So Grown Up!

Doesn't he look smart and all grown up! John is off out tonight to his Snowball dance at school!

Not to be outdone it was Andrew's P7 Christmas Ball last week

As you can probably guess I have not managed to do any kind of Christmas Journal this year due to various things cropping up - not least getting a cold, having a tooth removed which then became infected. Maybe I will find time to do something with the photos I will (hopefully) take over the Christmas period!!!!

One bit of good news though - I passed my recent Open University exam with a Grade 2 pass, so I am really pleased. Only one more module to go not before I get my degree, a BA in Social Sciences. The module I am currently studying is Living Political Ideas and I am enjoying it so far.

Advent Goodies

It's now officially Advent, well actually has been now for a few days, and have I started doing any kind of journal yet - No! Its that time again - I have an assignment due in on Saturday and am only half way there. Needed a break to open some advent goodies though. Over at UK Christian Crafters we are having an Advent Swap again this year. We have to send 25 small pressies to someone to open one each day - only this year there was a slight twist as some of them had to fit certain challenges - and boy was it a challenge.

Here is my lovely parcel

And here are my goodies for the first three days:

Day 1: was for a challenge on Advent, something related to numbers - I got number stickers, wooden numbers and numbered tape ribbon.

Day 2: I got Bible stickers and a Dip Dap - oh to be like a child again.

Day 3: was for a challenge on Joseph, something made of wood - a wooden house that opens up and some Nativity 3D stuff.



It certainly beats a chocolate advent calendar.

Hallelujah!

Thought I would share this with you today

Christmas is approaching

Yes, it is that time of year again, the shops are full of things to buy, Christmas music is playing all the time, trying to get us into the festive mood. Andrew is going about the house singing the songs he has to learn for the school Christmas Show. Do I feel in the mood yet? No!!!! Maybe because the house is still in a mess, the builders have finally finished the bedroom today - so I have started to put the stuff back into it - the decorating will have to wait until the plaster is really dry. No progress yet on the outside of the house - obviously scaffolding needs to mature before it is used.

Anyway back to Christmas - I have done a Christmas Journal now for the past 3 years and am not sure what to do this year. I found this site Create by Faith, they are doing an Advent Journal, which I have downloaded. It looks interesting but I know that I do not have a lot of time this year and art journals will really have to wait until another year.

Cheryl Johnson is also running 12 Days of Christmas photography workshop, which I have signed up for as it is FREE!!! I did one of Cheryl's workshops ages ago now and really enjoyed it so hoping this might inspire me to get my camera out again.

Are any of you doing any Christmas Journals this year?

At last

my builders have arrived! We have been waiting on them coming since June, but they have finally started. We are not really getting anything major done just lots of little things - which still seem to be causing a lot of disruption. Our bedroom has rising damp which they have to fix, window frames need replaced and painting need done. The windows are on the third floor so scaffolding is needed! The scaffolding went up on Wednesday, but nothing else done yet - I hope it is only because of the high winds and that they will be back on Monday. We emptied our bedroom of everything (luckily we have a large house) and yesterday they came to take the plaster off the wall and fix the damp - again hopefully they are coming back on Monday to replaster the wall. We are in a right mess at the moment.

Amidst all this our church held its first ever Messy Church . This is church with a difference - held not on a Sunday, but on a Saturday morning, it is aimed at families worshipping together by doing crafts, games, songs and stories and of course food!! Our theme was Creation and we made butterflies, animal masks, stained glass windows, bookmarks and planted bulbs. It was very well attended with lots of the mums from Toddler coming (and even bringing the dads). But one think I forgot was to take my camera! Roll on the next one - Messy Christmas.

Holiday in Moffat

 In half term we went to Moffat for a weeks holiday, which was really good. Moffat is a lovely town with some nice woollen mill shops and a super toffee shop! 

On the whole the weather was not bad for this time of year. Although on the Wednesday we woke up to ice and frost everywhere - we had to scrape the car windscreen. A bit unseasonably cold!

So of course what do you do on a cold day  - you wrap up warmly and go for a 3 mile walk along by the river! It was gloriously sunny - but freezing!!

Some letters

The next prompt from True Stories was about letter writing. I must admit I don't really write many letters these days, I keep in touch with people mainly by email or telephone. I decided to have a bit of fun and write some short letters.

Dear Computer,
   Please don't break down on me. How did I ever manage without you. You keep me connected with so many wonderful people.
               Love  Me xx


Dear Fiona
    We are tired of lying around in this basket. We would really like to be all flat and folded in drawers. Please stop writing in that book and come and iron us.
    Love your ironing pile xx

Dear Washing Machine,
   I am so glad you are working again, that is wasn't anything too serious. We have been together a long time now and I would hate to be without you.
   Love your biggest fan xx


Dear Fiona
   Stop faffing about on that computer and come and read us. We contain all sorts of information and can fire your imagination and give you an escape.
    Love the books on your shelf xx

So who would you write a letter to today?

Mel asked me what I am studying with the OU. My current module is called 'Living Political Ideas' and will (hopefully) be my last module for a BA in Social Sciences. I have already done an Introduction to Social Sciences, Exploring Psychology, Living in Globalised World.