Downing the last of her drink Kate smiled over at mike.

"toy shop" he questioned

"toy shop" she smiled picking up the bags.

"right then" Mike smiled taking some of the bags out of her hand. "off we go" he said heading out of the little coffee shop.

The toy shop was on the second floor of the centre, it had a huge double front display in one window there was a huge Lego cauldron with witches standing around it along with several bats suspended hanging down. There were typical Halloween toys around on the floor. The window on the other side of the door was a complete juxtaposition in the form of Christmas. There was a huge Santa clause sat in a Ute with the reindeer sat sunning themselves next to a paddling pool. As well as the must haves for Christmas this year.

Smiling as she walked in Kate immediately looked at the special deals that were on a shelf just behind the Halloween window. She was looking at a series of monsters that were on the shelf. They were half fluffy and cuddly yet surprisingly ugly. They had teeth that looked practically human and some had button eyes and others huge wide eyes. Pulling one off the shelf Kate looked at it closely Grace would love them. Despite being girly and liking pink princess fairy stuff she was also happy to run around in a batman helmet. She was looking at a blue cookie monster looking.

"what do you think of this for Gracie?" She turned holding it out to Mike

"what the hell is that" he asked taking it off her

"it's a Fuggler" she smiled

"it's ugly it will give them nightmares" Mike said holding it out towards her

"come on its cute and look there is a koala one for Chris" she smiled

"koala or drop bear" Mike grinned

"well I think they will love them". She said pulling them off the shelf

"okay" Mike smiled "so what about this board game for Nicole?" he asked

"well I don't know if they will have it or I may have to order it of Amazon" she said walking over to the games section, looking along the different games. Thankfully they did have the one she was looking for. 5 second rule. It was really going to be for all of them to play but it would go in to Nicoles stocking from Santa.

Arriving home later Mike carried the last bag in to the house placing it on the side in the kitchen.

"so how the hell are you going to stop the kids from seeing all of this between now and Christmas eve?" he asked

"well I am going to make a start on wrapping now and we can hide it all in the annex in the spare room

"wrapping now!" mike asked looking at his watch "do you need a hand?" he asked

"i think I can manage you tend to get it all wonky and cockeyed" she grinned

"fine as you wish. Do you want a brew whilst you work?" he grinned

"that would be lovely" she smiled carrying the bags upstairs. She would wrap the things in the spare room so she could place them in the annex easily.

Undoing the first lot of wrapping paper. Dinosaurs in Christmas hats she rummaged through all the bags pulling out the bits she had brought for Chris. After dividing it up in to the piles as to those from Santa and those that would be from them.

2 hours later Kate walked down stairs just as Mike walked in with the kids

"hey" she smiled as Grace and Chris ran up to her "did you have a good day?" she asked.

"yeah I got a certificate in assembly" grace smiled

"well done what was it for?" Kate asked smiling

"umm" Grace paused pulling the half screwed up certificate from her bag. "for trying extra hard in my times tables" she said reading what the teacher had written on the card.

"why did you screw it up" Kate sighed taking it from her trying to flatten it out.

"it wouldn't fit" grace shrugged

Taking her daughters bag Kate opened it looking at everything that was inside. There were 2 water bottles, several letters some from several weeks ago, her 2 reading books a huge bag of lollies which Kate had not brought half a apple that smelt like cider and her toy black cat.

"ist any wonder with all this crap in there" Kate sighed looking through the letters to make sure there was nothing important she needed to know. Thankfully most of them were just the weekly newsletter which she always had 2 copies as Nicole was given one as well as well as a letter talking about the plans for the Christmas term as it was the last term and explaining what class grace would be moving in to and when she would have the class visit for her new teacher.

There also was several sheets of homework that had come home for the week.

Sighing as she disposed of the apple Kate couldn't understand how her daughters bag got so full "and why did black cat go to school. You know you don't take teddies in to school"

"but we could we had to write about our teddies and paint a picture of them" Grace protested

"really" Kate frowned not initially sure if she was lying "if you say so. Right homework now" she pointed to the kitchen table.

Flicking the switch on the kettle Kate pulled 2 mugs from the cupboard dropping a tea bag in each of them.

"so did you get it finished?" Mike asked

"mostly. Just a few more to wrap for now" she smiled looking over to where the children were hoping none of them were earwigging. She had a few more presents to get but most of those could be ordered from amazon and be delivered when she was at sea. She was just grateful that she had managed to put a dent in to the list of things she had to get.

so hope you enjoy.

just a note fugglers are these little toys i have seen here (and my mum actually got me a keyring one) they are cute and ugly at the same time and as in the description they do have these real human looking teeth. and the game 5 second rule is fun for all the family.

anyway enjoy and let me know what you think