Christmas 2013

Christmas day this year was amazing. Both the boys went to bed so excited on Christmas Eve and woke up equally as excited to find out the Santa had finished off his Guinness and mine pie an Rudolph had drank his milk and ate his carrot. Its so magical when the children have this undying belief in Santa and get so excited about it. Anyway Santa left a rather full sack of presents for both the boys which they promptly tucked into just as soon as breakfast was done and dusted.

 

Joshua digging deep to get the last few presents out of his sack.

Brandon was well into the presents this year and needed no help at all getting his open.

Here is Brandon off his Mini Go wind up toy.

One of Brandon's star presents was this spiral ramp for his garage which allows him to race two cars at once. He has wanted this for ages.

Joshua really wanted this children's wood working set this year so we decided to buy it for him. Its pretty amazing really as it has a foam type of wood which is coloured like wood and even has a grain. Then the kit has several tools, screws, nails etc. to cut and build with the wood.  Its the kind of toy that I really need to sit down with Joshua and spend some quality time. But he was adamant that he wanted to get it out and build something on Xmas day.

Brandon also wanted to join in despite all his own toys to play with.

Joshua marking out a piece of wood before starting to cut.

And how about this, our first build was this jet fighter plane.

Joshua did a great job putting all the screws in. Its a great toy for teaching the boys basic construction skills.

Brandon built this small glider plan with some off cuts. However he has told me he wants to build the tank next.

Everyone knows Brandon loves his Hot Wheels and other than his Innotab 2 his next favourite present is this really cool Hot Wheels wall track. This is such a genius idea to use up wall space to mount a race car track rather than having tracks spread out all across the floor. This one is about 4ft wide and 2ft tall and has a motorised lift running up the middle the transport the cars up and down the track automatically. 

I think Brandon is a bit happy with his Hot Wheels wall track which now sits proudly in his bedroom.

I think I am going to need to stock up on batteries as I can see this toy being used pretty much daily.

Joshua's main present for 2013 was this rather large radio controlled tug boat complete with a water squirting tower. Perfect for chasing and shooting ducks!!!

Joshua is pretty impatient and was not going to last Christmas day without trying his boat. So we headed over to a very windy and very flooded Wick park. Unfortunately the maiden voyage was not without hiccups. Initially the boat was going very well and is pretty rapid. Joshua figured out the water squirter controls in no time. However the boat appears pretty top heavy and with the strong winds and current the boat was leaning over at about 45 degrees as you turned into a corner and due to this it was taking on a lot of water. End result was a capsize!!!! Fortunately it was about 6ft from the edge of the lake so the boat was recovered without anyone getting wet. We have since dried it out, checked it still works and will now wait for better conditions before our next launch. 

Joshua with controller in hand operating his boat before the capsize.

As always the boys got far too many lovely presents to mention them all on the blog. Lets just say they were very spoilt again by friends and family. The task for the next week is to start finding a home to store all the toys tidily.

 

At the end of the day we all sat down for a lovely Xmas dinner and both boys did extremely well with their eating. Joshua tried some Xmas pudding for the first time but ended up spitting it out and switching back to Brandon's chocolate yule log. 

Tina and the boys out our very posh festive dinner table.

We four King's all sitting down to enjoy a Christmas dinner. Amazingly all wearing Xmas hats as well - usually it is only me.

Finally a picture of the boys wearing festive hats with their Nanny.

I have thoroughly enjoyed playing lots of new games and toys with the two boys over the Xmas week. I know I have said it before, but the toys these days are so much cooler than when I was a kid. Although Joshua did get a few classics this year such as Guess Who, Twister and Battle Ships. Next on the calendar is Brandon's 4th birthday in just over 4 weeks time.

Its a Cracker

With holiday updates finished I can update the blog with a few other recent events. Joshua finished school last Friday and this signalled the end of his first complete term in the foundation class. When he came home we was pleasantly surprised to find loads of goodies in his school bag including a fridge magnet, a calendar, two certificates and a little goodie bag with a pencil, note pad and a chocolate. I certainly don't ever remember being sent home from school with a haul like that. Joshua also came out of school sporting a rather nice looking Christmas party hat.

 

Joshua on his last day at school wearing his Christmas tree party hat.

This was the 2013 calendar he made at school with a picture in a rain coat, a summer picture with shades on, a Halloween pumpkin picture and a Santa Christmas picture.

The fridge magnet has a picture of him dressed as a "Lit'l Elf".

Joshua's first certificate from his head teacher was for completing his first term at school.

His second certificate was for 100% attendance during his first term.

With our Lapland holiday absorbing most of December it seems we were way behind schedule with our preparations for Christmas and Boxing Day. So with one day remaining me and the boys finally cracked on with our annual over sized Christmas cracker full of sweeties and secret Santa presents. This year the colours picked out by the boys were green, cherry red and orange. Not a bad combination and fairly festive looking. So I made the cracker up and then let the boys set about decorating it. 

Joshua cutting up some wrapping paper pictures to stick on the cracker.

Even Brandon is old enough now to use scissors responsibly and can cut out his own decorations.

Once all the decorations are cut out the boys get to work sticking and gluing.

Brandon got a little fed up with working on the cracker and decided it would be much more fun to stick Christmas trees to his face and arms,

This then prompted Joshua to also join in!!!

Eventually we got the cracker finished and I have to say I am very proud of my boys. What a cracking job (no pun intended).

Me, the boys and one giant mother of a cracker.

The two boys are both extremely excited about the big day tomorrow and Joshua has sworn black was blue that he has seen Rudolph and Santa flying up in the skies above our house. He went to bed tonight so excited, yet eager to get to sleep as soon as possible knowing that when he wakes it will be Christmas. It is so nice to see their excitement for Christmas day and their belief in the man in the big red suit. I only hope that they continue to believe in Father Christmas for as long as possible as it makes Christmas day truly magical.

Santa has visited our house, the carrot, milk, mince pie and pint of Guinness are gone. In place of them he left several sacks full of presents.

Lapland Day 5 - Homebound

Well after four very full on days in Lapland it was finally time to get the bags packed and start the long journey home. This has been one of them holidays that I now need another holiday to recover from. The thought of jumping straight back into work the next day is not pleasant, and the two boys are no better as they still have 2 days left at school/nursery. Once we were packed and had breakfast there was time for a final few snowy pictures and then let the boys have a last play in the kids area.

 

Mummy, Joshua and Brandon about to board the plane home bound.

 

I would summarise our time spent in Lapland as a truly memorable and magical holiday. I almost feel like Christmas is over and that I am all Christmas'ed out and need a few days of normality before gearing up for Dec 25th. I think all of us could do with a good nights sleep and to get back in our own beds. I have bitched and moaned on numerous occasions about the cost of this holiday, but now that it is all over I would have to say that as a one off experience it was worth every penny. If nothing else to see the look on the boys faces when they met the real Santa, cooked and built toys with Elves and got to have reindeer and huskie rides. These moments were absolutely priceless and as previously stated I think we absolutely nailed the correct age to take the boys. They understand Christmas and will remember a lot about this holiday and have a much stronger belief in the magic of Christmas. I will look back on the pictures and video clips of this vacation with very fond memories.

One other plus side from this holiday is we talked Brandon into giving his milk bottle up to Santa as he is now such a big boy. This has worked out very well and since coming home he has no longer had a bottle of milk before going to bed.

Lapland Day 4 - Ice Hotel & Gala Feast

Day 4 and there is no rest for the wicked as we once again we set the alarms early for another coach journey. This time we are heading off to one of only 6 ice hotels in the whole world. Apparently it is the same team of Finish sculptors who travel around the globe and build all of the ice hotels. As the hotels all melt each summer, then every year they change the design and layout and push the boundaries that but further. It takes them roughly 6 weeks to complete the ice hotel which is pretty amazing really.

 

Outside the ice hotel are these amazing ice sculptures of polar bears.

Inside the ice hotel is surprisingly warm in comparison to the outside environment. Given that there is no wind chill effect then the hotel stays at a fairly constant -1 to -3 Deg C. This sort of temperature is actually pretty comfortable and whilst we still wore hats and coats, I was happy to take my gloves off for plenty of pictures and videos. 

 

The first part of the hotel we visited was the ice chapel. Apparently they taking around 50 bookings a year for weddings in the hotel and in fact just as we were leaving the hotel it looked like a wedding party was just arriving. What a stunning, unique venue to get married in.

Inside the ice hotel chapel.

The corridors were very tall and spacious and surprisingly well lit.

The ice bar complete with all the ice tables.

Look at the amazing detail to create a log effect ice table.

The hotel has several rooms which you can actually pay to sleep in over night. The rooms range from singles, to doubles to full suites. I seem to recall them saying it was around Eur 320 a night for one of the suites. Within most of the rooms are some of the most amazing ice sculptures carved into the walls. 

Rudolph carved into the wall of one of the bedrooms.

Brandon standing in the bar in front of some stunning ice reindeer's.

Time for some grub as we all settle down to a ice dining table.

And how about these, we all cosy up to keep warm on one of the ice beds!! Literally everything is made of ice.

Need to replace your lounge suite, ever considered a matching ice arm chair with matching coffee table. Now that's what I call a cool bum!

Joshua getting some R and R in an ice arm chair.

One of the bedroom suites with two single ice beds inside it.

This is the seating area with ice block benches covered in furs to make them more comfortable.

Me saying a quick prayer in the chapel as Joshua watches on.

This was one of the newer suites which was still work in progress.

Probably the highlight of the ice hotel is the 20ft long ice slide which features around one of the corridors. This is supposed to be strictly for children only. Haha. Like I am going to travel all that way and spend all that money visiting the ice hotel and not take a sneak down the slide!!!! I think there were just as many adults as children taking a whizz down this very impressive slide. 

Brandon ready for his first experience down an ice slide.

And he is off, how cool does that look (no pun intended).

Joshua taking his turn.

Joshua overlooking Brandon on one of his descents down the slide.

The structure of the slide and the lighting effect make it look so amazing.

Imagine waking up in your hotel suite to this aggressive looking character carved into the wall.

Or this ugly looking Viking?

After exploring the ice hotel we all settled down for a nice berry juice, and yes it was served in an ice glass which they kindly said you could take home!

Brandon outside the ice hotel with one of the ice polar bears.

After the amazing trip to the ice hotel we headed back to base for some lunch and then spent the afternoon swimming. The swimming pool in the well being centre is one of the most amazing I have ever seen. There was children's areas, spa's, Turkish baths, pebble foot massages, plunge pools, sauna's, water slides, even indoor lightning and snow effects. You name it and this pool had it.

 

There was one very peculiar feature about Finish swimming baths though and that is the men's attire. You see me, Joshua and Brandon went prepared with our typical swimming shorts which are about knee high and are commonly work but just about every nation in Europe. Not in Finland!!!! No, no, no, they have strict rules that men have to wear skimpy little speedo's!!!! Maybe the like to check out guests packages, who knows? It seemed very weird to me as in this day an age I would expect it to be the other way around. Anyway things got worse since we did not have any speedo's so the pool loaned all 3 of us probably the most untrendy pair of speedo's imaginable so that we could go swimming. Enough said!!!!

Brandon at the bottom of the main water slide. He loved being able to come down on is own.

Joshua was up and down the slide like a yo-yo.

Me and Josh sitting in a ice cold pebble bottomed pool for some foot treatment. Don't look at the speedo's - it wasn't our fault.

The pool area was multi layered and mutli roomed and looked absolutely incredible.

This was the main water slide.

One of the most intriguing features of the pool was that there was a tunnel which you could swim to in order to get to an outdoor pool. From there you could jump out of the pool (in your little speedo's) and jump into a scorching hot jacuzzi. I have to say it is one of the most bonkers but amazing experiences to be sitting outdoors in a jacuzzi when it is -10 Deg C and snowing. 

The outdoor pool area and jacuzzi.

Me and Joshua took the outdoor jacuzzi to new extreme levels by taking a bare foot walk in some of the powder snow. Then legging it back as fast as we could to warm up in the jacuzzi. I know it was stupid but it just had to be done. 

Me and Joshua off for a snow walk before legging it back to the jacuzzi.

This was the little toddle pool, we didn't spend too long here as the boys preferred the other side.

Brandon squirting everyone in the pool.

With swimming out of the way it was time to get showered and dressed up posh ready for our final evening. The final evening features a massive Christmas gala feast / party which was a really enjoyable evening from start to finish. We had the full Christmas dinner, crackers and loads more to go with it. 

Beautiful little Brandon wearing his Christmas party hat.

Me and Little B at our Xmas party.

Tina and Joshie looking very festive.

We four King's bearing gifts from a far.......

The aftermath of our table. We had a very good feed up and I think it is safe to say our eyes were bigger than our stomachs.

The highlight of the evening was the arrival of the real Santa. Everyone got to meet him personally and both kiddies and adults were all given a present. Joshua even managed to get a high five from the real Father Christmas as he left the party (the only child to get a high five, he was so chuffed). This holiday was bloody expensive but it was moments like this when the kids met the real Santa and the looks on their faces that made it worth every penny. 

We four King's with the real Santa.

The boys were each given a huge present from Santa which immediately rang alarm bells as to how the hell we were going to fit these in the luggage! Typically when you see Santa the kids are given cheap little naff toys or books. Not in Lapland. These were full blown kids games and a very decent ones at that. We were not going to let the boys open them until Xmas but just about everyone else had cracked into their presents and were already playing with them. So in the end we couldn't really say no. 

Joshua got "Pop Goes Froggio" from Santa.

And Brandon got this very cool "Scatterpillar Scramble" - unfortunately it needed batteries though!

So Santa waved goodbye and left the party which almost brought our holiday to a close. One more nights sleep in our cabin and then start the journey home.

See you on Christmas Eve,