Christmas in Prestwood

Although we spent Christmas day in Texas with family, we had our own family Christmas here at our Prestwood, England home before our flight.  To our surprise, England had a huge snowstorm blow through a few weeks before Christmas which cancelled school and work for Tyler!

We woke up to a blanket of snow outside and it was still steading falling.  We all bundled up and headed outside for some snow fun!  Tyler and the kids (mostly Tyler) spent many hours building and digging a snow fort which was so spacious both kids could easily fit inside.

After we warmed up inside with some grilled cheese and tomato soup we headed back outdoors for a snowball fight.  Callum said it wouldn't be fair to mommy so he built her a wall to hide behind as the war was girls vs boys.  

We worked together to build a snowman and he lasted, along with the snow fort, for many days after the snow eventually melted.

Claire found shelter in her play house and was making us pretend food out of snow.

We headed off sledding with a wooden toboggan from our landlords and two plastic sleds from our kind neighbors whose children are now grown.

Our ducks came to visit us for some food.  They were slipping and sliding all over but we laughed at how lightweight they were and could just stand on top of the snow without falling through.  Their webbed feet worked just like snowshoes.

It was an amazing few days while school/work was cancelled and we just enjoyed all the snow fun possible!

At the end of the Autumn school term both kids had their school nativity plays.  Claire's Reception class at Prestwood Infant School did their production of "Whoops-a-daisy Angel".  Claire was a star and a very bright one at that.  She was full of personality and pizazz, even way in the back row.  She knew all the songs and hand motions, spoke her lines clearly (and knew everyone else's lines) and even in the back row kept adorable eye contact with us.  She truly shined.  

Here is the play in its entirety:

Part 1

Part 2

Callum's Year 2 class at Gateway also had a nativity play where Callum was one of the 3 Kings.  We loved when he came out wearing his costume cape inside out and his hair disheveled under the crown.  He looked like the perfect King, an eccentric millionaire.   We were proud of him speaking his line clearly and singing the songs so clearly.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Before our flight to America on December 20th, we pretended it was Christmas and had a full day of celebrations at our home.  We woke up and had our traditional breakfast casserole then began opening presents we gave to each other.  We didn't think it was a good idea to haul the presents from us for the kids all the way to America and back again.

Merry Christmas!!!