Christmas Day was just wonderful. It started with Mary Katherine waking at the crack of dawn (6:20am) and asking "is it time to get up yet" several times before we rolled out of bed to get the festivities going. She was just a little excited about what Santa might have brought during the night. Calvin and Caroline finally heard MaeMae rustling around and woke up to see what goodies lay in the living room.
We had a simple Christmas lunch of baked ham, homemade mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls. Just enough!
We had a great, relaxing day of opening presents, playing, skyping, gardening, beaching and decorating. We feel fully blessed and are so thankful for the abundance that God continues to shower upon us. Being in a country that doesn't mess with all the frills and commercialism of Christmas really helps to keep the focus on the true meaning of Christmas. What a joy to know that God loves us so much that He gave us a gift so great to deliver us from all our sins and to watch over and guide us through our lives.
Santa hid Christmas Crackers through the house for the kids. They loved the scavenger hunt! Christmas crackers are a very NZ thing and have little prizes inside along with a paper crown and riddle. It was really fun!
The tent the kids got from Santa. Now we just need to take it for a test drive!
Our little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. I got this at the Warehouse for about $5 and the wooden ornaments for the same. There are a few handmade ornaments the kids made at school and the library.
The gifts piled under the tree.
Calvin and MaeMae reading the note Santa left for them. They also left Reindeer food (oats in a ziploc bag) for Rudolph and Blitzen, which they ate every bit. The note Santa left said to listen to mom and dad and to go to bed early and thanked them for the cookies and oats.
Let the gift opening begin!
Caroline was excited to be in the middle of the action, although she didn't quite get the tearing open of the gifts, she'll definitely catch up next year.
Calvin got some awesome GI Joe's, clothes and more from Mimi, Papaw and uncle J, a lego tow truck, a watch, torch (flashlight), binoculars and other goods from Santa.
Caroline got some stacking cups and others from Santa and some clothes and musical train from Mimi, Papaw and uncle J.
MaeMae got her beloved Mrs. Potato Head and clothes from Santa, clothes, blox and more from Mimi, Papaw and uncle J.
It was such a fun Christmas! We really wanted to not get too much since we will be moving in 6 months. And, it was nice to not have so much stuff this year...the kids really played with the toys they got and weren't pulled in a 100 directions with all the stuff as in past years. It was nice to have a more simple Christmas.
The aftermath
Caroline enjoying a marshmallow lolly and nerds, healthy snack. It's Christmas...we were celebrating! :) Maybe that's why she stayed up 2 hours past her bedtime!
We had heaps of fun making and decorating Gingerbread Men Cakelets. Thanks, Aunt Lois & Uncle Bill for sending the big box of Christmas goodies! Icing, cake mix, cake pan and all! The kids have thoroughly enjoyed it, as did the parents. :)
Ben, the perpetual artist, had the best Gingerbread Man of all, a Kiwi Rapper. :)
My Kiwi bathing beauties
Our Gingerbread Man Family
Ben's Barber Shop was open on Christmas! Lucky boy!
We were able to get out and do a little gardening. Well, Ben did the gardening while I skyped with mom, dad, Kimberly and Jennifer, but I did pull a few little baby weeds. :)
Taking a Gingerbread Man break with the girls.
What fun to spend some time at the beach for Christmas! It was a beautiful day, about 70 degrees, and the kids loved playing in the sand and surf. The water is still cold but there were tons of people (mainly Maori folk) jumping off the pier and swimming. Days Bay, the best sandy beach area, was packed with everyone enjoying a beachy kiwi Christmas. We only stayed about an 2hour or so. It was plenty of time for the kids plus the sun is so intense that even at 4pm it's still scorching. With the temperature it's not so hot but when you sit in direct sunlight here the rays are a scorcher. Sunscreen is a definite must at all times.
Caroline loves to play in the sand but she hasn't quite figured out that you can't eat it. She's gotten several mouthfuls of sand so eventually she'll learn. Calvin and MaeMae enjoyed wading in the surf and building volcanoes in the sand. Fun had by all!
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