A Very Merry Chaplin Christmas

Merry Christmas

It's a little late and so last year!!!! hee hee, but I have finally got our Christmas post up.

We love Christmas here in the Chaplin household and we like to do it as Christmassey as we can - I go all out on the sewing - Christmas tree skirt, Christmas bunting, a stocking for Mr C, and even a Christmas table runner and table mats all made for Christmas. And a lot of my presents too for family and friends we handmade too.

Mr C does most of the present, food & booze shopping and wrapping of the presents, he looks after us on Christmas day too by making our breakfast and Christmas Dinner.

As you know we've been scouring Chicago for all the Christmas events and have been taking part in them, so when the CTA holiday train came to Evanston on the 22nd Dec we were on it. It was spectacular, the whole train inside and out was decorated with lights, signs, and all things Christmassy, even Santa and his reindeer had a spot on the holiday train it was truly wonderful - and it's been running for over 20 years now.

The CTA Holiday Train

Santa on the Train

Riding the holiday train was so much fun and it was so busy.

On Christmas Eve we had the day at home, last minute Christmas preparations being done, stuffing being made and before long it was time for Church - we went to the family service at the Methodist Church and it was good.  Normally on Christmas Eve our family tradition is to have a ham roast dinner, but we decided this year as we had had Turkey only a month ago for Thanksgiving we'd have our ham roast for Christmas day, so with that in mind we meet some friends and their children and we went out for dinner - it was lovely and the first time I've ever had a burger for dinner on Christmas Eve.

After our lovely dinner we had a drive around Evanston looking at the lovely Christmas lights and decorations people adorn their houses and gardens with.

Then it was time for home - where Santa's elf had been to drop off an early Christmas present  - yes you've guessed it Christmas Pyjamas.

We also put up the Christmas stockings and made sure Santa and his Reindeers had a nibble and a drink too.

Making sure Santa is sorted out

After a read of the Christmas books the girls for once were eager to go to bed and await the arrival of Santa.

And the morning of Christmas Day I heard the patter of Tilly's footsteps (who is always first one up in our house) going down the stairs and coming back up shouting Ruby Ruby Santa's been - it was so cute, so with no time to even shake the sleep from our eyes we were all up and eager to open our presents.
 

The girls checking out their stockings

A joint present from Mummy & Daddy

Opening Grannie & Grandads Present

New Unicorn jumpers from Auntie Lesley

It was present heaven and Santa was so good to the kids this year - Ruby got the present she most desired - Baby Butterscotch and Tilly got her most desired present Olivia's house - part of the Lego Friends range.

On top of Santa's presents the girls did well off everyone else, getting unicorn (bike) helmets and the most beautiful hand knitted cardigans from Grannie and Grandad, unicorn jumpers from Lesley, minnie Mouse PJ's from Briony, dresses, underwear, games, craft, chocolate and our favourite Terry's Chocolate oranges - a family tradition in my house as my Grandad use to work at Terry's Chocolate Factory in York and supervised the Chocolate Orange section.

Tilly with the present from Santa

Ruby's present from Santa

The Terry's Chocolate Orange girls

After our crazy present opening, of which Mr C & I did well too getting all the presents we'd asked Santa for too plus a few more, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon with a mimosa for us adults and apple juice for the girls.

The girls went crazy playing with all their presents and we made a few skype calls to family to join in the Christmas festivities - skype is so good particularly at time of the year when you live away from close family.

Before long it was time for Christmas Dinner - all prepared and cooked by Mr C, we decided on a ham this year but did all the trimmings to go along with it.

Ready for Christmas Dinner

We even got out our handmade candles we had made from scratch when visiting the Greenfield Village museum back in July, except we had forgotten to buy any candles holders for them, so we had to make do with beer bottles - very festive....

After our late lunch we were completely and utterly full, so we put on a movie of the girls choice - Madagascar 3, a Christmas present, and enjoyed this very funny movie whilst resting our bellies before we had our homemade Christmas Pudding and delicious it was.

Once the girls were in bed, Mr C and I were tempted to watch The National Lampoons Christmas Vacation - a classic and very funny movie set here in Chicago, but as we had new DVD's to watch we settled on The Campaign - very funny.

All in all we had a lovely day, so different from the very busy Christmas we had last year when we were with family in the UK but just as good and a little bit quieter, hopefully family will be joining us next year for an all American Christmas Vacation - and yes we will watch The National Lampoons Christmas Vacation movie and make them where the t-shirts - hee hee.

And we hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too with your families and a Happy New Year.