Merry Christmas

If you were asleep in our house this morning you wouldn't have missed the cries of Leah shouting "It's Christmas Eve, it's Christmas Eve" before she ran into our room to ask if she could open a present. Oh Leah.... one more day to go my darling!
The girls are so excited. They have also enjoyed doing their 25 days of Christmas. We've missed a few of them due to the kids going for sleepovers or me just not being prepared, but it gives me a better idea of what to do next year. I think the most successful day was when we got to paint Christmas things on the lounge windows. It looks very festive. Ammon just loves opening his chocolate advent calendar each morning, and is now very good at saying the word 'chocolate'. He has my sweet tooth for sure.
The pregnancy is going well thank goodness and the tummy is no longer hide-able. Although I'm not sure if it is the stress of the Christmas season or being hormonal or both, but I find myself very mentally tired and a little overwhelmed recently. Of course December is always a busy time with end of year productions, work events, church activities, Christmas preparations, Emerson's birthday and preparing for camping. I tried my best to have all the present shopping done before the end of November, but that didn't quite work out. It has been a struggle to buy particularly for Emerson this year, so to have to think of Christmas AND her birthday gifts has been hard. Especially when you ask her what she wants and she doesn't know. I guess I could buy her some toys but they'll just end up under her bed not being used, so that's a waste of money. Last year she got alot of clothes, but she seemed somewhat disappointed by that. Even now I'm not sure we've sussed her birthday but today is the last chance to do so as we're off camping on boxing day till after her birthday. There are no shops in the middle of the bush! Thank goodness I can go up the road to Grandma's to bake her a cake! In some respects I think I'd rather skip the rest of December and all of January and just go straight into February. There's the Christmas spirit!
Work has been going very well, and I've even had the chance to escape the office for a few days of training in Auckland. My last day was yesterday and I go back on the 5th for a week on my own then I get a week off before being back to normal. Nathan has been hanging out for his holidays, his work is quite stressful and he is keen to go to the farm and do as little as possible (besides ride his bike of course!).
Emerson is going to have her proper birthday on the 19th with her cousins and friends, we have a bridal shower, bucks night, wedding and a couple baby showers to attend all in January. Then we get into getting Leah ready to start school in February. It's such a busy time.
To my brothers and their sweetheart's especially I wish you a very Merry Christmas. We miss you. I hope you get to have SOME decent time together without work getting in the way too much. Big kisses to Rose and Jean.
To Petria, Brent and Grace - Merry Christmas. We have a birthday present for Grace but I'm waiting for it to arrive to me so not sure it will arrive to her in time but nevertheless... it is a favourite of Leah's so wanted Grace to have one too.
Mum and Dad thank you for who you are. You are a great support to us and we feel very lucky to live close to you. Our children love you immensely but hey, what's not to love? Congratulations again on 40 years of marriage. Perhaps our gift has been a selfish one as it means we and our children will always be able to see you and talk to you wherever we are.
Merry Christmas everybody, may you have a little of Christ with you this season and have the happiness that I enjoy with my husband and children. Love you.