Are we really half way through November already!

We have survived Halloween and Bonfire Night. How did you do?
The children were really enthusiastic this year, probably as they are getting older. I have put a picture of them and their friends on Halloween night for you to see. They looked great and really enjoyed themselves. The torches worked very well and they were as suspected a good buy. Charlotte keeps asking if there are ghosts outside though, with the dark nights she thinks they are there all the time!

Now I am starting to focus on Christmas. The other night I spent the evening putting together all the addresses for the Christmas cards. By the time I finished I was amazed to be nearing 100 names. I didn’t think I knew that many people! Every year I think that I should pluck up the courage to tell everyone that I am not sending cards, but making a donation to a child charity. But every year I think what pleasure I get from hearing from people I have not spoken to all year. Many of them people I have met over the years on holiday, and from past jobs. They all send a letter telling me about their year and I love it, so perhaps all the effort is worthwhile.

The cards also come in handy after Christmas for arts and crafts. My two adore cutting them up, and I use last years cards for them to make cards for Nanny and Grandad for the current year. The only bit I dislike intensely is the glitter! If anyone has any tips on how to clear up glitter easily please let me know.

The other dilemma I have at Christmas since Charlotte was born is that her birthday is on Boxing Day! Two weeks early she was, completely unexpected, but I should have guessed something was wrong when I was cleaning the oven Christmas Day night. My husband just looked at me, in the way they do that indicates they know everything!

Seriously, it is hard for parents with birthday children at Christmas. When do you do their party, how do you discourage joint presents, by personal pet hate and how, when you are so full of Christmas festivities do you break away for a birthday?

I have tried very hard to make Boxing Day a day for Charlotte, but as she gets older it is becoming harder. I would love to hear from you other parents with children who share birthdays with other main events or perhaps you have children that share birthdays. Let me know how you deal with it, as I am sure others would love to hear your stories.

Best wishes,