photos

As promised: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42274&id=1029504841&l=5967337f07

frog

After wanting one of these for about 15 years, I finally have one--thanks to my wonderful husband. For more details, see:

http://www.timcotterill.com

Of course, the children have enjoyed the day, too. But I think it's fair to say I was as excited about my present as they were about theirs! We've enjoyed having family here (the Ayres side), as well. More to follow, after the hubbub dies down...

Merry Christmas!

23 December

...and we still have snow.

white Christmas?

The snow may melt yet--it's only Monday and Christmas is still a few days off. But there is plenty of snow on the ground--enough to make a snowman and have a snowball fight--and it's still here. Temperatures are still cold enough to keep Frosty from melting, which is fun.

The kids are enjoying having snow, and I am learning to drive in it (as if being on the other side of the road wasn't enough to deal with). Some Christmas presents has to be given early, since everyone needed those warm, waterproof gloves and mittens in order to participate in winter wonderland fun! So Father Christmas has one less gift for everyone's stockings--all for a good cause, though!

shepherds

There really ought to be pictures. There is a short video, which will be available on Facebook as soon as I can get through my last class at Durham University, tomorrow. 

Thomas performed in his first nativity play last Thursday evening--as a shepherd. One of the fun things about being in Durham has been Catholic school. (Because the school system is organized quite differently, the government supports religious schools; so we are able to have a free, Catholic education for Thomas. And, if we're still here, for Iain.) So the school Christmas performance involved the Christmas story, sung and acted by the 5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds.

It was every bit as cute as you'd expect, with the angel Gabriel played by the tallest girl in class (whom Thomas thinks he'll marry), with brilliant, dark red hair and just the right sort of wings. Mary wore the requisite blue dress and wandered around with Joseph in the usual manner, looking for a place to stay. And she didn't drop the baby, either. They sang 'Away in a Manger' and all seemed 'fit for heaven' already, as they sang the last verse. 

So this weekend it seemed appropriate to find the boxes of Christmas decorations, which we did. And get a tree, which we also did. This morning, I arranged the lights and rearranged the lights, until the two strands we had looked like enough. Then I wrapped our translucent gold garland round the tree, over and over until it hung just right. Lewis wandered in at about that time, and commented on its appearance, describing the garland as 'diaphanous'. 'You know what I mean?' he asked rhetorically. 'Yes,' I said, and a split second later Thomas chimed in, 'well, I don't.' 

I suddenly remembered why I like having children.

sick day

No, thankfully I am not sick: it's Thomas's sick day, so I have a day off as well. That means catching up on emails and paperwork for me, movies and sleep for Thomas. Works for me.

The weather outside makes sitting inside by the fire seem like the right thing to do: it is gray, wet and cold. I am working on my fire-building skills, not among the set I learned growing up by the beach in southern California. Today I managed it on the second try, and it's warming the room nicely, and I appreciate the cold properly.

Two more weeks until the end of the term, and I am looking forward to the break. Look for photos from the various events December holds!