A LOOK AT CHRISTMAS
This Christmas was hard. Excalibur had crossed the Rainbow Bridge the day before Christmas Eve leaving us all heartbroken and our plans in ruin.
My parents thankfully arrived on Christmas Eve and played with the boys whilst we tried to pull ourselves together and make Christmas happen – and at 3.30a.m on Christmas morning, the mister and I finally finished wrapping and tidying, and headed off to bed.
All I could wonder was, would they notice?
Would they sense the lack of magic, the little touches?
Would they be disappointed that instead of the reindeer station we made last year to create our food for Father Christmas’ flying friends was replaced by me rummaging through the cupboards for random ingredients?
Were they sad that their elves didn’t get up to mischief this year as they usually do?
Did they miss the reading of the Night Before Christmas as I bundled them into the car to tour the lights of our Crescent in a desperate attempt to get them to sleep so that I could get things ready for them?
And did they realise it wasn’t a sleigh overhead, but their dad shaking the sleigh bells in the porch as they set off to tour the lights?
I’ll never know. But I tried my best to make memories, and here they are.
The rest of our photos are on Facebook. Here’s to a fresh start in 2015.
![The Christmas Tree Farm [2014]](https://keep-up-with-the-jones-family.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Jensen-tree.jpg)
From what I can see, it doesn't seem as though the boys thought anything was missing at all! Thats one of the best parts about Christmas, is that it doesn't have to be the same every year. Happy New Year!
I'm sure they had a wonderful Christmas. Kids just love the magic, period, elaborate or simple. That's one of the reasons kids are so very awesome. 🙂
I'm so sorry you lost your beloved dog just before Christmas. I'm sure your boys didn't notice, I think children just see magic in everything, especially at Christmas time. Their names are amazing by the way!
Aww! Beautiful photos! It looks like the kids had a wonderful time!
So sorry about Excalibur! x
Looks like it was a perfectly magical christmas, and the kids had a wonderful time. I love your photos.
Happy new year
I'm so sorry to hear about Excalibur. It's tough to loose a fuzzy buddy around the holidays. Last year, our Shih Tzu was diagnosed with cancer just before Thanksgiving, and our maltese was diagnosed with kidney failure right before Christmas. It's a tough thing. The great thing about kids is that they really bounce back, and they take their cues from their parents.
It sounds like everyone had a really nice Christmas. So glad to hear that Santa was good to everyone.
Awww this is the most gorgeous Christmas post I have seen yet you did an amazing job! Oh and I had an Olaf for Christmas day too.
I'm so sorry to hear about your noble Excalibur, Sara-Jayne. How lucky he was to live a life of love with your sweet family. Your Christmas looked absolutely charming despite the circumstances- Thinking of you guys.
These pictures are lovely. I really liked the naughty or nice certificate, what a cute idea!
Hope you join my Throw Out 50 Things Challenge
Sounds like you had such a wonderful Christmas with family and such beautiful photos for your memories too! I'm sorry to hear about Excalibur, may he rest in peace.
Great photos! Several of them actually made me giggle out loud! I am HORRIBLE at remembering to take pictures of things… Maybe that should be a resolution for this year lol.
Love your photos and all those colors. Beautiful.
absolutely love the photos in this post it really captures the essence of the holidays the Olaf towel, and your hubby's muppet t-shirt are awesome. I missed a few of our usual Christmas traditions like new pj's and baking cookies the night before but my boys didn't seem to mind.
I don't think your boys missed out at all – it looks like you did them proud x x
I adore your photo's they are so beautiful. We have such shocking light in our house, but I need to rectify it somehow. I am so sorry for your loss hun x
It looks like you made some wonderful memories and I'm sure you will treasure these photos forever. Thanks so much for sharing.
I am so jealous of the Olef Dressing gown! I am glad you had a good time, I am however sorry for your loss x
I am so sorry for your loss. We lost our bird 2 days before Christmas and my husbands Grandma two days before that. Ours was lacking a lot this year. From the photos it looks like you pulled it off beautifully. It still hurts though I know. Sending lots of hugs!
It looks like your children had a lovely day, and I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Wishing you all the best for 2015 lovely xxx Thou Shalt Not Covet
I'm sorry you had sucha tough day before Christmas. I do hope the kids did have some joy despite the sadness.
I think we get more bothered about what we think we should be doing than just getting on with the simple things. It looks like your boys loved Christmas!
All your pictures are just gorgeous! I'm so sorry you lost a beloved family member right before the holidays, but it looks like the magic was still there for your kids.
I am so sorry for your loss. It looks like your kiddos had a great Christmas. Your pictures are very nice.
Oh my gosh! Seriously what an amazing way to capture you holiday! The pictures are amazing and I feel as though I am in your home to celebrate with you!
Looks like you had a magical Christmas despite your loss – love the Olaf costume, I am on the hunt for one for Sebby, where is it from?
What a beautiful capture. Christmas is definitely for children. Those photos are so inspiring.
It looks like they had a wonderful time, I often wonder if all the effort put in is actually for us as the kids don't notice.
Sorry for your loss
OMGoodness…that 'nice list' certificate is too cool. Love that idea. LOL @ the picture of the human doll inside of the Soldier Force box. I had to do a double-take. I'm also sorry to hear about your dog, that's very hard to deal with – especially during the holidays.
It looks like the kids had a great time. Look at those innocent and happy faces. Just adorable.
So sorry to.hear about excallabler :-/ looks like y'all had a pretty fabulous Christmas though!!!! Hope you have a great 2015 🙂
So sorry about your dog, they're such a big part of the family aren't they? Looks like the kids had a fab day regardless!! x
Sad news about your dog but your day still looks beautiful
Cat x
I am sorry to hear about your sad news about your dog, but it looks like you still made Christmas magical. Your photos are beautiful and the one of your little one in the box is absolutely adorable! Loved having you share your Ordinary Moments! 🙂 Thanks for joining in and we hope to see you again- your blog is fab!
honey i am so sorry to hear about your loss, however i think you pulled off Christmas beautifully and it looks like you made lots of memories!
Thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments xx
I am so sorry for your loss but looks like your children didn't notice all that and seems like you still had a magical Christmas. Happy New Year to you and your family.
So sad about the dog, it looks like you still pulled off an amazing Christmas for all the family, if tinged with sadness.
It looks and sounds like you made an excellent Christmas for the children despite the sadness. I love the white pyjamas – can.t see my 4 year old keeping them clean though!!
So sorry to hear you had lost your dog during the festive season. So hard. But from the look of the photos and the everyone's happy smiling faces I would say that your christmas looked truly magical. Magic is int he eye of the beholder. lol I love the photo of one of your boys in the toy box. Can't believe he fit in there. it's precious. Your photography is amazing too. Wish I could capture my kids the way you do. Teach me. lol Lovely post. Hope you had a great new year's too! Thanks for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
So sorry to hear you had lost your dog during the festive season. So hard. But from the look of the photos and the everyone's happy smiling faces I would say that your christmas looked truly magical. Magic is int he eye of the beholder. lol I love the photo of one of your boys in the toy box. Can't believe he fit in there. it's precious. Your photography is amazing too. Wish I could capture my kids the way you do. Teach me. lol Lovely post. Hope you had a great new year's too! Thanks for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme