Starting Them Young

My husband is a trumpet player from way back.

He used to play the trumpet in the Oamaru Garrison Band when he was younger and then in the music team at church and in jazz bands, but over the last few years he has been needed behind the sound-desk at church (which he is also very clever at) and has had to put the trumpet away.

A New Year's Resolution - and with a bit of encouragement from others - is to get back playing his trumpet again at church.
Now you've got to understand that when Austin plays the trumpet at church it always sears your soul and seems to make your eyes leak.
It's an incredibly beautiful and heaven-sent sound.
It sends shivers down your spine and makes the hair on your arms stand on end.
You know what I mean?

Today, much to our delight, he got his trumpet out.

The look of sheer delight and amazement on the boy's faces as they watched their Papa make a wonderful sound from the bell-shaped shiny instrument was priceless.

And there was even more excitement when Papa let them both have a go and showed them how to hold it properly and blow. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly Luca picked up the basics. We need to cultivate that talent I'm thinking!

 Even Beni-Boo seemed to be a natural.

The makings of a Father/Son Jazz Trio??

I thought I would showcase a little something we did over the Christmas season for the Grandparent's enjoyment, but maybe you might enjoy it too!
A Christmas Album by son numero uno.
{listen out for when he tells Mamma and Papa off when we try to help him out...}



Happy Monday!

A Wee Gift To Myself

After all the handmade goodies I crafted for family and friends for Christmas, I felt it was due time to make a little something for myself.

So on Christmas Day in the afternoon my sister and I sat down, got our crochet needles and wool out and spent the afternoon crocheting.

Yes, I'm sure you're thinking it sounds like a bit of a 'nana' thing to do {or maybe not?}, but it was in actual fact an incredibly relaxing and addictive activity to do!

In the days following Christmas any spare moment I had I could be found with my crochet hook and wool out.

At the Italian restaurant we went to for lunch I whipped it out while we waited to be served and while the others sat and read newspapers at the end of our meal.

On the tube on our way home out it came again.

I am not ashamed to be a little on the crafty side.

And the result? A slouchy beanie/hat/beret.

I think I like it...?
I'll definitely wear it cos it's cosy and warm and the temperatures have been flippin freezing around here lately.

Did you 'Gift Yourself' with anything this Christmas?

This is Christmas 2010

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.  ~Norman Vincent Peale

 'Twas the night before Christmas and the excitement from a certain 3 year old was a truly wonderful thing to behold.

This was Luca's first Christmas where he seemed to really get into the 'swing' of Christmas, checking every day for the past week in his Christmas stocking for a special treat, watching 'The Polar Express' numerous times with wide-eyed-wonder and spontaneously singing Christmas carols along with 'Happy Birthday Dear Jesus'. Bless his dear wee heart.

This was our first Christmas where it was just us as a family for Christmas Day. 

No cooking for the masses this year.

No reason at all to set foot outside the door.

I was so looking forward to r e l a x i n g in the cosy warm comfort of my own home this year.

And that's exactly what we did.

Aunty Gretchie arrived on Christmas Eve bearing gifts, cheeses and bottles of wine. 

So we let her in.

We hung gingerbread cookies on the Christmas Tree.

We left a generous plate of Christmas cookies out for Santa along with a particular bottle of ale that my husband (funnily enough) happens to like.

We feasted upon a meal of duck stuffed with pork, orange and ginger.

We stayed up until 1am wrapping gifts (I'm so wrapping my presents early next year!).

As I turned everything off for the night I found myself, upon numerous occasions, stopping and staring at our Christmas Tree with all the presents under it - their wrapping paper and ribbons glinting in the soft glow cast from the lights on the tree. There was a familiar pull on my heart that was making me take the time to absorb the magic and beauty of the moment.

:::

With morning came a different kind of magic.

Much joy and excitement filled every corner of our home (at a very early hour...) when Luca saw that Santa had actually been and left PRESENTS!!
Our pillowcases that were left beside the tree were now bearing gifts and were eagerly brought into our room and presents were opened on our bed as we rubbed sleep out of our eyes.

Watching the smiles and wonder on the faces of the little people as they opened their gifts was all I wanted this Christmas and it was gorgeous to see.

Note his pointing finger! He points at everything using his middle finger...

Of course there was the compulsory "Christmas Day Cry" as we opened presents sent from family in New Zealand. What would Christmas Day be without tears huh?

Then there was nothing else to do except eat, drink, celebrate and relax and enjoy the day with our family.

:::

After the indulgence of the previous day, Boxing Day called for an outing to get some fresh air and a walk in Richmond Park. 

Even though it was -5 degrees and footing in the icy snow was treacherous.

 The duck pond was completely frozen over. Broken chunks of thick ice lay scattered over the pond.

Aunty Gretchie was caught on film being irresponsible and setting a bad example for her nephew by stepping out onto the ice...
Tut tut Gretchie, tut tut. *disappointed shake of the head*

While we were there we watched a man brave the freezing water and break up the ice close to the shore so the ducks and swans had some water to swim in instead of only being able to stand on top of the ice. 

As we headed back home with our thoughts centred on a hot lunch I was once again struck by a familiar pull on my heart - it was a thankfulness that filled my heart and urged me to take the time and absorb and appreciate the beauty of this moment. 

The beauty of my God's creation.

The beauty of my precious, priceless, amazing family.

This Christmas I am full to the brim with gratefulness.

Gems of the week

Precious, Priceless, Pockets of Happiness during my week.

Or should I say, Gems of the last few weeks...? It's been a good few weeks since I last listed my 'Gems of the Week' but that doesn't mean I haven't been noticing them, appreciating them and soaking them up!

I'm quickly writing this after making 3 different batches of Christmas Cookies for our neighbours.
I've still got a couple of gifts to finish before Christmas Day - but that's okay, I've still got 2 days...!
This whole 'Handmade Christmas' thang is great and incredibly satisfying, but also incredibly time-consuming...

:::

~ A large cardboard box that packaged a delivery became the source of much entertainment and laughter for a week plus some. Who needs numerous and expensive toys when your child is ever so happy playing with a cardboard box?

~ My Beni-Boo is now standing and has taken his first steps! He's very proud of himself and adores the praise we give him when he shows off his new tricks.

~ I have discovered a Sarah McLachlan album called 'Wintersong' that I am now completely hooked on. Christmas and Winter songs (but mainly Christmas) that are so hauntingly beautiful they will make you want to curl up by the fire with a glass of red and your knitting. (If you're a knitter...).
This song of 'Silent Night' is what I've been playing when it's the boy's nap time. The first time I tried this tactic the boys were giggling at each other across their room and generally not being very sleepy, so I put this song on and literally within 1 minute they had settled down and were drifting off to sleep. Genius.


~ I'm once again loving and completely fascinated by Luca's attention to detail. Every car gets parked with meticulous care, all facing the same direction.

~ Much to my husband's disgust I've been enjoying a Cheeky Cheeseburger from Mickey D's of late. I blame it on pregnancy cravings. I don't normally enjoy a cheeky cheeseburger because I'm not actually allowed to set foot in McD's. These are Austin's "rules". Anti-globalisation and all that.
But woah. Oh my goodness. I've forgotten how good they taste!...

~ Luca has been leaving me flabbergasted with some of the things he has been saying.
The other day we were sitting in the lounge and Beni was by the Christmas tree trying to look like he wasn't touching it and I noticed a look of fondness cross Luca's face as he watched his brother and then he says "Beni is so cute and soft".
And I couldn't agree more. Beni is cute and soft.
Then just yesterday he brings out the phrase that beats all other phrases by a mile. The completely impulsive and out-of-the-blue "I love you Mamma" followed by a kiss.
Well, I could have danced for joy! Those four words were such a sweet sound to hear and pulled every string of my heart.
I don't need anything for Christmas - I've just been given a most wonderful gift and I couldn't ask for anything more right now!

Let it snow!

We were treated to a spectacular snowfall on Saturday.

The beginning...

 The end...

Christmas songs playing were compulsory as the snow silently fell.

Snowman making was also compulsory.

Our snowman is not the most aesthetically pleasing, but we're quite new to this game so we think he's rather special. 
Allow me to introduce you to Chilly the Snowman.

Cinnamon stick for the nose because we didn't have any carrots.
Very skinny twiggy little arms.
And we forgot to give him a mouth. 
Oh well.

Flights in and out of most UK airports have been cancelled for the past couple of days so that aspect of the snow is pretty rubbish for those with travel plans over Christmas.

I'm so pleased that this year we are staying put on Christmas Day. I'll happily be snowed-in our cosy wee home with our cosy little family.
The cupboards, fridge and freezer are stocked so we definitely won't be starving.

In summary, I am feeling very blessed and am constantly aware and oh so very thankful for God's goodness to us. 
Faithful friends, wonderful family.
We are having ourselves a Merry Little Christmas.

And on that note: I now need to go and break up a fight between the boys over cars...

Swiss Friends, Christmas Lights & Winter Wonderland Wonderfulness

Our weekend started early when on Wednesday night our Swiss friends came to stay for 5 days. We haven't seen each other since their most amazing and beautiful wedding one and a half years ago, but I love it how we can always so easily just pick up from where we left off. They are great people and an incredibly cute couple.

They are also very clever at arty stuff like design and photography, that sort of thing. So we thought we might as well use them and their ability behind the camera to get some family shots of us to send home to the grandparents and great-grandparents.

*Please note the majority of the photos shown in this post are c/o our friendly Swiss friends and their very nice camera, although I would love to credit the photos to myself, that would be lying...

:::

 

On Saturday we headed into London Town and we managed to slip in a quick family photo-shoot while we were mooching around Borough Markets.

This was easier said than done as we had one little boy who pulled out some cracker poses and another one who insisted on either snorting like a pig or roaring like a dinosaur.
*sigh*
I am realising more and more that I have two little guys who are hilarious!

And the official photo:

Pretty cute huh?

Other spots on our hit list for the day were seeing the Oxford St Christmas Lights, visiting Carnaby Street (for the Swiss shoppers) and taking the boys to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. It ended up being a dry yet cold-as-a-cold-thing day but we declined public transport and decided to walk and take in the sights in between our numerous destinations.

There really was a ridiculous amount of photo opportunities. Any time we go out with the children there are always photo opportunities galore.
Luca loves to go on 'Big Adventures' which are basically any outings that involve leaving the house. And it's always so much fun to go out and discover things with our children. They open our eyes to see so much more than we would ever normally notice and make us join them in flying like an aeroplane down the street.
You need to have no shame being a parent!

**This one's for you mum - we came across that chocolate market by Waterloo Station again and just had to get one of those incredibly rich and decadent hot chocolates again... I got it with milk added this time and even then it nearly blew my socks off!
Goodness and Loving Kindness in a cup.

 As we took in the Christmas lights on Carnaby Street and Oxford Street we enjoyed witnessing, but not being a part of, the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers. It was so nice to be in town just to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the buzz of Christmas in the chilly evening air.

To top off a wonderful day with family and friends our final destination was the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park which runs for the month of December.
And how convenient that they have a 'Santa Land' there! Luca called the fair "My Playground" and couldn't believe all the people who were also at 'his playground'...

He had his very first ride on a carosel with mama, went on a train ride with papa, attempted to go on a mini Helter Skelter slide with Aunty Gretchie but got to the top and said "It's too dark Gretchie, too dark" so they climbed all the way back down again, and went on a round-and-round ride all by himself and was feeling SO PROUD of himself!

And while Luca indulged in the Santa Land rides the adults indulged in hot donuts, bratwurst and mulled wine.

Although there were crowds and crowds of people wherever we went throughout the day, everyone seemed to be in good cheer and this helped make the day extra special. I know it sounds a bit cliché but I like to think that the Christmas season really does help to bring peace and joy into people's lives instead of worry and stress.

I hope you also are feeling peace and joy in your heart and in your home over this Christmas time.