On a cold and frosty morning.

There has been a real absence of cold, frosty mornings this winter. But this morning was just fabulous. K and I walked to school, admiring the sparkling frost and looking at the tracks made by her scooter wheels.
. After I had dropped her off , I couldn't resist going for a stroll with my camera.

Even though it was after 9, the sun was feeling lazy and was struggling to rise.

I ended up walking for around an hour, just taking in the beautiful light and sights along the way,

With rosy cheeks and a cherry nose, I returned home for a hot cup of tea and some much needed warmth.

 I'm sure I will have to venture out from under this cosy quilt at some point though .....

Our Christmas table.

This year our Christmas table was going to be it's usual simple self.

Red table cloth, red and gold decorations with little flecks of green on the napkin rings. These beautiful embroidered napkin "rings" were a gift from a friend f mine who lives in Singapore. I love them and look forward to using them each year.

Our house ended up being so full and busy and wonderful on Christmas day, that the table was only partially laid whenmy parents arrived.

We finished it with the cutlery and quickly sat down to eat. I didn't get a chance to take any nice pics.

 

We managed to snap a few after our main course, once peace was once more in residence (and we couldn't move from the table!)

It is nice to plan and read magazines, dream over what your "dream" christmas table would look like.

My dream Christmas table is slightly mismatched, very loud and busy. Stuffed with our favourite foods and all of our family.  These are the most important parts, anything else are just a bonus if they happen.

I wouldn't change any of it for the world.

If you would like to share words or pictures about your Christmas table, maybe you would like to head on over and share at nice day at Rosie's. She is hosting a lovely giveaway x

Looking back, looking forward.

And once again, here we are. Back at the start. There is nothing to make you feel energised and motivated, like the first day of a brand new year. So full of potential and promises. It is like the ultimate Monday!

I am sitting  in our living room, looking around at all of our Christmas bits and bobs. Smiling.
The sun is streaming in the front window and I have a steaming cup of tea in my favourite mug. Life is good.

It is January 1st, almost time to go back to work, time for our little family to leave the "holiday bubble" that we love so much. I don't feel sad that Christmas has passed, because we lived it. We lived it all.

We have enjoyed every moment of the season. We have gathered as a family and had so much fun.

2011 has been a good year for us. We have had much to celebrate.

Special Birthdays.

Happy holidays

More happy holidays.

Girly holidays!

Time for just Murray and I.

Lots of special family times.

Precious times with our precious Joe boy.

K starting school

We have welcomed new members into our family.

(not all of them human!)

And there has been a lot of growing going on.

An awful lot of growing up.

We have had some changes to our lives this year lots of good ones and some sad ones too.

We lost our precious little Bee Bee

And we "lost" our little hughes family and our Joe boy , to the sunny temptations of Spain.

2012 will hopefully be a happy and health - full year for everyone.

Filled with love.

and fun times

2011 also saw the "launch" of my little polka dot adventure -  I so hope 2012 allows the fun to continue.
 I am full of hope and new ideas.

I am looking forward to trips to Spain this year and extra special trips when they all come home to visit.

 Only 30 sleeps until I get to sniff that scrumptious boy again.

What a gift.

I have such a strong feeling that it is going to be a good year. I have absolutely no basis for this whatsoever. But it is there, all the same, in my gut.

I feel good and exciting things are coming to us all.

I have no idea what this year will actually hold.

But, one thing is for certain.

There will be as much family time squeezed into every one of these 366 days that will make up 2012, as we possibly can.

 I hope to have many many more links and photos to share of all of the fun we WILL have this year.

And in December we will choose a wonderful tree

 (although this tree will certainly take some beating. On all counts.)

Before we know it, we will have hurtled through the whole year. Returning, once again, to the magic of the Christmas season.

Full circle.

But for now, right here, right at this second?

This year is brand new. A gift yet to be unwrapped. Full of wonder. Full of promise and ours for the taking.

Happy New year my friends.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!

And gie's a hand o' thine!

And we'll tak a right guid willy waught,

For auld lang syne.

Happy New Year.

December 21st. Kirsten's first Christmas concert.

Special Christmnas Emmy was the guest of honour at K's first school Carol concert.

She sang so proudly , all the words to " I was there on the night when Jesus came"

And we were so proud.

To end the show the whole school gathered to sing a christmas message.

I still get a lump in my throat watching this wee film.

You can just see our girl in between the heads of some of the audience.

December 18th. Happy Birthday Fraser.

A day filled with celebrations, wishes made as candles were blown out and family all around us.

Dear Fraser,

Our boy is 13!

Our beautiful baby boy with the endless brown eyes and a quick smile for everyone. You were trully everyone's baby.

We laughed and sang and danced our way through your early childhood. You were always ready to entertain us with a song and performance. Our all singing, all dancing wizard and our extra special santa. We finally had to hide that suit when you were sleeping. Santa in February, is a little tougher to explain.

Your years can be marked by the characters you have played, James Bond being the most notable.

I can't believe you are beginning your teenage years.

We love you so very very much and are very proud of you. You are working so hard in school and we enjoy seeing you star in all of your extra curricular activities.

We are most proud of how you are always true to your own self. You stand up for what you believe in and have such a strong sense of self. Your confidence is inspiring.

We look forward to sharing this next year with you, where you make some big decisions at school and continue on your own journey.

With love from Mum, Murray, Kirsten and Meatball xxx