DOUBLE THE FUN AT FESTIVE DO
City hotel hosts Christmas party for sets of twins and triplets
GUESTS at a city hotel could have been excused for doing a double take at the weekend - when the venue opened its doors to an annual party for scores of twins and triplets.
A total of 81 children from across the region – including Stoke-ontrent and Newcastle – descended on Festival Park’s Moat House for the special seasonal bash.
They enjoyed a children’s entertainer, had their faces painted and were visited by Santa and his elves.
The event was supported by Clare Furnell-king, the hotel’s general manager, who is mum to five-yearold twins Noah and Daisy.
Clare said: “I find it great fun being a parent of twins. There is never a dull moment. As they have grown each year brings a different challenge, which I suppose most parents find with their kids.
“We have a special bond with our children. We have twin friends and singleton friends.”
Yesterday’s party was hosted by Newcastle and Stoke-on-trent Twins and Multiples Group along with the branch in Stafford.
Lisa Rigby, aged 31, of Clayton, who is mum to two-and-half-year-old twins Lola and Leo, said: “It is hard work but very rewarding being a mum of twins.
“I am glad I had one boy and one girl and they are both healthy and happy.
“They are close. They argue and fight a lot but they stick up for each other at nursery. It is very expensive bringing up twins. They do not play with the same toys. She is into dolls and he likes to play with cars.
“It’s a struggle for me because my partner works away a lot and I am on my own with them. I rely on help from our parents. This is the second time I have brought them to the Christmas party. They enjoyed seeing Santa.”
Georgina Stokes, aged 42, of Lightwood, is mum to two-yearold identical twin girls Remy and Georgia-lea.
She said: “It is hard work as they are full of mischief. If one is doing something the other one wants to copy. If one is crying the other one will cry for no reason.
“They both have the same Christmas presents. Everything has to be the same. Otherwise they will fight. You can’t really leave the room. When we put the empty Christmas decoration boxes up in the loft we came back down and they had crayoned the radiator and a wall.
“They are mischievous but we love Pictures: Leanne Bagnall
them and would not have them any other way.”
Twenty-nine-year-old Sarah Birchall took her two-year-old twins Rory and Imogen to yesterday’s Christmas party.
Sarah, of Dresden, added: “It is hard work.
“Every day is a challenge and as they get older the challenges just get different. They are great, they laugh and giggle.”