Christmas takes on a new lease of life when you have children, the excitement starts when the advent calendar makes an appearance in our house. The countdown begins when you’re allowed chocolate before breakfast.
Choosing the tree is next and we’ve always gone for the real thing, the annual trip to Chopwell Woods to choose the biggest, fullest, nicest shaped tree we could possibly fit into our car. The woods sparkle with fairy lights and the smell of roast chestnuts is in the air.
This was the first year little Lumley put the star on all by himself. Getting too big for my liking. My son that is, not the tree, the tree can never be too big.
Since then my Christmas seems to have been all about trees this year.
Santa awaited us at Wallington this year. In the beautiful National Trust hall, Mrs Claus read festive stories next to the fire and the big man himself was as lovely as ever.
It was the decorations that caught my eye, all handmade, crafted trees, Kirsty Allsop would have loved it! 
Even in the name of work I created a Christmas tree card for a client from twigs, rope and burlap. 
After all the festivities we’ve just visited friends who had the loveliest tree filled with handmade style Nordic decorations, even a few made by yours truly.
Our tree is full of memories collected over the years and that won’t change for us, but I feel a change is due next year, I’ll be making and upcycling and going for a brand new old feel, finding a way to keep the memories but add a fresh twist.
But first I’m going to embrace all that the new year has to offer.
Happy New Year. X
All round creative junkie 
Beautiful selection of paper trees:) happy new year
Happy new year to you too Vicky. X