[Gayle]

I'm sort of with you on this one A-B, although with having two small kids it's a tricky balance. Up until a few years ago I always put my Christmas tree up on the weekend before Christmas but my Mother in Law was horrified that I was spoiling Christmas for Maddie (Zack not born at that point). So now, bowing to in-law pressure I put the tree up a bit earlier, making a concession for the fact that the kids love it but not too early that it starts to wind me up.

This year, Maddie has been talking about Christmas since early November when she wrote her letter to Santa. They've been practising their songs at school since then too! The whole thing starts way too early if you ask me.