Decision made!

Ok thanks for leaving your comments. I have wrapped the bags up anyway. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't that happy with them, but we're saving money this year and I'd made them anyway, so off they're going!

Somewhat happier with the cards I've made and here are just a couple of them. Plus Cam's card for me and Jon (apparently his teachers got him to make two as they are under the impression we live apart!). You can't see the detail here, but Cam is incredibly creative and really talented, he puts the most amazing amount of detail in his drawings, and is so inventive. I'm not boasting here, honest, it is really true and it's where his skills lie. I'm just as quick to tell anyone that although Maddie does do lovely cards and scrapbook pages, she's not as creative as Cam and can't draw anywhere near as well (but she is a fantastic reader, which Cam is not). I very much believe in making sure my kids know where their strengths and weaknesses lie, not because I want them to feel great about their strengths and bad about their weaknesses, but because we all have weaknesses and I feel that these days our culture is all about not failing, or being hurt, or having egos damaged, and people can become oversensitive because for too long everything in their life has been great!! Does that make sense??! We have yet to discover Bella's talents, but after taking her out for a day today I feel sure she's destined for the stage. She sure has a lot to say for herself these days!!!

I am longing for some time to scrapbook or make something lovely just for me. Maybe I won't bother with wrapping or cards tonight.....

And lastly, just a word about today's news. Emotions have risen again, after 11 months, as today three men have been convicted of murdering Craig Hodson-Walker, the postmaster's son at our local post office. Going up to school tonight, the road was full of police and press as they reported the latest news and it brought all the memories of January back. It's still too hard to believe that it really happened. His parents and family have been so brave and although justice has been done, it doesn't change anything and I just can't imagine how they'll deal with that.

Quick post - what do you think?

Trying to save money on teachers' presents (god knows we have enough of them!) I have made these bags using my nestabilities and felt. Reusable bags are really in at the moment, and I made some similar ones for a local shop to sell. I am just not convinced about these though. My mum loves them, but Jon doesn't. Come on, I need your opinions before tomorrow night pls! Leave a comment!!!

Crazy time of year again!

We have now entered the time of year where, if you have children, you really need to take a month off work and hire a full-time housekeeper. With parties, nativities, practices, crib services, discos, fetes, trips to santa. Not to mention 90-ish cards to write on behalf of your kids, and the hundreds you need to write for yourself, to friends, family, neighbours, and these days it seems the windowcleaner and paper boy! Bah humbug!!! And that's why I feel so grumpy!?!!

So, where have we been and what have we been up to? Well, to start with since I last posted Jon and I spent a fun weekend in London to watch the rugby. It was great fun, and we had a really good break away. Then it was action stations once we'd got back to pack for Disneyland. It was an incredibly long journey, particularly as my car now only does 60mph+ when it feels like it, and evidently, it doesn't like foreign countries. So we arrived in Paris, and headed straight out to the park. It was truly magical and so so pretty. Unfortunately, we didn't see any of the Princesses, or any of the bigger characters. Plus my camera packed up for half of the trip! But the kids loved it, and Jon even more so. It's funny as I had booked this trip thinking we were going for the kids, but it appeared I was wrong, and we'd actually gone for Jon!!! On a couple of occasions he imparted comments such as "I've done what they want for the past hour, now it's my turn" - can you believe??!!!! But that is Jon through and through. And why I sometimes want to tear my hair out and rip my own head off. It was FREEZING in Paris, and on the last evening, we were frozen stiff and pretty wet too, so we found a warm, cozy steakhouse to have our meal. It was quite posh really, and the lovely French waiter came over to ask what we would like, to which Bella replied, with her particularly pouty lips, "I want CHIPS!!!!". So classy, my girl.

The next day we meandered (and I mean that literally, still doing around 60mph - and that was with the kids peddling from the back), across to Germany. Again, it seemed to take forever, with essential tunnels closed, and fatal road accidents along the way. But we arrived safely, although with only 10 minutes to get ready and out for dinner.

The next evening was a party for Jon and Ralph's joint birthday round at Lisa's flat. It was a lovely evening with plenty of cocktails and wine! We spent the following day nursing small hangovers with gluhwein, at the Kempen christmas market and then back to the hotel ready for the big night!

Loads more cocktails, some karaoke, more food, bit more wine and by 1am we were done in!!

So all in all, it was a fab week! I didn't want to come home. Partly because I knew we had no heating or hot water to return to (long story!) and mostly because I love Germany and I wish I could live there.

So, onto last week, which was work, kids stuff, baby shower (great success if intimate to say the least), fab day with Rach and Deb, and Bella - having lunch and a spot of shopping, lovely night out round at Simon's, oh and the crop! We had a great, if cold, day, and even a surprise visit from Santa!! I only managed two LOs, but I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, trying to sort the heating and speaking to Cleo about the plans for our February Cropaganza.

I feel a bit happier today as I've actually found some time and sat down to do some christmas cards. It helps if you have a standard format, but just change the colours or papers. So I've whizzed up 16 so far.