Our Christmas

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and that these in between days are being enjoyed too.
G and I returned to work yesterday but I'm off again today and have been endeavoring to set the house tidy again, with not much success I may add due to the many little piles of new gifts sat around our home awaiting new homes of their own.

Christmas eve S went to spend the day with my mum as, again, we were both at work. S always goes prepared with things to do to keep them busy and she very kindly agreed to squeeze in a little festive treat making. I gave her a packet of teacakes, icing sugar and holly cake sprinkles to make these 'puddings'. I think she did a great job, they look very sweet.

Whilst reading the Christmas Countdown on Brocante Home one day I found information about the origin of Christmas crackers and I decided to begin a new tradition for our table. Instead of sugared almonds I enclosed a little chocolate Father Christmas wrapped inside a little quote. Everyone chose a twist at random and then we went round the table reading them out, things like Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today and Always Believe Something Wonderful is About to Happen.

A couple of days before Christmas T came to me very excited as he had seen an idea on youtube for wrapping presents and he was keen to do this to the gifts he had bought for me and G. A trip to Hobbycraft later he had amassed his supplies and took over the front room.
This is the end result for his gift to G. It was such a thoughtful thing for him to want to do.

One of the lasting memories I will take from this year is S's reaction when she opened this gift from my sister. S has such an unusual name and finding anything with her name on is impossible. When she opened this cushion she got a little teary, my sister asked her if everything was ok and she replied 'I'm just so happy.'

G looks prepared for winter in his new hat and scarf and what do you think of his little companion? Back In August I went out for the afternoon with my sisters and I saw this rabbit. He is a garden ornament and I fell in love with his handsome face. I ummed and ahhed over buying him, but decided against it in the end. Apparently the very next day my sister went back and bought him for me. I love him although I don't think I can put him outside.

We don't always buy cards to each other but when we went to the vintage fair last month I saw this one made from an original Babycham coaster and G said he would buy it as his card to me this year. It's going to be framed and put up on the dining room wall once I've gone to Ikea to buy the frame.

One of our long running family traditions is silly table presents to wear during lunch and here is this year's selection. Sequinned antlers for S.

Mistletoed headgear for my sister.
I buy everyone else's and G buys mine and by co-incidence T and I ended up with the same hat and glasses combo. He looked far better than me though.

What you can't see in this photo is that G's nose lights up and makes him look even more attractive!

Last but by no means least is my mum and her new facial hair.

Boxing day and the days after didn't go quite as planned as unfortunately T was sick that morning and quite out of sorts. We did manage to get to Salisbury to see G's family on the Sunday. G and S went up for the planned lunch out and T and I followed later in the day, joining everyone at Grandma's for a couple of hours to exchange pressies and play a game or two.
Now I really should return to the tidying, or maybe I'll just put my feet up and read. 
Where did I leave those chocolates..........