Family,Me and Mine

Me and Mine – a Portrait for December

Sam and Flo with new bikes 2015 http://rainbeaubelle.com

Christmas 15

Joining in with the Me and Mine family portrait project means the last week or so of every month is a kind of challenge to get a family photo which is passable and where all three of us are looking at the camera – or at least two out of three anyway.

This month, it was a little easier as we took so many photos over Christmas and it’s been quite nice going through them just now and working to which ones to use. Some of my favourite ones were taken on an iPhone so the light isn’t always the best, but I’ve included them anyway.

The kids and I woke up on Christmas morning at my parents’ house in Yorkshire, and it was lovely to spend a few hours opening pressies and playing with them before getting ready to go out. It was the first year that Sam and Florence had hung their stockings by their beds rather than downstairs, so there was the added stress of creeping into their rooms before I went to sleep to fill them up – how tense is that?

I breathed a sigh of relief when I was woken up at 6.45 on Christmas Day rather than the expected 5am. It later transpired though that Sam had woken up in the night, told my mum that Santa had been and opened one of his stocking gifts – before managing to go back to sleep! Full marks for that.

Sam and Flo with new bikes 2015 http://rainbeaubelle.com

We spent Christmas Day at my sister’s house and there were 10 of us round the table for lunch – five of whom are under seven. That meant it was a pretty lively affair but kept us all smiling and for me, kept my mind off feeling low for a while and focusing too much on who was missing, the wonderful Rog who would so loved to have been there. He wasn’t the biggest fan of Christmas but he always loved seeing the kids open their presents – he would have loved to have seen Sam and Flo’s faces light up as they saw their presents under the tree.

Although I was dreading Christmas as the first one on my own (well as a widow, a widowed parent, or a single mum, whatever I should be called), I have to say it was definitely less upsetting than I had imagined. Like most things we fear, it is the thought of it which is worse than the actual event, and I found I even enjoyed myself on the day, enjoying being around my family, being looked after and having fun with the children. Sam and Florence love being with their cousins and they get on so well (most of the time!). It reminds me of Christmases spent with my own cousins and how special they were, how much my sister and I looked forward to playing with Sally and Rob. It was nice to see my own children have a bit of that fun too.

Christmas table

Family outing to Erdigg

So with the build-up to Christmas over, I do have a sense that yes, I survived, and that’s another hurdle jumped. As for New Year, well I can’t tell you the last time I went out so in that sense there isn’t really anything to miss. It’s such an emotional time still, so I imagine I will find myself nursing a glass of wine and feeling slightly maudlin before heading for an early night. Rock and roll it is not.

Here are some of our photos from over Christmas, and a few from a day out at Erdigg in North Wales the weekend before. These were taken by the lovely Rachel from The Ordinary Lovely who invited us to go with her and her family. We had such a nice day, despite the heavy rain, and it’s somewhere I’d love to revisit in the spring.

I hope you have a happy new year – I will be writing more about my thoughts for the coming months in my next post.

x Julia

Christmas Day

Me and Katie

Snow White

Flo and Ella

The girls

Me and Mine Dec 15

Ava and Sam

Tom and Sam

15_12_meandmine15

This post is linked up with the Me and Mine project – hosted by Dear Beautiful, Bump to Baby, Capture By Lucy, Let’s Talk Mommy, Mummy Daddy Me and Tigerlilly Quinn – where you take a photograph a month of your family all together.

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14 Comments

  • Reply
    Kim Carberry
    December 29, 2015 at 5:03 pm

    I’m so glad you had a nice Christmas….Sending big hugs and all the best for 2016 x

    • Reply
      Rainbeaubelle
      December 29, 2015 at 6:23 pm

      Thanks Kim! I hope you had a good one xx

  • Reply
    International Elf Service
    December 29, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    Your Christmas sounds really really lovely – to spend it with so much family is a real treasure and I’m so pleased you found it easier than you were expecting to. Much love as always xxx
    International Elf Service recently posted…‘Father Christmas’ at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith – ReviewMy Profile

  • Reply
    sarah christie
    December 30, 2015 at 8:00 pm

    Julia I am so glad it wasn’t as bad as you thought, and you had some fun with your family. This was such a huge hurdle for you all to get over and that fat that there was some great moments is wonderful. I hope the next year starts to get easier for you xx
    sarah christie recently posted…Ten Things We Love About EpcotMy Profile

  • Reply
    Carie
    December 30, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    Oh I am so glad Christmas wasn’t as bad as you feared! And how lovely to get to meet up with Rachel and family, what a treat 🙂
    Carie recently posted…High speed socks {handmade for Christmas}My Profile

  • Reply
    Stephanie
    December 31, 2015 at 11:56 am

    What a wonderful place to be on a tough Christmas, with your family all around you. Kids are great at making us feel a little better. Lovely set of photos!
    Stephanie recently posted…Me and Mine – DecemberMy Profile

  • Reply
    Alex Gladwin
    December 31, 2015 at 12:54 pm

    Gorgeous photos. I love seeing everyones christmas pictures as they’re all full of fun and smiles. All the best for 2016. xx

  • Reply
    Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love)
    December 31, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    So glad that you managed to enjoy Christmas and I am sure that being with your family made it a little easier to face that first one, and that the reality was easier than anticipated. I love the photo of the three of you with your family – sounds like Sam and Florence had a wonderful time with their cousins. Hope tonight will be kind to you and that 2016 will be a good year.
    Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) recently posted…Me and Mine – DecemberMy Profile

  • Reply
    Katie @mummydaddyme
    December 31, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    It looks like you had a lovely family Christmas Julia and there are definitely happy smiles in these photos. I am glad it wasn’t as bad as you feared although I am sure it was hard at times too. Wishing you a very happy new year and I hope that it brings you and your little people lots of happiness. Sending you all my love as always. x

  • Reply
    Caro | The Twinkle Diaries
    December 31, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    Love this post Jubarb — so, so happy to see those smiling faces and to hear that Christmas wasn’t quite as bad as you’d been anticipating. I think you’re blooming amazing — you’ve coped with the shittiest, worst thing that life can throw at a person. The death of a loved one is unimaginably hard and you’re an inspiration, quite frankly. So proud to call you my friend. Wishing you and yours a very, very happy new year! Lots of love from me and mine xxx
    #MeandMine
    Caro | The Twinkle Diaries recently posted…147 weeks and 1 day | Me and Mine {December}My Profile

  • Reply
    Kerri-Ann
    January 1, 2016 at 5:23 pm

    Aww I’m so pleased that you did enjoy the day, I can only imagine what a terribly upsetting time it is. Hopefully you can move into the new year feeling strong and loved by your beautiful family x #meandmine
    Kerri-Ann recently posted…Christmas, Wedding Anniversaries & Sunsets #LittleLovesMy Profile

  • Reply
    Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely
    January 3, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    Ahh, you found one not terrible one from Erddig then? I was struggling to get my two out of shot so you were nearly a family of five for this month’s. I’m so happy that you had some happy moments over Christmas. I can’t have been easy xx
    Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely recently posted…JanuaryMy Profile

    • Reply
      Rainbeaubelle
      January 3, 2016 at 9:11 pm

      Haha, I don’t mind having a few photo bombing little ones in my pics! xx

  • Reply
    Heledd _ Running in Lavender
    January 4, 2016 at 10:46 pm

    Ah we have Cath Kinston sacks too!!! Sounds like you had a lovely Christmas and although I can imagine it was hard, it’s nice to know that you managed to have a good time despite everything. It only goes to show how amazing you are Julia! These pictures are all gorgeous and show a happy and loving family. #meandmine xx
    Heledd _ Running in Lavender recently posted…Me and Mine – December {A Family Portrait Project}My Profile

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