BOYS BOYS BOYS!

We've watched snippets of Star Wars on youtube, overheard the plan for the great snowball assault on the adults, helped knock down various elaborate domino creations (made with 2 Jenga sets), been informed every time a bus goes past the window, and whether or not it is a FirstBus or a Stagecoach, and got VERY enthusiastic about trains!
My first friend I made here in Britain, Lou, is visiting. We worked in the posh dress shop in Oxford together back in 94/95. She has come with her husband and three boys to stay with us for a few days. When Lou and I are not gossipping about the old days and people, or talking about fabric and fabric shops, we are having a great time entertaining the troops. We have been sledding and ice skating and playing charades. And Charlie, who is 10, is a huge fan of trains. I've learned the word Hornby, I've learned about tilting Pendolinos. And, John, who was into train sets when he was 12, got out his old bits of track and trains and Charlie was massively impressed. If they were staying for Christmas, I would buy them a huge set, just for the fun of watching them set it up and make it go all around my living room.
Boys are fun.

Trees

We went to the forest last weekend to get our Christmas tree and it was even snowier and colder than this (google)image shows. But after 2 cold, white weeks, the melt has arrived. It has been 5 or 6 degrees the last 2 days and that is set to continue. Getting ready for Christmas, we've been crafting and shopping and baking, and I have been writing endless lists and itineraries. We've also been listening to Frosty and Rudolph, over and over. And yesterday I played the video of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to keep Claire occupied while Heather secretly made her a present. This turned out not to be a good idea as she screamed and ran and quaked with terror every time the yeti appeared over the edge of the mountain. I really fear we have traumatised her. Today she kept referring to it as "the monster and the jzeindeer".

After School Snack

Cheap and plentiful. And it gets this enthusiastic reaction: "She's getting us icicles!!!!!! She's getting them off the roof!!! Me first!"