Well, if it's not one thing, it's another. Today, in addition to having very little sleep thanks to children being awake on and off all night, we had Sarah throwing up this morning (at least 7.30 is better than 4.30) and washing machine outflow pipe being clogged up. I should have been a plumber!

I'm feeling very proud of myself as I've just done an entire stack of mending (I hate mending). Mostly trouser knees and whatnot, but some holes in tights, and a few hemming projects - one still waiting to do, granted, but it's certainly a start. Which means I met get to do a bit of quilting at some point without feeling guilty at the sight of the mending pile (this hasn't stopped me from quilting in the past, mind you, but at least I can ditch the guilt now). What an exciting life I lead. Who knows, I might even get my website updated at some point!

Merry Christmas, everyone! Lovely time here, if somewhat frantic. All the presents are now opened, finally, except some of Alex's, but then again, I think he prefers them with the paper on anyway, so that's ok. We're greatly enjoying the digital camera - do expect to see lots of photos on the website, for those of you who follow such things. Haven't put any up yet, though, so don't go rushing off to check things out.

Olivia's quietly in the other room enjoying Wizard of Oz & we've got a friend coming around to supper, so it really feels like Boxing Day...

Today was the first of the Christmas shows - Olivia's. Actually, Sarah has two performances, yesterday afternoon and tomorrow morning - we're going to tomorrow's one as yesterday clashed with Olivia's swimming lesson. Anyway, it was very cute - lots of sweet angels and stars and shepherds and stuff like that. I think probably if you put a 4 year old in a costume, it's pretty cute even before they speak or sing, but they did a great job & we were all really entertained. Tomorrow morning is Sarah's show, which should also be great fun. I've heard good things from those who have seen the Monday pm show.

Also got a digital camera today (hoorah!) so we'll soon be drowning in pictures of kids, even more than we already are. But it will be so fast and easy - and video, too!

Made some Christmas cookies - well, not really that Christmassy in themselves, but most of them I wouldn't make at other times of the year - on the weekend. The hard part will be in not eating them all up right away. I'd like to have a nice variety to take to people's houses when we go around, etc. Always nice to have half a dozen different kinds. Truffles, too (the chocolate kind, not the funghi), which are a snap to make and much cheaper than to buy them. They make great gifts.

Well, Grandma Kathy (my mom) is here now and we put the tree up today, so it's really beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. So far, so good. Next week is full of Christmas plays and whatnot, so that will be busy. Can't even begin to count the number of times I need to be at school. But it's fun, too. And my mother will enjoy being able to go along and see things, which normally she misses, of course. Geoff's mother is with us as well, but not until the 23rd.

School fayre yesterday (why do they always spell it that way for school fairs, I wonder?), which went well. Sarah and I went over in the morning to help set up, and then I worked in the Santa's grotto (lots of elf jokes) for the first hour - it was quite fun, actually. And a lot of people showed up to help set up, so we were actually ready on time, which was super.

It's amazing how much work it takes for something like a school fair, though. If every parent in the school gave an hour of time, it would be nothing, but as it's a very small percentage helping out, those who do help, end up doing a lot. I don't mind that, in principle, what bothers me is the attitude some parents (admittedly, not many of them; most are fine) have of doing everyone a favour if they do deign to work for an hour at some game or stall. OK, yes, I also only worked one hour on a stall on the day, but I also showed up at 9 in the morning to set up. Not to mention 2 hours on Friday evening. And 2.5 hours every Friday since October. And stuff at home. So there. Not that I said this to anyone, mind you, but sometimes you're tempted!

nits.

ick.

Busy busy busy. I know it's this time of year, and the Christmas fair at school and all that kind of stuff, but I barely have time to sit down these days, or so it seems. Am looking forward to my mother's visit for a chance to relax a bit while someone else helps entertain the kids!