Two events, one photo

Things have been hopping around here. Arthur and Stephen are out at this moment on some secret mission, and I had to run upstairs quickly and without attracting any attention when the postman delivered something to me this morning. Such fun!

Last night we went to the college children's Christmas party. There was a treasure hunt and limbo dancing, and Father Christmas himself arrived, with Rudolph helping with the baggage. Then the buffet! How ... unvegetabley! Sausage rolls, pork pie, cheese pizza (this is English pizza, with maybe edam cheese or something) and sandwiches -- egg, tuna, cheese, ham. There were some cherry tomatoes for garnish, and I guess experience has told them that the veg don't get eaten, but it was a bit pork-heavy to my eye. But what the heck, it's Christmas... And then we got entertained by Steve Sausage! who was a laugh a minute, and the best part was he let all the kids (and adults!) play with all the stuff! Arthur walked on funny wheels, while tossing a juggling pin from hand to hand! Elaine "tightrope walked," going on the wheels holding a baton horizontally for balance! Stephen got to show off his juggling!! (And decided he should learn to spin a plate on a stick if he wants to really wow his first-years.) And I clapped and knit a square and juggled a bit, but not so that anyone could really see!

But... it was cold and dark when the kids and I left home to go to this event; all the taxis in town were busy so we had to walk; I was in a flap because I knew Elaine wouldn't want to walk all that way and I would end up carrying her... and I forgot the camera. So, no pictures. Sorry... But when we start up our family circus, we'll get pictures.

The other grand event was Elaine's school production. She was an angel, in a white shirt, wings and a halo. There were 4 classes involved, 5 and 6-year-olds, and the whole thing lasted almost an hour! Some kids acted in a little play about the family gathering for Christmas dinner, and they referred to the Christmas story, so some other kids played Mary and Joseph finding a room at the inn, some kids played the goats in the stable and so on. There were Three Wise Dudes in shades and shimmery sequinned capes, and a choir of angels. Here you can see Elaine's blonde head as they skipped through the audience up to the stage. Mostly I could see the backs of other parents' heads and a blur of kids on stage. Luckily when they got all the kids up for the grand finale song, the angels were front and centre, so I got some pictures of her waving her arms in an unfocussed mass of other angels' arms, but I don't really think it's necessary to show them. In any event, the kids had a great time doing it, and the singing was lovely, and it was a great accomplishment.

Two more days of school. Some knitting happening. Baking chocolate purchased. We've got everything under control.