Our version of Christmas 2013

On the 23rd December we woke up at 05:00 and headed to the airport where we met up with our friends.

We left cold and grey Norway and 3 planes and 22 hours later we landed to this:

Beautiful, warm, sunny Thailand!

As always, the boys did great travelling. Once we arrived in Phuket, we took our mini bus transfer to the hotel, checked in, had lunch, then by late afternoon finally hit the beach.

Not too shabby for Christmas Eve!

After the sun went down, and a few Mojitos later, we headed back to change before venturing out for dinner.

Not quite the traditional Christmas food, but exactly what we wanted and needed!

Then 2 very happy, but tired boys zonked right out in the huge bed:))

A perfect start to our alternative celebrations.

Wordless Wednesday - December Photo Dump

Christmas Part 2

So after a morning of relaxing, we had the traditional porridge with cinamon and raisins for lunch with the compulsary red christmas brus!!

We also remembered to set a bowl outside for Jule Nisse and a carrot for the reindeer!

Then it was on with their new Christmas shirts:))

Yes - I did dress my children in snowman and reindeer shirts ...and they loved them;)

Then onto the VERY important business of Father Christmas visiting. This was a tricky one. Traditionally it has been Stig's thing. However, this year Tim asked if he could do it! He was very keen and excited. How could I say no.

So I put the outfit ready for him, distracted Tae and he got dressed up, sneaked outside and banged on the door.

It was total magic. 

Both boys smiling for different reasons. Tim put on a deep voice and did the whole 'have you been a good boy talk' that his dad had been doing with him for years. Oh yes, I may have teared up - but in a good, proud way.

He even took him to 'the chair' Stig aways used when in the role!

At first Tae said 'its Tim', but after denials, he soon got taken in and totally believed in the moment.

 Tim rocked his role and was so good with his little brother. The outfit did not completely drown him either so he can carry on for a few more years yet!!

Christmas Part 1

Ok - I have been switched off for a while and not been good at blogging our lives! 

In order to catch up and record the memories I'm doing a serious of major photo dumps - Mostly to record Christmas 2014.

We did do the run up as normal. Farmor came to visit and we made gingerbread figures and other christmas biscuits. We watched festive films and decorated the Christmas tree. This year went in a different direction for the tree. Tim chose a white fake tree and all the purple decorations himself (look out for photo evidence;) It was quite 'special' and brought lots of smiles to my boys faces (proof that I am a good mother;) We also did the calendars and decorated gingerbread houses. We ate traditional Norwegian food early in December when Farmor visited and traditional English food on a quick weekend to visit my folks in England.

However, overall, we kinda chose to skip the whole Christmas thing. 

It would have been too hard and for one year a little change was a good thing. 

We could not completely avoid the festivities as a certain soon to be 5 year old was very excited about Father Christmas visiting and new the whole drill!!

So the boys and I celebrated Christmas on the 21st December by ourselves. 

We started early with the stockings. I am quite proud I managed to do their annual photo books for them and also ordered a special framed canvas for each boy. So this is how it played out......

I did miss sharing the magic with Stig, but joy, laughter and fun was had by the boys and they were soooo happy and proud of their new framed pictures!