It's The End Of Another Year ....

 

 

Well, here we are again my dear bloggy friends, at the end of another year.  Most of you know that I get very excited in the lead up to Christmas Day.  The whole thing to me is still very magical, even at my advanced age!  Of course, having Eli and Ruby with us now, make the whole experience even more exciting.

 

But I'm afraid that once Christmas is over, I usually go right down in the doldrums, and feel quite teary.  It happens every year, but I still want the feeling to pass.  Although when we were younger, we always used to go out on New Year's Eve, I'm afraid that it's never really meant very much to me, which I guess makes me a bit boring!

 

We had a lovely Christmas with all the family (Emma, Mark & Alfred arrived on Boxing Day) filled with love.  Then we had little Ruby's fourth birthday on the 29th.  Here are a few snapshots for you.

 

 

Here is Eleanor having fun in Peru!

 

 

May I wish you all, wherever you may be, a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.  I hope the year ahead will be filled with love and many blessings for you.

 



 



Only Six More Sleeps! ....

 

 

Well peeps, there are now only six more sleeps until Christmas Day.  December just seems to be flying by.  I was so ahead of myself, when I suddenly realized that the big day was only next week, and I hadn't yet bought the turkey. 

 

I think everything is done now, apart from the last minute shopping of fresh vegetables, cream etc.  As I write this, Eleanor will be putting her last minute bits and pieces together, as she flies off to Peru early tomorrow morning (Friday).  It's a twelve hour flight, so I expect her and her friend will sleep a lot of the way! I sent her a text just now, telling her to have a great time, but to take care of herself.

 

We will be having daughter number 2 and her husband with us on Christmas Day, along with Eli and Ruby, so I'm looking forward to that.  I think that Emma and Mark are coming for the new year although, to be honest, Emma can do without another long car journey right now.

 

I don't think I will be posting again now before Christmas, so I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you all for your friendship for another year and  for your wonderful comments.

 

I would like to wish each and everyone of you a very happy and joyful Christmas. 

 

 

 

 

 



Thought You Would All Appreciate This! ....

 

Hi peeps.  It is only I!  No comments needed today, as I wasn't really due to write a post, but I've just seen this and just had to share it with you.  Ho Ho Ho!!

 



Some Christmas decorations ....

Well, only thirteen sleeps to the big day.  I bet you can hardly contain yourselves with excitement.  Hee Hee!!  I thought I would post some photos of our Christmas decorations around the house.  This is only a small selection.









The following little Santa I really love, because it is one that we had on our tree at home when I was a little girl.  The sleigh rattles, like little sleigh bells!

 

I love how all the indoor lights reflect in the window below.  You can also see some lights from outside as well.

 

 

I have always wanted a mantlepiece, especially at Christmas time, and we now have one.  They installed the oak one when they installed the woodburner.  You can't really see them, but I love the little reindeer lights.

 

 

Well, I must say Au Revoir for now and head off to wrap up some more pressies.  Hoping, as always, that you are all keeping well and taking good care of yourselves.

 

See you again soon.





We're home again ....

Hallo again dear bloggy friends.  I'm home again in Devon after a wonderful weekend away in France, to celebrate Eleanor's 16th birthday.  I'm pleased to say that the journey there and back was peaceful and uneventful, with no holdups at all.  We drove over in bright sunshine, and we drove back in bright sunshine! 

 

Today I went and watched Eli in his school Nativity Play.  Isn't there something very magical and special about a school or Church Nativity Play with little ones of Eli's age.  It's always lovely to watch their little faces when they see their mummy and daddy, or grandma and grandpa in the audience! You can see them looking all over to see if they can find them.  Well, I got there early and was first in the queue, so hubby and I were sat right in the front row.  Here are a couple of photos and, although Eli wasn't very happy about being an angel, he really threw himself into it!

 

 

Back to our weekend, Eleanor was thrilled with all her pressies and thanked us all for going over.  Me, well, at sixteen, I was thrilled that she chose to spend her birthday weekend with all of us.  You have to make the most of these special moments.  Things can change so suddenly.  Next year, Eleanor could well have a boyfriend, and she will be setting off to University.  (She is presently looking at going to Madrid, where her Spanish would come in handy.)

 

I thought you might like to see a few photos!

 



Birthday cake on its way!

My beautiful daughter number 2 and granddaughter number 1!

Delighted with the Marshall headphones we bought for her.

Over the moon with her iPhone!!

We told her that these used to be called Brothel Creepers!!

Love you Aunty Alison!

Emma and Alison

How blessed am I?!

Time to blow out the candles

A walk in the forest.

 

Well peeps, I hope I haven't given you too many photos today, but, hopefully, it will give you a flavour of the lovely time we all had.

 

Bye for now my friends.

 

 

 

 



On our travels ....



 

 

Hi there everyone. I thought I would just write a little post before the weekend.

 

 

 

As you read this, hubby, Alison and moi will be in the car driving over to France, and I'm hoping that the weather and the traffic will be kind to us.  I'm hoping that it won't be like this anyway! (although don't you just love that vintage red car?!)

 

 

My son in law sent us a text yesterday, with an itinerary for the weekend.  Saturday morning we will be having an English brunch at home, heading for the centre of Paris at midday.  That afternoon, we will be visiting the Pompidou Museum Centre.  Saturday evening we will be having a meal out in a nice restaurant in Paris.

 

Sunday morning will be Eleanor's present opening followed by a roast birthday dinner in the afternoon.  Sunday evening will be spent relaxing.  I'm really looking forward to it now - we will be setting off again on the journey home on Monday morning.

 

So I will wish you all a happy weekend, and I will see you again next week.  On the Tuesday I will be watching Eli (as a little angel!) perform in his school Nativity Play. 

 

Don't forget to keep the Christmas spirit alive.

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Elf on the Shelf ....

 

 

Hi there everyone. Over here in the UK, I had never heard of the elf on the shelf before. However, daughter number one bought a little elf for Eli and Ruby this year. As you can see, daughter number 2 has been having great fun with placing Jingle around in different places. 

 

It's quite funny, because Emma said that parents wake up in the middle of the night, realizing that they haven't moved the elf all ready for when their children wake up in the morning!

 

 

The trouble is, children are so bright these days and they're asking all sorts of clever questions about the little elf, so their mummy has to be on her toes with all the right answers! In the above photo, Eli said that Jingle must be very clever, as he had obviously gone to the cupboard to get mummy's sewing thread!

 

Hubby and I will be driving over to France on Friday, hoping that there will be no hold ups this time.  We are going over there for Eleanor's 16th birthday.  Gosh, a young lady.  Where did all those years go?!

 

It will be lovely, because Alison is also coming with us.  Eli & Ruby's daddy will be looking after them for the weekend.  Only a flying visit, as we will be returning home on Monday.

 

I hope all your Christmas preparations are going well, and I'll see you again soon.

 

 

 

 

 



 



Tis the Season ....

 

Happy Sunday little bloggies.  Here we are then, at the beginning of December.  Ho Ho Ho!!

 

I might just go a little crazy over the next few weeks.  Why?!  I just love Christmas... chestnuts roasting in an open fire and all that!  I love all the pretty lights everywhere and I love that everyone seems so much happier at this time of the year (well, MOST people anyway!). 

 

We put our Christmas decorations up on Friday, so all is well in "thisisme's" household.  Oh, did I mention that I don't do 'minimal'?! Not at this time of the year anyway.  Now I realize that there may be people out there who are saying 'Bah Humbug', but please bear with me and let me have my little moment!

 

I realize, of course, that there are people out there that are struggling with all sorts of things at the moment.  Emotional relationships, money worries, health problems, losing loved ones etc.  In our little home, we have had our fair share this year, losing someone very dear, me being so very poorly back in the summer, and now Emma's back problems, but we must try not to let these things defeat us.  I know that's very easy to say, but we must keep having HOPE.  Hope that things WILL get better.

 

My lovely daughter number 1 has been having extensive physio twice a week since she's been out of hospital and we are very hopeful that things will get a little easier for her.

 

 

Of course, another reason why Christmas is something wonderful to look forward to, is little Eli and Ruby.  They are such a lovely age for it.  I give thanks every day for my three very special grandchildren.  Eleanor won't be with us this year, as she is going to Peru.  That's right - PERU!  I don't know, India in February and now this little jaunt!  Her best friend's mum is Peruvian, so she was invited to stay with them for Christmas.  Emma and Mark aren't coming for Christmas, but they will (hopefully) be hear for New Year.

 



 

 

I hope you all have a good weekend ahead.  Look after yourselves until we meet up again.

 

 

For All My American Bloggy Friends ....;

 

May I wish you all a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING day!

I hope you will be surrounded by your loved ones and, if not, I know you will be thinking of them in your hearts.

 

 

Be Thankful.

 

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown.



He's Going To Be An Angel! ....

 

Hallo again bloggy friends.  I saw this little sign the other day, and couldn't resist sharing it here with you all!

 

 

 

 

Well, I have some news hot off the press!  Guess what Eli is going to be in his school Christmas play?! He is going to be an angel, and I can tell you that he's not happy about it.  (Personally, I think he was just made to be an angel. Hee Hee!).  It doesn't help when Ruby is going around telling him that little boys aren't angels!  It is rather unusual though.  Anyway, we have told him about Angel Gabriel and that he was the main man, but I still don't think he's very impressed!  He's going to be complete with wings, but I'm not sure we'll get him to wear the halo!  Here he is in his latest school photo.

 

 

 

I suppose I had also better include a photo of little Miss Ruby - she is definitely the cheeky one!

 

 

Well, it would be unfair to leave Eleanor out, wouldn't it, so here she is with her new hair style (apologies to my facebook friends, who have already seen this one).

 

 

 

We had the little ones to sleep last weekend.  Do they look as if they are ready to go to sleep to you?!

 

 



 

Well, this has turned out to be a bit of a Sunday Snaps feature, only on a Monday instead!

 

I am getting lots of walks in at the moment, because the weather is so glorious with clear blue skies.  I then come home and light the woodburner during the afternoon - lovely.  Can't wait to put the Christmas decorations up at the weekend.  It's much earlier than I used to do that, but, since we've had little ones around again, I just love it and it's nice to have the pretty fairy lights up when the days are shorter.

 

This is a photo I took of an old steam train which runs past the coast near where I live. 

 

 

Well little bloggies, I do hope you have enjoyed my selection of photos today and I look forward to seeing you again soon.