Ho Ho Ho!

We're off to South Africa earlier than usual this year, tonight in fact, so I should actually be wrapping up the packing.  The last few weeks have been crazy busy here with fairs, parties, plays, decorations, lights, markets and carols.  I'm glad we got to enjoy a bit of the Christmas spirit in the Northern Hemisphere before heading South for sunshine and fun with family and friends.  Looking forward to seeing you all!

Christmas Fair

Shopping for a tree

 

Decorating our tree

Mince pies and hot chocolate at the fire

The boys loved their personal video messages from Santa via Portable North Pole.  Danny was especially intrigued and has watched his video over and over again.  Sometimes even engaging in a dialogue with Santa and his elves to make sure that they know that we will be in South Africa for Christmas.  This is such a special age for things like this!

Nicholas' video

Danny's video

Gabriel's Big Break

Our house has been filled with beautiful singing for the past few weeks as the boys practised the songs for their nativity plays.  Nicholas' nativity play this year was called Gabriel's Big Break. You can listen to snippets of some of them via the links on the webpage.  Nick was a narrator so he had quite a few lines spread out across the show which was nice.  I was not only impressed by the fact that he remembered them all but also by the way he projected his voice in a clear and confident fashion.  Best of all was the way he sang enthusiastically and beamed through out the performance!

In the limelight

Singing away

More singing

More lines

Even more lines

Nick's favourite song

Getting ready for ...

The party in heaven!

The curtain call

Tired

Presentation of flowers to the teachers

In the classroom before the show

(there were two performances, which is why Nick is dressed differently in some of the photos)

The Bossy King

Daniel's nativity play was The Bossy King.  I was delighted when Danny told me that he was going to be a king, not the bossy king, but one of the nice kings.  He took his role seriously and said his lines beautifully.  He also sang enthusiastically and did all the actions to go with the songs.  I was very proud of my little guy!

 In the limelight

Bowing at the end

 The encore

Posing at the end

Some shots from the photographer

In the classroom before the show