Christmas in pictures

Only in pictures, as I only have time for pictures, otherwise it was really good, and went really fast.
We celebrated the four of us at home on Christmas Eve, it is really good that we can start putting foundations for our own family traditions. Although I hope the burnt christmas cookies won't be one of them..
On the 25th we went to Nana's and Grandad's house, we had a huge and lovely Christmas meal, usual Laker Christmas shoot-out, pingving race..etc (Unfortunately Richard's cousin died the day before so we couldn't really let our hair down as we felt with Simon and family)
On 26th after a terrible journey we arrived to Nagyi's and Papi's house and of course Santa/baby Jesus has brought presents under their Christmas tree as well (there is a bit of a confusion after this Christmas about Santa/baby Jesus thing...)

Castle built by Richard

A bit of a too large christmas hat

Mmmm, which one shall I choose

Christmas pinguin and reindeer (and rat) race..

And Christmas shoot out:

We have also went to see the Christmas Special lit-up, decorated tram, which Benji really enjoyed, he commented that "I love this tram"

Preparing for Christmas

This year I am rationally trying to slow myself down for Christmas and really show the kids the joy of anticipation and waiting for something rather than just have the feeling "Oh I just wish we were over it".
Unfortunately for Richard this means that I do not really bother if the house is a mess, and because he gets frustrated if something is on the worktop or if the toys are out on the carpet longer than an hour, or if he can't hoover up in the morning, he is stressed. I try to tell him to relax, lets stay in Pjs, its not important, we have the whole weekend ahead of us,but not, he can not rest.
But I still hold on, and try not to 'lets quickly" mop up, but we made some biscuits (and more mess..) and decorated them with the boys. Benji made a squirrel for Dina, a heart for Nagyi, then he got bored, but bit into another 3, and broke another 3-4, so I could only save a plateful. Nevermind tomorrow we make snow horseshoes biscuits, which were tradition in our house when I was a child.
And I can not wait for Christmas to see their faces, and I really hope this big storm will go away by the 26th so we can fly home safely!

Have to test them...

And have to test the green icing tube as well...

The real Santa

Yes, we did meet him on Sunday. We went to Chasewater railway where there was a special Santa train with an old steam engine. You can't miss such an opportunity with boys.
Although the journey only took half an hour, it was enough, the boys were looking out the window, and being clowns as usual, while at the background there was Christmas music on the loop.
When we arrived we received mince pies, chocolates and tea, then we started queuing to Santa's grotto. Probably we wouldn't have done if we knew it would take an hour... Although it was all worth it for those few minutes in the Grotto and the look on Benji's face, how respect is mixed with shyness in his eyes.
He went it very slowly and didn't dare to approach Santa despite him calling him to come closer and he can hold his hands. He just stood there with his hand in his mouth (=total shyness) and said "I've been a good boy". Santa said well done, keep up the good work and he gave him a little cup with Chasewater trains on (even Santa is in marketing??) Benji didn't even take his eyes off Him.
Meanwhile Robin? Oh, he wasn't bothered by a big bearded, red man, he went straight to his sack and started to unpack it. Santa has also given him a cup, but he loudly objected against it, so Santa had to give him (an exactly same) other cup.

After coming out of the Grotto both kids received a bag of gifts. It said on the leaflet that each child attending will receive a present, but I thought it will be a chocolate Santa. But no, they have got a whole bag of toys, fake lego, drawing board, colouring book, bath toy. I was really impressed. But thats what you get when you brought up in Eastern Europe where all you get from Santa is a kiss or a chocolate.

On the way home in the car Benji kept talking about Santa how long his beard was and he didn't have a mouth.
(and asked why Daddy wiping more dog poo on his shoes in the grass, when we had to stop to wipe the certain smelly thing off his shoe...)

A miniature railway was set up in the middle of the queue, so time went quicker

Santa has visited us

Yes, again, we keep this Hungarian/German tradition, that on 6th of December (On Saint Nicholas day) Santa visits children, and brings little chocolates, presents into their boots in the window. Not giving other's presents, its clearly just your own children, and only small things. I like it, because it is keeping some magic in their life, as they beleive that there is a Santa who brings presents to your boots while you are sleeping.
I love that Benji remembered from last year, and was asking for it, when can he put his boots into the window, so Santa worked as a blackmailing tool for a while now, it was enough to say that Santa can see everything, and if he doesn't behave he won't have presents. He made sure that I registered all his good moves as well, for example if he gave a kiss to Robin, he looked at me and asked: "Can Santa see this as well?" "Of course he can Benji".
So on the day, he was really excited and both him and Robin got a cloth and they needed to shine their boots, so Santa could spot them in the window from the sky. We put them in their window, and while they were having dinner downstairs, "Santa" has filled their boots, so they were really happy when they spotted the gifts in the boots before going to bed. We had to look out the window quickly as well to see if we can still see Santa's carriage. I loved Benji's excited face, and that I could see he really thinks about it. I love it. Such a magical, innocent time of their life...

Robin enjoying last Friday that he was alone and managed to get to the advent calendar before Benji

Busy cleaning boots

Just to be sure, Robin mopped up as well