Ok, so I’m a day early with this post. The reason behind it is that tomorrow, Christmas Eve, is my oldest, Lucas, 11th birthday. Can you believe it? It doesn’t seem a year ago when I was blogging about him hitting double figures for his 10th birthday. Tomorrow, on the blog will be his 11th birthday post. I thought I’d post my week today.
Last Saturday, I had our annual Christmas night out with work. Robert and I work together so we go to our work night out together. I’ve been there 17 years and he’s been there longer. The kids went to Robert’s parents late in the afternoon and spent some time with their cousins there for a bit. Thankfully, they were staying overnight which meant we could have peace to get ready and enjoy our night without worrying about the kids. It was nice getting ready and doing my hair and makeup. We all met at a restaurant this year and it was a lovely evening, filled with chatting, good food and some cocktails. It wasn’t a late night and work up hangover free. Robert and I went out for breakfast and a few wee bit of Christmas shopping before picking the kids up at lunchtime.
We had our annual Christmas trip to see Santa with my oldest friend and her kids. Her friend and their kids were coming too. We were booked in to see Santa and headed to the garden centre to see him. However, just as we pulled into the car park, Lucas was car sick all over his brother and the car. Unfortunately, the boys and Robert both missed Santa. Aria and I went in and Santa gave us the gifts for the boys and told her to tell them they were on the good list. We met up with my friends and they took us to the restaurant we were having dinner at. The boys and Robert got cleaned up and managed to meet us for dinner, so it ended ok in the end. It was a lovely evening and you can see from Aria’s face she had a magical time with Santa.
This week I have had it off work, which has been great, but, boy, how I’ve packed in the work around the house. The first day, I dropped the kids off at school and came home and gutted their rooms and the toy room. I packaged up a whole bunch of stuff for the dump and charity and food bank. Robert took the next day off so he could help take the stuff to the dump. 4 trips later and a quick nip to the shops to pick up the gluten-free food for Christmas it was time to pick the kids up again from school. Wednesday I spent the day doing all the cleaning jobs I never get around to when working. I cleaned the oven, washing machine and fridge. The place was spotless for all over 5 minutes before the kids invaded. But, it felt good to have gotten rid of all that clutter. I do like to end the year with a clear out and a good clean.
The kids have had their Christmas parties, one each day and had the best time. Aria absolutely loved hers on Wednesday. She declared it the best day ever. How cute is that? Thursday, I had the dishwasher repairman coming out. Little did I know, he’d appear before 8 am to me, still in my pjs. After an hour or so and I have a working dishwasher and a lighter purse. You don’t realise how reliant you are on this luxury until it’s gone. Robert was off work today, so we picked up the last bits of Christmas and birthday prep before heading to the church to see the school performance and Lucas play Good King Wenceslas and Jingle Bells on trumpet. Hats off to him, he wasn’t phased one bit standing up there. It wasn’t perfect, but it was incredible. I was so proud and he plays it well.
Christmas supermarket shop done and Friday saw the kids last day of school. I may not have written and sent all the cards I wanted to or made the ca s, or crafts I wanted, but I am all set and determined to spend some quality time with my family over the next two weeks. How is your Christmas prep going?
Well, this is my last update of the year. I hope you will join me as I go into my 8th year of blogging in January. What have you been up to this week?
You can read about our last week in our weekly photos post.

Happy birthday Lucas! Fab photos! So festive!
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas xxx
Thank you lovely xx
Happy Christmas to you all, and my goodness Aria looks more like you each day. I’d love to see a photo of you at her age. I’ve loved your 7th year on the blog and look forward to the next year. I must be close behind you in time, I think I’m going into my 7th year. Happy Birthday to Lucas, I can’t believe he will be 11, have a lovely day together. xx
I never noticed it before. I don’t think there are any pictures of my as a wee girl. I will have a look. Thank you lovely. I know, how did he get to be 11 so quickly xx
Hi Jayne, Christmas must be extra manic having to celebrate a Christmas Birthday too. That was bad timing on your part, I supoose it could have been worse thought and you could have had your son on Christmas day! I do feel ready for Christmas or as ready as I’ll ever be. I would have liked to have mopped through the house, but not had the chance and to be honest it never stays looking clean for long (as you know!).
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.
xx
Thank you, it’s been lovely xx
You do always manage to paint s glorious picture of manic family life Susan! That’s a demanding week for sure. Such a shame about Lucas being sick but at least the kids all got presents. Lovely images and I ish you all the best for Christmas.
Needs must and all that. It was ok in the end. We have had a great Christmas xx
Lovely pictures – happy christmas!
Happy Christmas xx
What a busy week you’ve had! I’m glad Father Christmas still gave the boys their presents, even though they couldn’t go to see him. We’ve been without a dishwasher too and it’s awful! Hope you all have a lovely Christmas!
(I’ve just counted up and next year will be my eighth calendar year of blogging too!) x
They did. Thankfully it got stored. Thanks lovely. Wow how incredible xx
I hope Lucas has a very Happy Birthday.
I love how you and Aria have the same smile for photos
Thank you for linking up and have a Merry Christmas.
I had never noticed that until now. That is strange. Merry Christmas x
Sounds like a really busy week, but at least you are ready for Christmas and Lucas’s birthday. Hope he has a lovely day.
We are lovely. He had a great day xx
I hope Lucas enjoys his birthday today, I’m sorry he didn’t get to see Father Christmas. Aria does look thrilled, and you look amazing for your night out. Merry Christmas to all of you xx
He has had a lovely Christmas. Aww thank you. Merry Christmas to you all xx
Happy Birthday Lucas, and Merry Christmas to the whole family!
Thank you. Merry Christmas to you all xx
Hope the birthday goes well. That’s a lovely photo of you too. Happy Christmas #365
Thank you lovely. Hope you had a good Christmas and Happy New Year x
Gorgeous photos! Happy Birthday to Lucas, I hope he’s had a wonderful day. Have a wonderful Christmas Susan xx
Thank you lovely. Hope you had a good Christmas xx
glad you and Aira got to see santa and the boys still had their gifts, they must have been so upset and the poor child who was thrown up on, mine would’ve had a full on fight. Aria is your Mini Me for sure
To be honest, it was my middle child and he is the placid one and was ok surprisingly. Do you think so? I don’t really see if. I think they all look so different. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas x
It sounds like you had so much fun in the lead up to Christmas, especially with your son’s birthday! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas x
Thank you lovely. I hope you did too xx