House Of Fun

Finally, I had the chance to sleep in this morning... or at least the chance to stay in bed past 7am.  That's right, it's the first day of the school holidays, and never have I been happier to have three kids around all day. Well, by Boxing Day I'm sure I'll have changed my tune desperate for even just half an hour to be free of two children - who am I kidding, by this afternoon I'll feel like that! - but right now... bed, that's what I'm going to enjoy: no spreading butter on bread or washing fruit or filling water bottles or finding library books or harassing children to eat faster.

Not that staying in bed equals more sleep, thanks to young Joey pressing on my bladder numerous times during the night and generally starting his/her morning exercise around 5am.  This morning we also had Toots (who normally buries herself back under the covers when I try to wake her) prancing through bright eyed and bushy tailed not long after 6.30am, despite drilling in to her last night that tomorrow was school holidays and she could sleep in.  And by 7.15, all three kids were awake, but thanks to a five year old girl, a low cereal cupboard and some newly imported Shreddies, the hungry Lightning was happy for another hour.  That's right, it was after 8am that I finally hauled myself out of bed to start on the holiday pancakes.

Anyway, it's been almost two weeks since I last managed to blog, and that's not because there's not been anything to say - oh no, the plumbing has seen to that.  That's right, plumbing problems seem to plague us wherever we go.  Three times we saw the plumber in the first week we were here: the toilet was blocked and backed up into a bath full of toys; then the washing machine leaked and backed up in to the kitchen sink, then the toilet was blocked again, then water gushed out the cupboard under the sink.  Honestly!  We're hoping the problems are sorted, and only stem from the fact that the house has been sitting empty for the last six months, but you never know...  At least the plumbing is fixable for free. The fridge that we borrowed and then found was 3 inches too wide for the space allocated to it in the kitchen, was not.  And after a week and a half of walking back and forth to the garage every time I wanted to use it, and none seemingly available second hand, we finally bought a new one. The blinds that were due to go up are also going to be at least another two weeks in the coming, which makes for some bare windows and some paper DIY handiwork hassle.  We did just get a second hand tumble dryer today so that'll make washing sheets and towels that bit easier, but the 'laundry room' is no more than a glorified woodwork shop out in the garage, which is a far cry from my beautiful and much much much much used room in Edgemont.  Not that I'm being picky - washing machines in the kitchen are the norm back home - but you just don't know what you've got till it's gone... and we're back to drying clothes in our bedroom.

But apart from all that, much Christmas happenings have been happening, and I did truly want to blog about them, but both mental and physical exhaustion usually got the better of me.  But to sum up:

• Other Christmas decorations did finally follow on from Toots' gingerbread house, mostly the same as last year, though there have been a few new additions...

• The presents are finally wrapped and under the tree.

• The Little People Nativity is back out and being played with (and the Saviour's birth viewed by many).

• Toots and Tiger met their first Santa of the year, though Lightning was not keen.

• He also chatted to them via webcam again, and both girls found out they were on the 'Good List' - phew!  Toots is convinced he has heard that she wants a puppy.  I said if you get one, then you'll know he's real.  We'll see...

• Toots has learnt the meaning of the candy cane (ask her if you want to know what they are).

• Tiger had her Christmas party and Toots her Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols.

Oh, and Oma came last Wednesday night, bringing with her many British goodies again and starting much baking fun:

Sadly we missed the annual switch on of Christmas Lights in Midland since that was the day we moved, but I'm sure it was pretty similar to last year.  We've also not yet managed our annual tour of blinding lights, but I'm sure we'll fit that in before, eh, the day after tomorrow.  Boy we're late in a lot this year...

Today though, we finally organised our garage and flattened the 100 cardboard boxes we now own. We also discovered the Durango is actually too big to fit in the garage, which changes plans a bit.  Our loaned tumble dryer was also installed, and tomorrow, hopefully, we'll sort out the back garden toys and gumf that was dumped there.  Then it's just a final Christmas present to buy (man I am so so late this year) and a big food shop to do, and maybe come Christmas Eve we can sit down and do nothing.

Assuming the toilets play ball.