The Ten Traditions of The Festive Season

in the Appleby household........

All these traditions occur at some point during the weeks leading up to Christmas every year. Somehow it makes it all the more normal!
1. A last minute panic that I have forgotten someone in the flurry of present buying.
2. The rapid deterioration of the standard of my wrapping. It always starts with such good intent of pretty ties and ribbons and ends with a present cobbled together with the remnants of a mixture of different coloured wrapping paper because I can't be bothered to buy another new roll.
3. All children have been yelled at for some inconsequential action and then hugged tightly. All the result of emotions running over.
4. An elaborate Christmas Bake off is planned, ingredients purchased, but instead a bog standard chocolate sponge is thrown together on Christmas Eve as time ran out again!
5. Christmas selection packs are purchased, eaten and repurchased without the children knowing. Ditto for the Baileys .
6. Compulsory argument about who to spend Christmas day with. Every year we vow to go away next year.
7. Tears over who had " eaten ahead " in the joint advent calendar.
8. Pang of guilt that yet again I have sent no Christmas cards, but reassure myself that I will write New Year letters ( No I won't ).
9. Christmas tree is enthusiastically decorated by the children, then when they are sleeping redone by myself #OCD
10. A ridiculously late night on Christmas Eve wrapping the last of the presents and sipping mulled wine to make sure it tastes ok. Recipe for a thick head every year!
Happy Christmas one and all!