Okay … Santa’s been – can *I* play with it, can I can I can I … PLEASE!

… I’ll confess. I’m very excited about tomorrow.

Every year I feel “bah humbug”ish right up until around the 20th of December when I suddenly get into the swing of things, and this year is no different. Today I’ve been doing lots of preparation chores (working out my turkey timings, ordering the post-christmas grocery shop online, doing some last minute cleaning) and occasionally checking in to track Santa. I’ve half-made the trifle (I slipped a bit with the sherry, oops). When Li’l Bhaji wakes from his nap we’re going to have our annual ritual watching of The Muppet Christmas Carol.

I think it’s the contagious excitement of having a 4 year old in the house. That or I’m going through a mid-life crisis!

For those that haven’t wandered off from the blogosphere over Christmas – what are your favourite Christmas and Christmas Eve rituals?

No, I haven’t shut up shop for the festive season (hey, you know me… if I can blog a mere 8 hours after the birth of my second son, then I shall probably be blogging on Christmas Day too…). Today, we visited Santaland with grandparents and Akra’s sister and family. I have returned unscathed – mission accomplished.

I won’t do a full review (wouldn’t be particularly useful to you, as today was the last day I believe), but it was better than I expected it to be. I had read an awful lot of bad reviews before we went, so I wasn’t expecting the “ultimate experience” of a winter wonderland as billed. I went with the expectation that it was a slightly above average Santa’s Grotto with a limited indoor funfair and overpriced food. I wasn’t disappointed!

It was very expensive to go (a grandparents’ Christmas treat) and I did feel slightly begrudging on their behalf that the Santaland crew charged so much extra for little things once inside on top of the entrance fee (£1 for each item left in the coat store, £5 for a photo with Santa (cameras, of course, banned in that room), very overpriced tatt souvenirs, expensive “captive audience” food outlets) – the present from Santa was fairly cheap and not wrapped, but we did come out with a souvenir t-shirt and “magic” ribbons. We were lucky in that we got in early in the day so queues weren’t as bad as reported – I’d have been fairly narked to have had to queue for 45 minutes for a 30 second tobbogon ride, with or without “real snow”.

Still, the important thing was that the kids enjoyed it – and they had a fabulous time. And they’re now asleep. Time for Baileys!

I know I post this every year, but for those with kids (hey, and even those who *ARE* kids at heart), don’t forget about NORAD Tracks Santa this Christmas Eve. In these modern times, it seems oddly appropriate to use state of the art satellite tracking systems to monitor Father Christmas’ progress around the globe to hurry the kids to bed in time. Bookmark it now so you don’t forget!

LOVEFiLM have given me 3 vouchers each worth £25 for 2 months unlimited DVD rental trial thingumy. Any of my UK readers want? Think you’d probably have to take care that you cancel after the free trial runs out, but as the trial period is normally only 2 weeks it seems like a good deal. Will dish them out on a first come first served basis…

Remember Grow RPG? Now, just in time for Christmas, there’s Grow Ornament… and I’m horribly horribly STUCK! ARGH!

This week’s tenant is The Median Sib – a US blog whose author, Carol, is the middle child of seven (hence the title). I particularly love her tagline: “Therapy is expensive. Blogging is free. You do the math.” A fine philosophy – I like her already!

She has a good, strong writing style and a fun sense of humour; the blog layout is very accessible and easy on the eye. There’s a large variety of entries, ranging on observations about her life (I am very envious of her “perfect house plan” and I do hope she posts the photos of the end result when she gets there), jokes, politics and linkage. Well worth a meander when you’ve got a mo…

… Li’l Bhaji was a Lemming in a previous life.

His first completely clear phrase, a phrase that not only Mummy understands, the one phrase that cannot possibly be misunderstood by an outsider…

… is “Oh No!”

It’s now two weeks today that the Wheel of the Year photo project starts. I know you’re all busy with the run up to Christmas, but take a few minutes away from the hussle and bustle to have a stroll around your neighbourhood and start planning the photos you’re going to take. Take the time to choose some good scenes as these are the ones you’re going to revisit every month in 2006!

All that said, I’m still undecided! I think I need to dig out my National Trust member’s guide and work out what properties local to me are open all year round! The idea of having a theme around one historic location really appeals to me, but at the same time there’s some really nice places just a short walk from my front door. Decisions, decisions!

I’ve set up a Flickr group for participants of the Wheel of the Year Photo Project. Cunningly called Wheel of the Year! If you’re a Flickr user do join up and start chatting about what ideas you’ve come up with for your 12×12!