We're looking forward to spending Christmas and New Year's back in America with our families and friends. In the meantime, here are a few pictures from the last month or so.
Thanksgiving
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| We did lots of fall crafts in November. Here's Craig and Maya working on a Thanksgiving cornucopia. |
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| The finished cornucopia. |
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Thanksgiving Day.
Maya wearing her traditional English Thanksgiving headwear (a.k.a. pilgrim hat). Time to dig in! |
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| Cheese! |
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| Apple pie and ice cream |
Maya Dancing
I showed Maya how to work the record player the other day and she got up on a chair and started movin' and groovin'. It's the same way that my mother dances!
Note: I don't know what she's saying half-way through this video either. I think she might have been speaking in tongues!
Lights in Leicester
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| Another rainy, winter day. We decided to brave the weather and head downtown Leicester to see the Christmas decorations. Here's Maya and me by the city hall dioramas. |
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| Maya likes it. |
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| The theme was 12 days of Christmas. |
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| Maya and me waving in front of City Hall. |
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| Maya and Craig in front of City Hall. |
Winston Lights "Switch-On"
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| Instead of having "tree lightings" in England they have "lights switch-ons." Apologies for the terrible photos - I blame it on that big old fire truck in our way. Behind the cab of the firetruck is the "tree" (a metal candy-cane-colored cone with lights on in. You will also have to imagine the crazy winter carnival behind the truck with everything from a scary house to tea cup rides to cotton candy. |
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| Craig and Maya waiting for the lights to turn on. |
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| Ta-da. The Christmas cone and storefronts are now switched on. |
Decorating our Tree
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| Maya "helped" straighten out the tangled lights. |
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| She then abandoned decorating in favor of two newly-discovered boxes of dominoes. |
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| She says the two ornaments are kissing. |
Mince Pies
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On Thanksgiving, my sisters and I had a whole Skype discussion over whether mince pies contain meat. Verdict - some do, some don't. With this in mind, I figured it was high time that Maya and I taste-tested the quintessential flavor of British Christmas (vegetarian blend).
Maya took little mouse bites all around the edges and then stuffed the whole pie in her mouth whole. Verdict, "de-wish-ious." |
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More "star pie" please!
My verdict: it's like spreading apricot jam on a cinnamon-y Christmas cookie and then sprinkling it with raisins. A little strange in the flavor and texture department, but I can see why people like them. |
Hi, Kelly! Love your blogs, they are delightful and thank you for taking the time to share your life in England with us.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what Maya was doing in the dance sequence...she thinks there are little people in that box and they make the music. And she is the master controller who can turn the music off or on. I used to feel the same way about radios. In fact, I wrote a composition on it and even got an A (and had to read it to the class, ugh).
We will miss you at the Solstice celebration, and will see you all while you are home. Have a safe trip back across the pond.