19th- 21st December

Hello, here I am again. Back with the last few days worth of pictures to give you a quick overview of what we've been up to.

19th December:

On Saturday morning we decided to put up the Christmas lights on the front of the house. First we had to go to Walmart to find things to hang them up with, we also picked up another box of blue icicle lights. We put the net lights across the bushes, the Christmas cacti along the wall, some lights around the doorway arch and the icicle lights above the garage. We then attempted to put the giant inflatable santa, penguin and palm tree up, but unfortunately the palm tree kept falling over, there must have been a puncture somewhere, so they had to go. We looked for something else in Home Depot, but the Christmas Yoda and Darth Vader were stupidly priced so we found some other big bulb lights and got them instead. 

In the evening we got all dressed up to go and see The Nutcracker Ballet at the Dr.Phillip's Center for Performing Arts where the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra were playing. I'd never been to a ballet before so it was something new. The only way I could vaguely remember the story of The Nutcracker was from the Barbie video I used to watch at my Grandma and Grandpa's when I was younger! The ballet was amazing, the women looked light as a feather when they were being held in the air by a single hand, and I can't believe how long they can stay on pointe for. It's amazing how much you can enjoy watching something with no words and just music. It was a lovely way to make us feel suitably festive on the run up to Christmas. (And it was better than the Barbie version!).

                                      

20th December:

On Sunday morning we had our caramel apples for breakfast. We got them at Universal on Friday. Liv had a cookies 'n' cream one and I had the seasonal one that looks like a bauble:

It was covered in caramel, then white chocolate and then blue glitter. The gold bit was a white chocolate covered marshmallow painted gold. It was very yummy, although I couldn't manage it in one sitting since it was pretty big.

Much of Sunday was spent chilling out at home, watching films and snacking. 

We went out to Waterford Lakes in the afternoon. We went to Petsmart for dog food, which I had to take a photo of, because look at these 'flavours':









Poor Maggie certainly doesn't get this sort of luxury at home (although she can't complain too much as she always gets the meat bones after a roast lamb).




We also saw these at the store:


Actual pushchairs for dogs!  I've only ever seen one in real life, we were in a department store and there was a man pushing a Schnauzer in a tutu (yep, pink tutu) around in a stroller. 

And no, we didn't buy one before you ask!





At 7pm we went out with a neighborhood friend to judge the Christmas lights. We had to pick 1st-6th. First place was pretty impressive, adorned with plenty of lights, inflatables and even outside music. I won't post a photo as I don't want to post photos of houses without the owner's permission, but it was very cool and makes the late night dog walks that bit more festive :). It was nice to walk round and see all the lights. 

When we got back we watched Santa's Little Helper, or at least watched part of it... 

It was so riveting we ended up asleep part way through, it's not a Christmas movie I'd recommend, I'd stick with watching Love Actually on repeat ;).

21st December:

Yesterday, we built our mini-gingerbread village. It consists of a Toy Shop, Sweet Shop, Chalet and Santa's House:

In the evening we went to the Indian shop to buy samosas and look for mincemeat, they sell some British stuff too like Heinz beans and soups so we were hoping to find another jar of mincemeat so Liv could make a giant mince pie (because we can't find any pastry cutters to make small ones!). Unfortunately we had no such luck, but did get some good looking samosas. 

On the way home we went to Publix and picked up some chicken tenders and potato salad to go with the tortilla chips and guacamole Dad made. 

We then watched Cool Runnings which I can't have seen in something like ten years, but it all came flooding back with it's 'Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it's Bobsled time!' and 'Rise and shine, it's butt whipping time!' Such a good film, even better with a good slice of Neapolitan and hard shell chocolate sauce ;).

And then it was time for bed, and once again I was knackered, decorating gingerbread houses, watching films and eating ice cream is a tough business apparently. 

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas holiday and feeling festive,

L 
xxx