...and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even.....

Billy....

my sweetest boy is dozing as we wait for the family to arrive. I opened the last window of my nostalgic German advent calendar, no surprises what was was there ;0) It has been such a joy to see these vintage pictures behind every door for the last 24 days.

Everything is ready. My food delivery arrived on Friday night and the fridge is stacked full. My parents, my daughter and son-in-law, my son and his girlfriend will join us tomorrow for lunch at 1pm. Christmas is such a special time for me. Today is actually quite relaxed and I have made some more mince pies. I have used lots of different cutters this year to decorate them (and yes of course there has to be a pig amongst them, thank you dear Mia x)

Yesterday, despite the flooding on the A27, we managed to make it to the Christmas Carol service in Chichester Cathedral. My son in law was a chorister there between the ages of 7 and 13 so it holds some old memories for him. I do like to attend a carol service at this time of year too and we were invited to join him and my daughter there. The cathedral was packed and it was the perfect place to sing the carols I have known and sung since I was a child.

Afterwards we walked to the cloisters and enjoyed a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie in a very atmospheric setting

My last challenge card before Christmas has a special greeting.(A quick edit added, do you remember my Tradition Santa card here... I just found out it made Top 3 on one of my challenges I entered..woop woop!)

I have used one of my dear Lili of the Valley stamps called Angels with crib. What a sweet stamp this is, just so peaceful. I coloured it using my Promarkers and highlighted with Prismacolor Pencils. I added stamp dimension to the wings to make them stand out. The pine branch die cut is Marianne and the snowflake is from my stash. The papers are Papermania from last year...Enchanted Forest. I so loved them and now have very little left. I added some lovely new ribbon I bought in festive red and green with a gold fleck. I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Sweet Stamping Seeing Double my double are this sweet pair of angels but I also have 2 pine branches here too so perhaps I am seeing double double!
Lili's Little Fairies something new my new is my new festive ribbon I bought.
Totally Gorjuss Easy does it #163 I think that the baby Jesus is really taking it easy in his manger ;0)
Stampin for the weekend anything goes #24
Natalie and Amy Anything Christmas
Cutie Pie #34 Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbons anything goes #34
Simon Says Stamp Merry Christmas
Divas by Design anything goes #66
Papercrafting Journey anything goes
Winter Wonderland wish upon a star
Crafts and Me Bumper Christmas Challenge
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challengeanything goes #104
Woopsi Daisy Celebrate
A+T Emerald Faeries #38 Christmas

This is my last post before that most wonderful day of the year for me. Thank you for sharing my Countdown to Christmas 2012 and for all the wonderful comments you took to time at this very busy time of the year.I would like to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope that wherever you are in the world and whoever you share the day with, as my card sentiment says,

"May Christmas bring friends to your fireside,
Peace to your pathway
And success in your New Year"


My daughter and her husband will arrive around 5pm and my Hb has a half day at work so he will be home soon. We are going to wander down to the pub for a winter warmer and then watch the new Snowman and Snowdog animation on TV.
On Christmas day I will raise my glass to everyone in this world and also remember those who are no longer with us. Celebrate the joys of all the Christmas' past, present and yet to be.  Cheers!
All is at peace in Jane's World.

See you all very soon and I hope that if you have been good that Santa slips something very special in your stocking tonight ;0)

Bye for now,

Jane x