Christmas Day (2nd) chez nous

Heard pattering of lumpen feet at 6.10, which was a bit of a result to be honest, and they were very good indeed about not opening presses until the specified 6.30, and about waiting for the lazy olds before opening the downstairs ones. All in all a fun happy day. I felt Christmassy enough that I forgot it wasn't actually Christmas. Pressies were generally a success too. Daddy a bit tired and fractious in the morning, but that was about it.

Christmas pud pyromania...

Christmas Eve (2nd)

Has been a bit of a busy day today, as it is Second Christmas Eve. Jim arrived yesterday evening, a few hours after the girls. He was in a strange mood - possibly just tired but a bit unsettled and scratchy. Maybe something to do with the changeover too and maybe possibly some trouble at t'mill Exning-side. In any case, today has been really nice. We went to South London to see Caroline's sister JoJo, and Simon and cousin Natalie, who is just four and is a real character. Had a scoot to the park (Jim has a new scooter his mum bought him for Christmas which produces sparks fro the back) then lunch and some hanging out then home for tea. They're nice people and it was good to see them. 

This evening was very inciting indeed - Minnie and Jim have been allowed to sleep in the bunks, and if that's not inciting enough, Santa is paying a late visit tomorrow. They didn't drop off to sleep for a while of course but hopefully that will mean we aren't woken too early tomorrow. Fingers crossed :-) 

One of us was a bit grumpy at Christmas photo time...

But we recovered...

They're back

Be afraid...

... very afraid...

Boxing Day

Walk with the sociable Iano, but an abortive evening due to C being v tired.

2nd Christmas

Has been a bit of a busy day today, as it is Second Christmas Eve. Jim arrived yesterday evening, a few hours after the girls. He was in a strange mood - possibly just tired but a bit unsettled and scratchy. Maybe something to do with the changeover too. In any case, today has been really nice. We went to South London to see Caroline's sister JoJo, and Simon and cousin Natalie, who is just four and is a real character. Had a scoot to the park (Jim has a new scooter his mum bought him for Christmas which produces sparks fro the back) then lunch and some hanging out then home for tea. They're nice people and it was good to see them. This evening was very inciting indeed - Minnie and Jim have been allowed to sleep in the bunks, and if that's not inciting enough, Santa is paying a late visit tomorrow. They didn't drop off to sleep for a while of course but hopefully that will mean we aren't woken too early tomorrow. Fingers crossed :-) 

Christmas Day

At Waterbeach with James and Janice this year, from about two o'clock. Gentle but fun - C had not met Janice before but they got on well. C not feeling too good so she drove us home.

Christmas pigs

Monkey sales and woollies

We got the kids Saturday evening and had a slightly trying day with them on Sunday, as is often the case the first day they're with us. Minnie and Jim were a bit scratchy with each other, fo instance. However, we had a generally relaxing morning (I made pancakes with Nutella, which went down well) and then we went to the cinema to see the new Puss in Boots movie, which was pretty good as these things go. The kids liked it, but Jim asked me whether there was something to eat at least every 5 minutes. After that we had lunch at the Lucky Star (child-friendly Chinese buffet next to the cinema) and chilled at home for a bit. 

At 6 we all went to the carol service at St. Johns, which is where our friends the Finchams go. On the way we passed Morley, he girls' school, and he said "ooh that's where the monkey sale was!" Turned out he'd misheard "jumble sale" but we liked the idea of a monkey sale. The service turned out to be very traditional C of E and they couldn't have made it more child-unfriendly if they had tried. It was particularly boring for Jim because of course he can't read the words so he can't really sing along. I tried to get him interested in one of the anthems the choir was singing:

"Jim, listen to this music"

(pause)

"What does it make you think of?"

(pause)

"Wee and poo!"

Sigh. Most relieved when it was over after an hour and a half... Monday they were with Caroline and apparently all was calm and happy. They're all very excited about Christmas, especially as there are presents under our tree now :-)

So they did... stuff, while I was at work. C looked after them and I think they chilled, went to the shops and the park etc. Apparently an old dear in the Co Op said that Jim was a "little angel" but was less complimentary about Minnie. C not best pleased but I couldn't help feeling proud of the boy :-)

Tuesday I had an afternoon off. In the morning they painted and glittered things, and then painted and glittered themselves and pretended to be cannibals while singing Christmas carols. Obviously. 

They had a day bath, during which the following conversation took place:

Minnie: Amy! Don't kick me in the nuts!!

Amy : You haven't got any nuts you idiot.

Minnie: I have! I've got bits!

Jim: Yes, but you haven't got a woollie! <fx: stand up and waves "woollie" about>

We had a nice afternoon after some initial laptop-related tension, including lots of strange games involving putting sleeping bags on and pretending to be worms.

Took them back after tea, and everyone seemed happy, although Jim said he didn't want to go. No worries though. Moment of sadness after dropping him off at Exning, perhaps.

After-school conversation

"Daddy, I have a secret pocket inside this coat."
"Really?"
"Yes. It has sequins in it. I look at them when I'm sad."
"Oh? When are you sad then?"
"When I have time out."
"Mm-hmm. Have you had time out today?"
"No."
"When did you have time out?"
"Yesterday."
"What did you do to get your time out?"
"I pushed Jason over."
"Oh dear. Why did you do that."
"Well, we were playing rough play."
"So did he mind being pushed over?"
"Yes he did. If someone is expecting to be pushed over, it's ok to push them over, but if they aren't expecting to be pushed over then it's not ok."
"Ah. I see."

Parental weekend

Picked Jim up from school on Friday, having taken the afternoon off, as G was taking Keith to have his skin cancer op. nice relaxed afternoon, during which the Jimster did some very impressive reading for me. C came at about 5, and then Min at 6. No Amy until sat evening as she is doing things with paternal grandparent tomorrow. 

Saturday was a difficult, stressful day. Lots of cleaning and tidying in the morning, and just about managed to get the chillen into clothes before M &D turned up. The kids were bouncy but not naughty until I went upstairs just before the parental arrival to discover that Minnie (and Jim, it turned out) had written on his bedroom wall. I was absolutely incandescent and smacked Min for the first time. C then proceeded to defend Minnie on the grounds of unfairness, because she had been allowed to do it at James's, and because what she had written was cute (which was true - something about Jim being her best friend ever) Outrageous! I maintain Jim has never and would never do that without encouragement, but then I suppose I would say that. Anyway, this put me in a bad mood, and my back was very bad, which didn't help. But it was good to see the folks, and we had a nice lunch together before going off en famille to get a Christmas tree from Fordhams. The little ones did an excellent job of decorating it.  C and I slightly fractious in the eve due to accumulated stress.

M & D were staying in the Arundel and came over again at about 10:30 Sunday AM. The kidz, mum and C went off for a Wandlebury walk while D and I stayed behind to do jobs and read papers. I made lasagne for lunch, which went down pretty well. M & D hung around a little longer before heading off to CC, and we then had a chilled afternoon with the kids - they played nicely together and we made Christmas cards. As I write they are congenially playing with pigs while Caroline plays Chopin. All very idyllic.

Nativity

Jim's nativity play - hilarious. I particularly liked the camel whose head kep coming off. Jim was a drummer-boy. Well known from the Christmas story of course... Forgot my camera so no photos - doh!

Birthday girl

Birthday sleepova

I cleared off to the pub, as any self-respecting chap would.