A Pause In Advent Part 4

This is my last Sunday in Advent post. OK it's Monday for us, but for many of you it is still Sunday. As I've travelled through blogland this week I've noticed how many of you are now living in a different world - it's snowing. Goodness doesn't it change the look of the place! Suddenly it's so perfect and pretty looking.

The girls are horribly jealous of this white stuff as only the two bigger girls have ever been in snow before. And that was just on the side of the road on a long trip down to Wellington. We have some snowy mountains several hours from here and apparently they actually had a sprinkling of snow on them last week! I thought it was summer?!!

Today I want to talk about my favourite part of Christmas. And that is the time it gives all of us. There is no rushing out doors, no lunches to prepare, no timetables, nothing is expected of us, we can finally rest and rejuvenate. It's so good to be able to do this.

We are lucky because hubby also loves holidays and takes about five weeks off work to spend time at home with his family. Of course he doesn't get paid to be at home and February is a pretty lean month, but it's so worth it.

The girls get to spend time with both of us doing fun things. Sometimes separately, sometimes all together. Board games make a come back as do messy crafts. The girls enjoy each other's company more when they spend more time together and keep themselves busy whilst we big people read, do puzzles, or just generally relax.

Occasionally we go out of the house for an outing, but it's rare. This time we will be going away for a week, which is something we haven't done for over three years. We will drive for about eight hours and stop maybe two times. Our girls are brilliant travellers and don't seem to go to the toilet very often! Makes for good driving.

We will visit family and friends while we are away and spend special time with them. The girls will love it and we are desperately hoping we will too. It's always really hard going away with children who have food intolerance's and allergies. And of course I am now gluten free on top of dairy free so going out for a meal is really hard. It really is the biggest reason we don't holiday more often. We do take a big box of food with us, but it's not as easy as staying in our comfort zone - home.

We do love home, and three of our four girls prefer to stay at home than go out. And that's the three who had no idea what they wanted for Christmas! Brilliant!!! Actually No.2 just wanted to spend special time with her parents, on her own, this Christmas. That's a bit hard with three sisters but it seems to be really important for her. We will try very hard to give her that one on one time.

Time these holidays will give me time to teach the girls new things. Maybe they would like to learn how to cook something special (like jam she's hoping!), do some sewing, perhaps learn embroidery. Or maybe they can teach me something.

There will be lots of aunts, uncles and a sweet little cousin here for a few days too, which will be fabulous. Nothing like extra excitement at Christmas!

We don't often get to see our extended family, so it's pretty fun for the girls when there are lots of trips to the airport planned. My parents are doing most of these trips but the girls are all having turns going too. And for the first time in years, my parents are coming to stay with us. And the funny thing is, they just live seven minutes away! It's all about fitting everyone in at different houses and this just seemed to work best. The girls will love it!

I have shown you photos of what I've been up to lately. I made the nighties yesterday. This morning I looked at No.4's one, and it suddenly reminded me of a Pictureka board! She doesn't like it even though she picked the fabric, it's just too new. Not too keen on change. Being mean I made her wear it anyway. Ah... she'll get over it!

I hope you have also finished your Christmas shopping like me (she gloats!!) and are able to spend some precious time with your family. I'm off to do that now, in my pj's, to have breakfast with the girls. I love it!

A Pause In Advent Part 3

Here we are, late as usual, but feeling suddenly much better about things which is always nice to hear, is it not? So it's the 3rd week in Advent which means Christmas is just around the corner now. Sorry for reminding you, please don't throw that at me.

This week, my topic is to remember that Christmas is also the season for giving. Being on The Challenge I have been rather challenged in this area. I have to admit to buying some items as there is only so much of me to go around and time is of the essence these days. Please forgive me, but golly I have tried.

And speaking of lacking in time, just in the nick of time, guess who arrived on my doorstep on Friday????

Yee Ha!! Yes those wonderful creatures, Santa's elves! And boy have they whipped up a storm around here. I hardly recognise the place. The window frames and the blinds have all been cleaned in every room (actually the dear husband did that!), the floors vacuumed (well some of them), the bathrooms are sparkling (OK the guest one is and now the girls are forbidden to enter it), the entrance way is mopped (because someone peed all over it), and we are trying to keep the place a little tidier (and failing miserably as No.4 is quite against tidiness).

But anyway, look what those dear little elves have baked... Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies. The smell was truly divine.

Strawberries have been chopped in preparation for Strawberry Jam...

Apricots, bananas, pineapple, passion fruit were prepared for Fruit Salad Jam and apricots for Apricot Jam...

And just look at how nicely they are displayed! Those elves really now how to set the scene for blogging don't they? Bless their little green slippers.

Baskets have been filled with treats for giving to teachers, friends and family... for this is the season for giving. (The school teachers were very grateful for their homemade treats today too! I forgot to take the kindy presents, left them on the table can you believe it??? Yes you probably can actually.)

Sweet little bags with red gingham bows adorn the cookies and Christmas tarts...

And just look at this glorious sight! A fruit cake made and given to us by my Mother, brimming with nuts, (that cost an absolute fortune which nearly caused my mother to faint at the counter!!) whole fruits and all gluten free.

Look what we were gifted from last week's kindy activity. Our third little pasta, button, matchstick, tinsel wreath spray painted in silver made by our clever little No.3. These are my absolute favourite all time decorations. Here they all are, just one more to come in a year or two.

And along with quite a few other bloggers, we put up our Christmas tree in the weekend. The girls did it all themselves and had, well, a grumpy time. No.4 was sent to her room just after this photo was taken because she really was loosing the plot!). It does look rather lovely with the twinkling lights at night. Unfortunately as it doesn't get dark until after 9pm the girls really don't get to enjoy it as much. They do each have a mini tree by their beds which is so festive and special for them.

So yesterday and today we have been wizzing around the country side leaving little parcels on doorsteps. No Christmas cards have been written around here, but presents have been delivered instead. Well you can't do everything can you?

Now I really must be off and cook some dinner. Senior Prize Giving tonight and husband is taking No.1 to sing in the choir, and who knows about the prizes.

My wish for you this week is for your Christmas shopping, card writing and present wrapping
to be finished and you are sitting back relaxing with a mince pie and a glass of wine.

Pause In Advent 2

Well if Lorraine has only just posted her second Advent post today, maybe it's not too late for me to do the same. It's just been such a very busy week for me and I haven't had time to do much around the house at all. You can only imagine how it's looking!! It's all so lovely having so many Christmas events at this time of year, but my goodness they do get in the way of everyday life.

I have so many things I could tell you about but I just don't have the time. Still, I'm sure you all have beautiful photos just itching to get on here as well.

So, Week 2 of Advent. This week we are talking about traditions in our family. I love building traditions for our girls to look forward to. There are quite a few now and some of them I have put on notes in the Advent Calendar. I think it's these traditions that really make Christmas what it is - special.

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We all look forward to a few things in particular. There's the annual Santa Parade which really sparks things off for us. This year's was the day before my birthday, and actually it wasn't too bad for a change.

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We usually put the tree up at the beginning of December, but this year we will putting it up later. We let the girls do all the decorating except the lights. Because they are all so opinionated and bossy this gets done fairly well. Just the odd adjustment here and there for asthetics and that's it.

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We take the girls out late one night closer to Christmas Day to see 'the lights'.

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The girls and I make and write Christmas cards for our friends.

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The letter to Santa gets a special session - today.

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And on Christmas Eve we all go to the Children's Service at church.

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Oh and another naughty tradition that started a couple of years ago, is to open any one present each under the tree that night. That's actually so much fun and probably the one present that gets more attention than all the others, although we do open all the presents on Christmas Day very slowly throughout the day, so they are enjoyed. (We had a nasty experience with ungrateful children a number of years ago and some presents were then hidden away!!)

And speaking of presents, look what Pomona gave me for my birthday...

Five pieces of vintage fabrics just perfect for patchwork, and these absolutely beautiful postcards with silver glitter accents. Aren't they just amazing?

This just might be my favourite one! I'll never be able to part with them I'm quite sure. Although it would be nicer for me to share their beauty wouldn't it? We'll see.

They did arrive in time but I've just been to busy to photograph them and post them. What a kind thought from a lovely friend. Thank you very much!

Well now I must go and start proceedings for the Letters to Santa. One must supervise such an important event!! Hope you are all enjoying the nice bits and not getting too frazzled too often!

A Pause In Advent

Dear Floss has started up "A Pause in Advent" for us to share our thoughts, memories, traditions or whatever we like in the lead up to Christmas. It's a moment to think about what's important in life. You must visit her blog and read what she has written. She writes so well.

So anyway I'm probably the last one to contribute as I've been a bit busy sorry. I know you all have too, but you'll understand what I mean in a minute. Anyway I thought that I would put together an Advent wreath of sorts yesterday, (yes late again!) and this is what we ended up with. Not bad really.

I asked No. 3 to bring me in some special shells from the garden and instead No.4 brought me a large pile of broken shell bits. Well they would be a good base product so all was good. Eventually I received a few nice shells that we placed around the neck of one of the candles.

No. 4 brought me six nice pieces of white rock which I thought perfect to represent our family. Nice going lovey! Later on after school No.2 thought some small twigs would look nice in the third container. We'll see what No.1 picks today. She must have been busy (or in trouble!) yesterday.

So this week we will be thinking about our family. As I have said in the past I feel very fortunate to have four daughters and such a loving husband. I also have wonderful parents who are always there for their granddaughters and us and live only minutes away. Very handy when someone breaks an arm or some such!

The girls have been lucky enough to know one set of their great grandparents as well, although there's only Gran now. They see her most weeks and they love her. It's good for children to have older people in their lives. The can teach them about history and other important
things.

So this month I have decided to spend less time on the computer and more time doing fun things with my family. We have some exciting activities planned in the Advent calendar which will require time in planning and doing. All good fun. I will probably only post weekly for a while and probably not be able to visit as many blogs as usual. Please don't be offended if I don't leave my usual comment, I do care what you are up to, I just don't have as much time right now.

The lovely Michela has sent me a Christmas parcel. Just look at the card! What a laugh. She calls me Mrs Red Gingham and uses every opportunity to use the fabric.

And what a fitting doll. Isn't she the cutest?!!! She's made from an overlocking thread cardboard cone. Isn't that a great idea? Of course I love her apron.

Have you ever seen such amazing buttons before?!! They are cut from shell and the red ones must be dyed I think. I have decided to use some of them on my Christmas Garland when we finally get around to making one. They will be perfect.

And if that wasn't enough, there were also these wonderful sweets. I had to try one just to see if I liked them of course. And yes indeed I did! That's the only one gone, which is quite impressive, is it not? The others are on display on the buffet, and fingers off!!

I was wearing the perfect coloured tee-shirt for my flash new necklace too. What a generous present. Thank you so very much Michela! I love all of it. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas too. Gosh, aren't friends wonderful?

Remember my birthday? Here's the pavlova cake my dear mother made for me. See, only six candles! Actually most of you were fairly on the button with my age. I am 38 now. Anything with a three at the front is quite acceptable for me.

And that dear husband of mine bought me this lovely winter wonderland house. I've taken the photo at night but the flash keeps going off so you miss the whole night light thing. I'll have to work on that one. It's like a pop-up book with little stars on the book that change colour. The snow icicles light up as well, as does the stream and the inside of the house. It's absolutely beautiful, so twinkly and pretty.

Goodness you should have seen the girls with their armloads of presents on Sunday! There were 11!!! craft magazines, several novels, the new CK Sew book, cutting mat, quilting ruler, fat quarters, chocolates and a few other goodies too. That man of mine is just the best when it comes to birthdays. He puts me to shame when it comes to his, and it's less than a month from now as well. Time to panic!

Well I think that's it for me today. Hope you all have a good week with less rain and more fun.

Love Sarah xxx