Christmas Time :: 2010

I am devastatingly disorganised this year with Christmas goings on. Like huuugely late with just about everything. It's the twenty second today, and I finally managed to get out in the snow to mail parcels off to my family. I asked my friend who was with me if she thought the parcels would get there on time if I posted them First Class. She looked at me, shook her head and said "not a cat in Hells chance!" Ahh, that's a resounding No then. Pffffff. I sent a message to my brother asking him to tell my poor wee nephews that their Aunt Lucy is a dreadful scatterbrain, and that their gifts would be a tad late. My parents already know that their daughter is a dreadful scatterbrain and never expect things to arrive on time anyways, least of all at Christmas when there are a million and one things scrambling for my attention.

But late gifts and unwritten cards aside, the house is in full festive swing and is well and truly Decorated for Christmas. That at least is one thing that seems to've happened on time and without a hitch. Pheww.

Our tree and decs came up and down from the cellar and the attic on the twelfth of December, much to the delight of the Littlies. Oh yes, delight too for their dreadfully scatterbrained Mother who positively loves to be reunited with her beloved decorations each year. Not sure who was more excited, but it was lovely-lovely-lovely. Such a thrill to unpack all the baubles (ahhhhhhh the colours!!!), and to gently unwrap the tissue paper surrounding our favourite decorations. They did not disappoint.

The lights, well the lights were a little troublesome this year. They were quite stubbornly tangled for a while. You can see I had some untangling assistance from my little mini sidekick, he thought the lights were incredible. In-CRED-I-BLe. If you could look up from those chubby little hands and see the look of delight on his face, you would melt I tell you. Oh yes, he loved the lights so  much!

The tree, our old old artificial one from yonks back which cost us £7.50 is still going strong. And as usual, all of the decorating was carried out by the Little People. We had to do it over several days cos there was quite a bit of argumentation over who-gets-to-balance-precariously-on-the-back-of-the-sofa-to-hang-the-high-up-decorations, and I had to referee quite fiercely. But they did eventually manage between them to do a cracking good job.

I took this photograph one morning last week when the sun was streaming in through the bay window....the reflections all across the wall and ceiling were mesmerising, it was soo beautiful.

And of course at night the tree lights give the whole room that special magical Christmas glow....so glad that last year I made the switch from white lights to coloured ones, there is something very nostalgic about coloured Christmas tree lights don't you think??

And this is our fireplace....

....with the mini pom pom and snowflake garland looking quite fabby if I say so myself.

The paper snowflakes in front of the window have been a huge success and everyone who's visited our house recently has loved them. I've already decided that these will most definitely not be taken down on twelfth night, they'll stay up until the Spring time. Cos they are Seasonal rather than Festive, yup.

The beautifully coloured foil paper chains I made last week are also looking lovely, if a bit over the top. I love them, but then I do love childish things and understand they are not for everyone.

I've bought these Seasonal Tulips every year since I've lived in this house (our fourth Christmas here), they are always reliably in the supermarket and only cost a few pounds.

I know the "seasonal" bit of the bouquet only amounts to some sprayed gold twigs in with the bog standard tulips, but I love it all the same.

I also love-love-love these darling little robins, oh my goodness, they made me so ridiculously happy when I came across them squished at the bottom of one of the Christmas bags. The Little People made them last year, I think they are completely adorable and I hope they stick around for many more Christmases to come.

These are the little bits and bobs that are on our table at the moment. The Christmas house tin is a particular favourite (I bought it from John Lewis two years ago), it has a mechanical wind-up music box inside it which plays a wibbly wobbly tinny version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". We wind it up after each evening meal when the LP get to have a chocolate from the tin, and we've discovered that Little B also likes it a lot. He sits at the table in his high chair and bops to the music, very cute indeed.

These little objects were greeted with such excitement by the Little Peeps this year because they remembered them so fondly from last year and the year before that. I love the idea that through our decorations  we are tentatively building some simple family traditions around Christmas time. Creating Childhood Memories for the Little People if you like.

Makes me very happy.

Very-very-very happy in fact ♥

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Comments

[Donna]

Oh Lucy, what a beautifully decorated tree and house:0)
Such colours:0)
I too adore childish colourful things, and totally understand where you're coming from.
But they keep you young don't they ;0)
Love your decorations that you recently made hanging up on your tree too, will have to buy the pattern from you for next year. I know that if I had done them this year i would never have got all my presents made ;0)
Love little B's hands with those lights, honestly, when you post about him he makes me all broody..!
Have a super special Christmas with your brood Lucy.
Donna x

[Belinda from Melbourne]

Lovely Lucy,

What a gloriously happy Christmas your decorating must bring your family, because I just love looking at your pictures and hearing of adventures at Attic 24. It looks so cosy, wonderful and full of smiles. Wishing you and the peeps a fantastically magical Christmas, full of special family memories.

Belinda

[Gill]

Lovely post as usual and good to know it's not just me that's running later than ever this year! I agree about the coloured lights too. My first husband always insisted on white lights and a two colour colour theme throughout...BORING!! I got my own way for a few years but luckily hubby2b loves colour and quite happily allows me to indulge my childish side. Hurrah!!!

[Clare Fairclough]

I just love the fact that your decorations are all random and made by your children! so much more meaningful! I am a disney freak myself and lots of my decorations are of a theme too! You can see a pic of my cross stitched tigger decoration on my blog! http://redsmudgeramblings.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful christmas!

[Heather]

Pretty please can I come and spend Christmas at number 24 this year? Yes? Ok good I will see you at 11am sharp on the 25th!
Your tree is everything that I hope mine will be next year. I'm all about Christmas 2011. I can't wait!

Love Heather xxxxxxxxx

[Fiona]

Wow - beautiful decorations! I managed to crochet myself some snowflakes yesterday following your tutorial - thank you very much!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

[Shelley in SC]

Such delightful excitement. Love the colors. Love the sweet handcrafted decorations. I can imagine the Little People hardly want to shut their eyes to go to sleep at night!!

[Melissa P]

Such a festive, colorful Christmas! I love the tradition building that is happening in your family with every passing year.

[alisonb2]

Happy Christmas Lucy, to you and yours! Thanks for sharing this year.

[Bobo Bun]

All looking beautifully colourful and christmassy Lucy.

Have a wonderful christmas.

Lisa x

[jo]

a very merry and happy christmas to you and your family. your post has (as always) made me very, very happy! xo, jo

[Debbie O'brien]

Happy Christams Lucy from me in Australia-I love your blog-so inspirational!!! I made a few of the crochet snowflakes and posted them to my sister In Dublin-how crazy is that-LIKE THEY NEED MORE SNOW!!!! Treasure your Christmassy times with the little people-it's not the same whem they are older-mine are 13,17, and 20. It is still lovely-we all love christmas but it's more magical with the little ones! Take care and stay warm,XXDebbie

[Allyson]

Ahhh...beautiful! Thanks for sharing :)

[Jacquie]

Oh Lucy , your home looks wonderful , so festive and colourful . Such a feel good post.
I especially love your robins, I've got robins over at mine today too :0)
Have a Happy first Christmas as a family of five.
Jacquie x

[Sandi Lee]

I'm with you Lucy, childlike at heart, love your beautiful, colorful, warm happy home. Yes indeed you are building lots of happy memeories and traditions for your sweet family.
Sending you all love for a wonderful Christmas and hope all your dreams become reality.
x Sandi

[sumea]

wow...lucy!!!!! your tree is so magical!!!!! i'm not kidding you when i say i was clapping my hands like a 3 year old when i set eyes on it.. so beautiful!!!!!!!!
wishing you and yours a very joyful, happy, magical christmas xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
loads of love and hugs
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

sumea

[Andrea]

YOur home looks lovely. Have a very happy Christmas and New Year and thanks for sharing your world x

[Jennifer]

Just beautiful! Don't worry, Lucy, sounds like you are waaay ahead of me this year in the Christmas preparations. My dear dad just passed on the eleventh of this month and had been hospitalized for two weeks prior to that, so you can imagine how frantically I am trying to pull Christmas together! However, never, never, too busy to take time to have a visit with you! Have a Merry, Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

[Liz M]

I love your decorations - the tree with the coloured lights took me right back to my childhood and my grandparent's tree- it looked just the same - I have such strong memories I can smell the floor polish they used and hear the rustle of the tissue paper crowns from the crackers. Thanks for sharing Lucy!

[Darlene Garner]

Your decorations are absolutely beautiful, and you make me feel like I'm right there with you, enjoying them to the fullest. Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[Christie]

So so so happy! I'm smiling ear to ear reading this! Enjoy your time and moments with your family!

[Erin Mowry]

I love your blog and all of the colorful handmade ornaments in your recent posts! Merry Christmas!!

--Erin {erinink.etsy.com}

[Resmi]

Lucy,

Loved your Christmas decorations and excitement. Loved the ICY pictures and everything.

Wish you and your family a very lovely christmas and New Year ahead.

Lots of love,
Resmi

[Rita]

Absolutely beautiful!

[Susan Reaney]

Oh, my dear, be a little late. Stretch out Christmas a bit for everyone! Your house looks wonderful joyful and full of so many handmade things. I love those snowflake garlands. We have given in to a fake tree and I love it. i don't miss this cold jaunts out into the Minnesota deep freeze at all.

A very Merry Christmas to you!
Suz