Tomorrow is 1st of December, so we're all getting in the mood for Christmas in the Hampson Household. I went into the loft today to recover Ella's advent calendar and our Christmas books - Percy the Park Keeper's One Snowy Night, Usborne's Nativity, Ella's Christmas story and lots more.

We spent the afternoon reading Christmas stories and wrapping presents. We have some lights on the tree in the front garden and I'll get Karl to take a photo so we can show you all. Actually we're sadly lacking photos on this post - I keep forgetting to take them. Here is a photo from a few weeks ago. Ella is the Queen of Hearts and Tom is the Tooth Fairy....

This week we had a visit from Imogen and Cameron, and also went to visit our friend Jane, from the Quaker Meeting House. Her grand daughter Emily is a few months younger than Tom and she was there visiting too. Tom and Emily struck up a beautiful friendship, although Emily looked pretty startled when Tom tried to sit on her lap.

Ella is currently enjoying drawing, tracing and learning interesting facts from the "Incyclopeeedio" Grandad and Nannie bought for her. She happily tells anyone who will listen that geckos lick their eyeballs to stop them drying out...

Melissa celebrated her 10th birthday this week, so belatedly...

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Nemissa,
Happy birthday to you....

Get well soon and big hugs to Auntie Sandra... xxxx

Our first egg !!!

News of the week has to be our first egg from our very own chickens ! We don't know which one laid it, but we suspect Bluebelle (or Tom). We had one Saturday and one Sunday and one most days since. Two of the chickens escaped through the hedge yesterday earlier in the week, so Jan professionally ushered them back again while Ella and I clucked encouragingly.... They are all settling in well and are becoming more friendly and sociable every day.

Nanna and Bampa came to visit last Saturday. Nanna has been busy knitting fabulous christmas tree decorations and christmas stockings for Tom and Ella. We have also been busy making our christmas cards and getting ideas together to make the rest of our christmas presents. We're attempting to cut our carbon footprint and beat the recession by making all that we can this year.

The weather has been variable this week - a few bright, crisp days and a few drizzly grey ones. Rainy day activities are becoming more frequent, although the chickens give us great motivation to stay outdoors longer during the day.

Non's little boy is still ill, so we haven't seen them this week. Joy is also busy caring for sick relatives so we didn't see Eddie this week either.

We may venture to Ryton Gardens this afternoon or possibly take a walk to Birdingbury park.

We're going to try out a recipe for chocolate, pecan and cranberry fudge today.