Christmas in Hervey Bay

Christmas Day has been a lovely day celebrating Jesus' Birthday with our family here in Queensland. The kids woke around 5:30am, an improvement on 5am yesterday. They came out of their rooms just after 6:30am and went straight for their stockings. They found their lollies before James and I could tell them not to look inside them until we were there and ready. We all got dressed and sat on the couch to read our last Christmas countdown book - the First Christmas. 

The kids listened well to it and Daniel even commented that they were correct in saying that Jesus was a little boy when the Wise Men came to visit. I love starting our day with the book about Jesus, not with gifts to try and remind us about the real meaning of today. It didn't fully work because Alexander said as soon as the book finished 'Can we open our presents now?' but we will get there. He is still young.

We then headed out to the Christmas tree out the back verandah and the kids got to open their Christmas stockings. 

They found lollies, a DVD and a diving stick in them and were pretty excited. 

We then had breakfast and got ready for church. It was lovely to have us all there together.

The kids did well through the service but were keen to get back home.

Once we got home, the kids openned their gifts from us. 

Daniel was super excited to get his own beyblades stadium and was even more excited to get more beyblades to use. 

Eliza was super keen to wear her new dresses 

and Alexander was just super excited with every gift that he openned.

James and I were very excited to give the kids each a keep cup of their own. We had them open them at the same time. The kids didn't really give the reaction that we thought, but that's ok. Daniel even said 'Why did we get given our own coffee cups?' Hopefully they will be excited when they use them for the first time. Maybe tomorrow we will need to go out for babychinos.

After openning their gifts they headed off to play and we helped Julie and Malcolm organise for lunch. It all went pretty smoothly. 

Lunch was lovely just sitting and chatting with Nan, Pat, Norma as well as Jenny, Ryan, Maddie, Aly Julie, Malcolm and all of us. When everyone was here we did presents time. The kids were really patient waiting for everyone to receive their gifts and open them, stopping to look at their gift and thank the person who gave it to them. They really were quite spoilt with all they received! 

I love how much Malcolm and Julie love getting their calendar each year. Malcolm even commented 'Now my Christmas is set'.

While waiting for food James put on his antler hoopla game and Aly and Alexander had fun playing it, trying to throw the hoops onto the antlers. 

Aly then wanted a turn and then she asked Nan if she could have a turn. I love that Nan said alright and then sat there while the 2 little ones tried to get the hoops on. Our kids really do have the best great grandmas!! 

Nan is a legend!!

The lunch spread was tasty with bbq prawns (the boys especially loved these), cheese and biscuits nibbles, then cold turkey, ham and salads. By the time we had finished eating we were all rather full. 

A storm had started to come over so Julie took home Pat, Norma and Nan while the kids watched some Bluey (with great joy and dancing). 

And played Beyblades.

We cracked open my gingerbread house. Yet again so yummy!

Once the storm had passed our kids were desperate to get into the pool so they hopped in and enjoyed having a swim, diving down for their diving sticks and just playing together. They do really love the water.

Eliza was right into using the drawing books which she received from Aunty Megan and Aunty Julie. 

Dinner was just a grazing plate really of what was left over from today. The kids were quite excited to have a different sort of meal. Then it was bedtime and they each went to sleep rather quickly. We all are having an early night too because we're so tired from the day. 

Happy Christmas from us all!

It was made more special that we all were together because with Malcolm having cancer, we really don't know how many more Christmases we are going to be able to have together. We are hoping and praying for healing so that there are many more to come but we don't know what the future holds so we are making the most of the moments together now. As Jenny said, it was a different sort of Christmas this year. Still lovely but in the back of each of our minds is wondering what the future holds which makes it harder. But we are so glad that we were able to be there, to share this time with our family and to make memories together.