Hi all I hope you had a relaxing Christmas
Wow! What can I say, our break was so relaxing. Preparing a day in advance made a HUGE difference, everything ran so much smoother. For us we normally start the food cooking late on Christmas eve, cooking the gammon, lamb and preparing the turkey to go into the oven as soon as we wake. I am very lucky my hubby takes over my kitchen throughout the Christmas weeks gives me a little bit of a break, in all honesty he loves doing it as well, he never shy’s away from any jobs around the house except the ironing (long standing story behind that job ). Our presents this year already wrapped and ready too layout in the evening after the kids go to sleep, of course that is only if they do. Our house is full of insomniacs so that can be late into the early hours of the morning. This year was pretty much the same over excitement fueling the inability to sleep. there ears listening out for ever tiny noise the voices calling from their bedrooms has Santa been!!! Presents!! the reply as always he won’t come till your asleep.
The movements and excited flapping intensifies, the sudden need for extra food and drink giving reason for them to come bounding down the stairs just to check.As exhausting as Christmas eve can be for parents you sit their giggling at this child like excitement you play along with it. We truly love it even though our kids are older it is quite a nurturing thing it is one of them times of years to let go of your inner child and adds to the intensity of Christmas spirit.
Christmas Eve
We have been doing Christmas eve gifts for a few years now, Popcorn, movie and PJ’S and one silly gift this year we had Tubs of snowballs soft fluffy white balls that can’t cause any damage but can leave sequels of delight, with permission given to get Mum and dad.
Once a Huffle Puff always a Huffle Puff
Once the Christmas eve gifts are done the lamb gets put in to cook, the kids get the Santa plates ready.
This year we had our Josh help get things ready, and finally 2,30 am with the kids finally asleep the presents were delivered. in our home only stockings come from Santa he just happens to bring presents from us parents at the same time. Santa only gives small gifts.
WE EVEN CAUGHT SANTA IN THE ACT OF DROPPING THE PRESENT’s OFF
The best bits for me on Christmas Eve after all the preparations is sampling the food MOUTHWATERING. Me and My hubby have the pleasure of the front room for the night present guards.
Christmas Day
We made it to 8.30 am before the first shriek of it’s Christmas came from up stairs, that is Niki awake, Getting her to wait patiently till we at least have a coffee to wake ourselves up. she didn’t wait long before running in and waking Jake and Josh who also wanted just ten minutes more sleep, half a cup later the suspense was to much for her we carried the stockings to my room where they were all sat waiting.
We manage to finish our coffee before all meeting in the front room for the big present opening session.
I got some beautiful gifts , Jake has been wanting to get me a particular prezzie since my birthday. It is a beautiful butterfly
Josh did me a basket of goodies sweets , a candle and a new Elf hedge hog
So cute
With the present opening over the Turkey in the oven and the table set for dinner and visitor’s the kids were busy sorting their things out and having fun with their new things. It wasn’t all just TEC this year we always try to get presents that they can get creative with. Tailored to their specific interests
For Niki she got a switch while that was charging she was sorting her sewing kit out, she really is into creating things now designer teddies. so the surprise gift of supply’s and her own sewing machine will help her with that.
We are lucky enough to have a local Hobbycraft 2 minutes up the road from us which is good because she always wants to create things from costumes to face painting and COS play characters it has a vast range of stuff for all kinds of projects. we even got her some special artists paper for her to draw her designs out.
Jakes creative toy this year has a part Tec side as in it works with his switch but requires physically building. I have never known a kid get so much joy out of cardboard , he spent most of the day creating, the easy online instructions made the whole process easy for him to do without help, he had a big sense of pride for doing it himself. infact he said it was the best set of instructions he has ever read.
2 o’clock I went to pick up guests, good job this year they brought the presents with them instead of me picking up Christmas eve or we wouldn’t have fit in our tiny front room. lets just say it was a big squeeze with these not so little kids.
had to borrow dads table and chairs so we all could sit together.
Jake managed to sit through the whole three courses this year, the smell not as overwhelming as before still only pasta with garlic and butter, for his main course but making an already difficult situation of sitting at the table with lots of people smells and things a little more bearable for him. we still are hopeful one day he will tuck in to the food we eat. for now it is his pace.
The food was fab , even the cranberry sauce was freshly made by my hubby. We chilled together for a while after before I dropped guests back home. we all went to sleep pretty early Christmas night.
Boxing day
Fresh day late start, One excited Niki her Tom was arriving from Holland to see New year in with her she periodically came in showing his journey tracker to me, her excitement at seeing him again building they haven’t seen each other in person since the summer. there long distant relationship is still building , they are still focusing on their studies at the moment. We picked Tom up from the airport it is so cute seeing Niki jump into his arms .
I never tire of seeing and sharing that very sweet beautiful moment.
Toms arrived and we got to exchange pressies
look at our Niki her eyes on him
Long journeys require sleep , the next day I got some quite time the boys when out for walk round the shops with their dad, shortly after Niki and Tom went out too.
I did sit down to write but lost all thoughts when the phone rang so decided to chat to Yai Yai instead and leave writing for today.
So you can see busy couple of days but very relaxing. Before I sign off for today as going to cinema to see CATS with my Josh
Jake also got plenty of reading material this year so will let you know what he thinks of the books after.
Plenty to keep him busy if he can’t sleep.
Have a beautiful end to the year enjoy New Years Eve , be safe , leave car at home if your going to drink, let a loved one know where your going
Much love Faye xxx
