JYC The Journal Begins

 

Christmas officially started for me last night with the first of my children's Christmas fayres. The air was scented with icing sugar around my Ice A Biscuit stall and the carols were playing on a loop. I have done most of my shopping on line or early this year so it was the first time I have consciously noticed myself humming along to The Snowman and Oh Christmas Tree.

Children and their parents thronged the corridors, but I felt far more relaxed than I usually do when visiting R's school. No Parent-teacher meetings, no physio reports. Even the Head was working the crowd with a smile beneath her Santa Hat.

One of the highlights of a school fayre is always the chance to get your face painted. The mums doing it this year did a superb job. Definitely 1 to consider for next year's Christmas card. Shame R was distracted.

 
For the first time, I didn't take R to meet Father Christmas - he took M while I was manning my stall. In the final year of primary this is just and right and I was proud of him for not spoiling the experience for his 5-yr old sister, but I can't deny I felt a little stab of sadness. He has chosen not to come to M's Fayre today. Again, a welcome sign of his age-appropriate attitude to the season.

This morning dawned cold and crisp - perfect for the outside 'Frost Fair' at M's school. Wrapped in thermals and hat, I was soon sweating as we erected the gazebos and lugged tables around a field. After an hour of Pin The Nose on Rudolph, though, I was thoroughly chilled and glad of a cup of homemade soup and the first mince pie of the season.

After the fayre was over, it was time for our Church youth group for 8-11 yr olds. Again I got covered with icing sugar, this time icing gingerbread nativity shapes, as well as cutting lots of tiny holly leaves and rolling red holly berries from moulding icing to create a Advent crown for the Church. More carols played in the background. This is the first sign for me that Christmas has trult arrived.

I'm tired now - time to light the Advent candle for the first time and read Chapter 1 of 'The Christmas Mystery'.

As far as JYC goes, I am not creating a daily Journal this year. I have lots of photos from previous Christmasses which need to be scrapped at 12x12 for my annual albums, and I want to do this year justice in my 2012 album, as it definitely will be different next year when R is at secondary school. I will try to blog daily according to the JYC prompts and I will be following the In Focus photography prompts too. (Shimelle has changed things up this year and we will receive 2 prompts each day. !!Woohoo. My children have 2 Advent Calendars, why shouldn't I?) If I keep up I might print the posts and photos at the end of the class in a photobook.