#magicofchristmas #caring #family #love #elves #Christmas2020 #lockdown3

This photo and the words truly beautiful, Magic is something you make that I have to agree with there is Magic in making someone smile, Magic when you accomplish a goal you did not believe you would get to but some how you, hit it and think how did I do that. There is Magic when you create another life from this tiny speck to this little human. There is magic in miracles. Most of all there is Magic of the imagination.

While this time of year the hustle of the run up to Christmas like many years before but hugely different at the same time, some how the magic of Christmas spirit survived and we managed to create something different but equally beautiful despite a pandemic shops opening and closing and tiers changing. We are now Tier 4 here in my home town, and while out for a short walk I noticed the empty roads and car parks taking me back to march and that enthusiasm for a much easier and quieter life of lockdown, for me the first lockdown was perfect, it made doing my job and being a parent so much easier, I could move about supporting others without their being much risk, because everywhere was quite and people mostly followed the rules and queuing systems and social distance, second lock down was the same. I guess now we are headed into the third lockdown and new faster spreading variant of Covid, it makes me wonder if the pressure is really beginning to takes its toll on people, that desperation to see loved ones and that hope of spending Christmas with at least some of your family caused this panic that put more lives at risk of it.

Looking at the rush that happened for those exiting London before that tier 4 lockdown happened, this year has also been tough for so many families financially. I didn’t get payed till the day I picked up my son. and just after we got him home the news that we may also be going into tier 4 meant I had to go get some prezzies, this year a cash budget, no Credit cards no credit at all , I had a small budget to spend and stuck to it. thankfully my family gave me a little help this year, My oldest son also helped out. the look on Jakes face when josh Gave him his guitar.

This Christmas although quite has been a favorite of mine my kids all here together, the thoughts of not seeing our Josh for so long almost to much to bear,Our home has been so happy, the kids so happy, and me I can say its going to give me the boost I need for when he returns home again and having a couple of weeks to just get my energy levels back tip top for work again is just what I need right now.

So here is our magic of Christmas eve and Christmas day

The night before Christmas eve was letter Writing and collecting time Emo got out the computer typed away personalised notes for the children, i helped tie them with silver ribbon and added a chocolate coin for the magic touch. The fairies droppoed letters too as well as a letter from Mickey and Minni House for Hayley.

Someone Has to be the boss of the elves while Santa is busy.

Christmas Eve

Emo was checking in with Santa through the Snow globe Making sure he had enough help.

It started off with Spending time together Hubby was preparing some of the food making the Gammon, Lamb and cranberry sause music was playing in the background the kids playing music and watching movies or YouTube Videos. Niki talking to her Tom. I had the present drop to do to Hayley and the other kids I work with, flying visits not hugging was hard though.

Hayley House first she had a zoom Christmas Carol service so took my computer over to set it up for her while I did the present run. Next it was dropping pressies off to my brother before going to the kids house.

Holly helped put the Letters in the tree and the gifts under it, collected the pressies to go back to dad and Hayley’s. By the time I finished the zoom had finished so packed it up to go back to mine with a boot full off pressies for my family from everyone.

Christmas eve Evening was a flurry of excitement dinner , Games and them christmas eve boxes and gifts of Pj’s sweets and popcorn ready for movies, it was a funny moment that paper was ripped off before i even said to wait. LOL

Niki put the food out for santa the reindeers and elves and hung the stockings, and then Niki and Jake went to thier rooms. Our big Elf Josh helped get everything set up and Santa finally dropped off the Pressies at 3am when the kids finaly went to sleep.

We had an Elf army help, our Elves always help mum and dad around the house with chores.

Christmas eve Gifts. The biggest gift the gift of smiles and laughter

Does matter how old they are I never want them to lose that moment of happiness.

Christmas day

Christmas Day oh it wasnt my kids that woke me up at 7.30 but my hubby come get your coffee before they wake up. at least they all didn’t jump on my bed or me this year i think i would of been crushed they not little anymore. My hubby even managed to prepare the Turkey before they got up this year.

I was minding my own buisness waking up and having my first coffee of the day. My hubby the Joker always chases me or trys to get me with Turkey insides something I have avoided touching since we met its slimy and gross.

Just ewwww, but then maybe if I wasn’t on my phone I would have seen it coming at me. lol you have to excuse us we are a little wierd sometimes.

We actually woke the kids up this year it got to 8.30 and they were still all sleeping , I was just to excited to wait any longer. I am a big kid really especially on special occations I like giving to them you probally have seen that if you have been reading my blog a while.

Stocking time and sleepy young adults

Not the usual stocking filler’s this year so Santa had to improvise due to some of the factories shutting down due to lockdown rules. but still thier was enough to fill them. Thanks Santa.

Christmas Breakfast we just had ceral and toast this year as hubby was busy cooking

After stockings it is always Breakfast before opening the family pressies. the kids have to line up in hight order and form a queue its part of our christmas tradition.

As you can see by the smile on Niki’s face it is the one time she don’t mind her brothers are taller then her.

The letter from Santa

Pressie opening, a few surprises one being an accidental split lip over excitement pour Josh got bopped in the mouth by Jake we try not to make a fuse when accidents happen or it can really derail the day still no harm done.

They had a few gifts each and some join Board games we are loving having nights where we sit together and play games, now thier older and we got through that stressful age of the losey moods its quite safe to play games together without total meltdowns.

My favorite gift to give this year was to my hubby the kids helped and it was a hard one to choose and it wasn’t about spending lots of money it was about it being something meaningful to him personally as you know when i met my Hubby he was a Dj and my kids have grown up around all kinds of music, it plays a huge and important part of our lives carries us through difficult days, brings joys, emotiona helpes with anxiety, and is truly theraputic, you can see it in the way our kids are very muscial, its alos thier go to place for self calming. I choose a canvas picture and the kids got new frames to put some of the photos and signed items my hubby got when he used to work and introduse these acts during him early musical years as a DJ.

Its going to be a great addition to our walls and just bring a little bit of the past to life again.

I got some lovely gifts too .

Josh got me an Emo pop figure my first one the kids all have quite a collection of them now, a beautiful buisnessy outfit some candles and Niki brought me a new kettle our old one was on it’s last legs .

But my other favorite moment was when Josh gave our Jake his Guitar, it wasnt wrapped and when he came home Josh let him play it to see how he would get on with it kind of try see if he liked how it felt.

He going to learn it more before he plays, going to be great watvhing him advance with it he has already taugh himself to play the Keyboard. Josh was about Jakes age when we gave him his first guitar he taught himself to play too.

We Caputured as much as we could this year to share with our family and friends who couldnt be with us, and to show what ever life throws our way we all have the ability to work through it and find another way to make things special it doesn’t have to be lavish it has to come from the heart.

We got dinner cooked earlier this year because I had to drop some over for Hayley and Dad just because we could spend it together as usual we wanted them to feel like they do here. I dropped it off to them before returning home to eat with my family.

Arriving home I sent hubby for a power nap while i set the table and prepared the starters. This year three differnt types me and Niki had Tomato soup, Josh and hubby had Salmon on a bed of spinach tomatos and onion drizzeled with lemon and olive oil and lightly peppered. And Jake our selective Eater had Jacob’s Crackers it’s a little bit of a joke in our family because when he was little grandad had some and when Jake saw his name he got upset because he thought it was his present. Dinner was lovely

Was a great feast, Jake doesnt eat any of it but instead of plain pasta he would normally eat we graduated to steak and chips for him so the very first year of a proper dinner for Jake on christmas Day maybe one day he will eat a whole chrismas dinner i won’t give up trying to introduce him to new foods .

You know what happened to my family after dinner FOOD COMA they all fell asleep till about lunch time today.

Any way to finish off today blog wishing you all had the best chrismas given the circumstances and the new year that keeps you healthy and safe and is a much better year than 2020.

This is my sum up of the year from my perspective it has given more than it has taken its brought a closeness that was taken away from the busyness of life, it has thrown us in the deep end of change wether we are good with change or not, plans have been changed and rearranged many times, but we are her to live another day we may be held back from lots at the moment we may have to take more hits before things improve but we are All doing the very best we can and thats ok . For me i am an over preparer i love the routines and knowing what is going to happen and when it causes anxiety other wise but i have learnt to just relax what will be will be wether i stress or relax better just enjoy every moment.

This is an insite into Hayley’s and dads christmas day got to say they are the best photos by far, my Dad with Elf ears.

Spreading the Elf joy as I go along the kids loved the photo’s

Have a beautiful evening much Love Faye xxx