Still Counting Down the Sleeps Until Christmas

Last week I blogged about what we were doing whilst counting the sleeps to Christmas, this post is about what we’ve been up to the rest of the time. There is only 2 more sleeps to go and the excitement is rising to fever pitch in the Mann house. What about where you are?

A few weeks ago the boys wrote their letters to Santa, listing a few things they wanted along with the elusive “surprises” line. Tyler asked for an iPod touch as did Lucas as their main presents. Tyler would also like a Turtle Ninja teddy as he calls it and Lucas would like a Chelsea football team teddy and for Santa to bring his mum and dad mobile phone covers. Ok, strange, but wasn’t that sweet of him to ask for something for his parents? We all helped write Aria’s she’s asking for a doll and a Princess castle apparently. I only hope Santa receives the money I sent him to pay for the parts to build the gifts and enough room in his sleigh. What do you reckon folks?

All three children received their letters from Santa, letting them know he’d received there’s and a bit about how they had been. Tyler’s didn’t come at the same time as Lucas and Aria’s and I thought there would be tears, but it was ok, he said that it was because he’d been naughty and Santa was giving him a chance to be good. It arrived the next day. Phew. We also made some paper Christmas decorations. We had lots of fun making these.

With this being Aria’s first Christmas we knew that a trip to see Santa would be special, even more so seeing her face through the excitement on the boys watching here. That was magical. One soaking wet Sunday, we took the car to the Clydeside and met up with my best friend, her husband and kids and went to see Santa. The first thing we did was go on the Santa express. A little train ride that takes you around the park. This I think was the best bit. All three of the children loved it. I managed to get a few photos.

This is the first year I’ve gotten the boys to watch Polar Express. I love this film and have wanted them to watch it for so long. This year was the year, and they were engrossed as you can see. Even with Lucas’ strange watching antics. I wrote some cards and then we made some Christmas fairies.

To help us count down the sleeps to Christmas we enlist the help from Ollie the Elf. He came to us on the 1st of December last year and watched the children during the day, making sure they were good. Then at night he flies back and let’s Santa know how they have behaved. When he returns he usually gets up to some mischief like wrapping himself in toilet roll or eating some chocolate or climbing the Christmas tree, etc. The boys love getting up in the morning and seeing what Ollie has been up to. Here are a few of the things he’s been up to this year. To be honest I love having Ollie around and will be sad to see him go on Christmas eve.

On Christmas eve, after we have put out a carrot for Rudolph, reindeer food by the door, a drink and a bit of cake for Santa, the boys head upstairs to bed. Ollie will be there for one last time and have brought with him a goodbye letter, some gorgeous new pyjamas from Mothercare, yes elves shop there too, a little toy to keep from ELC and this year he will be bringing an “I Believe” sleigh bell back from Santa. Since we watched The Polar Express.