Happy 2007!

I can't believe the holidays are over. I feel like I never really caught up and now it's all over. We did have a really lovely Christmas and new year though. We went up to Cambridge for new year's eve and stayed with Jenny and Kieran. Toby had so much fun with Jack and Kate. We even put all four children in the bath together (pictures to follow one of these days!). The kids did really well and were all asleep by 8.00 and slept through just past midnight so we got some grown up time. Some other friends came over and Jenny prepared a gorgeous meal of duckling and red cabbage. There was loads of champagne and buck's fizz and lots of laughter. My head didn't feel so great the following morning but it was worth it.

On new year's day we all went out to lunch and met up with some other friends we hadn't seen for a couple of years. They recently had their third baby so there was lots of talk about what it's like with three children. It was so great to see so many old friends and to catch up. We had all been friends back when J and I lived in Cambridge, long before any of us had babies and before all the other couples had even married. So many good memories. I remember one summer when one of the guys rented a house boat and we had a huge party on the river with an Elvis impersonator. The highlight was when Elvis stood on the prow of the boat and sang Proud Mary as we rolled down the river waving to all of the bemused passersby on the riverwalk. It wasn't quite such an uproarous time yesterday but it was lovely to see everyone, to sit and eat, talk and laugh and see all the new little faces around the table with us.

And now it's a new year. My resolutions for this year are to take better care of my health and wellbeing, to spend more time just having fun with the children, to spend more time with J as a couple and to investigate the possibility of having a baby privately. My birth experience with Rosie was quite negative so if we do it again I'd prefer to go private rather than National Health. I need to find out if that's possible without needing to remortgage.

And since it's been ages since I posted a photo here is our latest family portrait. Please excuse the big copyright stamp across it. I think the photographer must be getting tired of me nicking photos from his website.

Hope you all had a great new year and all the best for 2007!