Happy New Year! Hope all is well with you. This was taken moments before I fell asleep in the car on the way back from a wonderful day out with family. It kind of sums up christmas now, a hazy, magical blur.
I've had a new blog design, by the very talented Ms Stacey Corrin, to mark the fact this is my personal blog, my 'what we did outside the house' and the 'little legacies' we make along the way. Opposed to what we do in the house and with the house, which you can find on A Residence. There might be some crossover there, but indoors and outdoors seemed like a helpful distinction to me. I love the way Stacey managed to incorporate the little legacy acorns in the logo too!
Little Legacy has floated about for a bit, It had its's own site for a while, but I didn't have the energy to run three sites (as well as contribute to Space in Your Case and help lead Team Honk). And to be honest, I just wanted a place to truly open up my heart. But also a place to weave memories and legacies with the new, the now. I pride myself on being very good at living in the now.
Those who have followed for a while might remember little legacies started as a way to remember my Mum who died nearly four years ago. Where does the time go? As always, this time of year is still tough on that front, all energies go into Christmas knowing in New Year we face the anniversary of her death, the memories of her suddenly fading away after Christmas and the snow that fell on the day she died at the end of January. The world goes quiet, still and cold, a prophetic fallacy. Just as I am ready to step tentatively back into it, ready for a new year, part of me must go back through it all again. But each set back makes me a little stronger, I know that now.
Time goes so quickly. I want to grab the clock and shout at it, slow down! This blog is my space to do that too.
So, before it slips away, let me share my week, and a bit, in pictures.
We're going backwards, hope that is okay?
Carsington Water was incredible, and we had a magical couple of hours there with family. My Dad drove back through Derbyshire after visiting at Christmas and called up to say 'it's like fairyland', they'd had even more snow than us in Nottinghamshire.
The sun was low and the light magical. I could have taken so many photos, but dodging snowballs, catching up with my nephews and sister in law was so much more important.
My other nephew, my brother's little one, met snow for the first time he will remember and it was special to be part of that. At first he wasn't sure about the sledge, but soon loved G pulling him round our garden, until he fell off, at which point it was time for hot chocolate.
It was lovely to see him taking it all in.
He refused the family photo, because that's what you do when you are two. Oh I had forgotten those days of asserting your newly discovered authority, the deliciousness of saying no to anything and everything. Here is my sister in law, my brother and their beautiful… yellow truck!
The next day it was clear there was only one thing for it, it was really icy snow and not great for a snowman, but perfect for sledging.
One thing I love about the holidays is being able to spend time, cuddling, appreciating and admiring my kids. I love this one, she just looks so glowing and happy.
But this one is even better! She had a tough term starting at junior school, on a new site, so there have been lots of changes and lots of things to get used to. The holidays has been a great time to talk about all that, and it is magic to see her so happy.
G has grown up lots too, he's listening to us much more, he's taking care of his stuff, he's become a Lego master. He also has the best eyelashes. And does the best dancing.
After talking the night before about how to celebrate his 70th in February, Dad showed us how youthful he is by taking to the sledge. He gave me no time to catch him actually sledging, he was too damn fast!
Mr A takes to the slopes.
I had to have a go myself. It wasn't quite as dramatic as Teggs Nose, near where I grew up and sledged as a kid, but it was fun.
The kids loved it and it was steep enough for them. L was happy trying beating the record for the most land covered.
It was great fun reliving some sledging memories from my childhood with Dad.
On Boxing Day we ate a second Christmas Dinner with Dad, who spent Christmas Day with my brother, his wife's family and my nephew. Here they are showing how full their bellies are.
This has to be my favourite part though, lighting the Christmas pud! We were too full on Christmas Day and the kids love Grandad setting fire to it, just as my Grandad loved to, so we waited a day to have it. It was worth it. He let them help this year.
There was time to venture out on Boxing Day too. To let Max run, to test G's remote control car and L's roller skates.
We also got out on Christmas Day, it was just he four of us, so a really lazy morning, followed by a trip to the park, and some selfies so I don't get obliterated from family history!
Even warm enough to sit down and write in her new secret notebook!
He loves this car and it was so much fun watching him rag, donut, crash and then eventually steer it through his own legs. He's being told off a little here, can you tell?
L loved the Toxic Slime Lab, it was a bit gimmicky and we need to replace all the ingredients so we can repeat the experiments, but anything to fuel her love of Science.
Father Christmas brought these, another little legacy from my childhood. Mesmerising moments watching them spin.
Max helped to hoover up the oats and biscuit crumbs Santa's reindeer spilt. It's not Christmas either, without some new PJs or a new onesie. G spends much of his time being a dog, or a puppy, so this one was perfect.
G crawled into our bed at 6 am on Christmas Day and went back to sleep. Leaving L to sit silently on the end of our bed willing the clock to hit 7am.
There were highs and lows, moments when you wonder what all the energy, hype and effort it for, moments of missing people or wishing to be somewhere else. But there was so much magic too, and writing this I feel like I captured it.
So take that Father Time!
I caught it, I bottled it and I can't wait for more adventures in 2015. In fact there is the one where we attempt an un joyous family hike and the Space Centre, coming very soon.
Blog redesign thanks to the very talented Stacey Corrin.
so nice to have a peek into your christmas week!
What really lovely pictures – gorgeous – and send you lots of love as the anniversary of your mum's death approaches. Am sure you have many wonderful memories to look back on, but know it will be hard.
Looks like a fabulous festive period – my kids desperately wished for snow and watched in dismay as other parts of the country got some and we didnt – the perils of living on the south coast makes snow a bit of a rarity!
Looks like you had a fantastic Christmas week. We had 20 cm of snow too, but unfortunately it didn't last very long. Gutted!
Glad to see you have had such good family time and created so many memories. I got my boy inline skates this Christmas and that felt a blast from the past. I am loving the Toxic slime lab you have there – not sure how well it would go down in my house though as my youngest would have it all over the sofa lol.
Looks like you had a great Christmas and I'm very jealous of the snow.
Fab pictures Penny, looks like you had some lovely family time. Love the new look too.
Love the new design Penny! It looks like you have all had a really busy time of it and I am totally jealous of all the snow you have had. Down here by the equator *ahem* we haven't seen a single flake!