I can’t believe we are so close to Christmas! We’ve been having the nicest time at home and staying away from the shops and just loving it. It usually takes a while for the kids to get school and routine out of their system and I think we’re good now. I’m still required to listen to who took something from so and so or isn’t sharing or to turn off horrid henry which I can’t stand. But everyone is helping out with the little ones who are having THE best time with their big brother and sisters home all the time. Mind you it’s rained all day today so there were forts in the playroom, a cake was made, Elf and the Polar Express were watched…….perhaps more than once and there were lots of snacks made, water cups filled, one mug broken and put back all in pieces into the cupboard by someone, singing and dancing to Elf radio, one child tried to shave their legs which didn’t end well and I vacuumed the floors at least three times.
But the Christmas shopping is all done and that’s always a relief. Mind you I haven’t wrapped a single present and do my best wrapping the night before. This year is a lot more relaxing as I’m not hosting Christmas day or boxing day and it’s been about 5 years since I haven’t hosted so I really am enjoying it. There is so much to do when you are hosting and I usually end up going to the shops 4 times just to get everything foodwise so it’s really nice to be taking a few dishes with us and not having to worry about the house looking perfect too.
With that extra time up my sleeve there was a bit of last minute quilting today as I decided to make 2 quick quilts to give as gifts before the big day. Nothing like a last minute project and while my little guy napped or played with the big kids I got most of it done. And then someone decided to plop themselves down on it. Luckily I bought 3 of these panels from here because now all of the kids want this quilt made for themselves.
I bought a few Christmas fabrics that I still haven’t cut into but there is always next year. I even had the crazy idea that I was going to make everyone’s pjs for Christmas eve but it’s not looking too good at the moment
But I hope your Christmas plans are coming along nicely and that your little ones are getting along nicely too………………….
So gorgeous and Merry Christmas to you all
It’s really nice to hear you have been enjoying your time at home with the children!
It’s great you get to go to somewhere else for Christmas, you certainly deserve that – ENJOY!!!!!! My best wishes to you and your family for a blessed and happy Christmas.
I DO enjoy reading your blog. Warm regards Christine x
I used to read your blog regularly, but I stopped reading all blogs about a year ago because I was doing a lot of reading, but not much making or doing! Anyway, I decided to let myself have back this guilty pleasure over the holidays (but limited to only 3 or 4 blogs and not regularly) and I really enjoyed this post. We too have spent the week pretty much at home baking, playing, riding bikes (4 and 5 year old both took their training wheels off last week and are loving riding without them), reading books, watching movies, etc and it has been sooooo nice and relatively stress free. Even having people over for dinner a few times hasn’t made me stressed, because I’m just staying home so I have plenty of time be organised. This morning my husband has taken the youngest (2) out to get a couple of last minute food items for christmas so myself and the older two have baked our gingerbread house and are about to bake a lot of biscuits for presents. I’m glad you’ve had a (fairly) relaxing week and I hope you enjoy you christmas!
Gorgeous post Corrie. I’m glad you are enjoying the time at home – we are not quite at that point, though I’m sure we’ll get there. I adore the photo of the girls in the backyard. Oh how I would love to be surrounded by lots of open space! Love the quilts (and even though you say quick, I know that they still take hours!).
Great post Corrie, I enjoy reading your honesty about so many plans not coming to fruition before Christmas, I thought I may be the only one who feels so behind but I am now deciding to let go and put them on the burner for next year too. My kids have only just began to find what I call the “holiday groove” where we have no set plans or routines. I think it is so important for them to learn to relax and let go of time constraints and begin to fill their days with slower activities. We played monopoly together yesterday, made your rum balls recipe (delicious!) then started a puzzle (only something we could do this year now that the youngest is a little older and not prone to stealing or trying to eat the puzzle pieces ). Also loving the longer summer days where we graze during the day and then have a later than normal dinner, nice to have some down time in the cooler afternoons spent outside with the kids, hubby home from work, the dogs and chooks all meandering around the backyard
Merry Christmas!
Hi Corrie, Do I admit that I still have fabric , that I was going to make into Pyjamas for my now 23 year old , when she was 10? I relate so much to the tidy house thing, for even though my children have grown up a bit-the dogs haven’t , so we have muddy paw prints everywhere! Have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy a glass or 2 of Champagne on me!
Cheers Maree.
Merry Christmas Corrie. I read your blog regularly but never comment, though I did win some charm squares once. Thank you very much. Anyway, it is an absolute delight to read your blog and watch your family grow. My children are adults and I now have two gorgeous grandchildren, so you bring back lots of memories of “fitting it all in to a day”. Blessings for Christmas and the New Year.
Aren’t those Little Tike cars the best! My 2 year old plays happily in his for ages and has his own set of real keys to it! Love the quilt, if I were one of your kids I’d be wanting one too! Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family! X