Mel-We too have had many christmas's like this it does make it hard this year DH will be away until the 26th and will fly in at 9.30am so the kids have writen a letter to santa to ask him to come on the night of the 25th so that then Daddy can be home to see them open presents. Maybe you too could ask santa to come a few days early or late but I guess this would be harder to do with family around. The thing I hate when this happens is that it always seems the boy with no kids or with older none believer always get the good time slots I realise that they need a chrissy too but before we had kid DH alway tried to take the bad time slots so the one with little kids can be home as you only have this time for such a short part of there lives. would anyone swap christmas eve night? If you would like a card could you PM me you details as I would love to give you girls a card as you have been my life boat this year.

Just a little tip with paddle pools if you put a bit of detol in the water it will keep most of the bug and thing away if you leave it out over night we had to do this up here to keep the toads out yuck!! but just a small amount should be enough due to the smell, unless you have a lid then you are fine.

Last night after the DD's where in bed DS was talking to me and said he had to sit in the office all lunch time when I asked him why he said it was because of the sex stuff I couldnt get much out of him as he shut down ( he is very shy and always shuts down when ask questions) but all I could get was that he and the other boy were in the toilets and the other boy drew them having sex with soap on the mirror now I am not too stupid I 'm guessing DS was laughing and what have you but he thinks he was in the office because I told the teacher whats going on now do I risk asking the teacher whats going on or do I leave it as there is only 3 weeks left of term? I really hope he wasnt put in detention because of me.