Oh Christmas Tree

And its finally up ! My friend had offered to take me for a real one after work tonight but I had already decided, and bought this one from Argos yesterday.

Oscar was more interested in the mince pies than the tree decorating, which I suppose is a sign of him getting that little bit older. He did tell me it was beautiful though.

Next weekend is a full one so my plans for this Saturday night are to snuggle up under the twinkly lights and relax.

Show Night

This was a busy day with work and shopping and out for dinner, after I had dropped Oscar off at the theater for his 2 hour rehearsal right before his Christmas show.

No photo's of the show allowed of course so here is a wee picture of my boy and his certificate.

He was very nervous my little thespian however he seemed less nervous than previous years. I of course was biting my nails every time he was on stage.
The Stage School owner informed us that they have something 'special' lined up for next years performance, so I am wondering what it will be.
Oscar chatted all the way home in the car, asked to watch a movie when we got in (about 10.30pm) and promptly fell asleep.
I am so proud of him, for what he does and who he is.

Busy Winter Days

Ten days already! How did that happen? Two weeks left until Christmas Eve. Being involved with church means that this can be a busy and fairly social time of year. I have my evening dresses and pearl choker dusted off in readiness.

We were babysitting for friends after school and although I am quite happy to help I was not at all sure I was up to the challenge of 4 kids at once, especially when one of the brood has extra care needed. Anyway as it turns out bless his little heart he was tired and cosied up beside me for most of the time. As for the other 3, some very expensive toys or computer games could not have kept them more occupied than some cardboard boxes.

After that we went to my Mum's for dinner, and since it was totally, totally, totally freezing outside we were extremely pleased to find hot mince and tatties ready for us when we got in.

Oscar was watching 'Home Alone' for the first time here

I finally made a decision on the Christmas tree and went to Argos after work and bought an artificial tree. No time to put it up tonight or tomorrow though, so its going to be Saturday evening at the earliest.

When we got home Oscar and I put on our onesies (his is Scooby Doo and mine is pink and white polka dot), got in to my bed and cuddled up with a Christmas story.

This is a lovely book, not least because it actually tells us that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and we are all free to have The light shine inside us forever. I cant fail to see that light shining from my little one as we cuddle up with sweet stories on a cold winter night.
Valerie

Pinkie Pain

Well, its been a funny old kind of day. I knitted some Christmas baubles (pics to follow) at work, and was very pleased with the results. In general my mood was quite low though. I was recently diagnosed with a bone disorder which causes me an enormous amount of pain. I am taking 2 kinds of medication to alleviate the  symptoms some what, but the efficiency of the medication is not the same every day and today was a not very efficient day.

It would have been sensible to go home and lie down, but I very rarely choose the sensible thing (where I am concerned, not anyone else), and decided I had had enough of white walls in every corner of the flat.

before

after

Oscar came home crying and Muma had to get the first aid kit out.

He shut his finger in the heavy school gate coming out of after school club.

I didn't dare say it at the time but there is a very high possibility of that little nail coming off.

Luckily it was his left hand that was hurt because his homework was to go on a 'wintery walk' and draw or photograph what you saw,

the city lights and the moon reflected in the sea

Tonight is night 4 of Hanukkah and its still very lovely lighting the candles and saying the blessings. I had intended to make some Latkes tonight, but with one thing and another I never managed to get to it. I had eggs cooked in oil, does that count I wonder?

I have a busy few days/evenings coming up again and although I love this time of year I really dislike being run off my feet. I haven't decided on opening times during the Christmas break, but I cant see Oscar wanting to hang out in the shop with me, I guess we will struggle muddle through as best we can.

I am exhausted (and sore) now, and I had planned to eat my fudge and read my new book, from the comfort of my cosy wee bed, however the fudge seems to have gone missing??? I am 99% sure I haven't eaten it already.

Ah well never mind, there is still mint ice-cream.

Valerie

ps, I wish the kitten wasn't so interested in the Menorah, its an accident waiting to happen.

Sunday / Sabbath

And rest in the Word I did. Jordan is our new Sunday school teacher and he kicked us off with a  fabulous new approach today. I could sense some resistance in the room to this new guy shaking things up a little but I for one am so happy. Jordan has asked that we back up each answer with a line or verse of scripture. What an interesting challenge. We somehow managed to do it. Next week we are reading from Revelation, I am excited for the prep.

I had  half planned to put the Christmas tree up tonight, but tiredness and a lack of decision yesterday on whether to buy a real or fake tree kind of put the brakes on that. Today I am leaning towards real.

We had Elder Salinas and Elder Neideich over to eat dinner with us tonight and it was lovely to have a full dinner table with lots of chat. Poor wee Oscar was really tired from the late night last night but he made it through. I cooked cottage pie, carrots and broccoli, and we had chocolate trifle and strawberry gateaux for desert. The Elders tried my alcohol free wine, but went straight onto the Schloer. Not big fans I would say.

This week has been quite a week of rich food and fizzy drinks and so my body is yelling for clean simple food. I have spent some time looking up low cost and healthy organic recipes and have a wee bunch to try, mind you, I dont suppose it will stop me eating my Extra Special clotted cream fudge (a birthday gift from a dear friend who remembered chocolate gives me a migraine.

I haven't taken any photos today so here are a few from last night. Isn't Oscar's costume the cutest thing ever?

Glow Sticks :)

Birthday Party

What can I say? The party was wonderful with lots and lots of guests, family and friends, old and new. Oscar had a wonderful time, he had other kids to play with. We had a music quiz and the guys team won, we ate a tonne of party food (anything you can shove on a cocktail stick), and I danced my wee red leg warmers off.

Its good to be home, I am comfortable in bed with a low lamp on and the soft sighs of Oscar's breathing. Tomorrow/ today is the Sabbath, and so we can rest in the Word.
Valerie
xxx

Welcome To December

The day started with Oscar opening his Advent Calendar. I do the chocolate thing, but the same as last year I found M&S do a Nativity Scene one, which is exactly how I think it should be. Barbie, Peppa Pig and Spiderman are all well good, but the more we can bring our Savior into our celebrations the better.
And speaking of celebrations, we are going to be trying a little bit of Hanukkah this year. I have ordered a simple Hanukkah kit from Amazon (due tomorrow) and for Oscar, this lovely little book.

What I like about this book is that it covers both Hanukkah and Christmas. I find a lot of the Jewish customs very comforting for some reason. Perhaps its as simple as feeling closer to our Lord, and trying to understand the world he lived in. Slightly off topic but our women's group intend to celebrate Passover in 2016 so that will be a new and exciting first for me.

Anyway, today was a work/school day so not much to say on that front, except I made myself a skirt at work. Its somebody's birthday this week (me, me, me) and I am being given an 80's themed birthday party (and why not?), pictures to follow.

After  dinner (chili, rice, sour cream and tortilla chips), we got to work on some artwork for the party.

Oscar, of course was covered in paint, and his school clothes are rolling around in the washing machine right now. Its very rare for us all to craft together these days and honestly, despite having a numb bot from sitting on the floor, I really enjoyed myself. We had an 80's music play list on in the background and we were all singing along.

We were late for a week night coming home so after some cuddles on Mama's bed Oscar went off quite happily to bed (tonight's bedtime story was Samson and Delilah. A good bible story if ever there was one and a welcome change from Noah's Ark 73 nights in a row (I may have exaggerated that a little)

And finally I can report that my bed is getting in to the festive spirit.

Super cute, right? I bought this bedding set for a few £'s in the sales last January (from Asda). And I am off to test it out right now.
Night night and thanks for reading Blogmas Day 1
Valerie

Monday 29th December 2014

The view from my window in the morning

Faded flowers in the church foyer

A View Of The River From Church

A Cheeky Little Cat On The Garden Wall

Candles And Our Savior

A Selfie In My Dressing Gown

My Bedside At Night

General Conference

▲ General Conference ▲

The Church Of JESUS CHRIST Of Latter-Day Saints General Conference

Otherwise known as - How to coerce your 5 year old to stay and listen.

I love General Conference, and I find the name very stiff and a bit misleading, 

so here is a brief description of what its all about -

General Conference is a semiannual gathering of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), held every April and October at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. During each conference, members of the church gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to sermons from church leaders. It consists of five sessions.

While originating from Salt Lake City, General Conference is considered an international event for the church. The sessions are broadcast worldwide in many languages, primarily through local and international media outlets, and over the internet.

During the conference, Church leaders speak on a variety of spiritual topics. They address Latter-day Saints as well as government, faith and community representatives and other conference guests. Speakers include the worldwide leader of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson, and his counselors in the First Presidency, the governing body of the Church. Talks are also given by the members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and other leaders.

General conference talks vary in length from about 5 to 20 minutes. Topics are not assigned; each speaker chooses his or her own subject matter. Talks usually cover basic gospel principles or address significant issues of the day, with speakers encouraging individuals and families in their efforts to follow Jesus Christ.

After the conference is over, the talks are published on the LDS.org website and reprinted in the Church’s Ensign and Liahona magazines so members can read and study them.

Music for the conference sessions is provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and organists, other Church choirs and the congregation. The music emphasizes gospel themes.

Its an exciting time for Latter Day Saints, and being able to watch at home is brilliant,

but is does mean working hard to keep the little guy within earshot,

but not totally bored.

Drawing is always a good semi quiet activity, 

and I know he was listening because he was answering questions posed and saying 'Amen' at the close of each speaker.

Not quite, so quiet, but still doing the trick, 

his farm set out on the rug under the TV.

And when his attention was really on the wane,

ice-cream and Lego, they always do the trick.

We still have today's live session to watch, 

but we have chosen to watch that with the missionaries tomorrow.

I am going to make a buffet dinner and hopefully that 

will be a part distraction to keep Oscar in the room.

If any LDS Mums/Moms have any tips, please do share.

Now its Sunday evening, I have a bubble bath running,

and a new (in make only) Book to take with me

Its Pink and I can highlight my favorite Scriptures in it 

without feeling guilty (I couldn't write on my QUAD )

Happy General Conference Weekend !

Hugs

Valerie

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Burns Night

▲ HAPPY NEW YEAR ▲

Hello! and Happy New Year. I hope there weren't too many sore heads out there in blog land. Being alcohol free (for religious purposes) sure has its advantages. As an adult, New Year has never been a big deal to me and I have always preferred Christmas.

When I was a child New Year was a whole different thing than it is now. My Dad's family were a 'bunch of extroverts' (according to my Mum who is fairly shy), and so HOGMANAY signaled the start of a 2 week party period. It seemed that every family member took it in turns to host a New Year party, night after night, and what wild parties they were, with singing and dancing and games and heaps of food and drink. Since it was the 1970's all the women wore brightly coloured maxi or midi dresses and the men wore wide lapel suits and kipper ties. The music was a crazy mix of Abba, The Osmonds, traditional Scottish music and bagpipes. Everyone told BILLY CONNOLLY jokes and the men drank BELLS WHISKEY and McEWANS LAGER and the ladies drank Bacardi and Coke or ADVOCAAT and lemonade. My sister and I used to serve the nibbles to everyone in 'Party Susan's' which were tupperware compartment trays used to hold heaps of cheese and pickles and beetroot and pineapple. We loved it, because it meant we could eat as much as we liked and no one ever noticed.

New Year for us now is a lot quieter, but we still had fun.

vintage Tupperware Party Susan, 

the contents of which were mostly demolished by the missionaries

I hope you guys had fun, however you rang in 2014

Valerie

xxx

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