A Family Christmas

Christmas is full of sparkle, lights, good food and gifts but the most important part is definitely family.  I have grown up with big family Christmas, generations all coming together, joined by board games and Quality Street and this year was no exception.

This year was Archie's first Christmas and he loved tucking into some turkey, lots of attention and crawling and cruising round the room.

Dylan really understood a lot about Christmas and was very excited that Father Christmas had come to visit.   He was loving the fact that every room had chocolate in it although he may have eaten his body weight in apples!

This year the rule was Christmas jumpers, the cheesier the better and everyone joined in.  I got a great opportunity to put my new tripod to good use.  

The boys were utterly spoilt (as were the bloke and I) and we are lucky to have so many thoughtful friends and relatives.  Uncle Oli bought them a slide and both boys had fun playing on it over the 2 days we were staying with Grandma and Grandpa.

Christmas was everything it should be, full of fun, love, chocolate and card games.  How was yours?

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Christmas is Coming

There is no denying it, Christmas is on the way!  The shops are full of tinsel and mince pies, the festive light switch ons are happening up and down the country and my credit card is cringing at what is about to come.  

I love the festive period and I know that every year is going to get more magical as my children get older and more aware.  I know that this year Dylan will understand a little more, he already recognises Father Christmas, and we are going to attempt some Christmas films with him to really get in the spirit.  November for me is about preparing for December, and I have started a little shopping and planning, and have been busy making an advent calender (details on the blog tomorrow). 

Over the next few weeks I have a few festive features, from showing you our ideas and traditions to gift guides and reviews of perfect stocking fillers.  

Christmas this year will be a much more budget affair to what we are used to though, and I am hoping that it will remind us of what is really important; spending time with family.  There will be plenty of homemade, even if it means paint everywhere, and I am hoping our house will be full of colour, the smell of gingerbread and those magical twinkly lights.  I want Dylan to look forward to Christmas because of the magic rather than the gifts and I am hoping to start traditions to ensure this.

This year will also be Archie's first Christmas, and whilst I know that he will not understand or remember anything, I want it to be special.  I am lucky that I am not back at work yet, so will be able to spend the month of December introducing Archie to the lights and the colours of Christmas.  I can't wait to take the boys out to see the displays now that the evenings are darker, and I have no doubt that both boys will absolutely devour their Christmas roasts come the big day!

So, before I delve head first into Christmas preperations, (baring in mind the paint, washi tape and glitter are already out), do you have any suggestions for me?  Any great budget Christmas ideas, perfect crafts for a toddler or have you seen the perfect present anywhere?  

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