Happy New Year everyone, I hope you have a happy and healthy 2010. Can't believe the Christmas holidays are over for another year and Steve's back to work tomorrow. Beth's not back at nursery until Thursday (due to teacher days and window replacements) so I'll have to 
manage on my own (gasp) with both kids all day . . . Not sure I can remember how, I 
think all the Christmas present toys will be out along with the left over chocolate; I predict that Steve will return home to mayhem, mess and depending on 'the cycle,' either a sugar high or a total slump!
Since Christmas we've been doing all sorts, on Boxing Day we headed up to see gran and grandad. It wasn't snowing but it was still cold and very slippy making it really hard to walk anywhere or do much outside. That wasn't a problem however since Santa visited and left lots more pressies (courtesy of family members - thank you) to entertain. Toby was very impressed with his new train (what could be
better, a 
new train and a bacon sarnie?!) and Beth loved everything (mainly the act of tearing things open) but especially liked her new selection of skirts. Toby got a few clothes also, here he is looking very dapper in his new rags from Auntie Sheila and Uncle Colin.
We spent a day visiting cousins Adam and William. It was great fun playing with all their new toys and games. Just realised 
looking through the photos that there are none of Beth and Adam - they were never still long enough to snap them and all the ones 
I have of William are of the back of his head so it looks like Toby was having a ball all on his own!
We started off the new year with (great) Auntie Liz, Uncle John and cousin Jonny. It was a great way to spend the day; fab food, a 
lovely walk and great company. We went to feed the ducks - they were rather cold and seemed very
happy to have a bit of bread. The kids made themselves very much at home much to the annoyance of Barney and Mac, the two dogs, who I'm sure have had nightmares ever since.
Yesterday my friend Jane from uni and her family came to visit. It was fantastic 
to see her again (after 11 years) and to meet her hubby and children. Beth was a little apprehensive about meeting 
Charlie (4) as she really wanted a girl friend but they turned out to have a lot in common and had a blast. Toby wasn't fussed who came to play and was more than happy to meet Eva. Again I seem to have been a little crap with the photos and missed Beth on her whiz about.
To finish the hols we decided to take a trip to Lincoln (about 50 mins away) as recently so many people seem to have been praising the city. It was a really cold morning but really nice to be ou
t and about. We parked and walked up the very steep hill to the castle and cathedral. The cathedral is very picturesque especially with the added ambiance created by the bells tolling for the morning service. We had a very enjoyable coffee/hot chocolate and biscuit before slowly heading home.
Happy Christmas everyone! Hope you're having a good one. Yesterday we went to see grandma and grandpa along with 
auntie Jane. For a 
while we weren't sure if we'd make it down to see them as it snowed quite a bit on Wednesday night. Thankfully once we got out of our road, it was fine. We had a fab day that consisted of food, presents, food, drink and more food (just as it should be)!For a bit of exercise we went to the park with the sledge. There wasn't a huge amount of snow but there was enough snow and crispy stuff to keep it running. Toby wasn't too bothered; I think he liked the idea more than the actual act. Beth on the other hand loved it and just wanted to go "faster, faster". Both 
Steve 
and Jane between them took both kids down the big hill in the village - I lost my bottle a bit and had visions of hitting a bush and being catapulted across the park . . .Christmas lunch was lurvly! Despite vowing not to over indulge, I overindulged (but not too much)! We got to open some presents from auntie Jane; a little early but hey, we thought she'd like to see how much we liked them and since we wouldn't be seeing her today it was a favour! In all a great day.Today amazingly Beth didn't wake up till 6:30 and Toby 7am so it was quite a civilized morning. Beth wasn't fussed what was inside her 
presents, she just 
wanted to open, open, open. Toby was the opposite and wanted to see exactly what everyone got and how it worked. They got some pretty good presents (and there are still a few hanging round to be opened after naptime).We had a lovely walk before lunch, especially since there was nobody else about. Lunch must have been the quickest ever for Christmas Day since we had leftovers from yesterday followed by lots of chocolate. :) Steve was very impressed with his presents from the kids - new masterpieces to replace the ones done last year.
Hope you all had as good a Christmas as us - we're not quite done as it's being extended while we go to gran and grandads!
Just another quick post so it doesn't get lost in the upcoming Christmas postings. Santa visited the Children's Centre yesterday so I thought it was a good opportunity to go and meet him. Beth and I talked about it beforehand and she decided what she would say, including what she would ask for as well as finding out what Santa would like to eat (cake v. mince pie). She did not want to sit on his lap but thought she would stand by his side. I mentioned to Toby that we would be meeting Santa but he didn't seem too interested. :)
Thankfully we only had to wait for one other family before going into the grotto and you could see Santa through the window so Beth and Toby could see what awaited them. Well, poor Santa got well and truly shunned. Neither would go anywhere near him and Beth wouldn't even look at him. Toby wasn't too sure what to think but was perfectly clear in the fact that he did not want to be too close to anyone but Steve and I. Even so they both were quite happy to accept their gifts from Santa (though Beth was a bit put out that it wasn't just what she wanted!!).Tomorrow we're off to grandma and grandpa's for Christmas Eve and our Christmas dinner, yum. We'll be back home for Christmas Day with lots of pressies, chocolate and leftovers then on Boxing Day we're off to see gran and grandad to see if Santa visited them. Have to say that Beth isn't nearly as excited as I thought she'd be, think I'm more excited. I suppose it's a good thing as she might sleep tomorrow night and isn't bouncing off the walls. Even more surprising, all presents under the tree are still intact! I'm not sure if this indicates that my kids are totally oblivious and haven't noticed them or if they are just so well behaved they do as they're asked or if they are too scared of the consequences (I'd like to think the middle option . . . )!
and I managed to get lots of good jobs done (clean the loo, etc.) and Beth and Toby got good company. We went over to Cusworth for a run around in the wo
ods. We didn't stay that long as it was really cold and rather dismal. 
At the weekend we went to Rufford Abbey Country Park, 
we haven't been for ages and thought it would be good opportunity to get outside and have a good play. We were a bit disappointed as both of the play areas were closed for refurbishment but there was still plenty to do. We took along some bread to feed the ducks but I think we may have left them just as hungry. Although the main play areas were closed there were still a few bits open for us to chase around and get muddy so despite the cold and damp we had a fun afternoon. 
hear Toby's latest escapades. Recently he has become rather opinionated about certain things and very bossy. Last 
week we were browsing in a book shop, both kids happily flicking though books when a lady came our way to find a book. In a very loud and rather clear voice Toby told her, with accompanying hand gestures, "No! Go over there!" Thankfully he's young enough and cute enough to get away with it; usually in these situations I'd blame the parents but obviously in this instance that's certainly not the case. ;)
