Father Christmas

Since the children had been particularly good this year Aparna, Sally and I decided to take them to see Father Christmas. It was the real Santa, no question about it. Just look at him!

Father Christmas told us all about the North Pole, the Reindeer and how the elves were busy working to make ready for Christmas deliveries. Santa asked all of the children who had been good to come see him and then he gave them a gift as they sat on his knee.

As we left we exited through Narnia and saw the witch and the lion.

After our visit to see Father Christmas the kids came back to our house for a little homemade gift exchange. We all had a great time and were definitely feeling the Christmas spirit.

London Latter Day Saint Temple Nativity

Tonight for our family home evening we went to see the Nativity at the London Latter Day Saint Temple. The Nativity is simple, but beautiful and there is a wonderful peace that you feel when you are there.

This year we did 25 random acts of Christmas kindness (RACK'd) which was a great way for our family to take the focus away from ourselves and project it outwards to random people in need of some help and smiles. This really helped our family to feel the spirit of Christmas and the love that our Saviour Jesus Christ has for each one of us.

And wouldn't you know, a Christmas miracle happened whilst we were there. Sister Cassasola was one of our favourite missionaries and it just so happened that we saw her at the Visitor's Centre on the eve of her departure home. It was fun to have a chat and say our final farewells to her. What an outstanding woman she is!

Our visit this year was not as much fun as walking around Temple Square all lit up at Christmas time, but the spirit was just as strong and the kids loved being together as a family at the Temple. This is what makes Christmas special for me, not the gifts, but the time spent as a family reflecting on the great gift of the life and atonement of Jesus Christ and the blessings we share as a family.

Church Nativity

Adessa was so excited that she was asked to be the star in the Church Nativity this year. Being the star also meant singing a special solo in the Nativity, which Ads thoroughly enjoyed. 

Ads singeing her special song.

The final number in the Nativity included some signing which the children always enjoy. This was our 3rd Nativity this year and certainly our most intimate and spiritual. William opted out of participating and sat on my lap instead, he was meant to be an animal, which simply was not going to happen. Let's see how he does next year, all fingers and toes crossed.

William's School Nativity

I was SUPER stoked for William's Nativity performance this year as it was his second year and really his year to shine. It wasn't long before the children entered and just as last year William was the only child NOT wearing his costume. William has this thing about clothes and wearing them, a daily battle I fight very carefully with him and a battle his teachers obviously had lost. John and I were gobsmacked, but still hopeful that he would have his moment to shine. Shine, oh shine he did, we just hadn't expected it to be as he went crawling towards the manger of baby Jesus only to be chased down and retracted by his teacher. Have mercy! Wherever William goes his reputation precedes him. Cute and cheeky, but exhausting.

Since William would not participate as he was meant to do, he was given an instrument to play. I looked away briefly and when I looked back he was playing his instrument laying on his back with his feet in the air. I didn't know whether I should laugh or cry.

The teacher dragging him back after retracting him from his mad dash to the manger.

How can you be cross at "the face of an angel," which his teacher says he has.

Was it the Nativity Play I had expected? No. But I still love the fact that in England you can have a Nativity Play in the public schools, even if my kid is the one not in costume playing his instrument upside down.

Breaking Dawn Part II

Keeping with tradition Jenny and Thandi invited me to join them for the opening night of Breaking Dawn Part II. I was so happy to have friends to finish this film journey with. The movie was average, but the outing was awesome. Thanks for the fun night, girls.