to appear were really looking spectacular.  I’ve also been watching with interest the Rink Cam to see everything coming together.  This is a screen shot from earlier today.

On Wednesday next week the staff and volunteers are having a Christmas party and we get to have a go at the skating before it all opens to the public.  It should be lots of fun!  On Thursday and Friday next week there will be a couple of early preview nights for Annual Pass Holders, and Thursday is also the first night I’ll be working.  I’m going to be driving the Snowflake Express Train on Thursday evenings taking people to and from the magic.