We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Christmas morning started much the same in getting up, dressed, breakfast and then out the door. We headed to the Christmas Day service at church. Daniel and Eliza both did very well with staying in church for the whole service (normally Daniel goes to creche). It was nice to think about Jesus' birthday. The children's talk was the story of Christmas in chocolate - similar to the one found here: 
https://freedomborn.wordpress.com/2013/12/25/the-christmas-story-for-the-sweet-tooth/

Daniel and Oscar went down the front for the talk but after Mitch fell up the stairs at the start of the talk, Daniel freaked out and wanted to go home, and then back to our seats. I'm not too sure what freaked him out - the sound, worried Mitch hurt himself, don't know really. Fortunately he calmed down when we got back to our seats. It is nice to go to church to remember that Christmas is about Jesus. Happy birthday Jesus!
 
After church we headed back home to spend some time as a family of 4 and open Christmas presents. Happy first Christmas Eliza. It was nice to have her 1st Christmas ornament on the tree, next to Daniel's one and James and my Christmas baubles.

The kids were pretty excited about present time!

Happy Christmas!

 Eliza did very well with knowing what to do with the wrapping paper, pulling it once I made a rip to open up the present.

A towel with her name on it!

Daniel was pretty excited to open his sandwich making set - hopefully it will be well used!

They then had their group present which they opened together...

It was a little kitchen in a box! Nice, small but useable. Hopefully this will be well loved (and has already been fortunately).

James thought Eliza would like to sit in the box... he clearly thought wrong.

She was much happier to have cuddles and then have a nap.

Happy 1st Christmas baby girl!

After Eliza went down we did the last little bit of setting up for Christmas lunch. Pretty cool having it at our place.

The table set up - gingerbread house centerpiece, bonbons ready

Just as people started to arrive we Facetimed Nana J and Boompa. It was nice to be able to see them. We later Facetimed again when Eliza was awake after lunch so they could see her as well.

Happy Christmas Nana J and Boompa!

It is always nice to spend Christmas with the Howies. Such fun, lots of laughs, good times.

Once everyone arrived it was present time. Oscar was Santa and did a very good job at reading the different names on the cards and giving the gift to the correct person. Daniel was very excited to get his first gift - play fruit from the Howies - he wasn't interested in opening any other presents. I guess it's a good quality to have but tricky when trying to convince him to finish opening the presents and then you can play.

Santa Oscar

Eliza woke up and decided to join the party.

She got some very cute hair clips from Great Grandma which I just love putting in her hair!

And she enjoyed reading one of her books with Auntie Jenny. I do hope she enjoys reading like Daniel does.

Once the turkey was cooked it was lunch time! The table set up worked well.

And then Oscar decided that it was bonbon time so went around enjoying popping them open and seeing what the prizes were inside.

Daniel decided to join in on the action too. I just loved his 'I'm pulling really hard' face.

Then it was Christmas hats all around.

Eliza wearing her hat, just before she broke it.

Daniel enjoyed his hat

Happy Christmas hubby. Good job with the turkey!

Christmas cheese :-)

 After lunch we had pudding and then we were so full, we could hardly fit anything else in! This included my gingerbread house. We cracked it open still and Mum and Dad took some home. We took the rest up to Hervey Bay. It was very tasty - extra good being good quality gingerbread!

After naptime Daniel and Eliza had fun playing with their kitchen. Daniel was giving Eliza some more rice cereal and she was obediently opening her mouth to 'eat' it.

We then Facetimed Nana J and Boompa again and were able to chat with Aunty Jen and Maddie and Grannie as well.

All in all it was a lovely day spent with family, yummy food and good times. I have been thinking a lot about how to make Christmas be more focussed on it being Jesus' birthday. I want Daniel and Eliza to know that's the real meaning of Christmas as they grow up. I haven't really worked out a solution. We will go to church in the morning each year, that is very important to me, but after the morning I want to keep reminding them that the day is about Jesus. Some friends do a cake for Jesus and sing happy birthday - I like the idea but we have eaten so much food, I struggle to think of eating more/making more for the day. Anyway, I guess it's something that I will continue to think about and hopefully I will work out some solutions that can celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.