Daviestribe Advent

It's busy here as usual! Christmas festivities are under way & it's all rather exciting! We all LOVED the carol service we attended at Trent Vineyard Church last Sunday. Such a magical atmosphere combined with the best singing of Christmas carols I've ever experienced (amazing music including classical instruments as well as Trent Vineyard's usual drums, bass, guitars & keyboards plus fabulous Gospel choir who sang lovely arrangements) as well as great dramas & video clips. We were served a cup of tea by Annie-Joy's school teacher & the kids enjoyed eating the chocolate cake at the start of the service. Perfect!

Timmy & Luke had a Roman Day at school. I had fun making them some togas & Emperor garlands. They had a really good day with the other children in their year.

Jordan's year group had a similar themed day earlier in the year too when they all dressed up as Victorians. Jordan was a chimney sweep! I did dirty up his shirt with black facepaint but he still looks rather too clean in this picture! The boys all really enjoy their new school- it's so creative & exciting for them! They love it!

Father Christmas came to visit at the college family Christmas meal where they all received a gift before the whole college community gathered for a service in the chapel. Jordan is still enthusiastic about the whole thing (as were all the older teenage kids who were there). It was quite special actually!

The Davies house is full of Advent calendars of varying kinds. I love the numbered tea lights we have this year. We light them at tea time & have a candle lit tea!

It's been lovely & frosty here lately. The downside is that it has been very icy. I came off my bike on black ice a couple of weeks ago & a friend of ours from the same street as us slipped & broke his ankle! We are all taking extra care now!

The Christmas DVDs are out of the box in the garage & we are all enjoying a bit of festive nostalgia.

The Playmobil nativity (which we also use as an Advent calendar taking pieces each day out of the little numbered stockings that hang on our fireplace) is helping us all retell the Christmas story. This year's nativity has an increased number of Roman soldiers included as the boys were keen to consolidate their knowledge. AJ is looking forward to the arrival of the Wise Men & their camel (she can see its legs sticking out of the top of the stocking!)

I made a festive hat for the college spouses Christmas party. It's a Christmas pudding! I made the pompom while watching the kids having their swimming lessons. I'd forgotten how much fun making them is- and so simple too! I won joint second place for my efforts!

Lee & I got dressed up for the college Christmas ball. It was such a fun night! Great food, fab company, lots of laughs & a chance to dance and have fun together with all the other students & staff.

This year we have only been to watch one school Christmas play- Miss AJ's. It was a very slick, professional performance by the youngest members of the school. Annie-Joy was a fantastic musician, very enthusiastic especially with the coconuts! The boys have enjoyed carol concerts & the school Year 3 nativity without us which has been a mixed blessing for me. Next week we shall put up the Christmas tree & decorations! The boys are happy that our new house has a real chimney because Father Christmas has a way to get in to deliver their gifts! I hope everyone else is enjoying Advent preparations too.