ally's space

This time last year as the world awaited the new year, we made our vows to each other. Happy 1st anniversary to my rock. Xxx And also a huge happy new year to you all, may 2015 bring you everything you hope and wish for. Xxx Xxx

I am enjoying the break from work, in the morning I tend to get up and get everything done, washing, drying, popping out to the shops. And have found myself a few hours of quiet in the afternoon.  So I have been trying to catch up on my Christmas celebration cross stitch.  Out of the 9 blocks I am working on the 6th block so getting there.  Slowly but surely.  The new stitch along for 2015 starts mid January. I have the kit waiting but I so want to get this one finished first.  If your interested the stitch along is by the frosted pumpkin stitchery and is called story time.

Over on Carmen's blog I took part in a secret Santa swap. Well here are my gifts.... My secret Santa was carmen, she stalked me very well as I got a book that I really really wanted, chocolate, mini chalk board and chalks, mini canvas, wood pencils, an awesome hello kitty note book, a cross stitch bracelet kit, some funky postits. And an awesome cat picture. I love love love it all.  A huge thank you I feel so spoilt. I hope you all got something special from Santa. 

So I'm joining you all a day late apologies but our house has been hit with the awful stomach bug. Anyway much nicer thoughts are about Christmas.  Over on Sians blog she invites us all to share christmas memories. It all starts with At Christmas We.... I struggled with this week, but then a memory popped up, at Christmas we had a sweet bar. I remember my mum buying and hiding away all sorts of goodies in the months leading to Christmas. Then on Christmas Eve she would set up a sweet bar, well ok more that she cleared off a large side table and it was filled with bowls and jars of sweets, chocolates, Turkish delight and my favours which I have not seen in years candied orange and lemon slices. I mean can you still buy them?  Sadly I have no old photos, long story short they were all destroyed when my mum died. But I wonder if my nan has any. I would love to have a few old christmas photos. Anyway so with that in mind I have decided to set up my own mini bar to spoil the childr...

So my question is do you still send Christmas cards?  At work this year everyone donated a pound to charity and wishes everyone a fab christmas. For close family I usually wrestle the dog and with a pocket of treats take loads of pics in a hope of getting a non blurred pic. This is this years family Christmas card I think the look on his face says it all really. Total humiliation for a dog treat lol But this has meant that there are only a few cards hanging up this year. Especially as all my lot are in senior school apparently it's uncool to send cards lol So do you still send them? Make them?

Join us over on Sian's blog high in the sky where it's the Christmas Club. It's starts with At Christmas We.... Make Gingerbread, gingerbread men, gingerbread stars and ultimately a huge gingerbread house. This was last years house and once given permission the kids devoured it. This year we will be trying something different, the kids requested a rocky road house lol. So watch this space as I'm not sure rocky rock will be strong enough but hey if it all goes wrong we can just eat the ruins lol So pop over to Sians and read others stories in the christmas club. And share yours.

Our tree this year, a huge 7ft real Norwgein spruce. The kids out voted me and chose a multi-coloured scheme.  Hop over to Abi's blog (creatingpaperdreams) and check out others photo and words

Over on Sian's blog there is a new Sunday meme of the christmas club. This week is At christmas we...... Apologises for being a day late but yesterday my eldest turned 14, so I was rather busy. Anyway back to the meme.... At Christmas we....  Now I'm finding this so so hard, long story short Christmas as a child was different as my mum worked shift work as a nurse and always Christmas Day, so when we opened presents or ate dinner changed year by year. As an adult it was no big surprise when my brothers and I all worked in jobs that you worked on Christmas Day, in fact it was just another day. Roll forward a few years and now I have my own family, I am trying to start traditions, ones such as decorating the tree together, making mince pies and gingerbread men, I love board games but I think that might be a step too far. Also this year my two step daughters are with their mum and my three are with their dad and we have the day to ourselves.  So my plan (weather dependant) is to ...

Well he's rapidly turning into a young man, it feels like a short time ago when he used to sit gurgling at me when we spent one on one time together. Then along came the twins, fOllowed by lots of up heaval you have been the reason I stayed strong. I watch you and see that you are turning into an amazing mature young man.  You maybe 6ft but you will always be my baby.  And apparently too old for cake, so we agreed on a double giant cookie lol 

For the past few years Carmen whoopidoo.blogspot.com has run a secret Santa. I have received some fab pressies so thought why not join in again this year.  I was given my person and stalked them a bit, then started buying.  Well here is the parcel, I wrapped them all and placed in a giant Jiffy bag and then wrapped that as well.  The smile on the ladies face at the post office was funny.  But it's heading off to be placed under the tree of my Swapee, I hope she enjoys it as I enjoyed finding bits and bobs to post. Do you do secret Santa? At work or online?  Now I am just waiting for a message to say it's arrived safely.

Well it's here the start of advent. This year to be slight different I didn't buy the children advent calendars instead I bought  Yep 24 cute little stockings which we hung across the conservatory doors.  I will fill them each day with goodies. Day 1 saw lindor teddies Day 2 umm who knows lol I have collected coins, balls, candy canes the lot so who knows what day 2 will bring. Also yesterday I made this My cover for my Jyc/December daily book. Are you making one? Oh well I'm off now kids are calling. Happy advent