Willow House Christmas

Over the past few days we have had our family Christmas.

even a little elf came along to play!
Looks like someone got his own phone!

Mommy needed to say "'Hi" too...

Still not real sure about wrapping paper

Oooohhhh

Oh Boy lots of parts

And now we are all learning our ABCs
plus what each letter sounds like too

cookie?
Not for you Yeti!

His very own portable DVD player...
hopefully this will help with the 7.5 hour plane ride

Kind of getting the hang of the paper...

Oh but what is it?
BLOCKS!

Lots of fun!
Notice Dad with all the boys - love it!

A coupon book!

Chop, chop Mamma!

FC Liverpool #8 Gerrard Jersery!

What a laugh, Donnie got me more Teeny popper music!

Castle Acre Castle and Priory

Same adventure day as Castle Rising,
same cold day too...

The West front of the Church
Entrance Gate

Prior's House

Look! The paint is still there! How cool!

Decorations were once like Durham

The village is called Castle Acre, as you can see it was once fortified.

Castle Acre Castle

Castle Rising

Once a hunting lodge, Royal Residence (Queen Isabella)
and still owned by the Howard famly.
Castle Rising is one of the most important 12th century castle keeps in England.
Although there is no roof some of the rooms are in excellent condition. The castle is also noted for its massive earthworks, reaching in some places to 120 feet.

Queen Isabella lived here following her part in the murder of her husband Edward II.

Her son Edward III, The Black Prince, visited her several times here.

Then after her death turned the castle into his Hunting Lodge.

Little man was running all around and just being cute! I walked up the earthworks to get this shot -
and it was a bit high up there.
Plus it was a bit windy that day too -- burrr...

We're not Superman -
this is a postcard but it gives you a good idea of the place.
The ruins to the right are of a Norman Church.

Because he is cute...
This castle is near King's Lynn, Norfolk

It's Christmas Time!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!
We only put up a few decorations because we will be in
Western North Carolina
for all the festivities!

Iain was natuarally 'helping' me decorate.

Travis should be proud since this is our tree this year.
Puma, or as Iain calls him "Ah poo", would have a hay day
while we are away with the tree and Christmas balls.

Now if I press my face flat enough against the glass -
maybe I will be able to see Mom a bit better...

If Santa is double checking his list maybe a few extra kisses for
Mom and Dad will help me get a gold star next to my name!

Oh look what I made -individual Beef Wellingtons!
Holly cow, they were good, good, good!