The tree is up, the letters to Santa have been sent and we’re all starting to feel festive in our house. Jessica and Sophie have been enjoying opening their advent calendars each day and counting down to Christmas. The Playmobil calendars have been a big hit this year. The only downside is all the tiny bits though which I end up searching for when tidying up each evening. I’m hoping we can make it to Christmas Eve with at least one complete set!
As much as I love the festive season, the run-up to Christmas is also tinged with a little sadness. It is exactly eight years today since my dad passed away. I was putting up the Christmas tree when I got the call from my mum to say he had been taken to hospital unexpectedly. He died three days later. Putting up the Christmas tree always reminds me of my dad and makes me miss him a little more. He loved Christmas and having all the family around to celebrate together. It makes me sad that my girls will never know their grandad and what a wonderful man he was. He would have absolutely adored them.
Things I have loved this week:
- Being able to get the Christmas shopping for the girls done while they enjoyed going to the Girls’ Brigade District Advent event.
- An afternoon at Chiltern Open Air Museum for their Victorian Christmas weekend.
- Getting Sophie’s Girls’ Brigade uniform.
- Going to see the Reception Nativity play with Sophie’s preschool group.
- Jessica and Sophie decorating their little wooden Christmas tree. It was bought for Jessica for her first Christmas. The first time we put it up was when she was on PICU recovering from her second open-heart surgery at 14 weeks old.
- Making a couple of special presents for my family.
- Reading Christmas stories from our book advent calendar with the girls each night.
Sorry about your Dad Louise, I can understand how it brings back memories every year. It sounds like the girls are having lots of fun this festive season, I bet excitement is high at your house right now. Have a lovely weekend x
Thank you Angela. It makes the festive season quite bittersweet but I like to focus on all the happy memories x
What a lovely, festive week. Putting up the tree must bring such mixed emotions for you, with the girls happy and excited and you remembering a wonderful man. I see you in him there. Sounds like the girls are getting geared up for the season, schools and nurseries do whip them into a frenzy, don’t they?! Thanks for sharing with #WotW
It does bring mixed emotions although there are so many happy memories to focus on too. The girls are really enjoying the run-up to Christmas x
Sorry to hear of your lose, I can imagine it being really tough. But I am sure he would be really proud of you and your girls. Looks like you had lots of festive fun. Have a good weekend X #wotw
Thank you, I know he would have absolutely adored my girls 🙂
I’m so sorry about your Dad, it really brings it home when someone passes during a festive season. My Mum passed away 9 years ago this Christmas Day. I try not to think about it too much but I do light a candle for her at 4pm the time she passed. Maybe you should turn it around and instead of feeling sad when you put up your tree use it as a time to remember all the good things about your Dad and see putting the tree up as a tribute to him? Just a thought xx
I love the excited Jessica photo when she met Santa, how gorgeous x
Lighting a candle is a nice idea. I do try to focus on the positive memories and there are certainly plenty of them to look back on x
Ahh! Festive is my #WotW too! It seems to be the week where Christmas has really hit….
I am so sorry about your dad….Sending big hugs.
Aww! Jessica looked so excited to see Santa. How lovely!
Thanks Kim, I love that photo of Jessica x
Aw sending you love Louise it must me hard missing your Dad, but the rest of the week looks lovely, I so miss he nativity its amazing having older kids so much to be grateful and excited for but I also miss the Carole Services and Nativity x
Thank you Sarah x
A very festive week for you 🙂 Christmas always brings memories of loved ones, hugs to everyone xx
Thank you Karen x