Merry Christmas

I love Christmas Eve. Even though the children are bouncing off the walls and there's still a lot to do, there is something about this day that makes me not mind the cooking, the preparing of guest rooms, the last minute wrapping. I would even go so far as to say that I enjoy it. 

Late last night I finally finished the crocheted dog and polar bear I am making Angus and Bella for Christmas. I'll show you them another time but they are pretty cute. I hope they are well received, as I really do love to make the kids a little handmade something or other each year to supplement the other gifts under the tree. 

Later on today, the kids and I will go to my sister's for mince pies and drinks, but I don't think Christmas will start properly for me until about seven tonight when John gets home and we open the prosecco and do our little Christmas Eve rituals with Bella and Angus. John has four days off this Christmas (four!) and we will cherish every single one. We are at my parents' tomorrow. Part of me wanted to host Christmas lunch but I can't deny that their range cooker and enormous dining table is better suited to catering for ten than our single oven. We have friends coming to stay on Boxing Day and after that, well I have no plans. Except to read, do some jigsaws, crochet, go for walks, eat, drink, lie on the sofa, watch Agatha Christie dramas on TV, play with Bella and Angus, catch up with some blogs. 

I made a gingerbread house from scratch this week, and it was a lot of work. Fun, yes, but extremely time consuming. Making gingerbread has always been one of my Christmas rituals but I think that a whole house may be a step too far. 

I followed my friend Rachel's advice and decorated the walls before assembling them, which was loads easier, and I'm pleased with my piping and my little star shaped stained glass windows (made from bashed up boiled sweets). I especially like the flake chimney with it's topping of snow.

But I think I may buy a kit in future - I'm sure homemade tastes better but it seems to me that the gingerbread house is more about the fun decorating with sweets rather than the quality of the gingerbread underneath. 

The kids are allowed to demolish it on Christmas Day but I just want to look at it a little longer because it is very pretty. 

Merry Christmas my friends. Thank you for you friendship and support, for reading, for your comments, your interest. I hope you all have a very happy and peaceful break.