The Buckingham Blog

Today was the last day of term for school as well as Krystal's rising 5's group party.  Her friend Hannah came here for lunch as her mum was at work and I got them both ready for the party.  They were SOOOO excited! 

They wanted their hair all curled too, they're gonna be so funny as teenagers getting ready to go out! 

 Julie.xx

Today we headed out to Drum Castle with the kids for a "festive extravaganza" - what we got was something completely different and we felt very ripped off, but I won't dwell on that. We'd wakened up to snow this morning so the grounds were utilised for me taking photos, the kids throwing snowballs and climbing trees as well as the obligatory snow angels.

It's FINALLY starting to feel a bit Christmassy! 

Drawing pictures for Santa in the Elves Toyshop

 
Kory making snow angels

Krystal doing her angels

 
A wee monkey up a tree

 
Wee Poser

 
Snowy Tree

 Julie.xx

Today was my turn to have Mummy & Daddy to school to watch my show.  It was called "Our First Nativity" and we sang lots of songs. 

I was really nervous about going on the stage (I didn't do it at all last year) but once I was there is was ok. 

There were lots and lots of Mummies & Daddies watching us, but it was good fun.  We wore tinsel on our hair like angels too.

Krystal
xxxxxxx

Today was Kory's school Christmas concert.  Gone are the days of Christmas concerts being kids singing Christmas songs.  Oh no, dressed as cowboys, performing a show where they have a ho-down in a barn around about a woman having a baby called Jesus.  Narrated by a fieldmouse no less.  Confused?  So were we. 

AND - we were charged £2.50 each to go and watch it.  For licensing fees apparently.  Bring back Away in a Manger, Jingle Bells and We Wish you a Merry Christmas I say, and free entry!

 
Doing their Ho-Down

 
Singing into the mic

Tonight we went to the Theatre to see Jack & the Beanstalk the pantomime. 

We went to our favourite Indian restaurant first and had some really nice food.  Krystal & I shared a chicken chat and rice as well as Nan bread and poppadoms.  Yummy.

We got to the panto about 6:45, got some swets and waited.  It was really good, there were lots of singing bits and we had to shout loudly and dance too. 

I'm going again next week with school too and I can't wait.

Love
Kory
xxxx

Today we put up our Christmas Tree 9yes yes I know it's too early - I agree.  But we have visitors this week and next weekend and the week after was waaaay too late!  We've just done the tree, nothing else)

Tonight we went to see the Coca-Cola truck in town with Melanie, Liam, Leah & Hannah.

We all got a Coke mini can and it was absolutely freezing as Leah and Kory demonstrate.

These 2 events officialy mean it's Christmas time!  Ho ho ho!

 Julie.xx

Because of all the bad weather at Christmas time we didn't manage to see Gran & Tom, so they came to visit us today and brought our presents!

Today a big box arrived at the door, I had no clue what was in it.  On further investigation, it was Christmas presents from Dad and Tricia.  We were meant to see them over Christmas, but as we ended up not going away, we haven't exchanged gifts.  So Dad decided to post theirs up. 

We waited until James came home, and the kids decided to have their bath first so they were in pyjamas like Christmas!  Then they got stuck in! 

They got whistles (thanks guys, my eardrums are gone already!)......

Krystal got a baby lion cub that makes noises.... 

Kory got an Optimus Prime head that changes his voice....

Krystal also got a princess laptop.... 

Kory got a metal construction kit that there's no photo of as he was too busy saying things with his Prime head on!  Both also got sweeties.  Phew!  Actually it really was like Christmas morning all over again, there was paper and cardboard everywhere.  But not just that, they were excited about all the presents they opened. 

On Christmas morning if they'd had these too, or even a few days after, I think they'd have still been all "presented out" where today they were so excited and interested in each gift rather than putting to side and moving on to next one.  A thought for next year! 

Thanks also for our presents.  You'll get yours, well sometime!  (Dad, yours is too heavy to post!)

Julie.xx

Finally a blog about Christmas Day!  It seems such a long time ago now as well, so there might be bits missing! 

We were lucky in that it was 8am before we came down the stairs.  Their wee faces when they walked into the living room and saw that Santa had been were brilliant.  Kory made a beeline for his new bike and Krystal for her dolls house.  Santa did a good job!

I'll let the photos do the talking for the rest of the present opening, it took a wee while!

This was the first Christmas we'd been just the 4 of us.  It was Coral & Chad's turn but they spent it with other relatives down in London.  We had therefore decided to go away on Boxing Day for Owen's 1st Birthday party, but the snow put a stop to that!  So, we made the most of a strange situation, as we didn't need to be rushing anywhere. 

Opening the only gifts we had here from Mum & Tom.....

 And one of the many from Coral & Chad...

We didn't get dressed until nearly midday then had our starter of soup.  It's pretty filling so a break of a couple of hours allowed Krystal to have a wee sleep and Kory to chill out and play with his Meccano.  By this time I'd spoken to my friend Carla who lives round the corner.  As they were also just the 3 of them, they asked us round for a few drinks later on.

We had our Christmas dinner about 3pm which went down well but as always there was too much for the kids, but not for James!

I love this photo of Krystal, I think it just about sums up how people feel by the end of their meal on Christmas Day! 

We headed round to see Carla, Mark and Matthew about 5pm armed with booze.  The kids had a great time playing, James played pool with Mark while Carla and I chatted.  All 3 kids were getting grumpy by about 8pm, it had been a long busy day, so we headed home.  It was totally different to normal Christmas Days, but fun all the same.

Julie.xx

P.S Not a single photo of me on the day