Fire Trucks and Christmas Lights

Another little tradition that we do each Christmas time is have the local fire brigade drive around the streets with Santa and an Elf on the back of the truck. We love this time. The kids (and big kids) get so excited. It brings the community out of their houses to see them, and the kids get very excited about receiving the lollies. This year was no different. 

Sunday morning we had a quiet morning at home while we waited for the fire engines to come to our street. The excitement in the kids definitely rises as they hear the sirens going! We headed out and our friends from down the street came down to our front yard. Our kids were excited to wear their santa hats too.

Waiting with Matilda and Harry. Note Eliza in her uniform.

The firetrucks didn't disappoint! They were loud (which our kids found hard - notice Alexander had his earmuffs on because he didn't want to be outside without them). Santa waved and the elf threw out many many lollies. The kids gave them a tin of food for collection to make hampers for those who can't afford food at the moment. 

Too busy collecting lollies

Hi Santa

More lollies

We are so thankful for the firemen and women who still did this special event, even in the chaos of the bushfires that have been going on in NSW. They definitely brought much joy.

Eliza had been complaining of a sore throat on and off since her Christmas concert at preschool and this morning I looked in her throat to notice there was some white on the back of her throat. Most likely tonsillitis. So we then headed to the Dr who was lovely and agreed that it was tonsillitis. Poor chook. We headed to the shops to get her medicine and the kids were great sitting and reading books from the street library there. Great idea!

Now because of this tonsillitis, our plans for the afternoon needed to change. The kids were really excited to be going to the Carols that night but I just didn't feel right having Eliza out for a late night and with friends who she could make sick before Christmas. Instead we compromised and would have a picnic infront of a movie (Madagascar 2). Daniel asked if we could still go and see the Christmas lights which I decided would be ok to do before bed because people would still be at the carols. Eliza was sad about this because she really wanted to go, but I just knew in my gut that we couldn't go.

We bought dinner from the shops (sausage rolls and yum cha) and headed home. The kids enjoyed the movie but weren't so keen on the food. Oh well.

Then we headed out to our local lights - the ones we were going to be walking home past. The kids were so excited to see the Christmas lights!

Daniel loved the nativity.

I love that the lights around us point back to the real meaning of Christmas - Jesus being born.

The kids were quite excited to be able to run around at the houses.

I loved their reactions as they saw different lights. the "wow" comments and "this is beautiful" were very special.

They just loved it all. 

Daniel came home and said 'This was the best night ever'. I'm so glad that even though the plans had to change, they came to embrace the change and have a blast running around the gardens, experiencing the magic of Christmas.

Hopefully next year we will all be well and can head back for the Carols :-)