Well I have done my best.

He was happy in the outfit I cobbled together although he complained that the long socks tickled his (hairy) legs. I even made the bread in his lunch pack myself. This made my little man very proud as he trundled into his class room looking painfully cute and innocent.

He came home full of beans an dressed as smartly as he went in. I had expected him to have lost his cap, muddied his clothes and cut his knee in view of his usual tendancy to hare around the playground in fearless abandonment. A trait he clearly inherited from his father.

My next joyful project is arranging a birthday party for him. I cannot believe my little man will be the princely age of six years next month. My valentine munchkin was born on my third wedding anniversary. Wow I have been blissfully married for nine years and together with my husband for 11 years. Have the years been kind to us? I shall have to review the photo albums and see. Which reminds me, I will need to think of a special anniversary present, any ideas folks?

Take care,

hugs and kisses, Mrs C. xxx

Happy New Year folks.

I hope you all had a happy and peaceful festive season. A big thank you for all the thoughtful Christmas presents. The children were ecstatic with the run up to the big day. Watching all the Christmas themed films and practicing their Carols etc. The nativity plays were fabulous as always, making every parent laugh at the howling mistakes and cry when their respective child takes to the stage.

Our Christmas Eve plans went like a dream this year. After taking the children to the family service which was very moving, the children arrived home in a contented expectant mood. My daughter said she could hear sleigh bells coming from the garden. As we all looked out the window into the night, Santa suddenly appeared walking toward the house with a great big sack on his back and bellowing ho ho ho's. I have never seen two children scream so loud with delight and then run so fast upstairs to their bedrooms. Quick said my son, we must get into bed or Santa will not come inside and give us any presents. Both my children stripped out of their glad rags and dived into theirs beds as if their lives depended on it. Through out this whole scene I had to put on an oscar winning performance of epic proportions whilst literally straining not to wet myself with laughter (In my defense, I have had three babies). It was a shame daddy was not home to witness it....? Amazingly the children dropped into christmas la la land so quickly (including the baby) that by 10:00 p.m. all the presents had been delivered and the final preparations for the big day had been completed. My husband and I therefore had time to ourselves to relax and get merry in our own special way.

As usual the festive season whizzes by when you are having fun. We had some major highs with the safe arrival of my new baby nephew Joseph and some very deep lows with the sudden death and funeral of my cousin's baby little L. Events like these make you keep your loved ones close and put into perspective the things in life that really matter.

That said my son is apparently visiting a Victorian School with his class in January and needs to be dressed in authentic clothes and lunch pack. Hmm perhaps I could borrow my son's Dr Who Tardis and just nip out for a hundred years or so.

Sincere best wishes for a good 2007 to you all and may you have the strength to face any challenges that may come along the way.

Take care, love Mrs C. xxx