Day 364 - December 31st (New Years Eve)

We spent New Years Eve quietly at home watching Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny and fireworks from London on the BBC.

Day 364 - December 30th

Finishing off the last of the cookies Lara decorated for Christmas.

Day 363 - December 29th

Lara received several jigsaws for her birthday and for Christmas. This one was in her stocking and featured snowy dogs.

Day 362 - December 28th

January 6 I posted a photo of the snowdrops in the churchyard. They have been asleep most of the year but now they are back.

Day 361 - December 27th

More Christmas cupcakes - Red Velvet Chocolate Cake topped with green vanilla frosting and gold star decoration.

Day 360 - December 26th (Boxing Day)

This afternoon we went to the cinema again.

Day 359 - December 25th (Christmas Day)

Happy Christmas!

Unfortunately I didn't take many photos today but I did manage to capture Millie's excitement at getting some new toys.

Day 358 - December 24th (Christmas Eve)

Today the tradition of Lara making mince pies on Christmas Eve continued.

Day 357 - December 23rd

Tux loves a bag! There seems to be a lot of theories as to why cats like boxes and bags.

Day 356 - December 22nd

This afternoon we spent time at my parents house with my brother and his family.

Two little boys were very excited to be opening presents early.

Day 355 - December 21st

A muddy Saturday December morning walk. It was difficult to know where the muddy field ended and the muddy footpath began!

Day 354 - December 20th

Presents are being wrapped ready to go to their new homes.

Day 353 - December 19th

I bought this Robin several years ago and each Christmas it stands on the kitchen windowsill. The cyclamen is doing well in it new home.

Day 352 - December 18th

Christmas hot chocolate.

Day 351 - December 17th

Every year we buy a new Christmas tree decoration. This year we bought four!

This one .... for Millie.

This one because of Lara's love of Cacti.

This one because of Christopher's love of beer!

This one to remind Lara and I of our afternoon spent walking Alpacas in Anglesey in the summer.

Day 350 - December 16th

Happy Birthday Lara x x

Day 349 - December 15th

For a birthday treat, Lara asked if we could see Jumaji The Next Level in 4D so today we went to Cineworld. 

Day 348 - December 14th

I bought some Christmas cupcakes to be eaten over the holidays - Vanilla flavour cupcakes topped with toffee and vanilla flavour frostings and decorations

Day 347 - December 13th

Today I completed my last scrapbook layout for the year.

Day 346 - December 12th

Today we voted in yet another general election. It's the first general election to be held in December since 1923.

Day 345 - December 11th

There was a lovely sunset this evening, despite the rain!

Day 344 - December 10th

This evening was our Book Club Christmas Meal. We enjoyed a lovely festive meal and exchanged pre-loved books in a Secret Santa.

Day 343 - December 9th

Lara has been making Christmas cards for her friends.

Day 342 - December 8th

The Christmas Tree is up and the house is starting to look a bit more festive.

Day 341 - December 7th

Cosy night spent by the fire.

Day 340 - December 6th

Today we received our fist Christmas card of 2019.

Day 339 - December 5th

We've had several very cold days this week. Winter is definitely coming. 

Day 338 - December 4th

Every year I buy Poinsettia plants to decorate the house at Christmas. This year is no exception.

Day 337 - December 3rd

At the end of term, Lara's school is holding an International Food Fair to raise money for a school in Africa. Each form has to sell home baked goodies from a chosen country. Lara's forms chosen country is Latvia. Lara found a recipe online for Latvian Piparkukas (pi-pahr-koo-kuhs). Piparkukas are Latvian Christmas Gingerbread Cookies and tonight Lara practiced making the cookies. They were very good.

Day 336 - December 2nd

A trip to the dentist today for a quick polish.

Day 335 - December 1st

1st December means the advent calendars have been started and the advent candle has been lit. I actually bought online a different advent candle to the one we are using but when it arrived it was bent! Never the less we were going to use the bent candle but when we saw this one on Saturday in Milton Keynes we decided to use this one instead