Cleaning house is the norm on New Year’s eve and today the whole family joined in the kids doing upstairs while Mommy cleared away the Christmas decorations and bottomed the living room and kitchen. I joined in later when we double teamed the kitchen and made it New Year ready. I had spent a couple of hours in my shed but lacked the mojo from yesterday so saw little point staying in there when I could be warm in the house.

A traditional Pick n mix tea was laid out on the kitchen table which we ate while watching the film Dumb and Dumber To which Reagan didn’t want to watch which left Lincoln Mommy and me to laugh hysterically at and also cringe at when a couple of scenes were definitely not appropriate for Lincoln’s eyes but a cushion over his face navigated himself through those bits lol

We also played Mommy’s favourite game Yahtzee which she trounced us at twice before the film became the main event. A good NYE so far and its still early yet…

Went for a walk this morning with Billy to Norman’s Wood and back and this afternoon we went for a walk with Jamie’s friends from church and did the Middlewich Walk stopping for coffee at the Big Lock

We bought me mum a new LG TV because hers had the same fault as our Samsung TV had, I say we Karl Karen Helen Andy Jamie and me. We set it up for her on WiFi and added the main apps on it iPlayer ITVX etc and showed her around the remote and left her to it. I think she likes it I will give her a call tomorrow to make sure.

Knocked the cobwebs off with a walk up to Norman’s Wood this morning which was a really great way to get the blood flowing after eating a lot yesterday and in preparation for much the same at mums later

After missing out last year due to a COVID outbreak at our house it was great to be all together again, especially when Auntie Karen was there too which made today even better!

Auntie Helen and Andy had to leave early evening to go see Andys sister but we talked and ate ate and talked all day until around 9pm it was time to go see how the Billster was doing.

It’s always been a similar traditional day at 14 Cledford Crescent since I was born, a big turkey dinner followed by Christmas pudding and brandy sauce, then get all that washed up before starting to get tea ready which is a cold meat salad followed by mums trifle (the crowning glory) everyone loves that trifle!

After taking Billy for a walk we were not long out of bed so an episode of I Should Have Died and sleep. A great day from start to finish

This afternoon was spent watching movies and baking, I watched It’s a wonderful life, before taking Billy and got back to watch The Grinch. It was a little later than usual when we got around to watch our traditional Snowman movies, the children are growing up and as much as we want them around us at Christmas we don’t nurture that throughout the year and they are used to being in their rooms with their friends.

Tonight was different I think because they felt a sense of duty to be with us because if they didn’t Christmas might not happen. The Santa prep was very matter of fact, a cup a coffee  and a mince pie was put on the table infront of the fire along with a carrot and they went to bed, no ceremony no imagination or magic “night”

This morning Church laid on a breakfast this morning and afterwards both the children sang Away in a Manger up on stage followed by Jamie’s solo singing Mary Don’t You Know all three made me so proud and warranted the applause from everyone in the room.

We went to visit my Dad afterwards and dropped off a card and a couple of gifts for him and Liz but although they were really pleased to see us all they had other plans so it was a short stay as they wanted to go to the Chippy before it shut(?) so we left.

I have never been the driving force behind anything Christmas but I have always put 100% effort into the kids Christmas even if it’s been Mommy leading the way, but to see them slowly growing out of it all is going to be so disappointing…we love being their Santa. Now if they’ll just go to sleep before midnight we can go to bed too

I hope one day, like I did, they realise how much love parents pour into making Christmas special for their children.

[edit] Jamie just fell down the stairs, from top to bottom, luckily she travelled said distance on her ass which cushioned the fall so to speak! She’s lay on the couch at the moment rubbing it (ooo I say!) and also finding other impact area of significance around her body. Hopefully the aches and pains won’t hamper her tomorrow when the adrenaline wears off?