We’re in the depths of our busiest week of the year. Nativity plays and ballet shows all take place this week, as does the school fair along with rehearsals and all their usual activities. It’s always a fun week but I’ll also be delighted when it is over.  The nativity Lia’s nativity play was yesterday morning and the previous day, they’d performed it to the school. Lia had been paired off with a little girl who was nervous of saying her line and when it came to performing to the school, neither of them said it. So, it came as no…

This time of year creeps up on you doesn’t it? One minute, it’s November and everything is calming down after half term. The next, you’re into the throws of show rehearsals, sorting out nativity costumes and attending Christmas events. Nights out It is unusual these days for my husband and I to go anywhere without the children. Occasionally one of us will have an evening out, but going out together is particularly rare. This week has been the exception. On Saturday, we all headed to the Eastnor Land Rover Christmas Experience. Whilst Father Christmas was there and the event was…

For the first time ever, I’m quite enjoying the colder months. It definitely has something to do with embracing the cold rather than fighting it. Better still, we managed to fit in a short break this week, with a Winter weekend at Bluestone. Despite the cold, we spent plenty of time outdoors, riding bikes and I even swam in the sea. It was surprisingly warm in comparison to the river. The decisions of a six year old For a long time now, Libby has been asking to go rock climbing. At our local leisure centre, she had to be six…

Have you started getting ready for Christmas? Unusually, I’ve started buying a few gifts already. I’m not one for being organised, but I know money is likely to be tight next month. So, it makes sense to buy a few bits and pieces in advance. I’ve ordered the big gifts for both girls, plus a couple of other family members. Now I just need to decide what to get my husband, the man who has everything. Oh, and maybe a gift for the dog who has everything. Birthday parties Birthday parties are an occupational hazard for siblings. When Libby started…

It seems that Christmas creeps earlier every year. We’ve got to a point already where we drive around in the evenings and the girls spot Christmas lights. They’ve asked several times whether we can put our Christmas tree up now and I’m not even close to being ready. This week I published a Christmas gift guide for mums who run. This is my second gift guide, in addition to my What’s on West Midlands Christmas post. So, it may appear on the face of it that I’m ready for Christmas. But I’m far from ready. A quiet weekend After hot…