We have had a wonderful Christmas time together and have just hunkered down and spent it playing games and eating (way too much chocolate I might add!). The kids came over for dinner on Christmas day and we all exchanged gifts. We got a spa gift certificate, a breakfast gift card and a "painting" from Norah (on Canvas, no less) a fundominoes game which has seen lots of use this week. Settlers of Catan card game and DVD's of all of Andrew & Kelsi's videos of Norah since she was born. We've loved looking through all these.
We kept Christmas really simple this year and it's been way more meaningful than ever.
Norah had fun opening her gifts and was more interested in the chocolates than her other gifts!
We got her another apron to wear at her house and a matching one for her Mommy!
We skyped with family in England and my brother said that Wendell looked like he was ready to tee off at Gleneagles!!
Can you tell that we love board games in our family? Everyone got one. Bekah & Alex loved their game of life!
Alex loves bacon and when we were at the Christmas markets in Toronto earlier in December we saw a stall that sold chocolate covered bacon on a stick, so that had to go in his Christmas gift! He loved it1
I must admit that New Year has never been a huge deal to me. As a child in England I remember we always watched Andy Stewart's hogmanay show. As I've grown older and married it has been an evening to cuddle up with Chinese food and watch a movie (quite often the BBC Pride & Prejudice - yes, all five hours of it!). Last night we watched season two of "The Paradise" (almost all of it as 8 hours in front of the TV is too much for anyone!!) We are usually in bed before midnight, but last night it was later. Wendell gave me a kiss and wished me Happy New Year at midnight and I thought to myself that it just doesn't get any better than this! To be with the one you love more than anyone else in the world, in your own home, snuggled up together. I know New Year is a time of new beginnings, but I feel that every day is a new beginning really. Another chance to choose well and be kind to others. May 2014 be a year of constant new beginnings for you and may it bring happiness and contentment.
Glad you had such a lovely Christmas and New Year. Wishing you much happiness in 2014.
ReplyDeleteThank you CJ. I look forward to new and exciting things this year.
DeleteJulie, your Christmas sounds as if it was wonderful as was ours. Those Betty's mince pies were unbelievably tasty so thank you very much again! Ours has been fairly quiet but lots of family time and your last paragraph said it all for me. Tony and I had a quiet new year indoors, eating a nice meal, chatting and watching tv.I remember the Andy Stewart Hogmanay show too from all those years back. It must have been a tradition in most households.Tomorrow is Orlaith's 3rd birthday so as we are both off work for the day we are going round early to help her celebrate. I can't believe its been 3 years.Happy New Year Julie, love to you all X
ReplyDeleteI love just the everyday family stuff don't you Anne? There's noting better than all getting together as a family. They all came over today and we had a good laugh and played some games. I'm glad you got the mince pies. I wasn't sure if they'd reached you so was happy to hear you enjoyed them. Have a great time with little O tomorrow on her birthday! Happy New Year. xx
DeleteWhat a lovely family Christmas - simple, warm and full of light and happiness. Just as it should be. Hope you have a great 2014 x
ReplyDeleteThank you Emma. Happy New Year to your little family.
DeleteI'm glad you had a lovely holiday, Julie. It's nice to see everyone enjoying themselves. I hope you all have a happy and healthy 2014.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Jennifer. I look forward to reading more of your posts this year!
DeleteSuch a lovely, warm post Julie. We had a very similar New Year's Eve. J is back to work tomorrow- it has been so lovely having him at home since he finished on Christmas Eve. Wishing you a wonderful 2014.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Scarlet. Can't wait to see what treasures you transform this year. You really are inspiring in how you make things over. I always hate the part where everyone is back to work and school, but then I am always grateful now that Wendell works mostly from home, so I am spoiled in having him around most of the time (when he isn't travelling). I do love the down time of Christmas though. It's unlike any other time of year and the one time when I don't feel any guilt whatsoever for doing nothing at all!
DeleteYour thoughts here are so perfect Julie and I agree with them wholeheartedly. I hope that you have a great 2014 and I look forward to reading along with you. xx
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas looked great Julie and I love the little apron. Last year I bought a couple of aprons for Sienna from our school craft stall which were beautiful. They were so simple made from Tea Towels. One tea towel and some binding and that was it. Hard to explain but the top two corners (imagine a triangle) were cut off then this the exposed edge was folded over about an inch so that you could thread the binding through it and back through the opposite side on that triangle. the binding went over your head and could be adjusted for size because you just pulled more binding through. Then on the front they sewed a little pocket from the cut piece of material. So simple, yet fabulous design and as the tea towel is already hemmed there was no hemming....so simple. I've just posted a list of goals that we are going to work towards this year and a few photos of what's been happening. Happy New Year. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia
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Such sweet thoughts on New Year's! Your contentment shines through in your words!
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