Well, thats it folks we are now on the count down to the New Year and Christmas 2019 is just a passing memory but in our house it leaves behind a contentment this year that I don’t feel it left last year.
I may have put on another stone over the last few months that Christmas has certainly helped with. And my love of cheese and all things unhealthy but I am super happy right now and can honestly say Christmas has been epic.
Over the last decade I have put an immense pressure on myself to make everything perfect and to fit every person I know into the festive time but this at times as been of detriment to myself and my own enjoyment and even sanity.
Last year I took a large step back to past pressures and although I loved the festive time I still didn’t feel I captured all the family time I craved.
This year we started the festivities off early. We were guests of YHA York in late November and had an epic family weekend in York that really started the festive season off perfectly.
Even the whole weekend of rain didn’t stop the (fake) snow from falling, the foods being delicious, rides being fun and the shops being amazingly festive. In fact we have decided that a festive break away may have to be considered again in the future!
This year I was super organised with the kids Christmas school and nursery events which made for less pressure and so I got to see Jacob in his first ever festive nursery performance.
Along with seeing Joshua perform in Church for his schools Christmas concert. Both of which melted my heart and made me thank my lucky stars I am self employed and organised. I even got to help out with Jacobs nursery trip the theatre and helped walk them to the local Christingle service where Jacob got to stand and represent his nursery with a lighted Christingle.
During December, even though I was super busy I made sure I planned in some time with some of my closets friends and had a ladies day watching the newest Star Wars and eating at my favourite restaurant and I got to finally spend some time with my friend in the village and we went out to sample a localish, Indian which was super.
The kids and I got to spend time with my bestie and godchildren at a local garden centre, eating, playing and even discovering some new Christmas decorations.
Midway through the month the kids and I got to spend some time with another of my friends and her family watching a local circus!
The kids loved it and I must admit this will certainly make it on our must do list for next Christmas too!
Boxing day also allowed me some friend time too. While my boys and Ollie watched football Boxing Day afternoon/evening I headed out with 2 lovely ladies to a twilight spa at Sherwood Forest Centre Parcs which was just what was needed.
Christmas Day was a quiet affair with a visit from my parents in the morning and then just the 4 of us for the rest of the day. I prepped all the food on Christmas Eve and so cooking was minimal.
Dinner was lush and I even snook in an afternoon nap!
This festive season was amazing for many reasons not least spending so much time with my family and friends.
Not every year will go as this one has, after all some of my previous Christmas’ have been horrific but I am taking this year as a win.
How did your festive period go?
What a lovely Christmas. Glad you all had a lovely one xx
It does sound like you had a lovely time. A Christmas circus sounds fabulous. It looks like you got to spend a lot of time with friends too. Sometimes it’s a shame it has to be over so quickly x