So that was Christmas 2022! Just before we bring in the New Year and say goodbye to the old, I thought, I’d write a quick post about our Christmas this year. Take a look at some snapshots of Christmas 2022:
As I’ve said in previous weeks, Christmas seemed to come very fast this year and breaking up from school late, didn’t help. I ended up just accepting that I could only do what I could do. Christmas would be how it would be. This was a blessing as I’d been ill but trying to carry on as best I could during the build-up to Christmas and once Christmas came, I couldn’t fight it anymore. My voice was gone. When I tried to speak, I would cough for ages. I just felt awful and I know I wasn’t alone. So many people in the UK went down with bad flu that proved (and still proves) hard to recover from.
Christmas Eve
For me, the Christmas feeling comes when it’s time to go to the local crib service. We’ve been going since the kids were young and I have such fond memories of them carrying the animals and figures into the stable. The service takes place outside apart from when the weather is bad it then takes place in the church.
We had a rushed day on Christmas Eve. Dave had his works-do the night before so he wasn’t going to be going out early which then set everything back. I’ve asked if his works do can be a day earlier next year instead lol. As we were running late, we didn’t have a chance to change for the crib service so turned up ill and scruffy and then heard it was taking place inside the church this year. I could have cried. Now, I was worried being inside the Church would trigger my cough too.
Anyway, we were welcomed into church warmly even though we were late (and scruffs lol). We weren’t seated together but we found seats. I love to sing carols at this time of year so felt quite sad that I couldn’t sing along. Izzy said she’d sing for me, bless her.
I got through the service with very little coughing. It was lovely, but I just find it more special outside. After the service, we went to see Great Grampy’s grave which lies just outside the church.
I soon realised why it had taken place indoors though as the sky was filled with sheet lightning and the heavens opened. Not a nice evening for Christmas Eve at all. Caitlyn and I were dropping presents off and picking Danny up from the pub. We wouldn’t wait to get home.
Back home, Dave had made the lovely annual Christmas Eve Tea, so we enjoyed that while watching some Christmas tele. Then it was time to sprinkle reindeer food in the garden. Yes, we still do it. It’s become a ritual and tradition now and the birds never mind. We also still left a mince pie and drink for Santa (this year we left red wine as it was open from cooking a few nights ago- we haven’t been in the mood for drinking ourselves) and carrots for the reindeer. Due to my bad throat and cough and to be honest, I forgot (oops!), I didn’t read “A Visit from St Nicholas” for the first time since Danny has been born, but there’s always next year. The kids put out their sacks and went to bed.
Each year, I warn them there might not be so much this year and I always have a worry, and then somehow, when every little thing is put together, it always somehow seems like a lot.
Christmas Day
The kids were so good and knowing I was ill, they waited to get up so I could get up at a reasonable hour. I really hope I’m well to enjoy it all next year. Once up, they shared Christmas best wishes and opened presents. I love sipping a hot cup of tea and watching them open their gifts, especially the surprise ones you knew they really wanted but had no idea they’d get.
Then it was time to get on the road. We go to my mum’s house for Christmas morning and dinner. When we first get there, we go to the cemetery to lay flowers on our Dad’s grave and also on Nanny and Grampy’s.
Then it’s back to mums for more presents and Christmas dinner. Christmas dinner was delicious- thanks Mum! I’m so glad I could manage to eat it. I thought about not taking the annual photos but I know I’d miss seeing them in future years.
It’s strange to think, it was only two years ago when we all had to have Christmas dinner apart. So it’s appreciated more that we’re allowed to be together again now.
Next, we went to Gran’s for the afternoon. Usually, we’d have a much-needed walk there but I had to drive or I’d have had no energy left for seeing family at Gran’s house. They were watching old Cine films and we got to see a glimpse of Dave’s Christening and Christmasses past, which was lovely.
I felt so bad that I couldn’t talk to anyone properly, but I managed to have a nice time seeing everyone, despite feeling bad.
Thanks to Phil and Suzanne we managed the annual family Christmas photo. Sadly, we missed John who left earlier and out of shot is Suzanne’s mum. Gran’s lovely neighbours always pop in every Christmas afternoon too, which is lovely.
Back at mum’s and I had my first drink of the day- a prosecco. We watched some Christmas TV- Call the Midwife and played some games. Lexy organised the re-creation of this old family pic- the kids have grown so much.
Rebecca organised a family pic of nearly all of us together xxx
She also managed to get one of us Evans-Crittens together- thank you! All that nagging for photographs pays off in the end and they do recognise the value of them too.
So, a belated merry Christmas from our family to yours. I hope you all had a happy and healthy Christmas.
Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year! I hope we all feel better soon!
Love the recreation of your old family picture!
Happy New Year!
I’m so sorry to hear you were unwell during the festive season but you seemed to have made the most of it. A lovely tradition to do on Christmas Eve and I can only hope my kids can grow up to be as considerate as your kids and not wake me up when I’m ill
Author
Thank you. I think if they were younger they would not have been able to help themselves lol xxx
It looks like you had a lovely Christmas despite being ill. Ahh! I say the same every year to the kids, that there isn’t as many presents but there always is. lol What lovely photos.
Wishing you all the best for 2023. x
Sorry to read that you were so poorly but it is lovely to see all those happy family faces. Certainly, they are something to treasure in years to come.
Wishing you all the best for 2023.
Author
Thank you. Same to you xxx