IT'S officially beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

With December 1 looming, Christmas activities have begun and this year the diary is packed full.

We started of two weeks ago with a family Christmas meal at The Sidcot, and although the order was wrong, the food was ok, the staff were absolutely amazing and couldn’t do enough for us and they boys ate incredibly well. They usually do, but they had three courses and ate the lot!

The decorations there were lovely. Nice and traditional (don’t get the mint sundae if you go!)

Last weekend we went tobogganing at the Mendip Activity Centre with some friends and their children. It was so much fun. The kids really loved it and my gosh, it makes you feel like a child with no fear going down that slop. Followed by s’mores and hot chocolate by the open fire, it was starting to get dusky so was very atmospheric. I’m so glad we did it.

This weekend, I was a vendor at Locking Village Hall. My eldest entered the junior bake-off and came third, he is very very happy. He doesn’t seem to have any oomph or drive to succeed or make an effort that much so we are giving him gentle pushes and whenever he has tried he has won an award or something else, so slowly it is encouraging him to put his best foot forward and work hard at something. 

Coming up this week we have ice skating, Bath Christmas market, the Sovereign switch-on and of course the town switch-on. Let’s not forget, North Pole breakfast December 1, so if you see a woman wandering around in an elf costume, it’s me.

It’s a new tradition we are starting for the boys. My husband will be Santa but of course he can take his off for work! I have to wear mine taking the boys to school. In my head it doesn’t look too bad. But I forget I’m four sizes bigger than the woman in my head and I always forget about the five chins. 

I’m sure it will be fine, it’s for the kids. I’m already looking forward to Austin showing me off to his friends. It’s cute he isn’t embarrassed yet. Once they are at school and pre-school it’s all systems go! I’m making their bedroom into a winter wonderland. I’m also doing the same for the gym and I’m very very excited.

Do your children behave better when the elf/elves are about? Mine don’t! I work so hard creating all the magic and it’s never fully appreciated. Sometimes it is in the moment and my eldest will marvel in my efforts but I know it won’t be long until he says "is that it?" or "what else is there" and it just makes your heart sink.

It makes you question if you’ve done enough, even when your hands are bleeding from making the momentary magic happen. Let’s hope it’s enough. If it’s not, I’m not doing it again. We say that but we always do, because for that one second where you see the amazement on their faces no matter how fleeting that might be. That makes it all worth it. The look of wonder and wow.

Hold onto that. That’s your thanks and that is your reward. That is the image you will hold onto when they are grown up. I know it’s hard not to put pressure on ourselves, especially at Christmas but just look for those fleeting little moments when you’ve done everything right. 

Jolene Wilson, Weston Mum.