Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

I haven't written much recently because we have been very busy the last few weeks and I know we have got lots of things coming up in the next few too. Like everyone else we are getting in to the Christmas spirit. I am really liking seeing all the Christmas lights going up as it makes the school run more festive and I love this time of year with all the parties, nativities and carol concerts so you can imagine how excited I was to be invited to go to Wyevale Garden Centre with my family for Tea with Father Christmas.

When we arrived we were greeted by an Elf and shown to our table in the garden centre restaurant, there was lots of things set up on the table to keep us busy including colouring, chocolate coins and Christmas crackers. So we pulled the crackers and put on our hats and did some drawing while we waited to see what would happen next.

The Elves came round and introduced themselves to everyone and asked if we had been good this year (I was honest and said I had been most of the time but not all even though Lottie said she had!) and then they brought our food out.We had been able to choose beforehand what we would like to eat and Lottie and I both had chicken goujons, chips and beans while Mum and Dad had a 'Festive Sandwich' which actually turned out to be an afternoon tea with cake and mince pies, tea and coffee - the cake was really nice (I had to try my Mum's piece- just for research though!) 

After we had eaten we were given a Christmas biscuit to decorate, we got a Christmas tree shaped biscuit and a bag of icing and some sprinkles and got to work making some yummy creations.

Soon it was time for Father Christmas to make his appearance so we were all given bells and sang jingle bells to welcome him, when he arrived he looked very jolly and all the children queued up to see him. He was very nice and friendly and chatted to us all (although Lottie was a bit scared) and didn't even mind when Sam tried to pull his beard!- We did stop him very quickly just in case he wasn't the 'real' Santa!!

At the end of the visit we were allowed to chose a gift- there was lots of lovely things to choose from and it was really hard to pick but I chose a set where you dig for Gems and Lottie picked a Mermaid doll which she loves. The Gems set is really good and I think it will be something I can use for quite a while as I have only dug out one gem so far even though I have used it quite a few times.

I really did enjoy our visit- Santa and the elves were really good, the food was nice and we had lots of fun- this is a really great way for the whole family to spend an afternoon together and get in the mood for Christmas.

Bookings can be made at many different Wyevale Garden Centres across the country and details can be found here

Party Planning

Party Planning

Birthdays are big things in our house. My Dad says it is because my Mum's birthday is near Christmas so she always makes a fuss when it is ours as she always felt lots of people forgot hers when she was little.

My 2nd birthday cake- Bob the Builder on the building site

It's not long until my sister has her 4th birthday and they are planning what to do for her party. I tried to help but my sister wasn't too keen on my ideas of a Nerf party or a football party and seems adamant it needs to be a Frozen party so I have gone back to planning my own birthday. Sadly even my Mum thinks more than 6 months before the birthday is too soon to plan the party. I don't agree as they have said this year I am going to do something smaller but special like going out with just a couple of friends so I really need to think carefully about what I would like to do.

In the past we have had parties at the village hall (age 1,2 and 4), hired out soft play centres (ages 3 and 5) visited the 'race room' for simulated driving and done the climbing wall (age 6) and been to Spy missions (age 7) so I know I have been really, really lucky but I can't help wishing I could have just one more proper party- there are so many things I would still like to do like the football party or the nerf party but perhaps it is now time to enjoy the party my little sister will have and perhaps one day, my baby brother's birthday parties- at least he might go for the football idea! Mum and Dad will still find a way to make my birthday special and I do have a little bit of time to decide who I want to spend the time with which is the most important thing.

Mastering the climbing wall at my 6th birthday party

In the meanwhile I will perhaps help with planning Lottie's 4th birthday party- they have decided a Frozen theme with a disco and lots of traditional party games. We have thought of pass the parcel, musical bumps, musical statues, sleeping lions, pass the balloon, limbo and an air guitar competition so far but Mum is worried that if some children don't like dancing they might be bored... do you have any great ideas for discos or traditional party games you like to play? 

We would love to know about the best birthday celebrations you have had for yourself or been invited to for somebody else.

My 4th Birthday cake- this one wasn't homemade!