Happy Christmas!

Well, I guess I just wanted to say HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

We have enjoyed a month of Christmas preparations and fun. Before we handed our car over to David and family we made sure we fulfilled those of our Christmas wishes that required transport. We visited the London Temple, and actually managed to stay over there for a night, which was fun. We rode one more time on a friend's pony. Everybody enjoyed a ride, abd Rebekah really did fantastically without anybody holding onto her this time. She was worried still to start with, but once she got into the stride, or the "wiggle, woggle, wiggle, woggle" as she said most of the way around the field in time with her movements, she did brilliantly and really enjoyed herself. We also visited an equine rescue centre (for horses, ponies and donkeys) which Michael and the children had found the previous month and really wanted to go back to. Peter just loved wandering freely around finding yet more horses and ponies everywhere he went. He especially loved the Shetland ponies, which is fun as he looked just the right size to ride one.

From there we went to Stratford on Avon where we have been for the previous few years at Christmastime to see their lights. We ended up having a day there one year as a family and by chance it was the day the town Christmas lights were being turned on. They were really nice, and we had such a nice time that we returned for that again the next year. Last year and this we went in December rather than late November, and went instead for a free ride on a tour bus (open-topped double decker), which gives some history of Stratford and also takes you around the lights. We had fish and chips for our tea there (in the chip shop this time, out of the rain). Last year I remember going a week later than we had planned because of bad weather. This year we were getting rid of our car and couldn't do that, so we had a rather wet and windswept ride on an open-topped tour bus. My mad and determined older daughters decided they were going on the top, on the back seat as they had wanted to, no matter what. So Michael stayed downstairs in the dry with Peter, and I accompanied 4 damp girls, well equipped with dome umbrellas that they could sit inside and see through on the back of an open-topped bus. Of course once we moved away, it got rather windy, so Rachel and Hannah who were sharing an umbrella were tugging hard on it to keep it down. Whereas I was across the aisle from them tugging hard on Rebekah's and Sarah's two separate umbrellas to stop them (and probably us with them) from being blown away! Unlikely I know, but it felt like it! Needless to say one of those umbrellas was bent totally out of shape and had a whole in it when we got back downstairs. As soon as we set off on the tour Rebekah, and shortly afterward Sarah wanted to be with Daddy downstairs. Well, you try walking along a wet and slippery open-topped bus in the wind and rain when it is moving, and then getting down a steep spiral staircase with a 3 and a 5 year old. Not I! We had another ride after that - all in the dry this time. Then we wandered back to the car through the Christmas market and across the river. Some of us were drenched, but actually nobody seemed to mind. It was a lot of fun!!

We've done some other fun things too, most of which have included giving in one way or another instead of receiving. That has made it a really special Christmas so far. Now the girls are nestled all snug in their beds, and have been really excited to put out their stockings tonight and to open a few presents too. More and more people have been handing us gifts, so there are a few to keep them going! :o)

We have a few more Christmas wishes to be fulfilled this week. One is to see our family in America tomorrow. We'll have a video conference with them. Another is to have Nanny come to visit us (she'll actually be staying with us for a couple of days). Then there's the all important pyjama party, complete with a video and popcorn of course. A few other things too. We'll be enjoying them, this year as last through our illnesses. Last Christmas day Sarah was too ill to share our Christms dinner, We ended up having a second one on Boxing Day just for her. Well, we've been knocked for six with a nasty virus again and have been taking cover and hiding away under blankets for the last two weeks. Now it is Sarah's turn again for the illness - bad timing! Hannah is the only survivor so far, and we hope she stays that way. If we're well enough we'll also be going to stay with my parents for a few days from Saturday onwards, though we'll stay away if we're ill so they don't come down with it too. I think there'll be enough presents to keep the children busy anyway even if they are quarantined a little longer.

We hope you enjoy a very healthy and happy Christmas, and actually we hope we do too. :o) So we wish plenty of love light and laughter to you all.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!