I think it might be time to get exited about Christmas

The festive season starts late in this house, only after Alistair's Birthday on the 14th of December do I allow myself to think about decorating the house. This year I cheated of course, the apple tree is nicely dressed for the festive season but that is all. I have an additional string of fairy lights in the living room, too.

I don't know how his face got so grubby before breakfast

We celebrated Alistair's Birthday on Sunday. It is strange, Alistair does not get nearly as exited as any of my other children in the run-up to their Birthday. I am not sure why this is but it baffles me slightly. It is only Alistair's third Birthday in our family and I don't know how his Birthdays were celebrated before he came to stay with us. My other children are usually so exited that they wake up in the middle of the night, demanding to be celebrated in style. Family tradition dictates that we all squeeze into our big bed (it is a big squeeze with three adult sized people and three child sized people) and the Birthday child gets to open gifts. We do this for myself and Richard, too. At the children's insistence I should say. There is no way in the world that the bigger ones could be fobbed off with a "but it is still the middle of the night". Trust me, we have tried! Alistair was perfectly happy to go back to bed, and when he couldn't get back to sleep (it was after 7 am, late for a Birthday), he asked if he was allowed to go downstairs to watch the telly. On his Birthday! Can you believe it? Alistair is happiest when he is in front of a screen. He would (if I let him) spend hours playing the Wii. When he does, he is extremely focused. So much so that he doesn't seem to remember his bodily needs. He is only allowed to play on the weekend. Some children don't do a little while. But I digress. He was very happy with his gifts. It was the usual plastic crap but it was plastic crap he wanted. Alistair wanted waffles for his Birthday breakfast and because it was a Sunday he did get waffles for his breakfast. We made them at the table and it was fun. I am not sure what the glass is saying to Alistair...


We organised a party at home. I think Alistair enjoyed it this year. He was quite clear about who he wanted to invite, which is lovely because last year he barely remembered the names of his friends.  He only wanted to invite 8 children and most of them I would not have thought of myself. I think he was completely overwhelmed last year. He has been to a few parties this year and maybe he is now more experienced and hence more confident with the concept of a party. He understands the games and loves to dance. This year he joined in all the party games, the biscuit decorating and the general partying. We played pass the parcel, pin the star on the Christmas tree and musical statues. We decorated Lebkuchen (again) and ate a lot of food. There was also a fair amount of free running. Annie made yet another of her Birthday cake creations. Alistair wanted a simple sponge with strawberry butter cream filling and topping. Annie was a bit worried it might be too girly but he thought it was just perfect.






With the end of the Birthday year in this family we can now concentrate on Christmas and (I shudder at the thought) the Hogmanay Party. Actually, I am quite looking forward to hosting a party. We need to find a tree that I like and decorate it to the sound of cheesy Christmas pop songs. it probably needs to be tethered to the wall because of the naughty puppy. We need to bake Swiss Christmas cookies. We need to make mince pies. I need to feed the cake. We need to visit my favourite cheese monger and buy gorgonzola. Richard needs to fix the fairy lights (now Christmas lights) that the dog destroyed. And best of all, we need to go and see Paddington. I am terribly exited about it actually. And with that in mind I am logging off.

Have a lovely rest of the week. Cx

Comments

  1. Happy Birthday Alistair!!! I am glad that the day and celebrations went so well and that he is getting into the swing of things with birthdays! I hope that your Christmas preparations and celebrations go just as well!! xx

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  2. Happy birthday to your little man, I do hope he has a very good year. I LOVE lebkuchen, it's been ages since I had one though, you've reminded me of them. It sounds like an absolutely excellent party, the cake is sensational and with lots of free running no doubt it was an event to remember. My littlest boy is a big free runner (and eater of birthday cake) as well. Good luck finding the perfect tree. We have the first one the littlest boy saw at the school fete. It has a very unusual top to it, I don't think he could see the top from where he was on the ground clutching it to himself. Thank you so much for the card and the lovely crochet star, I've put it on the mantel piece. CJ xx

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  3. Happy Birthday Alistair! Paddington is fantastic, I had a serious case of kitchen envy after watching it, and I also wanted to own/ wear all Mrs Brown's clothes! X

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  4. Happy birthday to Alistair! He is so cute. He has a beautiful smile and he looks really happy. I loved reading about your birthday traditions. I don't know much about Hogmanay so I'm looking forward to hearing all about it!

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  5. Happy birthday to Alistair! The cake looks yummy, Annie made a great job of it! xx

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  6. The novelist Angela Thirkell reckoned that all small boys had a sack of dirt inside them which gradually came out, thus accounting for the mysteries of dirty faces and hands after time spent quietly in a clean room!

    Looks like an excellent birthday. Enjoy Paddington and Christmas!

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  7. what a happy smiley face! happy Birthday little fella. Jo x

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  8. Hey Christina,
    The photo of Alistair and his cake is priceless. One for a frame I think. I am taking Olly to see Paddington next week. And then I am taking me and Sam and Alf to see Night At The Museum 3. I literally can't wait.
    Leanne xx

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  9. Lots going on in your house Christina - but it all sounds happy and festive. Well, maybe not a puppy wrapped in Christmas lights...

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  10. Happy Birthday to Alistair! Pin the star on the Christmas tree was a brilliant idea. And yes, you better tether the tree to the wall. Quite firmly. :-)

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  11. happy birthday Alistair. love the decorated biscuits, great party activity. Christmas doesn't start here till the 14th either, after E's birthday, Xmas decorations amidsy party mayhem are not a good mix! x

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  12. What a lovely party, happy birthday Alistair :)

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  13. Lovely, lovely post. Happy birthday to Alistair. I am struck by how incredibly happy he looks in every photo. All your photos are full of so much colour and creativity. Your home seems like a really happy place. xx

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  14. Isn't he so darling, he will get more and more used to the Birthday festivities and by next year he will be up at 3Am demanding presents.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  15. Happy Birthday to a very smiley boy! He looks like he had a great day!

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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