Start your runners (talk) and your new jars of Jam, 'tis the season-almost.

[Vagolajahooli]

Here we are ladies, time for all that talk of christmas table runners and chrissie deccy colour combos. And will we be getting some new Jam in this thread! Maybe not quite.

Yeah that really isn't worth it!

If you love staying home and can continue to do it then go for it. Your dh just wants you to know you have choices I guess . As dd gets older and starts nursery etc then you will have more chances to pick up volunteer work or do a college course with a view to working if that's what you want to do. Enjoy your baby while she is small .

Would you want to be a childminder? That way you can look after your own and also take on other children, so no childcare costs involved...

Kayz hope you think of something you want to do...do you actually want to go back to work?

Blimey today had been a whirlwind! Can't quite believe DS is 5! He's had a super day, fab party (even if it was in a soft play hell) and totally spoilt rotten. As it should be. He's never had a big party so 20 if his little friends had left him exhausted and me in need of a large .

Lady happy birthday to O for tomorrow too...who's after that?

Beans, no way! I wouldn't have the patience.

Deids, happy birthday to DS!!! I think I'd like to do something when they're older. Got ages to think of something.

I'm in denial. none of them is actually allowed to be 5 until December.

Happy birthday small db and missT.

DD1 is on 6th December... She keeps asking how long she's got!

Happy birthday for yesterday DBboy and happy birthday for today missLady. Can't believe they are all turning 5!

Arti how was the christening? Loads of drugs would have done the trick long enough to dab the water and smile for the relies. Has been nice seeing your extended family.

Kayz, I don't think you need to change what you are doing. I think DH just wanted to let you know you have the option. He possibly feels that due to his job you have less options, but he might not realise you are happy with your current job. You did mention you were interested in history. Maybe in the future you could think about looking at courses, but DD is still only little so just enjoy being her mum at home. Don't feel because he mentioned it that you should be aspiring to something. Your happy so it's all good.

Back from Berlin and had a great weekend. The gig waa brilliant and DH and I got hilariously drunk on Saturday night. Found this bar that had a secret cocktail bar upstairs and it was brilliant. Though we got chased out because DH tried to steal their cocktail menu. The boys had a great time back here, though DS2 was a bit teary over simple things this morning so I think he did miss us a bit.

Nolda how is the new house?

Indith sorry about the bras that is sad. But the new ones will come soon.

Sorry bout the bra's Indith - that kind of thing very annoying - and yes a tad sad
Vag, so glad you had a nice time, and all is well with the boys. I should stop worrying if dh comes to work with me right?
Kayz hope you figure something out. I'm still on the fence about work. I loved it before kids, but I was also living on the other side of the world and going away was fun as I lived foot loose and fancy free. It's sort of changed after kids. But then again so have the terms, and I can somehow average 6 days a month. I still get anxious about going, but do also enjoy a little shopping or R&R trip now and then. I think it's case by case, and I'm still not sure how long I'll stay at it I'm really there for perks as the money is quite frankly laughable. Being dh's secretary will no doubt bore me to tears, but I'll perk up if it's saving us cashola and I get to do invoices Overall, do what makes you happy and works for your family now. It really is case by case
Lovely weekend of cycling down an old railway line which is now a bike path. Dog got so hot she jumped in the canal and dh had to fish her out scared the life out of me! DS managed 4.5 miles at a steady pace and said he "wished he had gears" (2 weeks ds, 2 weeks! ) DD whinged most of the way and said she wanted to go to the pub after 5 mins Fortunately went back to an old favourite and we thawed out by the fire - lovely.
Happy birthday O - is it today? And happy belated to PD!

Oh and deids glad ds had a nice day - hope you had a nice to recover! Right, must wrap more pressies

Vag, we were chatting about what we think the DC will be when they grow up.

Happy birthday to O!!

I can't believe that they are all growing up - this time 5 years ago we were all fit to burst. I had just started ML and was knackered. I am still knackered even though they are at school!

M is 5 on Sunday (along with JJ's S). We are having 4 friends over on Saturday for a party / playdate. Don't feel the energy for a full on shindig.

So just the 3 of us for SS then?

Deids, as I recall your waters did burst when you were online. Wow! Glad DS had a good birthday. Bet you needed the wine afterwards though.

Lady is away in sunny climes I think? I am not at all jealous.

Right, must do some work. Back later.

and here we are awaiting the arrival of another baby! come on, Babyjam! wahoo!

We're doing the whole class to softplay, but sharing with 2 other children which helps with cost.

desperately trying to get DD3 to sleep. man, she's a fighter!! taken her out of her moses basket. so weird. the end of an era as it has done all of DH's kids and nieces and nephews. weep. DH mentioned we should have one more to keep DD3 company. ahem. NO.

Started writing a post and the bloody laptop froze. Will be back later for proper catch up. Off to do school run, double karate and quick trip to tescos and the dry cleaners. I love after school.

Mil has been eerily quiet. She's either busy, or worked out we needed family time minus an outlaw.
Dh late tonight, but working on his own time so not so bad. Dd and I having pate. She asked for it on Melba toast not gonna be high maintenance at all she has good taste.
We've got about half from ds class coming plus dd and 3 outsiders.

Fabulous eBay weekend. £500 worth of bike related things sold! Pleased.

To ds's party that is.... In soft play hell.

Happy birthday to the early birthday Dec08 DCs.

Vag, glad you had a good time in Berlin.

Rubes, cycling outing sounds fun (minus the soggy hound). I hope your MIL hasn't gone quiet because she's planning to stay with you for the Xmas holidays.

Kayz, if you're happy at home don't change! I was definitely ready to go back to work but my youngest is almost 5. It is tough but the money is good as I'm only working last six months of tax year so looks good in the pay packet. Won't look the same if I'm kept on full time!

I'm loving the new house but there are still a lot of boxes. I haven't organised a party for DS. Seems v expensive to do the soft play thing but don't want to have it at home because of the state of the place. Argh!

In other news, DS was dry overnight and no pull-ups on. Might be a one-off but fingers crossed we're on the right track.

I'm expecting the Ocado man tonight with my annual delivery of swedish goodies. Can't wait.

We did soft play for dd last year as we won the package in a raffle. Great as no work involved, just let them run riot then eat food. party bags and everything done for you. I enjoyed that! I could never justify the expense though, not at this time of year and then ds1 would expect the same.

There is a hall near us that is cheap so we have that booked for dd and then again in Jan for ds1. Shall have to dig deep, find some enthusiasm and play party games with the million children dd had invited. honestly, the girl has invited 27 children. I couldn't be bothered trying to sort out class politics and just let her invite the whole lot of them in the hopes a few will turn the invite down with it being so close to Christmas!

I said yes to secret Santa, that makes 4!

Happy birthday to all the ones with birthdays so far. Blimey, five is so old.

LadyT dd1 has been the same since the starting school. I somehow thought that once you'd laid the foundations of manners etc, then they'd just carry along the same trajectory. How wrong I was! Answering back, going into a huff when she doesn't get her own way. Hope you have a lovely hol!

Arti Hope the christening went well.

Nolda We're not having a party because we didn't want a massive class party or upset anyone. It all seems a bit political in reception. So your ds isn't the only one without a party! Enjoy your goodies. Do you pack them away for the big day or have a quick sample early?

Indith Very disappointing on the bras. They usually exchange them pretty quick.

McKayz I think if I had to retrain I'd try and get onto an nhs funded course. Maybe physio or occupational therapy. Teaching assistants have very child friendly hours. You shouldn't feel you have to go back to work if you'd rather be a sahm though.

Dd1 has started talking about her list for Father Christmas which features several things I've not bought her. I'm a little concerned about how I'm going to sort that out without buying more stuff.

This is awful. I'm away for a work conference in a couple of weeks for two nights and of course dd1's school play performance is one of those nights. I'm gutted. Do most schools ban filming? I'm hoping dh can film dd's but for me. Every time dd mentions it or practises her song I feel bad.

Urgh, I know what you mean... I've had initial invites out early based on who ds wanted out of 15, then inched them up a bit as we are having 20. Only 2 have said no was thinking there'd be more. The only one's not invited are several girls who I hardly know, and a couple of boys who ds says are mean. I don't know. it's the first one (and probably last) I've done, so felt I could justify it that way. Doing my own Asda / Sainsbo's inspired party bags too.

Hons I think filming is fine. I filmed ds's entire performance at Harvest Festival, and no doubt will film his Nativity play. I've heard he's the King, but isn't giving up much

Nolda, you may well be accurate about mil! I casually mentioned (evil me) that we had thought about going to California for Christmas (her brother's house) cue the guilt us out text on the journey home, saying she's fretting about Christmas now. You see we are the only one's with grandkids, therefore we must be accessible to her for all holidays. Apparently my family are buggered. We haven't heard anything since except an email before this last weekend with a tiny sentence at the bottom (which I genuinely didn't see until later) asking if we were "around at the weekend" subsequently I never answered that, and we haven't heard a peep

Hons, our school is very very strict on no filming by parents. But they usually film it and you can buy a DVD.

DD1 has been promoted in her nativity (C of E school), from a pig with the line "oink oink" (lower than a sheep last year) to The Star, with the line "I am the star. Follow me". Oh yes. RADA beckons. Or at the least LAMDA with a part as an extra on Holby City. When she says "I am the star", DH and I have been sniggering that we are going to teach her to say "I am the star of the show" instead. But it might be a bit mean.

A bit mean to all the other children, because clearly DD1 IS the star of the show. Heh heh heh! Snigger.