Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree! How lovely were your branches!

Our Christmas tree had served us well and managed to survive 5 weeks of our children running past it and poking it but it was looking very tired and droopy so we decided to put it out of its misery a couple of days early. Although our council will collect and recycle the old trees, Neil decided making use of his chiminea would be much more fun. So I went for a 'nanna nap' (sleeping at night is not a top priority for the 3 children in our house!) and had to be woken up to see the last of our tree branches being devoured by flames. No wonder all the needles had been falling off it - it really was bone dry.

Friends reunited

Some of the best friends we made in New Zealand were Ed and Jenny Trotter and their three gorgeous children, Josh, Ben and Abi. They've been spending the festive season in the UK and we managed to catch up with them at the Travelodge where they were staying. I wondered if it would seem slightly random but it was such a blessing to see them again and it only felt like a few weeks since we'd last caught up. They're such a fantastic family - we love you guys!!!

Our Christmas and New Year

We've had a lovely Christmas and New Year; it's been great to see many friends and family and we've been spoilt with many lovely gifts. Here's just a few photos:

Christmas Brunch with the Kelly and Taylor family


Assembling the Fisher Price garage!


Matthew with his Auntie Katy and new Thomas the tank engine apron (too old for bibs now!)



The mud bath; what started as a quick trip to the park to feed the ducks turned into the messiest outing yet with both children's trousers ending up in the bin. I always thought it would be Neil to bring Matthew home in that state but it was me! Although Emma enjoyed it at first, getting so wet and cold didn't appeal, Matthew however, when asked by Neil if he'd had fun and if he'd do it again replied "Yes!" on both counts! Note to self: remeber to dress Matthew in his all-in-one waterproof in future!



Highchair antics


New Year's eve with the lovely Duckers and Kellys.


And our first walk of 2008 in our fast-becoming favourite place, Blaise Castle estate.

I can't believe it's nearly Christmas so before we get into festive photos and tales I thought I'd post a couple of pictures from the last month. Although it's been freezing cold we've still managed to continue discovering Bristol - namely it's parks. Blaise Castle has lots of walking trails and a great playground.


The highlight of the month so far was being visited by our fantastic friends John, Anna and Elijah. The boys were quite excited one morning when they realised they were monopolising the kitchen and they wanted a photo - clearly all the testosterone went to their heads and they forgot whose son was whose!

Christmas preparations are in full swing in The Ark and we did not delay in getting our (7ft) tree; we who've been in NZ are quite enjoying the fact it's dark enough for the lights to have an effect!



Matthew has already chomped through a chocolate and a gingerbread heart but is learning that we'd prefer it if he looked but didn't touch!

New Addition

The most exciting event of November was yet to come; the arrival of the very cute Joseph John Taylor Kelly. Considering the little fella made his appearance 3 weeks eraly we can forgive Mags for thinking that she had indigestion rather than she was in labour! When we established this was the real thing I was thinking what very good timing considering we were in the middle of planning our Christmas shopping trips and there was a HUGE turkey - we're talking 9.6kg! - in the fridge waiting to be cooked.
Christmas had not arrived early, but surrounded by Americans (and those who'd lived there) we had planned a grand thanksgiving meal! Well, as Mags had reassured me, Delia Smith did have all the answers and the turkey was beautifully cooked after 6 and half hours! And everybody elses contributions, including incredible sweet potato and pecan pie, made for a very full-filling evening!
And Mags and Joseph were home to join us so we really did have lots to be thnakful for! No photos of the thanksgiving - too busy wrestling the bird - but here are a couple of the baby and proud mummy, daddy, big sister and excited housemate (I know the photos don't really show it but Matthew thinks little Joseph is amazing and particularly likes helping change his nappy!).

November (so far!)

It's been a pretty busy month so far - but judging by the photos it's been alot of autumnal frolics!
We were excited about the prospect of a bonfire night when it's actually dark and the fireworks actually show up! We were even more excited about having the event at Wick Court, the Jacobean mansion in the countryside on the outskirts of Bristol that we (the people exploring new expressions of church here) are renting as a retreat and training centre. It's a fabulous house and a great venue for big events.



Matthew didn't exactly enjoy the fireworks but wasn't freaked out until one fell over and the crowd ran screaming! We decided to retreat to the safety of the house and Matthew seemed to appreciate the pretty colours much more when they were minus the bangs!
Sam has purchased two ducks, Dave and Janine, which are living at Wick; Sam's diligently working on a duck house for them but here they are wth Phil and Skye.



Fallen leaves are currently providing much entertainment - every time we go out Matthew wants one to hold and it's getting harder to find one that is to his desired colour and shape as they become more and more mushy. The children helped Mags and I out raking the leaves in the garden; their tools obviously being the limiting factor in their usefulness (nothing to do with them running through the neat piles of leaves we'd raked).




We also went out to the Forest of Dean with some friends one Sunday and there was lots of opportunity for leaf frivolity.



We've been preapring for the arrival of baby Kelly too which involved finally painting over the 'seascape'.




And Matthew has suddenly decided he quite likes the television. He isn't interested in any old rubbish; Thomas the tank engine is popular but nothing compares to the joy of seeing Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy in 'In the Night Garden'. I'm sure there are child psychologists who have some clever explanation for it's appeal but I am truly at a loss. Never the less, it's the only thing - ever - that has held Matthew's attention for so long.