Christmas Special

We always squash in a bit of Christmas cheer into the first two weeks of December (after Nicholas' birthday and before we migrate South).  2012 was no different (probably the reason why I didn't get to publish this post before we left)!

Selecting a Christmas Tree

Putting up our decorations

Making a fire

Enjoying the Lego Advent Calendars

Puss-in-Boots Panto

Huskies at the Wetlands Centre

More fun at the Wetlands

Conversations with Santa

Christmas Party at Dad's Office

(literally a couple of hours before our departure)

 

Santa's letters to the boys
(from Uncle Pete's charity)

Nicholas' letter to Santa from School


Christmas Art - Nicholas

Christmas Art - Daniel

Decorations from School - Nicholas




Decorations from School - Daniel

Our Christmas Cards designed by Nicholas at School


Video messages from Santa (PNP)
Nicholas and Danny absolutely loved these!

SA2011: Magogong Christmas

The nice thing about spending Christmas is South Africa is that we get to celebrate it twice (or even four times for the lucky few!). The other nice thing is that each celebration has different traditions, all of them making Christmas is very special time for us, the one thing they both have in common is lots of delicious food and plenty of pressies for the kids. Thanks to everyone who spoilt our boys rotten!

This was the kids helping Gogo, the Christmas Queen, wrap the last remaining presents. Not sure what they were thinking because we were all making a big fuss of Santa and the Reindeer and all that good stuff!

And this is Nicholas' great excitement when he matched the big teddy to the photo of him when he was a month old, smiling for the first time, when Gogo opened her first Christmas present for him. Made me realise how much he has grown in 5 years!

See Janine's post Christmas part one
for a variation of the same theme ...

Leftovers from Christmas

Nicholas came home from school on the last day of term wearing a crown and carrying a homemade bag of festive arts and crafts. We had no time to explore the contents before we flew to SA so we had a lovely surprise to cheer us up when we got back a couple of weeks ago. I love all the personal touches like the hand print reindeer, finger print christmas tree and a card he designed for us in ict (computer class) with a lovely handwritten message inside!

I also love the fact that the school took one of their Christmas drawings and turned it into Christmas cards for us to buy. So for the first time in yonks I sent Christmas cards this year. What a lovely momento for me to keep!

Upon closer investigation I realised that quite a few of the cards we received this year came from the kids own artwork. I am a massive fan!