Why oh why?

Every year I get super-stressed - and all over the same things. Too much to do and no time to do it in.

My week looks like this:

Wed: Rua has Christmas dinner at nursery
Thu: Rua's birthday party
Fri: Rua's Birthday
Sat: Swimming Lessons
Christmas Tree arrives - need to decorate it and the house
In-Laws arrive - need to move out of our bedroom and cook for the masses
Sun: Orla's Christening - so early church service and then masses back for lunch
Mon: Christmas Eve - have to remember to pick up the turkey from the Butcher
Tue: Christmas Day
Wed: Boxing Day - ILs go home - so we get our bed back - hurray
Thu onwards - no plans, nothing, at all, ever, again

So before Saturday I have to gut this house - which is covered in toys, clothes, trash - it's a bit of a bomb-site. I need to clean the bathrooms, kitchen and vacuum throughout. I need to get to the bottle bank so the ILs won;'t think we are alcoholics. I have all the presents to wrap - including the ones that need posting. I need to write and send all the Christmas Cards - including the ones to the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa!

So - what am I doing? Sitting drinking tea and planning... (this may last some time)

Nativity

Nativity
Originally uploaded by Pollianicus.

Ruaridh had his nativity play today. It was superb. He was the star - complete with head-torch to light his/the way.

Start of the play was delayed due to the Star needing a wee (typical).

They sang cute songs, missed their cues and generally were exceptionally cute.

One of the Kings told me off for taking photos - in the middle of the play, the Angel refused to wear her halo and skipped Mary to Bethlehem, Jesus/Camel was ill so a Shepherd had to step in at the last minute (and found the costume a little itchy).

Oh - and the camel - well - they couldn't find a donkey costume - so they got a camel. I laughed and laughed...

Those of you who are listed as friends on my Flickr account can see all 57 photos here.