Gearing up for Christmas

Finally the Christmas productions are over. I think Riley is really tired. He was a great shepherd, did a fantastic job on the keyboard and was a show stealer in 'the grasshopper and the ant'. Mum and Dad eavesdropped on the lady near us going on about how good 'the little boy' was. That was Riley and we were so proud!!

Riley got a great first school report so he is off to a good start. He is not convinced about changing rooms next year but he is going from one great teacher to another so we are pleased. He has finished school so we are going to have 1 on 1 time tomorrow to celebrate.

Jemma finished her gymnastics on a high- she got a certificate for her 'fantastic high kicks on the beam' and she only takes the leotard off at nights (so Mum has to try and wash and dry it overnight....) She is hilarious at the moment as she is very much into poo poo and bum stage and she eggs Riley on to do mischief! We have to watch her like a hawk and try not to laugh.

We can't wait for Christmas. We have 3 trees up (I kid you not) and have been watching Christmas dvds and playing music. Riley is fascinated with nativity scenes and singing Silent Night and Away in a Manger so we are all excited. Riley begged for a present under the tree so we relented and put one each for them under the tree at night and didn't tell them. It was a test. By 6:05am the next morning, they had failed! So no more presents under the tree.

And if you didn't get an email advertising our elf dancing... check us out at

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Riley picking up Xmas message from school

Had to share this - even though not quite spontaneous. Tonight Peter and I found Riley genuflecting to the Xmas tree (mum - recognise the Santa lights?) singing Silent night so I made him do it all again for the video. So cute and nice to see the way he has embraced the reason for Christmas. He is a shepherd in next weeks school play so maybe he has been practicing genuflecting for that!
I think he likes the song as in the car yesterday while it was playing, he asked me "Mum, what's a virgin?"... "Mary is a virgin" "are all mothers virgins?", "ah...no... Mary was a special mother".... out of the mouths of babes!