Mini Tree

When the time comes to take down our tree, there'll be a second tree requiring our attention. The doll house is fully equipped with Christmas spirit - although some of the decorations have been relocated in order to make room for presents. Glen and I continue to be banned from the doll house.

On the not so mini front, I continue to expand.

-When I get in the bath, the water overflows. But then, the same thing happens in the 25x25m swimming pool.

- As nothing fits, even the giantest of my maternity clothes, I am rarely spotted with clothes on in the flat. I pity our neighbours who have no doubt caught a fright through the curtains.

- Savvy keeps giving the baby "growing medicine" with her doctor's kit - jabs, creams, potions. I realise it's a pretend kit, but just to be sure, I think we'll move the games out of the doctor's office.

Christmas Day - Outside

We didn't make it far (the front garden), and I never got out of my jammies, but we did venture into the snow so Sav could try out her new skis. They're "toy skis" so she can get the feel. She loved them and we'll be heading back out today for another shot.

Christmas Day - Inside

Gifts gifts galore. A very happy and excited Sav loved her Santa stocking in the morning and then rushed through breakfast to get to the presents. All of the gifts were a hit from Swing Ball, ABC games, to ponies, to Jessie's amazing stroller, to a doctor's kit etc etc etc. Mom and Dad enjoyed their stockings too - one with Kendal origins and another all the way from Vancouver. Spoiled by Santa, family and friends.

Sav was an excellent help in the kitchen. Featured here decorating our cake in her new dress and homemade apron from Sha Sha.

The jewellery box from team Japan is sadly stored up high on the very top of the fireplace. When Mhari visited, it was the cause of world war III. It's Sav's special toy - she's in awe everytime she opens it up.

The Rack

Ok - I know that torture is no laughing matter. And neither is Dob's back pain. Specially at Christmas.

Which is why Team Roberts is fully behind Mega's recent internet spending spree on back injury curing products. This includes a magic wand that even Aunt Lynnie might raise an eyebrow to, a pair of space/inversion boots, and The Rack (pictured - old and new).

Now that Dob's going organic for another stretch before considering surgery, he'll try anything. Hopefully there aren't any internet back hustlers amongst our readership to pray on Dob's open mind! Uncle Ty - keep him right!

Happy Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve from Team Roberts! xxx

Dyson Hand Dryer Please

We don't really know what Sav wants for Christmas.

She "wrote" a private note to Santa with her secret list and isn't willing to divulge.

The one thing she does ask for consistently is a Dyson hand dryer like the one in the loos at her favourite cafe. She does the demo for you too - how you put the hands in the powerful slot and count to five before removing amazingly dry hands.

Poor (strange) kid.

Cause Nonno is Coming to Town...

Great to have Nonno and Tilley up for the weekend. We missed our Kendal weekend and the weather was still touch and go so we're lucky he came through.

Mhari joined in on the fun and helped do a charity toy clear out to make room for Auntie Andrea's goodies and Sav's Santa aspirations for next weekend.

Pre Holiday Cheer

Enjoying the days in the lead up to Christmas. Fresh snow on its way and only one more week of nursery/work until the big day.

Three caterpillars and three stockings...for now (but it could be mid Jan before the next addition to the family arrives....ahhhhh).

At first, Savvy wanted one of the Santa stockings. Then she realised that size does matter, and has opted for the love hearts. Sensible girl.

The Beast

Three weeks to go and all the clichés are in action...

Officially as deep from belly button to back as I am wide hip to hip - a full circle. This means I can choose whether I go through narrow spaces head on or sideways.

Insomnia at night coupled with fatigue in the day, acid reflux, a million loo breaks, swollen feet, sore back, violent kicks and punches from the beast, general grumpiness...
Smile in above photo is clearly a fake.

I'm Not Talking To You Anymore

Mega and I are now frequently being given the silent treatment by our three year old, usually when she's being asked to help clean up or get ready for bed etc - "I'm NOT talking to you anymore". For someone who chats basically non stop (and now sings out of tune Christmas carols all of the time), the torture is for Savvy and not for Mom and Dad. We hope it's a while before she figures this out...

Freezing Fog...and a bit of swimming proof...

Stirling Castle looms

Sticky snow. Rubbish sledging.

Yes, I have style

She Can Swim

We are gutted not to have been able to go to Kendal this weekend for an early Christmas hello. With the dodgy weather, it was just too tricky to tackle the roads.

On the plus, Sav wore her "I love Jessie" shirt all weekend and we got to go swimming as a family.

I haven't been in the water with Sav in over a month. I knew her lessons were going well and that following the lesson formalities she has a 2 hour fun session with Dob in the pool. But I hadn't appreciated the transformation.

I was carefully climbing down the ladder to position myself so I could catch Sav on her first jump in, but she angled herself away from me, took a massive plunge, stayed under for a few seconds, bounced back up like Tigger and swam off. It was ridiculous. I am still in shock. When she saw my face, she was so chuffed with herself. Beaming broader than her purple goggles.

All credit to Mega and his major time investment.

Before the Snow...

Before the snow, there were twigs and leaves and a gentle breeze...and the trails were a true delight.

MegaSmith kindly took some footage of MegaDob on his beloved Snow White in Mine Woods behind the flat.

See MegaDob cruise.

See MegaDob jump.

See MegaDob balance.

Lovely video by "smithmtb studios".

The Snowy School Run

We've broken our no comprimise rule on Sav riding her own bike to school and MegaDob's had to take on the extra work due to the conditions. It's ok - he's well trained with his snowy night rides, although some of his mates appear to have gone with skis yesterday.