The tree is up, new decorations being stitched to give and add to our collection, the fairy lights are twinkling both inside and outside ...I declare Christmas just around the next corner!!!

Sweet birds..........

....snowflakes......

..the star that led them to find the baby king (or my idea of it anyho)....

...and some kiwiana inspired free stitching taking place.  I love freeform stitching, especially the kind that has no real pattern or even a firm idea of what it will be until, viola`-it turns out to be what is meant to be.

We started our 12 days of Christmas we do every year tonight...this year we are keeping it simple, as we should.  Tonight we kicked it off with a family supper, hot chocolate and treats around the table - together.  

December...what a joy

what a huge month December is...my camera is full of wonderful celebratory photos still to be downloaded,....SO. MUCH. BAKING. has been done and enjoyed; kids prizegvings and shows, Sunday schools concert, Christmas presents made, brought wrapped and awaiting tomorrow...a momentous sweet neice entered our world and lives - welcome my dove, you will bring us all so much joy.... a wee nephew celebrated another year of life - much love to you also....my special brother, his wife and babies have come home for the holidays...December is just SO BIG.

Christmas for us will be the smallest it has ever been...with just the 6 of us....I'm still trying to get me head around that, and determined it will be a fun-filled feasting special day....remembering Christ's birth and the reasons for it.

I confess to being rather sentimental today, a tad weepy and lots to do....

we are in the process of moving house (like on the 27th!), and I am still trying to do all the pickling and jaming that this time of year brings....my sewing machine has a small coat of dust on it and calls forlornly, but we will hang together next week....

I will be visiting all your lovely blogs, but taking a wee break from this one for a couple weeks.

May Christ's love wash over you, bring you joy, peace and happiness as we celebrate His birth.
much love
B

christmas creating...

for the last 3 years I have made something 'new' for our Christmas decorations and pretties...in an effort to get away from plastic baubles etc (nothing wrong with em! just wanting someting a bit more handcrafted)...so the year before last, I made sweet little bird ornaments out of re-purposed fabrics and wool batting, last year I made new table runners and clothes, felt hearts.

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this year I have made this wee angel garland out of a re-purposed woolen blanket, old crochet doilie and ribbon...and then as I had lots of pretty ribbon left I thought I would up-date the inside wreath....so would love to have finished all the other things I had planned, but are also in the middle of packing to move so, yeah, not gonna happen this year!

Christmas pictures...well just a few

We spent Christmas day with loved friends. We had a lovely BBQ lunch and then swim down at the bay, followed by a seafood extravaganza and costume party! We didn't get everyone photographed which is just silly!...but here are a couple. Set went as Billy ray Cyrus (to mock him more than anything!) I went as Cleopatra, Josaye went as Dylan from Charlies Angels, Nyah as Dorothy from Wizard of Oz, Jose as Spiderman, and Micah Jack as a wee cowboy - twas fun! ... And so special to celebrate Jesus's birth and reason's for it together with another family who feel the same.

Some of these pics were taken New Years day, but thought would pop them all into one post, the celebrating could seriously go on huh! The pic of Micah in his gobbles )goggles) boots and clothes to run thru the sprinkler was too cute not to post too....hes just a wee nutter!

Christmas time....

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! - to everyone who joins me in blogland! Thank you to all who leave little comments that encourage and inspire me. I so hope that this holiday season finds you blessed and also a blessing to others....I'm so looking forward to celebrating Christ's birth tomorrow and the reasons why He came.

Bless you dear friends...be safe.

Briar xx

The show's are done!

Micahs Music party Josaye dressed up for friends farewell party

Well, with 4 kids you have a few shows/events/parties to attend at the end of the year!...Josaye had her prizgivng and was place 3rd in her class for music and got a certficate in music for outstanding effort....so was pretty pleased with herself! Nyah got her class award for outstanding student, with improvement in all academic areas and leadership....so she was pretty pleased with herself! And we were pretty pleased FOR them...

Nyah and Micah in the Christmas play : Nyah as a zombie: Nyah in Jazz ballet show
as mentioned in another post we have also had show's...here are a couple pics of the kids dressed up...and although it looks like a Nyah show, the others were there...Micah was a wonderful sweet shepherd and Jose (to my HUGE surprise) was a bit of a plonker...spending his time on stage moaning how he didn't like being a shepherd and crying into his fathers chest (he is the SHOWBOAT of the family so was very surprised!)...and wouldn't pose for a photo, so hence no pics of that lad!...in between maons/crying he did look very cute indeed - teehee....no more shows please for the year!...although both big girls are reading at the Christmas Eve service at the beach...that'll be cool.