Tuesday, 10 March 2020

What We've Been Up To #24: CHRISTMAS 2019 SPECIAL!

We're still a little behind, but here's a look at our Christmas 2019...

The Christmas fun began in November with a visit to Santa's Grotto at Trago Mills!


Lining up to catch the little train to see Santa

They all love a good train ride


The Grotto was lit up with lots to see while we waited for our turn





Great gifts from Santa: A unicorn, dinosaurs and a tractor


Spot the impostor

Then it was decorating day! Here we are unwrapping our empty presents (from a box wrapping activity at one of our groups) 

Choosing baubles from the box

A special treat to celebrate the start of Advent...

And lots of melted chocolate to dip it all in!


Decorations all up! Jory contributed the most towards bauble hanging - he was going for hours!

When the chocolate was all gone

We stopped at the services on our way to Cosmeston Christmas in Cardiff


It took a while to finally leave!

Cosmeston Christmas this year was kindly hosted by Russell and Althea, Auntie Phobe's in-laws.

A few minutes of peace and quiet

The whole house was beautifully decorated

Mid morning snacks

The kids loved opening their presents

Getting ready for lunch



One of many group photos

Cuddling up for bed

Zachary is pollinating his flowers in a Mystery Science lesson

Enjoying one of their new presents
Fun on the Plants Galore Christmas Character Hunt


Each character sang and did a little dance

Character hunt complete!

Fun in Bury Meadow park after visiting the dentist


Christmas buffet tea at Bumble and Grandad's house

Helping Bumble decorate the tree

Ptolemy loved the lights

Story time!

They all loved their new presents

The toddler group Christmas party (Zachary sneaked in too!)


Someone had a nosebleed in the night

Dressed and ready for the playgroup Christmas performance


Meeting Father Christmas after the show

Jory was feeling ill at the performance, then Ptolemy caught it too

Decorating our chocolate log

YUM

Then it was our Christmas Eve (we do our own at home, before heading to their Grandparents for real Christmas).

Opening the Christmas Eve box

A new decoration for the tree

Christmas slippers!

Reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' with toy characters

Beautiful stockings made by Auntie Beckrum; now filled with their presents

Presents all ready for 'Christmas' morning

Delving into their stockings; Jory has just opened a toy wheelie bin (he loves bins!) 

Tahlia's new cheerleading pom pom

Jory doesn't have a huge interest in opening presents, but here he is with one

Jory and Ptolemy both had Angus the Deer toys (a character from the World of Country Life, where we have a season ticket)

Pretty in pink


Breakfast on our Christmas morning was pancakes, fruit, bacon and maple syrup


Our annual photo tradition

The opening of the main presents begins...

Fun with a flashing light wand

A new pirate sword

Christmas dinner: roast duck

Jory at least tried some of it


Opening Buzz Lightyear

Daddy's Christmas presents

Our annual Christmas tradition of a McDonalds trip!


Very excited about his Happy Meal!

There were pancakes left over, which couldn't go to waste...

Dancing at a Christmas disco at Whipton Social Club


More presents from Father Christmas

This was the best photo

We'd promised them a trip into the City Centre to see the Christmas lights. Unfortunately, this was the only time we could fit in it - during a downpour!

The best present

Strolling through Princesshay

Pretty trees


...it was when we got home out of the rain!

Too wet to sit!

Our country study Christmas party

Exchanging presents

Head Hub Christmas party!

Candy cane fishing




Some of the Head Hub kids, following their nativity (Zachary and Jory are shepherds, Tahlia is an angel, Ptolemy is a sheep)


Christmas pass the parcel

Playing with giant bubbles at Matthew's house


Swith's work do at the Devon Hotel; his colleagues are lovely


Hedge group dressing up

Hedge Christmas party: musical chairs


Playing sleeping lions is a good way to calm them all down

We then headed to Grandma Jeanette and Grandad Harry's house in Leyland Lancashire for Christmas

Decorating the tree (that's Jory)


They loved climbing to the top of the ladder

Visiting some beautiful displays at Barton Grange Garden Centre


Floating polar bears

Tahlia loves tinsel!

Eating breakfast on Uncle Bar

Watching the singing barbershop penguins at Birkacre

Animal cuddles

Telling the fake Santa what they want for Christmas

They both love Nativity scenes

Dashing through the snow

Lunch on Christmas Day

Presents ready for opening

Tahlia loves Auntie Marilla

Zachary loves his present from Uncle Bar: Lots of foreign currency and related conversion tables
Present opening fun
Ptolemy loved his pop up dinosaur book

Showing off their new presents at the toy service, St Andrews Church

Grandma Jeanette is feeling hungry!
Sleepy baby

Boxing day fun on the Leyland trains

We made it to the centre of Worden Park maze

Christmas activities at Brockholes

Birdwatching





Farington Park

One of our favourites from Grandma Jeanette: Game casserole

Jory enjoys a recreational visit to the public toilets

One of their last baths all together (they're getting a bit big now!)

A tasty meal with family friends, Mike and Carol

Meaty buffet

Winding Mike up (or vice versa!)

Climbing on the ruins of Penrith Castle

Some needed a little help to reach the top...

...Others managed on their own

Admiring the views


Ptolemy wants to visit the dungeon

Our favourite evening activity: playing Star Wars Imperial Assault

Playing money snap

A visit to the lake at Longton Brickcroft


We couldn't avoid the playground - Auntie Marilla was desperate for a turn!

A friendly horse stopped for a stroke


Jory's favourite at Much Hoole playground

At the top in Buckshaw Village


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