The Ultimate Christmas Song (Playlist)

by 4 Comments

I haven't taken part in the Listography for far too long and I feel ashamed of abandoning one of my favourite linkies. A few weeks ago, Kate provided us with the theme of 'Top Five Christmas Songs', which I really wanted to do. And then life and other post commitments cropped up and yet again, I missed the flipping linky! At around the same time, @HimUpNorth tagged me in a meme called the 'Ultimate Christmas Song' Meme.

So I've decided to join the two together and give you my top Christmas songs and split them into categories: Carols, Classics, Children's Songs, Modern Classics and Personal Favourite. Bear with me, it's worth it!

Favourite Carol

When I was a young teenager, mum and I would go and see my (elder) sister perform in the schools' concert in St. David's Hall, Cardiff. If I remember correctly, it was a collection of brass bands, wind bands, youth orchestras, choirs, jazz ensembles, etc. and it was one of the things the signalled Christmas to me. My sister played the clarinet and so was in the windband. I always used to feel an enormous sense of pride and love watching her playing on the stage, when she left the group (with age), mum and I continued to go for a few years until I moved away. This was one of the carols that would be sung by the choir but that the audience were asked to join in with, and mum and I used to love belting this one out. One year my best mate sang in our school choir and was one of the lead vocalists for the twiddly bits (technical term? harmony?) that they sing in the final verse. It sounded magnificent! Every time I think of this song, I'm transported instantly back there.

Christmas Classic

It's got to be this one hasn't it? Everyone knows the words and no-one sings it better than Bing.

Children's Christmas Song

This one gets me every Christmas in school! I love listening to the younger children singing it so earnestly, their little voices straining to reach the high notes, and every time I get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. I can't wait to hear The Boy sing this in his own nativity in the future. (No idea which school this video is of, only one I could find!)

Modern Classics

It's not Christmas without hearing Mariah belting this out at least eleventy billion times in the shops, pubs, restaurants, car stereos and music channels. And, depending upon where I am, I either join in in my head or out loud. It also reminds me of 'Love, Actually' which is my favourite Christmas film. However, I have banned Mr. TheBoyandMe from singing it, it's a girls' song!

Personal Favourite


'nuff said.

—

And now I need to pass the baton on of naming your Ultimate Christmas Song (just the one, unlike you're like me and can't settle on just one) and I tag:

The Gallery: Christmas of Yesteryear

by 17 Comments

Due to the fact that it's a rather festive time of the year, Tara has got all Christmassy:

So, in keeping with the time of year and all that, this week's theme is: Christmas of Yesteryear.

This is a chance for you to dig into your dusty old albums and air those embarrassing old photos!
It can be last Christmas, one from your childhood, one before children, one from your mum's childhood even.

I knew the picture to use straight away.

Flashback 32 years and this photograph was taken at my second Christmas. Like my dress and socks? Can you tell I was a child of the '70s?

In my childhood home, we had a landing halfway up the stairs which over the years served many purposes. At one point, it was even my elder sister's bedroom when she was a young girl, and the house was still in flats. After this it housed a cupboard with a mirror-tiled wall behind it. This was the natural place for our Christmas tree every year because the fairy lights twinkled off the mirror and it looked completely magical.

I was captivated with it from the first time I saw it, and then as I grew up I would sit on the stairs and stare at it for hours over the Christmas period. Losing myself in the lights and the ornaments, my imagination would run riot and I'd create different worlds.

—

Pop over to Sticky Fingers using the widget below and check out the other entries

The Ultimate Christmas Meme

by 8 Comments

I've shied away from memes lately; there seemed to be an influx in November for NaNoNeNoMeNaBloMoProMo and they all seemed a little bit samey. However, I will admit that in not joining in with this one, I am being an Ebeneezer. And so having been tagged by Not My Year Off, Mum 2 Four, The Crazy Kitchen and at least two others (one of which I think was Mummy vs. Work), I shall stop being all bah humbug and get on with it!

  • The Christmas song I can even listen to in June is…

"All I want for Christmas is you" by Mariah Carey.

  • Hot chocolate, egg nog or mulled wine?

Hot chocolate (but not too hot because I don't like hot drinks). Why in God's name would anyone drink egg nog? And mulled wine is quite frankly, minging.

  • When do you put your decorations up?

Normally a fortnight before, however this year we were at the Tots100 Christmas party that weekend so I did it the weekend before.

  • What are you having for Christmas dinner?

Oh well, where do I start?

Starter: spinach & blue cheese roulade

Main: four bird roast (for the meat-eating men) or filo parcel with leeks and asparagus in a white wine sauce

Sides: roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and peas, brussel sprouts, honey roasted carrots and parsnips, swede and sweet potato mash, pigs in blankets (meat & veggie ones), stuffing, cranberry sauce, onion gravy.

Pudding: Home-made Christmas pudding using Mummy Mishaps recipe (adapted) with one of the following: brandy sauce, brandy butter, brandy cream, Tesco Finest Chantilly cream.

  • What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?

Long-standing one is shopping in Wally's Delicatessen in Cardiff. More recent one is getting The Boy to help decorate the tree and put the star on top.

  • Have you ever gone carole singing?

As much as I think I could win the X Factor, no-one else agrees, so no.

  • When did you discover the truth about Santa?

That he's real? Every time I watch Polar Express, Miracle on 34th Street and Arthur Christmas. If you think anything else, then shame on you!

  • How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Lights first, then gold tinsel, then a selection of gold and natural decorations, although red seems to be creeping in. I used to have one in the living room too but have no space for that so it's going in the porch with silver baubles etc.

  • All I want for Christmas is…..

Sleep. Please?

Now I tag:

Orchard Toys: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (A TRU Review)

by 1 Comment

I'll make no bones about it, I adore Orchard Toys games, there is not a single one I don't think highly of. We've built up a sizeable collection of different games this year and they are played, and loved, regularly. Our penultimate review as a Toyologist family is for the Orchard Toys Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes game.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is a simple turn-taking game suitable for 3years+. The Boy is two and a half years old and coped with the basic principle of the game with no problem at all.

Of course the best bit about any Orchard Toys game is the popping out of the pieces to start with!

1) There are 32 body parts cards which have to be placed figure side down and coloured circle side up.

2) Assemble the jigged game boards. There are four in total, and they show the eight different body parts that are mentioned in the song.

3) Spin the coloured spinner to land on one of the four colours.

4) Pick up one of the coloured cards matching that colour.

5) If you haven't got that body part card, lay it down on your board. If you have, return it to the pile, and miss your turn.

6) The winner is the person who has all the body parts covered first.

Afterwards, the winner must sing the song of the game:

The rules supplied by Orchard Toys suggest additional rules which can make this more challenging for older children. In addition there are also four 'wild' cards which show all body parts on the card. When these are picked up then they can cover any body part on your board. I didn't use these because I felt the concept was too hard for him to understand at the moment.

One of the best things about Orchard Toys games are the educational guides that are on the back of each box. This is no exception:

  • Develops colour matching skills (pre-Maths skills)
  • Reinforces rhyming skills (Oracy development)
  • Reinforces naming and recognition of body parts (Scientific development)
  • Encourages memory and turn-taking (Logical development)

The pieces are, as always, sturdy and attractive, and the spinner moves easily (always a bonus). As with many Orchard Toys games, the rules are adaptable for the needs of the child. It's a fun game which can be played in a short amount of time or in more detail. This is a complete and utter winner with us!

For more Toyologist reviews, click on the banner below

We were sent this for the purpose of the review. Our opinion is honest and unbiased. Oh and I had to bribe The Boy with chocolate to sing the song for the video.

Chuggington Interactive Puffer Pete Steam Around Set

by 2 Comments

The Boy loves Chuggington at the moment and he gets very excited about whether or not the episode that is on is a 'normal' episode (the morning one) or a 'special' episode (the 'badge quest' one on at teatime). Therefore when I opened up the Toys R Us box last month, I was excited to see the Chuggington Interactive Puffer Pete Steam Around Set.

Designed using Smark Talk technology, this train set features engines which recognise and talk to other engines, as well as being picked up by specific buildings and accessories with sensors and the same technology in it. That in itself is a massive bonus and draw to this set. Having tested the more traditional wooden style railway with normal engines, to hear Puffer Pete declaring that he loves being back in the Ol' Town when he gets to the station, was a novel and quite attractive feature.

The other selling point (from the manufacturer) of this train set is that it features 'real' steam from the water tank and chimney in the station. Water was involved in this process, but it's not a hot steam so it's quite safe and won't burn little ones. The other reason that it won't burn your child is because the amount that comes out is so minute that there's no danger (look at the video to see what I mean). Bearing in mind the packaging shows a bucket-load of steam billowing forth, this is misleading and a bit pointless in all honesty.

On this set, as opposed to the Under and Over, the track pieces are plastic and not interchangeable with the wooden set. I personally think this is a shame because it limits the play possibilities with it. The pieces don't have any electrics hidden in them so there's no reason for them not to be compatible.

As The Boy has had a lot of new toys recently to play with, and will be having even more in a week's time, we decided to test this ourselves and donate this to Ty Hafan, Children's Hospice. My husband was told to unleash his inner child and have fun with it. An hour later I popped my head in through the dining room doorway to check on him; he was still setting it up having had difficulty getting it out the box and fasten the track pieces together. This is a 36 year old man. My son is two years and I don't hold out much hope of him constructing the track himself (unlike the wooden set). The track pieces click together and once joined are fairly sturdy which is a bonus, especially on the raised sections.

One of the additional features of this set is the turn table so that Puffer Pete can go one of two ways around the track. It isn't stiff, it's really easy to turn and works well. It could do with being bigger though as Puffer Pete has a hopper wagon joined on the back but the pair of them can't fit on it together.

And so finally to the carriages. I like the fact that Puffer Pete has a bank of sayings and that he can interact with the buildings and accessories. There is a small light on his top which flashes when he's picked up the signal, or there's a button on the top too to make him speak or 'choo-choo'. This is clever and I'm impressed with it. I was disappointed that there was only one carriage included in the pack as the product description says: "Destinations recognise and interact with interactive engines. This magical open ended play system includes over 300+ sounds and phrases (when used with other Chuggington interactive products)…" However, each of the other engines are £9.97 so it's quite pricey to see the 300+ sounds!

All-in-all it's a good set. It usually retails for £49.99 but Toys R Us have it on sale for £34.99 at the moment which I think is a far more realistic price for the products that you get.

For more Toys R Us reviews by the Toyologists, click on the banner below

We were provided with this for the purpose of this review. Our opinions are honest and unbiased.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...