What is Christmas about?

Christmas Crackers

This is the last in the series of my Christmas Cracker posts where I have been talking about ways to keep the costs of Christmas under control. If you want to read any of the previous posts please click on the links here:

• No talk of Christmas before November       
• The Budget
• Christmas Gifts
• The Decorations
• Christmas Outfits
• Christmas Food

I think we would all agree that the easiest way to cut costs at Christmas is to step away from the mayhem that surrounds it all, simplify what you do and most of all enjoy those people who make up the fabric of your life and are important to you.

I am determined this year to enjoy my children over Christmas. So often we find ourselves bowing to the demands of others, spending too much money because it's expected and precious time slips through our fingers. We are considering creating a new tradition next year when our extension is finished and we have the space. Instead of spending all of Christmas with people we hardly see all year, we are thinking of having an open house on Boxing Day for our friends and neighbours who are on their own over Christmas instead. We do have rather a large family and it is difficult to get it right with everybody. Yet again this year I have displeased some by putting the needs of my children first. Oh well.

 I've been keenly aware this year of my children growing up and the innocent years passing. It only seems so recently that my eldest boy was pushing trains around his train track and demanding yet another train story be elaborately created. I cannot even remember when the last story was told, when that stage passed, but it did and all of a sudden here he is at secondary school with a life I hardly know about. It reminds me to cherish those moments that we so often find tedious or repetitive with our young ones, as those are the ones we miss when they've passed. 

This Christmas I intend on watching my children open their gifts. I don't plan on spending my whole day racing around after everyone else. I want precious memories to cherish.

We are spending Christmas afternoon at my mums and everyone is mucking in by bringing a part of the meal. So we can all help, it splits the cost and everybody gets to enjoy time together. Low key is the order of the day. I am really looking forward to it.

Whatever you are doing this Christmas, I wish you a really happy and fun filled time surrounded by the people who matter to you the most. 

Treasures

What did I find?

Well I survived my little foray into our loft. It is not a job I ever intend doing again. It was shameful what we had up there, shameful. I will be brutally honest and say that the fault lies firmly and squarely at the feet of my husband! Now, I am not in the habit of running him down in his absence, but he would admit it too. He finds it terribly hard to get rid of things, so I have done it for him. There were boxes up there for items that we don't even own any more. I mean a car load of boxes. I will also not admit to how many old duvets I found that my OH has insisted on keeping over the years in case they come in handy. 

Gone, gone gone.

I will however confess to a few moments of reminiscing over school books and baby clothes and the one small box of memories that were mine. Sigh, the good old days.

I found the silver locket that my parents gave me on my 16th birthday.

The pearls my Grandy let me have. Real? Not sure. Don't care.Remind me of her.

And this little owl - some things come back into fashion if you keep them long enough!

There were also a collection of things I had put up there for the children - books, shoes in certain sizes, clothes etc and forgotten about. Some I have missed the boat with , but some are perfect for now and the years to come so I'm keeping. The charity shop has benefited from a boot load too . Of course I couldn't drop off at the charity shop without a quick look.

Don't shoot me though - it is from Primark. Recycling at it's best.