For a few weeks Isobel had been saying she wanted to make a gingerbread house for Xmas. I kept thinking "oh great...sooooooo much work, maybe she will forget" but she was serious and has a good memory but I needn't of worried as she did all the work herself.
She had a little help from her dad holding up walls while she iced them together.
I am sooo impressed at the fabulous work she has done. I just had to show it off and brag about it. I think to make this at 12 is wonderful. Even at my age I do not have the patience or desire to do such a thing. I am even totally over putting up the tree and decorating it. Isobel did all that too.
and as much as I adore this cake and admire the amount of work that Isobel has put into it, I am sooooooo glad Xmas is over yet again yippeeee
my girls are so used to having a modest and frugal Xmas and it gets more so each year. It was even more so this year, but we still managed to get them a few of things they really wanted. Sometimes it can be really hard getting by on a disability pension with a family, and also living with the guilt as it's all because of me.
Hubby is an Architect but hasn't had a chance to work full time for a few years because of my illness. Now Isobel is older and a little more independent with being able to catch school buses etc things will get a bit easier
It's very hard for some (not all) people who work, to understand the meaning of no money means no money. It is one of my biggest Bugbears actually and my saddest.
I thought my girls would always have lots of spoiling around Xmas. But then again this is what Xmas does, it creates unrealistic expectations and I hate that. (thank you mum I know you make it special for them)
We had brilliant Xmases growing up, Mum did a brilliant job as a single parent, we never wanted for anything, we opened presents then headed off to the beach for 3 weeks. It was THE best time. I loved it and am so lucky to of had those times, but those times will NEVER come back or even be close. Everything is way different now, mainly the expense of course is the biggest reason. Trendy expensive shacks everywhere, not the old fibros we used to stay in and love.
We just rolled out of bed and went to the beach. Got burnt to a crisp of course, and just swept the sand out the door of the shack every few days.
The girls have an Auntie (not really their auntie but my Bestie who is like their auntie) who gets so much pleasure out of spoiling them when she can, even though she has her own real nieces and nephews. So it feels good the girls have some family further afield and they always look forward to their goodies coming from Western Australia. I know if the girls grew up in WA xmas would of been different for them but then they wouldn't of had their grandma close by
Hubby is an Architect but hasn't had a chance to work full time for a few years because of my illness. Now Isobel is older and a little more independent with being able to catch school buses etc things will get a bit easier
It's very hard for some (not all) people who work, to understand the meaning of no money means no money. It is one of my biggest Bugbears actually and my saddest.
I thought my girls would always have lots of spoiling around Xmas. But then again this is what Xmas does, it creates unrealistic expectations and I hate that. (thank you mum I know you make it special for them)
We had brilliant Xmases growing up, Mum did a brilliant job as a single parent, we never wanted for anything, we opened presents then headed off to the beach for 3 weeks. It was THE best time. I loved it and am so lucky to of had those times, but those times will NEVER come back or even be close. Everything is way different now, mainly the expense of course is the biggest reason. Trendy expensive shacks everywhere, not the old fibros we used to stay in and love.
We just rolled out of bed and went to the beach. Got burnt to a crisp of course, and just swept the sand out the door of the shack every few days.
The girls have an Auntie (not really their auntie but my Bestie who is like their auntie) who gets so much pleasure out of spoiling them when she can, even though she has her own real nieces and nephews. So it feels good the girls have some family further afield and they always look forward to their goodies coming from Western Australia. I know if the girls grew up in WA xmas would of been different for them but then they wouldn't of had their grandma close by
every year I wish we could do something different the following year. If I had a fairy godmother I would ask her can we please go to Perth for next Xmas. We don't have to HAVE Xmas, just be there at that time. Stay in an expensive hotel with a spa and a pool, (and air con)then the besties could come everyday and we could swim and spa and go for cocktails then do it all again day and night. sigh......I can only dream
I always find it such a downer the day after Xmas and that feeling is stronger the older I get. I just either don't want Xmas at all, or I want to do something completely different, just once in my life and do it while my girls are young enough to want to be with us still and enjoy themselves
Anyway, enough whinging about xmas now it's over, next year has to be different or not at all......
