Days 182 to 214: 14th December to 14th Jan - Christmas in the UK

A brief summary of our Christmas in the UK in pictures!

On one of our first days back the kids wanted to ride their bikes (not seen them for 6 months) so we took them round Yeadon Dam. Half way round and we had to stop at the ice cream van for hot chocolate. Esmé was inconsolably cold and Patrick had to walk back for the Land Rover to pick her up while Mum and I huddled round her keeping her warm.

Happy cousins re-united! Playmobil rocks!

Early on in our stay Patrick and I had a sneaky night away in Leeds to do some Christmas Shopping and have a well earned rest from 24/7 childcare. It was lovely to reconnect as a couple and enjoy some childfree time. This is the view from our window, looking out across city square at the old Post Office Building where my Mum used to work.

AJ and Esmé meeting up with Bertie, their canine friend.

Christmas dinner is now served on Christmas Eve in our family!

A slightly smaller haul than usual due to lack of space!

Kids got lots of lovely iTunes and Kindle Vouchers  as well as experiences such as Gladiator Training in Rome, Rock climbing sessions and a weekend away.

Esmé helping Dad with his present!

Nana makes the best boiled eggs

 And then it snowed! This was the first time (other than Mount Etna) that Esmé has had the opportunity to play in snow!

Videos here,  here, and here.

 Next was a journey down south to Essex. It was strange to drive down our old road, stranger still for AJ to look at his old school.

We toured spare bedrooms, arranged playdates, and generally spent nearly every waking moment catching up with old friends! Thanks so much to everybody who put us up (or put up with us!), fed us, and donated pre-loved clothes for the kids.

video here

A quick turnaround once we returned to Leeds as we had booked a weekend away with Grandparents and cousins to Filey. Location was not really relevant, a large house where we could all be together plus a small flat nearby for the grandparents to retreat to! First stop was the Railway museum at York as a bit of a return to education (the cousins were back at school and would meet us later at Filey). Both kids enjoyed the science show where they both got a chance to go to the front and demonstrate some of Newton's Laws.

A couple of lovely days spent on the East Coast. Games, dohnuts, arcades, swimming and beaches, (swimming in the pool not the beach!) as well as some rifle shooting and cycling.

Then on to Jorvik and "The Dig" on the way back.

 

Digging for artefacts at "The Dig"

During our last week at home we started school again slowly, researching Rome and catching up a little with maths and English as well as meeting up with local home educators at the trampolining center and football training. Then just time for a girlie shopping day with Afternoon tea for Nana's Birthday before our last weekend in the UK.

Final birthday meal out for Nana followed by cousin Michaels Birthday party and then it was time for sad goodbyes, although this time there are plans for family to visit us in Ragusa and Greece!