This was our Christmas.

We've changed beds 6 times in as many days, packed and unpacked suitcases, loaded and unloaded the boot 7 times and seen every single member of our family that we love.

We hung stockings, (including my childhood knitted one!) laid out sacks and suitcases and for the first time in about 6 months both boys slept all night, and in the same room, on Christmas Eve!

We've had 3 "Christmas Days", travelled hundreds of miles, watched the boys adore their first Pantomime, clinked plastic glasses of champagne in a hot tub, swam in the dark, made "Baby's First Christmas" crackers, played on penny machines and created our own chocolate coins with the bravest boy in the world.

I will always treasure hearing 2 little boys screaming "Has he been? I think he's been!" and being transported back to my own childhood Christmas mornings.

My brother in law cooked, almost single handedly, a spectacular Christmas lunch for 11!

As always we toasted to absent friends.

To Granny's and Grandpas, to Grandmas and Grandad's.

After one of the most relaxing Boxing Days I have ever had with the Heath clan, my family joined my in laws for another festive day of fun.

There were times I had to pinch myself that this was real. This was one.

This has been the year of families coming together and I am so lucky that we all spend these special times as one. The boys went to their first pantomime and it was adorable seeing them both open mouthed and shouting "It's behind you!"

On the 29th something special happened. My brother and sister in law had flown home from America on Christmas Eve and my cousin and his wife and their baby daughter flew back from Kenya. 

And this was the result. Times you will never forget.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their home with us this year. And hopefully next year we can return the favour in a new home of our own!

I made an extra special effort on Christmas Day to make sure we took a photo of the four of us. 

And that is down to 6 other like minded mothers.

I am so proud that all of us have completed a whole year of our Family Portrait Project!

I love seeing how my little family has changed, Ollie from baby to boy.

If you joined in with us thank you so much, and I hope more of you will join in next year!

Head over to Becky's blog for some festive cheer! And don't just read her December portrait post, scroll back. You'll be besotted. 

I've shown you me and mine, now show me you and yours! 

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.dearbeautifulboy.com/p/me-and-mine-family-portrait-project.html" title="dear beautiful" target="_blank"><img src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll320/looby_boo/meampmine-button_zpscc9f6437.jpg" alt="dear beautiful" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Only 2 sleeps to go! 

Are you having a relaxing 48 hours or are you madly dashing around doing last minute shopping?!

We are moving a few more bits into the rental house today and then packing up for our Christmas on the go! We head up to Surrey tonight, ready to greet my brother and sister in law at Heathrow tomorrow at 7am!

We are meeting my sister and her family in Church for the crib service and then it will be back to Mums for our traditional Christmas Eve routine. Carrots, reindeer food, stocking by the fireplace and we will read Twas the Night Before Christmas. 

Christmas morning will be magical with Patrick and Carlotta home for the first time in 4 years, then we are off for Christmas lunch and a sleepover with my little niece at my sister's house. We have already downloaded the old song "Baby's First Christmas!"

Boxing Day will be in Poole at my in laws then we have a couple of days in Southbourne, a pantomime and then a trip to Oxford to be with all my family. I can't believe that this was only last year, our Safari Christmas! In one year this side of my family has been through the most horrendous ordeal and we all just have to hope and pray that the new year brings good news.

We are heading back to Poole for New Year and our best friends will be joining us as my in laws are away! Midnight in the hot tub - marvellous!

I had a few other new festive posts to share which I will just have to save for next year now, but here are a few from last year, if you fancy a last minute activity!

Why not make some Reindeer Food?! 

Looking for something more subtle? Why not print your own festive words page and use it for bunting? Click here for the downloadable file.

Guaranteed to get everyone giggling - DIY Window Stickers from fabric paint! 

Easy to make and delicious to eat crispy cake trees! 

What about making a lens scrunchie to help get everyone looking at the camera?!

What about making up a Christmas scavenger hunt? 

Perfect for grandparents - print your own photo cubes and get the kids to decorate them!

No time to bake - no problem! These Rudolph biscuits are so simple the kids can make them!

Cocktails can be for the whole family! Try this Cranberry idea!

These candy floss snowball pops were my favourite thing I made last year! 

Buy a cheap canvas and make your own light picture! 

These Santa Pops are just too cute! 

I am signing off now for a little while to enjoy this precious time with my brother and spoil the boys with attention. They have been so dreadfully ignored over the last couple of weeks with all the house moving stress! 

Don't forget to check out my festive ideas from this year too! Make cute fruit ice cubes, party nibbles and these pigs in blankets in sleeping bags are too easy not to try.

Fruit Ice Cubes

Stollen Croutons

Extra Special Pigs

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone. Enjoy every minute with your family and friends.

We LOVE pigs in blankets. But pigs in blankets in egg sleeping bags, might just be even more delicious!

Christmas Day morning is a mad rush as we have either always travelled to family in Oxford or Surrey, or have been busy getting ready for family to descend on us.

I adore hosting and simple ideas to feed the masses are my top priority for Christmas feasts.

I wish we had to time to sit down for a beautiful course of smoked salmon but as we will always be at least an hour away from family, bite size brunches are the way to go!

These savoury Madeleines are easy to prepare and everyone can grab one, two or three!

Ingredients:

• Eggs (1 egg makes 3 Madeleines)
• Mini sausages wrapped in bacon
• Fresh rosemary sprigs
• Dried cranberries

Pre heat your oven to 180 degrees/Gas mark 4.

Crack an egg, one at a time in a small jug. Pour your egg equally between 3 Madeleine holes in a non stick Madeleine baking tray. I tried to leave the yolks whole for the middle ones. But it doesn't matter if a few split. 

Place your pigs in their blankets in the egg white, sprinkle with rosemary sprigs and a couple of cranberries and bake in the oven for 15 minutes, until the edges are crispy and golden. 

Keep them simple for little ones or add some spice.

Do you have a Christmas Day breakfast tradition? 

What will you be eating?!