Christmas 2018

Christmas 2018

So, it has been about three weeks since I last wrote anything on my blog. Work has been crazy busy coming up to year end and the last thing I have wanted to do when I get home at eight is to log onto my lap top and write something. However, I have had a lovely break over the Christmas period so I thought I would write a few words about how Christmas has been in the Thomas household.

This year we were having Christmas with just the three of us and seeing family on Boxing day. This is the first Christmas that James has really got it and he has been so excited counting down with his advent calendar as well as seeing what Elfie has been up to every day. We got to Christmas Eve and he was hyper all day. Lyns had been on nights the night before so was up at lunchtime to join the fun. We went to see some friends in the afternoon then came home for a picnic of nibble bits. James loved it and tucked in. After that, it was bath and bed for him.

He was really excited putting out treats for Santa, even Elfie and Nutty got involved, helping to choose what treats Santa got.

Selection of treats for the main man

Family selfie

Excited much?

Will he sleep at all?

Before going to bed, James had cleared a space at the end of his bed for Santa to leave his presents. Being a little super star, he came through at 7am but in a panic. He could not find the presents that Santa had left, even though he had left there in the space James had cleared. I rushed back into James’ bedroom with him to look for the presents and thankfully there they were.

After half an hour of paper flying everywhere and squeals of joy all of Santa’s presents were open. James was all set for running downstairs to open the family presents under the tree. We had, however, agreed that they would be opened after dinner so we sat down to watch Incredibles 2 that Santa had brought.

Lyns was not feeling very well so dinner fell to me. I hate cooking roasts at the best of times but luckily everything came together, admittedly we had bought a lot of things that were ready made and just needed putting in the oven but still, we ate dead on 1pm much to James’ delight.

After dinner, it was time for present opening, James was one very spoilt little boy…

Ooooo the bubbles

Jess loves getting involved

After all the presents were open, we decided to head into York to see the Christmas lights. Two reasons for this, firstly Jess got a walk ad secondarily it got us out of the house for an hour or so, it also meant Lyns and James got dressed.

We were really surprised by how busty York was. We were expecting to be the only people on the streets but there were lots of people walking about.

The face of a little boy who had just dropped his snack

Once we got home, it was time for a bath and bed. Once James had been settled, he was so tired he went to bed relatively easily, Lyns and I were able to get an hour or so of relaxation before we headed to bed, exhausted, ourselves.

We woke to an excited James on Boxing Day. Granny was coming over for breakfast and presents in the morning then we were off to Nana and Grandad’s for dinner and yet more presents. For me though, the day started with a run which was lovely as it really blew the cobwebs away.

Granny and Darren arrived at 10am for Breakfast and I cooked a full fry up, including homemade bacon, cured with cinnamon which gave it a lovely flavour, and Stornoway black pudding. A lovely start to the day. After this, it was time for presents and once again, James was spoilt rotten.

Once Granny had gone, we got ourselves packed for our night away at Nana and Grandad’s. We were there for just after two and it was coffee / hot chocolate liqueurs all round whilst we opened presents. Once again, we were all spoilt.

Once everything was open, it was time to build. James and Grandad had lots of fun building the cars. We spent a very pleasurable few hours building lego and cars and all sorts.

Once again we finished Boxing Day with an extremely tired young man. He had had a wonderful Christmas and we are so thankful for all the people that bought him presents, he received far too much. All his presents will keep him going for weeks. We have had a lovely Christmas.

Thank you for reading my blogs over the past year and I hope you have had as good a Christmas as we have and I wish all the best for the coming year.

Steamy Santa

With the first of December Xmas starts hotting up. The advent calendars are out, chocolate and Lego in James’ case, and there is talk of getting the tree out already. Last year we had been on the North York Moors Railway to see Santa and we decided to do the same this year. All in all there were twelve us on the train as we were going with our friends Lorna and Paul.

We arrived with plenty of time to spare and headed to get our mince pie and hot drink. Here we discovered a new winter drink, hot chocolate with Baileys. Yum Yum, we will definitely be doing that at home with our proper hot chocolate. As the train pulled into the station the kids got excited, so we headed across the bridge and jumped on.

This year was different, Santa walked along the train rather than being in a grotto and there was an elf per carriage who provided entertainment for the whole of the trip, from songs to games, it was really run, especially the audience participation.

The face when Santa was mentioned

James not so thrilled

Is he here yet?

What about now?

When Santa finally arrived, there was one person more excited than the rest. With children flying in all directions, Barbara moved so fast she was a blur as she threw herself at Santa. Santa greeted her with open arms and I can honestly say sparks flew, as to whether it was from Barbara and Santa or the breaks as he pulled the emergency stop chord, I will never know. Either way, things certainly heated up.

Once Santa had managed to escape it was time for the children to see Santa. They absolutely loved it. He asked them what they wanted for Christmas and then gave them a present. The two of them could not have been more excited.

After Santa’s visit, there was time for one more song. This time it was the Twelve Days of Christmas along with some actions. Our friendly elf had a different action and prop for each line and everyone joined in with good spirits.

HEEEELLLLLLOOOOO

COWABUNGA!!!

With one last wave, Santa was off

Once we got back to Pickering it was time to head back to York and dinner. We all headed to The Nags Head in Askham Bryan for tea. It was a lovely day out and everyone really enjoyed it. Will we do the same next year or will we go somewhere else? Only the magic of Christmas will tell.