1.  Garden Party

2.  Sliding Down

3.  Wrapping Up

A Little Friend is 3 today.  His party was at a Nearby Garden.  I’ll take all the Christmas presents, I thought, taking a pile of five downstairs to wrap.  In front of Son 1 aged 4y 3m, while Son 2 aged 15m was napping.  Son 1 went nuts.  He wanted the little plastic paint-me figures, he couldn’t keep his fingers out of the Meccano boxes, he lifted the flaps in the  books.  Of course I gave up, and we just took Birthday Boy’s.  Son 1 wore his Santa outfit.  We went straight to see Santa in his grotto; 8 little boys aged 4 and under, 1 two-year old girl.  Santa was great, the grotto was great.  Is it me or are they getting better?  Santa asked all the little boys what they wanted for Christmas.  Son 1 couldn’t speak when it was his turn.  “A Knight’s Tower,” I said, “with some Monsters.”  “And what about this little one? ” said Santa.  “An iPod,” I said. “Or a mobile phone.” Santa stared and waited for a sensible answer, while small boys giggled and said “No-o,” Teletubbies fashion.  I made up a Farm and some bath toys.  Outside, Son 2 stared, rapt, at the mighty camera wielded by Birthday Boy’s parents, reaching out his little starfish hands for the buttons.  Sorry  darling, Santa didn’t believe me when I told him what you’d like for Christmas.      

The children had their faces painted.  They were all blue Power Rangers, which made Son 1 a Santa with a blue face. Lunch was served in the playground.  It was a dry, clear day so the children ate chocolate sandwiches and chased and slid and climbed and squabbled.  Son 2 reached for me every time Wonder Nanny picked him up.  That matters more than it should.  She lay him down on his back and dropped him down the slide… I caught him at the bottom.  He laughed and laughed and then started panicking in case we weren’t going to do it again.  Son 1 complained that Older Brother had hit him.  “You don’t need to tell me,” I said.  “Santa is very close and he’ll be watching Older Brother and won’t bring him any presents.”  They made up.  Cake was served.  Two more boys we know, aged 4 and 2 turned up, with their dad.  The children played, the grown ups chatted.

Some went home, we went back towards the grotto so Son 1 could make a Christmas Table decoration.  Red candle, a bit of clay, a base and all the foliage you can get in for a pound.  Son 1 did a very good job.  We put the boys in the car, they were both asleep by the time we got back to The Town, so I did a quick shopping run around Asda.  Trolley logjam.  Granny and Granddad came round to see the boys, who were fizzing with tiredness.  After bedtime, The Man and I wrapped present after present after present.  Son 2 has about 6 things, Son 1 about 15.  Must get something for Granny and Granddad tomorrow.  And for The Man, I suppose.

1. A Hand in the Night

2. Scoffing

3. Scooby

I was woken in the wee hours by the touch of a small hand on my arm.  Son 1 aged 3 y 10m on the midnight prowl.  Semi-asleep, I lifted him up and put him between The Man and me.    I know there are all sorts of reasons why I should send him straight back to his own bed… but… we’ve been singing Puff the Magic Dragon. Even as a child I was slain by ”One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more.” There will come a day when his automatic “I’m awake in the night, I think I’ll go find Mummy and Daddy” reaction won’t work any more. 

Son 2 aged 10m did really will with his breakfast today - two-thirds of a Weetabix in some strawberry yoghurt. He apparently ate well at lunch and tea as well, according to The Man, who picked him up from the Nursery.  Dropping him off was an ordeal, his little face was screwed up, his starfish hands reached out and he HOOWWLLLED.   It’s such a gutpunch getting in the car when I can still hear him screaming through thick walls from 30 yards away. However, she said brightly, he was fine when he was picked up, and he was on good form at bathtime when I got back.

Today The Man and I, in our own worlds, neglected our various vital tasks while we tried to sort out a promised treat for Son 1 aged 3 y 10m.  He wants a Scooby Doo van with the Scooby Friends and Monsters.  He has seen it at a friend’s house at a party. I have tramped the length and breadth of the Big Town, and can only find Scooby Friends and Monsters.  So The Man drove 15 miles to another Town and bought a van and Shaggy, which he’d seen on his travels.  I forgot to tell him that on the way to The Nursery Son 1 had proclaimed that in fact he just wanted the Scooby Friends and the Monsters. Van not necessary.  Only I was too busy at The Office to remember to tell him.  So.  I was supposed to ring HM Revenue and Customs today, and didn’t.  And The Man was supposed to take in Son 2’s prescription request for Infant Gaviscon.  And didn’t.  But Son 1 loved his Scooby treats.