Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.... This is the first of two posts as there's too much for one!!

The week before Christmas was the usual rush of last minute everything at work and home for both of us especially for Adrian as he is now officially his own company "Backlight Limited" (please contact us for your future lighting requirements!).

I also spent the weekend with Chris in Invercargil at our Aunt Sandie's funeral which was really sad. She was only 42 and a truely beautiful soul so it was a real shock for everyone.

We took the boys to see the most brilliant Santa ever at Capital E. He was free (even better) and the loveliest man who chatted to the boys all about how he gets down the chimney and what they wanted for Christmas (Thomas said he just wanted chocolate as that's all he keeps asking for - easy pleased that one). They also had an exhibition on simulating a Victorian English Christmas so we checked it out and the boys did lots of activities including making their own Xmas Crackers which they made for each other and put under the tree.

The boys Creche Xmas party was great. The Arnold family will remember the one last year and this year was even better as the staff club where I work funded the whole thing so parents didn't even need to buy presents. They also had a bouncy castle which was painfully obvious when Adrian and I arrived to find Jack with half his top lip missing after bouncing a little too well!

Christmas eve they boys were really excited and got everything ready for Santa including his beer and the carrots for the raindeer. They also got to see Santa running in the garden to check if they were asleep and when we tucked them in that night to great excitement Adrian and I had one of those moments where you want time to freeze so they would stay that lovely and excited forever.

Christmas morning arrived and the boys came and snuggled into bed. Adrian and I waited and nothing, then I said "Merry Christmas" and they remembered what day it was and squealed with delight! They ran to see their stockings and it was a brilliant morning in a rush of wrapping paper, excitement and happiness.

Adrian and I had decided we would have a lovely relaxed bbq with anyone who wanted to come along to our place for the afternoon and it was one of the best Xmas' ever. Uncle Chris and Aunty Sue came along and my friend Louise and Raph, two of my friends from work Susan and Cherie and we had an absolute ball. The sun came out in perfect timing for our lunch al fresco and everyone brought something for the table and a bottle champagne. We had a a fabulous lunch with far too much champers and then Uncle Chris set up the water slide that he'd brought the boys for Xmas which was absolutely brilliant! Once we were all suitably merry and the boys were tucked up in bed we finished off by playing charades and had a trivia competition until midnight - an absolutely brilliant Xmas had by all.

Lots more to tell around New Year but I'll keep you hanging for a few days first!!

Love to all and wishing you a safe and happy 2008 X