When I think of Christmas’ from my childhood I never remember the big things, I never remember what presents I got or what presents I gave. I remember hundreds of tiny details or little ordinary moments that I try to put into our Christmas now. My mum always used to plait my hair wet from the bath so it was extra curly on Christmas day, we had new pyjamas out the packet so they always smelt new and even now that smell reminds me of Christmas Eve. We used to run to the postbox opposite our house to post the letters to Father Christmas and me and my brother used to ‘help’ my mum decorate the tree. As we got older we’d sit and wrap our presents together listening to Christmas music or watching a film. My mum would keep the cards from the previous year and we would make our own gift tags from them. She used to put our Christmas artwork up on the walls every year and tinsel hung everywhere in the house.
We very rarely spent Christmas without extended family and they made Christmas what it was and is for me. I loved having everyone around, I’m very lucky that my family have always been close and my husband has been a part of it right from when we started dating. It still makes me happy to have us all together and knowing that my boys will grow up around them. My mum would have the table set in the morning (she still does this now!) We would eat Christmas dinner with the paper hats on from our crackers and I always wanted to sit near my Grandad who told the jokes the best and would play with the toys with us. We would play board games after dinner and as I got older we would all play Trivial Pursuit right into the night.
When the boys are older I won’t remember the things we bought them or how stressed I got in the run up to Christmas. I’ll remember that Lucas says ‘deer-rein’ instead of reindeer and that his face lights up whenever he see’s a Father Christmas. I’ll think of how he helped me put decorations on the tree and wanted to wrap up one of his books to give to a friend from school. All his artwork will be kept and displayed and Arthur and Brandon will add to it over the years. We have made and all sampled his Christmas bakes and decorated glittery ornaments. He has asked Father Christmas for teddies, for him and his brothers and just that would make them all happy.
This year is special as it is the first time in many years that we will be having a Christmas dinner with all my family, we’ll be squashed round the table on different chairs and it is the first full, family Christmas for my boys.
I’m looking forward to us all being together and I’m taking a little break over Christmas to make the most of it, apart from maybe a little letter to my twins for their first birthday! Thank you so much for reading over this year, it still means so much that people take the time to read what I write. Thank you to Katie for hosting this lovely linky, I hope it continues next year and I’ll try to join in more. I wish you all a fantastic Christmas and however you celebrate I hope you enjoy the small things.
14 Comments
Love this post. All so true as we often get so caught up on the things that don’t matter that we can overlook that which does. Love the “deer-rein” too cute. My youngest is enchanted by our tree lights too. Sounds like you’ll have a fab Christmas, having the whole family makes for fun times. Enjoy xx
December 21, 2014 at 9:00 amThanks, it is so sweet seeing him fascinated by all things Christmas. It doesn’t take much to make it magical for them and I’m just going to enjoy this stage! Merry Christmas xx
December 21, 2014 at 7:30 pmThis is such a sweet post. Your big family Christmas sounds utterly wonderful & fun filled & I’m a little envious. I need to recruit more people for my Xmas. Hope you all have a very merry Christmas x
December 21, 2014 at 9:31 amYou too Vicki, I hope this Christmas is relaxing for the both of you. Honestly, just enjoy the peace it is always hectic with a big family xx
December 21, 2014 at 7:29 pmHappy Christmas Hayley to you and your family and have a wonderful break! Jess 🙂 xx
December 21, 2014 at 4:05 pmThanks Jess, as you can see I will still be messing around behind the scenes a little but looking forward to just being with family. Hope you and your lovely lot have a fab Christmas xx
December 21, 2014 at 7:28 pmOh I adore this post! Such a beautiful collection of memories and Christmas prompts so eloquently expressed. I love the little things in Christmas also. Some beautiful photos to go along with the memories. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
December 21, 2014 at 4:21 pmThank you, I have so many memories of Christmas like snapshots in my mind and my family means a lot to me. Hope you enjoy your Christmas too xx
December 21, 2014 at 7:27 pmLovely post. It really is the smallest of things that occupy the biggest part of your heart, lovely post x
December 21, 2014 at 4:30 pmThank you, that’s a sweet little expression xx
December 21, 2014 at 7:26 pmWonderful post, everything you said is so true. It’s terrible how commercialized and hysterical Christmas has become but it’s great that you have the right idea!
December 21, 2014 at 7:40 pmI loved reading this Hayley and it’s made me really excited about Christmas. I remember all the little things and I forgot about sitting and wrapping xmas presents to christmas songs with my Mum so thank you for the memory! I love that we have the privilege of making christmas special to our children- it’s so wonderful. I hope you and your gorgeous boys have a truly special Christmas together. xxxxxx
December 21, 2014 at 7:44 pmOh I love this post! I have so many wonderful memories from childhood to and like you they aren’t at all about the gifts. Have a wonderful Christmas break x
December 21, 2014 at 9:46 pmYour Christmas sounds wonderful. I love hearing about Christmas memories from people’s childhood. You are so right that you don’t remember the presents etc. You just remember the special moments. I hope that you and your family had a fantastic Christmas. Hugs Mrs H xxxx
December 29, 2014 at 9:47 am