This weekend we went to our local tree farm and picked and cut down a rather large Xmas tree (they don't look so big when they are outside). Then we brought it home, unwrapped it, pruned it and decorated it. Then the dog chased the cat up into the tree. Happy Xmas!
Then of course it was Christmas. We celebrated this year by 1) going and cutting down a tree at the tree farm, just like last year. 2) meeting Father Xmas/Santa at the Redding Roadhouse (Bluet is too old to meet Santa now, as you can (not) see.n 3) Making mince pies, that only I like, but that are also essential at Xmas 4) decorating the tree 5) opening presents (don't know why Wilder is sad in the top picture). And then 6 (next post) going for festive walks.
Here is Christmas 2018, spent in Redding, CT for the first time. Christmas Eve it snowed, then melted, but there was enough time for the kids to go outside and Bluet even managed to build a snowman. Then on Christmas day the kids laid waste to our living room with torn wrapping paper and empty boxes, as they devoured their Christmas presents (found under the tree) in record time. Later, we had Christmas dinner which even included crackers and Christmas pudding (pictured below, on fire, as it is supposed to be).
When I asked Bluet what she wanted for Xmas, she told me she would like make up and a remote controlled car (she'd played with one when we ran into a school friend in the school playground one weekend last year, and loved it). The make up came in the stocking and from Abatha, but we neglected to buy the car. Fortunately, and without knowing any of this, Uncle Nick got Bluet and Ilona both a car. Here they are in the school playground trying them out
Christmas day, after the presents were opened, we got in a car and drove to Italy to spend 3 days at a farm near Bergamo, with our friends Leila and Mike and their twin boys. The farm, accessable only via a rickety bridge, produces their own food and then cooks it for you, so for 3 days there was no cooking for us, which was nice. Unfortunately there was rather too much rain (and even an ice storm); the upside of this was that Bluet and Ilona discovered a frozen patch on the lawn where they could ice skate.
Also, there was a lovely, cosy recreation room with roaring fire to relax in and seats to sit on, as well as cows to watch being milked, goats to watch escaping, and even a pony ride for the kids (the highlight for Bluet, although she said it was a bit wobbly and she worried she might fall off).
