Hope you have all had a great Christmas break! We have been here, there and everywhere catching up with friends and family - we've hardly had time to breathe! Anyway, we wer all thoroughly spoiled over Christmas - highlights including a Wii, a Bind-it-All, Top Gear t-shirts, SpongeBob monopoly and more chocolate than you can shake a stick at!
Here are a few highlights of our year.
Here's to a happy and healthy 2008 for us all.
Well, it has been a manic week with all the usual Christmas festivities - and although most of the schools around us broke up on Wednesday, we are keeping going till the bitter end - we don't finish until this afternoon!
Our Advent activities have been keeping us busy - this week's have included snuggling up on the sofa with hot chocolate to watch a DVD (Stephen chose The Muppets' Christmas Movie - not a patch on Muppet Christmas Carol!), visiting Father Christmas, playing a board game (yay for Mousetrap!), sharing our favourite Christmas memories (love how one of Stephen's was that Nigel always shakes his presents and asks, "Does it come with batteries?" even when it's obviously socks or a book!), talked about the meaning of the Chrstingle, hung chocolate decorations on the tree (and eaten some!) and had dinner by candlelight.
We went to visit Father Christmas in the town centre - his 'grotto' may be just a chair, a box and a little tree, the gifts may not be the most exciting but he is the best Father Christmas we have ever seen. And all for donations to the Air Ambulance Fund. In fact, if I didn't know that he was busy getting everything ready for the big day, I would say the real Father Christmas was live and kicking in our town!
He greeted Stephen with a huge, "Haven't you grown since last year - I almost didn't recognise you!", he reminded Nigel he'd brought him beer and socks last year, he chatted away to Stephen about Dr Who, saying he remembers visiting David Tennant when he was a little boy, he gave him a pencil case to keep his graphite pencils in when Stephen said he wants to be an artist ...
He even told Stephen a long story about how Raymond Briggs (who, apparently, used to live locally) followed him round for a whole year to see what he got up to, so he could draw the pictures for his Father Christmas book. He even sneaked a quick hug with yours truly ...
We took a last-minute shopping trip to Reading at the weekend - they have one of the outside rinks, so Stephen and I went for a spin. It was lovely skating along in the cold, listening to the Christmas music although I think Nigel got pretty frozen watching us! Stephen has been skating before but only once - he took a while to get his balance but he was doing really well by the end.
Stephen left Beavers this week and 'swam up' to Cubs. He did really well and gained his Bronze Chief Scout award so he gets to wear that on his cub uniform. Here he is in his new cub jumper with Branch, the Beaver mascot.
We had the Christingle service at school on Tuesday - it's the first time Stephen has taken part, as it is only the Juniors. It was a lovely service - really moving, especially when the soloists sang 'Do you hear what I hear?' with all the lights out and just the Christingles lit.
This is a photo from a couple of years ago, but I love it and wanted to include it here!
Wow, that has been a blog post and a half! Well done if you got this far in reading it - I didn't manage to do Shimelle's Christmas Journal this year, despite all my best intentions, so it has been nice to keep a record on my blog and it will be lovely to have this to look back on in the future.
Thanks for visiting and a very merry Christmas!
Although our 'Wednesday tea' has had to stop after nearly eight years, due to the vast number of after-school activities all our kids seem to do, we were determined to get together for our annual Christmas dinner. Finding a date we could all do was a bit tricky but we managed - although Jess was rushing off to her Christmas play afterwards and Stephen had cubs!
Slightly smaller affair this year, as Sam and Josh have moved away, but the ranks have been swelled by the arrival of a little 'un!
All eight of them tucked into a full Christmas dinner and seemed to have a fantastic time catching up. We did our usual Secret Santa where we buy for just one family - we always give an 'alternative' gift and then token pressies to unwrap. Stephen and I were treated to a K'Nex set and some lovely smellies as well as some bags of seeds for a third world country. It was so good to catch up with everyone - hopefully we will be able to do a mums' night out in the new year.
(Group photo to follow when I've sorted out the red eye!)
Have just about been keeping up with our advent activities - we've written our Christmas cards, done a Christmas wordsearch and tonight we are making paper snowflakes to hang from the ceiling!
Happy birthday, Stephen!
We took nine children bowling on Thursday - they were good as gold and we had a great time (despite the fact I had been up ALL night with the dreaded sickness bug!) It did seem really strange not doing the party ourselves, though - we normally hire a hall, have 25 kids and do traditional party games, but Stephen wanted to go bowling this time, so that's what we did!
I have been working in my new school for a couple of days doing the new children's induction. They seemed to all settle really well - no tears! - and it definitely makes it seem a bit more real, now that I can picture the children I am going to be teaching.
We have been having fun with our advent activities - we have had a Christmas bedtime story, written a letter to Santa, had a red cup at Starbucks (I particularly enjoyed that one!), had a Christmas sing-song, been late-night Christmas shopping, been to the garden centre to look at the decorations, put up the Christmas tree and made some Christmassy sweets. (Marshmallow fudge, anyone?!) It is a bit manic trying to make sure we do everything, but Stephen is loving it and I am so glad we did it. Definitely a 'new tradition!'
We had a bit of a sad moment last week when Spiderfish went to the great goldfish bowl in the sky. I think he must have been poorly - he spent a while sitting on the bottom of the tank. Stephen was devastated. However, he is now asking if we can get a replacement - think we might wait till after Christmas.
We had a great day on Sunday, visiting friends who have recently moved away to Hampshire. Stephen was so pleased to see Callum (even if they did spend most of the day playing computer games!) We had a lovely dinner and it was great to catch up.
Bit of an action shot taken in their garden!
Thanks for dropping by - hope all your Christmas preparations are going well!
It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, or so the saying goes! Stephen played the piano in sharing assembly last week - 3 children played as the parents were arriving and leaving and he also played along with the recorders as part of music club. He did fantastically and I was so proud of him!
It was Nigel's birthday this week - he was spoiled with lots of lovely pressies and a huge, squishy chocolate fudge cake! We had a curry at home which was a nice treat.
Happy birthday, Nige - 21 again!
I have been very busy in school and setting up my new classroom with my jobshare partner - she is lovely and I think we're going to get on really well. The classroom is really beginning to take shape - and the children have their first visit tomorrow!
Advent has arrived - Stephen was over the moon with his chocolate Dr Who calendar and equally thrilled with the little activities in his fabric Nativity one - although not so chuffed when he discovered the first day was 'Tidy your bedroom ready for any new toys you may get this season'! As it's his birthday this week, too, it desperately needed a massive sort out but it looks fab now and well worth all the effort. Day 2's activity was a quicky as we were out all day at my parents - 'Play some Christmassy games on the computer!' We had fun finding lots of games (we played a sneaky game or two while were at it!)
I jumped on the bandwagon and decorated a Tesco advent calendar tree for Nigel (it was supposed to be part of his birthday present but I was so disorganised, it didn't happen - but it was ready for the 1st!) I was quite chuffed with it and he seems to like it!
Another busy week coming up - a certain 7 year old boy is turning 8! Where did the time go?!
It's that time of year again when we go from one Christmassy activity to another - the perils of teaching! We have tried to get most of our Christmas shopping done - thank goodness for online shops! The bulk is now ordered and hopefully on its way.
And how exciting to get parcels like this through the post!
Not saying what it is, in case someone reads this blog, but would highly recommend Buttonberry!
In other news, we have had two Christmas fairs this weekend, the Scouts and the school, hence the making of 60-odd chocolate crispy cakes on Friday night! Both went well and we felt we had done well for our money, coming back laden with goodies such as ice skating tickets, a big cuddly Mickey Mouse and a jam jar of cotton wool!
Interesting developments on the work front - I have been looking for a part time job for a while, as opposed to the supply I am currently doing, but part time jobs around here seem to be as rare as hen's teeth. However, a couple of weeks ago, I got a phone call offering me three days a week teaching reception - it is absolutely ideal. So have been busy preparing and sorting ready for that.
The Christmas crafting is going well - I have not been able to do as much as I had hoped due to the problems with my hand (which seems to be fine now - touch wood) but bits and pieces are being done. We have made a load of activity tags to add to Stephen's fabric advent calendar, with a fun activity for us to do together each day. I have been sewing again - loving using the Banana Frog stamps on felt.
Take a look at the Banana Frog blog for more detail about them.
As ever, thanks for reading!
Body image is something that most women have problems with, isn't it ladies? How many of us like what we see in the mirror? How many of us are comfortable in our own skin?
Well, now is the time to get over that...celebrate yourselves, ladies! Is there a particular part of your body that you love? Have you always been comfortable in your own skin? Are you just beginning to love the way you look? Or, are you still wrestling with it?
Tell us!
This is the challenge on the All About Eve blog this week. First time I've done one - and it was a pretty tough one to do! I find it really hard to 'celebrate' myself and am most conscious of my size. However, I didn't think this photo of me was TOO bad and I couldn't resist using the title of the Mika song! (With the added notes that 'You just need reminding from time to time!')
Thanks for the challenge - I really enjoyed it and will be back!
Fingers crossed, anyway. The combination of pain killers, anti-inflammatories and resting my hand seems to be working, until I use it without realising! The twinges remind me, though so should be back to normal soon ... I hope.
Anyway, here is a layout I did yesterday - pretty much just using my left hand, apart from the writing! I used the latest Pencil Lines sketch - I've not done one of these before as I normally find sketches pretty hard to work with, but it was lovely not to have to think about it! Used up loads of old stash I'd been hoarding which is always good. Also dug around to find an old photo - I printed this on the day it was taken, full of good intentions and then did nothing with it - back in Feb 2006!
I'm really fed up. I've developed carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand - at least, they think it's carpal tunnel and are treating it as such at the moment. I had it in both hands when I was pregnant and it is just SO limiting. Anyway, I've been told to rest it - even just using it a little bit is bringing on pain.
And I've got so many Christmas craft projects to do!
Look at this from the 7Gypsies homepage! It's the revolving ATC holder.
I have one ready to decorate as an advent calendar - building it up by adding a new card on each day.
And my lovely new sewing project, sitting looking at me - I though this would be ideal because each little piece is small enough to cart around and work on in the car or wherever.
Plus my Christmas cards ...
Oh well, at least I can use the computer with my left hand!
First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY for yesterday, Dad! Another year younger!
Finally got around to scrapping these photos from the school's Country Fayre back in June. Stephen won the fancy dress competition - probably had something to do with the fact that he was the only one who entered! ;)
Anyway, he loved his scarecrow costume (heavily influenced by the Dr Who episode, hence the 'son of mine' quote for the eagle-eyed among you!)
Got to use my Queen & Co felt pumpkins, DESPITE not having a pumpkin for Hallowe'en this year - yay!
Webster's Pages paper (how gorgeous is that? I have been stroking it for SO long but have finally succumbed and actually used it!)
Banana Frog Calendar and Tiny Teen stamps.
Bits of hessian, ric rac, scalloped cardstock etc. I think Stephen will like it.
