Merry Christmas Everyone!!

We're off to stay with my brother and family for Christmas, but just before we go...

 

Have a good one and hope to catch up with you all soon!!

The challenge of Christmas-ifying the house...

For those of you reading last year you will know that I love Christmas. The rules of Christmas are that it can't start till after my birthday in mid-December, but as soon as possible after that the tree goes up.

Last year the supreme being was pretty much oblivious to the whole affair. Christmas happened for her in between naps and feeds, and there was little to view apart from some blurry lights and faces. Come to think of it, that sounds pretty much like my Christmas most years, so am not sure if I should have raised her expectations any higher this year.

All that said I was determined to try and infuse my festive spirit into our family once more, and we set off on the great annual ritual to collect "The Tree". It was going to be the start of Emily's first Christmas proper and I was convinced it was going to be a magical event. Reality often has other ideas however...

Problem 1 - Van still in garage, need to resort to car to collect somewhat large tree.
Problem 2 - Weather miserable, pouring rain and brutal north wind.
Problem 3 - Emily very late for nap, loaded with cold.

Emily looking decidedly unsure at Daddy's Christmas gusto

You can probably see where this is heading, but in short we arrived at chosen tree depository with me dashing out to choose tree, then trying to squash it fairly unsuccessfully in the boot with seats down (mainly due to poor preparation by myself), Emily starts screaming at massive input of green pine needles into her life, Mummy agitated by screaming child, boot refusing to shut, Daddy getting soaked, finished off with drive home in miserable silence etc etc etc. All in all a roaring success.

My Christmas spirit is not so easily defeated however and, one power lunch later, Emily was down for nap and I coaxed Mummy into Christmas-ifying the house. And she was soon in the spirit. So much so that by the time the supreme being woke up, she got out of bed to find a whole new world of fairly lights and tinsel created in the lounge. She even managed to continually point at the once terrifying tree with total delight.

 Mummy back in the festive spirit

 Emily determined to help out

 

Wanting to wear the fairy lights

And so a total Christmas nightmare was averted. In fact, a few carols and a glass of mulled wine later, and the whole morning's disaster was forgotten and Emily's first Christmas proper began. Now bring on the rest of the festive season...

Finally ready for the joy of Christmas

House Training...

They say it's important to teach children to help out from an early age. With that in mind the supreme being has been learning how to tidy up after herself. I should stress that there has been no coercion involved in mastering this feat. She wanted to do it...honest. Next week she will take on stowing the dishwasher and laundry.

Videoclip: One less job for us to do

Scribbling is amazingly freeing. It is good for letting frustrations out, like physical exercise. They say scribbling is good art therapy, you should scribble without reason and with abandon. Emily has just completed her first scribbling masterpiece. It's a wonderful creation...just a shame it was on the wall and not paper. Note to self: Toddlers get up to all sorts of things when you are not looking.

 Graffiti - the early years

Loving getting all the books out...not so sure about putting them back

Her new found walking freedom is also giving her so much excitement. It's also giving us a new added dimension in worry as she totters around pulling and pushing at everything she can reach. On the plus side its good for our fitness levels as we are constantly running to try and catch up with her. I suspect this is only the start however, and the reality is we will now spend the next 20 years trying to catch up with her. For now though, there's just another important note to self: Toddlers can move at an alarming rate.

Videoclip: Making a run for it...