Happy Christmas y'all!

My beautiful Christmas girls in their posh frocks

Hope everyone had a lovely day! Ours was great - although it started kind of early with the sound of jingling bells at 6.18am. Why oh why did we buy Isabel a stocking with bells attached? Schoolboy error. We managed to persuade her to snuggle for about quarter of an hour but then the excitement became too much (for all of us!) and we had to break into the stockings. I'm surprised Bucks has any chocolate left given the enormous pile which formed on the bed. We then sent Isabel scurrying round the house with questions like "did Santa eat everything you left for him?" - very cute!

Early stocking opening!

Lunch was cooked by Husbandio and self with no arguments (true, I kid you not!) and once we were all full to the brim the true present mayhem began. Some great gifts were exchanged - Isabel's favourite was one from Husbandio, a Rainbow In Your Room. She also liked her Hannah Montana annual (I know, I know), a make your own flowers kit and a large pile of books. And the DVD of Santa Buddies, which was a joy for us all! I got two beautiful necklaces, some great books (the new Stephen King, yay yay yay!) and DVDs (can I wait til the new year to see the final episode of Gavin & Stacey? No, I can't!). And some quirky gifts were received too - a paint your own tie kit, and a samovar. That's just the kind of family we are.

All in all, a lovely day - no rows, peace and harmony, all the pressies worked and had the right batteries. And, since we cooked this year, the prospect of having next year off! Not that we didn't enjoy the cooking (thank you Nigella and the briny turkey in a bucket) but getting fed is always good, isn't it?

When these crackers pop, they really go don't they?