And….relax!
The last guest has left and we have the house to ourselves for the first time in nearly two weeks…and I don’t much like it!
For us, the Christmas and New Year period is ALL about family and we have had lots of different house guests coming and going since 23rd December. Our home has been filled to the brim with the sound of laughter and excitement and, of course, song – imagine a constant stream of the very refined and beautiful Downton Abbey’s Christmas album interspersed with the equally fabulous Wurzel’s Christmas CD and you might get the picture.
Cooking for an average of fourteen people twice a day and three changes of bed linen for the same over ten days was self imposed madness, but wonderful at the same time. Fantastic mayhem, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
It started with the Christmas Eve Carol Service in our church.
The dogs accompanied us in their Santa outfits and The Boys took part in the annual five minute Nativity play, whilst a packed church sang Christmas carols, drank mulled wine and nibbled on hot sausages and mince pies.
The Boys sent their letters to Father Christmas the traditional way before going to bed whilst the grown ups enjoyed a comforting stew and dumplings in front of the fire.
Christmas morning – The Kids all came in at 5:10am to open their stockings in our bedroom.
“Pin The Nose On Rudolph” at 5:30am seemed like a good idea at the time!
As did wearing silly faces:)
We were far too busy having fun to take many photos, but here’s one from Christmas Day lunch.
Presents are opened one-by-one after lunch at about 4.30pm and lasts two hours as we each watch every single present being opened separately. The Boys were thrilled to bits with all their new riding gear!
Boxing Day was more of the same – eating, drinking (the Sloe Port and Sloe Gin didn’t last long!) and generally making merry. Games were played, films were watched and a good time was had by all.
Remember the Hansel & Gretyl Gingerbread House I ordered, complete with all the characters and lit up by a tea light inside?
The Boys loved it and, I have to say, it was the tastiest gingerbread I’ve ever had!
Monday meant a change of house guests for a couple of nights – this time all six kids (including the two that live in Brighton), one boyfriend, one Fiancé and the newest addition, baby Lilah.
We take a group photo of them all which has been lovely to see over the years as it doesn’t happen very often that they all get together at the same time.
Wednesday saw six more guests who had Eggs Royale for breakfast which was declared “The best breakfast I have ever had” by one of the men. He can come again!
My auntie and cousin joined us later in the day – here’s my cousin complete with all her travelling paraphernalia from her recent knee op.
Talking of ops – I went in at 7am on New Year’s Eve for surgery and waited in my hospital gown and sexy anti-thrombosis socks for six hours…
….before being informed that my notes had been lost meaning the surgery had to be postponed until the New Year!
At least it meant I could rejoin the party at home and enjoy a great New Year’s Eve celebration.
Yesterday, we were invited to another family lunch at my dad’s cousin’s ancient farmhouse. We LOVE visiting, and have happy memories of staying as children. Such an unspoilt building with heaps of character and has, rather wonderfully, escaped ‘modernisation’. This is the view through to the dining room with the Christmas tree glowing in the background. Perfect.
Just one last photo for Teresa – this is the dress I was talking about:)
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
January 3, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Wow, what a fabulous Christmas !!! Surprised you are still standing after all that cooking and bed changing…have a wonderful New Year xx
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January 3, 2016 at 4:01 pm
Am now sat on the sofa crocheting a lampshade – perfect way to unwind:)
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January 3, 2016 at 3:39 pm
Exhausted just reading that! What a wonderful time you all had. Happy New Year!
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January 3, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Thanks! Looking forward to making something just for fun now the pressure is off:)
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January 3, 2016 at 5:37 pm
It looks like you and your family had a great Christmas and New Years! Love the gingerbread house, it’s so cute!
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January 3, 2016 at 5:57 pm
We did, thanks! The gingerbread house was too good and too cheap to go to the effort of making one myself:)
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January 3, 2016 at 6:01 pm
Ha! That last photo made me smile, perfect! Sounds like a wonderful Christmas, now enjoy that sit down on the sofa 🙂 Happy New Year! X
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January 3, 2016 at 8:12 pm
You know me well – how funny is that about the dress? I need to blog about my ball gown before I make anything else, but the sofa is calling tonight:)
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January 3, 2016 at 8:24 pm
Enjoy! X
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January 3, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Wow, what a hectic but lovely-sounding Christmas – such a contrast with mine (I’m the only child of an only child!) it sounds like you loved every minute and managed to make the most of what Christmas is really about – the people around you. Hope you get a bit of time to yourself now to do just what you want 🙂
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January 3, 2016 at 6:59 pm
We’re the opposite – I’m one of four and have four children and two step-daughters myself! Always used to a houseful and can’t imagine a quiet Christmas (although sometimes it sounds quite appealing!).
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January 3, 2016 at 7:07 pm
Wow what a busy and fun filled Christmas you had!
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January 3, 2016 at 7:47 pm
Certainly was – and now back to teaching sewing classes as of tomorrow!!
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January 3, 2016 at 7:48 pm
A Very Happy New Year to You and ALL Yours Sheila 🙂
What a wonderful time you all had! Family….family…and, more family, what could be nicer ??!
After a lovely Christmas and Wedding on New Year’s eve, daughter and new son-in-law have set off on honeymoon, youngest son back to college….I think it’s time I got the creative cap back on now 😉
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January 3, 2016 at 8:25 pm
Oh yes, I’d forgotten about the New Year’s Eve wedding – lots of photos to come then? Knowing you, the Creative Cap won’t need much of a dusting off and you’ll be back in ‘full steam ahead’ mode in no time at all:)
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January 3, 2016 at 7:48 pm
Knew I could count on you to have a wonderful Christmas. So glad you’ve had a great time. Although sorry to hear about the hospital trip – building yourself up to an op only not to have it is horrible. Not that having an op is pleasant, so sorry to hear you have that on the horizon.
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January 3, 2016 at 8:29 pm
It was an amazing Christmas, as usual, thanks! Hopefully surgery will be re-scheduled this week as we’re going private. Consultant is pretty hopeful that it’s not the big C, so fingers crossed that the histology will confirm that:)
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January 3, 2016 at 9:52 pm
That like’s for that the consultant has his/her money on it being a good result. Will keep everything crossed, be thinking of you and sending positive vibes your way.
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January 3, 2016 at 8:36 pm
All the joy of a large and functional family life are displayed here – just wonderful to read and see! Have a just as wonderful 2016!
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January 4, 2016 at 11:50 am
Thanks very much – Happy New Year to you, too:)
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January 3, 2016 at 10:21 pm
Your boys are going to have amazing childhood memories to look back on when they’re older. It looks amazing and definitely worth all the effort to get everyone together. Though pinning the tail on the donkey at 5:30 isn’t something I fancy trying, well, not with an audience, lol!!
Happy new year! Looking forward to reading you blocked g in 2016 😀
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January 4, 2016 at 11:54 am
Yeah, The Boys love being surrounded by loads of family, especially all their older brothers and sisters – it means more people to play with. Though it felt at times like I didn’t see much of them even though they were under the same roof!
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January 3, 2016 at 11:15 pm
My goodness I’m exhausted! My Christmas was hectic (but great) but yours was off the scale! I think I would have had a sense of humour failure if my kids came into my room at 5.10am to open presents though! We told them no earlier than 7.30 and sure enough they were bang on time! 🙂
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January 4, 2016 at 11:56 am
Well, although they came in at 5.10 (let’s face it – they were never going to go back to sleep!), they went back into their rooms to play with their stocking stuff and left us to go back to sleep until 8am, so not all bad:)
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January 4, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Oh that’s not so bad! ☺
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January 4, 2016 at 12:46 am
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and the family. You holiday celebration was definately amazing!! Lots of love to you and the family. Can’t wait till you get your box. 😀 xxxx
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January 4, 2016 at 11:57 am
Thanks Robin, and the same to you:)
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January 4, 2016 at 1:16 am
Lovely, lovely time for you, and am glad you get to rest up before surgery. Hope it goes perfectly for you this time, with lots of loving support from all your family and your friends out here in blogdom!
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January 4, 2016 at 11:58 am
Thanks Del, although cleaning up is a major task after Christmas so not much resting yet!
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January 4, 2016 at 9:53 pm
Oh, dear… That crew out to get itself together and get on with helping you!
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January 4, 2016 at 1:53 am
What a shame that you were all ready for surgery and then couldn’t get it done! Best wishes for lots of good medical news soon!
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January 4, 2016 at 11:59 am
Thanks very much:)
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January 4, 2016 at 7:20 am
Happy New Year!!! Looks like the best festivities ever! 🎉🍾🎉🍾🎉🍾🎉
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January 4, 2016 at 12:00 pm
It was ace, thanks – Happy New Year to you, too!
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January 4, 2016 at 10:54 am
Looks like your Christmas and New Year was filled with fun x
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January 4, 2016 at 12:00 pm
It certainly was – hope yours was just as special:)
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January 4, 2016 at 1:49 pm
Do you have some secret energy potion? I’m quite shattered just reading it all. Your Christmas sounded so lovely; full of love and family.
Hope your operation goes well and you can look forward into 2016 without concern. xx Happy New Year!
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January 4, 2016 at 9:10 pm
Ha, I wish! Although they do say if you want something done, ask a busy person! No, we just enjoy having a houseful and looking after everyone:)
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January 5, 2016 at 9:26 am
Oh what a wonderful Christmas/New Year you had (besides the wasted 6 hours in hospital – hope you’re ok) but really, 5:10am?!! We got up 3 hours later than that 😀 😀
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January 5, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Looks like mad fun! We have strange daughters in that, even when they were tiny, they never woke up much before 8 on Christmas morning. In fact, I remember Mr. T and I impatiently waiting for them to get up one year so that we could watch them open their presents and, in the end, we had to wake them up. They still love their beds!
I do hope your surgery goes well and you can put it all behind you and get on with your life without worry.
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January 6, 2016 at 1:01 am
Apart from the hospital experience, it looks like you’ve had such a lovely Christmas! I love how your children send a letter to Santa through the fire – we did that until the council installed horrible gas fires in my parents house and then we had to head to a neighbours house as he still had a proper burning fire! So will you be attempting to make a dress like the purple one?!
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January 13, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Yes, Teresa from Navybluethreads sent me some purple knit fabric and a pattern for a wrap dress so I will be making one instead of buying the one in the photo:)
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January 7, 2016 at 10:02 pm
Thank you for sharing a most marvelous Christmas time! Fingers crossed for smooth surgery and good news!!
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