I wish I had a rewind button on my Christmas 2016. It was over before I knew it. I woke with a rotten head cold and I seemed to have lost my Christmas spirit somewhere in December. Anyone else feel the same this year?

I guess it didn’t make things any better with two non believers in the house now. At ages 12 and 10 my children no longer believe in Santa so some of the magic was missing this Christmas. No photo with Santa. No travelling around the neighbourhood to see Christmas lights (rather opting to walk a couple streets away from where we live). No leaving carrots out for the reindeer or cookies and milk for Santa. All those little things I got so much joy from and seeing the kid’s faces. Oh well. They have to grow up sometime.

Plenty of Gifts but no Photos

They still got a real thrill with their Christmas presents and most of them were thrifted or free. Later on in the evening, when I was looking at my social media accounts, I got really mad with myself that I didn’t even get a photo of the whole family together. In fact, the above photo is the only one I got of the kids. It’s just something I still can’t get into the habit of doing. I think I’d rather be watching and trying to keep the memory alive in my head rather than taking time out for photos. Besides, I was so stuffed up with a head cold, I was just trying to take one minute at a time and enjoy myself when I really wasn’t in the mood. 

Homemade Goodies for Gifts

I made quite a few presents for friends, family and neighbours this year. Decorated cookies, cashew fudge and English caramel along with some high fat, low carb chocolate and pecan fudge for my sister which she loved.

My husband bought me some lovely things, all at the last minute mind you, but I wouldn’t expect anything different from him. He loves to work under pressure he tells me. They were all beautiful.

Christmas Dinner

Waking up with a stuffed nose and sneezing and sniffling on Christmas morning didn’t put me in a very good mood and then when I turned the oven on to cook the pork crackling and roast vegetables, the element blew so no oven. It was a mad scramble to use the microwave and grilling compartment on the stove. The crackling didn’t turn out as good as I would’ve liked but everyone loved the roast pork, leg ham and vegetables. The desserts of individual vanilla berry cheesecakes went down a treat too. (Recipes to come.)

Grateful for Ex-Husband & His Wife

My kids are with their Dad now, as I write this post, probably heading to the airport for 10 days in Hawaii. I gave them a couple US dollars spending money but my sister gave them quite a bit. I hope they don’t get too excited and spend it on silly things. Their step mum was telling me they have a helicopter tour booked over one of the live volcanoes so I’m sure that will be a highlight of their young lives. Such a wonderful opportunity for them and I’m forever grateful to my ex-husband and his wife for treating them to such special things.

My kid’s step mum also gave me the most beautiful present from the kids as well. She helped them create a big poster board collage for each of them with photos of them at various events and places they have taken them to over the year. It was such a nice present and very thoughtful. I feel so happy to be one of the lucky ones who has a good relationship with their ex and his wife.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. It seems my internet is working, for now, so I hope to be back to a more regular blogging schedule over the next couple of weeks. I’m sorry I didn’t get the Christmas Round Up post out as promised. It really made me feel down about Christmas too. Five days without internet just isn’t good for a blogger. I’ll be sure to make it a weekly round up next Christmas for sure.

Enjoy the rest of your festive season.