An appreciated present

Remember I said that I had booked Stephanie a block of 6 ice skating lesson for her Christmas present? I am very relieved to say that she has loved them.

I was apprehensive as to how she would take to them- I know from experience that ice hurts when you fall on it!

Her first lesson she was (understandably) nervous, she had never been on the ice before. By the time her half hour lesson finished she was hooked! It turns out that after her half hour she then gets to go on the ice for the public skate session which is several hours long. We have been at the ice rink for around two hours after each lesson whilst she skates with the friends she has made there. I now take a book with me! Oh and several layers of clothes, it's cold as a spectator. I wear my snow coat and still feel a little chilly.

To have the lessons they get given boot covers. I wraped them up and gave them to her on Christmas day, look at her confused face!

During her first lesson

Bruise! from falling over.

There is just one lesson left, she found out today that she has earned a certificate and will receive that during her final lesson next week.

The lessons have been super value at a cost of £60 for 6 it turns out it is cheaper than taking her for a public skate (which she gets included in the price!) To go for a public skate it is £11 including skate hire.So I am now trying to work out if there is anyway I can book her on for another set of 6 lessons. Finances to work out!

Christmas on a tiny string

This year Christmas is smaller than ever. The children's presents are scaled right back. Dylan is having driving lessons (I'm paying half with his dad). So he really isn't getting much else. Mostly clothes and smellies, just so he has things to open on the big day.

I am going to book Stephanie some ice skating lessons, we have an ice bowl not too far away. Stephanie has been asking to go ice skating for years, but I am still having nightmares from taking Dylan when he was younger (around 10!). I thought as I am not confident ie can barely stand up on skates! Lessons will probably be the safest bet. It is £60 for 6 lessons so she should be able to balance by the end of those! I am considering booking myself on as well so that I am confident to go on and enjoy time with her. To go with those Stephanie will get a few little presents to open. I already have a couple of bits for her- some pencils with her name on which she has ssked for, bought at a bargain price of £2.99. Another something she has asked for is a nerf gun rebelle, these were recently on offer at argos and you got 2 different guns for £8.99 for both so those were collected quickly.

I have heard that you can get cheap turkey crowns in aldi so I shall be heading there on pay day to hopefully get one. Everything else is already bought- I like to get treats- biscuits, pringles etc. These have been bought with my weekly shop for the past few months as and when I spot them on offer.

Christmas is almost done in my house. Just need to wrap up my children's presents and get some little bits for the stockings, I am thinking punch balloons, rocket balloons, wind up racers etc to have some giggles with on the big day. All other presents have been wrapped as soon as they are bought.

  

How are you managing Christmas this year?

WIP and works waiting to be done

Here, have a peek at my current works in process (WIP)

This is the Winnie quilt that Stephanie has been waiting all summer for me to complete, I have finally finished all the blocks. I just need to decide on the final layout. I'm tempted to just go random with them as I can't decide. Incidentally, please over look the paw prints added by Zara. Zara is my aunt's dog who has come to stay with us for a couple of weeks whilst Sue is summer where hot and sunny.

Clearly I forgot that dogs get muddy when they go out in the rainy garden and left all the blocks on the living room floor whilst I went up to the sewing machine to finish the last 2 off.

This is my latest knitting project. Stephanie wants me to make both the items on this page. Starting with the green top. She is at the stage of liking the patterns but having difficulty seeing past the colour. She liked the cardigan but not the top when I bought the pattern. Once we had chosen the wool and come home she decided she liked the top and that is what I needed to make first. I am making it in Teddy soft spot pink.

I have a whole list of projects I want to make. I would love to have all of them done by the end of the year however I suspect it may be a bit too long.

1. Knit Stephanie a cardigan in red, I already have the wool just need to get started.
2. Make a pink cardigan for Stephanie, I don't have the wool for this one yet.
3. Sand and re-varnish the Kitchen unit
4. Make Felt bunting for Stephanie's bedroom
5. Finish Stephanie's Winnie quilt- see beginning of post
6. Make a quilt for my bed
7.Make my bedroom curtains
8. Make Dylan's bedroom curtains
9. Make Stephanie's bedroom curtains
10. Make Stephanie a blouse
11. Make Stephanie a new skirt
12. Make  Stephanie a new Dress
13. Make life- ring for downstairs bathroom
14. Make a beach themed wooden plaque for downstairs bathroom
15. Make Stephanie a wooden plaque for her bedroom
16. Hanging heart decoration/ mobile for Stephanie's bedroom.


Lots of these items were inspired during our recent holiday. However I suspect that 16 items may be too much for me to manage before the end of the year what with working full time and being busy with 2 children. I will make a good attempt at it especially as many of the items are planned for Stephanie's Christmas presents.