I love this time of year !!!

No, not the madding crowds and people pushing and yelling and fighting each other for car parking spaces and the overwhelming advertising and the general feeling pervading the shopping malls that you need to spend copious amounts of money to show people that you love them.

I love ...

... putting up the Christmas tree (even if this year it isn't a real one - the MOTH isn't too happy, but it's eight feet tall and symmetrical and you gotta love that) ...

... fairy lights and tinsel garlands in the front hall and stockings hanging on the hearth in the lounge ...

... red and gold candles and the smell of cinnamon ...

... sitting on the curb at the side of the road in the hot sun for an hour to watch the Santa parade go past, and a six year old who turns to you with huge awestruck eyes as the last float goes past and says "Is that the real Santa ?" ...

... I love that she still has to ask ....

... the eight year old boy who, when taken into a toy shop to show us what he wants for Christmas, spends fifteen minutes pointing out toys he thinks his sister would like ...

... a Christmas wishlist that says "whatever you want to buy me" ...

... looking forward to two weeks holiday and going camping with my family (not sure about how much I'm looking forward to the camping portion of the equation, but I'll try anything once) ...

Most of all I love that I have rugrats !!! I read somewhere once that you never fully appreciate Christmas until you have children to share it with you ... and it's getting better :)