Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 December 2005 23:03:11
This is the most amazing Christmas ever. Coming away to my sister's was such a good idea. Well, apart from sharing a room with Tiddles, that is. I am just sitting here typing while he goes properly back to sleep after waking when I came up into the room - and I need him properly asleep so I can do the Santa bit. Only trouble is, I couldn't find their proper stockings when I was packing the car so they've had to make do with gift bags this year.
It was lovely this evening to sit with them in the lounge (while the rest of the family did the washing up!) and set up our nativity scene together. We'd brought it with us from home, knowing my sister's family to be non-Christian, and somehow it was very special doing it on Christmas Eve rather than as part of doing the decorations as we normally do. We set up the tray for father Christmas with an apple for Rudolph - and, thank goodness, were able to leave it in the lounge instead of their bedroom as we usually do. Doesn't do much for Father Christmas's heartburn, I can tell you, gulping down sherry and mince pies late at night in a dark room occupied by two shallow-sleeping children! Then we had stories and poems before bed, and a check up on Santa's progress courtesy of the fantastic NORAD website.
This afternoon was magical too, with a surprise visit to the New Vic theatre under the guise of a last minute shopping trip. Instead of fighting our way through the shops, the Smudgelets were delighted to discover we had seats for an amazing performance of A Christmas Carol. Interestingly, it was Smudgelet who was most enchanted by this performance, despite our seats being so high up in the balcony that he had to stand on tiptoe for most of the play.
And a delight for me came when the boys were asleep in their beds and my sister, brother in law, middle nephew and me sat down for a game of Cranium Cadoo - a younger version of Cranium, one of the best board games ever invented. We're quite excited, actually, as I have indulged in a different version of the game as a Christmas present for the entire family so I think we'll be playing that tomorrow night. It's such a fun game - and I say that even though I actually came fourth in both rounds that we played... though I think C was cheating, if the truth be told. Playing board games with the kids is fun, but playing with adults has a certain edge to it, especially adults that you love and feel totally at ease with.
I can't wait until tomorrow. It will be strange going to a different church where we know nobody, but other than that this will be the most Christmassy Christmas I have ever experienced. Oh, and we're having goose for dinner!!!!
So, I know I've said it already but it doesn't lessen with the resaying - have a great Christmas, all of you! Merry Christmas!
(PS to Jack: it's a housewarming present. You don't have to wait until Christmas to open it if you don't want to ;) )