Happy New Year

Christmas with a 4 year old is magical! We figured that we would probably be woken between 3-5am so there was no staying up late to finish wrapping the presents (last year we were still wrapping , rather drunkenly, at 3am).

This year Santa remembered not to tidy away his glass and plate into the dishwasher after he'd finished his beer and mince pie. Unfortunately we weren't able to obtain the charity reindeer food that we had last year so I made my own with porridge oats and 100s & 1000s (must remember to sweep it up before it rains and we have 'porridge' on the doorstep).

Our little cherub didn't stir until 7.30am! when he ran into our room to announce that he had a sack at the end of his bed with his name on. (Well actually he did have a nightmare at 2am but completely missed the sack on his journey to our room and back then.) even boring pants and socks were given an enthusiastic 'Wow!' because they had come from Santa. The in-laws had arrived in the night and I remembered just in time that he should wake them to share in the experience. I was then able to sneak downstairs and switch on the tree lights so that they cast a magical glow when he tore downstairs to see if Rudolph had eaten his carrot and if there were any presents under the tree. Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to stop him tearing through one of my presents (I'm not sure what he thought about the new back up hard drive but i was very pleased with it).

Looking across our living room now, with Christmas just about packed away, I am struck by how much plastic is involved in toys for boys - we have train sets and track, building sets, magnetic building sets, racing car sets, remote controlled racing cars - as well as lots of books and board games.

One thing that echos from the day (and was captured on video) is my son being given a present and being told that it was from 'uncle x'. His reply 'I love uncle x - he has a 'tendo weee'.

New in-law

Last Thursday we attended the wedding of my brother-in-law and the love of his life and for the first time in 11 years of marriage (and 16 of knowing the family) I felt that I was part of the family - the happy couple had asked me, as well as my sister-in-law, to do a reading as part of the service.

Because I didn't want to let them down - and as I only received the reading on the Monday night - I practiced the 5 lines at every available opportunity. The reading went without a hitch and I was able to convey meaning without my voice quavering or my cheeks flaring red. Later in the day my OH took our son to the toilet where he gave a perfect rendition of 'Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous ...' they really do take everything in.

I asked for suggestions on Facebook and Twitter on tips to keep him busy during the service. Unfortunately he wasn't content with drawing or colouring so did a body surf up and down our pew for the majority of the service (which was a catholic one) asked for the toilet twice and embarrassed us with his declaration that he needed a 'poo poo' (he didn't). He posed for photographs and was charming to the great aunts and was really better behaved than we could have hoped for.

If anyone is organising a wedding we now have great tips for keeping kids quiet during the long wait before the meal starts and during the speeches - play dough (though only if you don't have to pay for the tablecloths to be cleaned as it gets messy) and bubbles. Instead of favours our bride and groom had special rock made with their picture on the label and their names and the date running through - apparently our son made the toasts with his stick of rock (I missed that as I was videoing the speeches).

So I now have a new sister in-law - one I hope will be a close friend and ally in the battles with the MiL (I think she will as we've already compared notes several times). I'm also hoping that she will produce another grandchild to take the pressure off us a bit - though, unfortunately I don' think she can do that by Christmas ...

This house is full of ....

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Though it is slowly getting cleared because 'The in-laws are coming, the in-laws are coming, ...'