fun-packed christmas day

Well it wasn't too early a start, both kids were awake at 6.30am but we managed to delay the getting up till 7. Ela commented that Santa must have been because winnie was missing from her bed. We had struck a bargain that she would trade him in to Santa for a present she really wanted, a barking toy dog.

So we came down the stairs to see the massive Santa sacks that were left. they took about an hour to get through those and then there was another hour worth of opening presents from friends and relatives.

Mum and dad got sunnies for xmas - a strange present for here in the snow but perfect when we get back to the hieght of summer. Tom was Thomas the tank engined out and Ela was inundated with princesses. Favourites were the remote controlled buggy and the barking doggy....well actually Ela was enthralled with all her presents. I think there were 4 black bin bags full of wrappers and paper sent out to the bin.

Then we got dressed and headed to the halfway-house pub in Woolton for xmas lunch - turkey with all the trimmings. Then headed back home to further demolish nana and grandads house with all the toys.

Certainly a christmas to remember.

White Christmas

Well as all our friends predicted (unknowingly) we did indeed have a white start to our christmas. It's fairly unusual to have snow in Liverpool at all so having it drop on xmas eve was something special.

The kids couldn't wait to get outside and start throwing snowballs at Daddy. There was a brief arguement over who was putting the carrot in but we compromised and Tom stuck his carrot in the back as a tail.

Rolling the body was very hard work according to Ela so as soon as the snowman was finished they were happy to come back inside.

Meanwhile Daddy had been hard at work slaving over the hot stove preparing our traditional christmas eve fayre. A turkey roast dinner with a lovely Zinfadel red and rose. There were a few challenges to overcome - lack of space being the major hurdle but he did an awesome job and we especially enjoyed the mince pie ice-cream he made for pudding.

Penguins

Well after the sucess of the Superlambananas during Liverpool08 Capital of Culture, Liverpool has been graced with 100 5ft high penguins, each painted and located on a winters trail around the city.

Ela and I met up with one of my best school friends Jackie and her daughter Evie and we went in search of some penguins around the city centre. here are some of the best ones we found...

 

 

England here we come

Excitement is running high in our house with just a few days to go before we set off to England. We have had a round of christmas parties, lunches, playdates and farewell dinners. Photos here of some pre-xmas pressie opening.

Ela has 'graduated' from both Cabarita-Mortlake pre-school and Gumnut, here she with her favourite friends, Belle, Bo and Gabby. She has been sure to tell everyone - including Santa that she will not be 'at home' for xmas so presents need to be delivered to both places. small ones to England and larger ones to Australia!

And of course Tom has ho idea of what is to come - 24hrs of flights plus a 5 hr drive to Liverpool, but he's non the less just as excited.

Advent Calendar

Ela has been so excited about getting out the advent calendar this year. She remembers its got something to do with treats but for some reason, she believes there are elves who visit the house each night and put the lolly or sweets or whatever into the pocket ready for the morning, so she has left him all sorts of goodies on the kitchen counter near the advent calendar.

I'm going to write a note from the elf to tell her that he will only be visiting the first night and that now he knows where the advent calendar is he'll magic the treats into the pockets!

A big boy now

Well Tom has been an absolute star with his toilet training. We started about 2 weeks ago and we had about 1-2 accidents a day for the first week. By the weekend, he was in pullups and they were completely dry all day and for the following week he has been in undies (or nickies as he calls them) without a single accident!. I'm so impressed but more than that I'm very grateful. I'd forgotten how much hard work the whole thing can be - washing midweek and running up and down to the bathroom.

Tom's manners are also really developing. He's not so good with the 'peas' but he says 'sank-you mum' everytime i give him something, without any prompting from me which is great.

On the down side, terrible twos are well underway and he has started stomping, hitting and throwing when he doesn't get what he wants. He's a determined little soul - as are most 2 year olds - but I'm hoping our trip to the UK which is coming up in 2 short weeks will be enough of a distractor to at least slow down the moody periods.

This lovely photo is of Tom with his friend Evie on the bouncy castle at Ela's party.

Orientation

Ela has had two visits to big school this past two weeks for orientation. Along with her dolphin room friends, Bo, Belle and Carmello, she had a play in her new classroom and met the kids she will be at school with next year along with the teachers.

We parents meanwhile were given a run down in the hall of all the extra curricular activities including music, choir, P&C, canteen etc.

We bought some of the uniform as Ela was able to wear it at Gumnut this week. They are practicing getting their stuff ready for big school.

Ela is so excited about going there (and has been all year!) most especially because the four kids who live next door go there and so she will be able to see them every day.