Anna has performed in her first ever Nativity play.
It is very strange to see 20 3 and 4 year-olds all dressed up singing 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' while 40 parents are all snivelling and crying in the audience with the children wondering what the fuss is about!
Anna ended up being a Reindeer. I'm not sure why she wasn't an angel as originally planned but it might have had something to do with the not-so-angelic way that she insisted on watching her fellow performers act and refusing to look at the audience! While all the other reindeer's wore their antlers, Anna also insisted on using them as handle bars for, what looked like, a pretend motorbike! I imagine that the same scenario probably occurred with angel wings or her halo, hence the Reindeer role.
I was actually told that Anna chose to be a Reindeer after having a change of heart about the angel. I'm not sure how much of that is true, especially considering the information above but who wants to be angel anyway?? Boring angels just get to stand there looking angelic while Reindeer's prance around the stage having fun.
The actual content of the Nativity was an interesting portrayal of the Christmas story. It began with the Reindeer's (Anna opened the show!!) singing Jingle Bells while shaking bells manically with one little boy shaking his bells so enthusiastically that he ended up hitting people over the head with them... accidentally on purpose!
The angels then came on and sang some bland song (Who wants to be an angel anyway!!!) but did look beautiful and very angelic.
There was then a short play about Father Christmas who fell over and the mice came to help but a cat chased them away. Then, I think there was a twist to the tale but the child who was due to act out the narrative suddenly got shy and a huge part of the story got missed but it then all concluded with the mice and cat being friends and Father Christmas sat on his sleigh! I'm not sure who wrote this particular play but I am pretty certain that it wasn't Shakespeare!
There was then a short interlude where the cast had a costume change. Well... most of the cast! Apparently Anna refused to take her Reindeer costume off so, for the first time in the history of the Nativity story, there was a Reindeer in the stable amongst Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. I think Anna was just feeling sorry for the donkey who had been forgotten off the cast list so this was her actual portrayal of the often forgotten donkey. She just wasn't able to explain this to anyone!!
The actual story was left unspoken, except for Joseph who kept shouting 'MUM, take my picture. Don't get her in it' while pointing to Mary. The children then all sang 'Away in a Manger' (a more accurate statement would be that the adult helpers sang while the children looked a little confused!) before a photo opportunity was then announced. I would love to publish a photo on here but Anna had her back to the audience throughout!
James didn't know what to expect but he did look rather puzzled throughout. However, despite the slight confusion, it still saw me reduced to tears, seeing my little girl looking so grown up and dressed as a Reindeer!!
Monday, 21 December 2009
Friday, 18 December 2009
Meeting Father Christmas
I felt that I had to write a separate blog post about meeting the big man, just because it felt extra-special and deserved a post all of it's own.
Like the whole weekend at Alton Towers, I wasn't sure what to expect when we met Father Christmas. However, I did live in hope that, being a big tourist attraction, they would be able to conjure up something special. I could never have dreamed about how good it actually was going to be.
Alton Towers had created a forest by buying the entire contents of an actual forest and transporting it to Alton Towers. OK, I admit that this may have been actually better if the forest had been authentic but I can't blame Alton Towers for not having a huge forest placed in the middle of their theme park for 12 months of the year. This forest was filled with Christmas Trees covered in snow. Then, on top of the hill covered in trees, you could make out the rooftop of a wooden lodge with smoke coming out the chimney.
Thankfully, due to an extremely effective system, there was no queueing so, at our allocated time, we made our way to the foot of the forest where a friendly Elf called 'Pumpkin' was there to meet us. She talked to Anna and asked her what she wanted for Christmas. I was a little worried at first as Anna had just ranted at me that she was tired and wanted to sleep but she soon perked up when the topic of presents came up! 'A Doll's house please' said Anna. 'Phew' thought her Mummy!
'Pumpkin' then told Anna to look up towards the hill and there coming down to greet us was a fellow Elf called 'Petal'. She explained that she would take us to see Father Christmas and began to lead us up the hill through the forest of trees. We then came to a crossroads with 3 paths leading off. Petal told us that one path lead to the Elves Workshop while the other lead to Mrs Christmas' kitchen. We even got the faint smell of spiced apple (just to make it smell little more Christmassy!!).
Then, we continued up the hill and came to a huge wooden lodge with an old rocking chair sitting on the veranda and a huge old oak door. We knocked on the door and walked in.
Anna confidently strode in and then stopped very abruptly while staring at Father Christmas sat in his old Armchair, next to a roaring Fire and a hot steaming cup of coffee sat on the table beside him. (Not sure where the Health and Safety inspector was - a hot drink and young children should never be in a 50 mile radius of each other in public spaces according to my old teaching training. I would have liked to see the Risk Assessment but didn't like to ask!!!!). Anna took at least 30 seconds to just stand there with her mouth open, taking it all in. She then shouted 'Look, it's Father Christmas' before racing over him and giving him a huge cuddle. She then took a seat on the stool next to Father Christmas and proceeded to tell him all about the elves and how nice his house was! When Father Christmas could get a word in edge ways, he asked her what she would like and a Dolls house was requested. 'Please can I have a dolls house please. Thank you. A doll's house please thank you very much. please. thank you'.
Father Christmas then explained that Anna would have to go to bed early on Christmas Eve and leave out some carrots for the reindeer and a cake for him. Anna nodded her head and then looked at me and said 'Cake Mummy', making sure I had noted it down somewhere.
As a Thank you for visiting him, he then presented Anna with a small gift to play with until Christmas Eve. At first, I feared that Anna thought this was the actual doll's house and I could envisage tears that Father Christmas was unable to meet her request. Thankfully, she soon realised what was going on and thanked him, with no prompting from anyone. In fact, both 'Petal' and Father Christmas congratulated Anna on being 'the politest young lady we have met this weekend'. Apparently, most children needed prompting to say Thank you. Anna knows how to play the game!
After a good long chat with the man himself, we headed for the door. Anna, unable to take her eyes off him, backed up to the door as though looking away would somehow break the magic spell. We then said 'Goodbye' and we walked back through the forest. Anna telling us all about Father Christmas (forgetting that we were all there when she met him).
As Petal waved us goodbye, Anna opened her gift and was extremely impressed to find a Ballerina Bunny called Belinda (a big cuddly toy). Anna has not let her go since. I think it is reminding her that she did actually meet Father Christmas and this Christmas magic might all be real after all!!!
Like the whole weekend at Alton Towers, I wasn't sure what to expect when we met Father Christmas. However, I did live in hope that, being a big tourist attraction, they would be able to conjure up something special. I could never have dreamed about how good it actually was going to be.
Alton Towers had created a forest by buying the entire contents of an actual forest and transporting it to Alton Towers. OK, I admit that this may have been actually better if the forest had been authentic but I can't blame Alton Towers for not having a huge forest placed in the middle of their theme park for 12 months of the year. This forest was filled with Christmas Trees covered in snow. Then, on top of the hill covered in trees, you could make out the rooftop of a wooden lodge with smoke coming out the chimney.
Thankfully, due to an extremely effective system, there was no queueing so, at our allocated time, we made our way to the foot of the forest where a friendly Elf called 'Pumpkin' was there to meet us. She talked to Anna and asked her what she wanted for Christmas. I was a little worried at first as Anna had just ranted at me that she was tired and wanted to sleep but she soon perked up when the topic of presents came up! 'A Doll's house please' said Anna. 'Phew' thought her Mummy!
'Pumpkin' then told Anna to look up towards the hill and there coming down to greet us was a fellow Elf called 'Petal'. She explained that she would take us to see Father Christmas and began to lead us up the hill through the forest of trees. We then came to a crossroads with 3 paths leading off. Petal told us that one path lead to the Elves Workshop while the other lead to Mrs Christmas' kitchen. We even got the faint smell of spiced apple (just to make it smell little more Christmassy!!).
Then, we continued up the hill and came to a huge wooden lodge with an old rocking chair sitting on the veranda and a huge old oak door. We knocked on the door and walked in.
Anna confidently strode in and then stopped very abruptly while staring at Father Christmas sat in his old Armchair, next to a roaring Fire and a hot steaming cup of coffee sat on the table beside him. (Not sure where the Health and Safety inspector was - a hot drink and young children should never be in a 50 mile radius of each other in public spaces according to my old teaching training. I would have liked to see the Risk Assessment but didn't like to ask!!!!). Anna took at least 30 seconds to just stand there with her mouth open, taking it all in. She then shouted 'Look, it's Father Christmas' before racing over him and giving him a huge cuddle. She then took a seat on the stool next to Father Christmas and proceeded to tell him all about the elves and how nice his house was! When Father Christmas could get a word in edge ways, he asked her what she would like and a Dolls house was requested. 'Please can I have a dolls house please. Thank you. A doll's house please thank you very much. please. thank you'.
Father Christmas then explained that Anna would have to go to bed early on Christmas Eve and leave out some carrots for the reindeer and a cake for him. Anna nodded her head and then looked at me and said 'Cake Mummy', making sure I had noted it down somewhere.
As a Thank you for visiting him, he then presented Anna with a small gift to play with until Christmas Eve. At first, I feared that Anna thought this was the actual doll's house and I could envisage tears that Father Christmas was unable to meet her request. Thankfully, she soon realised what was going on and thanked him, with no prompting from anyone. In fact, both 'Petal' and Father Christmas congratulated Anna on being 'the politest young lady we have met this weekend'. Apparently, most children needed prompting to say Thank you. Anna knows how to play the game!
After a good long chat with the man himself, we headed for the door. Anna, unable to take her eyes off him, backed up to the door as though looking away would somehow break the magic spell. We then said 'Goodbye' and we walked back through the forest. Anna telling us all about Father Christmas (forgetting that we were all there when she met him).
As Petal waved us goodbye, Anna opened her gift and was extremely impressed to find a Ballerina Bunny called Belinda (a big cuddly toy). Anna has not let her go since. I think it is reminding her that she did actually meet Father Christmas and this Christmas magic might all be real after all!!!
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Santa Sleepover
Last weekend, we went to a Santa Sleepover (although I still insist that he is not called Santa (Far too American) and that he is, and always will be, Father Christmas. However, Father Christmas Sleepover doesn't have the same ring to it, but I digress!)
The Santa Sleepover was taking place at Alton Towers and, before I went, I knew very little detail. James had booked it after a friend of his had been saying how good the Halloween festivities were. Apparently, James had been looking for somewhere to take both Anna and me for the weekend leading up to my birthday. However, he also knew that I would refuse to go anywhere if I thought it was to 'celebrate' my forthcoming birthday (which I had told everyone to forget, just as I was trying to do). Therefore, he thought he could get away with it if he said that he had booked a weekend away for Anna to meet the big man in the red suit. He was right!
Even as we drove up the long winding driveway to the Hotel, you knew it was going to be a bit different, which is confirmed when you approach the hotel and there is a massive pond with a 'chitty chitty bang bang' car emerging from the water!!! Inside the hotel is also very much the feel of 'Disneyland' with a Hot Air balloon hanging down from the dome-like roof and a pirate ship moored on the ground floor. It seems that around every corner is another surprise such as a Giant's chair that you can climb onto and other spectacles to see.
However, the biggest surprise came in the ladies toilets!!! I was innocently changing Anna's nappy (Still no success with the potty training - Anna will be collecting her GCSE's in nappies at this rate!) when a woman approached the huge mirror that was hanging behind me. This mirror was very ornate with a huge gold frame hung from floor to ceiling. So, the woman starts to run her fingers through her hair and check her lipstick when suddenly somebody wolf-whistles. Of course, we all look round quickly before the lady says 'There is a man in this toilet'. Then the voice says 'You look gorgeous. Look at your hair, your eyes, your smile. You don't need to look at me, you need to go and show the world'. The mirror was talking to her!!!!! It then pretended to take her picture before telling her to get out there and show off her finest assets!! After we had all picked ourselves off the floor and stopped laughing, I then told Anna to go and stand in front of the mirror, to which the mirror said 'Wow. What a beautiful lady'. Anna just looked as though she met a talking mirror every day and walked off with a strut!! I am told there was one in the men's toilets too!!!
It was little things like this that made it magical! Like getting in the lift before all the lights start flashing and music blasted out, making you feel like you were Charlie in the Great Glass elevator. The hotel room was also very nice and very big!!!!
After checking in and writing our letter to Santa and posting it in the post box, we caught the Monorail into the theme park. I think Anna thought that the monorail was the theme park and that we would just be riding around on that all day. She would have been very happy with that alone.
Basically, hotel guests had exclusive openings to the theme park for this weekend only. It was only infant children rides only (about 20 in total) but everything had been decked in fake snow and there were Christmas trees and lights everywhere, twinkling and flashing and making everything feel very festive. There was also Christmas music wherever you went and you couldn't help but find yourself humming 'Winter Wonderland' all weekend.
We first visited the real Reindeer who were taking a well-earned rest before the big night on the 24th. However, Anna's attention was soon diverted by 2 giant snowmen who were walking towards her. Now, when I was 3, if I had been approached by 2 giant snowmen, I would have ran a mile or just burst out crying. However, Anna rushed straight up to them and started talking to them before hugging each one and telling them that she loved them! The snowmen were to have lots of discussions with Anna over the 2 days.
For the rest of the morning, we then went on all the rides which were great fun and, due to so few people, there were very little queues which made everything so much more magical and very unlike a normal Alton Towers.
Despite the freezing cold weather, we still managed to sit outside while eating freshly-made pancakes with chocolate and banana before then heading to the older children's rides. Fortunately, Anna is tall for her age so the height restriction did not apply to Anna. Obviously though we were not going to take Anna on any ride that she did not want to go on. There was no fear of that. After insisting that Anna stand and watch the ride so that she knew what she was about to get on, Anna headed straight for the pirate ship. I kept telling her that it would go fast and spin a lot but that just seemed to make Anna more excited! She loved every second and giggled throughout. Meanwhile, her mother felt quite sick. In my day, Pirate ships just went backwards and forwards, admittedly quite high but just in 2 directions. This pirate ship spun 360 degrees and went extremely high! Anna loved every second and, once it was over, asked if she could go on again! After we had been flung around on the teacups and spun on the pirate ship, I was feeling extremely dizzy but Anna was on an adrenalin high and remained excited throughout the whole day. A 3 year old is meant to enjoy the sedate rides like the squirrel ride which slowly takes you around a track. Once Anna had tasted the thrill-seeking rides, there was no going back!
Once we had visited Father Christmas (more of that later) and gone on several hundred more rides (mainly on the Pirate ship), it was time to return to the hotel. We then got dressed for dinner. However, before going to the restaurant, we just had time for a puppet show, all about the true spirit of Christmas and showing love to everyone you meet. At the end of the show, I asked Anna what the show had been about (pretending that I had not seen it) and she replied 'The puppets gave presents to people. There were lots of presents Mummy because it was Christmas. Christmas has lots of presents'. Glad to see the meaning wasn't lost on Anna!!!
We then went to our Christmas dinner where we all had Roast Turkey and Christmas Pudding. I did try to get Anna to eat Turkey but there was no way. She ended up having Chips!!!! (Bad Mummy... but it is Christmas!!!!)
After Dinner, we then went to a 'Pirate Bill magic Show.' I got rather nervous because beanbags had been set aside for the children while the adults were sat on chairs at the back. Due to the sheer numbers of people, I soon lost sight of Anna and just hoped that she would not be frightened by the pirate or the 'He's behind you' scenario. I need not have worried because Anna was perfectly behaved and sat mesmerised throughout, laughing on all the right places and joining in with the shouting! James and I just looked very frightened when he was trying to select someone from the audience to come and help with a magic trick. We could see him scanning the audience and looking in Anna's general direction. I just feared that, once on stage, she wouldn't get off again and would insist on performing the magic trick alone before then insisting on a standing ovation. Thankfully, Pirate Bill chose someone whoo looked a little more timid!
Once the magic show was over, Anna quickly located us again (which was amazing considering how many children were trying to get out the door!!) and said 'Disco now'. Anna had been excitedly anticipating this all evening, ever since we had told her that there would be a disco. She didn't even eat her pudding at dinner because she said' No pudding, disco now'.
As soon as we entered the disco, Anna didn't look back. She didn't hesitate as she strolled onto the dancefloor purposefully, taking her position right in the middle. She then dropped her cube in a very exaggaarated manner and started to dance around it!! All of the cheesy hits were played and Anna danced to them all. However, the most energetic dancing was saved for Lady Gaga. As soon as that came on, Anna wasn't going to take any nonsense and was soon showing everyone how it had to be done, singing every single word in time and her hip action was something to see!!! However, all diva's need their beauty sleep in the end and, at 10pm, Anna told us it was time for bed so we headed back to our hotel room where Anna fell asleep within 30 seconds of being tucked in!
The next morning, we were woken by a rustling at the door and as Anna ran over to see what it was, there was a red envelope sitting on the doormat addressed to Anna. Inside was a letter from Father Christmas. It said that he had noted that Anna would like a Doll's house and would deliver it on Christmas Eve. I would love to say that Anna was overcome with joy at receiving a letter from Father Christmas but, while her Mummy was reading it aloud with tears in her eyes, Anna was saying 'OK, enough now, let's get dressed'.
After a huge breakfast, we headed back to the theme park where we had a 'Claim to Fame' of being the very first people into Alton Towers on that morning (Not the best 'Claim to Fame' I grant you). Of course, Anna headed sraight for the Pirate ship and I was soon regretting the big breakfast! The amazing thing was that many of the overnight guests had not returned to the rides this morning so we basically shared a theme park with about 30 people. On every ride, once it had finished, Anna was asked whether she wanted to carry on the ride again or wanted to go to something else as there were no queues or anyone waiting. The trator ride saw us going around the circuit six times in a row! we started to feel like V.I.P'S or celebrities who had hired the whole theme park for themselves. It felt rather special! Of course, with no people around, we had gone on every ride about 30 times by 11am so headed back to the hotel.
Once back at the hotel, we went to the 'Crazy Golf'. This was a golf course like no other. Each 'hole' saw us putting golf balls into huge giant teapots, giant baths where the ball had to go down the plug hole or having to hit a speed camera so that the light flashed. Anna loved it and all that hockey practice has come in well as she really was rather good with a golf club in her hand! I came last, Anna was second while James won!!
In the afternoon, we headed to the Water park. This is like a theme park in itself with at least 10 water slides (the longest and scariest I have seen), lazy rivers where you just lie back and the current takes you for a gentle meander down a lagoon, fountains galore, children's pools with giant water toys and slides and a Fun House, very much like you would find in a soft play centre but designed with water in mind.
I was a little nervous about taking Anna as the chlorine found in public pools has a horrible tendency to set Anna's asthma off. However, just sometimes, it is worth taking the risk as Anna adores water. I do fear that she is way too confident with water as she insists in wading through the pools with no helping hand from Mummy and Daddy and nothing seems to scare her about deep water. However, it is also very clear to see that Anna has massive fun and, so every once in a while, it is worth it and this was no exception. (Thankfully, Anna seems fine with no asthma symptoms!)
After 2 hectic days, it was time to go home. We all set back to the car looking a little sad, very tired but also very happy at having such a wonderful weekend. My birthday wasn't mentioned once (always a bonus) and Anna had such a tremendous amount of fun along with a very memorable first meeting with Father Christmas (to be continued in the next blog post).
Alton Towers put the icing on the cake 3 days after we returned.
In Anna's letter to Father Christmas, we had politely asked Father Christmas for a Doll's house and promised to leave him a big piece of cake and carrots for Rudolph. I acted as scribe as Anna told me what she would like to say (which went something along the lines of "A doll's house please, a Doll's house please, a Doll's house please" so I padded it out a bit!!!!) I then asked Anna to sign her name at the bottom, expecting some random marks on the page. Imagine my absolute surprise and delight when she wrote her name which, albeit not perfect, was certainly recognisable with all the letters in the correct order and looking like proper writing!!!!! I was half tempted to keep it as a souvenir of the very first time that Anna wrote her name properly. However, I also thought it would be a little mean not to post a letter to Father Christmas so added a P.S at the end , requesting whether I may have the letter back along with Father Christmas's reply as this was the very first time that my daughter had wrote her name etc etc.
When the reply came back. it didn't have Anna's original letter too. However, I have to say that I wasn't very surprised as there must have been, at least, 300 children that Father Christmas had to write to overnight (all the guests in the hotel who had posted their letter the day before and had to receive them this morning before checking out).
3 days after we returned home, Anna and I returned from the supermarket to find that the postman had left a note saying that there was a 'special delivery' but that I had to sign for it and it was waiting at the post office. I had no idea what it was but grumbled under my breath and went to collect it.
There, waiting for Anna and I, was an envelope marked 'Very Special delivery' on the front of it. Still not knowing what it was, I opened it and got a very nice surprise inside. It said....
Dear Mrs Gibson and Anna,
I am so sorry. With having so many children to write back to on Sunday night (making sure they got their replies before they left) and writing a large list of what everyone wanted, I did not have time to read my letters as carefully as I would have liked. After you had left, I sat down with a nice cup of tea and some biscuits and re-read all my letters. Imagine my upset when I realised that I had missed your polite request to have your original letter returned (after I had noted that Anna would like a Doll's house'.) Therefore, please find enclosed your letter and I hope you have received it quickly. I have sent it special delivery as I realise how very special it must be! What a clever girl Anna is to write her own name. Thank you for visiting me at Alton Towers. I loved meeting you too.
Love from Santa xxx
P.S: Thank you for offering to leave me a piece of cake out on Christmas Eve. Rudolph will love the carrot. Could you make sure I have big piece of cake please????
Thank you Father Christmas! You will be having a very big piece of cake!!!
The Santa Sleepover was taking place at Alton Towers and, before I went, I knew very little detail. James had booked it after a friend of his had been saying how good the Halloween festivities were. Apparently, James had been looking for somewhere to take both Anna and me for the weekend leading up to my birthday. However, he also knew that I would refuse to go anywhere if I thought it was to 'celebrate' my forthcoming birthday (which I had told everyone to forget, just as I was trying to do). Therefore, he thought he could get away with it if he said that he had booked a weekend away for Anna to meet the big man in the red suit. He was right!
Even as we drove up the long winding driveway to the Hotel, you knew it was going to be a bit different, which is confirmed when you approach the hotel and there is a massive pond with a 'chitty chitty bang bang' car emerging from the water!!! Inside the hotel is also very much the feel of 'Disneyland' with a Hot Air balloon hanging down from the dome-like roof and a pirate ship moored on the ground floor. It seems that around every corner is another surprise such as a Giant's chair that you can climb onto and other spectacles to see.
However, the biggest surprise came in the ladies toilets!!! I was innocently changing Anna's nappy (Still no success with the potty training - Anna will be collecting her GCSE's in nappies at this rate!) when a woman approached the huge mirror that was hanging behind me. This mirror was very ornate with a huge gold frame hung from floor to ceiling. So, the woman starts to run her fingers through her hair and check her lipstick when suddenly somebody wolf-whistles. Of course, we all look round quickly before the lady says 'There is a man in this toilet'. Then the voice says 'You look gorgeous. Look at your hair, your eyes, your smile. You don't need to look at me, you need to go and show the world'. The mirror was talking to her!!!!! It then pretended to take her picture before telling her to get out there and show off her finest assets!! After we had all picked ourselves off the floor and stopped laughing, I then told Anna to go and stand in front of the mirror, to which the mirror said 'Wow. What a beautiful lady'. Anna just looked as though she met a talking mirror every day and walked off with a strut!! I am told there was one in the men's toilets too!!!
It was little things like this that made it magical! Like getting in the lift before all the lights start flashing and music blasted out, making you feel like you were Charlie in the Great Glass elevator. The hotel room was also very nice and very big!!!!
After checking in and writing our letter to Santa and posting it in the post box, we caught the Monorail into the theme park. I think Anna thought that the monorail was the theme park and that we would just be riding around on that all day. She would have been very happy with that alone.
Basically, hotel guests had exclusive openings to the theme park for this weekend only. It was only infant children rides only (about 20 in total) but everything had been decked in fake snow and there were Christmas trees and lights everywhere, twinkling and flashing and making everything feel very festive. There was also Christmas music wherever you went and you couldn't help but find yourself humming 'Winter Wonderland' all weekend.
We first visited the real Reindeer who were taking a well-earned rest before the big night on the 24th. However, Anna's attention was soon diverted by 2 giant snowmen who were walking towards her. Now, when I was 3, if I had been approached by 2 giant snowmen, I would have ran a mile or just burst out crying. However, Anna rushed straight up to them and started talking to them before hugging each one and telling them that she loved them! The snowmen were to have lots of discussions with Anna over the 2 days.
For the rest of the morning, we then went on all the rides which were great fun and, due to so few people, there were very little queues which made everything so much more magical and very unlike a normal Alton Towers.
Despite the freezing cold weather, we still managed to sit outside while eating freshly-made pancakes with chocolate and banana before then heading to the older children's rides. Fortunately, Anna is tall for her age so the height restriction did not apply to Anna. Obviously though we were not going to take Anna on any ride that she did not want to go on. There was no fear of that. After insisting that Anna stand and watch the ride so that she knew what she was about to get on, Anna headed straight for the pirate ship. I kept telling her that it would go fast and spin a lot but that just seemed to make Anna more excited! She loved every second and giggled throughout. Meanwhile, her mother felt quite sick. In my day, Pirate ships just went backwards and forwards, admittedly quite high but just in 2 directions. This pirate ship spun 360 degrees and went extremely high! Anna loved every second and, once it was over, asked if she could go on again! After we had been flung around on the teacups and spun on the pirate ship, I was feeling extremely dizzy but Anna was on an adrenalin high and remained excited throughout the whole day. A 3 year old is meant to enjoy the sedate rides like the squirrel ride which slowly takes you around a track. Once Anna had tasted the thrill-seeking rides, there was no going back!
Once we had visited Father Christmas (more of that later) and gone on several hundred more rides (mainly on the Pirate ship), it was time to return to the hotel. We then got dressed for dinner. However, before going to the restaurant, we just had time for a puppet show, all about the true spirit of Christmas and showing love to everyone you meet. At the end of the show, I asked Anna what the show had been about (pretending that I had not seen it) and she replied 'The puppets gave presents to people. There were lots of presents Mummy because it was Christmas. Christmas has lots of presents'. Glad to see the meaning wasn't lost on Anna!!!
We then went to our Christmas dinner where we all had Roast Turkey and Christmas Pudding. I did try to get Anna to eat Turkey but there was no way. She ended up having Chips!!!! (Bad Mummy... but it is Christmas!!!!)
After Dinner, we then went to a 'Pirate Bill magic Show.' I got rather nervous because beanbags had been set aside for the children while the adults were sat on chairs at the back. Due to the sheer numbers of people, I soon lost sight of Anna and just hoped that she would not be frightened by the pirate or the 'He's behind you' scenario. I need not have worried because Anna was perfectly behaved and sat mesmerised throughout, laughing on all the right places and joining in with the shouting! James and I just looked very frightened when he was trying to select someone from the audience to come and help with a magic trick. We could see him scanning the audience and looking in Anna's general direction. I just feared that, once on stage, she wouldn't get off again and would insist on performing the magic trick alone before then insisting on a standing ovation. Thankfully, Pirate Bill chose someone whoo looked a little more timid!
Once the magic show was over, Anna quickly located us again (which was amazing considering how many children were trying to get out the door!!) and said 'Disco now'. Anna had been excitedly anticipating this all evening, ever since we had told her that there would be a disco. She didn't even eat her pudding at dinner because she said' No pudding, disco now'.
As soon as we entered the disco, Anna didn't look back. She didn't hesitate as she strolled onto the dancefloor purposefully, taking her position right in the middle. She then dropped her cube in a very exaggaarated manner and started to dance around it!! All of the cheesy hits were played and Anna danced to them all. However, the most energetic dancing was saved for Lady Gaga. As soon as that came on, Anna wasn't going to take any nonsense and was soon showing everyone how it had to be done, singing every single word in time and her hip action was something to see!!! However, all diva's need their beauty sleep in the end and, at 10pm, Anna told us it was time for bed so we headed back to our hotel room where Anna fell asleep within 30 seconds of being tucked in!
The next morning, we were woken by a rustling at the door and as Anna ran over to see what it was, there was a red envelope sitting on the doormat addressed to Anna. Inside was a letter from Father Christmas. It said that he had noted that Anna would like a Doll's house and would deliver it on Christmas Eve. I would love to say that Anna was overcome with joy at receiving a letter from Father Christmas but, while her Mummy was reading it aloud with tears in her eyes, Anna was saying 'OK, enough now, let's get dressed'.
After a huge breakfast, we headed back to the theme park where we had a 'Claim to Fame' of being the very first people into Alton Towers on that morning (Not the best 'Claim to Fame' I grant you). Of course, Anna headed sraight for the Pirate ship and I was soon regretting the big breakfast! The amazing thing was that many of the overnight guests had not returned to the rides this morning so we basically shared a theme park with about 30 people. On every ride, once it had finished, Anna was asked whether she wanted to carry on the ride again or wanted to go to something else as there were no queues or anyone waiting. The trator ride saw us going around the circuit six times in a row! we started to feel like V.I.P'S or celebrities who had hired the whole theme park for themselves. It felt rather special! Of course, with no people around, we had gone on every ride about 30 times by 11am so headed back to the hotel.
Once back at the hotel, we went to the 'Crazy Golf'. This was a golf course like no other. Each 'hole' saw us putting golf balls into huge giant teapots, giant baths where the ball had to go down the plug hole or having to hit a speed camera so that the light flashed. Anna loved it and all that hockey practice has come in well as she really was rather good with a golf club in her hand! I came last, Anna was second while James won!!
In the afternoon, we headed to the Water park. This is like a theme park in itself with at least 10 water slides (the longest and scariest I have seen), lazy rivers where you just lie back and the current takes you for a gentle meander down a lagoon, fountains galore, children's pools with giant water toys and slides and a Fun House, very much like you would find in a soft play centre but designed with water in mind.
I was a little nervous about taking Anna as the chlorine found in public pools has a horrible tendency to set Anna's asthma off. However, just sometimes, it is worth taking the risk as Anna adores water. I do fear that she is way too confident with water as she insists in wading through the pools with no helping hand from Mummy and Daddy and nothing seems to scare her about deep water. However, it is also very clear to see that Anna has massive fun and, so every once in a while, it is worth it and this was no exception. (Thankfully, Anna seems fine with no asthma symptoms!)
After 2 hectic days, it was time to go home. We all set back to the car looking a little sad, very tired but also very happy at having such a wonderful weekend. My birthday wasn't mentioned once (always a bonus) and Anna had such a tremendous amount of fun along with a very memorable first meeting with Father Christmas (to be continued in the next blog post).
Alton Towers put the icing on the cake 3 days after we returned.
In Anna's letter to Father Christmas, we had politely asked Father Christmas for a Doll's house and promised to leave him a big piece of cake and carrots for Rudolph. I acted as scribe as Anna told me what she would like to say (which went something along the lines of "A doll's house please, a Doll's house please, a Doll's house please" so I padded it out a bit!!!!) I then asked Anna to sign her name at the bottom, expecting some random marks on the page. Imagine my absolute surprise and delight when she wrote her name which, albeit not perfect, was certainly recognisable with all the letters in the correct order and looking like proper writing!!!!! I was half tempted to keep it as a souvenir of the very first time that Anna wrote her name properly. However, I also thought it would be a little mean not to post a letter to Father Christmas so added a P.S at the end , requesting whether I may have the letter back along with Father Christmas's reply as this was the very first time that my daughter had wrote her name etc etc.
When the reply came back. it didn't have Anna's original letter too. However, I have to say that I wasn't very surprised as there must have been, at least, 300 children that Father Christmas had to write to overnight (all the guests in the hotel who had posted their letter the day before and had to receive them this morning before checking out).
3 days after we returned home, Anna and I returned from the supermarket to find that the postman had left a note saying that there was a 'special delivery' but that I had to sign for it and it was waiting at the post office. I had no idea what it was but grumbled under my breath and went to collect it.
There, waiting for Anna and I, was an envelope marked 'Very Special delivery' on the front of it. Still not knowing what it was, I opened it and got a very nice surprise inside. It said....
Dear Mrs Gibson and Anna,
I am so sorry. With having so many children to write back to on Sunday night (making sure they got their replies before they left) and writing a large list of what everyone wanted, I did not have time to read my letters as carefully as I would have liked. After you had left, I sat down with a nice cup of tea and some biscuits and re-read all my letters. Imagine my upset when I realised that I had missed your polite request to have your original letter returned (after I had noted that Anna would like a Doll's house'.) Therefore, please find enclosed your letter and I hope you have received it quickly. I have sent it special delivery as I realise how very special it must be! What a clever girl Anna is to write her own name. Thank you for visiting me at Alton Towers. I loved meeting you too.
Love from Santa xxx
P.S: Thank you for offering to leave me a piece of cake out on Christmas Eve. Rudolph will love the carrot. Could you make sure I have big piece of cake please????
Thank you Father Christmas! You will be having a very big piece of cake!!!
Saturday, 5 December 2009
The Nativity
Anna is to star in her first ever Nativity Play. Last week, we had a letter from pre-school saying that there was to be a school play next Friday. I later found out that it is actually the nativity.
I was desperate to find out more so started quizzing Anna but all she could tell me was 'sshhhh... secret from Mummies and Daddies'.
'Well, is there singing' I pestered!
Anna just gave me a sneaky smile and said 'Yes Mummy, there is singing' before refusing to answer any more! However, my detective instincts didn't let me down today. I attended the pre-school coffee morning (translated as 'Let's fleece these poor Mothers for every last penny they have) and there just happened to be a 'cast list' sitting on the table as I leaned over to grab my mug of coffee. I couldn't help it when Anna's name jumped out of the page.
I have found out that Anna is to play an Angel!!!!!!!!!!! How cute is that!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!
This evening, I asked Anna if she was playing an angel. She just looked at me quizzically, trying to work out how I found out, before looking very disapprovingly at me and said "Yes Mummy. I'm an angel. No more". However, she then gave me a full rendition of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' so I am guessing that this may be one of the feature songs of the performance! I fear that the Nativity may last longer than planned due to every time that I clapped at the end of Anna's singing performance, she insisted on singing the entire song again!!
So, next Friday, James and I will be one of those annoying parents, probably sat in the front row, armed with cameras (if allowed due to child protection) and me with my box of tissues. Anna will probably be the one who is walking in the opposite direction to everyone else and stood in the middle of the stage while everyone else has exited right!!! I can't wait!
I was desperate to find out more so started quizzing Anna but all she could tell me was 'sshhhh... secret from Mummies and Daddies'.
'Well, is there singing' I pestered!
Anna just gave me a sneaky smile and said 'Yes Mummy, there is singing' before refusing to answer any more! However, my detective instincts didn't let me down today. I attended the pre-school coffee morning (translated as 'Let's fleece these poor Mothers for every last penny they have) and there just happened to be a 'cast list' sitting on the table as I leaned over to grab my mug of coffee. I couldn't help it when Anna's name jumped out of the page.
I have found out that Anna is to play an Angel!!!!!!!!!!! How cute is that!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!
This evening, I asked Anna if she was playing an angel. She just looked at me quizzically, trying to work out how I found out, before looking very disapprovingly at me and said "Yes Mummy. I'm an angel. No more". However, she then gave me a full rendition of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' so I am guessing that this may be one of the feature songs of the performance! I fear that the Nativity may last longer than planned due to every time that I clapped at the end of Anna's singing performance, she insisted on singing the entire song again!!
So, next Friday, James and I will be one of those annoying parents, probably sat in the front row, armed with cameras (if allowed due to child protection) and me with my box of tissues. Anna will probably be the one who is walking in the opposite direction to everyone else and stood in the middle of the stage while everyone else has exited right!!! I can't wait!
Friday, 4 December 2009
Christmas is Coming
The magic of Christmas has entered the Gibson household this year - Anna is beginning to understand what Christmas means! Well, actually I should re-phrase that to say Anna understands that Father Christmas comes and leaves presents under the tree if you are a good girl. She is now telling everyone who she happens to see dressed in any item of red clothing, that she would like a Dolls House (which is a bonus as her Mummy has already put a word in with the elves that Anna may have liked that. I know my daughter well!).
As for her mother, up until this past day or so, I have been going round looking and sounding like scrooge!!! On Tuesday, a group of friends with accompanying toddlers meet. (We pretend to go for their music class so they get 'educational stimuli' but really, it just an excuse for coffee, food and a gossip!!!). This Tuesday, my poor friends had to put up with me whinging every time that a new Christmas song came on and if I heard Noddy Holder yell 'It's Christmas' one more time, the Cd wasn't going to get to see another Christmas after I got hold of it! Annabel's Mum just started laughing at me in the end as I automatically grimaced as each new Christmas song was played. For goodness sake, it was only December 1st. I am sure that Christmas songs were not played until, at least, the 20th in my day (sounding as old as I feel!!!).
I just hate the commercial aspect of it all. This is why I refused to even think about anything Christmas at all until December 1st but it seems as though the whole world has already bought and gift-wrapped their presents while I am left wondering if I have enough time to do it all. To be fair, I had already planned Anna's gifts in October but that is different because it is my little girl so it doesn't matter what time of year it is - I still get excited about gifts for Anna.
To me, Christmas is all about time spent with family and showing people that you care about them by the giving of a gift, regardless of how expensive/inexpensive it is. I know that young children would find this a hard concept to understand and, for them, it is all about Father Christmas magically coming down the chimney on Christmas Eve and leaving them a present under the tree. I wouldn't want it any other way. However, I think adults may have lost sight of it too and everyone feels pressured into getting expensive gifts that they can't afford (especially this year) and it all becomes a little competitive, especially when it begins in September!
However, there are certain events that have occurred this week that have begin to melt my scrooge-like heart and I am actually beginning to get excited too (finally!!)
1. The first is Anna's pure excitement at seeing a Christmas tree in our local Sports centre (where we go dancing). She raced in and the smile on her face was incredibly wide. 'Look Mummy' she gasped as she looked at me with her eyes as wide as saucers. 'It is a Christmas tree. That means Father Christmas will come soon and leave presents' before she then started jumping up and down, just to try and release some of that pure adrenalin of excitement racing through her body! She then sat under the tree until her dance class began. I honestly think that she expected Father Christmas to come, then and there and drop off her present. I had to explain that he would come on Christmas Eve and, being the wonderful girl she is, said 'OK' but has then asked me if it is Christmas Eve every hour since that day!
2. Anna's advent calender has also got me a little excited! Due to Anna asking when it will be Christmas Eve (see point 1 above), I thought it may help to get an advent calender. At first, I did want to get one which didn't contain chocolate and just had a merry Christmas scene on the front of it. I failed in my quest. All non-chocolate calenders seemed to be highly religious images which seemed a little grown up for a 3 year old. I have later discovered that you can get fuzzy felt advent calenders which would have been rather cool but not to be for this year at least. Now, after dinner, Anna starts bouncing up and down on her chair saying 'Finished pudding, Father Christmas door time'. Anna's calender is then taken form the top shelf (all of the chocolate would be long gone if I put it within arms reach of Anna) and we discuss what day it is before she finds the corresponding number. Anna then counts the 'doors' left until Christmas Eve and gets very excited!
3. The third event to make me more excited about Christmas is the Christmas nativity! Last week, we had a letter from pre-school saying that there was to be a school play next Friday. I later found out that it is actually the nativity. Now, this deserves a post all of it's own, which I will write ASAP but, needless to say, it has got me very excited!
4. This weekend has also seen me think more Christmas-like thoughts. We are going to the Santa sleepover at Alton Towers!!! I'm not sure all that it entails but I do know that there will be real Reindeer, Santa's Grotto in a secret hiding place, complete with Santa inside, lots of fake snow and it all decorated like the North Pole within the actual park. It also involves a hotel, scrumptious Christmas dinner and magic shows, disco and puppet shows galore! We have told Anna but I was a little worried that she thought this would mean that it is actually Christmas this weekend, complete with Dolls house. I then had to explain that we needed to ask Father Christmas about the Dolls House before he actually came on Christmas Eve. This took some explaining!
5. I have realised that getting excited means that I can forget entirely about my birthday which was making me feel depressed beyond belief! (It is a big one and I will be feeling incredibly old by this time next week)
So, once I return form Santa's wonderland this weekend (Alton Towers is owned by the Madame Tussards group so I am anticipating that it should be a good makeover job of the park and will feel very 'Christmas-like'. Fingers crossed. I think the scrooge will have entirely left me and I will be one very excited mummy due to my very excited 3 year old!!! Yay!
As for her mother, up until this past day or so, I have been going round looking and sounding like scrooge!!! On Tuesday, a group of friends with accompanying toddlers meet. (We pretend to go for their music class so they get 'educational stimuli' but really, it just an excuse for coffee, food and a gossip!!!). This Tuesday, my poor friends had to put up with me whinging every time that a new Christmas song came on and if I heard Noddy Holder yell 'It's Christmas' one more time, the Cd wasn't going to get to see another Christmas after I got hold of it! Annabel's Mum just started laughing at me in the end as I automatically grimaced as each new Christmas song was played. For goodness sake, it was only December 1st. I am sure that Christmas songs were not played until, at least, the 20th in my day (sounding as old as I feel!!!).
I just hate the commercial aspect of it all. This is why I refused to even think about anything Christmas at all until December 1st but it seems as though the whole world has already bought and gift-wrapped their presents while I am left wondering if I have enough time to do it all. To be fair, I had already planned Anna's gifts in October but that is different because it is my little girl so it doesn't matter what time of year it is - I still get excited about gifts for Anna.
To me, Christmas is all about time spent with family and showing people that you care about them by the giving of a gift, regardless of how expensive/inexpensive it is. I know that young children would find this a hard concept to understand and, for them, it is all about Father Christmas magically coming down the chimney on Christmas Eve and leaving them a present under the tree. I wouldn't want it any other way. However, I think adults may have lost sight of it too and everyone feels pressured into getting expensive gifts that they can't afford (especially this year) and it all becomes a little competitive, especially when it begins in September!
However, there are certain events that have occurred this week that have begin to melt my scrooge-like heart and I am actually beginning to get excited too (finally!!)
1. The first is Anna's pure excitement at seeing a Christmas tree in our local Sports centre (where we go dancing). She raced in and the smile on her face was incredibly wide. 'Look Mummy' she gasped as she looked at me with her eyes as wide as saucers. 'It is a Christmas tree. That means Father Christmas will come soon and leave presents' before she then started jumping up and down, just to try and release some of that pure adrenalin of excitement racing through her body! She then sat under the tree until her dance class began. I honestly think that she expected Father Christmas to come, then and there and drop off her present. I had to explain that he would come on Christmas Eve and, being the wonderful girl she is, said 'OK' but has then asked me if it is Christmas Eve every hour since that day!
2. Anna's advent calender has also got me a little excited! Due to Anna asking when it will be Christmas Eve (see point 1 above), I thought it may help to get an advent calender. At first, I did want to get one which didn't contain chocolate and just had a merry Christmas scene on the front of it. I failed in my quest. All non-chocolate calenders seemed to be highly religious images which seemed a little grown up for a 3 year old. I have later discovered that you can get fuzzy felt advent calenders which would have been rather cool but not to be for this year at least. Now, after dinner, Anna starts bouncing up and down on her chair saying 'Finished pudding, Father Christmas door time'. Anna's calender is then taken form the top shelf (all of the chocolate would be long gone if I put it within arms reach of Anna) and we discuss what day it is before she finds the corresponding number. Anna then counts the 'doors' left until Christmas Eve and gets very excited!
3. The third event to make me more excited about Christmas is the Christmas nativity! Last week, we had a letter from pre-school saying that there was to be a school play next Friday. I later found out that it is actually the nativity. Now, this deserves a post all of it's own, which I will write ASAP but, needless to say, it has got me very excited!
4. This weekend has also seen me think more Christmas-like thoughts. We are going to the Santa sleepover at Alton Towers!!! I'm not sure all that it entails but I do know that there will be real Reindeer, Santa's Grotto in a secret hiding place, complete with Santa inside, lots of fake snow and it all decorated like the North Pole within the actual park. It also involves a hotel, scrumptious Christmas dinner and magic shows, disco and puppet shows galore! We have told Anna but I was a little worried that she thought this would mean that it is actually Christmas this weekend, complete with Dolls house. I then had to explain that we needed to ask Father Christmas about the Dolls House before he actually came on Christmas Eve. This took some explaining!
5. I have realised that getting excited means that I can forget entirely about my birthday which was making me feel depressed beyond belief! (It is a big one and I will be feeling incredibly old by this time next week)
So, once I return form Santa's wonderland this weekend (Alton Towers is owned by the Madame Tussards group so I am anticipating that it should be a good makeover job of the park and will feel very 'Christmas-like'. Fingers crossed. I think the scrooge will have entirely left me and I will be one very excited mummy due to my very excited 3 year old!!! Yay!
Is Anyone There?
Ever since returning from Finland, life seems to have gone at 90 MPH. Anna started the playschool the week after we returned and we put house on the market (which has resulted in a lifetime of cleaning the house, walking Anna to school and back again and playing catch-up in the times in-between!!)
However, none of this is an excuse for letting the blog get ignored.
Therefore, if there is anyone still out there who still checks into this blog every once in a while, I can only apologise and promise that I will try to do better from now on. If nobody is reading this (got bored of looking and finding nothing written), I can only hope that a grown-up version of Anna is, one day, reading this and appreciating it! Unfortunately, a lot of the posts will now be written with the benefit of hindsight and from memory of something that happened quite a while ago but for, Anna's sake, I will try to include as much as possible and will also try to catch up as fast as possible!
However, none of this is an excuse for letting the blog get ignored.
Therefore, if there is anyone still out there who still checks into this blog every once in a while, I can only apologise and promise that I will try to do better from now on. If nobody is reading this (got bored of looking and finding nothing written), I can only hope that a grown-up version of Anna is, one day, reading this and appreciating it! Unfortunately, a lot of the posts will now be written with the benefit of hindsight and from memory of something that happened quite a while ago but for, Anna's sake, I will try to include as much as possible and will also try to catch up as fast as possible!
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Birthday Celebrations - Part 3
To complete Anna's birthday celebrations, we held another party for her on the Saturday after her actual birthday. This would see her Daddy's side of the family attend along with her little friends from various social gatherings that my daughter attends!
I feared for my sanity! In previous years, we have held one party with, most importantly, my mother coming to organise the chaos whilst I ran around like a headless chicken. I still envisaged the headless chicken impression but without the essential cooking element going on in the background.
Of course, I had gone mad with the buffet again but had also taken on more responsibility this time, not leaving it all to Mr Marks and Mr Spencer. The problem I had was that M and S are great at providing not just a ham salad sandwich but smoked Wiltshire ham on seeded multi-grain bread with crisp fresh iceburg lettuce and juicy sweet tomatoes with lashings of creamy organic mayonaise but not so great at providing a plain and simple ham sandwich, which is want a 3 year old wants!
So there I was at 11am on the Saturday morning, making hundreds of cheese, jam and ham sandwiches and muttering aloud at how my mother can get pristine sandwiches while mine look like they have been cut with a trowl!
Somehow, James and I managed to decorate the house, blow up 36 balloons, make the buffet, collect the remaining order from the shop, set the tables up, rearrange the lounge furniture and keep Anna from going into excitement meltdown, all before 2pm.
At 2pm, James and I braced ourselves in the kitchen, armed with kettle and camera. At 2.05pm... nothing.
'Are you sure you put 2pm on the invitations?' asked James
'Yes'
'Are you sure you put the 21st November?'
'Yes, I think so... but then again...'
Then the doorbell rang and, lo and behold, there were 26 guest all stood on my doorstep at the same time. They were very good though and formed an orderly and well-behaved queue while I tried to usher everyone in. Meanwhile, all I could hear was Anna's voice getting more and more excited in the living room as she began to open gifts. As expected though, as soon as the first gift was opened, she only wanted to play with that and the other gifts were left looking neglected on the carpet. Of course, Anna had to open the one gift that was attached to the packaging by screws and therefore, I was on the hunt for a screwdriver for the first 10 minutes of the party. I did try in vain to encourage Anna to open another gift while waiting but she had set eyes on the Postman Pat mail centre and nothing was going to budge her. Thankfully, I found the screwdriver and thrust it into some poor unsuspecting person's hand while I said 'hello' to everyone who had managed to get through the door while my daughter demanded a screwdriver!
After the first 10 minutes being utter chaos, things did actually manage to calm down and the first party activity was under way. I had made fairy cakes and bought numerous sweet things to decorate them with such as Smarties (I know, I know but it was party), hundreds and thousands, iced stars, iced flowers, glitter, icing pens and the list goes on. I think it went well as all the children seemed to love decorating the cakes. Well, everyone except Anna who just sat there eating the contents of the decorations before they managed to make it onto the top of any cake!
With the benefit of hindsight, the cake decoration may have been better after the buffet however as, quite rightly, the children wanted to eat the cakes they had just decorated and devoured them whilst I stood there holding the cling film in which to wrap them up to take home. Who was I trying to kid! The Buffet was no longer such a big deal for the kids who had just been filled up on cake but the adults, thankfully, dived in! Meanwhile, the children explored Anna's toys and just looked to have a lot of fun.
It was then time to sing 'Happy Birthday' and cut the cake. Again, a massive thank you to the very talented Grandma Lynn who triumphed, yet again, with am amazing cake. There will be photos to follow w (Keep checking back because I will try to get round to posting a picture) but basically it was a massive pink cake with iced flowers and a giant iced Peppa pig on top with little fairy cakes then placed around the entire base of the cake. Not only did it look amazing but it also tasted completely scrumptious too!!! Thank you Grandma Lynn!
Anna adores every second of the whole cake thing (not least of all eating lots of it) and is what parties are made for according to Anna. Who wouldn't? Anna gets to stand in the middle of the room while everyone stands around her singing to her. In previous years, I have held Anna while everyone sings but Anna wanted to stand on her own 2 feet this year - just so that she could show her dance moves off whilst everyone sang. She then insisted on giving a solo performance, wishing herself a Happy Birthday before everyone kindly applauded at the end. We then blew out the candles. Anna still hasn't got the knack of blowing things out yet but I promise that I did try to move Anna further away from the cake as she 'attempted' to blow out each candle!
We then played Pass the Parcel - The Toddler Version. Basically, I had wrapped up enough gifts so that each layer revealed a gift for each child. Jame had been given several tasks to do during this activity. The first was to delegate the camera and camcorder to 'responsible' people who would take decent shots and footage. Once done, James then had to operate the music. This was no mean feat as he also had to ensure that the music stopped on each and every child in order that they could get a gift and that no child received 2 or even none at all! I'm sure Pass the Parcel wasn't so complicated in my day but thankfully, James (with a little help from Uncle John, who had come all the way from Edinburgh. Thank you!) managed to get every child happy by the end of the game. Phew!
Once some more playing had been undertaken, the 2 and half hours of party mayhem was drawing to a close. I would like to think that the children had a good time and 2 of them burst into tears when it was time to go because they wanted to stay for longer (although I don't try to judge parties on how many people are crying as they go out the door!!!). I certainly know that Anna had an amazing time, judging by the permanent smile on her face throughout the celebrations and the way in which she has talked about nothing else for 2 weeks after. She is also constantly reminding me that 'Mummy, I love my parties', just to make sure that I don't forget for next year!
As for next year... I am certainly starting to see the benefit of hiring soft play centres or, at the very least, outside catering!
I realise that this is going to sound very idealistic and you will probably think 'Yeah Right, who is she trying to kid?' once you read this but I honestly think that Anna's true enjoyment of the parties comes from, not the extremely generous and kind gifts, but the fact that she has her family and friends around her (Oh, and the fact that there is lots of cake). Anna is extremely sociable (When walking to playgroup each morning, she excitedly keeps saying 'I am going to see my friends today. I love my friends'.) and her dream is to have all those that she loves around her. At her parties, it comes true.
Thank you to everyone who was so incredibly kind and generous and gave Anna a gift. Every year, I am completely overwhelmed by the gifts she receives and people's kindness and generosity. This year was no different, I hope that everyone has now received their Thank You cards, lovingly created by Anna. Oh... and for those of you who received cards with red things and black blobs on the front, they are in fact ladybirds. I have now had several family members thanking me for the cards with the bears face/clown/random painted 'things'. The biggest THANK YOU is for making Anna's birthday so special for her by being there to help her celebrate.
(I will try to post photos on her asap, as soon as I can get my hands on James' camera!)
I feared for my sanity! In previous years, we have held one party with, most importantly, my mother coming to organise the chaos whilst I ran around like a headless chicken. I still envisaged the headless chicken impression but without the essential cooking element going on in the background.
Of course, I had gone mad with the buffet again but had also taken on more responsibility this time, not leaving it all to Mr Marks and Mr Spencer. The problem I had was that M and S are great at providing not just a ham salad sandwich but smoked Wiltshire ham on seeded multi-grain bread with crisp fresh iceburg lettuce and juicy sweet tomatoes with lashings of creamy organic mayonaise but not so great at providing a plain and simple ham sandwich, which is want a 3 year old wants!
So there I was at 11am on the Saturday morning, making hundreds of cheese, jam and ham sandwiches and muttering aloud at how my mother can get pristine sandwiches while mine look like they have been cut with a trowl!
Somehow, James and I managed to decorate the house, blow up 36 balloons, make the buffet, collect the remaining order from the shop, set the tables up, rearrange the lounge furniture and keep Anna from going into excitement meltdown, all before 2pm.
At 2pm, James and I braced ourselves in the kitchen, armed with kettle and camera. At 2.05pm... nothing.
'Are you sure you put 2pm on the invitations?' asked James
'Yes'
'Are you sure you put the 21st November?'
'Yes, I think so... but then again...'
Then the doorbell rang and, lo and behold, there were 26 guest all stood on my doorstep at the same time. They were very good though and formed an orderly and well-behaved queue while I tried to usher everyone in. Meanwhile, all I could hear was Anna's voice getting more and more excited in the living room as she began to open gifts. As expected though, as soon as the first gift was opened, she only wanted to play with that and the other gifts were left looking neglected on the carpet. Of course, Anna had to open the one gift that was attached to the packaging by screws and therefore, I was on the hunt for a screwdriver for the first 10 minutes of the party. I did try in vain to encourage Anna to open another gift while waiting but she had set eyes on the Postman Pat mail centre and nothing was going to budge her. Thankfully, I found the screwdriver and thrust it into some poor unsuspecting person's hand while I said 'hello' to everyone who had managed to get through the door while my daughter demanded a screwdriver!
After the first 10 minutes being utter chaos, things did actually manage to calm down and the first party activity was under way. I had made fairy cakes and bought numerous sweet things to decorate them with such as Smarties (I know, I know but it was party), hundreds and thousands, iced stars, iced flowers, glitter, icing pens and the list goes on. I think it went well as all the children seemed to love decorating the cakes. Well, everyone except Anna who just sat there eating the contents of the decorations before they managed to make it onto the top of any cake!
With the benefit of hindsight, the cake decoration may have been better after the buffet however as, quite rightly, the children wanted to eat the cakes they had just decorated and devoured them whilst I stood there holding the cling film in which to wrap them up to take home. Who was I trying to kid! The Buffet was no longer such a big deal for the kids who had just been filled up on cake but the adults, thankfully, dived in! Meanwhile, the children explored Anna's toys and just looked to have a lot of fun.
It was then time to sing 'Happy Birthday' and cut the cake. Again, a massive thank you to the very talented Grandma Lynn who triumphed, yet again, with am amazing cake. There will be photos to follow w (Keep checking back because I will try to get round to posting a picture) but basically it was a massive pink cake with iced flowers and a giant iced Peppa pig on top with little fairy cakes then placed around the entire base of the cake. Not only did it look amazing but it also tasted completely scrumptious too!!! Thank you Grandma Lynn!
Anna adores every second of the whole cake thing (not least of all eating lots of it) and is what parties are made for according to Anna. Who wouldn't? Anna gets to stand in the middle of the room while everyone stands around her singing to her. In previous years, I have held Anna while everyone sings but Anna wanted to stand on her own 2 feet this year - just so that she could show her dance moves off whilst everyone sang. She then insisted on giving a solo performance, wishing herself a Happy Birthday before everyone kindly applauded at the end. We then blew out the candles. Anna still hasn't got the knack of blowing things out yet but I promise that I did try to move Anna further away from the cake as she 'attempted' to blow out each candle!
We then played Pass the Parcel - The Toddler Version. Basically, I had wrapped up enough gifts so that each layer revealed a gift for each child. Jame had been given several tasks to do during this activity. The first was to delegate the camera and camcorder to 'responsible' people who would take decent shots and footage. Once done, James then had to operate the music. This was no mean feat as he also had to ensure that the music stopped on each and every child in order that they could get a gift and that no child received 2 or even none at all! I'm sure Pass the Parcel wasn't so complicated in my day but thankfully, James (with a little help from Uncle John, who had come all the way from Edinburgh. Thank you!) managed to get every child happy by the end of the game. Phew!
Once some more playing had been undertaken, the 2 and half hours of party mayhem was drawing to a close. I would like to think that the children had a good time and 2 of them burst into tears when it was time to go because they wanted to stay for longer (although I don't try to judge parties on how many people are crying as they go out the door!!!). I certainly know that Anna had an amazing time, judging by the permanent smile on her face throughout the celebrations and the way in which she has talked about nothing else for 2 weeks after. She is also constantly reminding me that 'Mummy, I love my parties', just to make sure that I don't forget for next year!
As for next year... I am certainly starting to see the benefit of hiring soft play centres or, at the very least, outside catering!
I realise that this is going to sound very idealistic and you will probably think 'Yeah Right, who is she trying to kid?' once you read this but I honestly think that Anna's true enjoyment of the parties comes from, not the extremely generous and kind gifts, but the fact that she has her family and friends around her (Oh, and the fact that there is lots of cake). Anna is extremely sociable (When walking to playgroup each morning, she excitedly keeps saying 'I am going to see my friends today. I love my friends'.) and her dream is to have all those that she loves around her. At her parties, it comes true.
Thank you to everyone who was so incredibly kind and generous and gave Anna a gift. Every year, I am completely overwhelmed by the gifts she receives and people's kindness and generosity. This year was no different, I hope that everyone has now received their Thank You cards, lovingly created by Anna. Oh... and for those of you who received cards with red things and black blobs on the front, they are in fact ladybirds. I have now had several family members thanking me for the cards with the bears face/clown/random painted 'things'. The biggest THANK YOU is for making Anna's birthday so special for her by being there to help her celebrate.
(I will try to post photos on her asap, as soon as I can get my hands on James' camera!)
Friday, 20 November 2009
Birthday Celebrations - Part 2
Anna was woken on Wednesday by the sound of her Mummy and Daddy singing 'Happy Birthday' kneeling down by her bedside. I'm sure Anna mistook the sound for a few cats fighting outside but. thankfully, she woke up with a huge smile on her face. In fact, it was a beautiful smile and made me feel rather warm in the heart as 3 years ago I was giving birth to this beautiful gorgeous girl.
As soon as she was dressed, we went downstairs and Anna suddenly let out a gasp as she saw the huge present in front of her. However, curiously, she decided to save that one (I thought most children would dive on the biggest present first but not Anna) and, instead, opened the tiny present first (some Peppa Pig painting stamps). It was only after she had opened the helmet (She had insisted that, when riding the demonstration scooter in Toys R Us, that she needed a helmet before she got on the scooter itself. I'm not sure who has taught her this important safety message, as we had never felt the need to teach her that before now, but thank you to whoever did!), she then opened the scooter and let out another gasp of pure delight. We then spent the next 30 minutes with Anna going round in circles because she had her scooter permanently on right lock. A quick lesson in steering was needed. Unfortunately, breakfast and drinking her milk was far less important than her scooter so got abandoned.
I felt like a very mean Mummy when I told Anna that it was time for pre-school. I felt even meaner when, on the way to pre-school, the skies opened and the rain poured. I was drenched within 5 seconds (despite wearing a raincoat as the water just dripped off the hem and hood like a cascading waterfall). Anna must have seen a weather forecast as she had grabbed her umbrella on the way out that morning so was slightly drier albeit damp! In fact, Anna had great fun as she copied her idol, Peppa Pig, and started to jump in all the puddles.
I was sure that there would be tears on arriving at pre-school as she would insist on returning home to play with her birthday gifts and I had even bullied James to come with me (He has the week off work to do many things including celebrate Anna's birthday, prepare for 2 parties, stop me from worrying, look for possible houses that we could live in and have a few well-deserved lie-ins (which he hasn't managed to do yet!). However, I was very thankful when one of the pre-school supervisors shouted 'Happy Birthday' to Anna as she opened the front door. I hadn't reminded them that it was Anna's birthday but they had noted it and Anna was more than happy to go to pre-school if it meant lots more attention piled on her.
When it was time to pick her up, she came out very excitedly clutching a handmade Peppa Pig birthday card and telling me that everyone had sang Happy Birthday and basically made a big fuss. The supervisor then came out looking exhausted, informing me that Anna had been more than energetic this morning.
We then headed to the local soft play centre where Anna had her favourite meal of Sausages and Smiley Faces before leaping about on the slides, ball pools and tunnels for the next 2 hours.
We then went to the local Ice Cream Farm. This place is divine and Anna loves it. Basically, as well as having a massive outdoor playground with a climbing frame perfect for toddlers (albeit too wet on this particular day), an automatic clown blowing bubbles (Anna adores him and tells everyone visiting the farm that they must go and say Hello to him!) and a duck pond, they also have an animal corner complete with farmyard animals. There is also a milking parlour where you see the cows being milked before the milk gets taken to the converted barn to make into ice cream (which can be viewed on a big screen in the ice cream parlour. I have always insisted that Anna goes to the animals first as I then feel less guilty about buying her an ice cream if she has had some educational input about farmyard animals. By now, Anna has worked out the rules of this game so headed straight for animal corner. For a second, I actually thought she was keen to learn more about the animals but alas no. Instead, Anna zoomed past each pen in 10 seconds at most saying 'Hello goats, hello pigs, hello donkeys, hello pony, hello cows. Let's go for ice cream now.' I don't think she glanced at each animal for more than a second!
So we then headed for the ice cream parlour. Now, this is not just ordinary ice cream but indeed Cheshire's finest ice cream and comes in a range of flavours including Malteaser Flavour strawberry cheesecake, Banoffi and Baileys. It is extremely creamy and extremely high calories but has to be done every once in a while. Anna chooses chocolate every time and then proceeds to devour it in record time. The melted chocolate spread from cheek to cheek is really quite a sight but the massive grin on her face is also quite a sight too!
So after playing with the bubbles, devouring ice cream and making mess, Anna decided it was time to go home. Now, Anna never normally volunteers to go home but today, she had an agenda. 'Mummy, Can we go home now because I want scooter time'. (We had originally planned to take Anna to our favourite country park on the afternoon of her birthday but the torrential rain put stop to that).
As soon as we got home, Anna went straight for her scooter and, in fact, has played on nothing else since. There are still a few lessons in riding a scooter that has to be taught yet though. One of these is the lesson that you are actually allowed to go more than 30 centimetres on it. In 'Toys R Us', the space to ride the demonstrator scooters is quite limited so I told Anna that she could only go a few steps with it. She has now taken this on board and will only go forwards and backwards in a 30 centimetre radius (Yet, when I remind her to take her cup to the kitchen on a thrice daily basis, she forgets within 3 seconds! Strange!) She also insists on wearing her helmet at all times but then refuses to let anyone adjust it so the helmet is permanently falling off her head! I think she genuinely thinks that helmets falling off your head is all part of the fun of riding a scooter.
You can tell how much of a hit it is when she wakes up the morning after her birthday and immediately says' Where's my scooter. Let's go downstairs now. I need my scooter'. I honestly think that Anna would have the scooter in bed with her if she thought she could get away with it!
To contend with the scooter being driven around the living room (It is still far too wet to take it outside), we also have a massive sand pit taking up the floor space in our living room. Grandma Lynn and Grandad Flob, generously, has given Anna a Ladybird sandpit complete with lid for her birthday. Unfortunately, due to the weather and her birthday falling in the winter, it isn't really suitable to take outside yet. However, this hasn't stopped Anna from having great fun with it. She is now insisting that she sits in the empty sand pit to watch TV, read her books and also hide her toys in it. She is also quite fond of hiding in it herself!
Our living room really is a sight for sore eyes at the moment, what with scooter, every Peppa Pig toy known to man, Sylvanian family caravan and car, leaf blowing game (which is the other gift that Anna adores, especially when the leaves go whizzing around the room so that her Mummy has to get on all 4's to retrieve them from the oddest of places) and a massive sand pit. All of this and, in some way which I have no idea how at the moment , I have to get ready for the big party on Saturday where 26 guests descend on our small house in anticipation of fun! At the moment, I am only anticipating chaos and mayhem but, as long as everyone has a good time and the birthday girl herself feels special , then something will be achieved. Even if I do have several thousand grey hairs and worry lines on my forehead!
As soon as she was dressed, we went downstairs and Anna suddenly let out a gasp as she saw the huge present in front of her. However, curiously, she decided to save that one (I thought most children would dive on the biggest present first but not Anna) and, instead, opened the tiny present first (some Peppa Pig painting stamps). It was only after she had opened the helmet (She had insisted that, when riding the demonstration scooter in Toys R Us, that she needed a helmet before she got on the scooter itself. I'm not sure who has taught her this important safety message, as we had never felt the need to teach her that before now, but thank you to whoever did!), she then opened the scooter and let out another gasp of pure delight. We then spent the next 30 minutes with Anna going round in circles because she had her scooter permanently on right lock. A quick lesson in steering was needed. Unfortunately, breakfast and drinking her milk was far less important than her scooter so got abandoned.
I felt like a very mean Mummy when I told Anna that it was time for pre-school. I felt even meaner when, on the way to pre-school, the skies opened and the rain poured. I was drenched within 5 seconds (despite wearing a raincoat as the water just dripped off the hem and hood like a cascading waterfall). Anna must have seen a weather forecast as she had grabbed her umbrella on the way out that morning so was slightly drier albeit damp! In fact, Anna had great fun as she copied her idol, Peppa Pig, and started to jump in all the puddles.
I was sure that there would be tears on arriving at pre-school as she would insist on returning home to play with her birthday gifts and I had even bullied James to come with me (He has the week off work to do many things including celebrate Anna's birthday, prepare for 2 parties, stop me from worrying, look for possible houses that we could live in and have a few well-deserved lie-ins (which he hasn't managed to do yet!). However, I was very thankful when one of the pre-school supervisors shouted 'Happy Birthday' to Anna as she opened the front door. I hadn't reminded them that it was Anna's birthday but they had noted it and Anna was more than happy to go to pre-school if it meant lots more attention piled on her.
When it was time to pick her up, she came out very excitedly clutching a handmade Peppa Pig birthday card and telling me that everyone had sang Happy Birthday and basically made a big fuss. The supervisor then came out looking exhausted, informing me that Anna had been more than energetic this morning.
We then headed to the local soft play centre where Anna had her favourite meal of Sausages and Smiley Faces before leaping about on the slides, ball pools and tunnels for the next 2 hours.
We then went to the local Ice Cream Farm. This place is divine and Anna loves it. Basically, as well as having a massive outdoor playground with a climbing frame perfect for toddlers (albeit too wet on this particular day), an automatic clown blowing bubbles (Anna adores him and tells everyone visiting the farm that they must go and say Hello to him!) and a duck pond, they also have an animal corner complete with farmyard animals. There is also a milking parlour where you see the cows being milked before the milk gets taken to the converted barn to make into ice cream (which can be viewed on a big screen in the ice cream parlour. I have always insisted that Anna goes to the animals first as I then feel less guilty about buying her an ice cream if she has had some educational input about farmyard animals. By now, Anna has worked out the rules of this game so headed straight for animal corner. For a second, I actually thought she was keen to learn more about the animals but alas no. Instead, Anna zoomed past each pen in 10 seconds at most saying 'Hello goats, hello pigs, hello donkeys, hello pony, hello cows. Let's go for ice cream now.' I don't think she glanced at each animal for more than a second!
So we then headed for the ice cream parlour. Now, this is not just ordinary ice cream but indeed Cheshire's finest ice cream and comes in a range of flavours including Malteaser Flavour strawberry cheesecake, Banoffi and Baileys. It is extremely creamy and extremely high calories but has to be done every once in a while. Anna chooses chocolate every time and then proceeds to devour it in record time. The melted chocolate spread from cheek to cheek is really quite a sight but the massive grin on her face is also quite a sight too!
So after playing with the bubbles, devouring ice cream and making mess, Anna decided it was time to go home. Now, Anna never normally volunteers to go home but today, she had an agenda. 'Mummy, Can we go home now because I want scooter time'. (We had originally planned to take Anna to our favourite country park on the afternoon of her birthday but the torrential rain put stop to that).
As soon as we got home, Anna went straight for her scooter and, in fact, has played on nothing else since. There are still a few lessons in riding a scooter that has to be taught yet though. One of these is the lesson that you are actually allowed to go more than 30 centimetres on it. In 'Toys R Us', the space to ride the demonstrator scooters is quite limited so I told Anna that she could only go a few steps with it. She has now taken this on board and will only go forwards and backwards in a 30 centimetre radius (Yet, when I remind her to take her cup to the kitchen on a thrice daily basis, she forgets within 3 seconds! Strange!) She also insists on wearing her helmet at all times but then refuses to let anyone adjust it so the helmet is permanently falling off her head! I think she genuinely thinks that helmets falling off your head is all part of the fun of riding a scooter.
You can tell how much of a hit it is when she wakes up the morning after her birthday and immediately says' Where's my scooter. Let's go downstairs now. I need my scooter'. I honestly think that Anna would have the scooter in bed with her if she thought she could get away with it!
To contend with the scooter being driven around the living room (It is still far too wet to take it outside), we also have a massive sand pit taking up the floor space in our living room. Grandma Lynn and Grandad Flob, generously, has given Anna a Ladybird sandpit complete with lid for her birthday. Unfortunately, due to the weather and her birthday falling in the winter, it isn't really suitable to take outside yet. However, this hasn't stopped Anna from having great fun with it. She is now insisting that she sits in the empty sand pit to watch TV, read her books and also hide her toys in it. She is also quite fond of hiding in it herself!
Our living room really is a sight for sore eyes at the moment, what with scooter, every Peppa Pig toy known to man, Sylvanian family caravan and car, leaf blowing game (which is the other gift that Anna adores, especially when the leaves go whizzing around the room so that her Mummy has to get on all 4's to retrieve them from the oddest of places) and a massive sand pit. All of this and, in some way which I have no idea how at the moment , I have to get ready for the big party on Saturday where 26 guests descend on our small house in anticipation of fun! At the moment, I am only anticipating chaos and mayhem but, as long as everyone has a good time and the birthday girl herself feels special , then something will be achieved. Even if I do have several thousand grey hairs and worry lines on my forehead!
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Anna's 3rd Birthday Party - Part 1
Anna's birthday is obviously a huge occasion in the Gibson household and, being the popular girl that she is, means that celebrations can last all week.
Due to my side of the family being in Herefordshire, James's side of the family being in Manchester/Liverpool and friends spread everywhere including Wales, Birmingham and Cheshire as well as having a house that just couldn't fit everyone in, we decided to have several parties, spread over the week.
The first party was last weekend in Herefordshire with my side of the family attending. Her actual birthday was a smaller affair with a little party at pre-school followed by a birthday lunch at the local soft-play centre followed by a trip to the Ice Cream Farm (One of Anna's very favourite places!) and then the third party is planned for this coming weekend with James' family and her little friends (and the most traumatic as I play host without my mother to organise me, as in previous years!). A busy week then!
On the morning of her first party, I explained that it was her birthday and that, to celebrate, Nanny and Grandad was going to have a party at their house with various family members. Anna seemed suitably excited and I thought she understood as she rushed downstairs to tell her Nanny. It was only when she started singing 'Happy Birthday Nanny' and continued to sing it all morning that I realised she may not have grasped my in-depth conversation with her! Even when we had set up for the party, complete with Peppa Pig plates,cup, napkins and assorted party ware , Anna was still convinced that this was all for her Nanny (Well, who wouldn't want Peppa Pig plates and paraphernalia at their party!!). There was only one thing we could do, in order to convince Anna it was her party and so, with a quick dash to Hereford, James and I returned with a massive number 3 balloon and a Peppa pig balloon for good measure. After presenting them to her, I think it suddenly dawned on her that this was her party and excitement was soon clearly evident with Anna running around the house and eagerly awaiting her first guests.
It was when James was helping Anna get dressed in her princess dress (It wouldn't be a party without a princess dress) that Goo-Goo (Anna's great-nan) and Uncle Phil arrived, soon followed by everyone else. At this point Anna was just running from one person to another with the biggest grin on her face and giving a running commentary of what everyone was saying. She also thought it was wonderful that Zim, the Bassett Hound, arrived at her party too.
A theme soon became very clear when opening the very generous presents and I think it is fair to say that Anna now owns every Peppa pig toy ever created! Anna was inheaven and was giving 78 year old Goo-Goo a full education of Peppa and her family, using her toys to demonstrate. Another gift that must be mentioned is the unique hockey top presented by Auntie Carolyne and Uncle Steve with Carolyne's hockey club logo emblazoned on it and 'Anna' printed on it too, just like the proper hockey players! The back of the top reads 'Leominster Ladies Hockey Club' so it is now official... Anna is now a member of the Hockey club and begins her debut hockey game next weekend (She is still eagerly practising with her professional hockey stick and is alarmingly quite good on target!!)
I think the highlight for Anna was when the cake was brought in, with a big number 3 and her name iced on it and, after we had all sang 'Happy Birthday' at the top of our voices (Anna insisted!), Anna did a very good job of blowing her candles out and cheering before doing her solo performance of singing Happy Birthday to herself.
It was well past 11 when Anna informed me that it was time for bed. So, after getting dressed in her pyjamas, Anna gave everyone a goodnight kiss and thanked everyone for their such generous gifts without any prompting from us, before climbing the stairs to bed. Well, even party girls need to sleep sometimes.
A short while later, I crept upstairs to check on her and she had a huge smile on her face. Anna is definitely a girl who likes to party!
Due to my side of the family being in Herefordshire, James's side of the family being in Manchester/Liverpool and friends spread everywhere including Wales, Birmingham and Cheshire as well as having a house that just couldn't fit everyone in, we decided to have several parties, spread over the week.
The first party was last weekend in Herefordshire with my side of the family attending. Her actual birthday was a smaller affair with a little party at pre-school followed by a birthday lunch at the local soft-play centre followed by a trip to the Ice Cream Farm (One of Anna's very favourite places!) and then the third party is planned for this coming weekend with James' family and her little friends (and the most traumatic as I play host without my mother to organise me, as in previous years!). A busy week then!
On the morning of her first party, I explained that it was her birthday and that, to celebrate, Nanny and Grandad was going to have a party at their house with various family members. Anna seemed suitably excited and I thought she understood as she rushed downstairs to tell her Nanny. It was only when she started singing 'Happy Birthday Nanny' and continued to sing it all morning that I realised she may not have grasped my in-depth conversation with her! Even when we had set up for the party, complete with Peppa Pig plates,cup, napkins and assorted party ware , Anna was still convinced that this was all for her Nanny (Well, who wouldn't want Peppa Pig plates and paraphernalia at their party!!). There was only one thing we could do, in order to convince Anna it was her party and so, with a quick dash to Hereford, James and I returned with a massive number 3 balloon and a Peppa pig balloon for good measure. After presenting them to her, I think it suddenly dawned on her that this was her party and excitement was soon clearly evident with Anna running around the house and eagerly awaiting her first guests.
It was when James was helping Anna get dressed in her princess dress (It wouldn't be a party without a princess dress) that Goo-Goo (Anna's great-nan) and Uncle Phil arrived, soon followed by everyone else. At this point Anna was just running from one person to another with the biggest grin on her face and giving a running commentary of what everyone was saying. She also thought it was wonderful that Zim, the Bassett Hound, arrived at her party too.
A theme soon became very clear when opening the very generous presents and I think it is fair to say that Anna now owns every Peppa pig toy ever created! Anna was inheaven and was giving 78 year old Goo-Goo a full education of Peppa and her family, using her toys to demonstrate. Another gift that must be mentioned is the unique hockey top presented by Auntie Carolyne and Uncle Steve with Carolyne's hockey club logo emblazoned on it and 'Anna' printed on it too, just like the proper hockey players! The back of the top reads 'Leominster Ladies Hockey Club' so it is now official... Anna is now a member of the Hockey club and begins her debut hockey game next weekend (She is still eagerly practising with her professional hockey stick and is alarmingly quite good on target!!)
I think the highlight for Anna was when the cake was brought in, with a big number 3 and her name iced on it and, after we had all sang 'Happy Birthday' at the top of our voices (Anna insisted!), Anna did a very good job of blowing her candles out and cheering before doing her solo performance of singing Happy Birthday to herself.
It was well past 11 when Anna informed me that it was time for bed. So, after getting dressed in her pyjamas, Anna gave everyone a goodnight kiss and thanked everyone for their such generous gifts without any prompting from us, before climbing the stairs to bed. Well, even party girls need to sleep sometimes.
A short while later, I crept upstairs to check on her and she had a huge smile on her face. Anna is definitely a girl who likes to party!
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Happy 3rd Birthday Anna
Has it really been a year since Anna's last birthday???
Doesn't time fly when you are having fun!
It has been a momentous us year. Anna was bridesmaid... twice! She has started pre-school, flown on a plane for the very first time, been to another country (not that Anna really noticed!), gained her very first cousin and numerous other events that will come flooding back as soon as this post goes public.
I fear that this blog post will simply be a repeat of last birthday's blog post. However, sometimes, the sentiment needs to be said and shouted aloud for the whole world to hear.
So another year has sped by and, with each passing year, our darling daughter becomes even more beautiful, clever, funny, thoughtful, mischievous, cheeky and just gorgeous beyond belief. Every year, I find myself just gazing and wondering at how my daughter is growing up and how much happiness she brings, to lots of different people for lots of different reasons. She continues to wow everyone, no matter where she goes and, as her Grandad Peter said only a few weeks ago, 'Anna makes everyone love her, no matter where she goes'.
As for her Mummy (and Daddy)... I love her so much that I never thought possible. She is my world and everything in it and she makes me so very proud on a daily basis.
Happy Birthday Darling Anna.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Adventures in Finland
Obviously, the main highlight of our adventure to Finland was seeing Anna's Uncle Matthew and Auntie Ulriikka getting married, which was always going to be special.
However, in the lead up to this event, we had to amuse ourselves somehow and so, Tampere (town in Finland where Matthew and Ulriikka live) was explored at great length. Our feet certainly knew about it!
After recovering from the flight, our first day in Finland saw us take a trip to an observation tower. Ulriikka had recommended that we go as this was her favourite place in the whole of Tampere, not least of all because of the amazing doughnuts and coffee which was served at the foot of the tower.
We located the observation tower on the map but Matthew had recommended that we take a taxi due to a big steep hill (and Matthew walks a lot so we knew the hill would be big), so we decided to take a taxi. We also thought it might be a good idea as it would give us a useful view of the city via the luxury of the back seat of cab.
After driving through a beautiful forest, which included a rather steep hill, the taxi's dropped us off and drove off. At this point, Flob decides to inform us that he doesn't think this is the observation tower. Now, I don't want to lay the blame entirely at Flob's feet as I do admit that the observation tower did not look that impressive or even high from the outside (although we seemed to forget that the observation tower was located on the highest hill in Finland and therefore would give a good viewpoint anyway). Flob then proceeded to tell us that the observation tower that he had seen on the tourist website (Number one attraction in Tampere) looked nothing like this particular tower. If memory recalls, I did suggest that someone should go and enquire inside the tower and that I did believe that this was indeed the observation tower that Ulriiikka recommended but nobody believed me (I tend to have that a lot!!) so we all headed down the hill. Then someone mentioned that they could see the other observation tower and we should head in that direction because it didn't look too far away. As it turns out, it was actually the other side of the city (at least 3 miles!). Luckily, we didn't get too far! At this point, I am still muttering that I think I was right when I suddenly have the brainwave of texting Ulriikka. At this point, I think everyone wondered whether I had lost my marbles but it seemed to make sense to ask the girl who was actually born and raised in Finland and who lived here. I realise she was in the midst of planning her forthcoming wedding but I hoped she wouldn't mind receiving a text asking what the observation tower should look like. It wasn't long before she replied.
At this point, I would love to say that I was not smug but I was! So we all turned around and went back up the hill (after debating whether it was actually worth it but the thought of doughnuts convinced me and Charlotte that it was very worth it!!).
I am pleased to say, that in my opinion, I think the tower was worth walking up that hill! It also meant that the coffee and doughnut was very well-earned so not so much of a guilty pleasure and just a pleasure! Anna loved the taste of her very first doughnut too! The view from the top of the tower was also a pleasure and made us realise that Tampere was actually a very nice town.
With the Moomin's originating from Finland, we also felt it was essential that we visit the Moomin Museum. As a 'tourist must', I was also keen to go despite the fact that the Moomin's used to scare me senseless as a child (Goodness knows why!). Luckily, they didn't scare me this time. I'm not sure Anna was too impressed with the Moomin's although she now knows what they are. However, she then found a room in the Museum that had a dressing up wardrobe so spent a great deal of time trying on the crown's, tiara's and princess dresses (nothing to do with Moomin's but great fun for Anna!!!)
On the day after the wedding, Me, James and Anna along with Uncle John and Auntie Charlotte (much to Anna's delight who was stuck to her beloved Auntie Charlotte throughout the whole Finland trip) went to the amusement park. Very early on in our trip, we had discovered that Tampere had a tourist season that very much ended on the 1st September. With our trip being the 23rd of September, attractions were slightly on the quiet side and this amusement park was no different. It was very surreal looking over an amusement park that was completely empty and stood very still (whilst stood at the second observation tower of the town and the one that Flob had recommended).
(Anna at the top of the observation Tower)
However, all was not lost, as there as still an aquarium, planetarium and Dolphin show that was open. The Aquarium was good and Anna loved watching the fish while the planetarium was not so good.
(Uncle John puckering up for his kiss with a fish whose nickname was 'Kissing Fish'. The Fish liked the look of Uncle John and was puckering up too! It makes Anna laugh every time she sees this Photo!)
However, it was the dolphin show that provided the most interesting aspect f the day. It was also the moment where I felt immensely proud of my little girl. The show started very promising with the 4 dolphins performing acrobatic tricks and 'wowing' the crowd. Anna adored it and laughed, applauded and cheered. However, 5 minutes in and the actors emerged to perform a 'short' play which lasted 45 minutes with very little dolphin action. This wouldn't have been so bad except the whole play was in Finnish so there were 5 members of the audience who knew nothing of what was going on. One of these spectators was a 2 year old Anna. Now, 45 minutes is a long time in any 2 year old's book but especially when you have to sit still and listen to 4 people talking in an entirely alien language to you and not having any clue what was happening. However, Anna just sat beautifully, anticipating when dolphins would re-appear and whispering to Charlotte that she loved sharks (Sharks and dolphins look similar!!). Thankfully, the last 5 mins of the show saw the dolphins reappear and dazzle the crowd again, which made it all worth it in Anna's eyes. I was extremely proud of Anna and still am when I think about it, especially when you consider that some Finnish children, much older than Anna, didn't sit so beautifully and they could understand what was going on.
Other highlights of the trip was James' trip to the local McDonalds to 'taste test' their Big Macs and then voice his surprise when the Finnish Big Mac tastes exactly the same as the English version!
Another highlight was a night out in a German restaurant (I know... we were in Finland eating at a German restaurant. We went to a Spanish restaurant the night after!!). After our meal, entertainment was in the form of a German band (who were all Finnish!). It was actually a lovely evening and it was good to spend time with Matthew before his wedding the next day. The actual highlight came as it was time to leave (about Midnight). Anna had fallen asleep only a few minutes before and, to get out of the bar/restaurant involved us walking past the live, very loud, band. With Anna asleep in James' arms, we headed to the door of the packed bar and, as we passed the band, they all played/sang very quietly so not to wake Anna! I was touched by the gesture.
I would love to say that Anna learnt many things from the Finnish culture but I fear not. However, something that Anna did learn was how to recognise the words 'Holiday Inn'. She got very excited whenever she saw the glowing green light of the hotel sign and, now even back in the UK, whenever she sees a Holiday Inn sign on paper or on the side of the building, Anna says 'Look Mummy, Holiday Inn. I like the holiday Inn. Can we go to Holiday Inn again'. I think this can also be translated for her liking of Finland.
The other thing that Anna learnt was that planes fly to Finland. However, she now believes that EVERY plane is going to Finland so will point to aeroplane flying overhead and shout 'Look, that plane is going to Finland'.
Despite seeing lots of things in Finland such as the Moomin Museum, 2 observation towers and a Dolphin show as well as walk the entire city many times (it is a small place), none of these things were the true highlight for me and Anna. This is because, I feel, that the true highlight was getting to spend some real quality time with Grandma Lynn, Grandad Flob, Uncle Henry, Uncle John and Auntie Charlotte. With John and Charlotte living in Edinburgh, we never get to spend as long as we would like with them and I also think you get to see a deeper side to people when going on holiday with them. It was lovely that Anna got to spend so much time with them as I think it just confirmed what she already knew which was that she has a wonderful family. To me, that is what made Tampere/Finland such a lovely place to visit.
However, in the lead up to this event, we had to amuse ourselves somehow and so, Tampere (town in Finland where Matthew and Ulriikka live) was explored at great length. Our feet certainly knew about it!
After recovering from the flight, our first day in Finland saw us take a trip to an observation tower. Ulriikka had recommended that we go as this was her favourite place in the whole of Tampere, not least of all because of the amazing doughnuts and coffee which was served at the foot of the tower.
We located the observation tower on the map but Matthew had recommended that we take a taxi due to a big steep hill (and Matthew walks a lot so we knew the hill would be big), so we decided to take a taxi. We also thought it might be a good idea as it would give us a useful view of the city via the luxury of the back seat of cab.
After driving through a beautiful forest, which included a rather steep hill, the taxi's dropped us off and drove off. At this point, Flob decides to inform us that he doesn't think this is the observation tower. Now, I don't want to lay the blame entirely at Flob's feet as I do admit that the observation tower did not look that impressive or even high from the outside (although we seemed to forget that the observation tower was located on the highest hill in Finland and therefore would give a good viewpoint anyway). Flob then proceeded to tell us that the observation tower that he had seen on the tourist website (Number one attraction in Tampere) looked nothing like this particular tower. If memory recalls, I did suggest that someone should go and enquire inside the tower and that I did believe that this was indeed the observation tower that Ulriiikka recommended but nobody believed me (I tend to have that a lot!!) so we all headed down the hill. Then someone mentioned that they could see the other observation tower and we should head in that direction because it didn't look too far away. As it turns out, it was actually the other side of the city (at least 3 miles!). Luckily, we didn't get too far! At this point, I am still muttering that I think I was right when I suddenly have the brainwave of texting Ulriikka. At this point, I think everyone wondered whether I had lost my marbles but it seemed to make sense to ask the girl who was actually born and raised in Finland and who lived here. I realise she was in the midst of planning her forthcoming wedding but I hoped she wouldn't mind receiving a text asking what the observation tower should look like. It wasn't long before she replied.
At this point, I would love to say that I was not smug but I was! So we all turned around and went back up the hill (after debating whether it was actually worth it but the thought of doughnuts convinced me and Charlotte that it was very worth it!!).
I am pleased to say, that in my opinion, I think the tower was worth walking up that hill! It also meant that the coffee and doughnut was very well-earned so not so much of a guilty pleasure and just a pleasure! Anna loved the taste of her very first doughnut too! The view from the top of the tower was also a pleasure and made us realise that Tampere was actually a very nice town.
With the Moomin's originating from Finland, we also felt it was essential that we visit the Moomin Museum. As a 'tourist must', I was also keen to go despite the fact that the Moomin's used to scare me senseless as a child (Goodness knows why!). Luckily, they didn't scare me this time. I'm not sure Anna was too impressed with the Moomin's although she now knows what they are. However, she then found a room in the Museum that had a dressing up wardrobe so spent a great deal of time trying on the crown's, tiara's and princess dresses (nothing to do with Moomin's but great fun for Anna!!!)
On the day after the wedding, Me, James and Anna along with Uncle John and Auntie Charlotte (much to Anna's delight who was stuck to her beloved Auntie Charlotte throughout the whole Finland trip) went to the amusement park. Very early on in our trip, we had discovered that Tampere had a tourist season that very much ended on the 1st September. With our trip being the 23rd of September, attractions were slightly on the quiet side and this amusement park was no different. It was very surreal looking over an amusement park that was completely empty and stood very still (whilst stood at the second observation tower of the town and the one that Flob had recommended).
(Anna at the top of the observation Tower) However, all was not lost, as there as still an aquarium, planetarium and Dolphin show that was open. The Aquarium was good and Anna loved watching the fish while the planetarium was not so good.
(Uncle John puckering up for his kiss with a fish whose nickname was 'Kissing Fish'. The Fish liked the look of Uncle John and was puckering up too! It makes Anna laugh every time she sees this Photo!) However, it was the dolphin show that provided the most interesting aspect f the day. It was also the moment where I felt immensely proud of my little girl. The show started very promising with the 4 dolphins performing acrobatic tricks and 'wowing' the crowd. Anna adored it and laughed, applauded and cheered. However, 5 minutes in and the actors emerged to perform a 'short' play which lasted 45 minutes with very little dolphin action. This wouldn't have been so bad except the whole play was in Finnish so there were 5 members of the audience who knew nothing of what was going on. One of these spectators was a 2 year old Anna. Now, 45 minutes is a long time in any 2 year old's book but especially when you have to sit still and listen to 4 people talking in an entirely alien language to you and not having any clue what was happening. However, Anna just sat beautifully, anticipating when dolphins would re-appear and whispering to Charlotte that she loved sharks (Sharks and dolphins look similar!!). Thankfully, the last 5 mins of the show saw the dolphins reappear and dazzle the crowd again, which made it all worth it in Anna's eyes. I was extremely proud of Anna and still am when I think about it, especially when you consider that some Finnish children, much older than Anna, didn't sit so beautifully and they could understand what was going on.
Other highlights of the trip was James' trip to the local McDonalds to 'taste test' their Big Macs and then voice his surprise when the Finnish Big Mac tastes exactly the same as the English version!
Another highlight was a night out in a German restaurant (I know... we were in Finland eating at a German restaurant. We went to a Spanish restaurant the night after!!). After our meal, entertainment was in the form of a German band (who were all Finnish!). It was actually a lovely evening and it was good to spend time with Matthew before his wedding the next day. The actual highlight came as it was time to leave (about Midnight). Anna had fallen asleep only a few minutes before and, to get out of the bar/restaurant involved us walking past the live, very loud, band. With Anna asleep in James' arms, we headed to the door of the packed bar and, as we passed the band, they all played/sang very quietly so not to wake Anna! I was touched by the gesture.
I would love to say that Anna learnt many things from the Finnish culture but I fear not. However, something that Anna did learn was how to recognise the words 'Holiday Inn'. She got very excited whenever she saw the glowing green light of the hotel sign and, now even back in the UK, whenever she sees a Holiday Inn sign on paper or on the side of the building, Anna says 'Look Mummy, Holiday Inn. I like the holiday Inn. Can we go to Holiday Inn again'. I think this can also be translated for her liking of Finland.
The other thing that Anna learnt was that planes fly to Finland. However, she now believes that EVERY plane is going to Finland so will point to aeroplane flying overhead and shout 'Look, that plane is going to Finland'.
Despite seeing lots of things in Finland such as the Moomin Museum, 2 observation towers and a Dolphin show as well as walk the entire city many times (it is a small place), none of these things were the true highlight for me and Anna. This is because, I feel, that the true highlight was getting to spend some real quality time with Grandma Lynn, Grandad Flob, Uncle Henry, Uncle John and Auntie Charlotte. With John and Charlotte living in Edinburgh, we never get to spend as long as we would like with them and I also think you get to see a deeper side to people when going on holiday with them. It was lovely that Anna got to spend so much time with them as I think it just confirmed what she already knew which was that she has a wonderful family. To me, that is what made Tampere/Finland such a lovely place to visit.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Flying High
Although it is now nearly a month since we went to Finland, I have still not included a post about Anna's first time in an aeroplane. (shame on me!!!) It still feels like it was a pretty significant event in Anna's life to date so, despite the blog being long overdue (along with blogs about our other adventures in Finland and her first few weeks in pre-school, which she is loving so much that she whinges on the days she doesn't go and thinks pre-school is much better than her Mummy!), I thought I had better get on and write about it before I have forgot all about it too!
We arrived at Manchester airport early on that Wednesday morning. On the way there, we had been explaining that Anna would be going an aeroplane but Anna just thought we were being silly. 'I don't think so' repeated Anna on several occasions.
Anna forgot all about any potential air travel as soon as we arrived at the airport. What excited Anna more was the luggage trolley so, as James took the car to park, Anna insisted on pushing the heavy luggage trolley around the terminal. Despite my best efforts to stop her, she managed to collide head-on with another trolley. The security guard gave us a very stern look and I felt like a very naughty school child while Anna was oblivious and began singing ''We're Going to the Zoo' (In her excitement, she forgot what she was actually getting excited about!!!)
By the time it came to check-in, Anna was completely over-excited and tried to climb over the desk to personally show the patient gentleman her passport photo, accompanied by trying to tell him her own version of her life story!
We then headed through to Passport Control where we encountered our first problem. After loading my handbag, Anna's backpack and various coats into the plastic tray, which would then be transported through the x-ray machine, the rather-stern woman pointed to Anna's cube and cuddly Peppa Pig and told us, in no uncertain terms, that they were to be placed in the tray as well. At first, I thought I would get away as I gently took Peppa and the cube out of Anna's hands and explained that they was going on a little journey in the tray. However, the calm quickly descended into chaos when Peppa and the cube disappeared into the noisy, clanging and banging x-ray machine. At this point, I had stooped down to try and explain that Peppa and the cube would pop out the other end soon and was frantically pointing out the exit point where Peppa and the cube would emerge shortly. However, in order to reach that point, it also meant going through the gate (the one that beeps if you have something suspicious on your person) and the lady was not taking kindly to me hesitating to go through the gate as I tried to persuade Anna that Peppa would be coming out the other end. 'I can't leave Peppa and the cube' wailed Anna. It was then that the stern woman wailed at me . 'Pick the child up and walk through NOW' as though I had just drawn a weapon from my pocket. I feared the worst as I walked through, knowing that if Anna and I beeped, we would both need to be searched which would prolong the whole reunion with her beloved cube and we would probably kick off a riot of some sort as Anna assaulted the bossy lady for getting in her way of being reunited with her beloved, smelly, dirty-looking stuffed cube!! Thankfully we didn't beep and only managed to get lots of businessmen scurrying off in a million different directions as a wailing Anna approached the x-ray machine to await the arrival. As soon as Peppa and the cube arrived, Anna began laughing and said 'Did you enjoy the ride Peppa and cube'. Within 3 minutes, Anna had forgotten the whole trauma of the incident! In fact, on the return leg of the journey in Helsinki, Anna actually placed Peppa and the cube in the tray, waved at them and shouted 'Have a nice ride cube. See you at the other end Peppa' before running through the scanner to the other end of the x-ray machine to wave at them as they returned, (looking like a parent who eagerly awaits their child emerging from school after their the first day)
It wasn't long after that we were boarding the plane. While waiting in the queue, we saw another plane land on the runway and Anna looked very unimpressed, despite the fact that this plane looked much bigger in real life than it does high in the sky. 'Shall we go on an aeroplane ride?' I suggested hopefully. After some thought, Anna replied 'Can we go on the funfair ride on the aeroplane'. A wave of relief came over me as I realised that Anna was started to get excited about the prospect. However, I also realised that she had never actually experienced it before and that might be an entirely different type of reaction.
As we got on the actual plane, Anna said 'Look Mummy, it is a bus'! Oh dear!
To our delight (and their horror), we found that we were seated exactly opposite Grandma Lynn, Grandad Flob and Uncle Henry. I think that they were secretly hoping that we would be placed at the front of the plane while they were at the back as the screams would seem a lot quieter from back there. Either that or Grandad Flob and Grandma Lynn was hoping that they could have a quiet nap or a long read of their book, which was never going to happen with an over-excited Anna sat next to them. I have later found out that, on the way back, Flob even asked the check in girl whether he would be seated next to us. However, I am yet to find out whether he was asking due to the desire to sit next to his cherished, loud and over-excited grand-daughter or whether he was asking in the hope that he could be sat as far away as possible. I will endeavour to find out at a later date! However, regardless of what he wished for, we all ended up sitting together on the way back too!!!!!
As we were locating our seats, I did offer Anna the window seat so that she could gaze at the clouds and deep blue sky but she quickly declined. Sitting next to her Grandma Lynn, so that she could tell her all about Winnie the Witch, was much more exciting (Lucky Grandma Lynn!!!).
As soon as we started moving, Anna got excited. 'We're off' she kept repeating over and over again. Then, as the plane picked up speed and hurtled down the runway, a steadily louder 'whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' was coming from Anna. Now this was going to end in one of 2 ways... either the 'Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' would have turned into an 'aggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh' as Anna decided that she hated air travel (which would have then lasted the whole duration of the 3 hour flight) or the whooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' would turn into a 'yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh' as Anna loved the sensation of being lifted high into the air. Thankfully, it was the latter and a very excited Anna was soon telling all of the passengers how much she loved aeroplane rides.
For the next 3 hours, Anna was excellent. I realise that I am a biased mother but I truly think she was wonderfully behaved and we were both very proud of her. The same could be said for the way back.
During our flight, Anna took little notice of what was going on outside the window and I wasn't even sure that she had grasped that we were flying. However, she would then say things like 'Look Mummy, white clouds like cotton wool' or 'Look how blue the sky is Mummy' so I think she did get it. I suppose I was expecting her to think that flying in mid-air was all magical but Anna took it with a pinch of salt!
I was a little worried that, after getting off the 3 hour flight in Helsinki, that Anna would be less excited about going on the half an hour connecting flight to Tampere but there was no need to worry as Anna was more than a little keen to embark on another flight into the sky. In fact, she thought the second flight was even better because, not only did she get a chocolate bar from the air steward (and Finnish chocolate as well so even better) but also she got to go on a bus ride from the terminal to the aeroplane which made Anna go into hyper-drive of excitement! A bus trip and an aeroplane ride all in one day - what more could a girl ask for!
We arrived at Manchester airport early on that Wednesday morning. On the way there, we had been explaining that Anna would be going an aeroplane but Anna just thought we were being silly. 'I don't think so' repeated Anna on several occasions.
Anna forgot all about any potential air travel as soon as we arrived at the airport. What excited Anna more was the luggage trolley so, as James took the car to park, Anna insisted on pushing the heavy luggage trolley around the terminal. Despite my best efforts to stop her, she managed to collide head-on with another trolley. The security guard gave us a very stern look and I felt like a very naughty school child while Anna was oblivious and began singing ''We're Going to the Zoo' (In her excitement, she forgot what she was actually getting excited about!!!)
By the time it came to check-in, Anna was completely over-excited and tried to climb over the desk to personally show the patient gentleman her passport photo, accompanied by trying to tell him her own version of her life story!
We then headed through to Passport Control where we encountered our first problem. After loading my handbag, Anna's backpack and various coats into the plastic tray, which would then be transported through the x-ray machine, the rather-stern woman pointed to Anna's cube and cuddly Peppa Pig and told us, in no uncertain terms, that they were to be placed in the tray as well. At first, I thought I would get away as I gently took Peppa and the cube out of Anna's hands and explained that they was going on a little journey in the tray. However, the calm quickly descended into chaos when Peppa and the cube disappeared into the noisy, clanging and banging x-ray machine. At this point, I had stooped down to try and explain that Peppa and the cube would pop out the other end soon and was frantically pointing out the exit point where Peppa and the cube would emerge shortly. However, in order to reach that point, it also meant going through the gate (the one that beeps if you have something suspicious on your person) and the lady was not taking kindly to me hesitating to go through the gate as I tried to persuade Anna that Peppa would be coming out the other end. 'I can't leave Peppa and the cube' wailed Anna. It was then that the stern woman wailed at me . 'Pick the child up and walk through NOW' as though I had just drawn a weapon from my pocket. I feared the worst as I walked through, knowing that if Anna and I beeped, we would both need to be searched which would prolong the whole reunion with her beloved cube and we would probably kick off a riot of some sort as Anna assaulted the bossy lady for getting in her way of being reunited with her beloved, smelly, dirty-looking stuffed cube!! Thankfully we didn't beep and only managed to get lots of businessmen scurrying off in a million different directions as a wailing Anna approached the x-ray machine to await the arrival. As soon as Peppa and the cube arrived, Anna began laughing and said 'Did you enjoy the ride Peppa and cube'. Within 3 minutes, Anna had forgotten the whole trauma of the incident! In fact, on the return leg of the journey in Helsinki, Anna actually placed Peppa and the cube in the tray, waved at them and shouted 'Have a nice ride cube. See you at the other end Peppa' before running through the scanner to the other end of the x-ray machine to wave at them as they returned, (looking like a parent who eagerly awaits their child emerging from school after their the first day)
It wasn't long after that we were boarding the plane. While waiting in the queue, we saw another plane land on the runway and Anna looked very unimpressed, despite the fact that this plane looked much bigger in real life than it does high in the sky. 'Shall we go on an aeroplane ride?' I suggested hopefully. After some thought, Anna replied 'Can we go on the funfair ride on the aeroplane'. A wave of relief came over me as I realised that Anna was started to get excited about the prospect. However, I also realised that she had never actually experienced it before and that might be an entirely different type of reaction.
As we got on the actual plane, Anna said 'Look Mummy, it is a bus'! Oh dear!
To our delight (and their horror), we found that we were seated exactly opposite Grandma Lynn, Grandad Flob and Uncle Henry. I think that they were secretly hoping that we would be placed at the front of the plane while they were at the back as the screams would seem a lot quieter from back there. Either that or Grandad Flob and Grandma Lynn was hoping that they could have a quiet nap or a long read of their book, which was never going to happen with an over-excited Anna sat next to them. I have later found out that, on the way back, Flob even asked the check in girl whether he would be seated next to us. However, I am yet to find out whether he was asking due to the desire to sit next to his cherished, loud and over-excited grand-daughter or whether he was asking in the hope that he could be sat as far away as possible. I will endeavour to find out at a later date! However, regardless of what he wished for, we all ended up sitting together on the way back too!!!!!
As we were locating our seats, I did offer Anna the window seat so that she could gaze at the clouds and deep blue sky but she quickly declined. Sitting next to her Grandma Lynn, so that she could tell her all about Winnie the Witch, was much more exciting (Lucky Grandma Lynn!!!).
As soon as we started moving, Anna got excited. 'We're off' she kept repeating over and over again. Then, as the plane picked up speed and hurtled down the runway, a steadily louder 'whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' was coming from Anna. Now this was going to end in one of 2 ways... either the 'Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' would have turned into an 'aggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh' as Anna decided that she hated air travel (which would have then lasted the whole duration of the 3 hour flight) or the whooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' would turn into a 'yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh' as Anna loved the sensation of being lifted high into the air. Thankfully, it was the latter and a very excited Anna was soon telling all of the passengers how much she loved aeroplane rides.
For the next 3 hours, Anna was excellent. I realise that I am a biased mother but I truly think she was wonderfully behaved and we were both very proud of her. The same could be said for the way back.
During our flight, Anna took little notice of what was going on outside the window and I wasn't even sure that she had grasped that we were flying. However, she would then say things like 'Look Mummy, white clouds like cotton wool' or 'Look how blue the sky is Mummy' so I think she did get it. I suppose I was expecting her to think that flying in mid-air was all magical but Anna took it with a pinch of salt!
I was a little worried that, after getting off the 3 hour flight in Helsinki, that Anna would be less excited about going on the half an hour connecting flight to Tampere but there was no need to worry as Anna was more than a little keen to embark on another flight into the sky. In fact, she thought the second flight was even better because, not only did she get a chocolate bar from the air steward (and Finnish chocolate as well so even better) but also she got to go on a bus ride from the terminal to the aeroplane which made Anna go into hyper-drive of excitement! A bus trip and an aeroplane ride all in one day - what more could a girl ask for!
Thursday, 8 October 2009
The New Mr and Mrs Gibson
I feel like I'm in heaven when you're with me.
I know that I'm in heaven when you smile.
('Little Trip to Heaven'. Tom Waits)
('Little Trip to Heaven'. Tom Waits)
I had never been to an intimate wedding before. By intimate, I mean 30 guests and an approach which intended for the occasion to be very relaxed and cosy.
There is something very beautiful about intimacy.
At 6pm on Friday 25th September, Matthew and Ulriikka were married in Tampere, Finland.
The Gibson/Casson clan rolled up to the gates of a 'stately home' although that seems an inadquote word to describe it. It was beautiful and was only enhanced by the walk up the grand stairs, above which hung the most sparkly and intricate chandeliers. We were then lead into an oak-panelled room which would serve as the dining room. To the right, was a smaller room with a grand piano and harp (this was to be the room where the wedding would take place).
After standing to admire the beauty of the location, Anna immediately set eyes on the harp and made a beeline to it. 'Look Mummy, a harp' she cheered. I didn't have very long to stand there looking like the impressed and smug Mummy about my 2 year old daughter knowing it was harp because Anna was clambering upon the stool in order to play the very expensive and delicate instrument. I raced over to explain that this wasn't actually her play thing. At which point, Anna decided to burst into tears. For the entire duration of our time in Finland, Anna had been huge smiles and a picture of pure joy. Just as Ulriikka's family walked in, for the very first time we were to meet them, Anna decided to shout at me that she wanted to play the harp, in amongst the snot and tears that were streaming down her face! Great first impression we must have made!
Thankfully, I calmed her down enough in order to take our seats and wait for the bride and groom. As the previous weddings this summer had taught me, I needed a bribe so presented Anna with some Finnish biscuits that we had purchased at the airport. Anna took one bite and was not impressed (It should have been chocolate. Just for half an hour, I wouldn't have cared!). Never mind, Anna seemed happy enough, just to sit and wait. Good Girl.
Then the music began and we stood to greet the bride and groom walk in. They both looked wonderful. Ulriikka always looks beautiful but even more so and Matthew didn't scrub up too badly either. The evening before, he had fairly long hair and an unshaven look but I have to say that Anna's uncle looked very much the dashing gent! As though he had just stepped off the film set of a Jane Austen adaptation, complete with very smart suit.
At this point, I would love to tell you that the wedding ceremony itself was truly beautiful and reduced everyone to tears. I have it on good authority that it was indeed very touching and emotional but, unfortunately, this was the one wedding that I didn't get to see this summer. It was my own fault for I had confused my poor daughter earlier in the day and, instead of waiting to ask me about it after the wedding, she needed answers there and then and was telling me in no uncertain terms by shouting!
Let me explain... While getting ready for the wedding. I had put Anna in her wedding outfit (known as her 'princess dress') and explained that we were going to Auntie Ulriikka and Uncle Matthews wedding. She looked me up and down, seeing me still dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and said 'Daddy in Princess suit. Anna in my princess dress. Mummy in that. Are you going to the wedding Mummy?'. Anna was clearly worried that I was not going too so I explained that I was about to jump in the shower and I would put my dress on immediately afterwards. This seemed to calm Anna and all was well. However, after getting out of the shower and putting my make-up on, there was a knock at the door as Grandma Lynn had come to ask my advice about her fascinator so I quickly grabbed the hotel dressing gown and threw that on before opening the door.
After Lynn had gone, Anna felt it obligatory to compliment me (such a polite young lady!) so said 'Lovely Mummy. What a lovely Holiday Inn dress'. Anna had learnt how to recognise the words 'Holiday Inn' during our time in Finland as this was the hotel we had been staying at and the emblem was now emblazoned on my right boob of the dressing gown. 'No Anna. This isn't my dress' I hastily explained as I raced into the bathroom to finish getting ready and put my intended dress on. After which, Auntie Charlotte arrived so I then didn't get another glance from Anna until we were seated at the wedding, watching as Ulriikka and Matthew were coming up the aisle.
Due to the fact that Charlotte was not seated next to Anna, Anna now had time to give me a good look up and down and suddenly said (in a disgusted voice) 'Where is your holiday inn dress Mummy'. I tried to quieten her down but Anna was clearly not happy. 'I like your Holiday Inn dress Mummy. I don't like this one.' Anna had a point to make and she didn't care who heard it. It was no good. The whole wedding ceremony was going to be drowned out by Anna's love for the Holiday Inn!! Therefore I took her out to the balcony, with the intention of calming her down enough to return.
Of course, as soon as we left the room where the ceremony was taking place, Anna then burst into tears and was yelling 'I want to see Auntie Ulrriikka and Uncle Matthew'. After 5 minutes stood on the balcony, explaining about the holiday inn dressing gown and the fact that Anna had to be very good and quiet at the wedding, Anna was calm enough to return. I then spent a further 2 minutes reminding Anna that she was to be quiet because this was Uncle Matthews big moment. 'Yes Mummy' Anna dutifully replied, trying very hard to look like the angel who could do no wrong. I then tried to open the door back into the main room. Unfortunately, the door was self-locking and I had just locked myself out on the balcony! 'I'm ready to go back in Mummy' said Anna. Oh dear! I then had to explain that we were not going to be able to get back in until the ceremony was over. Cue more tears and a tantrum!
Thankfully, the ceremony was soon over and a very kind Finnish lady, who spoke very little English, could understand my sign language for 'Please let me back in. I am freezing'. Anna and I then went to congratulate the happy couple, who were looking very relieved that the formal bit was over.
It was then time to eat. The tables were laid in a very simple yet stunning way. There were no huge bouquets adorning every spare space but they were not needed. It was the detail that made it so gorgeous and Ulriikka and Matthew had obviously put so much hard work into the fine detail. Waiting for Anna was a teddy with a little Finland T-shirt on (We have called him 'Finn'. Admittedly not the most creative of names but apt!) and, inside her little box wrapped in ribbon and bows, was a little Moomin (A Finnish invention!). Each person had a box wrapped in a ribbon bow and, each small gift inside was individually selected for the person. In each box, we also had some lyrics from Matthew and Ulriikka's music collection. Again, it was the little detail like this that made it so beautiful as, for anyone that knows Matthew knows, music is his life and so the lyrics made it a unique and personal touch to Matthew and Ulriikka's big day.
If the song I sing to you
could fill your heart with joy,
I'd sing forever.
('Forever'. The Beach Boys)
could fill your heart with joy,
I'd sing forever.
('Forever'. The Beach Boys)
The food was absolutely gorgeous from the fresh salmon to start, to the most divine wedding cake you have ever tasted consisting of White chocolate and berries (not traditional in the English sense of the word but simply stunning). To accompany our dinner was a pianist and it was all just beautiful. We were also lucky to have Ulriikka's Finnish friend sat with us, who happens to go to university in Manchester and speaks better English than I do. Therefore she could enlighten us to Finnish wedding traditions.
One Finnish tradition is when it came to cutting the cake. Apparently, it is tradition that, whilst cutting the cake, the bride and groom must attempt to stand on the other's foot first and, whoever achieves it, is the person who will control the house. Thankfully, Ulriikka already had a fine grasp of being a Mrs Gibson and told the guests that this tradition didn't need to be carried out as everyone knew who wore the trousers in their household (and it isn't Matthew)! Apparently another Finnish tradition is that the bride's family should kidnap the bride during the wedding day and then the groom must do something fitting and honourable enough to earn his bride back. Luckily that tradition wasn't carried out either as we may never have seen Ulriikka again!
Unfortunately Anna didn't taste any of her dinner as she had been conveniently placed right next to the light switch. At first, no one knew what this was because it was different to any other light switch I had seen before but Anna soon used her investigative skills and the room was plunged into darkness on more than one occasion. Of course, I tired to stop her each time but sometimes, my reactions were just not quick enough. James, who was sat opposite me, would shout 'Lou', just as Anna's tiny hand reached for the button. Sometimes, I was just a split second too late. I think it was Anna's way of telling everyone to start the music and she would provide the flashing disco lights!! Every time that I switched the lights back on, 30 faces were all looking at me and the room had fell silent (after everyone had laughed) so I felt the need to apologise every time. At one point, I apologised for Anna turning the lights off and then apologised for not knowing the Finnish word for sorry because I was saying it so often! Thankfully, because all of the guest were so lovely, everyone saw the amusing side and smiled.
While we tucked into our coffee, whiskey, Irish liqueur and cake (Perfect!!!!!!!), it was time for the speeches. Ulriikka's parents speak very little English but enough that Ulriikka's father spoke in Finnish while Ulriikka's mother would read the English translation. It was a little bizarre to start as the Finnish guests would laugh very loudly at the Finnish speech while the English members were not sure how to react (not having understood a word). It seemed rude to sit there and not laugh when obviously a joke had just been made! However, fortunately the speech was so good that you soon forgot the translation element to it. Basically, Ulriikka's parents had read a Moomin story (very traditional and native to Finland) and they then adapted the story so that it was the story of Matthew and Ulriikka meeting. It was very clever.
It was then Grandad Flob's turn to make a speech. He stood up and, with a nervous hint to his voice, greeted everyone and.. we were plunged into darkness as Anna turned the lights off!!! As I frantically turned the lights back on, everyone was laughing very loudly and even the Finnish guest were telling me it was just Anna's way of telling her Grandad Flob to hurry up!! I would like to think that the laughter put Flob at slightly more ease as his speech was very good and heartfelt. Matthew then made his speech where he compared his new wife to a donkey, or words to that effect! In fact, Matthew's speech was pretty excellent too, it has to be said and I actually thought the donkey analogy was a very good way of summing up the task of making a speech at your own wedding!
After all of this, a slideshow was shown, almost like a 'This is Your Life moment' where it told the story of a boy and girl growing up and who happened, in 2004, to meet in a club in Manchester. In all the bars in all the world.... It is fair to say that this had the whole room in tears!
I am fairly certain that most people shed some tears of both laughter and sentimentality at such a beautiful tribute, not least of all at some of the shocking photos of James when he was little!
Once all of this was done, it was then the first dance. The words were beautiful and perfect for the occasion.
Of course, it didn't take long before Anna was up dancing (once Matthew and Ulriikka had a moment and other guests had been invited up) and so soon, Anna was dancing with the bride and groom and then Grandma Lynn and Grandad Flob but thankfully, no one seemed to mind.
The rest of the evening was spent pouring drinks and just having a really good time basically. When thinking about Matthew's wedding reception, I will remember John, James' other brother and dentist, making me laugh, and indeed the whole table, until the tears were streaming down my face, when discussing my particular toothpaste prescription!! (Very long story but one that I will remember and treasure for all the wrong reasons!)
Despite the language differences, it was wonderful to hear so much talking and laughing together and I'm not sure you would have got that if it hadn't been such an intimate wedding.
And once the venue had thrown us out, the party continued at a hotel down the road. Unfortunately, it was half past midnight by then and, despite a 2 year old who could have easily partied all night, the good parenting side of us kicked in and we thought we should take her to bed. I am told that the party went on until 5am the next morning while Ulriikka was so high on adrenalin that she ended up watching all about hunting rituals on the Discovery channel! A memorable wedding night then!
It was a great privilege to be at such a wonderful occasion. At our wedding, James and I had rather a big 'do' and I wouldn't want to change that for anything because, to us, it was our perfect day. However, there was something very special about Matthew and Ulrikka's wedding. Maybe it was because, being small and informal, meant that it truly felt like we were all celebrating the same thing and that every single person in that room truly loved and cared for the couple that were getting married. Therefore, this common bond meant we all felt closer to it and more relaxed with each other.
It may also have felt so special because this marriage was one which reminds you that true love does exist and you just know that they will be together forever. I remember the weekend before our own wedding where Matthew was best man and we were all at the rehearsal together. He had only just met Ulriikka a few weeks previously and yet, he talked about her so much! Matthew doesn't always say a great deal and so it has probably stuck in my memory even more because he was so animated and happy whilst talking about her.
It was a massive shame that Sally and Isla couldn't be there but Isla is still too little to travel so it is perfectly understandable. They were missed very much. To have James, Matthew, Sally and John in the same room at the same time seems like an almost impossible task at the moment (due to circumstances beyond their control) but hopefully the first wedding anniversary might be an occasion where they all meet up! Failing that, we always have John and Charlotte's wedding in 2011!
So that was how the new Mr and Mrs Gibson were married! Obviously Anna is thrilled that Ulriikka is now a Gibson as she can now pretend that Ulriikka is her Mummy!!!
I can also highly recommend being a 'Mrs Gibson' as it is pretty special and fantastic so it is lovely to know that there is now another Mrs Gibson around. It is a little sad to think that they are both so far away but hopefully we will see them again soon.
Huge congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Gibson!
... I believe in love
and I know that you do too.
And I believe in some kind of path that we can walk down - me and you.
So keep your candles burning, make a journey bright and pure,
that you'll keep returning, always and forever more,
into my arms.
('Into My Arms'. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
And I believe in some kind of path that we can walk down - me and you.
So keep your candles burning, make a journey bright and pure,
that you'll keep returning, always and forever more,
into my arms.
('Into My Arms'. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
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