Birthday :: Christmas

Well, I managed to fall off the DPP wagon, I think the first time ever!  My heart wasn't really in it this year but then had a wobble and thought why not.  However as in all things, life had a different plan. And in between Ben being sick, Dave having a worrying MS wobble and me trying to do "all the things", it was no surprise that I flopped at the last hurdle :-)  Still that is OK and we have had a good holiday week.

Pip's Ninth Birthday

Pip celebrated her ninth birthday last Saturday.  As usual the day was spent with her best buddy Beth and they had fun making their own crackers, decorating cupcakes and generally hanging out with the toys and games.

 The birthday table all set and no I didn't manage to get to bed before the time my waters went (midnight).  In fact Dave and I finally crawled up the stairs around half past one!  The evening involved failed gingerbread houses and Christmas tree shenanigans as in "where on earth is it going to go?!!"

 8:39am and x marks the spot, birth time and place.

 The Christmas Tree all decked in its finery.  We have decided that next year the tree will be up and decorated on Gaudete Sunday.  It is too much organising a birthday event and tree decorating all within a 24 hour window.

 Decorating a cupcake requires a whole heap of concentration ;-)

  The birthday girl declared that the day was "the best day ever."  Who needs a full night's sleep anyway? ;-)

Christmas Eve

The day never changes and yet every year somehow I am always chasing my tail.  My oft repeated phrase is, " the only year that I was organised was the year that I was expecting Pip."  In that year all the presents were bought and wrapped by the October half term break and the Christmas cards written and sent by the first week in December.  I had to be organised, there was a baby on the way and ever since I have had a birthday to shop and plan for, two days before another big event!

This year I had a plan but the trouble with plans is that they often go awry.  My plan was to knit Christmas presents thoughout the year and so in the first week of January the wool and patterns were chosen for Kathryn, Sara and Tom.  What on earth could go wrong ... how about a new job, a health relapse that spanned eight weeks and the boy starting college!  In between all of that said boy begged for more handknitted socks and so I cast on "on all the things."

 My rather untidy bedroom with half wrapped presents, clean laundry and my knitting nook on the floor.

 A well deserved tea break and a few squares of mint chocolate.

 Ben knew about the Christmas socks as he caught me working on them and I couldn't keep a straight face when quizzed.  However he did not know about the purple, black and orange striped pair and I was chuffed to have kept these a secret.

These were my Dad's long overdue birthday socks.  I had already knit one pair and totally messed up with the sizing, as in they fit me! He was gifted these on Christmas day and they fit really well I am pleased to say.

 This wrapping paper represents the true spirit of Christmas. 

 In my lack of organisation, I realised late on Christmas Eve afternoon that I did not have enough paper.  I could not face the mayhem of the larger shops and so opted to visit a local Spar shop.  Hardly surprising they had ran out of wrapping paper but thankfully did have some plain parcel paper instead.  I was just about to pick up some sheets when a lady came up to me and said that she had some spare rolls of paper if that would help.  She lived nearby so we agreed to meet at the corner of her road.  She handed me the paper and I handed over a small box of chocolates as a thankyou.  I told her that what she did was the true spirit of Christmas.  I gave her a hug in thanks and wished her a Happy Christmas.  That lady really made my day.

Ben wearing his Christmas socks on Christmas day morning and they are still on his feet by the end of the week.  I have insisted that he at least change his socks for the New Year!

Christmas Day

 

We had arranged to spend the day with Kath and Mary-Grace.  The plan was to have lunch and a light tea at her house and both sets of Grandparents would visit at some point in the afternoon.  The extra special event was a last minute decision  to attend our home parish church for Christmas day mass.  My mum and dad certainly had a welcome surprise that day :-)

 

The crib on the right hand side of the altar at church.

 

 Smile please, in between the washing up and serving of the meal!

 

The meal, assorted vegetables, cashew nut roast and ham cooked by my dad.

 

 

 

 Sitting on one of Mary's toddler seats eating a rather delicious home made blackberry and apple crumble.

 

 

 

 Dad and Daughter

 One of the Christmas handknits a diamond cable jumper cowl neck jumper dress for Kath.  She sent me a picture of her wearing it on Boxing Day and she looked lovely in it.

 One of Mary's gifts was twin hatchimals, you had to rub its body to activate it hatching.  Sara many years ago had a Ferby, it drove us mad with the constant chattering!

 Looking pleased with her present although I do wonder if those creatures were in fact meant for someone slightly bigger ...

 ... looking equally pleased ;-)

  

 One of the highlights was watching the kids interact with their grandparents.  Family, a God given gift that money cannot buy.

 

 

If you have got to the bottom of this post then BRAVO!!  Go and make yourself a well earned cup of your favourite brew.

 

If you want to read about another set of gifts that you will definitely not find under the Christmas tree, then you might like to read my Christmas post over on the Mindfulness Website:

 

THE REAL GIFTS OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY 

 

I hope that you have had a blessed Christmas and that God's blessing will be upon you in a very special way this forthcoming New Year.