christmas wishes

Christmas always makes me so nostalgic

as I think back to where we were and what we were doing at this time in the years gone by.

And it's also a time full of hopes and dreams and wishes I find,

probably because the end of another year makes me really reflect on what that year has given us

and look forward to what the next one might bring.

At some point over the festive period 

I take a little time to myself to think about what I wish for for the coming year.

My Christmas wishes have come true the last few years

so I'm going to think really hard and make a good one this year.

The last few years have been pretty packed for us,

we've squeezed a lot of living into a small amount of years

and I wouldn't have it any other way...

Five years ago it was 2008 

and we were celebrating our fifth Christmas as a couple

at the end the year that saw us get engaged.

My wish for the coming year was that our wedding would be everything we hoped it would be

and that we would have a great start to our married lives.

Four years ago it was 2009 

and we were celebrating our first Christmas as man and wife.

We had just bought our first home together

and were about to move into my mum and dad's house while we waited for it to be built.

My wish for the coming year was that our move would go off without a hitch

and that we would finally get to settle into our home together.

And I was hoping we'd have kittens by next Christmas.

Three years ago it was 2010 

and we were celebrating our first Christmas in a home we owned.

Looming on the horizon was a big exciting event

as we looked forward to becoming parents

in just over a months time.

But for the meantime we were parenting our fluffy babies, Darcy and Wentworth.

My wish for the coming year was that our baby would be born fit and healthy

and that we'd be good at being parents.

Two years ago it was 2011

and we were celebrating our little man's first Christmas.

We had enjoyed an amazing ten months as parents and loved every second of it.

My wish for the coming year was that we would have another baby or one on the way

by the time we put up the Christmas tree again.

One year ago

it was 2012 and we were celebrating our little lady's first Christmas.

We could not have been happier about celebrating Christmas with our two children

and feeling like a real family as we enjoyed the magic together.

My wish for the coming year was tricky.

After years of excitement, last year I actually wished for a quiet life in 2013.

I didn't want big changes, I just wanted family life, pure and simple.

And so this year

we're celebrating our tenth Christmas as a couple,

our beautiful boy's third Christmas

and our beautiful girl's second.

And 2013 has been a quiet year compared to the last few

but it's been so crammed full of fun

that it's been anything but boring.

So, my wishes for 2014...?

We're hoping a house move is on the horizon

and it would be amazing to think that we might be in a new home 

when we put up the tree next year.

But until we actually have some wheels in motion

I won't even allow myself to dream on that one.

One thing I know for sure though,

I'd be more than happy to have another year like this one.

It's been beautiful...