Advent Round-up

Phew - where to start?!
We were planning to go to our local HE group Christmas party a few weeks ago and I had put my name down to provide a "pin the something on the something" Christmas themed party game.
Cameron and I decided on a pin the nose on the Rudolph and set about making it. We made the antlers out of hand prints

and made the rest quite simple so that it wouldn't be too easy to cheat. Here's a pic of the finished product looking rather worse for wear 2 weeks later.


Unfortunately, Cameron caught a nasty flu bug a few days before the party. I had never seen him so ill before, he didn't even get toys out for the first two days. We had rented the first series of the Sarah Jane Adventures on DVD from the library so that kept Cameron company while he was poorly. He decided not to go to the party despite perking up slightly by the day itself. Cameron's friend D visited with a get well card and present and took the Rudolph to the party for us so that it could be enjoyed anyway.
A few days later I came down with the same bug and so we didn't get much done for a week or so and are only just starting to recover now, fingers crossed. It seems to be a recurring bug that lulls you into a false sense of feeling better then hits you again!

One evening during all of that we had a knock on the door and found a brass band on our doorstep performing carols which would have been lovely had I not had to get out of the bath to answer the door (and stand there listening rather uncomfortably in my towel!) and had Cameron not been flapping around thinking they were going to turn into Doctor Who Pilot Fish and blow us up at the end of the song!! They went away with a selection of cookies although I think they may have been expecting cash :o/.

D came back to visit when we were both a little better although Cameron was rather full of beans having been sat or laid down for about a week! It was really nice to get a chance to chat to D's Mum for a bit and we got to see them again the next day with some other families at HE group.

We went to return library books this week and found out that Cameron won second prize in the Doctor Who story writing competition from November!! We were both really chuffed as we happen to know a lot of older children had entered. He won a remote controlled dalek sec and a book which he is absolutely thrilled about.

We went to visit Grandad's new flat in a posh new conversion of an old mill which was very interesting as building work is still happening all over the site so there's plenty to see and learn.

We had a nice quiet solstice celebration where we read stories, lit the 4th advent candle and there was a special handmade present to open for Cameron (the Sandman I made a few months ago, now named Mr Moon Man. He hasn't seen the mini one yet!).

Cameron has been updating his blog with a Christmas themed story.

We also found a bit of time for some Christmassy hama beading with a kit we found in the sales back in the Summer.


I've managed to tick some more things off my 101 things list:

21. Make Christmas cards using cross stitch

I was slightly too efficient and organised with this and had all the cards enveloped addressed and sealed before I realised that I hadn't photographed them - duh! I think there was a snippet of a photograph somewhere back in spring when we first started them.

29. Make potato print wrapping paper for Christmas

The picture here speaks for itself really, I think they look really simple yet effective. I certainly prefer it to shop bought paper.

75. Keep Christmas tree alive and reuse

Our tree from last year amazingly survived in a trug out in the back yard and we, even more amazingly, managed to keep it well enough hydrated since bringing it inside in September. It has a lot of new growth on it which makes the tree hang a bit differently to the ones you buy and dispose of every year but I am really pleased with it. Also pleased not to have had to pay for a new tree this year!

81. Make 12 Days of Christmas ring
82. Make 12 Days of Christmas ring for gift

I made these for my Pay it Forward gifts and again, managed to wrap them up for posting before getting a picture. I've made one for our house too but haven't managed to get a picture yet, I may include one after Christmas.

89. Cross stitch or embroider fabric tree decorations

Pics of these to come too although we only made one each.

I think that brings us pretty much up to date. We have a very low key, quiet Christmas planned. Cameron is quite literally bouncing off the walls with excitement which is wonderful to see. I'm savouring every last bit of Christmas wonder and excitement that occurs as I know we wont have many years of it left. I will no doubt update on the festivities sometime before the end of the year.

Merry Christmas from us :o)