"...So here it is Merry Christmas, everybody's having fun ..."

Yuletide greetings to one and all from the anglo-saxon/viking family. And here's hoping father Christmas brought you everything you wished for. My wishes included more peace and love in the world so I'm still waiting to see if that arrives next year. As usual, it's been a hectic week. One with a definate lack of personal space for all. It is very strange for me to be back in the same village as I grew up in. It was comforting and reassuring to go to midnight mass last night. Toti asks me what I pray about ...

Up to Christmas we've had a sprained ankle (Jolyon) we've had a delay in confirmation of our mortgage approval but best of all, amma Kristin and afi Freyr came up for the day on the 23rd. It was especially nice to see that Elijah hadn't forgotten his grandparents and everyone was heartbroken when it was time to leave. Toti recons Freyr and Kristin should have a years career break and live in England. It brought home to us how hard it is having loved ones in two different countries. I am now obsessed with booking a holiday in Iceland.

Yesterday we celebrated the Icelandic Christmas which includes singing Icelandic Christmas song (Toti singing solo), dancing around the Christmas tree (Elijah spun in circles) and opening the presents afterwards. The boys got a present or two each to open. At 05.45 this morning, when two boys were bouncing on our bed shouting 'Merry Christmas!' Toti commented that in Iceland, all the kids would be asleep at this point. Maybe we'll head towards the Icelandic tradition in the future(!) Elijah is making us feel very youthful falling in love with his new tri-cycle and Jolyon is making us feel old, falling in love with his new mobile phone!

I get little surges of excitement about starting work on Wednesday (I'm actually employed as of today) and we look forward to Jolyon getting back to school and meeting other kids and likewise with Elijah and his nursery.

This blog is actually a communal blog by Toti and myself ... yes, Toti is the one walking all round the street with the families new digital video camera, courtesy of Freyr and Kristin, determined to follow their instructions and get plenty of pictures of our two best boys. That, and Jolyon filming on his new mobile (which is posher than his parents) means that nothing in the household gets missed ... nothing!

Anyway, a Happy Christmas to all our friends and family, near and far, and may next year be the best one ever ...

Lots of love,

Joanna, Toti, Jolyon Isaac and Elijah Benedikt
xxxxxxxxxx

''...just hear those sleigh-bells jingle..''

...'cos it's Christmas soon and it looks its going to be a white one again in Iceland and a wet one again here in Yorkshire..some things don't change ;-).
Its been a hectic 2 weeks, with everything hurtling along at breakneck speed but I think we are getting to grips with things slowly..T has started work today and I am starting on the 27th Dec, J is at sports scheme at school for 3 days, which will help him continue to bond with his new school-friends and EBB is starting to get to know his new nursery in Wakefield..it must have been strange for him at his first visit, as he is of an age where he is more familiar with hearing Icelandic spoken, esp at nursery. But everyone welcomed him with open arms and the room leader impressed me by starting to use sign-language with him too.
We have also had a offer accepted on a house we dearly want to buy and so we are keeping all our fingers and toes crossed that it will all go through with few hitches, and we can move in January?
Emotionally we are all up-and-down..J is struggling and I am struggling and T is strugling with us both struggling which is why we dearly want the house buying stuff to go through asap. But it is early days again and a new start for us again so we don't expect it to be all roses around the door immediately.
But we do want some Christmas cheer and we are all looking forward to Toti's parents visiting for the day on Saturday (they are in London for the festive period) and celebrating my mum's 70th birthday on Christmas Eve and Toti reaching the gradn ol' age of 33 on Boxing Day!
So it should keep us busy..I normally start my Christmas shopping in August (really!) and finish it by October (yes! really!) so I am especially proud of the fact that I have started it and completed it in the 2 weeks since our arrival.Amongst everything else that we have had to sort...
Love and festive cheer to one and all..from J and 3 boys xxxxxx :-)

"...I don't think we're in Reykjavik anymore, Toti...!"

Hello one and all, from near and far, from Iceland to the UK and beyond...
It's been an even more hectic fortnight than usual as we have (very casually said, I'll have you note..)... moved out of our RVK home, had the removals guys in and out again, moved to Freyr and Kristins, flew out to the UK, moved in with Grandmum and Pops, Jolyon started school, Toti got a job that he is really looking forward to, Joanna still awaiting her CRB check, Christmas do tonight with the 'girls from the office,' James' party for Jolyon tomorrow...phew! need I say anymore ;-)....
So it is a real trip down memory lane for me, as I explore the places where I grew up, went to school, kissed certain boys ;-)..together with the places that have changed almost beyond recognition..and trying desperately to familiarise my husband with his new home area, albeit with absolutely no sense of direction for one of us at least (Toti!).Its fun and it is definitely a different pace of life over here, on the right side of the Pennines and as Deb said, maybe we will find what we were looking for when we moved to Iceland, only a little closer to home.
Jolyon has settled really well into his new school in Wakefield..back in uniform (and in a duffle coat ..hands up all of you who had to wear one at school too!) and so much happier and more chilled. Toti and I also feel really positive re the whole vibe of the school and everyone is clearly part of one big family, where everyone cares for each other and everyone enjoys going to school each day. In fact, on Jolyon's first day one of the girls from year 7 realised we were new, waited for us and told us so many positives about the school that she should be employed as their head of publicity :-).
And to continue with the positives, Toti had an interview and was offerred a part-time post working with a charity which supports carers..a new challenge for him certainly and one that he is really looking forward to. In fact, he had another interview for a post in supported housing and decided he much preferred the one he has taken. The post will involve assessing carers needs in order to design a support package to meet those needs and the management of the carer support workers.He actually starts in just over a week as he can work in the office until his CRB check comes through..
...which is where I am upto..still awaitiing my own CRB check, 6 weeks after my job offer and I can't start until that comes through..I keep waiting and waiting and my new boss keeps hoping and hoping...
Which brings me to our littlest Burton..who is confused by all this upset but is doing OK. He had T and I almost in tears yesterday as he talked about Huldar and Isabella, so we are hoping to find a nice nursery for him asap so he can start to make new friends. Also, as T and I both have job offers we can now start to house-hunt seriously, as we so want to get our boys settled and happy in their new and permanent home asap.
So, off I go now to check out on those very nursery places, prior to preparing for my night out..T will be kept busy helping Father Christmas and wrapping presents..so that should keep him occupied until J and I get back from Lancs tomorrow p.m ;-)
I hope you all continue to read and enjoy my blog..looking forward to seeing you, talking with you and remembering you all..
Lots of love and festive greetings from Joanna and 3 boys xxxxxx