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The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.
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On the seventh day of Christmas ....

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my true gave to me, a lovely post from Cass Bailey.
 
If you asked me to give you one word that sums up Christmas, I would say without any hesitation that it's the word FAMILY (although my children would probably disagree and say presents).  Christmas is about family to most people I think but to me, even more so.
 
This isn't going to be one of those sad, please feel sorry for me posts but ten years ago now, I was just putting up the tree ready for the first Christmas without my big brother and nine years ago at this time, I was heading towards the first Christmas without my Mam so Christmases haven't always been as happy as they could have been for us as a family.
 
Those two Christmases passed in a bit of a blur and actually, having two children under the age of three made it very difficult to feel sorry for myself in any way or to take more than a few minutes to think about the empty chairs when we sat down for Christmas Dinner. These days Christmas is a much calmer affair with the kids being 9 and 12 so I do have the time to miss my Mam and my brother but I try and turn it into a good thing by remembering the happy times and the other day my 12 year old asked me what our Christmas tree was like when I was her age.  
 
No matter how hard I tried, I can't remember it or anything about the decorations we had on it although I do remember our yearly family trek to my Nana's house to put up her tree.  It was one of the only times through the year that we all visited at the same time and just thinking about that made me smile remembering the arguments that me and my brother used to have about who got to put the star on the top and who got to wrap the tree in the practically threadbare tinsel that she'd had for years and refused to replace.  
 
While we decorated the tree my Nana would be pottering about in the kitchen and as soon as we'd finished, she would wheel in her little hostess trolley filled with little crust-less sandwiches and cakes (always fondant fancies by the dozen and Tunnocks teacakes).  She would then bring our a giant trifle that she's made and without fail, she'd remind everyone of the time I'd said she was the best trifler in the whole wide world.
 
Trifle
 
Remembering this made me realise why family traditions are important, we did this every year as a family and despite the arguments it is without a doubt my happiest childhood memory including my whole family.
 
I hope you all make some beautiful family memories this Christmas.
 
 

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  1. Oh I am so sorry that Christmas had sad memories for you.It's always great to start your own traditions.

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  2. Thank you for sharing such precious memories. Yes this is why I try so hard to make great Christmas memories too. You know you have reminded me of my mom's trifle and I am going to try to make one this year now.

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  3. That trifle is awesome and whoever made it has picked up the mantle - such lovely memories - so bittersweet and I'm sorry for that - but you're right about how they're the most important thing and the fact you don't remember your tree says it all. I sincerely hope you and your family enjoy many more happy ones, particularly this year :) x

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  4. Christmas 2010 has special memories for me, because we were all together for the last time before my father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. We miss him lots, but have a big canvas picture up on the wall of us all around the table that year, smiling and enjoying ourselves. Sounds a bit cliched, but I really do believe in the saying "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." Although he's not with us, we like to share memories and have a good laugh about all the fun times.

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  5. Christmas should be about family, making memories and traditions. I love the thought of the hostess trolley with the fondant fancies and Tunnocks teacakes.

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  6. Some lovely memories there Cass, and some bittersweet. An important reminder that Christmas can be a really hard time of year for so many... I am looking forward to going home this year, and I will make sure I cherish it. Thank you x

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