Finally in the Christmas spirit!

Our door:

Well it took me a while and I am consequently TERRIBLY behind with my Christmas cards/ presents/ preparations but I can formally announce that Xmas has finally come to our house!!! I am still sad about my Mum and Dad being all alone this year but I figure I will just have to join them for Xmas next year!

We have had a crazy week though. On Saturday I had work and a Christmas party and a 忘年会(end of year party) so Daisuke decided to take Joey to Kanoya to stay with MIL. I was very glad he did as I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed recently so it was a welcome break! Safe in the knowledge that I wouldn`t have to deal with the demands of a 19 month old and/or my husband on sunday morning, I had a great time on Saturday night and ended up rolling into bed at 5am!! I didn`t feel drunk when my friend Sue and I were walking home but I felt totally wasted when I climbed into bed! I was dreading the hangover but although I felt tired and a little bit delicate, I survived the night relatively unscathed. (Despite the 4 am free tequila shot that the barmen gave me for flukily guessing their blood types!!)

Before I went out on Saturday afternoon I decided that it was time to get the Christmas tree out and after a telephone conference with Jenn about the best placing in my apartment, I decorated it and here is the result: (Note: The presents are ALL for Joey..)

I have been adding decorations around the apartment since then. I think one of the main reasons I have been getting "into the mood" is all the Christmas cards that have been arriving. I took part in a card exchange this year and I am glad I did because it has been so nice to get cards from all over the world/ Japan. I haven`t put them all up yet (especially not the ones that arrived yesterday and today because I have been too busy)but am using them to decorate the hallway:

On the right is a little Santa dude that my students at Tarumizui Catholic Kindergarten made for me. It has cookies inside!

On Sunday I am hosting a Christmas lunch for 4 other foreign wives and their families. As I have no idea how to cook and have a teeny tiny oven, it is all going to be pot luck and we have ordered some very delicious looking stuffed chickens from KFC! Everyone is bringing something and as it is co-ordinated, we will have a proper lunch with all the trimmings. I am really looking forward to everyone getting together and eating, drinking and making merry!!! There will be 6 kids aged between 3 months and 9 years and 9 adults so it should be a little bit crazy but alot of fun!!!

Joey has had a busy week as well. On Tuesday my student`s Mum brought her younger daughter and son over for coffee in the morning and Joey had a great time hanging out with them in "his" realm! As we usually go to their place twice a week, it was a novelty for him to have them at our apartment. He celebrated by giving his first ride to a girl!!! It was tooo cute! The two of them barely fit on Joey`s "lovemobile" but he had a great time pushing her around on it!! LOL!

As you can see from the pictures, she was posing for the camera but he was very set on the job in hand and refused to look up!!! The look of complete concentration made me laugh!!

Joey also went to daycare all day today. It is hard to believe that 6 months ago I was worried about how he would cope being away from me. He LOVES going there and lately it has been really hard to get him to leave! I have to admit that while I am happy that he is content, there is a little part of me that is very sad when he happily waves me goodbye on the mornings that I leave him! I should count my blessings though as he is turning into a happy confidant boy and that can only be a good thing!!

Tomorrow we have another playdate and I have another party tomorrow night. Gina posted a yummy looking recipe on her blog so I think I am going to have a crack at baking some cookies on friday! There is a first time for everything...