Baby steps leaving footprints in the Winter snow

[roastparsnipsandbrusselsprouts]

Hope everyone has a good day today!
I am planning to clear up some of the kitchen mess--from yesterday--

We had a lovely Christmas dinner at home (just the 4 of us).

Depending on the weather we may go for a little walk.

Anyone else around today?

Just had the oddest lunch, but surprisingly tasty: leftover sprouts, peas & carrots, a spoonful of redcurrant jelly, some grated cheese & a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Heated in the microwave. Nom nom - I'm on my second portion

I've wrapped the presents for later, done DS's food and packed most of the stuff to take out with us. DH took DS for a walk.

I've just found some tasty sprout recipes here which I plan to try in the next week or two.

We have just had a "buffet" type of lunch. Sandwiches, cocktail sausages, breadsticks etc. Think I done a bit too much food though so it may last till tea time.

We had home made lentil soup and then lots of buffet foods. My parents were over for the afternoon. We have just been picking and grazing all afternoon.

The kids have had a great time playing with their loot. I always prefer Boxing Day. Much more chilled and lovely loot to play with.

We did have a quick clean this morning for my parents coming but it was a half hour with all of us helping out. We also cleaned out the guinea pigs who were a little fragrant after getting sprouts for dinner yesterday That is more than enough flying for one day. All I plan to do tonight is load the dishwasher and sit on the sofa drinking and eating crisps and chocolate.

I have just cleaned the kitchen and washed up etc. now to chill

Dh has put the dishwasher on. I have spent over 2 hours building the Playmobil castle my dparents gave ds. Now he is too excited to go to bed. I am too tired to care.

Playmobile castle? I had a cardboard one when I was a kid which I LOVED!

We have just got home from spending the day at ILs. Was good fun, & DD1 had a lovely day playing with her cousins, but I will be glad when we finally get the girls to bed and we can relax.

We didn't have much food left over from Xmas lunch, (which is a shame as I was looking forward to some sprout bubble & squeak), just a bit of the chestnut Wellington, which is what we're having for dinner tonight. Oh, and maybe some cheesecake & brownie too

We've got some friends coming round for lunch tomorrow so I need to prep up something for our lunch in the slow cooker.

bessie snap! My dbrother and I were reminising about that castle yesterday when my dparents produced the castle. We LOVED it too. My dparents still have it but it but it hasn't survived the last 30 years brilliantly so they thought the next generation needed the next generation of castle and I have to admit it is FAB!

Sounds like you have a lot of catering to do bessie. Good luck with it all. We are hoping for a pyjama day, or close to it tomorrow, although I might have a bath and get dressed. I will also have to do some more dishes as there are still quite a lot after today.

Hi all, It is wine o'Clock here again. Making the most of it while it's the Christmas hols. Although I would only drink when the DC are gone to bed!

I did some cleaning in the kitchen today and 1 load of washing but that is all cause it is really a chilling out sort of day.

The DC have been having fun with their Christmas toys.

Yay for BlackCat. I am having alcoholic ginger beer for the third night in a row. I think we have all earned it with dedicated Christmas prep flying.

Glad to hear of good days yesterday.

We had a fab and slightly raucous time yesterday with from DH's family (there were 24 of us!). We enjoyed an unusual lie-in this morning.

This afternon we're off to stay with my parents till Thursday.

This morning I need to:

Give DS breakfast
Put washing machine on
Put away yesterday's dry washing & hang out wet washing
Unload dishwasher / wash up
Slice & freeze bread I made yesterday
Shower & get dressed
Finish unpacking stuff from being out yesterday
Pack up stuff to take with us
Wrap presents for my family
Take DS out for exercise
Make lunch
Have a nap

Whew, that's plenty to keep me occupied, I think. Tomorrow should be restful - I'll help with the cooking, but it's lovely being out of your house as there's no housework to be done.

Sounds fab all round Angel. Are you doing Christmas all over again?

We are having a lazy day. I have put the dishwasher on but can't remember if I put in a dishwasher tablet

Other than that I think I just need to do a tiny bit of picking up and decluttering and put a wash on.

The rest of the day will be spent playing with the children's loot.

I don't even have to cook as we have enough left overs to last at least a day.

How is the head BlackCat?

Morning all, I am on my 2nd Coffee this morning.

We had a sort of lie in too. DS was the first one up just after 8.00am and he won't go downstairs unless one of us is up.

So far this morning I have hanged yesterdays washing and put another load on.
My washing piled up before Christmas as I was concentrating my efforts on getting the presents done.

The weather looks grey here today.

Have a good time with your parents Angel

Morning BlackCat. I haven't moved from the sofa yet. Dh is still in bed. It is his last day off so I am leaving him to it. I am already looking for crap something to eat. Bad habits develop very quickly I might join you BlackCat and have a second instead.

Morning RoastCarrots, I am still here playing on MN.

I know what you mean about all the Chocolate junkfood. I am trying to enjoy and make the most of it as I think we may have to do some cutting back on shopping in January and only buy essentials due to the Christmas overspend.
I will have to start being creative!
We will be o.k. for over New years day as we have a money off coupon for this weeks shop. It's just once we are into January we won't have so much till pay day.

DD may be in need of a bath this morning! She has been playing with a felt tip set someone got her for Christmas and has them all over her hands and feet.

Ds is covered in Gingerbread man. Santa brought him a HUGE one (which Mum would never have allowed) and he has nearly eaten the whole thing It was all over him and the kitchen sofa when I got up. Fortunately it is a leather sofa so could be wiped up. He is now eating a Candy Cane (another treat Santa brought which Mum would never have allowed). How long until he is sick? I should run a book and take bets.

Oh I did reply earlier about January budgets but it clearly hasn't worked. We will be reining it in in January too, partly due to rising costs and partly due to the cost of Christmas. I think most of Mumsnet is the same.

I also want to eat a bit more healthily again. We will enjoy the season and then rein that in as well.

Ds is clearly now experiencing a sugar high as he has been running in laps round the hallway.

Dh is up now and away out for a run with the dog. I suspect he should take ds too

I'm back but only for a little while. DH took over the computer for a while- hence why I disappeared.

Yes I think a lot of people will struggle in January. I suppose it's the same every year but a little worse this time because things are more expensive.

Carrots Hope your ds has got over his sugar rush.

I best give DD her bath soon.

Just having another tea so I feel more normal!

Carrots Does your leather sofa have any splits or cracks in it?

Just wondering as we bought a "Fake" leather sofa about 2 years ago and it has lots of cracks on it. I am very disappointed with it but I suppose that's what you get if you don't buy the real thing.?
Bought it from Harveys.

I need a boot to get moving

Hello again. I have had a bath and got dressed and feel much better.

I am also making some butternut squash soup for lunch. Yummy!

Our sofa is real leather which doesn't sit well with my ethics but was bought by dh with his bonus five years ago. I have to admit it is nice. It has creases in it but no cracks. We have 2 and they were £600 each so I would be really if they did look bad already.

I like your new name BlackCat.

We have fake leather sofas a few years old, and they're doing okay. The arms have real leather on though, I think.

Yes, parsnips, tomorrow afternoon will be Christmas dinner & presents, once my brother, SIL and 2 nephews arrive. DS is frightened of his older nephew (age 3) so it could be traumatic! DN is lovely, just DS doesn't like other children invading his personal space.

Loads of packing still to do and I need to freeze the chicken leftovers from Sunday before we leave too.

Have a good few days everyone.