A Snowy Helmsley camp

we were lucky enough to go away with friends last week to a YH in Helmsley. We had a v fab time!
the girls got to run around and play with friends – for SB this included DS and board games, and BB mostly ran around and played, a new group of littlies are finding their feet as a girl posse! i do wonder who BB seems to have acquired the love of all things doctor who from…
Crafting happened too – making candle holders, paper xmas light covers and paper plate angels. Also numerous colouring opportunities, all much appreciated.
games were played, we took castle keep and hisss, and they were both played loads of times, as easy games to set up, get the rules and get going. others brought ticket to ride, settlers of catan, Puerto Rico, carcassonne and blokus. again played, but often with an adult too [often me, the babs or em, as we v much like playing games!!] i think we may get settlers as well.
music was made – this was my highlight TBH, and a v selfish one! Em brought some telemann and bach, and tues am i sight read at various levels of awful, and then thurs am we played ‘out in the open’ i really really LOVED it! thanks SOOO much Em. we moved on to christmas carols, all transposed so that assorted violins and recorders could just play a D for most of them as a drone, and it worked reasonably OK. The other music making i enjoyed was a rendition of abba songs via mamma mia. quite a dreadfully corny chick film, but with plus plus feel good factor, and the singalong rendition. we have promised not to say who projected the film as it may ruin that persons image…
talking of ruined images, Nic Knits!!! [where is that jaw dropping smiley when you need it!]
friends christmas – great secret santa presnets given to us, and we enjoyed making them for others. christmas dinner with friends, carols and mulled wine.
erm, yes, snow!! what a fabulous addition to any CHRISTMAS camp. we adults could take nice photos and the children could – and did – go wild playing in it. for BB it was def the most exciting and fantastic part of the camp.
good hosts! as always lovely spending time with Nic and Ady, and it all went wonderfully. We adults enjoyed spending time together, as well as the children. But i perhaps should have gone to bed a bit earlier!
out and abouting. we went to rievaulx abbey and it was v fab in the snow, and didn’t make it into helmsley castle due to it being too icey. oh well!
A stop with Jax on the way home, and there we are. sure there is stuff to add later though!