Something Kinda Festive

This week things have been feeling pretty darn festive. I think it’s a combination of the decorations being up, Christmas music playing everywhere and the half eaten tub of Celebrations on our kitchen table, but my goodness it’s getting christmassy. It’s definitely time to start sounding the klaxon because the big day is only two weeks away. Two weeks man!

I do love the run up to Christmas. The twinkling lights, candles everywhere, warm cosy evenings in front of the fire, family days out doing Christmas things. They are the best parts of the festive period for me, and this week has been filled with all of those things.

Sunday kicked off the merrymaking with a bit of an accidental festive evening out. We’d been in the house for most of the day, so I asked the kids if they wanted to go out for a little while. We decided to go to the park and make the most of the last hour of daylight. It was only as darkness fell that things began to feel festive. I remembered we needed something from the shop, so thought we could walk down once we’d finished in the park.

Arriving at the shop we found that we’d stumbled in on their Christmas lights switch on. There was a lady singing long to Christmas songs with her guitar, mince pies and mulled wine being passed around and a buzz in the air about a certain Mr Claus who was about to arrive. It was freezing, and because we had only planned on a quick trip to the park we were not dressed for the cold at all. Despite the weather we ended up having a lovely evening. Huddled together with a few warm mince pies and sausage rolls, we sang along to the carols and danced to Mariah Carey in the company of lots of other families from the village while we waited for Santa to arrive.

The kids were pleased as punch about their selection boxes from santa, and we all went home feeling rather festive and very cold.

On Wednesday night Caitlin and I had the opportunity to see Santa again when we visited Santa’s Farm Maghera with Rainbows. This place was amazing. I’d looked at going with the family but I thought it seemed expensive and was worried it might not be worth the money, but it was.

Set up inside a large farm shed, Santa’s farm was quite the festive experience. There was a chance to meet baby farm animals, along with rabbits and guinea pigs, which Caitlin LOVED. One of the calves took a linking to her and kept licking her hand which she thought was great.

After meeting the animals, it was time to go in to Santa’s cabin to meet the man in red.

After meeting Santa the girls were taken to write their letters to Santa and post them in the post office, and then have a go at making their own toys in the elves workshop.

This was really one of the best Santa experiences I’ve ever visited, and all of the girls at Rainbows had a brilliant evening. I really enjoyed the night too, but as a rainbows helper and as a mum. I really wish I’d booked for us to go as a family now, but at least I know for next year! If anyone local is reading, I urge you to check out the Santa’s Farm Maghera Facebook page and book to go if there are any spaces left because it’s awesome.

Finishing off the week we’ve been ordering some Christmas jumpers ready for Christmas Jumper day at school on Tuesday. The jumper we’ve ordered for Neil is an awesome Harry Potter/ Home Alone 2 jumper, and it’s an adult size small so I’m hoping I can squeeze in to it once he’s done!

Anyway, hopefully this weekend will be filled with more festive delights, I think we’ll be writing cards and sorting out presents for the teachers ready for the last week of school next week! I hope you all have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing!

Linking up with Word of the Week – My word this week is Festive