Aidan Andrew McEwan Wansbrough - Aidan's Gallery

Aidan is four and a half years old! He had a wonderful time celebrating his fifth Christmas, and really began to grasp more of what the season is really about.

We've also had fun in our usual pursuits, and even managed to check out a new (to us) park, Zetland Park (in Grangemouth) and a new (to us) soft play area (at Grangemouth Sports Centre). Both are very repeatable places, and we've been back to the soft play on several occasions since, and will definitely go back to the park if the weather improves a little! We also went swimming to the Mariner Centre, and both children had lots of fun playing on the slides and when the wave machine was turned on! Aidan's confidence in the water is growing as a result of his swimming lessons and he's starting to show some signs of attempting the proper strokes.

We had a lovely trip to Loch Lomond to meet Grandma's friend, Aunty Marjory, and spent a fun-filled day visiting Steve, Varya, Benji and Toby in Glasgow. We also went on our annual visit to the German Christmas market in Edinburgh for mulled drinks and stollen. Aidan particularly loved the mulled fruit juice, and both kids were fascinated by all the lights, colours, and trinkets that surrounded us there. We also took the children on to the Carousel and for a ride on the Big Wheel - both of which the kids adored. There were also the inevitable Christmas parties.

Both kids enjoyed their Santa Special trip on the Bo'Ness and Kinneil Steam Railway, with Grandma and Grandpa, the Sunday before Christmas. Aidan also participated in the Christmas Family service at church - he, along with the rest of the Sunday School, sang several songs for the rest of the church and he not only sang all the words, but he correctly performed all the actions too - we were very proud of him!!

Aidan has often hung back from participating in team games, so we were pleased when he, with some encouragement, got involved in a game of football with Daddy, Steve and Benji. We've managed to get him a place at Mini-Kickers (football lessons for little ones) - he enjoyed the one week football course he did last summer, so hopefully this will increase his confidence and he will feel happier to get involved in other games.

For Christmas, Aidan's main present was a base board - a large board that could slide in and out from under his bed, and on which he could put his railway track. He had lots of fun painting the board - firstly with primer, and then with dark green paint, and it now resides under his bed...

Megan's main Christmas present was a proper two wheeler (with stabilisers) bicycle. The kids have been out on several long bike rides since then, and Megan has really got the hang of riding - she's not quite tall enough to have the strength to cycle completely on her own, but she's not far away... and she loves cycling! Aidan's confidence has really grown and he's quite happy to whizz down hills now, although he's not quite so good at getting up them!

Both children have really enjoyed seeing lots of family and friends over the Christmas period, and they have loved having new people to get involved in their games and schemes!

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