Sunday, March 27, 2011

Christmas up North

A few days after Christmas we headed North to do it all over again with the Challis Family. I like having 2 Christmas's - it's fun! Here are a few pics from our few days up there. 

Leilani & gorgeous Olivia! The girls just love her!



She is extremely irresistible!



Em giving Poppa a big cuddle! She is good at giving hugs this little girl!


The kids spent most of the time playing out in the garden, as usual!





How cute is Gus!? Look at all those beautiful blond locks!



The kids had a lovely time playing together with the parachute.




And what an easy life this girl has!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We headed to Mum and Dad's for our usual Christmas breakfast where everyone was extra excited to see each other! There was lots more present opening and a great breakfast feast cooked up by Mum (and Dad!?).


The kids all found oranges in their stocking from Grandma and she told them a story about Oranges and Christmas and Nanna Nell??? (Mum, can you please re-tell the story - because I forgot it.... or maybe I wasn't listening..... no I definitely just forgot!)




I like these next two pictures of Emily helping Charlie open one of his presents! I'm sure she is saying something very intelligent to him!!!!



We all got some great gifts and everyone put in a lot of effort to find what they thought their 'getter' would like!!! I got these Candles from Scott & Katrina and was really happy! Thanks everyone for a great Christmas morning! Maybe the Critchfields will join us at the next one!???


We then went to Uncle Shane and Aunty Cathy's for lunch with a few of the Mammoths. It was a really nice lunch and we had a great little chit chat about all sorts of things. A few very interesting stories were told before we all had to depart! 

The Carmichael's then gathered at our house (after a bit of a nap for some) where we feasted once again on prawns, cold meats, pinkeyes and salad. We were all then well and truly full! 

And that was another Christmas over! 

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Christmas Morning Smiles

The kids woke about 6.30am and found stockings filled at the end of their beds! I love listening to them chatter with excitement about each little thing inside! 

It reminds me of when I was a kid and how Elle and I would wake to find Santas gifts at the end of our beds - we would be so excited to see what we got and then we would be even more excited to go and show everyone else what we got!  It's especially fun sharing a room on Christmas Morning!

We then all got up and looked under the Christmas Tree where Santa had left a few more presents, we read the note he left and then talked about the 1st Christmas and why we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Elle arrived soon after that and the present opening began! There were smiles all around - lots of giggles and ONE VERY UNEXPECTED GIFT! I'd love to tell that story - but I think it's best kept in the family! Let's just say it's one Christmas gift I'll never forget!! 

Here are just a few of the happy faces! 








I love how Christmas makes us happy - and even though it can be a sad time for some, if we remember the gift that Jesus Christ gave each of us - the gift of eternal life, then we can all rejoice in knowing that we can live with our families forever in eternal happiness.