This day I love.......: Father Christmas

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We were invited to attend the press night at Lotherton Hall.

We've been very lucky to be invited to the press night at Lotherton Hall for the past few years. One year my children even featured on the flyers to promote the event. Every year that we have been lucky enough to attend, there's always something new and a little different. The excitement however is always the same.

At one point it looked as though we might not have been able to attend due to other commitments but a change in schedule meant we could keep up our tradition. The girls were excited and so was I, we do love Lotherton Hall at Christmas.

Our time this year was limited as unfortunately we had to attend one of my children's Christmas show straight after, so we decided not to spend time in the hall even though it was decorated so beautifully and instead spend time outside. We always visit Father Christmas first, as the queue increases later in the evening.

As with previous years we venture through the winter forest to the elves workshop. This year we were making Santa stop here signs and all three children began to get very creative. Our signs complete and we headed back into the winter wonderland to write our cards for Father Christmas before heading to see the man himself.

Father Christmas was wonderful. Patient with the children and took his time to chat to them all. They were all laughing and smiling and even little man started to feel the Christmas magic.

After our visit we headed for hot chocolate, which was topped with cream, marshmallow and a chocolate reindeer before heading to ice skate.

Ice skating was new for this year and all three children absolutely loved it. There confidence on the ice seemed to grow the longer we were out there. I have a feeling they'd have stayed there all night. Even little man who kept wanting to try without his penguin support.

Eventually we left the ice rink and had a wander around the craft and stalls. The whole place was sparkling with lights against the dark night sky and it felt incredibly festive. The girls wanted to do the 12 days of Christmas walk and so that's were we headed.

Having done the walk in previous years the girls knew what to expect and sing the song as they go round. This year some of the attractions had been updated and changed which kept the girls guessing. Our favourites were still there, the girls had been looking forward to the drummers drumming!

The walk was just as magical as previous years and we love watching for the lights in the dark, as with previous years it is the perfect way to end our Christmas Experience.

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We were invited along to the preview event and provided free entry to William's Den.

There is a sense of magic in the air. December has arrived and Christmas is just around the corner. Each year I try to make Christmas as magical as I can for my children, and with three children from 3 years old up to 9 years it can often be a little tricky. My 3 year old has just begun believing in Father Christmas and my eldest child is now questioning his existence, which means wherever we go to visit Father Christmas it must be an authentic and enjoyable experience that will cater for both the new believer and those who are doubting.

An invite landed in my inbox and I let out a small squeal, one of my children’s favourite places was inviting us to the preview of their Christmas Den Experience. Whatever I had in my diary got quickly moved and I replied as fast as I could to say, Yes. I had to pinch myself that the email was real and that it was intended for me and the girls simply jumped up and down when I told them.

William's Den is adventure play attraction and in my personal opinion it lets kids be kids. It gives kids the chance to play and explore and discover the world about them just as I had done in my childhood. There are trees to climb, rope bridges to swing across, rocks to jump over, water and sand to play in. My three children adore it and there is a free range sense of freedom and fun the second you walk through the door. You can read more about our first visit to the Den here.

Our journey to the Den encountered very little traffic so we had time to get changed in the car, we had driven straight from school and spend some time playing in the Den before our Christmas Den Experience began.

A friendly elf collected us and took us to the elves workshop. A secret knock on the door, and the workshop was revealed. Simply magical. What a workshop indeed. We had been transported to the North Pole, piles and piles of presents lay in front of us either side of a giant Christmas tree. A log fire and comfy chair sat at the back of the room. The children all rushed to find a seat.

The children all sat and listened to how the elves made the toys and were even shown some of the magic that goes into it. The children were called to the front and they all helped the elves get the presents ready for Christmas before singing a song. After an elf pledge they were all made elves and given a certificate.

Mother Christmas arrived as it was the elves snack time and each child was given a gingerbread to decorate along with icing and smarties. My three got very creative with their decorations. Mother Christmas and the elves kept coming round to each table to talk to every child and see how we were getting on.

Can we eat it? They all asked after they had finished decorating it. Of course I replied. As they tucked into their gingerbread Mother Christmas treated them all to a story. The elves sat and listened too.

It would appear that the smell of gingerbread appeals to Father Christmas as he came in the workshop next. The children's eyes all lit up and he gathered them round the fire to talk to them and find out what they would like for Christmas.

Father Christmas agreed that the children had all been good and because they were all elves now they could help make a very special toy to take home with them.

We returned back to our seats to begin making our bears. My three year old struggled with his sticky fingers to push the stuffing in the bear so I gave him a helping hand. Father Christmas gave each child a heart which is the heart of Christmas to place inside each of their bears and once finished the elves came and tied a ribbon on.

The whole experience lasted for 45 minutes. Everything seemed to just flow and at no point did we feel rushed or left wondering what to do. Everything was just at the perfect pace, even for a three year old. My youngest daughter even asked for more gingerbread afterwards as she said it was lovely and soft and some of the tastiest she has tried. I wouldn’t know I didn’t get to eat any as they all ate theirs far too fast!

The Christmas Den Experience was truly magical. This really was an experience and so much more magical than simply visiting Father Christmas in a Grotto. My children all enjoyed it and certainly created some amazing memories, it has made William's Den just a little bit more special to them.

For full details of the Christmas Den Experience and to book tickets please visit this page.

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Facebook very kindly reminded me that this time last year we visited Waterside Arts centre in Manchester to watch a production of The Bear by Raymond Briggs. The girls remembered it too, telling me all about the play. I was surprised at how much they remembered. This year we were off to see Father Christmas, adapted from the Raymond Briggs book of the same name and produced by the same company who had done the Bear last year.

Our car journey was less eventful this year, google redirected us around an accident that would have added an extra hour on top of our journey time and we actually made it on time and with over an hour to spare. We even managed to make the photos this year!

The girls were excited for their milk and cookies like last time and we took our seats on the front row. That was a bit nerve racking, but worth it. I was unsure how Little Man would cope as the show is recommended from ages 3 and up, he is 2 and half, but actually he really enjoyed it and joined in quite a bit.

The show was blooming magical [You'll understand if you have read the book]. The girls were captivated from start to finish. Laughing and really taking in the whole show. There was so much attention to detail it was just fantastic and it kept everyone entertained. It was lovely listening to the children in the audience gasp in excitement and surprise at key points in the show. It showed how involved everyone was. I don't want to ruin the surprises of the performance so all I will say is it is magical.

The performance is incredibly clever how it is both carried out and how it has been thought through. I enjoyed the elements which mixed in the puppetry and thought this was really well done. I might have a secret soft spot for the dog, wonder if I can bring him home with me?

Before we knew it it was time to leave. Our milk drunk, cookie eaten and our cheeks hurting from all the smiles and laughing. It had been a wonderful family evening together but now it was time for me to do the long drive home.

Thank you to waterside for inviting us, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Father Christmas is showing up until the 31st December at varies times, see their website for full details.

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We arrived at Meadowhall shopping centre on a cold Saturday morning. The girls thought I had completely lost it when I led them through the shopping centre and out through the doors at the back of the Oasis. We were here however to wish upon a star with Santa, and the giant white marquees in front of us was where the magic would take place.

Now the excitement began to start. The girls reading the doors and understanding they were in for a treat. Little Man just wanting to get inside from the cold. In we went to be greeted by a rather friendly elf and a warm and cost looking forest.

Magical adventures take place in designated time slots and so we patiently waited our turn. Making the most of the comfy seating and finding some of the items hidden in the forest too.

At last it was our turn and we entered the doors into the forest. Greeted by another friendly elf and it was here we were taught how to say hello, or the magical salute. The children all sat on special wooden seats to listen to a short presentation on how they catch wishes. Little Man at 2 year old didn't really understand what was going on and for us adults we were watching a screen with little sound. The older children watched and listened and seemed to grasp what was happening.

Onwards again through the forest to meet the wish catcher. We sat and listened to a story of how the wishes are caught by a very animated elf who made the story come alive. The girls listened intently and then it was time for them to see if they could spot any wishes themselves.

Our final room awaited us and it was here the girls got to write down their very own wishes. This room was very crowded and there were not enough seats on the main table so my children had to sit on the sides. I had to go and fetch the pens and glue they needed from the main table once others had finished, so we had a bit of waiting around to do.

As you finished writing your wishes elves would come and take a family at a time out of the room. We were still waiting in line as the next group came in to write their wishes so it did get a little crowded in here.

Still it was worth the wait as we went through a magical door to find Father Christmas sat waiting for us. He spent time chatting to the girls and reading their wishes along with asking what they would like for Christmas. Little Man had gone shy so didn't want to go near Father Christmas.

The whole experience lasted around 40 minutes but we did spend quite a lot of time in the final room waiting so perhaps some people spent less time. The rooms are all beautifully decorated and the elves are all incredibly animated and magical which makes for a wonderful experience. Father Christmas spent time with the girls and didn't rush them which is always lovely too.

Thank you to Meadowhall for inviting us to Wish upon a star with Santa.

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Last night we were very kindly invited to Lotherton Hall to visit their Christmas Experience and whilst I have not been asked, or paid, to write a post I wanted to share our experience because it just gets better every year!

In fact this is our third visit to Lotherton Hall so imagine my surprise when I open the leaflet of the experience to discover a photo of the girls inside! I loved it, the girls loved it and we were already on a huge high as we stepped out of the car.

Experience has taught us that Father Christmas can get busy so we headed over to the North Pole first. Armed with our tokens, it was one token each to gain entry and our elf showed us the way through the magical North Pole to the elves workshop.

Inside the workshop the girls helped the elves to make reindeer food, which I was really pleased to see contained no glitter and was really bird seeds but shhh we won't tell the girls that, the elves were all super friendly and helpful. Once finished it was time to make our way over to see Father Christmas. He was waiting for us in a clearing in the forest and it looked super magical. My eldest did ask where his wish stick was this year, last year he had a magical wishing pole, but we explained we were here as a treat and so it probably was still in the North Pole.

After visiting Father Christmas we went to the elves village to make baubles. There were other crafts available but it was one token per craft activity and we only had one left.

This year the elf village also had local stalls selling some hand made products, so we did a spot of Christmas shopping. There was also warm drinks and food so we purchased these before heading into the woods.

The twelve days of Christmas walk seems to get better every time we visit it. Yes some of the days are the same exhibit but some of them change. In fact we don't mind that some of them stay the same because they are all fun and hands on. The girls look forward to the rings and the drummers, and I think if these changed they would be disappointed. You probably saw my instagram stories from last night of us marching through!

At the end of the twelve days is the fairy dell. Little Man was memorised by this. He could hear all the noises of the fairy village but could not work out where they were coming from. Watching his face trying to work it all out was priceless. The girls walked him through and showed him all the little fairy houses.

By the time we had done all of these the Hall itself had closed for the night, which is a shame as we love to go in and look at the beautifully decorated tree and hall. Maybe next year?

Lotherton Hall Christmas experience just gets better every year, we spent 3 and half hours walking round and could have spent a lot longer. My 2 year old enjoyed it just as much as my 8 year old so there is something for the whole family. The experience runs from the 23rd November until the 23rd December and in my opinion is simply magical. Look out for my girls in the leaflet if you do go!

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