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ailbheOn the 22nd> we had a little open-house style thing and a few people came; two of the antenatal class families and a neighbour. The children had a lovely time and exchanged gifts, and we might get to know our neighbour better soon. I also did the very last bits of the food shopping. Then on the Sunday we all went into town and Linnea and I shopped for the last of Rob's Christmas stocking and he shopped for mine (I had to help a bit). And Monday was Christmas Eve.
So first we all four opened our Christmas stockings, and they were marvellous. The children loved them; Linnea was particularly impressed. Then we dressed and grabbed the bags I'd packed and left to get a train. We got the first train, Reading West (local station) to Reading (main station) and realised we'd forgotten Emer's carseat, so Rob went back for that while I took the girls to get some lunch. While we were eating I overheard someone saying that the whole station would be closed on Boxing Day (St Stephens Day as was). This was directly contrary to what we'd been told when we checked the National Rail website for train times and scheduled engineering works, so we were somewhat thrown by it.
We sorted it out, though. We found a couple of taxi firms able and willing to fill the breach, and eventually felt able to leave Reading and go to Grays, and when we finally arrived we had a Swedish Christmas Eve dinner. Linnea and Emer loved the meatballs in particular. Then we opened the gifts sent from Sweden, which the girls enjoyed, though Linnea couldn't understand why some presents were allowed and not others, but she got over that. Rob's sister and her partner were there, which was lovely; both girls remembered her and took instantly to him.
The first night went well, with both girls sleeping fairly well, all things considered, and on Christmas morning they ate breakfast while I caught up on my missed sleep, and then when I was up we all opened presents while Rob's mother cooked the dinner.
The presents were all but unending. Eventually they were all open and we ate. Then Rob's sister and her partner had to leave - they had a six-hour drive to his parent - and things calmed down a lot. Linnea was asked directly if she wanted to leave too or stay another night and was very firm that she wanted to stay the second night.
So we did.
She woke at about 11 pm and was really very unsettled and not very happy. Eventually we stopped trying to persuade her to go back to bed and all four of her family bedded down on mattresses in the living room, together. She still didn't sleep - I told nine Charlie and Lola stories out of my head - but she was happier.
On the 26th, we came home by car, tube and taxi; from Upminster to West Ham we shared the train with football fans who were very very annoyed that there was only a Sunday Service running on the bank holiday and one small boy who didn't want to be stuck in his buggy and cried a lot. His dad was very grateful for the various new shiny things I handed him, mainly hi-vis armbands.
After we got home, still in daylight through some miracle of, oh yeah, solstice, we were able to fall back into some kind of normal routine. The girls were exhausted, particularly Linnea, but we had an evening meal and they went to bed as usual.
On Thursday Rob went to work and I brought the girls out to the BfN group as usual; just as well, as there was a demand for the service, and Linnea found the familiarity very soothing, I think. Then the girls and I went grocery shopping and stuff. Not interesting stuff, just stuff. Rob and I spent the evening watching television and prepping veg in the front room. Much more pleasant than trying to do it all at once in the kitchen.
Friday was our own Christmas. We got up slowly, because Emer was still sick in the night (stomach unsettled after Christmas for whatever reason) and we'd done a lot of being awake. Then the girls went into the front room and found the Santa presents; on seeing the Freecycle dolls' rocking cradle, Linnea said "Oh yes! This is just what me and Emer need!" which was charming. Then they fished out the rest from pillowcases (put there in case of accidental pre-opening sightings). It was an unmitigated success and they are thrilled with what they have regardless of its origins, so I will go on doing Freecycle gifts for them as long as I can. The cradle is far nicer than any I saw in the shops when I was looking anyway.
Then the girls played with their stuff while Rob and I - mainly Rob, while I wrangled children - put the dinner together according to our timetable. Rob made pancakes for breakfast, which the children basically ignored, but I enjoyed very much, and I started by making the sherry trifle. Then we did the pre-organised chicken and veg, and some complicated sauce-juggling. I insist on breadsauce, Rob likes gravy, we have a limited number of rings on the hob.
Just as we were ready to serve Emer went down for an uncharacteristically early nap. So we left it all in the oven to stay warm while we waited for her.
As it turned out, neither child much wanted a midday dinner, so we went straight to gift-opening until they reached burnout. Since it was mostly stuff from my family and their personal friends, their libraries were greatly expanded, notably including a Charlie and Lola party kit book and the Disney Princesses Annual 2008. We also got a book and DVD of Bringing Down the Moon which doesn't seem aware in the least that its title is also the name of a pagan ritual. I find this odd; I keep expecting, every time I read its minimalist text, to fine a subtle reference somewhere. But I don't. The DVD is gorgeous and beautiful and lovely and sweet.
Eventually both children refused to open any more presents. Linnea said there were just too many. So we stopped, and asked a neighbour over for trifle and mulled wine, and had a chat and food. This helped Linnea wind down a bit and she opened a few more presents. Finally there was nothing left but one small one for Emer, so we gave up and went to bed.
I think we need to work on this presents thing. More organised opening; I mean, the number isn't likely to decrease in future years, and it will be a while before they can handle this kind of volume without going a bit mad. Rob and I both have an urge to buy them everything in the whole world, which we resist, but they still end up with too darn much. I will have to cull this week, gradually, and buy more storage boxes so that things can be sorted like with like. The dressing up box is full. The jigsaw box is quite full enough, though not overflowing as yet. We have no decent place for doll accessories, a category I hadn't even considered.
Ah well. Storage is fun. It's almost as much fun as stationery.
So first we all four opened our Christmas stockings, and they were marvellous. The children loved them; Linnea was particularly impressed. Then we dressed and grabbed the bags I'd packed and left to get a train. We got the first train, Reading West (local station) to Reading (main station) and realised we'd forgotten Emer's carseat, so Rob went back for that while I took the girls to get some lunch. While we were eating I overheard someone saying that the whole station would be closed on Boxing Day (St Stephens Day as was). This was directly contrary to what we'd been told when we checked the National Rail website for train times and scheduled engineering works, so we were somewhat thrown by it.
We sorted it out, though. We found a couple of taxi firms able and willing to fill the breach, and eventually felt able to leave Reading and go to Grays, and when we finally arrived we had a Swedish Christmas Eve dinner. Linnea and Emer loved the meatballs in particular. Then we opened the gifts sent from Sweden, which the girls enjoyed, though Linnea couldn't understand why some presents were allowed and not others, but she got over that. Rob's sister and her partner were there, which was lovely; both girls remembered her and took instantly to him.
The first night went well, with both girls sleeping fairly well, all things considered, and on Christmas morning they ate breakfast while I caught up on my missed sleep, and then when I was up we all opened presents while Rob's mother cooked the dinner.
The presents were all but unending. Eventually they were all open and we ate. Then Rob's sister and her partner had to leave - they had a six-hour drive to his parent - and things calmed down a lot. Linnea was asked directly if she wanted to leave too or stay another night and was very firm that she wanted to stay the second night.
So we did.
She woke at about 11 pm and was really very unsettled and not very happy. Eventually we stopped trying to persuade her to go back to bed and all four of her family bedded down on mattresses in the living room, together. She still didn't sleep - I told nine Charlie and Lola stories out of my head - but she was happier.
On the 26th, we came home by car, tube and taxi; from Upminster to West Ham we shared the train with football fans who were very very annoyed that there was only a Sunday Service running on the bank holiday and one small boy who didn't want to be stuck in his buggy and cried a lot. His dad was very grateful for the various new shiny things I handed him, mainly hi-vis armbands.
After we got home, still in daylight through some miracle of, oh yeah, solstice, we were able to fall back into some kind of normal routine. The girls were exhausted, particularly Linnea, but we had an evening meal and they went to bed as usual.
On Thursday Rob went to work and I brought the girls out to the BfN group as usual; just as well, as there was a demand for the service, and Linnea found the familiarity very soothing, I think. Then the girls and I went grocery shopping and stuff. Not interesting stuff, just stuff. Rob and I spent the evening watching television and prepping veg in the front room. Much more pleasant than trying to do it all at once in the kitchen.
Friday was our own Christmas. We got up slowly, because Emer was still sick in the night (stomach unsettled after Christmas for whatever reason) and we'd done a lot of being awake. Then the girls went into the front room and found the Santa presents; on seeing the Freecycle dolls' rocking cradle, Linnea said "Oh yes! This is just what me and Emer need!" which was charming. Then they fished out the rest from pillowcases (put there in case of accidental pre-opening sightings). It was an unmitigated success and they are thrilled with what they have regardless of its origins, so I will go on doing Freecycle gifts for them as long as I can. The cradle is far nicer than any I saw in the shops when I was looking anyway.
Then the girls played with their stuff while Rob and I - mainly Rob, while I wrangled children - put the dinner together according to our timetable. Rob made pancakes for breakfast, which the children basically ignored, but I enjoyed very much, and I started by making the sherry trifle. Then we did the pre-organised chicken and veg, and some complicated sauce-juggling. I insist on breadsauce, Rob likes gravy, we have a limited number of rings on the hob.
Just as we were ready to serve Emer went down for an uncharacteristically early nap. So we left it all in the oven to stay warm while we waited for her.
As it turned out, neither child much wanted a midday dinner, so we went straight to gift-opening until they reached burnout. Since it was mostly stuff from my family and their personal friends, their libraries were greatly expanded, notably including a Charlie and Lola party kit book and the Disney Princesses Annual 2008. We also got a book and DVD of Bringing Down the Moon which doesn't seem aware in the least that its title is also the name of a pagan ritual. I find this odd; I keep expecting, every time I read its minimalist text, to fine a subtle reference somewhere. But I don't. The DVD is gorgeous and beautiful and lovely and sweet.
Eventually both children refused to open any more presents. Linnea said there were just too many. So we stopped, and asked a neighbour over for trifle and mulled wine, and had a chat and food. This helped Linnea wind down a bit and she opened a few more presents. Finally there was nothing left but one small one for Emer, so we gave up and went to bed.
I think we need to work on this presents thing. More organised opening; I mean, the number isn't likely to decrease in future years, and it will be a while before they can handle this kind of volume without going a bit mad. Rob and I both have an urge to buy them everything in the whole world, which we resist, but they still end up with too darn much. I will have to cull this week, gradually, and buy more storage boxes so that things can be sorted like with like. The dressing up box is full. The jigsaw box is quite full enough, though not overflowing as yet. We have no decent place for doll accessories, a category I hadn't even considered.
Ah well. Storage is fun. It's almost as much fun as stationery.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-29 10:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-30 03:31 am (UTC)I would love to trade storage tips with you, as you are my adoptamom. Rob and I spent 4 hours tonight trying to figure out what we need to do. We already had 8 plastic tubs filled with toys, now we have a horridly, cluttered house. No single child should have this many toys! Darn those great grandparents!!!!!
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-30 10:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-30 11:59 pm (UTC)Wow. We truly are living in the future. You have post-consumerist babies! Linnea is awesome.