Elveden re-treat

After a month of Christmas rush, then me gone for a week, then Doug gone for a week. We were ready for a little family vacation, with the Davis family. Well if you can call this a vacation--We spent Monday thru Friday at a local resort that is only about 15 minutes from our home in the Elveden Forest. Doug still went into work and the kids went to school most days, but we spent the nights swimming and swimming and swimming. Then slept in the three bedroom villa in the forest. We had to wake up early to walk the 15 minute walk to the car and then drive to school. But it will be a great memory.

Liam and Zoie are crazy little buddies. They can't get enough of each other. If we could arrange a marriage this might be one because they have such great pictures together.

Mom, Amy and Patsy

My big gift for Christmas was a trip to Colorado Springs, by myself. My sister Amy lives there with her family. As well as my great friend Patsy Forester. My sweet mommy last minute was able to fly in for the week as well. It was such a great way to relax and get away. Thanks to my dear Hubby for staying home with the kids all week(and Spencer and Joseph for taking care of all the other kids:). And thanks to Patsy and Amy for taking care of me. Amy thanks for the great picture collage. It is saving me having to figure it out. My blog didn't turn out as cute as yours with all the cute font stuff. Maybe you can teach me someday.

Day at the nail salon followed by a night at the movie "Twilight". So much fun!!



Celebrating New Years. I hate how pregnant I look, but I guess it's the truth:(

Traditions

As we have lived away from extended family we have started creating traditions of our own. We have also enjoyed picking up some of the British traditions and making them ours.

Tradition #1- Ward Christmas Party and the visit from Santa. Along with that is scare your youngest child with the thought of having to sit on his lap.




Tradition #2- Decorating the gingerbread house and this year a gingerbread tree as well. Pre-made by Wilton. I was just running out of time for cooking the bread. Oh well the kids love it just the same.





Tradition #3- The traditonal Christmas Dinner: Ham, cheesy potatoes, rolls ect. We chose to have this meal on the Sunday before Christmas. I do not want to cook on Christmas day.

Tradition #4- Is the Christmas Cracker placed by each persons plate. This is a very British tradition. A little present is placed by each plate, usually you cross arms grab the person gift next to you and the person on the other side grabs yours and then you pull. When the gift is opened there is a little firecracker inside that goes off. Each has a small gift, a paper crown to be worn at dinner and a joke. We will miss this tradition.





Tradition #5 Christmas Eve dinner. I took a picture of the table set because since arriving here I have been converted to loving dishes, especially for special holidays. This is "The night before Christmas" dish set by Wedgewood. Each plate has a different part of the story on it. My goblets are from a trip to a crystal factory in Germany. The kids loved using all the great dishes as much as I did. I think I may have even converted Doug:) (The dishes used for Christmas dinner are the traditional Spode Christmas dishes. All of these made in England, but not for long.) This dinner is a stake and shrimp feast. Carried on from Doug's family.




Tradition #6- Christmas Pudding. Another British tradition. They are cooked by seaming them in the oven or crockpot for hours. Then a carmel sauce is poured on top. Sugar cubes soaked in lemon extract are placed on top and lit on fire. As you can imagine this is a favorite of the kids. We had to do the fire 3 or 4 times. Each one with more cubes, making a bigger fire.



Tradition #7 was missed this year due to time issues. The nativity acted out by the kids. I was very disappointed this didn't happen. Doug was a bit relieved. Maybe next year when we have a semi-baby again.

Christmas Plays

Our favorite time of the year is always full of wonderful plays.

Our dear friends the Wilkins invited us and the Stokes family to participate in their tradition of a darling little dance. We didn't realize how big this was. As they pulled out costumes and began putting make-up on both the girls and boys, we then came to understand why Mckinzie would rather hangout at their home. So full of fun and girliness. They all learned the dance and then performed it for us on Christmas Eve. It was so much fun to watch. I will be surprised if the boys go along with this for much longer, but it was great to be a part of.





Liam's big part was to go around hugging all the girls. He just loves Olivia Stokes.

Jaxon had a great performance at school. He was cast as a teddy bear. He was disappointed he did not get a speaking part. He was cute just the same.




Mckinzie's play was about the most entertaining event of the year. 40 or so 4-5 year olds acting out the Nativity with songs and speaking parts. Their attention spans did not last near as long as the play.

We curled Mckinzie's hair into ringlets. She was the most darling angel there.




She is the angel on the top left. She did a great job sitting still and singing, as well moving when needed to be scene when the girl in front of her kept blocking her view.

Christmas Kids

When I went to get pictures of all the kids for Christmas, it happened to be on the one day it has snowed here in England this year. This is good and bad. The kids were freezing and not in the mood. We tried a couple different places and times. Still we were unable to get one GOOD photo of all the kids. In the end we chose a card that would show Liam separate from the rest since he was a major factor in getting a good picture. For Christmas I asked for Photoshop. So what is the first picture I want to play with--The Christmas shot I couldn't get. Here is the picture I really wanted and a few bloppers of the day.