Pets make a great addition to any family, they are someone to cuddle, someone to talk to, someone to look after, someone to love.
This probably seems like a really random blog post but I started this blog to document one of the most important days of my life (our wedding) and since then I have found it my place to write about the things I like, that make me, me as well as the things that are important to me in my life.
I’m so sad to say that our guinea pig Captain died yesterday, Sunday 20th September 2020 ๐ญ๐ He was such a lovely chap! An old boy at 6 years and 2 months old. Our first pet together (with Remus ๐) back in 2014, when we moved into our flat.
You were adorable when we saw you at Pets at Home, we both knew you were coming home with us! We’ll miss you squeaking to say hello (or FEED ME) as we come in the front/lounge door.
Thanks for being my little lockdown buddy.. you were great company!
We’ll miss you Captain (Gothmog) Byford๐ ๐น . RIP Buddy X
I love documenting what we get up to in the Summer holidays.
Though thanks to Covid we didnt actually have a Summer ‘holiday’, I also didn’t have to work this Summer, so I had all six weeks to enjoy, have fun and relax ready for Sept!
So, without further ado, let’s have a look at what we got up to…
You’re starting school today, But weren’t you tiny just yesterday? How can it be? Didn’t you just turn three? . You’re starting school today, Little forever I wish you’d stay, It makes me both happy and sad, But the little boy you’ve become, hes pretty rad. . You’re starting school today, They grow up quick they say, I’m so proud that I could burst, I can’t wait to see you ace yet another ‘first’. . You’re starting school today, My little Casey James you’ll stay, Your going to be amazing, hilarious, the class clown, Especially with your sassy frown. . You’re staying school today, Have fun, makes friends and play, Off on adventures on your own, Running crazy, accident prone. . You’re starting school today, It seems scary, you’ll be ok, At school I know you will be great, Now it’s your time to go through that gate. . You’re starting school today ๏
Let me just start by saying Merry Christmas! I hope you all have the best christmas day with your loved ones. Eat, drink, be merry and care free.
Christmas eve pt 2
The evening
Here is the second half of our Christmas Eve adventures.
Our tradition, and one of my absolute favourites, is our Christmas lights tour of our home town.
We have usual hot spots that we visit each year but I also like to keep an eye out, in the few weeks leading up to Christmas, for any other lights that would be good to drive by.
My twin sister Sarah usually comes but she wasnt able to this time as she was working so my husband drove us, mum, and my two nephews around.
Once we had seen our share of lights we headed back to the boys house and gave them their Christmas eve boxes.
Once they had munched on some chocolate, it was time for Christmas PJs, setting up for Santa C and a festive bedtime story.
I got my two nephews and niece matching Christmas pjs, the same print but the boys were blue and Evie’s were pink.
They were lovely, and only ยฃ7 each from Asda.
I got them all a size up so they can have them for next year too.
All ready for Santa! ๐๐ ๐ป
Once the boys had listened to ‘The Night Before Christmas’ story and gone to sleep we settled down to have our Nachos and watch some Christmas tv.
We watched ‘Father Christmas’ and the Christmas Eve episode of Eastenders ready for tomorrow.
It was nice to chill after a fun but busy day!
& of course when I got home I had to get ready for Santa myself…
That’s it for another year of Blogmas, it goes by quicker every year!!
This is where Christmas really starts. I definatly count this as one of the big ‘Christmas days’ inc Christmas day ans boxing day and any subsequent family Christmas days after these few days.
The day started off by having a Christmas Eve brunch with my sister and my niece Evie-Mae.
After brunch we had a look through Evies Christmas eve box…
Last night we had a festive film night at my twin sisters house, perfect for getting you into the festive spirit. Plus, as you may have seen from my previous Blogmas post that I did a couple of days ago, I’ve made a list of the christmas films I want to get in before the end of the holiday season.
‘The film centres on Buddy, a human who was adopted and raised by Santa’s elves. He learns about this ans heads to New York City to meet his biological father while also spreading Christmas cheer in a world of cynics.’
Then we watched Home Alone…
‘The story follows eight year old Kevin McCallister who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation. Kevin initially relishes being home alone, but soon he has two burglars to contend with.’
I’ve never actually watched this film properly, and all the way through so people were very insistent that I did this year. I did enjoy, it was an easy to watch film and Kevin is very sweet.
I wouldn’t say it’s one of my absolute faves but I would definatly watch it each year.
And of course, when you are watching christmas films, you need snacks!
I brought along I chocs from my Christmas stash…
After the films we played a game of Articulate. It’s a great game for the family and it’s a laugh too!
You’ll suprise yourself with some of the ridiculous things you say under pressure.
When I got home I finished all of my wrapping so I can fully enjoy the next few pre Christmas days!
So, of course Christmas day is the big day we all countdown to but I love Christmas eve and boxing day too.
Over the years we’ve added traditions to these days as I think they are just as good a day to celebrate as the 25th.
When my nephews, and now my niece too, came along I started a tradition of doing them a Christmas eve box each.
Its just a few little fun things but it really builds the Christmas excitement, the day before, and I like that it’s my little tradition that I do with them โฅ๏ธ
So, what to put in a Christmas eve box?
In loads of supermarkets and shops in town they are now selling either ready made or empty ‘Christmas eve boxes’.
I like to fill mine myself as my nephews and niece are all different ages and I like to pick things that I know they would like.
I picked up the christmas boxes I’m using last year…
Places like Wilko, Card Factory, B&M,The Works, Tesco, Asda all have their own ones on offer.
What do you put in it?
Here’s what I have gone for this year…
(This is the content of my nieces box, she is two and a half years old, but it’s not particularly girly, my nephews have got pretty much the same.) I will add some extra ideas at the end too.
A Christmassy story.
I love books and I think its so important to get children interested in reading. My Niece loves books so I got her this Christmas classic.
Christmas Arts & crafts
I love popping something fun in, and it gives you something arty to do on Christmas eve, to keep the little ones occupied.
I got my niece this little ‘Make your own wreath set’ she has her own little tree this year that she loves so I thought she would like her own Christmas wreath to hang too.
Chocolate coins
A christmas classic item and a nice little treat.
Some cute little Christmas bath puppets (although they don’t have to just be used in the bath!)
My niece loves a bath so I thought she would enjoy these in general, but also on Christmas eve when she is getting all cosy and ready for bed.
Christmas pjs/new pjs
And on the same cosy theme I got her some new festive pjs to pop on after her bath. I went for these super cute festive ones from Asda. I loved the print and they had ones you could get for different ages to match.
I got my nephews the blue versions so they are all going to be matching, super cute!!!!
A Christmas decoration
I saw these cute little decorations when I was shopping in Wilkinsons (Check out more of their collection here.
I picked up a cheeky elf one for my niece. They also had a santa, a snowman and a reindeer.
Cookies for Santa
I thought that these were a lovely way of adding to the age old tradition of leaving Santa a snack on Christmas eve.
This is a really simple cookie making set and then you get a few festive bits to decorate them.
Again, I thought this would be fun and a great way to get them into the festive spirit and keep then occupied on Christmas eve.
I thought I would also include this as they are super cute and great for kids. I have previously bought these for my nephews but as this is the year my niece will really be having a proper Christmas dinner I thought it was time she had one too!
Last weekend me and the fam all got together to visit a Christmas market.
It was perfect timing as it was the 1st of December, so a great day for a festive outing.
We all got on the train to a nearby town and walked into the centre. It was raining when we arrived, which was annoying, but we didnt let that dampen our spirits.
It had cleared up mostly by the time that we got to the stalls.
It was really fun getting the train as we don’t do it often! The kids loved it and it felt more festive somehow.
The boys had fun on the rides…
There was also a lovely brass band playing Christmas tunes, cute stalls with little handmade bits and bob’s, as well as food too.
๐
It was the perfect weather for a warming hot chocolate and a browse.
We all got a few bits together, costumes & food and headed to my twin sister Sarah’s house, with her family, my husband Tim, and my sister Charlotte and her family.
The kids (& me) were very excited.
Noah was desperate for a party and this was the perfect time to do it as we were all working on Halloween.
We popped on our costumes and Halloween themed clothes to get into the Spooky spirit.
& first things first, we needed to decorate!
Once everybody had arrived we tucked into some yummy party food whilst watching a bit of Hotel Transylvania.
(If you would like to know how to make these cupcakes head over to my previous post )
For our activities we had Spooky Halloween arts & crafts…
Roseanne Byford 