Merry Christmas!!

What a Christmas it has been so far this year! Thomas has been so excited about it for about a fortnight now that he couldn't believe it when we said to him yesterday morning that he could actually open his presents that were under the tree! There were so many that we kept having to have a break and play with the new toys, he was totally spoilt by us and all his relatives! We know that we're either going to have a major clear out of his existing toys, build an extension or move to a bigger house!!! We've tried to not give him too much of his favourite toy (Fireman Sam) to try and expand his interest and he seems particularly keen on toys with small characters with them so he just loves the pirate ship that came complete with pirates, the hobby horse that makes "clip clip" and "neighing" noises, his doctors kit and outfit, his puzzles and his new and improved fireman helmet is a real big hit so now we're fighting even more fires!!! After our meal we lit a few candles, turned out the lights and sang quite a few Christmas carols and songs that Thomas knew - he loved it! He especially loved the part when he could blow out the candles - we had to relight them a few times...as you can imagine!

Simon's mum, dad and sister came to us at 1pm and we opened even more presents, Thomas got a little over excited and was a little monkey but very cute with it!

My sister and her family and my parents popped over on the Sunday before Christmas to exchange gifts and here we all are!

Not sure what big brother Jacob did to Ellie!!!???

Here are a few pictures of Christmas day at Chez Poulter....

Surrounded by presents Thomas and the pirate ship!

the new and improved fireman helmet

on his horse with cowboy hat

eating dinner!

Boxing Day - we had a lazy morning at home doing a few chores and playing with our new things and then it was off to Nana's house for a big dinner. Thomas had a few more presents to open and then we ate...yum yum!

here is Thomas putting his smelly toes on the table....pooeey!

A play date with Santa

Two weekends ago we took Thomas to see Father Christmas at Leeds Castle with our NCT friends and we all had such a lovely afternoon. All the children loved the long walk looking at all the peacocks, ducks and geese and all the parents loved it too as we could all have a catch up too. We decided it would probably be best if we went to see santa all together as the little ones would get support from their little buddies and hopefully not cry too much. Bless their cotton socks as most of them were little angels and weren't frightened at all. Thomas was a good boy too but didn't want to sit next to Santa on the sleigh and was very impressed at all the decorations. He loved his present - a little penguin and carried him all the him all the way back to the car. We all then went to a large pub with restaurant afterwards and 'tried' to have a nice meal together. As always I was very on edge about food for Thomas but needn't have worried as he was having too much fun playing to want to sit down and eat food - he ate loads when we got home so I think all the walking made him very hungry and very tired! A few photos of a thoroughly lovely afternoon.

SNOW!

Last night we didn't know whether to believe the weatherman when he said we would have snow but woke up this morning to a winter wonderland as it had in fact snowed! Thomas was very excited and wanted to look at it from nearly every window in the house and then from the comfort of inside the front door and then the back door. "Mummy, Daddy snow cold!" is what he said and it was absolutely right!
Unfortunately I still had to go to work but Simon was able to stay at home and look after Thomas and he had such a fun day! They had to go out in the snow to dig with their spades and then made a lovely snowman in the front garden. I'm hoping the snow is still there tomorrow so I can join in the fun!!

The Axeman Cometh !!

Yesterday the weather was lousy so we went to Bluewater to spend Simons birthday money but ended up buying him nothing and Thomas a toy electric guitar !!

We got home and soon he was giving it large with Dad and Mum accompanying him on the drums and Ukelele !!

His heavy metal thrash version of Twinkle twinkle little star was epic. A real Moshing session ensued !
We were just able to stop him chucking the TV through the window after he'd finished his set !!
Rock on Thomas !................respect

Shanghai

Well Simon was off on his travels again in early November to Shanghai and Shenzen on another frantic business trip.

He went everywhere around S.China , a real trains planes and automobiles trip and covered many miles and got back on 7th November very tired.

He found Shanghai a really brilliant place though & recommends it for a visit.

Here are some photo's of the Bund area, including the Nanjing road (their Oxford St) the old colonial trading houses and the skyline across the river of the great skyscrapers.

Blissful Holiday

We organised a week away in Spain after Simons return from India.

We chose a fantastic villa in Quesada about 30 minutes drive from Alicante.

Simons mum dad and sister joined us and we had a fantastic time.

The villa was luxurious, and the little town was so convenient and packed full of lovely restaurants.

Of course we took the opportunity to return to our favourite beach for Thomas to continue his

digging.

The weather was truly fantastic being between 24 and 29 and sunny every single day.

We were incredibly sad to come home after a truly lovely time away.

A Passage to India

Simon had to go to India on business in late September for a whole week.

He said it sure was an interesting experience staying in Mumbai, but he was lucky enough

to stay in the Taj Mahal. Lucky thing. Here a few pictures of his stay there.

what a poorly boy!

What a day we had yesterday! Thomas was fine when we first got up (perhaps a little on the warm side but it was warm!) but by 6.45am her was all over the place! First of all he started crying and just cwouldn't stop, then he insisted on having a cuddle on my lap whilst watching Noddy, I thought he'd been quiet for a minute and when I looked at him he was fast asleep! I thought maybe he needed a little nap but then he started to get very hot and when I tried to wake him so we could go and get dressed he wouldn't wake up. He opened his eyes and promptly shut them again! I let him sleep on me for an hour and then thought I'd best get him in his bed as he was getting so very hot. I tried so many times to put him in his bed but he just started screaming "DUDDLE MUMMY!!" (cuddle mummy) so in the end I took him into our bed and he stayed asleep for another two and a half hours!! This is most unlike him as he is usually desperate to get up and get playing and fixing things. I took him temperature and it was 39.7 s so I gave him some calpol and we played quietly and read books for about an hour then he had a very light lunch and then it was back to bed - our bed!! I know it's wrong and that I shouldn't let him come in our bed but I tried for over and hour to get him into his bed and he looked so tired and unwell that I thought what the hell - he just needs to sleep! He woke up after another two and a half hours and then it was time to call the doctors. The doctor took one look in his mouth and said Tonsillitis...again! So we've got antibiotics and are giving him calpol every three hours to try and keep his temperature down. Thank goodness he seems a lot better today and he's at home with Nana and Daddy....fingers crossed he'll keep getting better and he'll be ok to go to nursery tomorrow.
Keep getting better my scrummy little boy...mummy has missed you such a lot today!!! XXX

Another day in Broadstairs

Today we decided to back to our favourite beach Broadstairs - as Thomas had spent all of yesterday shouting "beeach!" and "diggin!"

We did a ring round and our friends Natalie, Carlton and Cameron could come too, so we set off at 9.00am and were on the beach by 10.00am.

There was a big sea festival in the town with lifeboats, and a band, and a march past and a plane dropping poppy leaves in the sea, so the town was busy.

The skies went grey all round but somehow the sun shone on us.

We all had a lovely time but poor Cameron had very sore eyes and was not quite himself.

Get well soon Cammie !