It’s Christmas!!!!! Well it’s December so I’m allowed to be excited in public about Christmas. It’s the first today so I took a trip into the cupboard under the stairs just after breakfast to pull out several boxes with Polly going ‘oooh’ and ‘ahhh’ at my ankles. This year she’s a lot more aware of what’s going on and keeps chatting about ‘Santa putting the presents under the tree’. We might have started watching Christmas films a couple of weeks ago and apparently her Christmas education is going well. Elf is the definite favourite so far.

The added awareness means more input from her though- which means I’ve had to give up on the tree looking like an article in a home design magazine. But more importantly we had fun.

There were a few things that I did pull off the tree though including the wreath and the curled ribbon that I don’t think I’ve ever actually used on a present. Our tree has its usual unusual topper in the form of a farting reindeer and friends.

And a nativity scene can be found at its base. This set was one that my mum always put out when we were little and last year I asked if it could take a trip to Devon so Polly could get the same joy from setting it up that we used to.

It’s also great to use to teach them about the story behind Christmas and will come in handy in a couple of weeks when Polly takes to the stage in her first nativity. One of the toddler groups puts on the production and I’m already getting a bit emotional at the thought of our little rascal being trusted with the role of Mary! Goodness knows what I’ll be like on the day!

We kicked off our Christmas activities though on Tuesday with a little trip to Otter nurseries with Nanny- for anyone not in Devon this place is basically pure Christmas and a must visit for anyone in a 30 mile radius. I didn’t get many photos as Polly needed permanent eyes on her or a tracking device. Sadly we haven’t invested in one of those yet so it was good old fashioned eyes. And hands to grab her as she tried to touch everything.

What else is new? Well Polly has made the switch to her new big girl bed. She started climbing out the cot so her ‘Christmas present’ became a ‘November present’ instead. We got her to pick out of Peppe pig, Paw Patrol and Cars. Anyone who knows her would have placed good money on the winner- Cars. She then picked out some aeroplane bedding and I had good fun putting it all together the week before last. It’s definitely been a success and she doesn’t stop chatting about her car bed!

Seb is getting huge and is a bit of a beast when it comes to food, he’s yet to turn down anything and just shoves it all in his mouth. One of the funniest so far was earlier in the week when I served up fajitas.

Henry has been either working or studying and is so close to the end of his course we are now starting to chat real stuff about what happens once he’s qualified. I mean obviously he’ll be changing jobs but now we need to start actually working out what our joint work week will look like. So far we have no idea!

I have a slight confession to make. For years I’ve mocked Henry over his enjoyment of a certain ITV programme and this year I’ve shamelessly got completely into it and am watching it more than him. Yup I’m hooked on I’m a celeb. I think it’s partly to do with the fact that I actually recognise most of them but it’s also hilarious and terrifying to watch so I’m loving it!

Right my time is up, Seb has just woken up, bathtime has crept up and Polly is now whinging a lot. I’m trying to be sympathetic but there’s been a lot of whinging over the last couple of days as everyone bar me has this stupid cough and cold so they’ve all been whinging. I’m fully expecting to come down with it too, probably tomorrow at approximately 6PM just before our work Christmas party!