We’ve had a lovely and very relaxing few Christmas days; it feels slightly odd this year as the business was so much more organised that there wasn’t quite the “phew, it’s over!!!” feeling of past years, but it was much nicer for it. Max finished on 23rd and came home to a tidy and festive house where we were just finishing off the last few things. I think Fran and i popped into town for (another) glasses repair trip and then came home to a lovely tea and an evening wrapping presents. Christmas Eve we spent together, although Max had come down with a heavy cold by then so stayed at home while we went over to visit Aunty Sue and co.

Max and i stacked the tree which, with them knowing they were essentially getting a couple of decent presents and then small trivia this year, did not feel too excessive for 6 people.

Christmas Morning started very early; Max had slept badly (i think he was over-excited!) and Fran woke up at 3am but wisely stayed in bed. They came down about 6.30, clutching stockings and were variously delighted with Club Penguin cards and toys, notebooks, pencils, chocolate and magazines.

Father Christmas had left a present each downstairs, Club Penguin figurines, with a note to say he had topped up Club Penguin accounts this year. Love FC for being largely clutter free

Club Penguin figures were a big hit; even bigger when Josie opened her main present a little later.

This pile of presents, their 1/2 main (in that they needed them but this was a good opportunity to give them to them!) presents, caused huge excitement.

A purple 1/2 sized violin for Amelie, who was completely thrilled and picked it straight up and played one of her current tunes from memory, with surprising accuracy given it was a new size and had no finger marks.

A flute of her very own for Maddy.

She’s been using mine, not serviced since i was about 11 and rather dire. She was very happy.

Fran was the delighted recipient of this rather wonderful keyboard, bought on the understanding that it will have to be shared too, as i’d like them all to get some piano skills. She’s also getting a new(er) cello in February, so was quite happy with this arrangement.

Once she’d driven us all mad with pre-recorded rhythms for a while, we read the instructions and found lesson mode, so she’s been finding her way through left and right hand on various simple tunes since then. I think she played on it for most of Christmas Day and Boxing Day really – very happy girl.

Mum and Dad also bought them each a stand for their main instrument so they can be out and more easily picked up for a quick play through the day. The dining room looks very musical – and a bit crowded!!!! Thought it was a brilliant present to get though

Huge thanks to the fantastic service at Bonners Music Shop for all the musical stuff.

Had a leisurely breakfast of croissants and then went up to the tree presents, having agreed we’d save the other big presents till later. They enjoyed giving each other their gifts – Groovy Girls, tiny Playmobil sets and silly toys and then got a variety of craft kits from us; Shrinkles, Painting by Numbers and various sewing and knitting kits including this one by Alex Toys for Fran (went down well and she remembered how to do it!) and one from John Lewis for Maddy in a lovely case. Was nervous about this as she can get very stressed if things are too hard but she picked it up quickly and has enjoyed it – and it has quite given me the bug too – the needles were wooden and lovely! I think they had a book or two each too; inventors, ones on how the universe was created and various jolly versions of great epics. Josie had penguin books in their thousands. (3 – it just feels like the house is overrun with penguins!) Oh – and Creationary Lego games, which have been rather successful.

Later on, we opened up their main presents; this amazing little sewing machine for Fran, a Flip camera for Maddy, a red DSi for Amelie and wooden train track stuff for Josie.

All very happy (including me as limited plastic clutter, igloos aside and lots of things that will get lots of meaningful use for ages or, in the case of craft stuff, be done and chucked quite quickly )

After that we all opted to call a halt for the day; Max and i were delighted with hauls of books, smellies, mp3 players, a laptop table and a treble recorder and everyone felt thoroughly spoiled. Kids decided it was best Xmas ever and have already made lots of use of everything. We’re lucky to be able to indulge them but it didn’t feel madly excessive really and was better for it.

Max cooked a lovely Xmas dinner of roast duck. YUM

Boxing Day we opened a few remaining bits of books, dvds, DS games and a wii game or two and played Family Trivial Pursuit

I was full of cold by then so there was a lot of tv, gaming, sleeping and reading for the next couple of days

Yesterday we went up to my parents where we had a lovely time with all the family bar Big Ella and exchanged more gifts. Girls got a huge haul of t-shirts from my brother (home from Oz) and my parents (just back from Oz and Tasmania) so are well kitted out with lovely stuff for Summer – lol. Also some fab clothes from my sister, the odd toy from my parents as well as the amazing music stands and assorted other bits and bobs too. Lovely day but slightly scary drive home in thick fog

Today i went to work to give Max more time off and the girls have played; think, assuming i can breathe tomorrow, we need a walk or something but we currently have disgusting heavy sleety rain so whether we will get out or not, i don’t know. I need to do something to shake this baby about – i’m sure it is breech at the moment and although there is plenty of time for that to change, it seems to be spending a lot of time doing v-sits between my ribs – which is great in some respects as i get constant reminders it is alive and well – but rather uncomfortable!!!! Can’t believe i am 27 weeks now! ARGH! Another couple of days and it will be due “this year”!