Snow

Its hard to stand up in the snow!

Decorating

Putting lights on the tree (the tacky coloured ones rather than the tasteful white ones that we've lost!), turned out to be a bigger event than we expected!

A new obsession

My new craft-like activities have been documented, but what you don't realise is that its becoming a little obsessional! And its not just me! We have decided that its hormonal - a bit like the nesting that you do before going into labour! All my friends seem to suddenly be fascinated with making pretty and useful (and sometimes useless) things. The only prerequisite is that you need specialist scissors and pretty fabric or funky card!

Here is what the living room looks like tonight, the night before our singing group Christmas party:


Results to be evidenced another day.

What you can't see is that I have created this chaos whilst self-indulgently listening to Legends, The Christmas Collection on Spotify! Who doesn't need a bit of Nat King Cole on a cold evening?!

Spinning

Nathaniel's newest game is spinning. He spins round and round and round until he is dizzy and falls over. Cue hysterical giggling, getting up, and trying again until he is so disorientated and tired that he falls over hard and hurts himself!

So, in case you can't wait another week or so until Christmas when most of you get to see him in the flesh somewhere or other, here is some Nathaniel-fodder. There is no excuse for three videos, but there were elements of each that I'd thought you'd like, so you get three hits today!

1. We have been spinning for some time now, so he's pretty tired, but still got enough energy for total craziness!


2. Move to another room and spin some more

3. Decide that its much easier if you spin against something to lean on!

Update: I keep crashing Blogger, so you'll have to wait for the other videos!

A visit from Phil

This weekend Phil came to visit. We don't have photographic evidence, but as you all read this only for cute pictures of the little boy and are just politely interested in the rest of us, I don't suppose you mind!!! Toby organised some carol singing at the station in aid of St Leonard's hospice which was great fun until I realised that there was to be no singing of descants. Where is the fun in that?

Nathaniel accompanies Jingle Bells with bells (for those with good eye sight)

When we got home we played with the foam mats and made Nathaniel traps:


On Sunday we all took Phil back to the station to catch his train to Liverpool. Some people found this experience extremely exciting!


General excitement


"What's that coming?"


"Oooh!"


"It was there! I saw it!"


"Is it coming back?"

More Craftiness

In the absence of any shepherds costumes to have to make, I decided ages ago that I was going to make Esme (Rosie and Pete's daughter) a patchwork ball for her birthday. Having considered it suitably in advance, I had time to make Nathaniel a prototype which went down a storm - he cuddles it, throws it at things and rolls it along the back of his neck (I just don't know why!!!). Some people may recognise the shirt it is made up of - I have been hoarding it all this time!

Nathaniel's ball
And eventually, Esme's ball is finished! I'm rather pleased with it. Especially the initals (kudos to R & P for calling her EEK!) which I used a new embroidery stitch for without having practised it for months!

Esme's ball

How creative have I become?!!