Lost and Found

Yesterday Chaplin and I went from store to store looking for a ball.

Not too small, not too big. So we searched in Tescos, Kids Toy Store, John Lewis - no luck, then finally at Debenhams we found one! Now we were ready for our extreme sporting event that Chaplin named "Kick around the Surface" or known as "football" in England, "Soccer" at home.

UGGH! We got to the park only to discover that somewhere Chaplin has lost one mitten. So our game was very short due to cold hands, because "Kick around the Surface" sometimes involves hands more than feet.

Today Chaplin said "it's okay mommy, maybe someone will find my mitten", and he was right. We went back to Debenhams and they had found his mitten and we went directly to the park to have a longer play with the ball.

Our Traditions

Open Gifts before Christmas with Grandpa Boyd.
thank you Grandpa and Grandma Boyd, Uncle Neacail and Auntie Cailin!

Make a Gingerbread House

Purchased from Tesco and Chaplin would not let me eat even one candy "no no mommy, they are decorations!" I've got to get more control next year!

Pick out the best tree
Chaplin thought this stick could be planted and grow into a giant tree ... he had visions of the one in Rockefeller Centre

The Meaning of Christmas is observed
We visited the Great Malvern Priory, it's over 800 years old. The steps that Chaplin, Fran and I are sitting on were constructed in the late 1400's! Harder to believe this, but the Priory structure started in 1085.


Advent Calendar
The term "Advent" means "coming" and is a season of expectation and hope, the time of waiting for the coming of the Messiah that is celebrated at Christmas... and nothing says that more than a PLAYMOBIL: Thugs and Police station complete with hand-cuffs!


Christmas Eve Ornament
last year it was Chubaka
this year... a little drummer boy!

Putting out Cookies & Wine and writing a little note to Santa.

The note was a nice touch! Santa wrote back to Chaplin and he was thrilled! he kept that little sticky note as proof that Santa came to Pirton Court.

Stockings

In Vancouver Chap had been worried that Santa wouldn't find our place because we had no fireplace. But see here, Santa found us!

Open Gifts
play with gifts.

Thank you Rod and Grandma & Melanie Landymore.
Thank you Uncle Mark and Auntie Coutrney!

Family Photo
only one take!







New Years Eve

Our Anniversary
The best New Years Eve we've ever had, in a tiny pub with just ourselves - and about 40 strangers!

Best Wishes for 2010!

Streets of Mayhem

The most prolonged spell of winter weather for nearly 30 years has caused chaos across the city! Yesterday's white snow turned to slush and then slick sheets of ice.

The streets became visions of mayhem!

Adam caught a ride home, it took him over 3 hours to travel the usual distance of 20 minutes. He saw buses slamming into each other, cars skidding in all directions and ones just abandoned. Lucky he got home at all.

Today Chaplin and I went on a walk to find Central Library.

With careful footing we walked about 10 minutes and came across St. John's Garden. The garden space still had lots of snow for us to kick around in and get some exercise before crossing the street to the magnificently homed Central Library. The building is not old by British standards, it's just over 150 years young.

This monument is a "memorial to the King's Liverpool Regiment" showing three soldiers... but when I look close at this photo I see FOUR soldiers. Look at that little soldier in front kicking snowballs!

Snowflakes filled the Sky

Chaplin always wants it to snow.

Today his wish for white weather came true.

He woke up and looked outside and told me I must turn and look there was something going on outside of great importance!

SNOW.... FALLING IN BIG FLUFFY FLAKES.

He spent the morning looking out the window and finally to his delight I bundled him (and myself) up and headed out to find the Williamson Sqaure where they have put up an outdoor rink. The skate rink looked fun, and we could have rented skates for £ 5. each OR play snowball fights for free... Chaplin was just as interested in making snow balls, and using me as his target.

It took us about 45 minutes to walk the short distance to the Square because Chaplin was determined to catch every flake that fell in front of him - with his tongue.

Arrival

ARRIVAL! Saturday January 2nd, 2010

From Pirton Court to Liverpool with 3 suitcases, 2 lap top bags, one stroller, 1 backpack and a kid named Chaplin (two train changes and a taxi ride later) we opened the front door to our new home in under four hours!