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Friday 29 December 2023

Friday's Fave Five - 29/12/23


And it's Friday again!  Time to look back on the blessings of the past week and share them here.  Thanks to our host Susanne for reminding us each week.  We often do need to take a step back and realise how fortunate we are.

1)  Christmas hampers all packed and delivered to the beneficiaries of the Food bank.  I helped out last Saturday with packing the final items into hampers then Hubby and I delivered 3 of them.  I was really pleased to see the amount of food that we were able to provide to people but saddened to see how many people were going to be on their own for Christmas dinner - opting for a Ready Meal rather that any sort of joint.  The hampers also had a lot of treats in them as well though so hopefully they will have given some enjoyment to all our beneficiaries.  It was a lovely atmosphere amongst the volunteers while we were preparing the hampers and I'm glad to have been a part of it.

2)  Christmas with all the family here.  Our eldest son and his family had been here since Thursday 21st but our other son and our daughter and all their families were here for Christmas Day.  14 of us in total.

I was up to midnight the night before getting everything prepped.  And once I'd worked out my timetable I was able to go to bed not feeling stressed.


They all laughed at how detailed my list was - even down to reminders about putting condiments on the table but knowing I'd left nothing to chance made me feel a lot more in control!

We didn't get a decent photo of all of us at the table - and it was hard getting all the grandchildren to sit still for a photo - these were probably the best of a bad lot:


Ella, Rory, Nathan, Noah, Vinny & Miles


3)  Good weather on Boxing Day so that they were able to take the children to the park for some fresh air and to run off some of their energy.  

4) Quiet time today.  My son and his family left for their home in Nottingham this morning and, although I loved having the whole family here for Christmas it was nice to just be able to sit and relax.

5)  I'm thankful that we made the move to this house when we did.  It is a bit crowded when we're all together but there is room for us all to be together and for everyone to sleep over as they did Christmas night.  The layout in our previous house wouldn't have made it possible for us to do that.  Of course as the children get older and bigger it won't be so easy but hopefully we're making lots of happy memories for them to be able to look back on.

And now the New Year approaches.  Hubby and I will probably celebrate it quietly as we usually do.

Happy New Year to you all.

11 comments:

  1. Happy new year to you and yours, Wendy!! The kids are all growing up fast, aren't they!! (Not really a question since it's pretty evident!) I agree that it feels good when we can get back to a more normal routine when company goes home. Yes, it does feel good. Making memories is so important. though!! Hugs!

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  2. Quietly is the only way to celebrate New Year's. Happy New Year!

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  3. What a sweet photo of the grands! Your Christmas sounds a bit like ours although we only had 8 and the grands are all teenagers now. Still, it was sometimes chaotic but wonderful.
    Having the extra rooms in the house and the option for everyone to stay overnight is worth the move.
    We too are back to quiet tonight which we do appreciate.
    Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  4. So glad you had a nice Christmas with all of the family gathered. I think the pictures of your grands are so sweet. I hope you have a good week and a very Happy New Year! See you again soon.

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  5. Sounds like a lot of fun. I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles to get the group shot lol. We always wonder how other families do it because we cannot seem to get everyone in place for a group shot ever. I take what I can get and enjoy the moment. I know it was fun chaos and I'm sure you'll enjoy the quiet now too.

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  6. I'm like you, Wendy! I make detailed lists. That way I can plan ahead of time. Such cute grandchildren. I'm glad you were able to have all your family together. You mentioned on my blog that you wait for 12th night to take down decorations. My sweet mother-in-law was English and she would gently chide me every year for not waiting until then. But then, when my husband was alive, I kept them up until New Years Day. Happy New Year.

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  7. Love the photo of the grandchildren! I'm a list-maker, too, but not good with the computer. So, I handwrite mine. Like yours, no detail is too small! Happy New Year, Wendy.

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  8. Wow, what a Christmas, and the list of the perfect housewife, lol ! The children have grown ! No babies anymore. When they are grown up you put them all in sleeping bags in the living room that what Dario did when Toby invited 7 friends and they wanted to spend the night together ! Each kid had brought an airbed and a sleeping bag. That's what I did when Dario was a child. At 2 am Dario had to exercise his authority, as they were still chatting !

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  9. Happy New Year, love the photo of the grandchildren. I enjoyed hearing about the Food Bank.
    Love, Carla

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  10. How lovely to have all the family together under one roof! I know what you mean--I dearly love having everyone and all the meals and fun things, but I do need a couple of days of rest and quiet time afterward.

    I agree about needing reminders to myself of everything needed for a big meal, or else I'll forget.

    It was so good to be able to send hampers to folks.

    Happy 2024!

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  11. How fun that everyone was able to be together for Christmas. That is a real blessing! I need to try your detailed list idea as I'm always forgetting one thing or another. Wonderful that Christmas hampers were packed for those who needed that help at Christmas. Happy New YEar to you!

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