The 6 year old spent most of his time riding a small quad bike or being pulled on a sledge, by Mad Uncle A, on a big quad bike.

When the lambs arrive we’re hoping to take ownership of one. We’ll show the children, first hand, where their Sunday roast comes which should be an interesting experience …

Abandoning the car I deposited the children at school and walked to work in a mock skiing style.  I arrived at work still clutching the 3 year old’s Ben 10 lunchbox. 

Tuesday - After spending an awful lot of time over the weekend fiddling in his ears, the 3 year old proudly told me “It’s OK Mummy, the little balls have fallen out of my ears”. In blind panic I booked a Dr’s appointment. It seems that one of his grommets has fallen out into his ear canal and he has an ear infection.  So, what are they going to do?  No worries, says the Dr, he has his 9 month check-up in March at the hospital, they’ll assess him then.  Marvellous, I’m so looking forward to spending the next 8 weeks with a partially deaf boy … whilst thinking about the possibility of having to go through this again.

Last night I spent 2 hours sewing badges onto the 5 year old’s Rainbows t-shirt for tonight.  2 bloody hours.  I don’t do sewing.  My sister sensing that my sewing skills were not up to scratch bought me a sewing kit for Christmas.  I felt I ought to try, and I proudly showed the results to the husband who looked unimpressed. He was thinking he could have done better. He could.

Wednesday -This morning we were all ready about to go out of the door (dressed in the current trend of ’Yeti’) when I got a call saying that school was shut due to the ice.  The 3 year old was devastated and wept uncontrollably.  He wanted to go to school, he loves school.  The 5 year old on the other hand had an air of cool relief about her as she mentally planned how long she would be able to play on her DS today. 

Teacher Friend Mother of 3 rang up and ranted about bloody teachers not going to work because of the ice.  The husband then ranted about writing a bloody long letter to the local council regarding their gritters … or lack of.

So, the husband, who works from home drove me to work over slippy slidy roads whilst attempting handbrake turns.  Please tell me it isn’t just my husband that does this at every opportunity. 

He is once again burdened with the children during work hours.  Just before lunch I had the following message … “The 5 year old is watching TV whilst playing on her DS [note multi-tasking] whilst the 3 year old is playing on CBeebies on the computer. I am having trouble concentrating”

It’s only bloody Wednesday.

… and the 2 hours I spent last night swearing sewing whilst piercing my hands with needles and concentrating far too hard were wasted.  Due to the ice, Rainbows is off.

Chunter f*cking chunter.

I’m off now for a few days.  After the recent sicknesses that have swept through the Driver household I am looking forward to overindulging kicking back and relaxing with my family and friends.

I finish work at lunchtime. I had to walk to work due to six inches of snow.  As I was leaving this morning the husband handed me a rucksack and told me to get the last minute things we need for tomorrow in case we can’t get out again later.  The list includes potatoes.  On my way home I have to drop into Teacher Friend Mother of 3′s to pick up some last minute presents. She is worried that she might find me in the snow on my back like a beetle weighted down by the potatoes.

We shall be having not so traditional duck on Christmas day and I’ve decided that Gin & Tonic is my festive tipple this year. The husband reckons it’s an old ladies drink.  I drink it like an old lady so I won’t be falling over in the snow again in a hurry. Well, maybe not.

I’d just like to thank each and every one of you for reading and coming along on the Driver journey this year.  I’ve had a blast and I hope you have too.

See you in 2010 for more belly laughs.

Love and cold sprouts

Laura x

PS - If you don’t like the orange or strawberry cremes in Quality Street send them my way, I love them.

He wasn't the happiest angel in the nativity ...

... in fact, he was much happier ...

... making them in the snow.