First off - Happy Christmas to our friends and relatives.  We were very naughty again this year and didn't get around to sending out cards. 

First port of call was to Jo's family in Cirencester - Gran, Grandpa, Auntie Julie and Great Gran.  We wasted no time in getting into he Christmas spirit - the day after arriving the full family took a ride on the Santa Express - a steam engine ride near Cheltenham to see Santa.   It was our first day back in the UK and MAN!! we felt cold....

Looking festive in our Santa hats on the train to see Santa	Heading up the station to Santa's grotto
Ollie with his balloon.	A friendly snowman and Grandpa and Great Gran in the background.

Then finally we got to see Santa.  This was quite a triumph for Evie - last year when we tried something similar she ran away crying. She really didn't like Santa.  This year she's 'matured' and has made the link between Santa and presents... 

The following day we had our "first" Christmas.  Presents were opened, the customary large lunch was consumed washed down with copious amount of fizzy wine.  Sadly the photos we got were somewhat on the poor side so nothing reproduced here. 

While we were down south we caught up with a few old friends.  First up Jo's round the world travelling partner Charlie and one of her three children.  Evie and Isobel had not seen other for months but after 30 minutes together they were like life long buddies.  While Jo and Charlie caught up Daddy did some DIY in Charlie's house which was undergoing some major refurbishment.  It soon became apparent I was well out of practice at this sort of thing.  A 10 minute job took me about 40 minutes.  Mind you the tools I borrowed from Jo's Dad weren't great .... : )  How does it go ' a bad workman...'

Evie doing her 'camera' smile.	Charlie - looking happy..

The following day we caught up with Mike (a school friend from when I was 3), his wife Becca and daughter Emily. 

They've recently moved to a beautiful old house in a village just outside Bath. Location - 4 doors away from local pub.  Close enough for crawling distance, far away enough to not be disturbed.  It was fantastic.  Emily was quite a character and I was dragged upstairs to take her for a poo-poo.  However once seated she announced it was 'just a fart'.  Coming from her it all seemed rather cute (and a relief for me).

Last treat before we left Cirencester was a pantomime for Gran - sorry I mean Evie.  Gran has been wanting to go for ages but lack that essential accessory - a child.  So Evie, Jo and Gran went to see Sleeping Beauty which they all raved about afterwards.

All too soon it was time to head off to the other side of the country and my parents.  Our timing was excellent the East side of the country had just had a big snowfall.  Gran was very very worried about getting across there.  We assured her it would be alright and bravely set off with the car packed to the gunnels.  In actual fact it was a very easy journey with only the last 30 miles having any snow on the road.  I was beside myself with excitement having not seen snow for 4 years.  The kids were pretty ambivalent about it, despite never having seen snow before.  Once we arrived at Grandad's I got the kids kitted out and we were straight outside making the most of the last few minutes of daylight. 

Look at this - Grandad throwing snowballs at Evie!!	It's ok though she likes it - theres giggling and laughing going on
The following morning

Unfortunately Ollie didn't really take to it.  The combination of the cold and being trussed up in lots of clothes he found irritating.  what can't have helped was tripping over and having so many clothes on he was unable to put his hands in front of him - resulting in a faceplant.  Amusing to everyone except Ollie.  One downside was the snow was very dry making snowmen impossible to make.  We made a snow hump instead. 

I'm afraid I can't resist putting in the following photos.  More snow shots.  This type of weather is one of my favourites - cold, snow covering on the ground and bright sunshine.  Its beautiful.  Funny thing was most people were complaining - on the news it was the only news.  I just thought it was magical.   We had a few walks around the camp site and Jo did some snapping. 

Evie and Ollie going for a ride with Grandad in his tractor

Next up on the agenda was a trip to the local garden centre that had Reindeer....

Who liked carrots	But not Ollie's unfortunately

Also Evie got her first ride on the 'Galloping Horses'. She really really liked these.  To the point she cried loudly when she had to get off.  She wouldn't let go of the pole and we had to prise her fingers off.  Quite a spectacle...

Evie also got one final treat - another pantomime. This time we had a group outing and the show was Aladdin.  We went along with Hannah and Georgina (daughters of two of my school friends back in Boston).  They loved it.  The girls (ie the young ones - not the mums) were dancing in the stalls to all the songs.  Very cute.  Meanwhile we had left Ollie in the capable hands of Grandad and Joy.  Returning to Grandad's house, the first thing we noticed was that no-one was in the sitting room.  We drove around to the garage and noticed no-one was in the kitchen either.  All highly suspicious.  As we entered the house we heard shouts and screams from the bathroom.  They were all there - Grandad, Joy and Ollie.  Ollie running around giggling and butt naked with dangle berries from his bum while Grandad was chasing him with the wet wipes shouting - quick Joy give me another one, Ollie come here.....It was quite entertaining.  It was of course Grandad's first poo-ie nappy change in over 35 years.  His last of course being your truly. 

After our second Christmas with Grandad (more present opening and more toys) we set off for Nanna's for our final (and real) Christmas.  The kids had a mountain of pressies. the first one Evie opened (from Santa) was a small Duplo horse and rider.  She played with it for 2 hours and refused to open any more presents.  She just wanted to play with that one.  At about 10am she finally decided to open her second present - an ironing board.  This lasted until lunchtime and she must have ironed her entire wardrobe.

Evie getting stuck into the ironing	Ollie making an appearance with his new (second hand) matchbox toys
Ollie just after a raspberry on the tummy	A rather full living room

Daddy popped off for a swift couple of pints with his Daddy before the family tucked into another huge meal.  We had to have short walk outside on the cricket field before we could face pudding...

Pretty soon with everyone collapsed on the sofa another Christmas was over.  Boxing day we headed off to the Hunt at a nearby village - again the weather was perfect.  Evie was completely taken with the horses and said she wanted one.

	Not sure this chap would be clearing many hedgerows.... The ground was actually too hard for the horses to ride so we just ambled around the marketplace admiring the horses.

 

All too soon it was the end of our hols.  The time had gone very quickly but we'd managed to catch up with a lot of old friends and of course our family.  The weather had been absolutely perfect apart from 2 days.  It really was special.

Back in Heathrow Evie made good use of one of her Christmas pressie . a Gruffalo Trunki.  A very very handy bit of luggage....

Happy New Year!!!