Day 24 #adventfordanyl It’s Christmas Eve and the final piece of this advent. We started the day with Christmas eve treats (Christmas was actually cancelled numerous times before leaving the house) Then off we went to Round the Twist to meet Santa. We visited family and just before bed we sprinkled reindeer dust outside and left a magic key. Ellie and Charlie are both fast asleep. December feels like it’s flown over. I wish I could start day 1 again. There’s never enough hours in the day to do all things you want to do. Another year almost over but a very special day to enjoy tomorrow. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas 😘 #adventtoremember #merrychristmas
Day 24 #adventfordanyl Well it was absolute carnage but the kids absolutely loved there little Xmas party today and there special vistor! Now we are all bathed, pjs on and watching Arthur Xmas to top off a lovely day! My candle is lit for Danyl its another year you have been gone but definitely not forgotten and we are still spreading lots of kindness this month all down to you. Merry Xmas Eve & Merry Xmas everyone ❤️
Day 23 #adventfordanyl PJ day at school and family meal night. So much excitement for the last day of school 🥰 cant wait to have two weeks off together. Ended the evening out for tea with lot’s of treats for all the little ones from Nanny and Grandad. Definitely started off the holidays well ❤️💙
Day 22 of #adventfordanyl It’s Christmas jumper day AND party day. The excitement was off the scale. I wish I could be that age again 🥰 right now Im just excited that I have finished the wrapping! Definitely deserve a bath and a gin 👏 🥂 #adventtoremember #chrismasjumperday #christmasparty #flashingjumper #siblinggoals #elliejayne #charlieanthony
Day 21 of #adventfordanyl A day of shopping and wrapping presents! Don’t think I have been in bed before 1am this week. Good job I had a cute little helper 🥰 #adventtoremember #chrismasshopping #metrocentre #charlieanthony #wrappingpresents
Day 22 #adventfordanyl so i normally always buy a real plant for my Nannas chair every year but they never last long so today i went and bought a fake wreath and will hang it up every year at xmas, gone but certainly not forgotten ❤️
Day 21 #adventfordanyl so today i took Evelyn to see all the pretty lights at the garden centre, she absolutely loved looking at them and all the trees and the best part about it was that it was free 🤣
Day 20 #adventfordanyl finally i am done everything’s all wrapped so i can now relax and enjoy with Brooke & Evelyn ❤️
Day 20 of #adventfordanyl It’s been a manic one… started the day with the elf blasting ‘The floor is lava’… so obviously we playing this multiple times before leavinf for school… Then trying to de-clutter the house whilst adding more festive activities/games 🙄 trying to clean around all the festive mess and coffee and a walk with my Dad and Charlie 💙 (My Dad is one of his favourites) Ellie then brought home all her Christmas “things”. I will literally cherish them 🥰 #adventtoremember #christmasmess #thefloorislava #coffeeshop #coast #
Day 19 #adventfordanyl today was Evelyn’s turn to take some biscuits in for her teachers as she was poorly yesterday. Evelyn loves going to Nursery and Brooke always loved it as well, the staff are worth there weight in gold ❤️
Day 19 #adventfordanyl so today Brooke took in some biscuits for the teachers to have in the staff room with a well deserved cuppa #itsthelittlethings
Day 18 of #adventfordanyl A day filled with playing with my babies. From Christmas bingo to reading 7 stories before bed because “one more” is worth the extra time spent together. Ending tonight cuddling my little Charlie bear. Hold on to these moments ❤️ #adventtoremember #theygrowfast #timeisprecious #slowdown #myworld
Day 17 of #adventfordanyl I went to the Rod Stewart concert with my Mam 😎 She LOVES him so when he was coming to Newcastle we had to go. It was amazing and we even had a row of seats all to ourselves 🥰 #adventtoremember #rodstewart #utilitaarenanewcastle #mama
Day 17 #adventfordanyl celebrating Lauras 21st and spending a rare night with my Mam & Sister without kids 🤣 and a very rare photo of the three of us together ❤️
Day 16 of #adventfordanyl Tonight it was Olivers party 🎈 🎂 We got to spend time climbing and bouncing and I got cuddles with my baby Nephew 😍💙 A Friday night well spent #adventtoremember #partytime #babyboys #cuddles #ournewestaddition
Day 16 #adventfordanyl Mammy&Evelyn day at the toddlers Xmas party with all her friends. Lovely little morning, feeling very excited for xmas now and feeling very grateful ❤️🎄
Day 15 of #adventfordanyl Tonight I have bought a homeless person a Christmas dinner https://neoffers.co.uk/products/homeless-charity-peoples-kitchen-newcastle-upon-tyne I do this every Christmas and I know this charity needs help now more than ever ❤️ I also just had to add a photo of my little reindeer ❄️ #adventtoremember #buyameal #£5 #thepeopleskitchen #feedafriendforafiver #reindeer #babyboy #charlieanthony
Day 14 of #adventfordanyl Today it was the Nursery Christmas performance! Im so glad we were allowed to go in and watch. I cant imagine how awful it must have been missing these things over the last couple of years. Super proud of Ellie singing and doing the actions. Well done Nursery 👏 ⭐️ I even managed to stay composed 😎 #adventtoremember #nativity #nurseryperformance #singyourheartout
Day 14 #adventfordanyl Brookes 1st school trip to beamish, shes been excited all morning and asking to go since 6am 🙈🤣
Day 13 #adventfordanyl So today i donated £5.00 to the peoples kitchen to buy someone a xmas dinner, another tradition i do every year since starting advent for danyl. 💙
Day 13 of #adventfordanyl Walks with my boy in our winter wonderland then tonight we had a film night with Ellie. Loads of snacks, jammies, blankets and ‘The Polar Express’. Unfortunately Christmas excitement had taken over and she ended up being sent to bed 😬 So now I’m having a glass of wine in silence and in the dark 🥂 #adventtoremember #winterwonderland #filmnight #whenitallgoeswrong #toomuchexcitement
Day 12 of #adventfordanyl This year I really wanted a “messy” tree. The colour scheme was starting to get scrambled and I decided I would have another tree to hang all the bright, crazy decorations on. That was until I was picking everything out of the box and I found a little hand painted decoration which said on the back ‘Oliver xmas 2018 aged 2’ 🥹 I have some very special baubles on my tree and I will embrace the ‘messy’ colour blast of it because looking at these things make me smile. Even the bauble with the Grinch face 🙃 #adventtoremember #christmastree #baubles #specialdecorations #nephews #daughter #son #myspecialtree
Day 12 #adventfordanyl so this morning before work i got a few bits in for the food bank, every little helps
Day 11 of #adventfordanyl Ellie had her last swimming lesson this morning until after Christmas. She had an awful experience with a swim school nearby and it absolutely shattered her confidence 🥺 I then took her to Above the water LTD to meet Abaigh. Ellie cried for just about the entire lesson as she was so terrified from her previous experience. Abaigh literally held on to her for the duration of the lesson and by the end she was smiling again 🥹 After this first meeting Ellie has looked forward to every Sunday and absolutely loves swimming. The progress she has made in just a few weeks is unbelievable and other parents even come over to comment. Thank you, Abaigh and your team. Your kindness, smiles and reassurance have created a new love of swimming and a very happy little girl #adventtoremember #makingadifference #alittlebitofkindnessgoesalongway #dontgiveup #teacherinspiration #swimminglesson
Day 11 #adventfordanyl Disney On Ice absolutely love it, Probably a bit to much ❤️
Day 10 #adventfordanyl Today we have had a busy little day, Airbox Bounce and then Jack & The Beanstalk at the pantomime with Brookes school friends ❤️ ❤️
Day 10 of #adventfordanyl Today we visited @whitehousefarmcentre . I had us all there well before opening time this morning and we stayed until closing. I say this every year but this is the best Christmas event I have experienced. Its absolutely magical. Everyone works so hard and they are amazing with the children. I will always remember this day and Ellies face as she sat next to Santa. We will be back next year 🎅🏻 ❄️ #adventtoremember #meetingsanta #makeawish #nicelist #freezingcold #bestday #memories
Day 9 #adventfordanyl So today i left some chocolates and a card for a special friend at her front door just to let her know i am thinking of her lots & lots ❤️❤️❤️
Day 9 of #adventfordanyl Tonight I have donated to https://bloodcancer.org.uk/ 💗Penny💗 it’s been 17 years since I Iast saw you. Thank God my Dad took those embarrassing videos of us in lanzarote. It’s amazing to be able to see you and hear your voice. So hard to watch how innocent we were thinking we would be best friends forever with our whole lives ahead of us. My childhood consists hugely of memories of me and you growing up. I wouldn’t change a second of it. I saw someone the other day that we had a nickname for and I wish I could tell you. I wish I had known that the last time I said bye to you was forever. I thought I would see you soon 💫 As always I have a glass of iron bru wkd. Your favourite 🥂 #adventtoremember #penny #forever17 #amillionmemories
Day 8 #adventfordanyl So tonight after school we all got straight in our pjs and Brooke and Evelyn wrote out there Xmas cards, spending some quiet time together ❤️❤️ #adventfordanyl #itsthelittlethings #feelingcosy
Day 8 of #adventfordanyl Today we had an impromptu day out. I never get to enjoy ‘quiet’ term time activities so I’m making the most of this maternity leave. The elf surprised Ellie with tickets to the Life Science Centre and we had such a good day. To top it off it SNOWED. It’s also the official Christmas jumper day so we were well prepared. I havent worked out how to donate online though 🤔 so we may need to keep this donation until another day! #adventtoremember #termtime #maternityleave #elfontheshelf #lifescience #familyday #snow #christmasjumperday #savethechildrenworldwide
Day 7 of #adventfordanyl Last week I rang my Mam in a stress because I didnt have anything on the Christmas tree with Charlies name on. So she gave me a little kit so I could create a print of his hand or foot. That’s what we did today. It only took 3 attempts to get a handprint and we conquered a footprint first time 👣 These little keepsakes are so important to me. I capture their little prints as often as I can ❤️ #adventtoremember #capturedtreasures #keepsakes #handprint #footprint #nottinyforlong
Day 7 #adventfordanyl a little donation made in Dan the mans memory to St Oswalds this morning and sharing a favourite picture of him to make you smile as he had one of the biggest 💙
Day 6 #adventfordanyl so to follow on from yesterday i thought i would treat myself again 🙈 I’ve booked in for a 2 hour pamper after xmas, literally cant wait #merrychristmastome
Day 5 #adventfordanyl so tonight after work i went and had a little treat for myself and had a bit of a change than normal, not 100% sure how long the new colour will last this time 🤣 #selfcare #adventfordanyl #changingitupabit
Day 6 of #adventfordanyl Each year we make a donation to the RNLI launch a memory. This year Danyls name will be on the side of the new lifeboat in Whitby. He will be helping to save lots of lives 💙 #adventtoremember #RNLI #launchamemory #whitbyyorkshire #nephew #danylkevinjames
Day 5 of #adventfordanyl A few years ago we decided we needed our own Christmas “thing”. So we agreed it would be to go and see a Christmas film every December… Three years and going strong 😂 Tonight we saw ‘Violent night’. One of the strangest films I have ever seen… 🥴 Good though! 🥰 #adventtoremember #violentnight #vue #popcorn #nachos #odeonnachosarebetter #ourchristmasthing
Day 4 of #adventfordanyl It’s Panto day! My tradition with my Dad (skipped a few of my “too cool” years 😎 🤯) and now he can take his Granddaughter. She never took her eyes off the stage 😍 came home to a quick outfit change ready for the England match @j300hno bet you didnt think you would be colouring in a Disney annual while watching England take on Senegal 😂 #adventtoremember #girldaddy #pantomime #grandad #granddaughter #yearlytradition
Day 4 #adventfordanyl Brooke has been dying to put the xmas tree up since last weekend and really wanted to do it herself as normally i take over and things have to be in a certain place and it takes me hours 🙈 and i get really stressed out (pathetic i know) anyway today was actually so much more enjoyable and less stressful just letting her crack on and she’s actually done a really good job in much less time than it would have taken me so a new tradition has been made for us today, the kids can do the tree from now on and chuck it all on just how they want while i sit and watch ☕️ #feelingfestive #treesup #letthecountdownbegin
Day 3 #adventfordanyl well this was a nice easy one today as Ive been at work all day and then Not stoped ironing since 7pm! 😭 Ive donated every yeah since Danyl was born as they were Amazing and every year i like to give as they really are worth there weight in gold. They are all photographers who volunteer and go to there local hospital and take very special photos 👼 #remembermybaby #remembermybabycharity
Day 2 #adventfordanyl So today me and Matthew Surprised Brooke by both picking her up from school for once and we went and posted her letter to santa which she could actually post herself this year without a lift up. Which then made me look back at the photo from last year at the same spot and i was so shocked at how much she has grown up and changed i felt a bit emotional as she really is growing up to quick! Time needs to slow down #makingmemories #annualtradition #growingup #adventfordanyl
Day 1 #adventfordanyl So i am a little late in posting as we were at a wedding on the 1st December and then yesterday i had a very early night but what better way to start December and my advent for Danyl then celebrating Mr & Mrs Landless wedding day! A lovely day spent with friends, followed by a full nights sleep and a lie in at the hotel 🤣 #adventfordanyl #1stdecember #amonthofreflection #amonthofkindness spreadingkindnessandlove
Day 3 of #adventfordanyl Today was Ellies day to choose. She wanted us all to go swimming (one of her favourite things to do) so after some family visits this morning, that’s what we did. We also began making Christmas cards with Ellies handprints and Charlies footprints. This sounds like a magical family moment but in actual fact it was a nightmare. Especially when Craig painted his own head and a balloon #adventtoremember #4goingongodknowswhat #dadisworsethanthekids #handprint #footprint #capturethemoment #cousins #oliverjames #dylangeorge #danylkevinjames #elliejayne #charlieanthony
Day 2 of #adventfordanyl Winter walks, more Christmas decorating and writing letters to Santa (courtesy of the elf!) Tonight I have donated to the NSPCC so Ellie and Charlie will receive a letter from Santa. Now some cuddles with my teething Charlie boy 💙 #adventtoremember #winterwalks #colddays #writing #elliejayne #charlieanthony #donateforaletter #magicofsanta #teethingbaby
Day 1 #adventtoremember As always we will finish off the year with a month of special activities as a way to remember Danyl. We have been so lucky this year as our little family of 3 became a family of 4. So I’m taking this opportunity (especially being on maternity leave!) to make it extra special for Charlies first christmas and Ellies first as a super big sister. Obviously today started with Elsie making a comeback with lots of treats and ended with Mcdonalds and a xmas bathtime rave. After scraping them both off the ceiling for bed I lit both my special candles 🥰 Craig then walked in with surprise drinks and Chinese… so day 1 is off to a good start 💫 #adventfordanyl #adventtoremember #anotheryearon #elliejayne #charlieanthony #advent #reasonstosmile #nephew #danylkevinjames
Day 24 #adventtoremember We spent our day visiting family and just having fun ❤️ It’s such a special day when you have children and you can see the excitement on their faces. This is the last day of this advent and I’m always sad when it ends. But hopefully it has made a little bit of difference and brought some joy. I hope everyone has a great day tomorrow 🎅🏻 🎄 ❤️Merry Christmas ❤️🎄🎅🏻 #christmaseve #christmasholidays #family #santa #roundthetwist #adventfordanyl #specialday
Day 24 #adventfordanyl WOW what a BUSY Xmas Eve we have had 🙈 but we have two kids flat out in bed who are Happy and Healthy theres not really a better Xmas present than that. ❤️ A Merry Heavenly Xmas to Danyl another year we have missed you but also another December where a lot of joy has been spread by us doing things we wouldn’t have normally done so thank you 💙 Merry Xmas everyone, I hope you all have a good one🎅🏻 #adventfordanyl #merryxmas
Day 23 #adventtoremember We spent tonight at Alnwick Gardens. We were freeman and got absolutely soaked but Ellie still wanted an ice cream 🤷♀️ #familynight #christmasholidays #icecream #alnwickgardens #adventfordanyl #christmaslights #EllieJ
Day 23 #adventfordanyl Well what a day, I am done in and its not even Xmas day 🙈 party this morning and then Let it Snow Productions tonight with this lovely lot ❤️💙 feeling very excited and looking forward to one of the best days of the year tomorrow #feelingexcited #feelinggrateful #love #anotheradventnearlydone #danyljames #neverevereverforgotten 💙👼
Day 22 #adventtoremember Today it was all about time with my Mam 💕 Christmas hair ✅ Christmas nails ✅ She is always doing so much for me so today I was able to treat her #mumanddaughter #mama #grandma #adventfordanyl #timewithfamily
Day 22 #adventfordanyl Well this little lady was true to her word she went and got a little boy a present and popped it in the trolley. #givingisthebest #learningearly #helpingothers ❤️❤️❤️
Day 21 #adventtoremember We spent this morning @airboxbounce This is Ellies favourite place to be! As soon as we get in there she isnt still for a second! We met Santa, had lunch and played in the soft play. I just love how happy this place makes her 🥰 #favorite #EllieJ #airbox #trampoline #adventfordanyl #bounce #santa #christmasholidays
Day 21 #adventfordanyl i done this last year and have done it again this year it will be an annual thing from now on putting a xmas plant on my Nanna’s Chair ❤️ #adventfordanyl #rememberingthosenotwithus #thinkaboutherallthetime
Day 20 #adventtoremember It’s officially the first day of the Christmas holidays ❤️ So we made crispy cakes, dressed up, made waffle cone Christmas trees, went for a visit to the garden centre and literally played all day. My favourite thing to do 🥰 #christmasholidays #timewellspent #relaxing #EllieJ #adventfordanyl #festivefun
Day 20 #adventfordanyl So today i had something else planned for my advent and i know I’ve posted this photo before but i am so proud and so pleased with what Brooke came out with just before bed, It nearly made me cry and made the last few days of her being a little terror all forgotten about 🙈 she got what i thought was a Xmas card today and she opened it but it was actually a gift card with money in it she was sooo excited and said she couldn’t wait to spend it and that was that. However she blew my mind just before bed she must have been thinking about the other day as she randomly just said “Mam you know that trolley where you put the presents for the girls & boys who might not get anything i am going to go back and buy a boy toy with my Xmas money and put it in” 💔 #proud #shedoeslisten #love #momentslikethatiwillneverforget
Day 19 #adventtoremember I have always wanted to do this… We adopted an elephant for Ellie. She has been sent a cuddly toy, information and an activity pack. I would happily adopt them all if I could 🐘 💕 #WWF #adoptanelephant #EllieJ #adventfordanyl #wildlife #adopter
Day 19 #adventfordanyl so tonight I’ve finally finished painting Evelyns Xmas Eve box, just need to glue on the bits and varnish it and we are done. It was quite nice painting it and crafting on like i used to as i never really get time anymore, found it quite relaxing 😂🙈 #xmasevebox #homemade #doingsomthingnice
Day 18 #adventfordanyl So today we donated a little gift for the Blyth christmas appeal in asda, its awful to think that some kids dont have there family or get anything for xmas #feelinggrateful #lucky
Day 18 #adventtoremember Today was our Christmas visit to @whitehousefarmcentre 🎅🏻 We all absolutely loved it! Santa, elves, owls, reindeer, tree decorations, elf school, cuddles with animals, decorating a biscuit, tractor rides and finishing off with a play in the park. By far our favourite day 🥰 #familyday #memories #whitehousefarm #christmas2021 #EllieJ #adventfordanyl #decorations
Day 17 #adventfordanyl Not sure if everyone does this or if its just me??But my normal ornaments i have out all year round get put away at xmas and get replaced with Xmas type ornaments. So this year I’ve added some special people and lights to my Xmas display which we will bring out each year and make it a new Stewart xmas tradition ❤️💙💙 #adventfordanyl #alwaysandforever #xmastradition #rememberingatxmas
Day 17 #adventtoremember We made a donation a while ago to the Tiny Lives Trust to receive a letter from Santa. The money raised all goes towards supporting families on the RVI neonatal unit over Christmas. The letter even included biodegradable glitter!! ✨ #santaletter #RVI #neonatalunit #glitter #adventfordanyl #tinylives #specialcare #EllieJ
Day 16 #adventfordanyl Today I’ve donated to The Brain Tumour Charity. Ive said it before but people don’t realise Brain Tumours are very very common in adults and children but yet only 3% of the money spent on cancer research goes to Brain Tumour research. Ive had three people in my family have a one and know of a lot more. Hopefully some day we will have better treatment ❤️💙
Day 16 #adventtoremember Tonight I am making a donation to the fertility network. Because of my very brave friend this is something I am learning more about. Over the past few years I have watched her on a journey with so many emotions and struggles ❤️ She is now about to begin a whole new chapter with the intention of starting IVF very soon. She is such an inspiration and I know she is going to help so many other people by sharing her story. Always smiling and always the first to celebrate other peoples special moments. Louise, you are fierce and fearless and I know you’re so ready to take this on 💪🏻 #fertility #ivf #newjourney #newchapter #adventfordanyl #inspire #ivfjourney
Day 15 #adventtoremember The best nights start with dressing as a princess 😂 We have pampered all night with new soap, new jammies and even bath confetti! I was convinced Ellie was going to grow to be a tomboy… she couldn’t be further from one 👸 💅🏻 💄 #dressup #pamper #princess #bathtime #adventfordanyl #EllieJ
Day 15 #adventfordanyl A day spent with my own Miss Claus. What more could i want, last baby class of the year 🧑🎄🎄❤️
Day 14 #adventfordanyl Today Brooke took her teachers some chocolates for them to all share for the last week of term just as little thank you for all they do 👩🏫📚 ( I mean they deserve a lot more having Brooke 5 days a week 😂🙈) #christmasweekatschool #thankyou #reception
Day 14 #adventtoremember I used to struggle a lot with everything that surrounded Ellie being born. It was a very traumatic time and it took me a while to find the right support I needed. Eventually I found Helen, a psychologist who worked for the NHS. She helped me deal with everything that happened and then one day I knew I felt like me again. I still suffer from anxiety… but it’s the same anxiety every mam suffers from. Imagining the worst possible scenario… playing it out in your head and dealing with the aftermath. But I know this is how we fiercely protect our children. I have heard so many negative comments towards people about this kind of thing but I know there are an army of Mamas out there who would be ready to defend this in a second. Being a Mam means you find strength you didn’t know you had and makes you deal with fears you didnt know existed 🦁💪🏻 #thankyou #card #makesomeonesday #talkaboutit #adventfordanyl #strongwomen #mamanxiety #lioness #wegotthis
Day 13 #adventtoremember Tonight has been one of those nights where everything just goes to pot 😂 I have given up trying to get Ellie to bed if she isnt tired so instead we are embracing a later night reading books, watching a film and having Dad bringing us snacks 🥰👨👩👧❤️ #itsmomentslikethese #familytime #timeisprecious #adventfordanyl #EllieJ #Sing #favouritefilm
Day 13 #adventfordanyl So this is the second year running I’ve done this for my advent and it will be a one i continue to do just like i do with St Oswalds every year. This donation is for Pancreatic Cancer Uk its such an awful disease and i will never ever forget how badly and quickly it took my Nanna last year theres not really a day goes by where i dont think of her and i just prey one day it also becomes a more cureable cancer like some of the others have 🤞💔 #pancreaticcancerawareness💜 #pancreaticcancer #adventfordanyl
Day 12 #adventtoremember There has been a huge rise in child poverty in the last few years. Cash for kids is a charity that helps children who need it the most. Today we have donated and I will be dropping off some toys tomorrow ❤️ #cashforkids #missionchristmas #adventfordanyl #childpoverty
Day 12 #adventfordanyl WOW what a day!! Disney on Ice followed by a Xmas Disco and seeing Santa! This is the 1st year Brooke has actually liked Santa, However Evelyn wasn’t that keen 😂🙈 (last picture) Me and Brooke definitely needed some one on one time. I think i forget sometimes shes only 4 and being a shit is probably her way to get my attention, Hopefully now she has had her fix of me she wont be a little witch this week (thats being nice) 🙈 We absolutely loved Disney on Ice together. (me probably to much) We have definitely had the best Sunday in a while. ❤️🎅🏻🎄 #makingmemories #disneyonice #feelinggrateful #santa #adventfordanyl #doingnicethings #stillnotbackonthenicelist