Christmas 2018

On Christmas Eve James was playing at church so I decided that the kids and I would watch Elf together and possibly start it as a Christmas Eve tradition (maybe. I know others do this and it is a bit of fun but will wait and see next year if they are keen to watch it again). 

The kids liked it but a lot of it went over their heads and they had a lot of questions about the different characters in the movie and different events happening. Eliza asked us in the lead up to Christmas if Santa was real. We decided to tell her the truth that he isn't real but he is a bit of fun at Christmas time to play along with it. She sort of understood but I think she is still trying to understand it all. The movie sure didn't help her with understanding it because after watching it she had lots of questions about Santa and how he gets into the house and what gifts he would bring, etc. I just hope that she doesn't spoil the fun for other kids. At least there is another year before comments about Santa come up again. Anyway, the movie was fun to watch together. After the movie Eliza got to put baby Jesus into the nativity advent. She was very excited to put in the last piece, the most important one.

After the kids went to bed the stockings were filled and the presents put under the tree.

Christmas morning and the kids woke very excited about the day. Eliza and Daniel both got dressed straight away. They went and got their baby Jesus for their Christmas trees. I love seeing how unique their trees were at the end of the advent period. I had to chuckle at Alexander's being at his height.

There's baby Jesus

Daniel needed his starts at the top of the Christmas tree

After breakfast the kids were keen to open some presents. Because we had church at 8am we decided that the kids could open their stocking gifts but that was all. They were more than happy about that.

Getting their new Santa hats from their stockings

Reaching in

Kinder surprise!

Straight into it! Chocolate at breakfast time? Sure!

Hard job reaching in

His own Cyggy doll!

 My gorgeous kiddies on Christmas morning, 2018.

After opening the stockings and eating the chocolate we hopped into the car and headed to church. The highlight of the service was hearing the Christmas story through the pastors and their families performing Christmas Bohemian Rhapsody for the kids talk. Priceless! After church we headed home for present time. Again, the kids were pretty excited. We started by openning our last Christmas book and reading the Christmas story together. After all, Jesus is the reason for the season.

After the story we had a family Christmas photo.

And then got into the present openning time.

Eliza excited to get headphones and an iPod

Super Alexander, in his personalised superhero costume

Daniel was excited to get his gardening set but sad that he couldn't use it until the went for a trip to Bunnings

Alexander's quietbook!

Chatting on the phone

Making us 2nd breakfast

After openning our presents the garbage truck came around. I am so grateful to those who still worked on Christmas day. I'm sure it is hard to be away from family for a period of time but it really means a lot. To show our thanks, the kids gave the garbage man a Christmas chocolate each (I didn't get around to baking this year). Hopefully they didn't melt before he got to eat them!

We then headed around the Mum and Dad's place for Christmas lunch. The table was set beautifully, including a space for the gingerbread house :-)

Once everyone was there we had present time. The kids did a great job being Santa and handing out the presents (with some help with reading the names for each person).

So excited to get a Treehouse Stories book!

That's the face you want to see when giving presents. Well done Nana and Poppy

Eliza loved her Angel costume

Jens and I reenacted a photo from when we were little with our stockings. 

After presents there was a little wait until lunch. The kids had fun making little Christmas ornaments. Eliza of course wanted Auntie Jenny to help her.

Daniel made a Santa - one that he really wanted to make. He also had to show me how Santa would sound.

Eliza then wanted to have a go of my camera.

And Daniel did too. Oscar also seemed to join in the photo fun.

 I quite like the Christmas bush photos of the boys.

 Then it was lunch time. I got to sit next to Alexander and Howie.

 Lunch was very yummy and filling. Thanks Nana!

Grayma had bought for the kids a colouring in book which she didn't know if they would be very into it. After lunch while waiting for pudding the kids were getting a bit unsettled. Grayma then remembered the colouring in books. They were perfect! Each of the kids were very focussed colouring in their book, chatting about what they were doing. Well done Grayma!

Mum's pudding was delicious as always! So tasty. Because we weren't going away straight after Christmas I was lucky enough to bring home a decent chunk of it which I really enjoyed eating. I was so excited to have it that I forgot to take a photo of the pudding. Oops. The kids loved their pudding too. Winner!

It was then coffee time for the adults and babychinos for the kiddies to enjoy with the gingerbread house and Mum's tasty Christmas treats - shortbread, almond bread, peppermint balls and Christmas cake. So much tasty food!

I was quite happy with my  house this year. I liked the reindeer and the Christmas tree sides the most.

My little tradition is to tie the bow from the gingerbread house around James' head because he's my present. He was obliging again. Hehe.

Jens then noticed that he was matchy matchy with Eliza!

We then packed up and headed home, very full and tired after a fun day. During dinner (a light dinner) we Facetimed with Nana J and Boompa which was lovely to hear about their nice Christmas lunch with Nan, Pat and Norma, Jenny, Ryan and the girls. So lovely. 

Happy Birthday Jesus!