Christmas is Done and Dusted

On Christmas Eve we went to Mass, put the presents under the tree, left treats out for Santa and his reindeer and put the girls to bed. We were well prepared but relieved to go to sleep that night.

My mother-in-law made this wonderful Christmas cake which the kids helped decorate. This was cut up for Santa.

Our wonderful Christmas celebrations started early with stockings being looked through and then the mountains of presents being opened. This year we gave the kids two presents each and a share trampoline. The got a mountain of presents because there are 4 of them and they each gave the others a present.

The house was cleaned and the food prepared before our first lot of guests arrived at 10:30am. It was fantastic to have my nephew, a strapping lad of 23, share our day too. The next lot of guests arrived at 11:30 and we began handing out presents. It was a very hectic time with 13 people in our library. Being the memory keeper that I am I had a little stress out that I wouldn't be able to know who gave the kids what gifts. I received some lovely and very thoughtful gifts, probably the most special was a gift voucher from my in-laws for a clothing store because I have lots a lot of centimetres and don't have many clothes which fit. My sister and her Mum arrived and she went out with the kids on the trampoline. Lots of bouncing occurred today.

Lunch as a simple BBQ, with the guests bringing something to share.  I was reflecting on the day last night and thought the table was rather crowded, everyone had to squeeze past each other and I thought we may need a different set up next time we host Christmas but then I realised that it is actually part of Christmas. Lots of people crowded in one place, lots of noise, lots of food. A little bit of discomfort is not too hard to deal with. Apart from the wonderful company, the best part of the day would have been the desserts. I'm a sucker for good food. Mrs Granny Weymouth always brings the trifle which it is delicious. Everyone brings something to share; salad, dessert or nibbles. It's great. Little stress and so much fun.

Cousins. Isn't he a wonderful young man?

Gran with Princess Aurora with the lilac flowers she got for Christmas.

Kevin's loot.

Lisa's first Christmas loot. That doesn't include presents she got before Christmas. We only gave her one of those presents!

Packing up the tree to get ready for Lisa's birthday on the 31st

My Aunt and Uncle, cousin and her kids, my brother and my new sister in law and their kids. Kevin had to stay home and look after a sick Lisa. It was great to get everyone together. I'm so glad everyone traveled to see us. It's a great place to meet up at as there is plenty of space for the kids and enough chairs for the adults.