Advent continues

There's a lot going on! School is a 5-day-a-week extravaganza of fun. Parties, performances, fayres, xmas crafts.... it's all go!

Nathaniel was a line dancing angel this year. Yes, there was more than one line dancing angel at the birth of Christ.

It was, as usual, quite amazing. Nathaniel sported a serious concentrating face throughout, and appeared to get a bit disgruntled with a child who kept dancing in the wrong direction. But he had so much fun! He is very keen on more dramatic activities now!

There have been plenty of nice things to eat. Pomegranate season is always relished in our house!

And the end of term at Steiner led to our traditional day of many Iraqi breakfasts (one for me and Thea at toddlers, and then a reprise after school).

For the uninitiated, Iraqi breakfast consists of date syrup, water buffalo cream and bread. It's much nicer than it sounds!

Everyone enjoyed the chocolate foundation at the Christmas Fair:

Any of course all of this requires copious amounts of cooking! Gingerbread (not all burnt):

And mince pies:

Christmas is a good time for crafts. We started with glittery pine cones:

And obviously there is Christmas card construction. Again Nathaniel gamely created and wrote 24 cards for his school friends and then some more for his favourite teachers. This year we did finger printed reindeer, sleigh and snowmen.

And after the Christmas play, Nathaniel decided that he would really like to reproduce the sheep's streamer wands. Of course. So that's what we did:

And then we danced:

Of course, this misses most of his best moves which he didn't reproduce once I was filming!

It's been a good mix of coldish and mildish, so great weather for tree climbing:

as well as ice smashing:

Last weekend we had the day of Christmas performances. Thea and I went to the Early Music Centre for a kids concert by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. It was great!

Thea liked the cello and double bass best, and has been singing the songs ever since.

Simultaneously, Ian and Nathaniel attended the Star Wars themed Bishopthorpe panto. I think they had fun, but it was a bit much for both of them. We won't split up again next year!

I wonder if anyone will have any energy left for Christmas?