A frosty festive jaunt...

So this was to be Emily's first Christmas where she started to have an understanding of what it was all really about. Yep, after hearing the word repeated by Daddy for the first 2 weeks of December and being forced to look at pictures of Father Christmas, she finally started to get to grips with 'Sanda'. But as is ever thus, things never go quite to plan and the supreme being made sure he was kept at arms length. There were numerous opportunities to see the scary man in red and white...all declined. Indeed the very idea of sprinkling some Santa dust to help him find his way was met with complete disdain. Instead she preferred to keep well away from the funny old man, and enjoyed the rest of what Christmas had to offer instead, particularly all the lights, presents and singing the odd rendition of 'Dindle Bells'. Plus thoroughly enjoying all the edible festive fare that was on offer of course.

The supreme being with festive crown

We had travelled down for Christmas to see my brother, his family and my parents - and they had planned some lovely age-appropriate activities including a trip to the local farm. Emily delighted in feeding and stroking the animals, followed by a slap-up supper of potato hedgehogs. Mummy enjoyed it too as she won the best hedgehog competition. Christmas day saw Emily playing the perfect Santa's helper, dishing out presents to all concerned, followed by a lovely dinner and some wonderful frosty walks over the next few days. Then it was a long drive back up to our temporary abode in Lenzie to recover for a few days, before the festivities were set to continue with our annual New Year invasion of North Berwick.

Eye to eye with the goats

The favourite bit of Xmas - a close encounter with the local horses

The prize winning hedgehog

My brother likes to ham it up at Christmas

As if butter wouldn't melt post-present apocalypse

Grandad and Uncle David try to figure out how on earth the turkey had shrunk

Cousin Chloe provided entertainment on Emily's new ukelele

Exploring the frozen planet

Crunching through the forest

Merry Christmas everyone...

Drama queen...

Daddy: "Emily, who is your favourite Daddy?"
Emily: "Mummy."

Funny. Our daughter is definitely funny. She also does angry, stubborn, happy, crying, sad, thoughtful, pensive, sulky, brave and a whole host of other emotions. She's got them all down to a fine art. RADA awaits. Her acting ability is legion and growing by the week. It's a theatrical delight. The supreme being is truly a drama queen.

 Pensive daughter

  Sad daughter

 Desperately sad daughter

Braveface daughter

De Niro daughter

 Supremely angelic daughter