All I want for Christmas ..

So I am ready for Christmas. The presents are all bought and wrapped. The cards have been posted and the food shopping has been planned and bought. The house is pretty much clean.  The washing and ironing are done and that is it. Job done. I refuse to spend another penny or spend any more time worrying about things or people that I might have forgotten. I am absolutely not going to go for a last minute dash around the people infested shops tomorrow in desperate search for one last present.  I am officially downing tools, throwing off the coat of worry and responsibility and I am really looking forward to spending a lovely Christmas. With all this running around and planning and shopping for everyone else, what would I like for Christmas.

Well top of my Christmas list would be a long lie in. A chance to spend a couple of luxurious hours in bed, on my own, by myself; not necessarily sleeping, but just lying there and relaxing. No hot wriggly children kicking my shins.  Definitely no snoring husband.  Unfortunately, lie ins and Christmas morning are not really compatible. I can't tell the excited children that they have to wait for the presents for a couple of hours so that mummy can catch up on a few years beauty sleep, oh no, so I will take a rain check on that present until later on in the week, when things have calmed down a little when I might just be able to sneak in an extra half an hour if I'm lucky.

Second on my list will be a day of no bickering. This time of year, when the children are not able to go outside as much, they become a little bit like caged animals. They pace around looking for entertainment and sport and often find it in relentless winding up of each other and just lately, R and L have become quite physical and I worry that they might really hurt each other one day. So Christmas Day, I am calling for an amnesty. A day where everyone is nice and kind to each other, speaking softly and gently and enjoying each others company for a change. Those rules of course also apply to me; that is the speaking softly and gently as I don't want to have to shout on Christmas Day.

Finally, although it sounds a little bit on the cheesy side, the thing I'm looking forward to the most is a lovely day with my family, some nice food, lots of play with the new toys and games and being able to forget about work and everything else for a whole day.  A perfect family Christmas.  I'm kidding myself I realise as it will probably speed by in a blur of wrenching toys from their packaging and finding a shop that's open on Christmas day that sells a whole range of affordable batteries.  But we will do our best.

Although, if I do have a fairy godmother, a new dishwasher, a day in a luxury spa and a weekend with David Tennant would be lovely too.

Have a lovely Christmas and I'll see you on the other side.