It's Christmassssss!

Christmas Eve afternoon, the children excitedly opened their box. Inside were games and a coulee of little present ps to help keep them calm over the afternoon and evening.

We loved the flour game and there were many laughs. I have to say the parents got the most flour on them.

We then took a bike ride and stopped at the park.

We had some photo fun with the cardboard cut out kit.

And reindeer hoopla

Just about to start our Christmas Day lunch. More cardboard props.

We lost Blokey in VR world for a while.

Both boys got some cool clothes they liked.

Sam was excited to get his presents unwrapped.

Sam was so excited he had to put all his pressies away at one point, then bring them out one at a time.

I got a beanie with Bluetooth headphones..perfect for my outdoor training/runs.

After lunch we went for a walk whilst Blokey washed up

Trying his new skateboard out.

There was a bracing wind..

In the evening we had a buffet meal and played more games.

On Boxing Day we took the boys to look at things to spend their Christmas money on. On the way back we enjoyed a pub lunch and called in at Blokeys parents...they had found a couple of presents they forgot about *bless*.

The rest of our time involved playing at the park, or playing games at home. There was a lot of chilling out and BLokey and I rearrange the furniture and did some decorating.

The boys and dogs seem to enjoy the cosy set up.

Wightwick House, chilling out and the boys counting the days.

I didn't sleep well so was up very early. When Sam woke we went for a run and enjoyed the sunrise.

Sam having a little rest.

It's Blokeys day off so we decide to visit Wightwick House. It's not far from us but the journey took ages due to hold ups.

As it was lunchtime we stopped for some food before getting to the house. It's rammed to the rafters with arts and crafts pieces and Pre Raphaelite works...I was very excited but didn't know what the boys would make of it.

We drove under this bridge on the way, so Owen loved standing and waving at all the cars as they went past.

Sam was a bit nervous about crossing it but he managed in the end.

A lovely range in the main kitchen.

One of the bedrooms, beautifully laid out with hair brushes and toiletries of the period.

One of the many unusual chairs around the house.

This was a small kitchen off the breakfast room, presumably for serving lavish breakfasts from.

Beautiful wood panelling and decor. Everything had small carvings or details, all the hinges and brackets were works of art in themselves. 

The boys loved this clock.

The nook off the main hall, all cosy and welcoming. Behind us was a huge stained glass window and a gallery off to the side. 

Sadly, as all the curtains were closed and you aren't allowed to use flash photography, this room was difficult to capture. Walking into this room we all uttered a "wow", it's huge and there are so many beautiful things to look at. The ceiling alone was marvellous.

The dining room with William Morris furnishings.

Examples of the hinge and lock work. The children were as interested in this as Blokey and I.

One of the many beautiful windows, most had seats, so you could admire the gardens.

Of course we all loved the library. There were secret alcoves for reading in too.

Ornate plasterwork.

One of the many Stanhope paintings. There were also copious drawings and etchings of this period.

A view of the house from the bridge garden. The property is in over 17 acres of land but we only managed a small part of it.

Sam deciding whether to brave the bridge or not.

The front of the house from the lawns, showing its many decorative chimneys and timber work.

All the bushes were decorated as reindeers, we loved this.

We all loved the house and gardens but due to the Christmas events being staged there, it was incredibly busy and the children struggled with such a large amount of people around. We will definitely go back for another look at a more quiet time. Plus we would like to see more of the gardens when the weather is better.

The next day, we had a lovely surprise in the post from a mystery sender. Our squirrel in shining armour..he came with supplies and a scroll...we had a good laugh and will enjoy the treats.

Blokey was back at work and I had lots of Christmas related stuff and chores to do. The boys just wanted to mill about the house and chill out. Sam was doing stuff on his computer and Owen listened to music and played with Sam on and off. In the evening it was their Ju-Jitsu Christmas party, so off they went, very excited, wearing their 'jingle bells ' hats. I managed to wrap all their presents ninja style and bake some bread. 

Sam and I went for another early morning run before Blokey left for work. Sam found this new session hard, it was a challenge for me also. Sam stopped and walked a few times and annonouced he would be 'resting from the running' over the Christmas period. He's a bit demoralised that I can keep going longer than him now, so I remind him that I am also doing strength training to build my muscles and lungs up inbetween.

As I still am unable to drive, our friends kindly offered to take us out to our regular meet up. I was very keen to go and catch up with everyone but the boys decided they wanted quiet time at home. I was rather surprised, but also happy they were calmer this last two days and using their own judgement about what they needed to do.

Owen listening to music. They were both still quite intense and anxious but the atmosphere in the house felt like it had lifted slightly. For which I was very grateful, it had felt like a huge slog lately.

Owen and Sam love their body sox and it does seem to help them relax a little easier. They both waddle round in it looking like and oversized, blue teabag.

The boys watched some of their favourite programs, then went out to play when their friends called round. I cracked on with cleaning and baking. When the children appeared at lunchtime, Owen was in a bit of a mess because he'd had a disagreement with another child. He is still struggling with his local peer group and due to his anxiety he tried to control everything over lunch.

I gave him some space to cool down after lunch and when Sam said he was off out again, he decided to join him. I had reservations and couldn't help but worry. One of our home ed friends popped by to briefly in the afternoon, and when the boys came home both had enjoyed a great time out at the park. They revelled in showing me their football related bruises and scrapes. 

We played some word games together and when Blokey finished work, we went and called at the chippy to grab some tea. Next we headed off to Blokeys parents to deliver and collect Christmas parcels. It was late when we got home and we put two very tired little boys to bed...there wasn't a peep out of them, which was both welcome and very unusual.