Happy Xmas

2012 has certainly been our most intra-family interactive christmas so far. Both girls have got into the spirit with learning christmas carols, Ella's primary speciality being spoofs of jingle bells, while Katy can do a very cute rendition of "we wish you a merry xmas."

Christmas excited-ness kicked off late last night with Santa sack preparation, including the requisite glass of water and chocolate biscuit for Santa, and a carrot for the reindeer. We also had a mad dash out into the rain to sprinkle "magic reindeer food" (a.k.a oats and sparkles) onto the lawn so they would have something to eat while they waited for Santa to deliver the goods.

Come this morning we had a pile of presents that dwarfed our poor little tree, and Santa sacks "with a lump in it" as Katy explained to Grandad when she woke up.

Christmas dinner was over at Susie's house this year -- a traditionally chaotic group cooking effort, followed by lethargy, cricket, stunt bikes and a long walk/ride with a large fraction of the family (involving a large muddy puddle which enabled Ella and Mia to cover their new christmas clothes in mud).