Ah yes, HE group Christmas party – Friday 18th December…
The children played in the snow first thing, while I got food ready for the party, finished loading up the car with costumes, percussion etc and quickly printed off some carol sheets. Then we headed out, through a lovely clear crisp day, with roads all easy until we got to the city, where there was packed ice and we met some slightly scary ruts and slippage! Made it to the venue, where we found a somewhat depleted company but had fun nonetheless. The play was performed, with a few of the essential characters being replaced at the last minute and a few extra parts (and costumes) being found for enthusiastic but unrehearsed joiners 🙂 Lunch was a bring and share affair, including everything from roasties and sprouts to chocolate cake and truffles. The children spent lots of time and energy playing in the snow, coming in for an informal concert, popcorn stringing and similar crafts and carols round the piano. Father Christmas even came along (in his bathrobe!) with presents for the children. As we headed home in the afternoon we mentioned that we were planning to go our local (town) celebrations, which were to include “ice” skating and refreshments and managed to persuade the Beans to come along too. Bob came home from work a little early and Big Alice turned up just in time so it was a large group of us who made our way down the road just as it started to get dark. There was quite a wait for skates and the ice turned out to be plastic tiles, which were not working as well as usual because it was snowing softly, but my poor deprived children didn’t know any better and enjoyed it just the same 😉 M, SB and BB were all seasoned pros, but had to change technique to accommodate the odd surface, while Alice, Chris and I just walked around and supported/encouraged as necessary and Helen, Bob and A looked on from the sidelines, enjoying hot chocolate and mince pies. Oh, and Father Christmas was there too, handing out goody bags, including one to Big Alice, who was very chuffed 😆 Not bad for a free event! After skating we sent Bob on ahead to get chips, then I fished veggie sausages out of the freezer to make up for the non-veggie hot dogs we had been watching others eat. A quick burst of Magic School Bus while adults chatted and drank tea and it was time for bed, after a long but pleasant day with friends 😀
Saturday was a quiet day for the children (no Music School) but I was at the shop and then took 2 hours to get home, thanks to a road closure, diversion and gridlock – lovely! In the evening Bob was to have gone to a party but cried off because of bad weather, but at least it was clear enough to get M to church in the city (and us in town) on Sunday.
On Monday we went to visit Emma and her boys and had a lovely restful morning and early afternoon there, eating warm mince pies and quince pies – definitely to be recommended and I intend to raid their tree next year so I can make my own 😉 Then we girded our loins and set out in the snow for yet more Christmas socialising – one of those “shall we or shan’t we?” things where in the end you are glad you did as there turned out to be lots of HE friends there and the children all disappeared and played party games for ages, leaving adults (and babies/toddlers) free to chat.
On Tuesday we had expected to see Bob’s parents for a fair while, but their visit was curtailed by weather etc so I took the children out to collect parcels and do shopping and we got back just in time to say hello, read a story or two with Gran-gran and then say goodbye again. I’d rather the children blamed me for being late than their grandparents for not being there…
Wednesday was Latinetc again – another seasonal special with Saturnalia for Latin, plus a couple of Minimus plays for the children to practise and perform (in Latin), making (and eating) Roman Army bread, some music theory, jingle bells on the bells and a chance to look at snow and ice crystals with the microscope. Helen and co had to dash off so it was a bit rushed in places, but we got lots done and then relaxed and did the rest at a slightly slower pace!
Christmas Eve morning was spent tidying and hoovering for the Inlaws Visit, then waiting for them to arrive as they got held up by slow traffic and bad weather. M-i-l was too poorly to come, unfortunately, and b-i-l was working, so that left s-i-l, f-i-l and two nephews – who instantly disappeared off to play. It was lovely to see K and cousin C bonding so well (I really should make the effort to get them together more often 😳 ) and they all seemed to have a great time, making clove-stuck oranges, building with the rainbow blocks, racing sprouts and Christmas puddings (from crackers) and whatever else they were up to when they disappeared into the annexe giggling 😆 Sadly the weather meant f-i-l didn’t want to stay late, so having got here after 12 they left again before 3, but it was lovely to have them anyway.
