Christmas Successfully Done!

The run up to it was rather exhausting, and I woke several mornings at silly o'clock panicking about getting everything done and prepared, but I managed to do it, and it all seemed to go down rather well.

The children got their wish lists, as usual.  That wasn't really my worry.  What I was most concerned about was that I was making homemade gifts this year for the first time in about 20 years.  Last time around I had been saving for my wedding, and did paintings for family members, which seemed to have been well received back then.  This year, I had planned to make some hampers full of goodies, and foodie treats.

Here are a few of my makes:

Covered Diary & Notebook

 Snowman Soups, in Cath Kidston Mugs

 Mini Christmas Cakes

 Melt in the Mouth Vanilla Shortbread

 Fruity Christmas Biscotti

 Autumn Tomato Chutney

Another Notebook & Diary

 Melting Middle Truffles

The Hamper put together before wrapping

I am delighted to say that they were very well received.  I also gave out smaller gifts of mini Christmas cakes, shortbread & biscotti.  Next year I think I'm going to include more preserves, and have a go at the flavoured vodkas.  I'm not a drinker, but the rest of my family make up for that more than a bit!  I got good feedback, and as much as they had enjoyed the treats to eat, they'd also thoroughly appreciated the time and effort that had gone into making them.  One sister even asked if I wanted the lovely lined willow basket back that I'd put them in... I think she felt guilty for getting so much!  I guess on balance it cost me at least £20 to put the  hamper together, but with more foreward planning, and picking up items throughout the year, I could do it for less than that (depending upon how I want it presented, the baskets were £4).

So, now it's a case of planning next year's gifts, as well as continuing with my baking throughout the year.

I survived! Did you?

Forgive me, if I begin with a nice deep sigh... aaahhhhhhhh.  The satisfactory kind of sigh that you give when you sit down at the end of a long, tiring day, with a nice cuppa in your hand.

So, I did it!  I survived the half-term holiday unscathed.  In fact, I'll go so far as to say I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the children did too.  The older 2 did exactly as I suggested, and were hardly here - hurrah!  The younger 2 I took for a nice trip up to Liverpool to visit a good friend, and her child.  We went to a Hallowe'en party where the children overdosed on sweet things, got very hyper, ran around a lot and ended the party by setting off a panic alarm (as you do)!  It made so many of the much smaller children cry, that there was nothing left to do but take them home.  I caught the look of utter relief in the eye of the mum holding the party.  I do believe we were her saviour.

We walked in the park that was the inspiration for Manhattan's Central Park, and the colours were aglow.  I may not like this time of year much, but even I have to agree that it looks absolutely stunning, when the wind is mild, and the sun is shining.

A trip to the cinema was on the agenda for us, and we went to see Despicable Me.  We laughed and we also cried a bit, well I did, because I obviously had a stray lash in my eye.  As we were walking out of the cinema (a very nice new cinema called The One) I asked the children what had been the best part of the film for them, their favourite bit.  I have to admit, even I was rather taken aback at their answer, 'the credits at the end, they were really funny!'  We could have saved ourselves 1.5hrs and just spent 5 minutes in there seeing the 'best bit'.  I liked it all, by the way, don't be swayed by my younger Barry Normans.

The Calm Before the Storm

I'm bracing myself, I can't deny it.  There's a mild sense of apprehension and foreboding, combined with relief, excitement and the knowledge that it cannot be put off or avoided.  What is causing this mixed bag of feelings?  Half-term.

It's half begun already anyway.  The older 2 boys have finished their first term in their respective courses at college, and I'm encouraging them all I can to go out, take part in sleep-overs, and generally avoid being at home.  They're long, they're lanky, they're smelly and they're messy.  Teenage boys take up far too much room and eat far too much food for my liking.  I can barely keep up with them these days.  I like their girlfriends though, they're calmer, chatty and they smile more too.  They also agree with what I say, and I get the sense that we're allies in this strange boy world.

The younger 2 boys are a different kettle of fish.  I'm really looking forward to spending some time with them, having extra cuddles and giggles.  I am taking them on an adventure to Liverpool for a few days, to visit a close friend and her family.  We'll be having trips to the cinema, as well as a Hallowe'en party.  We do Hallowe'en with great enthusiasm, but I need more facepaints to get the usual look going.  Pictures will follow for sure.

What I am dreading more than entertaining 4 boys, and having to contend with their mess, clutter and smell, is that this will be the last week of daylight into the early evening.  After the clocks go back next weekend, it will feel far more dark, dank and depressing for me.  I really prefer the darker morning, to the darker afternoon.  The day ends far too soon, and the sunshine, when it's there, is snatched away far too early.

I know that half-term happens at different times throughout the country, but winter will arrive at the same time for all of us.

Brace yourselves, if the early frost is anything to go by, we're going to be in for a slippery, if not bumpy, ride!