More Advent

Clearly, that wasn't all we have been up to. Here's the rest:

The advent calendar has been a bit more upmarket than last year's. Maybe by next year I'll have painted it!

It has instructed us to do lots of fun things. Collecting the Christmas tree was one, and then we all had fun taking off it's hairnet....

...transporting it to its place.....

....and decorating and then hugging it!

More Christmas crafts have been enjoyed. Snowflakes started to fall on Holgate:

And after Nathaniel did some 2D paper weaving at school, I introduced him to scandinavian heart baskets - weaving in 3D.

The red is from school and the green an actual basket.
Of course, Nathaniel is always up for a challenge - 5 warps/wefts:

On Saturday we met up with some friends for brunch at Meltons Too and then proceeded to the carousel. Thea spent a long time watching it a few weeks ago and has been asking for a ride, so we all went on!

She really enjoyed it after being reassured that that horses were going to stay on board. This is why you shouldn't allow kids to watch Mary Poppins! I got over my life-long fear of being stuck on a horse many feet above the ground at the end of the ride!

We've been enjoying listening to the Nutcracker Suite, and so the kids were most impressed when the advent calendar suggested that they might like to use You Tube to watch some of the ballet. I had assumed that they'd most enjoy the first act where there is a lot going on and a clear bit of story (people arrive at the party, presents are given, children gallop), but actually, it was the Waltz of the Snowflakes that made the biggest impression. Here is our rendition:

And of course we might have made some presents. I don't think this gives too much away:

Happy Christmoooooose!