Christmas Smile Lines

I love Christmas, but I don't love doing Christmas solo!  Noah and I have passed on our colds/chest infections to James, which has resulted in Man Flu.  It's an actual condition.  An explanation of sorts:

Being left to carry on regardless, I decided to make the most of things and find the joy in the madness that is Christmas in the Miles house.  Last night I found Rosie had wrapped a carrot for 'Dacer the raindeer' and left it in the bottom of her stocking...

...along with cards for the 'Elfs' and Santa.  Oh, and a spiced biscuit too:

After our turkey dinner I sat down with the children to play Scrabble.  My eleven year old chose to use the word porn.  In his defense, he didn't know that was an alternate word for pornography, and thought it was how you spell pawn.  Ben protested that Ethan couldn't use such a naughty word, but I allowed it and tried hard not to die laughing!

Following on from that theme... Noah made a lovely Christmas card for me at school of an angel.  Every time I look at it I see glitter boobs instead of wings:

Finally, Wensleydale cheese with cranberries after the children went to bed was the perfect way to end Christmas day (sorry I can't send it to Utah Jay!):

Hope you had a merry Christmas!

Winter Wonderland

The big freeze has hit the UK for the second time in two weeks and it finally came to Newton Abbot, the town that rarely sees snow!  The children couldn't be more excited... heck, I couldn't be more excited!  This afternoon we went for a stroll on our favourite moor. (Isn't the moon great?):

Ethan:

Ben and Rosie:

I wouldn't mess with an armed and dangerous Noah:

Rosie stumbled upon a few deep spots:

What's a walk in the snow without a bundle?:

At the top of the Tor we found a free climber.  In a short-sleeved t-shirt.  Nutter:

We're in snow heaven and feeling very festive!

Mug Shot

My mum won a free photo session and had us all come along.  This is the best of a bad bunch of pictures and there is still plenty wrong with it (Rosie.  Me.)  One day I'll get a fabulous family photo taken, but until then... Merry Christmas from the Miles family:

Six Is So Much Older Than Five

My baby turned six today.  I don't like this ageing malarkey very much.  Would you like to see some enthusiastic candle blowing and hear some terrible singing?  Enjoy:

Little Lovin'

This weekend we had the annual Christmas get-together for James' side of the family in Wales.  The children really enjoy visiting with their cousins, aunts and uncles, but as usual I forgot to take a camera... and forgot to take more than three photos on my phone.  Here is a scrummy new Timothy laughing at my silly face:

Timothy's big sister Isabella has just turned two and she loved nothing more than Ben on Saturday, she held his hand for most of our bracing afternoon skate walk around the village:

Isabella's adoration continued... Ben had the privilege of a long cuddle before bed:

Maybe next year I'll get that photo of all thirteen cousins together.