This year, James had his first Advent Calendar with chocolates in! Needless to say, it was a great success but he only could have the contents if he ate all his dinner and finished his yogurt! He's had a good month eating wise!!!

Not to be outdone by big brother, Sophie just about always polishes off her yogurt at tea time too!

When you're that tired you just have to sleep, even if that feeling comes along while your feet are fidgeting!

As James a little older, toys fade in and out of favouritism. His track is currently "up there" as he's learned to whizz his toy cars down it. Daddy loves playing this game too!

Sophie is much more stable sitting up now and will happily play with toys that are in front of her. She does like keeping those toes screwed up tight though!

Even if one of her toys shoots out of her grasp, she is more than stable enough to go off in search of it. We've only had the odd bashed nose from reaching too far!

And when all your toys go out of range, you have to resort to whatever you can lay your little hands on. I seem to remember James enjoying Mummy's slippers too!

The comic genius that is Peter Kay has brightened every child's world by his Comic Relief accomplishment. Here Daddy watches it via the Internet for the umpteenth time. He's not complaining though as it is that good!

Sophie's first two teeth are well on their way and with it we have the constant runny nose and rosy cheeks.

Another trip to the Garden Centre but this time, it was three generations of Thomases in search of a Christmas tree. James was fascinated by this tree which blew out Polystyrene balls, giving the impression of snow. It was pretty cool!

Back home and complete with a tree, Grandpa wanted a cuddle with his rosy cheeked Granddaughter!

Even with a nice sized house, Breakfast is still eaten round this tiny table!

Before Grandpa headed off, it was time for an early Christmas present session - very exciting for all!

I think James has found the best position to see what's inside the paper!

Sophie was fascinated by the paper and whenever it came in range, the hands were ready to grab!

It was only a matter of time before she got some paper. She's as quick as a flash!

James meanwhile was very pleased with his great big Fire Engine!

Sophie had her own presents too and was quite taken with her new teddy!

James and Grandpa unwrap another present of some new cars which were also a hit but it was followed immediately after by "Where's my Fire Engine?!"

His new Fire Engine makes all sorts of siren noises and is pretty loud. We're now at the stage where he asks us if he can make the noises to stop scaring poor Sophie!

Yet another trip down to the Garden Centre as Daddy wanted to get another bird feeder. James had great fun running around and playing with the buckets!

With cold weather in evidence, everyone is wrapped up warm and Sophie's body warmer looks very snug indeed. She does fall into it though!

Those teeth are certainly coming through! Plenty of gurning going on around here at the moment!

Look at those great big eyes - the facial expression is great too!

The winter weather continues and before Daddy and James go out in the garden, we make sure we're all wrapped up to brave the elements!

Sophie has another go in the baby bouncer in her lovely pink cardigan.

Sophie has a good look at her Mummy with well rounded cheeks.

and then she has a good look at Daddy with his flashy black box.

It's always good fun at bath time and Sophie is getting much more adventurous with her bathtime play. Splashes aplenty!

Look at me everyone! I'm on my feet! Check out those chubby knees too!

After a trip in the car, Sophie is often sound asleep and this is certainly no exception!

Winter arrived properly today with a few inches of snow falling. James was very happy to play in the snow.

With a whole garden of snow to explore, James sets off making lots of footprints as he goes.

The pond is covered with snow too!

The good old binmen manage to make it up the road. James as ever wants to check out the bin lorry.

So what do you do when it snows? Mow the snow of course!

I think someone is quite enjoying himself today!

...and snow on the mower, and in the house, and our gloves...

...but at least I've got plenty of layers on!

As is Sophie who looks like the Michelin man! The worst thing about this was she couldn't find her thumb!

Sophie's sleeping skills are never ending. To sleep in a Bumbo is quite a feat!

Not to stop at Bumbo sleeping, Bumbo gymnastics is also a new skill!

After eventually packing up and waiting for the worst of the weather to pass we made it down to Granny and Grandads a day later than planned for Christmas. Santa had paid everyone a visit over night!

James starts unwrapping his Christmas stocking presents with vigour!

How exciting is Christmas?!

James asked Santa for a Roley for Christmas and he must have been a good boy!

What a lucky lad James is with all these new toys to play with!

Happy Christmas Sophie!

Now bring on the presents please!

Sophie unwrapped her stocking downstairs with some assistance from James.

...and she seems very happy with her little piggies!

They are on their way. We'll be biting before we know it!

James loves unwrapping things and is more than willing to help Sophie get into her gifts.

This is how you do it Sophie!

It can get a bit much sometimes, and Sophie lets us know when she feels tired.

She's pretty good at sitting but an over exuberant movement can cause a little accident!

Sophie enjoys a little time on her feet, even if she is still very wobbly!

Dressed by Mummy as ever, Sophie models her wonderful Christmas outfit - resplendent in her strawberry tights!

With Christmas lunch under control and a lovely sunny day, heading to the beach to work up an appetite was the obvious choice.

James looks so much like his Daddy did at his age here. They must be related!

Back at home, Sophie has woken up and enjoys some "wheeee time" up in the sky!

Sophie's very first Christmas lunch was a purified version of everyone else's and she wolfed it down!

James was a little more picky but made up for it by several additional helpings of Christmas pudding!

After lunch it was time for more presents. This was James' main present!

It was so big it came in two boxes!

A very lucky James got all manner of Bob the Builder vehicles and toys.

Soon the whole lot were spread out over the lounge and floor space was at an absolute premium.

Sophie does some flying with a little help from Mummy.

Another walk, this time a bit of a wet one so it's time to wrap up nice and warm.

Back home again it's time to open some presents we didn't have time for on Christmas day.

Two busy little Thomases go about opening their presents.

James dives in to open his present from Granny and Grandad.

And what a present it is! A whole garden set to help out Mummy and Daddy with, including this garden rake! I'm not sure we need to rake the carpet though!

We managed to get out reasonably promptly the following day and crossed Hampshire to see Auntie Catherine and Uncle Andy. Sophie poses in front of their Christmas tree for us all.

With the camera on a timer, Daddy rushed back to the table to get in the shot, but Uncle Andy couldn't wait to tuck into his lunch!

Seriously, how cute is this?!!

A lovely Christmas cuddle for Grandma with Sophie.

Not wanting to leave anyone feeling left out, Sophie has a big cuddle with Auntie Catherine too!

After lunch there was still time for a walk so we headed off down the lane. James was more than happy to find some muddy puddles!

With his wellies and waterproofs on, James has free reign to go splashing and he didn't miss this opportunity!

A fairly typical scene! James finds a muddy puddle while everyone has to wait for us to catch them up.

With the motion of the pushchair on the bumpy lane there's nothing better than having a nice sleep!

Cath's next door neighbour invited us over so that James could see their chickens. He even got a freshly laid egg too!

Yet more presents! Here James opens his wonderful new blanket from Grandma and Big Rog.

While poor Sophie gets the short straw with the novelty hat photo!

James meanwhile has a new builders set to play with complete with tools and a hard hat!

Midge got a load of tennis balls and James hands them over to play with.

Mummy managed to get the camera off Daddy long enough to take a lovely shot of him and his beautiful Christmas helper!

Another present for James and he loved his new pyjamas so much he put them on over his clothes and wore them home in the car!

Back at Granny and Grandads after a sleep in the car, both Sophie and James were wide awake when they should have been sleepy for bed!

James gives his sister a lovely pre bedtime hug.

It's always nice to see happy faces and here are two right here!

After a lovely stay down south it's time to head back to Wales and Sophie is all packed up ready for the journey home - and 2010!