Giant Cracker for 2021 Xmas

After having to pretty much cancel all Xmas family gatherings last year, it actually looks like we might be able to have a semi-normal Xmas this year. As we couldn't gather as a family last year we did not make our traditional giant Xmas cracker for secret Santa presents, but this year it is back. 

So today me and the kids went into town to pick up our coloured card, some ribbons and stickers and then when we headed home where me and Holly got cracking on the 2021 Xmas cracker (pun intended!). Holly picked the lilac and pink colours and the boys picked the claret for West Ham. I think Holly did a great job of decorating the cracker considering she done it all on her own this year.

As I have previously explained the large cracker tradition started from a memory I have of my Grandad once having a large cracker when we visited one Xmas. So I hope he is looking on proudly at this little tradition we have kept up, and of course he has my Nan by his side with him this year. 

It was sad to hear of the passing of my Nan in April of this year but even more shocking that none of her closest family felt the need to tell us about the loss so that we could go and pay our last respects. For some reason my Nan stopped talking to us over 8 years ago for reasons that are still unknown to me and which I will probably now never understand. This really saddens me that she shut us out completely because as a result of this she never met Holly once! I only hope I have brought my kids up better than this and that they value family above all else, support each other, stay close and if there are issues/problems - resolve them before it is too late!

The start of the 2021 cracker with the templates being cut out.

One end cut, folded and stuck together.

The structure is done and it is time to start decorating.

First on goes some double sided tape and ribbon.

Holly helped with the ribbon and arranged the colours.

Then she set to work adding 6 sheets of Xmas stickers.

No help from her brothers this year.

So Holly even glued on the West Ham parts in the middle section for them.

The finished Giant Cracker for 2021.

Holly's Superstar Final Week

Well that's it, the kids are all finished for school for 2020 and who knows whether they will go back straight away in 2021 with the latest spike in Covid-19 with the Omicron variant. Holly has had an amazing final week at school receiving multiple awards. 

It all started with her receiving "Star of the Week" for arts and crafts and mixing of colours. It turns out she did this amazing winter scene painting which the teachers reduced down and printed on a Xmas card for us. It looks amazing. Then she was awarded a medal for completing her Santa run at school.

As if all of that wasn't enough, today she received her first medal from her gymnastics club for balancing. She is really loving her new gymnastics club at the Carousel in Shotgate and seems to be making really good progress in a very short space of time.

This is the amazing picture that Holly painted at school and had printed on a Xmas card.

And then she picked up 2 medals this week for her Santa Run and for her Gymnastics.

Plus "Star of the Week" award.

These are the latest medals to Holly's collection.

Sports Ambassador Update

Holly has finally received her Sports Ambassador badge which she has to wear on her uniform with pride everyday. Apparently she has already had a couple of meetings at school and has put forward some ideas for doing races or sponsored mileage events. That's my girl, eventually I will get her proposing that the whole school have to do Crossfit workouts in the curriculum!

Holly proudly wearing her Sports Ambassador broach.

Close up of her new broach.

Holly has also brought home this really good profile sheet from school which is all about her, what she is good at and what she likes. Really interesting read for me and sums her up well.

Holiday's Are Coming - Coca-Cola Xmas Truck

Everyone always says that you know it is getting near Xmas once you see the Coca-Cola advert on TV. Well we were fortunate enough to see the real truck at Sainsbury's today so it is definitely beginning to feel like Xmas. Unfortunately the boys were not interested in coming with us as they have seen the truck before, so it was just me, Tina and Holly. Ironically it is the boys however who are drinking all of the free coke which we got from our visit.

More Elf Updates

Latest updates from Holly's Elf Rainbow:

Kindly bringing some extra chocolates for the Xmas tree.

Pooping chocolates in a glass!

A snowball fight with one of Holly's dolls.

Destroying a whole box of Malteaser chocolates!

Holly's New Hair & Rainbow Updates

Holly has previously had little trims of her hair but never a full cut and restyle until now. She has really wanted her hair styled and a fringe added, so Tina booked her in earlier this week. Her new hair really suits her if you ask me, even if all her school mates were asking who she was and where Holly had gone!!!

Also Rainbow the Elf is now on Day 8 and I am proud to say that I still haven't had to do anything with him yet (what is going on!!!!). Tina has done it every night still and his latest antics include wrapping himself, Kitkat Jenga and making marshmallows.

Holly's new hair cut with a fringe.

Holly says this is her school teacher look.

At school they thought she was a different person.

Rainbow the Elf wrapped in a wrap!

Then playing Kitkat Jenga with one of Holly's dolls.

And then Day 8 was making mini marshmallows.

 

1st Real Xmas Tree - Griswold Moment

I have always wanted to have a real Xmas tree but it is something Tina has never been keen on. It was on my bucket list as I just couldn't imagine going through life without ever experiencing a real tree and having that excitement of going out with the kids to pick our tree and bring it home (call it the Griswold experience!). Then there is the more natural look of real trees and and the lovely smell that they leave in your house as well (not that I can smell much). Well this year that dream came to reality as Tina was outnumbered 4-1 and therefore we have left the fake tree boxed up and went to Barleylands to pick our tree 1st "real" tree today.

The tree that we purchased looked about the same size as our old fake tree when we saw it at Barleylands, however once we got it home we realised it is bloody huge and actually touches the ceiling! But who cares, it looks and smells amazing. We have found out that it is a lot more difficult to put your baubles etc on the branches of real trees and they definitely don't seem as strong, but I still love it. Fingers crossed that I am not left scared with picking up tonnes of needles day after day!

Our first ever real Xmas tree being packaged (doesn't look too big does it?).

Me and Holly at Barleylands where we got the tree from.

Proud Dad moment carrying my first ever Xmas tree on my shoulder (not quite Arnie like in Commando).

At home and we get to work unpacking the tree and getting it in it's mount.

Then we start to realise just how bog the tree is.

Holly helped decorate the tree and needed to stand on the sofa to help reach parts of it.

And finally this is our finished, fully decorated "real" Xmas tree.

Return of Rainbow the Elf

Holly is still working her way through trying out all of her birthday presents from last week. One her her favourites is this Orbzee foot spa thing which she wanted. It is basically a foot spa that circulates this gel type balls over your feet. She absolutely loves it and sits in it for hours whilst watching TV or playing on the IPAD.

Holly has also finally finished her Lego Friends set from Nicky, Amy and Zoe which took us 3 days to work through the 6 or 7 bags of Lego. Holly built the whole thing herself with me just overlooking her. She absolutely loves Lego and plays with it in a creative and role playing way far more than the boys ever did.

In other news we are now in to December which means Rainbow the Elf has returned. Day 1 was nice and easy as the Elf brought the kids all their advent calendars. For the 4 days after this I have not had to lift a finger once to arrange the Elves antics. Amazingly Tina has done them all so far which has been really nice as in years gone by it has always fallen on my shoulders. Admittedly she has regurgitated a few of my old ideas with the frying eggs and the toilet roll snowman.

Holly chilling in her Orbzee foot spa that she got for her birthday.

The foot spa circulates gel type balls over your feet.

Holly loved building her Lego Friends set and couldn't wait to start playing with it.

After 3 days it is finally finished.

Inside the house with the horse stables below.

As we are now in to December the Xmas bedding has gone on and Holly also now has a new Xmas sleeping mask (notice big bear wearing her old sleeping mask).

Rainbow the Elf has returned and bought the kids advent calendars. Annoyingly Holly's novelty poppit calendar hasn't arrived yet as it is coming from bloody China!

Day 2 and Rainbow brought Holly a Christmas treee for her bedroom.

Day 3 and Rainbow cooked some eggs for breakfast.

Day 4 and Rainbow unfortunately had a positive lateral flow test for Covid-19.

Day 5 and Rainbow build a snowman out of toilet rolls.