Family and Christmas

We spent a lovely weekend up North. Seeing my family again after all this time was amazing! It was just like old times standing in mam's kitchen, siblings all around and hot-dogs on the table! The only person missing of course was my mam.

It's coming up 10 years since she left us, but we all still miss her so much. The overwhelming pain at losing her has dulled over the years, but the memories and the longing to see her are still as fresh as ever. It makes me so sad that she never got to meet Katie, her grand-son Leon and ofcourse, her great grandson, Charlie. She would have gathered them up in her arms and showered them with kisses the way she used to do.

There has not been one single day when I have not thought of my mam, sometimes with sadness but more often with fondness. I guess that is how it will be for the rest of my life, but that fills me with comfort ; my mam will forever be in my heart.

Seeing Dad again was lovely. He is 5 years older of course, and his health has deteriorated of late. I feel so bad that I have left it so long, but I have promised to visit more often in the future. Anyway, the drive to Newcastle didn't take as long as we anticipated, so I have no excuse!

Dave met up with his boys and we all went Christmas shopping at the Metrocentre and then had a superb meal at a lovely Japanese restaurant.

Katie at the Metrocentre

Shopping with her Big Brother

Christmas Day was just the four of us (including Turkey-loving Maisie!) We opened our presents around the tree and had a delicious Christmas Dinner. Later we settled to watch Christmas TV, surrounded by chocolates and Baileys and a whole lot of love!... Perfect!

Unwrapping Presents!

Ginger-Bread House, another Birthday and Christmas

Finally finished the ginger-bread house! It's very PINK and smells delicious and I am kind of pleased with it

Katie  is now nine years old! Wow...I don't know where the time goes. We are so proud of her; she is the sweetest, funniest and little girl!

Dave was working away for Katie's birthday, so she opened her presents and blew out her candles the day before, when Dave was around to see her excitement and eat birthday cake!It was that, or wait until the day after her birthday when Dave would be back home, but it was just a step too far to ask an excited and impatient almost nine year old to post-pone her birthday for one day!

Maisie's licking Katie's feet while she opens her pressies1



Happy Birthday Katie!

Me and my Girl!

On the actual day of her birthday, Katie and I took  ourselves off to Jaime's house for the day. It was lovely seeing gorgeous little Charlie and we all had fun at Space Kingdom in Clacton.

Things are much more quiet for us now that the Christmas Holidays are upon us.The last few weeks have been hectic, We have had our usual Science, French and Art classes at Moulsoe, piano lessons, Christmas Concert, Christmas Party, Cinderella at MK theatre, and this weekend we are off to Newcastle to see family before Christmas!

We will get back home Christmas Eve, and hopefully have a relaxing, quiet Christmas Day.

Katie Loves Music at Moulsoe

 

Ah...this is what a Science lesson looks like!

Happy Christmas!

Christmas is coming!

It's that time of year again : frosty mornings, robins in the garden and twinkling lights in the shops...
Christmas!

Now I have been known to say "Shovlins Love Christmas" and we do; however it is so incredibly busy in the shops already and I am starting to feel the pressure to find those perfect presents!
Milton Keynes Centre is pouring with people, the car-parks are over-flowing and my poor feet are aching! Katie and I have spent hours and walked miles whilst searching for Christmas Presents. Just when you find what you want it's not available in the right size, or the right colour, or the right price!I have been feeling so stressed and tired and frustrated. This is not what Christmas is about! So, I have vowed to shop online from now on (from the comfort of my sofa) Let's see how that goes!

The tree(s) are up and decorated and the ginger-bread cookies have been baked and are hanging from the branches of our "home-made" tree.
Last year our cheeky little dog Maisie helped herself to a couple of ginger-bread men hanging from the lower branches of the tree. We won't be making that mistake again! Must remember to hang sweet smelling delicious cookies from the upper branches.......Sorry Maisie!



Ginger Bread Cookie Tree

We still need to make our ginger-bread house. I have all the ingredients, including LOTS of pink candy. Katie and I were planning to get baking this weekend. However, a stinking cold (me) has put paid to that..... Just waiting for poor Katie to catch the cold now!

We were busy as usual last week. We had music and rehearsals for the Christmas Concert at Moulsoe, piano lessons in Bucks, Sublime Science Sessions where Katie mad slime and sherbet and other exploding stuff!! We visited "Hazard Alley" in MK which was really great!





Katie made sherbet...FIZZY sherbet!!


Katie attended her first Brownie meet in Great Denham and so far she is enthusiastic! She has promised to help more around the house, including cooking and walking Maisie, as part of her "helping hand" Brownie Promise.

Cute Brownie!

Piano lessons are going well. Katie seems to have a talent and she loves her teacher, Bethan. She loves practicing on her keyboard at home. Unfortuately, Dave like practicing too!

We are heading up to Newcastle just before Christmas. Dave is looking forward to seeing his boys and I am looking forward to seeing family I haven't seen in a long time. Let's hope this rotten cold is long gone by then!