...watching small boys' eyes dancing as they see all the presents that "Santa" left them and feeling your heart leap.
...getting the oldest one to switch the lights on on the increasingly tired-looking Christmas tree and hearing the little one say how "bootiful" it is. Again.
...chilling out on Christmas night, in front of Wallace and Gromit with my sister-in-law and her boyfriend and not having to worry about the fact you can only just cut a path through the presents on the living room floor, long after the boys have gone to bed.
...all being with my lovely mum and dad, Grandma, brothers and sisters in and out law on Boxing Day for a second, Arnold Christmas.
...watching my little brother and his wife proudly hosting this celebration in their newly-bought but long-longed for house.
...being with the extended family to help meet and welcome the newest recruit to my clan, a seven-week old little girl who has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. And the loudest burps.
...worrying slightly about my Grandma but watching her eyes light up with her whole family around her.
...knowing that we are seeing the extended Rhodes/Wainwright clan today and looking forward to next Christmas when there'll be a new recruit on this side too. Expecting a good line in burping from this one too. It will have genetics on its side on this front.
...wondering how to teach the oldest how to ride a bike without stabilisers in the next week.
...looking forward to seeing
most of my unofficial family on 4th Jan.
...my husband telling me how lovely I look and how well I have done, as I groan about the weight I will have put on over Christmas.
...knowing that this is the kind of Christmas that will long be repeated, as long as the current personnel are in place.
...knowing that I've gone all schmalzy and not actually caring.
...my big family Christmas.