A few more Christmas photos

As we are nearing the time when talking about Christmas is officially uncool these next couple of blogs are the final photos of our somewhat interesting Christmas...

Never one to miss out on dressing up

Off to Nursery's Christmas party

Singing songs for Christmas - Della is clearly confused that I am at nursery with her!

Santa came to nursery and brought Della a fishing net for the bath - it is very well used

Hmm... Why is this pencil not working?!

It's a table leg thats why - this is also a very well loved present from GranAnne and Granda. Lots of drawing and snack eating happens here

Della talks to Granda in Norway

Festive interlude

A few weeks ago Della learnt to fake sneeze. She does this at any point, even in the middle of the night...

Christmas day in Durham

After a lovely morning at home we loaded up the car and arrived in Durham just in time for lunch. We were joined by eight adults and two babies. It was a full Christmas dinner as you would expect including turkey, pork, yorkshire puddings and the worlds best gravy! Della got quite excited by stuffing balls. The photo below is taken moments before the 'eye' incident. I think the lumps of stuffing on her tray are what entered my eyeball! 

The whole family round the table, a bit blurry but I couldn't see what I was doing!

Ethan and Della enjoy giving as much as receiving

Ethan in a box

Della in a box

This flute is still adding harmonious tunes to our home...

Having a cuddle with two chunky ones

A nice sit down before bedtime

The last photo of Christmas day - at A&E

Christmas morning in York

We woke on Christmas day at home in York. It was a lovely morning. It started with Christmas stockings in bed (with tea of course!)

Della especially liked the bungee cords that Simon dropped in Simon's stocking...

Even Gordon gets in on the action!

It was lovely and cosy, even if we didn't look our best!!

Then we went downstairs to see what Santa had dropped down our chimney. Even though there were many many presents under the tree Della was most excited to see that there was a bike just her size. She ignored everything else and ran straight to it (in the dressing gown that Gran Helen got her) very carefully just looking at it at first...

Then trying to get on it even though it was still in it's box...

Then very happily cruising around the house on it...

After all the bike fun it was time for more presents, and Della had quite a few to open!! 

Some special treats from NY

Plastic fastener hell!!

Pre-Christmas in Cambridge

 Once Della was feeling a little better (thank you antibiotics and calpol) she picked up a bit and was happy to have some fun in Cambridge. One of the things she quite enjoyed was being pushed around by Uncle Nick in the new printer box, and then pushing Hugo (he needed a name and seemed like a Hugo) around too...

This is the first time Della has shown any interest in a dummy - the doctor said it would be relieving the pressure in her infected ears

Come on Hugo

Then in the grafton Centre Della enjoyed looking at the big shiny tree...

No matter how poorly you are feeling there is always time to have a swing holding hands...

Time for snacks on the sofa watching some telly with Uncle Nick

And Gran Helen gets one of the now legendary long cuddles from Della...

Well, what a festive week it's been...

Firstly, apologies for the total lack of blog posts. The reason why will become apparent. This is a quick run-down of what has happened over the past week: 

• Thursday 20th - Della became poorly and couldn't go to nursery
• Friday 21st am - It was Simon's birthday and we celebrated with presents and cuddles
• Friday 21st am - Della is still poorly, I have to go to work and Simon has a six hour cuddle with Della (as she get's a fever and just wants to sleep). Then goes to the Doctor. 
• Friday 21st pm - Della is still poorly, we debate whether we should travel to Cambridge. Uncle Nick has a very long cuddle with Della while we pack to car up and decide yes, we should go to Cambridge
• Friday 21st late pm - on the drive to Cambridge Della sleeps but the car starts mis-behaving and we have to travel slowly

• Saturday 22nd - We are in cambridge which is lovely but Della is still poorly and the car is broken
• Saturday 22nd pm - the car is eventually in a garage and Della is on her way to an emergency doctor
• Saturday 22nd pm - Car is fixed, Della is on antibiotics. We do not sleep
• Sunday 23rd - We have a lovely day in Cambridge pottering around and playing with toys and books. Della is still not well
• Sunday 23rd pm - We leave cambridge and have an easy journey home until Della wakes and we need to stop and cuddle her. One of the car headlights is out
• Monday 24th - Della is getting better. We have a nice day at home and do some final preparations for Christmas and get the car headlights fixed (we also watch the Snowman and Snowdog)
• Christmas Day - We wake and unwrap some presents. Della is excited about her new bike. We then drive to Durham, Della arrives in a good mood
• Christmas Day pm - We sit down for dinner. Della pokes me in the eye and I am blinded. We then share presents.
• Christmas Day late pm - I go to A&E as I am in severe pain with my eye. My eyeball and pupil have been badly lacerated. I must put antibiotic ointment in it and wear a patch. 
• Boxing Day - I cannot see and am in quite a bit of pain. 
• Saturday 29th - We leave Durham after a lovely (if interesting visit) and settle back in York
• Sunday 30th - I can see. Me and Della have a fun day out while Simon has some time to himself in the garage
• New Years Eve - I am eventually able to blog. 

More festive photos will follow later....

Happy Birthday Daddy

Although Della is a little under the weather at the moment she still managed, in her own way to give her presents to her Daddy on hisbirthday. This involved her chucking cards and wrapped items at him this morning while having a snuggle.

Photos of the shortest day of the year, and Simons birthday, to follow.

Brrrrr....

It's getting cold. For the past week or so we have had minus temperatures every morning and I've been thinking about poor Della's little legs on the back of the bike on her way to nursery. So we got her a new snowsuit and she loves it. Here she is this morning playing in it before putting her helmet on and heading out to play with her friends.

Notice the christmas tree...

I can even run in it, with Gordon

Stop taking pictures and let me go to nursery!

Not Sensible

I have been trying to upload this for a while now and each time I do it the export 'unexpectedly terminates'. I think it might be that it was originally called 'spam', not sensible.

I'm sure you will agree it is worth the wait, listen out for a fun new word, although do not try this at home with your own children...

Della has a new den

Della has a most favourite thing in the whole world to do (after hugging and biting Gordon so hard he can't wait for Della to go to bed) and that is drawing. Normally she is most entertained by a biro and some junk mail but occasionally she brings beautiful masterpieces home from nursery. We have been wondering where her gallery should be. We came up with the little area between the sink and door in the kitchen (the perfect hideout for a little girl!).

As of this morning this is Della's new den and she loves it. Complete with her pictures on the wall, a cosy mat for sitting on, some books, a blanket and some of her stuffed friends...   

Come on Zebra, it's time to play

Please can I sleep here?

It's even big enough for Dada

Although reading books is tiring...

Too tired to eat...

Here Della tries her hardest to stay awake for yoghurt...

Aunty Chalkley

..also stayed with us last weekend. Della had some fun playing with her and doing some drawing

.

A magical little moment

Yesterday it started snowing.

When I picked Della up from nursery it was dark and the snow was dancing around the street lights. When Della saw this she stood, nailed to the floor, pointing with her mouth wide open. The light was beautiful and Della was so content with what she could see she just kept looking back at me and smiling. I didn't have my phone or camera to take a picture of her, but that just makes it a bit more special.

More from the weekend

Here are a few more shots of Della playing with Granda Andrew....

Just doing some work...

Actually I'm watching a video of Bluet and finding it very funny!

In a minute I'll bop my head on this horse and cry a bit

Someone has lost a glove. 

I feel a bit small...

Della at the park with grandad

Grandad Andrew visited this weekend and spent some time with Della at the park. The sun was very low which made the visit quite filmic...