Sunday, December 28, 2014

The time in between..........

It is a strange time, this time in between holidays.   The big stuff is over, but it doesn't' feel quite like it should be.  We had a really wonderful Christmas.  All of my boys had a wonderful day.


This one really enjoyed opening up presents.  I was proud of him, he played with each one, one at a time, and continues to enjoy them all.


Christmas is Max's favorite day of the year.  We are all together in the family room, and he LOVES presents.  He can find which ones are his under the tree.  He also took a piece of turkey off the platter during Christmas dinner, he can still be a bit sneaky even at the age of 10 1/2.


Even big brother's had a good time putting things together for little brother's.   We had a wonderful family day, and minus my Dad becoming suddenly ill and needing to go home at dinner time, it was just perfect.   I think it was so special to have Little Buddy with us to make us all remember how magic Christmastime can be.


The day after Christmas this lovely package arrived in the mail for me all the way from Ontario.

My dear and lovely friend  Deb sent me a surprise in the mail.  I was so excited and so very touched.  Deb is an incredible artist, you must pay her a visit and see just how wonderful she is.  Just look at the Santa on the front of the card, amazing isn't he?



Inside was this gorgeous fellow all wrapped up to stay warm in the cold north.  This lovely card with buttons sewn right on it and of course my favorite........


A miniature Max for my Christmas tree.  Something you may not know is that Max has his very own box of Christmas ornaments.  I will add this to it next year, but for now this sweet Max is going to be out where I can see him year round.  Deb you have surprised me and just made me so happy.  Thank you for your thoughtfulness, I am so grateful for your generosity.  You can find Deb here at this link to her blog and also at her Etsy store vintage sparrow studio, where you can see all the beautiful art, cards, photography and stitching she sells.  Pop into her blog and meet Archer her beautiful and soulful lab, he will delight you.  Deb's blog is an amazing place to visit, her outlook on life and her beautiful photography will astound you.


There were also some presents for me, this wee sheep from my knitting friend Kaylyn.


And my sweet Sofie (on the right) now has a sister Sarah.  Sarah was given to me by my friend Lynda.  Although they look like twins, Sofie is older and wiser.  I wonder what kind of trouble these two will get into? You can tell by their cheeky grins they will be up to no good in no time at all.

I have made myself stay very busy today so as not to dwell on the fact my son left to go back to Ohio this morning.  I took our tree down, put the ornaments away and cleaned up all the dead needles.  I cleaned all the bathrooms, changed our sheets and did four loads of laundry.  I cleaned all the huge planter shelves way up high in my house, a once a year job which always make me feel my house is a dust-ridden mess.  Then of course everything under them had to be dusted, polished, vacuumed and washed.  It is a big job, but it kept me busy and I feel like things are cleaner.  It is hard these children of ours leaving, I never get used to it and this time seemed harder for my son.  He will be fine once his buddies arrive back in the house they share and then I will be here worrying and he will be just having a good ole time, isn't that always the way it is?

I am working the next few days, but am planning to have all of Christmas put away before the New Year.  I like to start my New Year with a clean slate, everything flesh, organized and cleaned up.

There will be time for knitting, oh and there is some new yarn, but I can't show you everything right away now can I?

34 comments:

CJ said...

Sounds like you all had a lovely time, although I do hope that your dad is better now. I like that Max can find his own presents under the tree, that made me smile. I love to have a good clean around after Christmas too. I hope you adjust to your son being back at college, it must be very hard. CJ xx

Judy S. said...

Sure hope you dad is feeling lots better now, Mere. At our house Christmas is just the start of things as today is DD#2's birthday, and we are hosting a surprise party. And then right after New Year's Max will turn 3 and then his daddy's b'day is on the 10th! Crazy but fun. No cleaning will happen here for a while though. Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

You and I have so much in common. I like my house all tidy before New Year's Day too.

Looks like Little Buddy had a wonderful day. I love the picture of Max ---- he looks like such a sweet dog.

Teresa Kasner said...

It sounds like a wonderful Christmas.. I'm glad your Dad got to be there if only for a while. Who ran him home? I sure wish I had your housecleaning gene.. I just don't. I like things tidyish.. kinda. LOL! I love all your sheeps and the cute Max ornament. Lucky you! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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Carla from The River said...

Thank you for sharing your Christmas with us, it looks wonderful.

xx oo
Carla

kathyinozarks said...

the photo of your sons is priceless-and your sheep are just too sweet-sounds like a lovely day-hugs
I am the same way-I want everything cleaned up before New Years eve too

Betsy said...

My favorite photo is the one of two of your boys concentrating on putting a gift together. It is perfect. I'm sorry your dad got sick, I hope he's back to normal now. That is a wonderful gift you recieved-the Max ornament is so sweet. He reminds me so much of our Chloe. I'm like you. I like to have things back to normal for New Years. This afternoon I began rounding up decorations and collecting them in the dining room. Dennis brought up the boxes and I'll pack everything away tomorrow. I've cleaned bathrooms and washed all of the bedding. It helps me deal with the leaving of my kids by cleaning and keeping busy. I so detest an empty house. I want to move to a smaller home that doesn't echo with memories and voices so much.
Blessings always sweet Meredith.
Betsy

Gracie Saylor said...

Meredith! You are a whirlwind of energy and so wise to channel that energy into organizing a fresh clean start for the new year. :-) In the past I have followed your example sometimes, but this year I may wait to dismantle the decorations until January 6th...[the twelve days of Christmas and all that] I'll be interested to see if I can wait that long before packing everything away! xx

Pradeepa said...

Sounds like you had a great Christmas. Such wonderful gifts you have received! Love the sheep and miniature Max.

kathy b said...

Lil Buddy was certain to make you all feel Christmas joy in your hearts. I had another bout of sadness this afternoon out of nowhere.....
Your understanding helped! Having AL home to play for a week was just priceless. Feels very empty without her.

I may take the tree down too, I usually wait.

I love Max and his toy and ornament.

I can't wait to see your new yarn when you have time MERE!
But where's the boy's train he wanted????

Lynne said...

Hi Meredith! Sounds like you had a real nice Christmas. I put a few decorations away so far, but need to pick a day and tackle it just like you did. Better to rip the band aid off and get it over with all at once :)
It's never easy when our boys go back to school after a visit. I'm already thinking about Spring break!

Linda said...

Lovely photos and great creativity. Happy New Year. :)

Apple Blossom Dreams said...

What a wonderful ornamnet! Happy holidays to you and your fmaily!!!

Unknown said...

What a great little boy LB is! It looks like he had such a wonderful day! It has been awhile since you had that little boy Christmas energy. Or was he with you last Christmas? I am so bad on remembering. Naughty Max! LOL. I am so hoping that your dad feels better now. You have really received some very nice gifts! Lucky girl!

Grammy Braxton said...

Meredith, I love, love, love the photos of Little Buddy and his brother. Having a little one around makes Christmas so much more fun. If you still have some of the cleaning mojo, you are welcome to come here and work on mine!
Hugs,
Sharon

moonstruckcreations said...

I love the picture of your boys together, that really is one to treasure. My two eldest built a computer up recently and I have to admit to sneaking a couple of cheeky photos when they weren't looking - although they are both bearded young men they did look very sweet :)

Sorry to hear that your Dad took poorly, hope he is back on the mend now.

Your gifts are lovely, I love the felt version of Max, who is, by the way, a very crafty boy to sneak the turkey off the platter!!

You put me to shame with your cleaning regime, I am just being very lazy this next day of so, then back to normal (whatever that is).

Helenxx

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Glad to hear you had a lovely Christmas with the family. The brights eyes and innocence of little ones certainly helps to make the season just right. The gifts you received from Deb are so lovely as is everything else. Have a great new week. Tammy

HollyM said...

It did seem to me like a little of the 'magic' was missing. Children really make it special.
We were away 4 nights and visited 3 cities and all 3 children.
I'm happy to be home.
I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday even if you did go into a whirl if cleaning.
Love those sheep and what a thoughtful little gift with the ornament.

Christina said...

Keeping busy is always good when you feel a bit sad. I quite like to start the new year with all things Christmassy gone but I may not have the energy before our big New Years Eve party... Christmas is special with little ones. My teenager asked if all things get a bit boring and bland as you grow up because he thought Christmas was not as magical as it has been in the past, for him at least. Have a wonderful week. x

Ljubinka said...

Wonderful gifts!!
Your boys are great, dog is so cute <3!
Happy New Year!:*

Deb said...

such lovely photos of your Christmas Meredith ~ looks like Santa was good to everyone :-)
so happy your parcel arrived xo ... thank you for all your kind words!!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Meredith, sounds like you all had a wonderful Christmas! I enjoyed seeing Tiger open his presents and he also played with them as he opened them. He was so excited. I need to start putting Christmas away today and hope that the new year brings me a more organized home!
hugs,
Linda

Kris said...

Hi Mer. Been here catching up with you! I have gotten so behind o reading all of my favorite blogs. Sounds like you and I share a lot at the holidays. I am not a lover of Christmas! Never have been. I do love the family things we do though. I am always more than ready to take it all down ,
I'm sorry you had to say goodbye to your son. I know the ache in your heart!
Seeing the wonder in Little Buddies eyes is priceless. Makes it all worth the effort!
Love to you!!
Kris

* said...

It sounds like you all had a lovely Christmas....our dogs don't have their own tree and ornaments, I'm not sure I would trust them, especially my dog Chester, the temptation to eat the ornaments would be too great!

I like to clear the decks before the new year too....I have had my hoover running for 2 hours solid this morning, my house, being old is always dusty, but with the low winter sun, the dust is painfully obvious,even after I've spent hours dusting, its quite annoying to put it mildly!

A very Happy New Year to you Meredith, may it be a wonderful one!

linda said...

I'm glad that your Christmas turned out fine Meredith but sorry to hear your father was unwell. You are very quick at putting your Christmas things away, I will leave mine until Emily has gone back to Hong Kong which will be on New Years day, I am lucky because Barry will be staying a little longer before going back to college. I love your gifts so sweet and very cute I love the lambs. :) xx

millefeuilles said...

Dear Meredith,

I simply wanted to pop in and say - apart from, isn't miniature Max adorable? - how grateful I am to you for faithfully leaving lovely comments on my blog posts despite your hugely busy life and how compelling YOUR posts are. It is a delight to see your little man growing stronger and happy with each passing month.

Another new year is almost upon us. Hard to believe and yet very exciting.

Warm wishes,

Stephanie

Linda said...

Thank you for sharing your Christmas with us Meredith. Looks like you all had the most wonderful time. Yes it is sad when our loved ones leave but it makes the time we do spend with them all the more precious.
I am loving all that is sheep on your blog today.

Thank you for your kind words on my blog and Happy New Year to you xx

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

Glad you had a (mostly) good Christmas, and hope your Dad is on the mend.
I love the photo of Big Brother and Little Brother assembling - a Cosy Coupe perchance ?
Hugs,
Jillxo

Chris said...

It sure is sad when the big kids leave again, the house sure feels emptier somehow. I usually get busy too and keep distracted. Looks like a wonderful day and I'm syre your dad enjoyed his time with you all, hopefully he is feeling a bit better now. My decorations are still up, our Christmas was relatively mild and a green one, now there's an artic front moving in and we have had a bit of snow. I love your gifts in the mail, max has his own tree decorations too. I do believe Archie has a few too! Good to see you and Little Buddy are feeling better! Stay well!

My Garden Diaries said...

What a sweet and touching post friend. Loved seeing your boys together up there! And you are so right about them teaching us the magic of Christmas. And the gift you got from Deb is extraordinary!!! She is an amazing artist!!! I am having a hard time and my beans aren't even in full day school yet...I can only imagine how much harder this parenting gig will become. As for clean slates...Christmas will be coming down tomorrow. I am ready for something new...not sure what the new year will bring but Im ready. Wishing you a wonderful 2015 Friend! Nicole xo

andamento said...

A Merry Christmas to you, a little late perhaps now that you've tidied everything away! I like to leave it all up till later. I hope your Dad is OK, all the best to you and your family for 2015 when it comes :)

Amy at love made my home said...

Decorations = still up
Parents = as per usual
Family = as per usual
Dog = still not got one

I will e-mail about the rest!

Love ya my dear. All the best for 2015! xx

Maureen said...

Sounds like you had a very good Christmas! Hope your dad is feeling better.

Love the sheep, and of course, the little Max!

Maureen

Caffeine Girl said...

It sounds like a wonderful Christmas. And having a small child makes everything more special. I hope your dad is feeling better now.

It is hard when the older ones leave. Rachel will be home for 2.5 weeks so it is going to be lonely when she leaves.