A Busy Festive Season for the Wishes

We have had so much fun and seen so many people over the Christmas week. We've eaten huge amounts of food, had lovely gifts and he kids have played. A lot. We were a little disappointed that our old favourites haven't been on telly this year, but we have a great collection of Christmas DVDs!

We took the Small People to see Santa at Playbox Theatre. If I had been holding a competition for the best tree I've seen all Christmas, they would have won, hands down. It is absolutely lovely.

We had a little get together with Potato Salad Heather and the Boy, her hubby to be, with the other bridesmaids.

After watching The Polar Express, we took the Small People on 'The Christmas Express'. They thought they were going to bed, but after they'd  washed and changed they found golden tickets waiting for them on their beds. They got their dressing gowns and some footwear on, and we set out in the spaceship to see all of the Christmas lights with popcorn for company. They loved the surprise!

We had a get together for all of the Small People, including the two new tiny additions, so that they could see each other before Santa's visit and exchange gifts. Our children obviously spent time corrupting the others ! ;/

These four have grown so much since last Christmas!

The Baby Bunch. L-R - Tiny Miss T: 1 month old, Little Miss E: 3 months old, Ethan: 22 Months, Isla: 22 Months, The Smaller Person: 26 Months, Jake: 20 Months.

And our beautiful (if slightly anti-social) 7 year old Small Person.

The children decorated their mini trees on Christmas eve, and received their new decorations: a glowing snowman for the Small Person, and a knitted reindeer for the Smaller Person. We watched Arthur Christmas - loved it! Then we opened our Christmas Eve gifts. The Small Person had new slippers, the Smaller person, new PJs, Mr Bogert a lovely new Jim Shore Disney tree decoration, and I had comfy fluffy socks. The Small People put treats out for Santa and the reindeer and we watched their PNP messages from Santa. They both made the nice list this year - Phew! Mr Bogert read the Small People a story, but in our usually disorganised style, we couldn't find The Night Before Christmas.

Tree decorating.

Christmas Eve presents.

Santa's treats.

Santa's messages.

Santa was very good to us this year! We opened all of our stocking gifts on our bed then set off downstairs. The Small People were so excited! Santa bought a Rainbow Magic DVD for the Small Person and a Wooden truck for the Smaller Person. I had a new mixer, soup bowls set and a James Patterson book amongst other goodies. Mr Bogert had some lovely clothes and things for swimming/water polo. My Dad and his partner called round. Shockingly he didn't require any leftover wrapping this year! (he's usually about as prepared as we are!).

We had a fantastic Christmas dinner at The Old Mill restaurant in our village, with Mr Bogert's Mum and sister. The Smaller Person ad a little bit of a tantrum though during the main course and Mr Bogert and I had to take shifts outside. Funnily enough, he calmed down in time for ice cream sundae!

Everyone came round for Christmas tea except my Grandad who was feeling unwell. We were concerned he'd picked up this Norovirus, but after a little investigation came to the conclusion it was more likely the many chocolate bars and crisps he admitted to stuffing his face with, all washed down a large serving of cranberry juice. He was fine by boxing day, and, we think, has learnt his lesson!

We spent boxing day at home, then some time at my Mum's where her partner entertained the Small People with a couple of the ferrets, and the Smaller Person was stealing sweeties and hiding under the computer desk. In the evening we went to Mr Bogert's Mum's house for some nibbles and drinks. They all played the Small Person's new Princess game while I tried to do some uni work. Studying was pretty hard work seeing as I was almost asleep! The exertion of the last few days was obviously too much! ;D

Trying on Auntie Steph's glasses.

Stealing sweets and hiding.

Playing with the ferrets.

On the 27th we always hold our Christmas get together for all of our friends. We have been doing this for years, since before any of the children came along. As all of our family lives change, traditions have to change too, so this year we held our first get together for the Small People in the afternoon. Our two had so much fun running around with their little friends. We still had the usual one for the grown ups later on at 7pm. We even did Secret Santa this year!

Mr Bogert doesn't go back to work until 2nd, the Small Person doesn't go back to school until 8th.We're just enjoying some quiet family time. I, unfortunately, have an assignment due for creative writing on 3rd and another for linguistics on the 10th, so most of my quiet days will be filled with study, but there's still something very nice about quiet days with the family in the subdued winter light with twinkling tree lights all over the living room.

I hope you had the most fantastic Christmas!

Fathers' Day Cards

This last week we got down to a little card craft in the Wishes house ready to show all the Daddy-types in our lives how much we love them.
We made a few more variations of the shirt card we made at Toddler Group. The Small Person made one for her Grandad (my Dad)

The Smaller Person made one for his Grandpa (my Grandad)

and this mini square version for his Grandad (my Dad).

Then the Small Person designed and made her own Fathers' Day card for her Grandpa (my Grandad)

She used a small white square card and a pink pipe cleaner which she formed into a fluffy heart and glued to the centre of the card.

The Smaller Person had made Mr Bogert's card when we were at Toddler Group (he also made a second card which was going to be for either Grandad or Grandpa, but I got confused and gave it to Mr Bogert by mistake, so Mr Bogert had 2 cards from the Smaller Person and we had to make another card! Ooops!)

The Small Person made a card from my Pinterest all by her little self for Mr Bogert

She has used some blue checked scrapbook paper, drawn around her hands and cut them out. She has used a red pencil to write 'I' and 'You' and glued a felt heart between (I love you) and then stuck the 2 hand shapes together with a strip of concertina folded paper. She used the red pencil again to write 'This much' across the strip with a heart tipped arrow pointing in both directions across the strip. She did a great job without any Mummy interference.

They also did some papercraft at school for Fathers' Day. On Friday, she brought home a little hand coloured paper basket filled with colourful tissue paper and a cheese scone that she had baked at school.

What a sweet little note! And I do believe this is a portrait of Mr Bogert and his 'cool' hair. Yep, that definitely looks like my hubby :)

I also used a little Pinterest inspiration for my Father's Day card for my Dad.  This is my version.

And then that gave me the idea for this card for my Grandad

I have used a small textured white square card blank, a set of 'Studio g' alphabet stamps, some glue and a piece of black craft foam for the tie.

The Small People bought Mr Bogert a pair of new shoes that are sort of semi-casual. They're a bit smarter than his Animal trainers or running trainers, but not too smart like his work shoes.

We made chocolate brownie bites for my Grandad and Dad, which we wrapped in parchment paper and tied up with a thin blue ribbon.



The Small Person and Grandpa



The Smaller Person and Grandad

Poor Mr Bogert didn't get his usual breakfast in bed :( He had to drive me for a bridesmaid dress fitting, but he did get a full breakfast when we got back at 12pm! Mushrooms, Sausages and all the works. He played modelling dough creations with the Small People and we watched 'Look Who's Talking Too' - I'd forgotten I quite like that movie - followed by 'Getting Even With Dad'. I think he had a nice day, I HOPE he had a nice day, so long as he knows we think he's the most awesome Daddy ever!

I hope you all had a lovely Father's Day.