I’m a snob

Yup I said it

I’m a Christmas Tree Snob

I can’t help it, I was raised that way

But I don’t like it about myself but it’s ingrained in me to feel vaguely superior when it comes Christmas trees, my parents were bigger snobs than me so excuse my bigotry

When it comes to trees it HAS to be real

Dont be giving me any of this fake tree shit, seriously.

Christmas isn’t Christmas without coming down the stairs to the scent of pine and the magic of a real tree, not just in the putting it up but the choosing the perfect tree as family, bringing it home, putting it up and decorating it.

I LOVE A REAL TREE

Yes you need to Hoover more but it’s so worth it, try it once, I DARE you and tell me dont FEEL the magic

So bring it on haters, fake tree lovers, plastic fans, I’m ready for you all

So in the run up to Christmas I’m posting a Christmas song a day to get me and keep me in the mood – here is a cracker to start off with x

I know that Christmas for many people is a time of mixed feelings, love, joy, happiness and expectation often partnered with disappointment, loneliness, upset, and/or drama.

This year for me is the start of the all new no expectation Christmas, instead of expecting perfection from both myself, my husband, my family and my children, I have decided that this year I’m not falling into that trap again.

I’m not expecting the children to be tucked up in fresh pjs fast asleep on Christmas Eve, whilst Mister and I sip champagne, listening to carols, and carefully wrapping up presents, whilst tenderly leaning over for a Christmas kiss, nope not a bit of it… I’m expecting me to be hollering at the children to get back to their beds, arguing with Oldest Miss as to why she can’t stay up, taking Funny Miss on the 11pm pee run, shouting at Mister to wrap faster, realising I bought too much.. Again…and bitterly complaining why we always leave it this late to wrap… Thats the reality.. That’s what its really going to be like.. So I’m embracing it. Accepting it is what it is…

Christmas morning fantasy is…children waken… Lots of excited running about on the landing, waiting to go downstairs and see if Santa has been, tim and i get up after a cuddle with the kids in bed, then get downstairs to whoops and gasps of excitement, each taking turns to open presents, Mister brings in a glass of bucks fizz and we exchange gifts.. Reality is Oldest Miss will sneak downstairs before we get up then deny it, kids will tear through stockings whinging about an orange in the bottom? Kids will bound onto the bed inevitably whacking Mister in the balls, Funny Miss will have wet the bed…bad tempered I will have to sort that out first then badger Mister to get up so we can go downstairs, we will get downstairs and children will tear through presents like a plague of locusts, with little or no regard to what’s from whom just who got more. Mister and I will argue over who is making the tea,and begrudgingly hand over presents

Dinner, perfect, stress free, joyful family sitting around to dine on well organised beautifully presented dinner, will translate into me getting naffed off with Mister as he spends an age messing with his perfect gravy, dinner will be slightly cold when served, and we will spend most of the meal wishing it had been hotter. Kids wont eat any dinner and Little Miss will be hell on earth sitting in a highchair for approximately 15 seconds before roaring off and creating havoc…

Are you getting the picture? this has been every year of my life, having picture perfect expectations and every year feeling disappointed and underwhelmed.. It’s completely my own fault, its me who paints these blasted pictures in my head.. But no more… Welcome to the No Expectation Christmas at the Andrew household, It certainly isn’t the movies, or Disney…infact it’s more it’s National Lampoons but you know.. Its all authentically us and its alright with me