Time to make way for New Year! We took the tree down today and I must say I wondered why I’d bothered to put it up, since we had hardly anything underneath it anyway! Still, it was sparkly, I suppose.
We’ve done Not Very Much this week, some shopping in town, a lot of lazing around (definitely turned into a teenager house as we’ve only managed to be up by 10am on the one day I had a friend coming over!), eating, playing games, but it’s all been good.
Anyway, realised that I’d forgotten to blog this vid while it was still in season, but better late than never, a montage of the kids’ Christmas music this year, only the choir stuff unfortunately missing.
So the only debate for tonight is: twenty-ten or two thousand and ten? I’m using both at the moment! Whichever it is, I hope your celebrations tonight are fun and that the year ahead is filled with good things, challenges, excitement, and geocaches
You know, sometimes when you point a camera at a bunch of people and ask them to say cheese, the photo comes out really terribly … and other times, like today, it came out beautifully
We had a lovely day up in Oxfordshire today with my side of the family, shared a delicious meal as always, then exchanged gifts and had plenty of time to enjoy them together while lazing around, chatting, joking, drinking tea, playing games, etc. Pretty perfect really – especially as I made time for a quick geocache on the way up!
I will have to add a photo of me and my gift soon, as no-one had the decency to take one today – I got one of these funky umbrellas so I’m waiting for a dark wet evening to go out with it!
As a chorister, Josiah had commitments at the Cathedral over the past few days, and will have at Christmas time for the next four years too, so we thought we’d better join in! Actually Joe decided to board, which he thought was a huge treat. We missed him here, as it was very quiet indeed, but he had a ball.
We went to the Cathedral for the Christmas Eve service yesterday, and popped in to see Joe at the boarding house afterwards. Traditionally choristers are allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve so we gave him that last night, and then waved him goodbye until today.
This morning was very peaceful at home – the girls were really pleased with their outfits in place of stockings today.
We had breakfast then opened the few presents that were here before setting off in time for matins at the Cathedral. Russ & Marg represented the family at the first morning service (not that Joe spotted them!) and we did the others!
After Matins we went over to the school for Christmas dinner. This was optional, of course, and we’d opted in, thinking we might as well just join in – then had second thoughts when we realised how big an event it was! Quite overwhelming really, as we don’t know anyone yet!
First came drinks and nibbles etc., then after that it was dinner time – 109 people seated in the school gym! It felt like a wedding … Steve and I both helped with serving/clearing away which at least gave us something to do, but otherwise we were quite glad we’d been seated at the end of a table so we didn’t have to do *too* much chatting.
The girls were really good, especially as Joe abandoned them to go and play with his friends in the playground; they spent the mealtime planning our family day that we’re looking forward to on Sunday!
This little clip from Josiah probably deserves a place here
After dinner there were a couple of short thank you speeches, and then what is apparently traditional entertainment, of any old choristers getting up to sing together! By the time that was over it was 3.40pm and time for the choristers to go back to the Cathedral, a quick tidy up in the gym, and then we joined them in time for evensong, which was lovely.
Phew.
Collected Josiah and all his clobber after the service, and I think he’s managed not to leave anything behind! Can’t say I wasn’t glad to leave after all that – it felt like a long day to me and I know we hadn’t done all of what some families had. That said, it was fun as well – very different to any Christmas day I’ve had before! Can safely say I’ve had my fix of Christmas music this year, too. Josiah looked exhausted, we’re not sure how much sleep the boarders got last night!
From there we went over to Grandma & Grandpa’s house for tea and presents. They had a houseful too, but it was relaxing and fab to exchange gifts with them all Didn’t think I’d particularly over-eaten during the day but I feel pretty stuffed now!
We left there around 8pm and came home – had to watch Doctor Who before anyone went to bed though – some things are Very Important, you know. We have another long day tomorrow so we’ll be following the kids to bed shortly, I imagine
The kids enjoyed their busking so much on Saturday that they decided to go again today.
First of all they joined forces with another suzuki violin family that we’re friends with, and then the girls played with a Wind Group that Abbie was part of at one time. Lots of fun again, and they earned £13 each from the first session, then the girls got £5 each from the second (more people to split it between that time!).
While they were playing, I went for coffee with the other mum during the first session, which was lovely. Then during the second session I was shopping with Josiah. He bought himself a DS game and did a little Christmas shopping, while I finally bought myself some red boots, in the sale! Docs in the end, of course
