Christmas

Christmas this year was a curious combination. Time spent with friends, auntie's, uncles, siblings, parents, cousins. Dads soups, stews and pastas, rich, boozy mulled wine and perfectly crisp mince pies.  Batches of my step mothers chewy gingerbread cookies. Homemade gifts of bread bags, cookies and chocolates (nowhere near the craftathon I managed last Christmas!) A sleepy wet dog steaming by the fire. Presents made, bought last minute, wrapped, exchanged and received; with that familiar mix of genuine surprise, forced thank you's and delight. A winsome trio of babies covering everything in a sticky, baby sick scented, but joyous haze.

Yummy gingerbread. 

Home made chocolates. I'll share the recipe one of these days. 

Tree at my Dad's.

Matching Christmas jumpers (Instagram)

Frankie and her auntie May! (yes, really)

I miss that log fire already. Spot the toilet roll to mop up running noses and the box of medicine... (phone pic)

All of these things were lovely, but, decidedly less lovely was that my baby got sick with an egregious cold which turned into bronchiolitus. It was tough. Really tough. And made worse by the fact that I got a nasty cold too. We were somewhat bedraggled by the time we heaved ourselves on to Ray and Phils doorstep but feeling slightly better so we fully submitted to their comfy beds and incredible food (too knackered to take any pics, unfortunately). So no, not disastrous, just not quite what i'd hoped for Frankie's first Christmas. But with 2013 underway (whoa) , we are now busying ourselves with thoughts of a new year and a fresh start.

How was yours?