and finally... New Year's Eve!!

We weren't a large crowd, certain absences whilst being understandable were felt, still we had a good time. I won't go on much about what went on, let the photos speak for themselves.










You can see this is just after midnight and everyone's mouth is still full of grapes.




























And the happy moment came, 2008.

Christmas Eve

Christmas is indeed upon us and as is our tradition here we opened presents and such like on Christmas Eve. In fact yours truly donned the Father Christmas suit whilst everyone else went out into the garden to see if Papa Noel could be seen from outside. Once attired I put all the pressies under the tree and then went upstairs to turn on the lights I have rigged on the balcony. This was the sign for them all to come back and for Ethan to meet Santa Claus.



I was waiting at the top of the stairs when they came back in and waved and ho ho hoed like a good un. I came down and fished out of my sack a present for Christian and the one for Ethan. He was so wide eyed that he never even imagined (I suppose) that it might not have been Father Christmas. All this accomplished he happily headed off the for rest of the presents.




















Christian did well out of Papa Noel too, his favourite being the Wii, yes another electronic thingy, which I will probably enjoy more than him.










Hipolito had a relaxed evening and still did quite well.










Christian has discovered that he actually enjoys puzzles so thanks a lot to Shorney and Tony for this one.



















His Mum got him some more masculine scarves than the old man ones of mine that he has been using up till now.















Pressie opening

A christmas angel?

And so were off!

The run up to Christmas has started with our first Christmassy obligation. Ethan's Nativity do.

Ethan was cited to be a shepherd, Christian was also a shepherd in his plays, three times in fact, so at least we had the costume down pat. We dressed him at home and no sooner had we got his leg warmer thingies on than Ethan decided this wasn't for him, he cried, he bawled, he fought to get everything off, what a mess. We duly bundled him in the car and set off to pick up my Mother in Law, he cried all the way down the hill, and thankfully he stopped as we got into Roquetes. Once up at the school he was placed in the tender care of his teacher who was confident he would get over it. Yeah right.



It all started and he got out there and was positioned, but then spent all the time looking at where we were sitting. He pointedly ignored all the instructions he was being given for the actions to the songs, things he has been practising for weeks I would say. He just sat there.
































Then he had to stand up, fortunately the girl presenter hoiked him to his feet.















Then they had to parade around in a circle all the shepherds together. Ethan was having nothing of that, he stood his ground! Finally he seemed to wake up a little and decided to do his circle, the rest of the shepherds had already almost finished theirs but that was ok, he went on and did his circle despite being the only one left walking.



Well then the kings paraded up and that was about it for the function.
















We did troop off to see the kings to hand over Ethan's letter to them for Christmas but this turned out to be a little unpleasant as a large part of the parents showed a lamentable lack of manners in pushing past all of us who were queuing and it all turned into a bit of a scrum. Sometimes is is self evident why so many kids are absolute toads at school, they learn it all from their parents. Then as teachers we are supposed to turn them round?
















Handing over his letter.













With that all completed we then joined all the parents who were rubbishing all the rude ones who had pushed in and also lamenting the stinginess of the new school director which had become apparent at the lack of a token present which always used to be given out to the kids at this function!

Last chance to post on the way out, Ethan's bad mood was rapidly evaporating at this point.