Christmas 2003

Before Christmas started properly, May and Isaac made some cards. Isaac decided they must be using face paints!

They both had stockings this year. One of the first presents they played with was Crazy Soap - something May's been asking about for ages. Well done Santa!

May's Thomas fuzzy felt and Isaac's music box provided some more amusement...

...but the other big success (after the crazy soap) was Isaac's spinning top:

Then we moved into the lounge.

(John was looking hopeful)

Isaac was playing with the camera all day and managed to take this, his first self-portrait!

May's biggest present from Santa was her bear (soon named Mr. Black). She was delighted that he got it right!

She also liked the pillow-elephant and clothes (particularly the shirt) that Pauline and Fred sent.

We then stopped for lunch.

After eating our fill (and washing up) it was time for more presents. We were cutting back on the photos (there were a lot of parcels to get through), and at first we didn't realise Isaac had smeared the lens with his fingers...

...but he was soon off at a rate of knots, playing with a Thomas truck that puffed out bubbles!

May finally got her face painted properly at home.

Isaac's big present from mum and dad was a truck - no gender-stereotyping here, folks!

Everyone was getting tired, and May had a snuggle with her mum...

...recharging for some more play with Isaac on dad's back afterwards!

Finally, May decided her soft toys (and Isaac's) needed jewelry:

After Christmas we went up to Oxford to see John's mum and some friends. We got to see Richard's new house, and the kids discovered the empty cupboards:

Richard came back with us for New Year but left on the second of January; when we woke on the third, it had been snowing. May was really excited again, and almost couldn't wait to get dressed before going outside. We managed to scrape together enough snow for a small snowman (nicknamed Cold Wilf by May), and in the absence of coal used brussels sprouts for eyes!

All in all, it was a great Christmas. Happy 2004 to everyone!