I believe

Wow, the wonder of Christmas was very evident in a creche full of children yesterday. The transformation of Eilis's reaction to Santy since last year is unbelieveable. She LOVES him. They said she was the most excited of all the children, they almost had to take the plate off her at dinner in case she ate it....she was so anxious to be good for santa. He didn't disappoint either. Even when I came in, she ran over, gave me a hug and then went back to the table to sit with her friends and wait....so obedient! She is a good little girl, but is really growing up.

Santa arrived and they flocked to him. Of course there were a few fearful children....Sammie, who I never met in my life before, clung to me for dear life and wouldn't even entertain the idea of looking at Santa, never mind shaking hands with him. I thought E might be a bit jealous of me holding another child (she is with her youngest cousin!) but maybe she had no problem because he is her friend and not a granny competitor!!

Here's a couple of pics....




Afterwards we went and got a smoothie and waited for T. Her first smoothie....she wasn't overly impressed. Couldn't work out what it was....'it's like milk' was her first reaction, but maybe it was too cold for her. We hung out in an internet cafe, drank smoothies and read a Dora magazine and I thought - this child is growing up so fast....isn't this great fun!

Enough sentimentality! Traffic was MENTAL yesterday evening, but we braved the storm and went to buy a few more pressies. T hasn't bought anything for anyone yet. I've even slightly let him off the hook by asking the lovely Annamarie to send me a surprise parcel as a pressie from him. Ok, I really want the BG pail, but am a stickler for ensisting on our presents being surprises so the box won't be opened till Christmas day and no doubt will have plenty of goodies for me!! Yay, I'll scrap the Christmas away.

Yes, I know that presents and Santy aren't what it's all about, but the warm fuzzy feeling can't be denied and overall I am super happy and grateful for everything at this time of year. Chrismtas tree still isn't up though! Might get to it this evening, although we'll be taking the rocky road home. Journal Prompt for today is:

Christmas Tree!

(you wouldn't belive that I actually had all these planned out in advance!...but I have!)

I have many Christmas tree memories....eg the time we robbed one from the football pitches when in college. We decorated it with coke cans - mini and normal size. It was a sight to behold. There may even be photos knocking around in someone's house...
We always had rather horrible lodgepole pine christmas trees at home (they are the ones who's 'arms' point up to the sky - like cacti? - anyway...) but have now talked mam around into getting nice spruces. Although they lose their needles they are a nicer looking tree all round.

Must go get my own tree sorted....fake plastic....seemingly after 20 years an artificial tree becomes more environmentally friendly than a real tree, so I have another 17 years to use this one! Will eventually try for a tree in a pot that I bring indoors at christmas, but for now we'll stick to plastic!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas....

Well, it's not really, but I think that maybe singing the song will make me feel more Christmassy. Things should improve today....Santy is coming to the creche so I'm going to finish early, get some super photos, get home, dinner on and hopefully decorations up. Yes, the decorations have not even been put up in our house yet. Shocking stuff, but Tony is a little ba humbug about decorations and so I've held out till now.....but that's it.
Today is also my lovely Daddy's birthday....49 years young today. He won't mind me telling cos he's young and young at heart! In honour of fathers I'll post up my Me and My Dad LO.



I made it using delish papers from Cherry Art from the October Kit on Bumbleberry Crafts. It was taken on my graduation day....June 1996 - 10 years ago! Imagine!
Anyway, I like the pic cos he's really smiling and I'm on my toes trying to look tall.

Today's Christmas Journal Prompt is simply: Christmas Decorations
Hopefully I'll get mine up tonight and will get some nice pics taken.

Santa or Santy?

My little darling had an arguement in the creche yesterday with one of her companions. Eilis said that his name is 'Santy' and Eva said his name is 'Santa'. They are both quite fiesty little characters and no-one could tell them that they were both right. It's a bit of a love hate relationship between these two....but I thought it was the funniest thing. If you're ever asked about what nearly 3 year olds argue about....this is it! It would be nice to remind her of this when she is older and arguing about clothes, make-up and other more trivial things.

Today's Christmas Journal entry is simply 'Christmas Cards'



I haven't sent any yet, but have made a few. Last year I was sending out cards as Thank You cards for our wedding, but decided that it might be nice this year, especially as lots of my friends have bought new houses. We are obviously getting to the age now, and while we keep in contact by email, text and phone, you can't beat a letter or card in the post. Since I started scrapping and forum chatting I have got so many lovely things in the post and it's such a treat when they arrive....



I've made a few different types of card this year. Some using stickers from Papermania....add a little doodle and away you go. Actually, this happened by accident, when I stuck the squares on crooked. A doodle hides a multitude! Another version is a doodled holly leaf stuck on with sticky pads to raise it up.



Last type are using some vellum die cuts with a view thingys that I bought at Crafteire last year. Didn't know how to use them, but then made some simple cards by sticking on some lurvly 3 bugs papers, and stapling them in place with a ribbon. This also avoids the 'how do I stick down vellum without it being seen' scenario. I don't have thermoweb....
Although I have now found some sort of similar thing so it's kept for special vellum occasions! I can't remember where I bought it (some pound shop type place methinks) so I can't go back to get more.

Anyway, hoping to get the Christmas Cards written tonight and in tomorrows post. All my secret santa gifts, etc are finished, so now I just have to work on some more homemade pressies and I'll be all set for Christmas. It's feeling pretty relaxing to be honest and I'm looking forward to some time off, with the family!

Somethin funny....

going on with my blogger....so apologies for ending the last entry on an imperfect cadence! What I was going to say is Santa is coming to the creche on Thursday and so E is likely to tell him that she saw him on Saturday and expect him every day at this rate. Fair play to the one at home, it's all free and they were passing around mulled wine and mince pies and junk for the kids. Donations were to Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin so it was for a good cause too.

Right, back to work!

Bad Santa

Ok, so I've been particularly bad this past week with blogging. Doesn't bode well for my new years resolution of the daily blog. Anyway, back into it and apologies to anyone wanting christmas promts. They'll be coming thick and fast from here.

So what have I been up to? parties, shopping, antibiotics, hmmmn what else can I throw into the mix? secret santa, circle journals.....santa's grotto
Oh what a busy scrapping life I lead. I am now almost up to date with all my crafty presents (well for those outside the family that is!) Have finished all circle journal entries till the new year and have posted off one of my secret santa gifts, the other is nearly finished and will be winging it's way to......(shhh it's a secret!). Will try to get that finished tonight. I have a few more secret bits I was putting the finishing touches to last night, and have to get down to writing some addresses on envelopes next. No LOST tonight :( so I'll just have to be crafty instead.

My Christmas Journal fell a little by the wayside cos life got in the way, but I have been keeping some notes and just have to get around to making them into art. Here's a few prompts since I last posted:

One Christmas I….
Nativity Plays and School Concerts
Christmas Traditions
New Christmas Traditions
Family
Holiday Movies
Love at Christmas

and today's prompt is.....

All I want for Christmas is….A letter to Santa

I have some entries for a few of these, which I will post later.

We went shopping to my aunt's shop on Saturday....wow....what beautiful things. Imagine working in a craft shop (not paper craft, but woolens, jewellery, furniture, christmas decorations) - what an inspiration it would be. Although maybe work gets in the way of inspiration and takes the good out of it....I dunno
Anyway, I bought Tony's pressie...lets just say all my pictures can be hung on the walls now! and also brought E to see Santa in the local Londis...with her cousins. Last year my SIL and I had such a laugh cos the kids were petrified and cried incessantly till he gave them a present. This year, we didn't know what to expect, but E came out saying I Love Santa, and sat on his knee and chatted away happily. He's coming to