The nights before Christmas...

Lily starts one of her last schooldays with a very festive breakfast.

Most appropriate, seeing as the school had a very special visitor that morning.

Daddy gave this to Lily as a little bedtime reading. It's the 1978 Sparky annual, which is what he used to read when he was Lily's age.

Good news from The North Pole - Santa received Lily's letter.

Thursday night was the school choir's carol concert. And a very good concert it was too, the church was absolutely packed.

Which is more than you can say for the cinema yesterday. We very nearly had the screen all to ourselves to watch Penguins Of Madagascar.

Last night, there was a knock at the door. A mysterious parcel arrived, addressed to Lily and inside was a lovely pink dress - just in time for the final of Strictly.

It looked like it might fit.

Sure enough, it was perfect.

All Lily needed now was a suitably dapper partner.

Our samba got a 9 from Mummy.

Give us a twirl...

And because Lily complained we weren't festive enough, Mummy went off in search of some Christmassy lights for the outside. Only four more sleeps to go...