Dec 24th - Decorate the tree

Today the girls decorated the tree - a christmas eve tradition!

Dec 23rd - Visit to the RSC to see a Christmas Carol

  

We drove to Stratford upon Avon to go to the theatre. I loved the yarn bombed tree with the baubles!

 We went to have a spot of lunch in the Fourteas cafe, a 1940s themed cafe in Stratford. We had a super time - they even gave us crackers! I was so excited to see Bovil and baked beans on toast on the menu!

 

We then went to see a Christmas Carol at the RSC which was brilliant. We loved the setting and the live music. The scrip was funny and faithful to the book!

                                  

We then also had a  quick wonder round Stratford.

Dec 20th Visit to London to see the Christmas lights and the ROH's production of the Nutcracker

We spent the day on London looking at the Christmas Lights.

 P was also keen to the National Gallery to see this painting which she studied at school.

 We also visited the M and M store where we bought some expensive chocolate!

 Then we wondered to the ROH via Covent Garden.

 We enjoyed our annual trip to the ballet to see the Nutcracker. It is really is so beautiful!

Dec 18th A history of magic and Lapland UK

Today we stopped off at the British Library's Harry Potter exhibition. Sadly no photos allowed inside but it was so well done! The exhibition is gorgeous. It has been designed to make you feel as though you might be walking through somewhere in Hogwarts. Separate rooms are themed on subjects taught at Hogwarts, JK Rowling's fictional school for witches and wizards. These cover potions, alchemy, herbology, charms, astronomy, divination, defence against the dark arts and care of magical creatures. Some of the display cases around the walls show genuine occult books, items and pictures; some show pages from JK Rowling's original manuscripts and notes for novels; some have interactive screens where you can do things like potion-making or tarot reading. There are also beautiful drawings and paintings used for illustrations in the books.

 Then, P, E and me went to LapLand UK. Our tour began bang on time, with the doors swinging open to reveal the woodland paths ahead. It felt as though we were stepping into Narnia. Our first stop was a fairy lit woodland glen where we were greeted by one of the elves. As we sat around the stage he talked us through the story of Lapland, explained the reason for our visit and shared with us the secret that every little pine cone grows into one of Father Christmas’s elves.

The girls had to help in the Toy Makers workshop by stuffing polar bears.

With the help of special glasses we could see the children's wishes.

Then we went to see Mother Christmas where we enjoyed a story and decorating yummy gingerbread!

 

The woodlands are magical looking! 

We enjoyed ice skating, although it was quite busy!

We also met a beautiful huskie!

 

When it’s your turn to see Santa you walk through a maze of wintery woodland paths, past his reindeer, to his log cabin home in the woods, where the girls helped him find their names in his ‘good book’ and he asked P about her starting Rainbows and E about her hockey.  Then they received a gift which, as you can see, high quality husky soft toy.

Dec 17th Enchanted Audley End

This evening we visited the enchanted event at Audley End. As English Heritage members, we got a sizable discount on our tickets (unlike the National Trust Anglesey Abbey lights). Not to compare too much to the Winter Lights, it felt a much better venue for families with smaller children. The lights were simple, although we did love the talking tree and the shadow puppets in the greenhouses. We went round in about 40 minutes and even the fair rides were suitable for the under 5s. We might go again but only if they significantly improve it.

 

Dec 3rd - make Christmas cards

Having bought blacnk cards from Amazon the girls enjoyed decorating them. G and P painted theirs with watercolours. E used stamps I had bought from Noolibird.

Dec 2nd Winter Lights

This evening we enjoyed Anglesey Abbey's Winter Lights. It is usually a sell out - we got our tickets in July!  We enjoyed the beautiful gardens lit up - it takes about an hour and half to wonder round. We stopped for mulled wine and a pulled pork bap half way round watching the shadow dancers dance to the Nutcracker.