We’ve got end-of-term-itis.

It’s a common affliction with young children (and their parents!) at this time of year. There’s so much going on at nursery and school, dark so early in the evenings and so late in the mornings, it’s been a long time since they had a break. This morning we really struggled to get Li’l Bhaji out of bed at 7.20am – unusual for him, as normally he wakes all the rest of us up at 6.30am. Akra Jr has been argumentative and pushing every boundary possible.

We’re actually looking forward to school breaking up.

The problem is, the Christmas holidays are never much of a break for them. There’s so much hype and expectation running up to Christmas Day… all the full on family stuff… the running around getting last minute chores done before the big day. Then afterwards, there’s the clear-up, the thank you letters, the packing away… normality only just returns before they’re packed off back to school and nursery again. It’s not until after the February half term that they get a genuine rest and start becoming pleasant little humans again.

It seems to be a recognised phenomenon, at least in our local primary. The teachers have often commented to me that January is the worst time for bad behaviour, tiredness, and tearfulness.

Still, given the choice, I much prefer them having the extra weeks off in the summer with the weather to match (sometimes!) rather than in the dark days of winter. I just hope that we get through to February relatively sane.

Wish me luck.

Now it’s December, I can probably mention the Christmas word without getting lynched. Probably.

Akra Jr and Li’l Bhaji are very excited about it all and are already begging to get the decorations out. I’m trying to resist until the week before, mainly because I get bored of manoeuvring around the Christmas Tree all the time. I am probably being a killjoy. Probably.

We have committed the environmental sin of buying a fake tree a few years ago (Akra is allergic to real trees – tends to put a bit of a dampener on the Christmas spirit when you spend a week itching after putting decorations up) so I could technically put it up early. But I won’t. Probably.

Talking of dampened spirits. If you do have a real Christmas Tree this year, make sure you water it regularly, won’t you? This is not just due to the dreaded needle drop, but apparently because they have a tendency to go woosh within three seconds at the slightest spark otherwise. Even with a fire alarm you’d be hard pushed to get the entire family out the house within three seconds, so probably best to pre-emptively water. I’d like my readership to have a tragedy-free festive season, if possible.

So, what are your holiday decorating traditions? Got yours up yet, waiting for the last possible moment or do you just ignore it completely? Real or Fake?

Well, this was the first Christmas we’ve spent at home with the boys, and the first proper Christmas dinner I have cooked. And you know what? I’ve really enjoyed myself!

It’s been great not to have to do the travelling, to not have to keep an eye on all the small toy parts so we remember to collect them all up at the end of the stay, to start working out our own traditions and Christmas rituals. The cooking of The Dinner[tm] went smoothly and we all got lots of lovely pressies!

Akra was very naughty and bought me a new macro-capable camera – just in time for Wheel of the Year (I am trying to resist the temptation to purchase the wide-angle lens converter for it – just to get a good shot of the whole of the back garden, of course), and my mum gave me a bread maker – something I’ve wanted for ages. We all had fresh bread with our turkey sandwiches today which was delicious.

The boys have had a fantastic time, if veering towards the slightly over-exciteable stage, and all in all I’d say this year was a success.

Now all I have to do is find homes for all the new toys … argh!

That was the phrase yelled at us at 5am this morning! Ugh! Still, they’re thrilled with their stockings and loving the wooden train table – just got to keep the amused my mother & her partner arrive!

What time did your Christmas Day start?

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!

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

I swear, next year… all presents I buy will be easy-to-wrap rectangles.