Making thank you love to post & something TOP secret

Mum made an effort with us kiddies to write thank you letters after Christmas and our birthday to our extended family - who ALWAYS spoilt us to bits.

I have been trying for the last few weeks to find some time after Hj's and Kd's birthday to encourage them to do the same.

As always my activities as a mother (who isn't really) have been inspired by Amanda Soule and her first book The Creative Family. She writes: "In our age of email, it feels wonderful and special to receive a hand-written note, doesn't it? As much as possible, we make a point of sending thank-you cards, not just as gifts, but also for gestures of kindness, time and love. I'm careful not to force this on my children, but to make it something they are motivated to be a part of, or I just do it myself without much fuss..."

So on this occasion Hj decorated the cards inspired by using stamps and sticky tape and Kd was bribed to sign his name with a bowl of after-tea muesli.