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.

RT I remember going to Shadys house and she was actually calling her "Lady" it was so funny!

Yes hair appointments make me nervous if they are quite junior or haven't done mine before. My friend has been doing mine for years which eliminated the childcare prob but now she has her ds in reception it's a bit more challenging between school runs and her flying so I've had to go elsewhere on odd occasions unfortunately.
Happy birthday Vag!
Hons hope the recovery is quick x
My trip was nice when we eventually got there. Action packed. Managed to have a lovely meal at our fav steak place which is a real treat as it is proper £££ and our last visit was for our pre wedding dinner! Also able to visit dhs Aunt whom we hadn't seen in 4 years or so.
Ate / drank loads and shopped a little in 1.5 short days and the kids / dog were fine. Mil did a great job looking after the kids / dog on her own at ours, so I'm pleased. I will stop moaning about her

Must go am at swimming lessons. Busy week next with ds birthday then party for 20 eek! Also his school Xmas party. Ds so excited!

Happy Birthday, Vag!

How many of you are December babies too?

Hope all December babies big and small have been having fun!

It was the lighting of our village Christmas tree yesterday. The village gathered round the tree, switched the lights on and as we sang carols it started to snow. Perfection.

Oh Indith that sounds lovely!

Indith please tell me you then went and picked out a Christmas tree and carried it home. The Christmas tree sellers have opened at their little stalls all over the Hague so it is time. We really need to get ours tomorrow to give us time to enjoy it before we go away on the 21st but I was kind of hoping for a least some sleet? Hail would do.

Thanks for the birthday messages. Tell me (I'm a bit thick at maths) is it possible to do a secret santa with an odd number?

Rubes that trip sounds lovely?

It's ok I think I've worked it out. Will do it tomorrow. DH and I are off to Depeche Mode now. No idea how hegot as they sold out ages ago.

No sorry, nowhere to buy one in walking distance. We used to do that as kids. carry the tree home with daddy in the snow . Will Petton go source tree next weekend else everywhere will be sold out but dd doesn't want it up until after her birthday so it'll be a Christmas Eve job.

I've been awake for 2 hours with heartburn. What is that all about? I only usually get it when pregnant but that's impossible.

Vag, I hope Depeche Mode were good!

I promise I will read moee and do propee catch up, but how has dh wangled a lie in til now after having 5 bloody mornings in a row with no children last week. we were all up at 7. I've just sent the girls in to wake him!

I think I'd just send the girls in to kill him Beans.

The DDs had friends sleeping over last night. DH and I have just made everyone a pancake breakfast and now they are watching Harry Potter. DS is asleep so I think I might go back to bed for 30 mins.

I hope Depeche Mode were good Veg. A belated happy birthday to you!

I was offered a job with Martin Gore vag. I stupidly turned it down. Hope you had fun.

So have done my non baby shower/bday meal with the girls. Bday dinner with DH last night. DS2 bday party brought forward a wk to accommodate baby jammy. Then can I relax? 39wks!!

How on earth does life become more difficult when DH is home? Dinner and bedtimes get later, house seems messier. Doesn't make any sense.

Vag, have you seen the FA Cup draw? Typical.

More people around, you get looser with your routines because you have help around but he isn't used to the routines that make the house keep ticking over so where you are expecting him to do things he doesn't. Not in a bad, he is shit way, just in a not used to it and actually probably doesn't realise it sort of way.

Exaclty why I felt like murdering dh when he stopped working away int he week . Took quite a long time for things to change and for the house to run more smoothly again. Except with you by the time you hit that point he is off again and forgets it all.

Jammy I don't think you are going to get to relax until the baby actually appears and you can lord it over them all while using the "I'm feeding the baybee" excuse.

He keeps moving things too. Drives me mad

My two get to bed later when dh around too.

Dd clocked me on the forehead accidentally with a rolling pin last night getting it out for play doh
Only a little bump but reminiscent of the bridge / dog / shoelace tying incident I had (deids)
Anyone have WG's address? I think we should all send a Christmas card to show her the love (see FB) ??
Right, have delivered ds nativity king costume to school. Just left hobbycraft armed with glitter for the next project. Does it ever end lol. Nearly sorted for his party. Only one pulled out. Giving final numbers today. What do you all do about siblings coming along? I've got extra party bags but one if them is a a big toddler so thinking of adding him but then other siblings might miss out.

Haha Rubes I'd be in that. Would be fun.

Kayz when DH works from home I have double the dish washing to do and the house is always a mess, and that's just him home more during the day.

Ds1 woke up last night and spewed EVERYWHERE! I went mental at poor DH because he tried to 'sweep it up' with the dustpan and brush. How can these guys be so intelligent but think that a brush is an effective cleaning implement for bodily fluids. Had to bin the dustpan & brush and I loved it, it was a long handled one.

What was the job Jam?

Right both boys off school on account of DS1's tummy. I have 4 days left that I can take DS2 off school whenever I want so might keep him off school on Thursday too.

Ooh and I'll do secret santa now too.

Nah actually think I will just book it for 1 less (the one that can't come) otherwise it will be confusing.
Will have to deal with not having a round number. #ocd

Rubes, I'm in. We can bombard her with cards!

Hoi have just done the draw and sent out the names. But after I had sent them all I realised I don't ha all your addresses. Can you all send me your addresses so I can forward them and also a preference for a pressie for you or the dec 08 child. Also Rubes asked what is the price limit?

Rubes we don't have siblings or parents at the parties anymore unless the sibling is a friend and then they get an invite.

Vag, I will PM you my address. Thanks for organising.

I think all the presents should be for the mums. We do all the hard work (and the chat!) so our lovely DCs, who will have plenty anyway, should take a back seat just for once. IMHO.

I'm not inviting siblings, used to when they were preschool and we were just inviting my their toddler group and playdate friends but now they are inviting school friends I don't bother. If I'm inviting the whole bloody class I don't want siblings too!

I'm a little concerned about dd's party. When ds1 started school nobody stayed at parties, they were all dump and run affairs. But I've noticed that all the ones dd has been to so far all the mums seem to stay and chat while I dump and run. I really won't have space in the hall for all the parents too, hope they don't expect to stay! I'm not doing any adult refeshments. Bit worried I'm going to seem like a terrible host. Still mising loads of RSVPs. Going to have to chase some up but I have no clue which child is which and which adult belongs to them as I'm not at the school gate often enough!

What music do your lot listen to? Trying to get a bit of a party soudtrack for both dd and ds1. They both want a good dose of Bruce Springsteen, Bellowhead and Megson and a few other folky bits but I kind of want to pop a few more mainstream things on it too in case the other kids stand there and go instead of dancing . Ds1 requested a couple of One Direction tracks so I have those and the Muppets Mna Mna song. What else can I download?

Ok so present will be for yourselves and the price limit, what do you think? a tenner or 15? aww wish I was in it too. can't now as I now who everyones SS. Plus postage from here is almost as much as the lower price limit. Stupid dutch postage system.