let it snow...

A white holiday season is always so much fun. Luckily we managed to get some snow here this past week. We made a trek out into the wilderness (umm.. okay, a walk to Starbucks) the other day. It might not seem like much - but it really did feel like an adventure. We all got bundled up - took the wagon for the kids to sit in - and marched off to Main Street in search of winter adventures. We triumphed in our journey... and came out the other side successfully. Despite a few tears, falls, and seriously windy moments in the cemetery.

Playing in the snow.

Dad's winter weather gear.

Everyone happy and warm... a luxury that wouldn't last long.

Our snow mobile...

Getting 6 adults and three kids out of the house and dressed in winter gear was not a simple task.

Stephanie with her camera and Swedish winter hat.

Now we just need some more snow so we can test out the new sled!

merry christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Freddy and I are here in St Louis for Christmas! It was 50 degrees yesterday (totally not Christmas-y - no coat even needed...) but today it was 23 and snowing! So much fun. Was really great to spend the day with lots of family and little kids. We got more presents then we know what to do with... and we've got enough candy, cookies and leftovers to last until next year.

Hope everyone has had a lovely day!

My family has certain traditions that we've carried on from many years ago... one of those is making a birthday cake for Jesus. Thankfully we've got some new little people who can help in the design now... there were a few years when my sister and I fought it out in some serious fights... a manger or a christmas tree? sprinkles or candies? what colour frosting? Well, this year all bets were off as a 3 year old and 2 year old took to the cake...

Uncle Freddy helped to write 'Happy Birthday Jesus' ... but it just got covered up by heaps of sprinkles.

Another tradition is that we always get new pajamas on Christmas eve... you normally get to pick yours out - but this year we swapped my mom's J.Crew ones for this lovely fleece primark pink and leopard one piece (it even covers your feet). I didn't think she was going to wear them... but she totally kept them on the whole time.

Everyone was very excited... there were tons of presents. We had to open them in two installments - first with the kids awake and then more when they were taking their nap.

Obie got a new train set.

Grace got kitted out in more princess gear than I have ever seen. Dresses, pajamas, magic wands, colouring books, pencils, stickers, lipsticks, nail polishes, handbags, nintendo games... all disney princess themed. She was seriously pumped.

Not only did she dress up in her own presents... she dressed up in her brothers too.

Freddy had fun playing with the new doll house.

Blowing out the candles on the birthday cake.

We played outside in the snow... it was seriously so cold though, so we didn't last too long.

All bundled up with Obie's new bike.

All the rubbish...

Family portrait.

Stephanie has requested that we are at the mall tomorrow morning when it opens... so we are off bright and early to try to find some bargains! Wish us luck!

the arch..

We are in St Louis for Christmas at my sister's house. We went down to see the arch because my childhood best friend, Mellissa, came to visit - and she had never been to St Louis before. So, the arch is a must.

Obie dressed up in his uncle Freddy's winter gear.

Papa and his grandson in matching jackets and hats.

Re-united after 8 years...

Taking photos of taking photos...

pizza hut officially now delivers...

i know this is old news to much of the western world... and probably the non-western world too, but to the quaint little town of oxford this is seriously big news. pizza hut now delivers! i know this may not sound like a big deal, but trust me, it is.

so, fred went to holland on saturday to visit a friend. i was pretty upset at first because i couldn't go too. i have had to work every day since saturday. it just doesn't seem fair that fred always gets to go on trips... i know, i know... it's not as if my life is that rough. but, nevertheless i just felt a little bummed.

as it happened though, i have had a great weekend. despite fred being in holland and having to work every day... and this is due to two very important factors.

1. i got to order pizza hut. for the first time. EVER. in oxford. and what did i order? a large supreme deep pan pizza and two sides. that's right. i was home alone and blew almost 20 quid on horrific greasy overpriced heaven.

the box did wish me 'seasons greetings' though...

so wrong. but yet so right.

2. the x-factor final weekend.

can you believe that if i had gone to holland i would have missed the x-factor final?!! ok, the x-factor is lame, i know that. it's rigged, it's hype, it's just cowell/cheryl promo, it's symbolic of all that is wrong in the world... rah rah rah rah rah. this may all be true but it is also truly fabulous and utterly addictive.

i'm not going to lie, i've devoted every, yes every, saturday and sunday night to x-factor since it started a couple months ago. so i've kind of invested a lot into it, right? i couldn't put all that time and effort (not money, i didn't ever vote... until the final) and then miss out on the end. right?! so, in light of the momentous occasion - i had some girls round and we made mulled wine, had chinese take away, minced pies and watched the x-factor final.

it was amazing.

we've got the x-factor.

joe mcelderry: the winner

to summarize: if your husband decides to ditch you and go hang out with his friends in a foreign country make sure it's the x-factor final weekend, that you've got some good food, and good friends to spend time with.