Forget Easter I am still holding on to Last Christmas

pinkoddy christmas 2014New Year New start or talk of Easter – but what happens when you are not ready to move on? I still haven’t fully devoured last Christmas. I still need time to look through my photos and feel those happy memories again. For me this Christmas felt like a really important one. It was the first Christmas for my brother as a father and the last Christmas with my oldest still being classed as a child. Both really reminded me of the fact that my mom isn’t here and I really missed her. But what it did do was make me stop trying to do too much and miss out on what is important.

We started with making Reindeer Food on the 23rd December. I love doing things that help add to the children’s excitement. This year our youngest coped so much better with all the changes than last year and we even put up a lot more lights and decorations. He still had the odd wobble but the more focused we kept him the easier it was for him.

Then on Christmas Eve my brother came with his daughter. We had our Christmas dinner but this year we simplified it all. It was just lamb and gammon, with pigs in blankets. Why are we wasting so much time and making ourselves so stressed by cooking anything more complicated? This way we could cook it in one day and not end up missing precious time with the boys or getting snappy. Instead we used the time to make Christmas Trees from the egg box with them. Then we made our annual snowmen from marshmallows, icing and sweets. (Note I shall probably be very unfashionably late with these pictures as I will blog about them when the boys are back at school!)

This year I went to town an ordered LOTS of marshmallows. We got some chocolate sprinkles and drops and squirty cream. The idea originally came from making hot chocolate Santa gifts for the teachers but they were so popular with the boys that we got in plenty to cover the festive period. I am sure this is going to become another of our traditions now. We all cuddled up together with drinks and sweets and watched a Christmas movie.

Christmas Day itself was all about the children (ok so I did sneak off and make a quick Lego video with a present from my 11 year old son). You know such was the quality time with them that I didn’t even take that many photos. We played board games, built Lego, took our boy out on his new bike, read stories – and generally just spent time together. It wasn’t all plain sailing as my 11 year old was sick, but we just made the most of it.

And after Christmas. Well our oldest turned 18. We had a birthday breakfast and then surprised him with all of his friends ice-skating. Again things didn’t go to plan as 5 minutes in one of the girls was pushed and fractured her arm. We had to take her home to A&E and so the meal was cancelled. But none of that mattered as our son was just so happy as he had NO idea that all this had been arranged. I am really proud of the man he has grown into.

Finally we went to see a Relaxed Performance of Dick Whittington at the Bristol Hippodrome before seeing the New Year in last night.

I hope your time has been as lovely as ours and hope that you have a very Happy New Year.

Looking at Lapland holiday reviews I really fancy travelling there next year. Have you ever been?

 

8 thoughts on “Forget Easter I am still holding on to Last Christmas”

  1. I took loads of photos on Christmas day but only because I had a wonderful new camera from my lovely mother in law!
    I’m glad you’ve had a lovely Christmas. I’m a bit sad now it’s all over for another year!
    I hope you have a great year ahead xxx

    Reply
  2. Sounds like a great Christmas! I can’t quite believe it’s over either to be honest and this year was the first we’d spent with family in 4 years which was lovely. Hope your 2015 is a great one!

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  3. It’s great to hear that you made the most of Christmas, despite your setbacks. I like that you simplified your meal, it can all get a bit over complicated. it’s great to hear that your son enjoyed his birthday and well done for keeping it all secret. It’s difficult keeping things from my children! Hope you have a great 2015 🙂 x

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  4. You sound like you had a great Christmas. We also simplified our meal, it’s essentially Sunday dinner after all and spent far less time in the kitchen. I’m glad your son had a great birthday, 18 is such a milestone x

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  5. Our Christmas was very odd. First one as a family of four but it really wasn’t good. Mr K had flue and was basically out of it for all of Christmas Day and Boxing Day. He actually doesn’t remember Christmas Day at all. My eldest has also been having some difficult wobbles.

    I’m glad it all came good for you – even if it didn’t all go precisely as planned.

    I know what you mean about paring back the Christmas meal. As a vegetarian I don’t go in for all the meat anyway and it makes for a very quick meal. I like to take time over the roasties but the rest of it is all quite quick.

    Reply

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