Christmas! 2010 Edition

We got home Christmas Eve from our little getaway.  We had planned to cook some fun things with friends that evening, but since we left Bath later then expected,  ended up at RAF Croughton in Northhamptonshire at dinner time.  To be more specific, the Croughton bowling alley of all places.  Haha.  It was the ONLY place open on that little base when we stopped to fill up with gas around 4:30.  We still had a couple of hours before home and the kids needed a break from the car.  The bowling alley burgers were actually pretty good though!  I'm glad there are so many military bases in England.  We've spent money at British petrol stations (as they call gas stations) once so far.  That's just because the car was running on fumes one night.  We just put in £5 that time.  Totally worth filling up on military bases since gas is so much cheaper.  It's around $55 to fill up on base (for around 65 liters).  Off base gas is £1.30 per liter... around £84 to fill up the Highlander  (like $130).  Yikes.  Anyway, enough talk about gas.  We ate our burgers and then headed home.  Oh, and we are glad we didn't end up being stationed at Croughton.  It was one of the possibilities for us.  Not only is it teeny tiny, it's in the middle of nowhere.

* I tried to convince Jake that we should go see the royal family walk to church at Sandringham Christmas morning.  It's close to where we live, and the children there get to hand the queen a flower.  I guess it ended up being a good thing that Jake wasn't up to going though.  With Luke being sick it probably would have been miserable.  One of these years before we move I want to go!

*Here are the kids in their Christmas PJs before bed.  We read lots of the kids' Christmas books, the Christmas story from the bible, and watched the Nativity movie.  Luke was feeling sick.   Sick + Christmas Eve excitement + being scared that he would wake up to see Santa or that Santa wouldn't come because he was awake with D on the toilet made for a very VERY long night.  The kids were pretty cute in their PJs though!   

*Santa came!  He did it.  Somehow he snuck in without Luke seeing him.  Luke was up around 6 to open presents.  We had to wake Ella so we could go downstairs and check it out.  All of us were pretty lucky and got what we asked for this year.  We scored Star Wars stuff, lots of babies, toys, a camera lens, a kindle, clothes, and other fun things.  Thank you Santa!  And grandmas and grandpas!  Another Christmas morning surprise was snow.  It melted a little before Christmas, but was back Christmas morning. 

*Ate a tasty breakfast casserole and some orange rolls for breakfast.  Jake made some meatballs that night.
 

*Ella eating some of her stocking loot...

*Christmas day was spent vegging out.  We talked to family in the states on Skype and watched new movies.  Luke didn't really leave the couch since he still wasn't feeling well.  Poor kid!  Ella was in heaven taking care of all her new babies.

 

                                                

It was the first Christmas with just the four of us.  We missed our extended family, but had a fun day at home.

A few other Christmas related things I want in the blog book...

*We made a gingerbread house again this year.  Luke just couldn't wait to put it together, so we did this the first week of November.  Jake and Luke did the decorating. 

*Christmas cards are a huge thing here.  Kids at school pass them around, so Luke would bring home a bunch every day.  It's kind of like passing valentines in the states.  You get tons of them, and most have candy attached.  It's fun.  A few that Luke got...

*Luke gave  Lego Christmas cards to his classmates.  I asked him to show the camera the cards he picked out and he decided to make a silly face.  Reminded me so much of the squishy face he used to make as a baby.  (click here to see the old squishy)  haha

*I didn't send out half as many Christmas cards this year as we have in the past.  I was a slacker.  Jake and I have a million aunts, uncles, and cousins between the two of us.  (So many people in our extended family that we love!  We're lucky that way....)  I only sent cards to immediate fam this year.  Call me lazy. 

Think I'm going to do a big send out every other year from now on.   For the record, here's what this year's card looked like!  We used a family picture I posted on here already.  (Ely post) Luke designed the card at school and I think they turned out cutie.

front and back:

The inside was blank.  Ok, so I think that's all the Christmas stuff I was going to include!  

*I should mention New Years on this post too.  We got together with the Smiths and did fondue!    Also watched movies and played games.   

*Another fun thing about New Years Eve 2010... my dad turned 50! Happy Birthday dad!! :)