Joshua's First Wages Treat

Joshua worked all through December at Tesco's doing loads of extra shifts and on the 3rd Jan he got his very first pay check (and a very hefty one it was too). Unfortunately the role was a Xmas temp position and thus Tesco's have not kept him on. However he has the taste for money and work now and is very actively looking for a job on his own without us having to nag him!!!

We "advised" him to save as much of his wages as he can as will hopefully be buying and insuring his first car later in the year. However we did say to him that as it is his first wages he should really go and treat himself and buy something for just him. So what did he buy............... watch out Luke Littler, he comes the not so little Joshua. Yes he bought a dart board and set of darts for his bedroom. He has been after one for ages and loves watching the darts on TV. He needs a bit of practice as I gave him his first game of round the clock and 301 and won both.

Joshua's new dart board in his bedroom.

Regulation height and distance seems much higher and further than I remember!

Not sure this was the best idea as 11:30pm last night all we could hear was thud, thud, thud followed by foot steps (repeat!).

Watch out Luke Littler.

Holly's First Bank Card

Look at the pig girls with her first ever bank card. She has been nagging Tina to get this sorted for her all over Xmas so that she can start saving her pocket money.

Festive Ice Skating 2024 @ Riverside

As always I managed to squeeze in a Xmas Ice Skating session for the kiddies. Last year it was only me and H as the boys weren't interested and I think Tina was working. This year Brandon was keen to come skating and Tina wasn't working so whilst she didn't skate herself, she at least came along to watch and take some pictures. 

Holly did amazing and after only about half a lap being cautious on the side wall - she was off and flying around (she only fell over twice and neither was really her fault). Brandon also didn't take long to get his confidence back despite having not been in two years or so, as expected he didn't fall over once and towards the end he was even trying to skate backwards. All in all we spent nearly an hour and a half on the ice and then went for a nice Costa coffee afterwards (got to make the most of the Gingerbread Latte's before they stop selling them).

For me personally it occurred to me that I was probably in the top 3 or 4 people on the ice in terms of being the oldest. I wasn't sure whether I should take this as a positive or negative. Clearly I am getting old but at least I am still physically capable of doing things like this with the kiddies.

Me, Holly and Brandon all hit the ice for some Xmas Ice Skating at Riverside in Chelmsford.

Me and B on the ice (yes he is taller now).

Shame Josh didn't want to join us, but this isn't his thing.

The 3 amigos. Holly fell down twice this year, me and Brandon zero times (although I did have two big wobbles/saves!).

Really nice for Brandon to come along with his sister this year.

Show off teaching himself to skate backwards.

No coat despite the cold as he has to look "cool" and the coats didn't suit his "outfit".

Holly was nipping around everywhere in no time at all and not relying on the side walls.

Getting some speed as well.

Brandon on the ice.

Amazingly he was letting me take some pictures as well.

A zombie pose on the ice.

Brother and sister side by side having some fun.

Good balance by H.

Boxing Day 2024

Still playing catch-up on the Xmas blogs and only just got around to uploading a few of the pictures from our Boxing Day family get together. I am not going to write much on this blog as it was all the usual shenanigan's but without the giant Xmas cracker for the secret Santa presents this year. Instead we all agreed to have completely anonymous secret Santa presents (rather than buying for a specific person) and then randomly picking them out of a giant wrapped box.

We started the food before presents this year as Matthew was stuck in traffic coming from the tunnel.

Didn't seem like any arguments about having gammon sandwiches before presents.

Holly chilling on her phone and waiting for more presents.

Eventually everyone was here and it was time to cram in to the living room for some presents.

Present time...

Rare moment where Josh was down with the family and not hiding away in his bedroom.

Tina and Brandon opening some presents.

Holly was spoilt as usual and had loads to open.

Lea seems very happy about her book.

We thought this was perfect present for Nicky from the kiddies.

Really pleased Amy liked her Terrifier throw (even if it will give Nicky nightmares!).

Updated 2024 picture of the 4 siblings - one year older.

At everyone's request the PS3 Buzz game was dusted off for some family fun.

Buzz is always good fun as 4 people can plat at once.

Rory even dusted off last years family present which has hardly been used.

Michael trying to stick Grinch's hat on his head whilst blindfolded.

Zoe's turn.

Auntie Lea. How can she place it so high being so short?

David getting close. Not sure who won in the end. Might have been Amy.

Auntie Lisa having a go.

Always got an ear pod in and listening to music!

Tina and Brandon having a play fight.

Holly sitting down to have some food with her Uncle David and Uncle Michael.

Holly playing with some of her presents.

Tina and Holly in their matching outfits for Boxing Day.

No giant cracker for 2024, instead a Secret Santa box to pick out a random present.

Tina and Brandon cuddles.

Looking cool in one of his many new Xmas outfits.

Family picture (less Matt and Amber as they had left and Joshua who was hiding up in his room).

Christmas Day 2024

Better late than never but here is the blog update for our Christmas Day 2024. Despite having a new "Dad-cam" and a phone camera, surprisingly I didn't take that many pictures. As usual the five of us just stayed at home on Xmas day as I always think it is unfair to go dragging the kids around everywhere when all they want to do is play with their presents. That being said we actually got a good lay-in on Xmas day as I don't think any of the kiddies woke before 9am meaning I had time for a cold plunge and a skull crusher coffee to start my day.

Brandon didn't really have a main present this year as his list mostly contained lots and lots and lots of clothes. Probably his two main presents outside of clothes was a new watch and some aftershave - needless to say he had the most presents. Joshua went to the other extreme and wanted a PS5 for his bedroom, so he really only got the one main present and then a few smaller bits. Holly was similar to Brandon in that she didn't really want a main present and therefore had lots of little ones like clothes, Lego, jigsaws, viewfinder, Tamagotchi to name a few. It is always difficult to buy for Holly with her birthday so close to Xmas, but basically she got tonnes of Stitch items.

Anyway we had a nice relaxing Xmas day, played lots of games, ate and drank loads throughout the day and then settled down for a nice big festive dinner. Brandon was a lot more sensible with the alcohol this year and paced himself without mixing drinks. So unlike last year he made it past 9pm and even better he didn't throw up everywhere!

Santa had been over night and left a sack for everyone. As usual mine was the smallest.

Brandon had the most presents so was pretty much opening two to everyone elses one.

Brandon's new jacket to add to his collection of coats.

Holly with a Stitch light for her bedroom.

Josh had a few small presents but then just one main present.

Brandon trying out one of his new jumpers from Shein.

And Joshies main present was a PS5. He only wants it to play the new CoD game.

Brandon with a personalised Linkin Park pint glass.

Holly with more Stitch presents.

Another Stitch Lego for Holly to get cracking on with.

Brandon got a couple of Linkin Park canvas prints for his bedroom.

Some cargo's for Josh as we are fed up with him living in jogging bottoms all the time!

Didn't take him long to crack in to that box. He has hardly used it since though and still sticks to GT5 on his PC!

Brandon and Holly showing off some of their new outfits and Holly with her Tamagotchi.

Lots of Disney characters for Holly to unlock on her Tamagotchi.

In the afternoon we played Holly's new Stitch Monopoly (which of course I won!).

Amazed that both Josh and Brandon agreed to play.

Table prep'd and ready for the festive dinner.

Christmas feast time.

This was my Xmas dinner for 2025, my god did those brussels work quickly this year.

Holly eating a tub of frozen peas (she doesn't like them cooked!).