For sake of time, I shall be brief.
I always find December starts in slow motion, with all the anticipation, preparation and excitement of the advancing Christmas days. And then, suddenly, without warning, the days do a final sprint and one is left spinning. This year was no different.
We started December with the little Advent calendars that the children each have. Their "pixies" were really kind (again) and due to their super-sonic hearing and sight were able to check on Josephine and Evie's behaviour even at great distances. So, instead of me saying "If you don't do this, then...." it was a more pleasant case of telling my wide-eyed girls that "Pixie could hear and see them...all the way from home where they in reality hung mute on the walls". To explain a little, our "pixies" are just two tall stuffed dolls with pointed hats. They are terribly cute and I love them just for the added decoration they serve. In fact, they hang around with us all the year through. I did (and still do) propose sewing them some non-Christmasy clothes, so that it's not obviously out-dated in the middle of summer.
Anyhow, our December month was also filled with a try of ice-skating (both children being fully supported under their armpits from behind by each wobbly and amature parent trying their best to be a good parent and give them every opportunity at fun things. Anyway, we did succeed in having great fun! And they both loved it. My own courage: I'm not sure whether it has been shattered or rather grown. I guess, I would go on the ice again with them. But only as long as they really need me. After that, I shall hang up the blades once and for all. I'm too afraid of hitting that hard ice with full force. And the embarrassment of it would certainly add insult to injury (my already fading self worth!). Just joking.
What else did we do in the slow-motion part of December? We visited the very nice Braunschweig Christmas market several times; listened to a boy choir dressed in red and white in the Braunschweig Dom (Catherdral) practising their carols with their still high voices - beautiful! ; and we fed the ducks in icy winds and cooler conditions (I'm always cold, although I have been told that it has been comparitively milder this year. Whatever.); we've baked a lot of Gingerbread men and other christmas cookies and things; we've been to nativity plays at church and at KG; Josephine sang "Silent Night" in English at her KG (wasn't a planned solo, but of course, she was the only one who knew those words and ended up doing it all alone, much to her pride). Another big highlight was going to 4 concerts: I took JOsephine on a mum-daughter date to "Cinderella". I thought it would be the classic. It was a completely modern version of it. Josephine loved it, all upbeat that it was. From that point of view, the mission was indeed completed. The other three concerts were all the same - we never got bored of watching the pros on their ice-skates perform "The Little Prince". It was toooooo beautifully and super-professionally done. A big wow for December. The children got more and more of it each time we saw it. The reason we were able to see it 3x, was because we have annual Autostadt cards and VW sponsored the concerts (there were several others which we unfortunatley didn't get to see) and our cards gave us free entrance (also to the ice-skating for ourselves. It was brilliant. The costumes, lighting, backdrops, everything. Perfect.
Of course, we had two animated little girls pretended to ice-skate in their socks on the kitchen floor, narrowly missing the kitchen windowsill or dustbins on their turns. Fun though!
And our biggest highlight of December (and this was the part where December just put on its turbo-boosters and shot out a lightening speed)....we had a FANTASTIC visit to Gwan and Mac in the UK. A huge highlight. The girls were over the moon with excitement, and so were we. It was a really full and wonderful visit. The best part was being together, but to add the Christmas dimension, we:
*played cricket and football on a public field (with stately tudor-styled homes around) in our Christmas hats. Guess who had a camera? I shall post photos that I have received (thanks mom) from the Mama-ratsi.
*we ice-skated at an ice-rink near Gwan and Mac's home (Galleria)
*on the 24th, we went to St Albans Abbey (breathtaking and HUGE! And did I mention OLD!?) We sang carols there with a sardine-packed church. There must have been 2-3 thousand people there. Or more? I don't know, but there were no seats available to many others.
* On ther 24th, we went home (to Gwan and Mac's homely, warm home) and warmed up around the little Christmas tree, put on all the lights, and while I should spend a good while explaining finer details, we sat down around a festive table to enjoy Gwan's SUCCULENT duck, traditional brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, vegetables. You name it, it was on the table. Lovingly prepared in advance so that there was no stress on the day itself. 4-6 hours this duck had cooked, I believe, with a worldwide support from the facebook network (clearly a good cooking source as I have now witnessed myself!)
* on the 25th we went to Spicer STreet church which is the home church to my parents. It was again such a warm, reverend, but alive and NOT dead service. I wish we lived nearer this church so that we could also hear that quality sermon every week.
* We went to Windsor Castle - stately! But the queen was not in. Anyhow, we compensated that with a every English talk with one of her guards at the entrance. Sweet man!
On our way home, I rode with Mac while Gwan and the girls rode with Pappa. Mac and I were having our private race along the M-whatever, and were stole past the Brady-bunch, phoning to ask where abouts they were stuck/lost. Anyway, they finally twigged on to us being in the lead, eating our fumes, and then the race began. Hard to say who really won as the destinations weren't exactly the same. Anyhow, we had a good laugh!
* We went to London (by bus - what fun!). We got out at the Royal Albert Hall and across from it was the gold-plated monument in memory of Prince Albert which Queen Vicky arranged after he had died as she loved him so much (I think she had it covered for many years as she couldn't bear to see the close resemblance after her loss). Anyway, JOspehine was very taken with this story and the monument itself.
Ah, the pleasures of just walking in London. So much to see, every step of the way. It is my favourite city in the world, really. We all (gwandparents, Michael and I) ambled with the children to the Natural History museum and spent a good while in the "Green Zone" which was dedicated to bugs and spiders - especially for children. It was not at all scary, but rather completely fascinating. Possibly, our two are still a tad young to have appreciated it all, but I don't think they realised the depth they were missing, and had an educational-ball nonetheless.
We then ambled to the Natural Science museum. Kids slept, adults recharged their own batteries and then they awoke and headed for the water-table area and the other very good children-zone where they can do their own little experiments, etc. Another highlight. After that, we actually took some buses (that was also part of the whole London thing, riding at the top of the red double-decker buses, etc), seeing the lights all around, Harrods and Miss Selfridges, etc. We headed home. A full, and super good day.
*We had one day in Milton Keynes where we visited some old friends Emma, Aaron and their two lovely daughters Isabella and Katie (same age as Josephine and Evie). We spent the day at Gambados (360) and again, it was such a good run around for the parents and children alike. I did wish for a quieter venue at times where one didn't have to scream or strain ears to hear how friends that are not seen very often, are doing. Anyhow, that is our stage of life and the grass is green on THIS side.
