First of all here is the fudge I made last night that I am very proud of! We had a great day - Scott is off work now till the new year, and we went over to my Brother-in-law Dan's Mum and Dad's house, and then off for a walk in some nearby woods with Katy, Dan and Amy. It was lovely with so much snow!!
I took this picture near our house on the drive over.

We saw loads of dear crossing one of the paths we were walking on, including a pure white one. Followed by a good old snowball fight!

Some things in the wood. Scott and Dan helping push someone out the park. It was easier for cars to get in, than out.

I love this one of Lucy.

And this one of Harry.

How cute is Amy?!!

We had potatoes and chilli back at Dan's Mum and Dad's made by Katy...yummmmm...
Tom of course had to have his hold of Amy before we left. Can't wait for Christmas!!!!!!!

We finally put up our Christmas decorations last night. I got to hang the wreath on the front door with heavy snow falling - it was just lovely. Scott said let's not put up so much rubbish this year (though I'm pretty sure he's usually responsible for it), so anyway the kids each have a tree and tonnes of sparkly stuff in their rooms now instead :)

Harry trying to get me.

The ladder was still out from getting down the decorations, and it kept Harry entertained for a lot of today. He said he was 'Captian Tall' and invented all kinds of situations. He cleared away all of his toy cars by climbing the ladder with one at a time and dropping them down into the tub. Here he is eating one (of about 7 he's had today) clementine, up the ladder:

The weekend has been survived!! Christmas may now begin!
A quick catch up - Harry had his Playgroup Christmas 'concert' twice this week. I'd been helping out at playgroup one of the mornings (helping do a winter scene on a display board... glue...mess and what seemed like 300 kids 'helping'...), but Harry wouldn't join in the concert at all - just sat next to me in the audience, joining in with the actions in a minute version that I wasn't supposed to see. The next day he was the complete opposite - joining in with gusto: Back to his usual obliging self (!) afterwards when I wanted to take a picture of him in his King costume:Wednesday was Tom's 7th birthday, and he was ridiculously pleased with all his presents! He had his party a month ago, so we just had a family tea party in the evening.

On Friday we had a beautiful covering of snow. The back garden.Lucy's school was promptly shut, but not the boys', so we went on the school run as usual. Lucy came too, and after the boys were dropped off we walked home the back way round the fields. It was so lovely and open and white, that we went home and came straight back with my camera. Spent Thursday and Friday afternoons getting the hall at church ready for the Ward Christmas party. Lucy was a good help - sewing tinsel round Santa's sack, moving pews & chairs and playing with Donna's kids.
On Saturday I carried on with my list of jobs - finished making the 100 cards and delivered them, got hold of the Father Christmas costume for the Christmas party, went to Tesco, hemmed a 20 ft long tablecloth for the party, baked a whole salmon, made pasta salad, prepared fruit platters, et cetera, then off to church for the party. Oh my goodness! Nearly the whole ward came, plus visitors - a good 200 of us - the place was jam packed!! I hope it was OK for people and not too manic. At least we had plenty of food! Everyone provided a small gift for their kids for Santa to give out, and I sneaked one in there for Scott... (Thank you Ryann for the photo!) After the party, Anna came to babysit, and Scott and I headed over to his boss' house (about 45 minutes away) for a dinner party. They had a gorgeous flat with balconies, overlooking a marina. It snowed again while we were there and it was beautiful with the snow settling on the frozen water. I was a bit nervous about the party, and we were the youngest by quite a way and the least posh (!), but I had a good chat with people (though definitely on best behaviour) - about books, art, people's work, and raising children - I enjoyed it, including the little indoor golf competition we had! Got back about midnight, to find that Anna's daughter had been sick all evening back at their house, so poor Anna had all that to deal with when she got home (but Thank you Anna!!!)

Church today, and when I came downstairs, Jack told me Scott had gone, been back and set off a second time. The car that Scott had been following had skidded off the road and into a ditch, so he'd helped the woman out and given her a lift back home. Our road is still pure ice, and there is quite a lot around on the smaller roads on the way to church. It was -6 when I set off with the kids 3 hours after Scott. I just drove really slowly. We watched the Christmas Devotional at church after Sacrament meeting, and I especially loved the Mormon Tabernacle choir's 'Oh Holy Night', and Elder Uchtdorf's talk. The kids liked President Monson's story. (See them here.)

Well, got to catch up on all the housework tomorrow that has been neglected, and then in the evening we will finally put up our decorations, and then I might start feeling Christmassy!

Well, busy, busy, busy - I seem to keep doing things, but the list keeps being added to! Everyone is fine though, if not yet very Christmassy (or maybe that's just me).
On Saturday we travelled to Scott's Mum and Dad's and went with lots of Scott's family to see the pantomime - Cinderella, with Brian Conley. I hadn't given much thought to the pantomime itself, and ended up really enjoying it - funny, and beautiful visually too. We went to church down there, and then visited Keely and Grant, and Scott's Nan afterwards.
Here's Harry during the travelling. (The kids bought revolting blue lollies.) I found the calendar like this the other day... maybe the kids feel like they have had to wait this long already...

A little early Christmas present for myself arrived yesterday! When I was young, Mum bought me lots of Mattel 'Littles' dolls and furniture. I'm not really attracted to dolls much, but this furniture is beautifully made - cast metal, with little working drawers and flap leaf tables etc.

I had kept all my things anyway, and when I saw the actual doll's house on Ebay a week or so ago, I bid on it and bought it. I told the boys that it had come, on the way home from school, and they were very unimpressed, but I have found them playing with it quite a lot!

Here's Harry looking chuffed (because he's putting the Dad on the little toilet!!)
A giant reindeer for the ward Christmas party, that I did this morning before school (and there was plenty of time before school this morning - I've been awake since 5am. Someone wet the bed, someone fell out of bed and hurt their eye, and someone's mobile went off - early!) Harry did some pianting too.

A few of the 100 cards I am making on commission for one of the mum's at school.

Also, last week Shane and Dawn had their baby!! Levi Shane Cryer, weighing 8lb 8oz! Dawn had a cesarean, and has had some complications since, so has been in hospital longer than planned, but will hopefully be home today!

I have babysat Kirsten and Ethan a couple of evenings, and taken them to school today, and it's been nice to spend a bit of time with them.

Jack's 10th Birthday!

Jack says this was his best birthday ever, so I think he had a good day! Mum, Dad and Grandma came at lunch, and Dad and I got to go and see Tom in his school play - he was great - including singing his solo bit! When Jack got home (I think he ran most the way) he had a good play with all his new lego, and gameboy (cheap & cheerful - no DS's in this household...yet), then decorated his cake. I thought I was going to be making Monster Cake III, but Jack wanted to do his own. It didn't take too much to persuade me. The finished cake. It is Bel-Air (France house), though I don't think that was the original plan - it evolved...

Jack also got to choose tea - pizza and chips. He said a while ago that if we gave him £10, he wouldn't bother with a party this year. BARGAIN!! A good day all round!

Playmobil rules!

The Playmobil that Harry got for his birthday has already been a good investment - we have hardly seen the boys all day - they have been upstairs playing with it! Scott and I have been relaxing and Lucy has been busy with my camera.
We took a few family photos on the tripod as soon as Scott got back in from church, because his Mum would like a family one for Christmas. I threatened the kids to behave for the first few, then let them do what they do best - look like a bunch of nutters (see new blog header!). We are keeping the photo for Meg and Dave secret though. This was another one. Lucy's photography:

Lucy getting an 'artistic angle' of the dining room.

And finally one I took of Scott and Harry playing Downfall 'Harry version' (ie. there's no such thing as 'turns', and Harry peers round your side whenever he wants)

Happy 4th Birthday Harry!

Harry a couple of days ago during the cake baking...Harry our youngest is 4 today, and had his birthday party this afternoon, along with 12 playgroup friends. I have been working like a loony for a couple of days (finishing some decorating/cleaning/baking), but it was worth it - I think we had a lovely party, though Harry kept disappearing upstairs to play with his new Playmobil - big hit!!
Here is Harry with Monster Cake IILucy is happy because she finally finished her advent calendar - she hand sewed all the numbers on and has been at it for a few days now. She purposely hasn't made it Christmassy because she wants to use it for her birthday too.

Harry and Tom getting down to some serious playing this evening.

Thanks ever so much to anyone who bought Harry a present! He is a happy chappy.