Yesterday it was exactly 1 year since we left Brisbane for our big shed adventure. What a hectic time that was for us. Handmade presents and cards all wrapped and packed ready to come up here, packing of our entire life into 2 cars and a hired trailer, a little lady getting into everything and just learning to stand on her own, final catch ups and goodbyes with friends and family and saying goodbye to our little house that we loved so dearly even though it was tiny and had horrible carpet. It was the home we took our first baby home to and we will never forget it. I didn't even know this at the time, but I was pregnant with Claire during all of this too! I'm getting all nostalgic and emotional now and this is not meant to be my 'reflect on the past year' post so I will leave it at that. But Brisbane friends, if you're reading this, I miss you.
So, onto Christmas! Well, actually I have not felt it much at all here this year. As I said, by this time last year almost everyone had a gift handmade by me and it was wrapped with homemade wrapping and had a homemade card. This year I didn't make anybody's present, I bought rolls of wrapping paper and am recycling sample christmas cards. I'm not really one for christmas carols and usually find that watching a christmas movie might help to get me into the spirit of things, but I never got around to watching it. For the past few years, I have had friends who also have children and enjoy crafting around me and I have shared christmas with them. Not only did I not have that this year, but all my family here is still at work and I had a massive fall out that came as a huge shock to me with one of my closest friends in Brisbane (so bad in fact, that the friendship is apparently no longer) that we would normally spend christmas day with and I can't get it out of my head. I really need to because the other party certainly seems to have and I should not be letting it ruin my time, but it's really eating away at me lately. Anyway, I've put away the guilt of not making any presents and have happily decided that it's ok to sometimes take the easy way out when you have 2 small children and have had so many things happen over the year.
We don't have room for a christmas tree here so I made a christmas nook instead and used a small real tree instead. Miss M. played with the baubles while I put them on the tree and occasionally 'picks' herself one to play with, but that's the most interest she's shown. She will be 2 in a month and doesn't quite get it yet. She is starting to understand presents though, as I took her to a christmas party with my friends mother's group last week and Santa gave her a present.
We did do some christmas baking today and I made some rocky road to give away yesterday.
I also did the christmas food shopping yesterday and that definitely helped my mood. We will be going to 3 different venues on the day and at least one the day before. Normally I would be baking and cooking up a storm to take to people's houses, but I didn't even manage that this year. I decided on 2 things to make and the rest is all store bought or just has to be thrown together at the last minute. I'm going to write what we are taking to each venue, just incase anyone reading needs an easy idea (or incase I need an easy idea in years to come). Here we go: Chicken and avocado sandwiches to lunch on Christmas eve, punch to brunch on Christmas morning, a cadbury yule log to christmas lunch, and chipolatas and our little portable webber to dinner. I also have some crackers and I will make some cheese balls to take as well. I feel really happy that I made the decision to go easy this year as I have more time to spend with my girls and less time spent cleaning up.
Have a Merry Christmas if I don't see you before then!
So, onto Christmas! Well, actually I have not felt it much at all here this year. As I said, by this time last year almost everyone had a gift handmade by me and it was wrapped with homemade wrapping and had a homemade card. This year I didn't make anybody's present, I bought rolls of wrapping paper and am recycling sample christmas cards. I'm not really one for christmas carols and usually find that watching a christmas movie might help to get me into the spirit of things, but I never got around to watching it. For the past few years, I have had friends who also have children and enjoy crafting around me and I have shared christmas with them. Not only did I not have that this year, but all my family here is still at work and I had a massive fall out that came as a huge shock to me with one of my closest friends in Brisbane (so bad in fact, that the friendship is apparently no longer) that we would normally spend christmas day with and I can't get it out of my head. I really need to because the other party certainly seems to have and I should not be letting it ruin my time, but it's really eating away at me lately. Anyway, I've put away the guilt of not making any presents and have happily decided that it's ok to sometimes take the easy way out when you have 2 small children and have had so many things happen over the year.
We don't have room for a christmas tree here so I made a christmas nook instead and used a small real tree instead. Miss M. played with the baubles while I put them on the tree and occasionally 'picks' herself one to play with, but that's the most interest she's shown. She will be 2 in a month and doesn't quite get it yet. She is starting to understand presents though, as I took her to a christmas party with my friends mother's group last week and Santa gave her a present.
I also did the christmas food shopping yesterday and that definitely helped my mood. We will be going to 3 different venues on the day and at least one the day before. Normally I would be baking and cooking up a storm to take to people's houses, but I didn't even manage that this year. I decided on 2 things to make and the rest is all store bought or just has to be thrown together at the last minute. I'm going to write what we are taking to each venue, just incase anyone reading needs an easy idea (or incase I need an easy idea in years to come). Here we go: Chicken and avocado sandwiches to lunch on Christmas eve, punch to brunch on Christmas morning, a cadbury yule log to christmas lunch, and chipolatas and our little portable webber to dinner. I also have some crackers and I will make some cheese balls to take as well. I feel really happy that I made the decision to go easy this year as I have more time to spend with my girls and less time spent cleaning up.
Have a Merry Christmas if I don't see you before then!
We miss you too. Don't feel bad about a bought Christmas, spending time with your little girls is far more important.
ReplyDeleteLots of love xx