With 3 boys under 5, there’s never a dull moment. Certainly never a quiet one. Buggy Blogger mum to J (4), B (2) and S (10 months) gets all festive and regrets getting mucky at the dinner table as the memory of hot baths recedes.

Ho ho ho, we're all feeling very Christmassy. The online shopping deliveries are arriving thick and fast, guerrilla tree-sales outlets are springing up quicker than you can say 'Norway Spruce' and we're progressing through the advent calendar nearly as efficiently as I'm marching through the bank balance.

S is getting into the spirit of things by embodying the 'All I want for Christmas…' classic having cut his first top tooth this week. If the other one makes an appearance before the Big FC climbs down the chimney then two front teeth he'll just-in-the-nick-of-time have. Meanwhile all I want for Christmas is for the novelty of having both top and bottom gnashers to wear off. Sleigh bells ringing I can listen to, grinding teeth I’m less keen on.

While S is trying out his new pearly whites, the big brothers have put theirs on strike. As is laddishly traditional during the Christmas party season, the boys have reverted to a liquid diet. Though luckily, at the tender ages of 2 and 4, they’re keener for the moment on liquidised greens than on Greene King. For lo, thanks to the boon discovery of some tacky Santa straws amongst the Christmas decs, J and B have begun to drink more fruit 'n' veg smoothies than you can shake a stick at. The zeal with which they slurp up 'healthy' carrot juice or probiotic yoghurt drinks is quite startling. Am wondering if I can disguise some pulverised brussel sprouts into the mix one day soon. Is it remotely possible I can hoodwink them into trying and even … gasp … accepting the taste of sprouts before the 25th so they can do their mother proud during Christmas lunch? No, I didn't think so either.

Though actually, even though I say so myself, my lads are pretty good on the veg front. J is an unabashed green bean fiend and when I gave B sugar snap peas the other day they turned out to be a surprise hit. Chiefly because we split them apart with our fingers and got all mucky exploring the little peas inside the pod. They looked rather unappealing to me after that, but he munched them all down so they couldn't have been that bad (though the food hygiene police would've dragged me over the coals had they known...).

Which brings me nicely onto the topic of heat. Or rather the lack of it. Now I'm not going to rant lest I start to come over all bah humbug. But after a boiler explosion drama we're now into day 4 without central heating or hot water. Let's just say it’s beginning to grate somewhat and we're all feeling a tad cold and unclean.

Actually, Santa, if you’re reading this, forget about the front teeth thing. All I want for Christmas is a hot bath and fully functioning radiators. ‘Tis the season to be jolly. And warm if you can possibly help it.

• Click here for the next Buggy Blog
  
  
• Click here to read previous issues of The Buggy Blog
  
• Christmas Family Survival Guide - click here