I hope you all had a lovely festive season. I can't believe after all that planning and anticipation that it is all finished. I did enjoy the planning, preparation and cooking, and spent a happy hour or two decorating my cake on Christmas Eve.
We had such a lovely time. Christmas was spent here with Andy's parents, and then the day after they left we went to stay with my parents near Loughborough. My sister was there for part of it, but then left on New Years Eve for a romantic evening with her boyfriend (oh to be at that stage of a relationship!), and my Aunt, Uncle and cousin were over from Australia. We spent New Years Eve with them, my Grandma and some family friends and had a really great evening. Every year I promise that I am not going to start crying as Jools Holland counts down to midnight, but every year I fail and sob like a baby! My mum does it too - I'm a chip of the old block.
On New Years Day we went for a lovely but very muddy walk with my parents and some friends, and then went to the most amazing pub for lunch. We came home yesterday evening, so today is going to be spent finding homes for all our new toys, and ironing! The girls went back to school today, and for the first time ever I had to wake Grace up. She is a really early riser normally but today she was buried under her duvet snoring at 8.00!
So, what are your New Year's Resolutions? I have loads (and most of them are the same as last year!), but a choice few are:
To lose weight
To drive (I passed my test 8 years ago and haven't driven since)
To sort out the bits of the house that bug me
To make full use of my allotment
To stay on top of the washing at all times!
There are many more, but the ones above are the ones I wanted to publish so that I have even more of an incentive to crack on with them!
I may not be blogging much for the next few weeks as I have got myself a job. As from tomorrow I will be working full time as a teaching assistant in the Reception class I currently help out in while the usual assistant has an operation. It could be for 6-8 weeks, and I can't wait. I have been thinking for a while about becoming a TA as I can't quite face the thought of doing a PGCE and becoming a teacher just yet. I am slightly worried that the girls may not get fed or clothed, and I have no idea how I will cope with full time - it is 8 years since I worked more than 2 days a week. Therefore blogging, crafting and my website will be taking a back seat for a few weeks. I will be back in proper operation after half term, all being well.
I had some lovely gifts, and will try to take photos to show you at the weekend. The girls had the Playmobil Victorian Mansion for Christmas - it used to belong to my best friend's children who are now well in their teens, but every bit looks brand new. Even the hundreds of flowers in the window boxes are all still there. Grace and Ruth have spent hours with it already, and I had great fun setting it all up on Christmas Eve. I just need to find somewhere to put it as it is in the middle of our dining table at the mo, and makes eating a bit of a struggle!
I'll leave you with a picture of my sister and my children with their other new toys!
I'll be checking up on you all soon, but please don't be offended if it isn't as often. I'll be back to normal soon!
Cathy X