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iVillageUK // Blogs // Katy Hill's working mum diary

Katy Hill's working mum diary

As a Blue Peter presenter Katy Hill had her fair share of adventures, but these days she faces tougher challenges - juggling full-time motherhood with a TV career. From Daybreak to day’s end, Katy and husband Trey have their hands full with a five-year-old daughter and toddler son. And there’s not a nanny in sight. This could get messy…

 

As excited as the boy from THAT John Lewis ad!

By Katy Hill on 15 Dec 2011 No comments

Yes - it’s SO close now, and I can’t remember being this excited for Christmas since I was about 10 and I got the pair of fur lined boots I’d been coveting all winter!  The edge went off Christmas for me in those teenage years, when aunts started giving surreal presents (tea towel - thanks Aunt Esther!) but pre-teens and life was pretty near perfect at Christmas!

Our week started with a trip to Lapland UK (www.laplanduk.co.uk) If you’ve never been put it on your list for next Christmas. Seriously - THE most amazing Christmas experience I’ve ever had. And I mean EVER!

It was set up by the loveliest guy, Mike, who once took his family to the real Lapland at a cost of 5k, and came home determined to make a more accessible option for UK families - and Lapland UK was born.

Our day was truly magical. It was everything a parent dreams of for their kid at Christmas. Kaya’s eyes were wide the entire day, and she’s talked of little else since!

It started a few days before we went, when a wax-sealed letter from Father Christmas came through the door, inviting Kaya & Akira to go to Lapland UK and help FC’s elves in the toy factory. From that moment on, Kaya was ALL IN!

And the place didn’t disappoint. After an introduction by some elves the great doors opened and from that moment on, we were in a place that resembled Narnia! Totally magical. First stop was The Toy Factory where the kids got to make teddy bears.

Then Mother Christmas’ kitchen where they decorated (and ate!) gingerbread. Then we ice skated, ate cupcakes, drank hot chocolate (and we had mulled wine!) and generally felt riduclously christmassy! The place is so well organised that, although they have hordes of people going through within a day, you’re not aware of crowds as everything is timed. 

And the pièce de résistence? Our family 'audience' with Father Christmas! We waited until our name was written on a blackboard by the elves - then an elf came to escort us - and only us - through magical, snowy-christmas-tree-lined paths till we turned a corner to see a little wooden hut. Kaya actually gasped!  Again, there must have been other families doing the same thing at the same time but we were TOTALLY unaware of them. (unlike last year at Westfields, when you could hear all the other FC’s 'ho ho ho-ing' in other rooms!)

And when Father Christmas came out and said 'Kaya and Akira - there you are' I actually thought Kaya was going to faint!

We had about 10 minutes with the great man and Kaya was amazed by how much he knew about her (I’d filled in a questionnaire previously)! Even Akira was chatting away, which is unusual for a two-year-old and FC! They were both given a beautiful gift of a husky dog (soft toy!) before it was goodbye, a visit to the reindeer and home. 

Lapland UK is not cheap, but if you have to start saving now for next year, GO! While your kids still 'believe' it’s such a great family experience and their attention to detail is seriously impressive. Everyone, from the elves to the Sami people, were brilliant and clearly loved their jobs, making magical memories - what’s not to love, I guess? 

Since then the week has been a blur of Christingle; presents for teachers; helping Kaya write Christmas cards - S-L-O-W-L-Y (!); school panto trip; school christmas lunch; Christmas Bazaar; I’m EXHAUSTED! And I haven’t even started to think about food for the big day... and I’m catering for nine!

I totally feel like I’m chasing my tail already, but I’m so excited for everything, I’m just going with the flow! 

Kaya breaks up on Friday so I’m pretty overwhelmed with how much I have to do before then, but I’m loving the madness this year. Every morning when I go to get the kids up at the moment we sing a christmas song - usually (lucky me!) the Twelve Days of Christmas. And, however tired I am, however much I still have to do before the big day, every time they enthusiastically belt out 'FIVE GOLD RINGS' (the only line Akira knows) I’m overcome with excitement! I know this is going to be my best Christmas ever because they both 'get it' and their excitement is totally infectious.

And I might not have ordered my turkey yet, or written one single Christmas card -  but frankly their happiness is my priority right now. Because, like they’ll care if we’re eating beans on toast on Christmas day! I seriously feel like that little boy in the John Lewis advert - which, of course, made me cry!

Not many sleeps now people! GET EXCITED! ;-)

x

This week I’m loving

Marshall Berman for Apple - Cases for the yummiest mummies!

15” Folio Laptop Case - £144

My Christmas came early with the most GORGEOUS leather case for my laptop (available for ipads too) from the brand new range by Marshall Bergman for Apple.

My laptop lives in it now, which is great since it’s protected from little fingers (Akira can’t open the zip!) and looks divine when I have to take it to work (I’ve had many an envious glance my way)! Perfect if you’re off to work every day, or to protect your computer from sticky fingers at home.

Check out the range exclusively at  www.apple.com/uk and add one to your Christmas list! Only if you’ve been good though ;-)

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