carrots for rudolph . . .

When we went to visit Santa Claus a few weeks ago (for the first time), he gave the kids a packet of carrot seeds to plant for the reindeers. He told them that even if they didn't grow properly between then and Christmas Eve the reindeers would still know where to find the seeds which they loved just as much as carrots, so not to worry if they didn't grow.
We planted them the next day and in the 3 weeks between then and Christmas, Austin took his duty very seriously, watering and checking on them every day. Thankfully by Christmas Eve we had a few shoots at least, not actual carrots, but Austin was happy enough with that and the reindeers didn't seem to mind, they ate the shoots and the corn cobs that we left for them.

oceanworld, ice cream and water fountains

with the weather we've had lately you've got to take advantage of when the sun shines, yesterday was a gorgeous day so the kids and I went down to Manly to enjoy the sunshine . . . 

first stop Oceanworld where the kids had their faces painted

pirate Austin

mermaid Lily

my little dribblers

working off those ice creams

are we allowed?

who cares if we aren't, I'm going

Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Christmas Morning at our place . . . presents from Santa Claus

More presents and silliness later on with the cousins . . .

Christmas lunch . . . prawns, turkey, chicken, ham and lots of white wine

big cheese everyone

Down to the beach after lunch to work it all off . . .

My Christmas Trifle, I hardly make desserts because I don't really like sweet stuff but I saw this in a mag and thought it looked awesome

The girls and their new babies . . .

Boxing Day snack

Christmas Eve

Austin is a complete sugar addict so there is no way he could be trusted if I left the chocolates in the Advent Calender/Truck for the whole month, but I kept forgetting to put them in after the kids were in bed, so they would wake up excited and run to check the box, only to find nothing. Then I would say "ok hide your eyes" while I put them in. It happened so many times that by the end Lily didn't even bother checking, she would just stand by it and say "I hiding my eyes Mummy"

Nothing like a chocolate coin to wake you up

We had Christmas drinks (and Jelly) with some friends at Zubi which was a really great evening, including the eye-opening experience of a bus trip home with 4 sleepy kids and lots of seriously drunk youngsters on their way home from the local pub, we felt soooooo old - and I'm sure they thought we were too.

Cookies and milk for Santa Claus, Lily was fast asleep by the time we got home so Austin had to do it on his own

We had no carrots so the reindeer got corn and some DIRT - when we had Santa photos taken the kids were given carrot seeds to plant for Santa's reindeer. They didn't grow in time though, which Santa had said might happen but not to worry because the reindeer would still know where the seeds were.

Then it was off to bed for an exhausted Austin - not for his exhausted and slightly tipsy parents though, who had another hour or so of organising presents, filling sacks and final wrappings. I do love Christmas but boy is it tiring and I'm kind of glad when it's over . . .

Merry Christmas

every year I vow to get a photo of the kids done for my Christmas cards in the first week of December and every year its a mad rush in the last few days before . . . this year was particularly bad though, in those first few weeks it rained practically every day so we couldn't do it anyway and when it eventually stopped the kids were so excited to be at the beach they weren't going to stay still for a photo easily . . . not the greatest photos but we did them at least . . . maybe next year I'll get them done early . . .

preeeeeeeettie

Last night we decided to go check out the Christmas lights up in Avalon. These are just regular peoples houses, all in the one street, who every year try and outdo each other with their Christmas displays. There are places all over Sydney, who for 6 weeks turn their street into a carnival every night - cars and people everywhere, music, stalls, carollers etc. 

I'm just glad I don't live in one of them, as I would be known as the boring Scrooge of the street, the amount of effort some people go to is amazing. It was a fun night though, something I haven't done since I was a kid and Austin and Lily absolutely loved it.

 it looks so much better than this . . . my photography skills are very poor

 the kid's favourite - singing and dancing Santa - in a cage??

 another favourite - this sleigh moved through the trees

some of local kids were selling ice cream - of course we had to get one

my favourite

my little elves . . .

 Today was Austin and Lily's last day at their kindy for the year. Austin goes back for a couple of weeks in January so we didn't have to say final goodbyes to everyone but the last few weeks have had that end of the road kind of feeling and I've already had some teary moments, including one this morning when Austin's teacher hugged me. But what can you do, you can't stop time can you . . .

 in their elf outfits, all of the children were encouraged to dress up in a Christmas theme . . .

 with their presents for their teachers . . .

 Lily with one of her teachers, Lauren

 Austin with his favourite teacher, Penny

sign in sheet (I copied you Linda)

 Squishy Christmas Animals Austin & I made for his friends . . .

Waving goodbye from the fence . . . he always waves and waves, blows kisses and calls out "bye Mummy, I love you" until my car has turned the corner . . . breaks my heart  

PS/ If anyone is confused by the previous blogs I found a whole lot of drafts that I never posted so I'm going to try post some of them and catch up