Toys, tantrums and the worry of over-indulgence

Christmas is now finally well and truly over for us.  Both sets of grandparents have been seen and all presents exchanged.  It has been exhausting and, I'm not afraid to admit, a little challenging.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year to spoil those you love and the magic of Christmas is so special to see in the faces of children.  But, I think it all became a little overwhelming for our nearly three-year-old.  Over the last few days we have had fun, frolics...and tears and tantrums.  Merry Christmas indeed!

(Click here to get Images & Frosty And Santa Pictures - Pictures)

When Christmas came to town...

Merry Christmas one and all.  How was your big day?  Here are my Christmas 2011 highlights, in pictures....

No more sleeps 'til Santa!

Christmas is a time for peace on earth and goodwill to all men.

Not much can be done about the first part of that sentence but I'm pleased (and a little relieved) to see Sophia exuding goodwill towards her fellow man.  Or, more specifically, her brother.

It's about time.

One sleep 'til Santa

We had a visit from a special man last night.  I'll see if you can guess who...

Don't worry, you haven't missed Christmas Eve! Last night the local Round Table organisation held the last of its fundraising 'Santa sleigh' routes and it came right past our house.

Two sleeps 'til Santa

I was all prepared for a bout of mince pie making this week. I thought it'd be a lovely idea to do some home baking with Sophia. My husband however, pointed out the boxes of pies in our kitchen cupboards.

"I really don't think we need any more." He said.

"Alright then," I chirped. "I'll make a cake for Christmas Day instead."

"Errr, no." My husband replied. "We've got too much to eat as it is, what with the dinner and Christmas pud and these mince pies. If you'd have told me sooner, I wouldn't have bought so much."

So there we are. No home baking this year. But, I'll let it pass. Just for this year. 

There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, I am in charge of cooking the Christmas dinner. I am very excited about this fact, not least because we'll be eating in our new dining room this year. The second reason for not throwing all my toys out of the pram at the lack of home baking is that we've done something this year that we've never done before. A second Christmas tree.

Three sleeps 'til Santa

"A time for living, a time for believing...Its a time for giving, a time for getting. A time for forgiving and for forgetting..."  

- Excerpt from "Mistletoe and Wine" performed by Sir Cliff Richard, 1988

Yes, Sir Cliff, that's all well and good but you forgot one other important point.  Christmas is also a time when blackmailing your children is socially acceptable.

"You'd better eat your food or I'll tell Santa and he won't visit."

"Stop screaming / jumping on the sofa / throwing your ball at my head.  Santa won't bring you any presents otherwise."

I know this isn't what the true meaning of Christmas is all about, but it's come in very useful so far.

Four sleeps 'til Santa

My pre-Christmas to-do list is slowly getting smaller.  That's a good thing considering Christmas Day is less than a week away - eek!

In fact, there's only one major thing left to do on said list...and that's getting the food shopping done.  My husband and I aren't looking forward to it; shops and supermarkets are heaving at this time of year as people either a) desperately hunt around for last minute Christmas presents or 2) wait until the last minute to buy their Christmas food so it stays fresher for longer.  Either way, you need sharp elbows in order to survive.

Wish us luck.

Five sleeps 'til Santa

Well, this is it.  The final countdown.  Santa will be putting the final touches to his list and thinking about saddling up the reindeer right about now.  What will you be doing this week?

I think it's a perfect excuse to indulge in some dressing up (don't worry, I'm talking about the children, not me).  Thankfully, I'm not the only one; the delectable From Fun to Mum is hosting a Kids Christmas Outfit blog hop.  So, if you love seeing cute kids in silly, Christmassy clothes, head on over to her blog and check it out.  I know I will.

Here are my offerings. Get ready to coo and go "ahhh...".

This photo is of Sophia and was taken in 2009 - her first Christmas. Yes, I know this isn't really a Christmas outfit, but it was the only costume we had in the house at the time! 

Dexter's rocking a more festive look for his first Christmas though...

I think my children are ruddy gorgeous!

Six sleeps 'til Santa

Yesterday (sad news aside) was the end of the Christmas party season for my family. Not that my husband and I have been enjoying any drunken festivities, oh no. Our children were invited to two parties this year. Yes, that's right, two. They have a better social life than me and the husband at the moment!

Unfortunately, Sophia was ill for the first one so neither child could go (I didn't want to risk spreading the dreaded lurgy), but she (and Barney the bear) had a whale of a time at her second. Plus, she got to see Father Christmas.

Thoughts of loved ones lost

These last few days have been a whirlwind of excitement as Christmas approaches. Christmas.  A time for families to come together and enjoy and appreciate each other's company.  But what for those families who have someone permanently missing from the fold?

I'm asking the question because this morning I received some terribly sad news.  An old friend of mine has passed away. 

Julia was only one year older than myself but had been fighting a terrible, difficult illness for the last six months or so.

Seven sleeps 'til Santa

Yesterday, the most amazing thing happened.  I published a post about wishing for snow.  Now that's not amazing in itself, granted.  But then, literally no more than ten minutes later, it actually started snowing!  Someone important obviously read my blog post, sensed my desperation and decided to grant my wish - thank you!

Eight sleeps 'til Santa

This time last year, we were knee deep in snow.  Actually, scratch that.  At this time over the last two years, we have had snow.  And not just any snow; the type of snow that would grind the country to a halt (and did).

Nine sleeps 'til Santa

Yesterday was a great day.  I trudged out to West London for breakfast, beverages and a spot of banter (don't you just love alliteration?!) with a group of fellow mummy bloggers.  And it didn't disappoint.


Although there is such a supportive, online community of bloggers, the mere fact you are writing your posts sitting in front of your computer can still make the act of blogging seem quite solitary and isolating.  So, thank you to the lovely Metropolitan Mum for organising the Christmas get-together.

Ten sleeps 'til Santa

Today is my day for Christmas get-togethers.  It's going to be a busy one...

First of all, I'm off to meet some lovely fellow mummy bloggers for a spot of coffee, chat and food.  I'm really looking forward to it; although my blog is not even two months old (that will be on Christmas Day - another reason to celebrate!), I've become totally immersed in the blogging world.  There is such a supportive community amongst all the parents who blog and it's great to know you're not completely on your own, we all go through similar experiences.

After those festivities, I'll be popping by the office to see my team, have a spot of lunch (if I can manage any after the coffee morning) and drop off my Secret Santa present.  Then, it's back home to take my kiddies to a playdate with three of their friends.  Cue more card and present giving.

Phew!

Eleven sleeps 'til Santa

One more day closer to Christmas Eve!

Today, I'm getting the presents I've bought for far-away family couriered to them in time for Christmas. I have two little nephews so I want to make sure they, in particular, have their gifts to open on the day. I probably won't be seeing them until the end of January otherwise and who would want to wait that long for presents??!

Oh, and I've found two reindeer in my garden...

Twelve sleeps 'til Santa

"You better watch out.  You better not cry.  Better not pout, I'm telling you why.  Santa Claus is coming to town..." 

Yes, Christmas is well and truly on its way!  Dear ol' St. Nick will be dashing around the rooftops in 12 sleeps time.  Are you ready for him?

We're just about there now, although the Christmas cards and some family presents are still need to be posted.  But, that should all be done in the next day or two.

Because all the 'high-pressure' stuff is all done, I've decided to embrace the onset of Christmas and do a type of Christmas countdown called 'Sleeps 'til Santa'.  It's kind of like the 12 days of Christmas except I'll be counting down the nights until Santa's on his way.  So, each day up until Christmas Eve, I will post a festive photo and Christmas video to hopefully get us all in the festive spirit.  Join in if you want!

What I'm looking forward to most about Christmas

Two weeks today it will be Christmas Day and I admit there is a huge amount of excitement in the 'ordinary parent' household this year. 

For my daughter, it's the first year that she understands the concept of Father Christmas.  Sophia's counting down the days using her very cool re-usable advent calendar (see photo) and getting excited about the prospect of presents (as long as she's been a good girl of course).

For my son, it'll be his very first Christmas (not that he even really understands anything about it). It's so hard to believe that Dexter wasn't in our lives one year ago.

For myself and my husband, we're looking forward to seeing in our first Christmas as a family of four.  But there is something more.  We're particularly looking forward to marking the occasion in sumptuous surroundings.  You see, our house has needed modernising on a scale never normally seen by man but, this year, the ground floor renovations have at last been completed.

Finally.

I can't tell you how happy this makes me.

Crawling baby alert!

Now that my computer's finally free of viruses and horrible malware, I can finally tell you what I've been dying to for a few days....

Dexter is crawling!!

Technology: A world-wide addiction?

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I recently fell victim to a computer virus. Two to be precise and both designed to scam you out of money. I didn't fall for the con but I have been left high and dry without my laptop (albeit only temporarily). What's worse is that I don't really know how to pass the time without it, such is the importance we place on it in my household.

Beware the "System Fix" computer virus

Over the last couple of days I have been struck down by a nasty virus. It has made it difficult for my system to operate properly and has lingered, refusing to go completely.

No, I have not been ill. I wish it had been that type of virus (at least that would have involved some bed rest). Instead, I have been the victim of a computer virus - and a really nasty piece of malware at that. The virus that came to be on my system is sneaky, able to hide and disguise itself and, worst of all, designed to con you out of your money and potentially your credit card details.

I cannot stand this sort of malicious act. What type of person(s) creates these fraudulent, dangerous viruses? Do they get some sort of sick delight in conning people out of their money and/or security details? What's wrong with getting a proper job and doing things legally? It makes me so angry.

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