Phew! Christmas is comfortably over as I sit to reflect on the big day and I am worn out entirely and so are the kids but they are very happy with their gifts and memories.
It's time to officially relax into the season now and treasure another year of sweet family memories.
I am usually so organised in the lead-up to Christmas but this year, it crept up on me so fast that I fell into a total panic when I suddenly realised December had begun but my preparations had not.
And so, one week early in December, I pushed aside all other plans and hit the internet in a big way in order to get the enormous task of providing for six excited children under wraps.
It all worked out too. The gifts arrived in time. The food was sorted. There was a bit of last minute rushing around for batteries, bon bons and SD cards before everything was in place for Christmas Eve. Our tree went up just two days before Christmas Day thanks to sickness and events but we got there in the end. (The tree was decorated at 10pm one night by the kids who were beside themselves with excitement!)
Christmas Eve at our house is an exciting time for the kiddos. After dinner, the table is cleared and prepared for a spread of sugary and traditional Christmas treats which are eaten as we watch the Carols by Candlelight on television.
Little chocolaty faces and hands touched everything but mostly our grown-up hearts as the babies both big and small, settled down for the night to watch the carols and grow quiet with reflection, anticipation, wonder and warm and sleepy happiness.
I think Christmas Eve is one of the loveliest days of the year.
Christmas morning is all for the kids! I love Taite's face in this picture. No need for words really.
It was a day of discoveries and comparisons for the kids."Look what I got!" and "What did you get?" was shouted excitedly between them as they dug themselves deeper into their Santa sacks in the hunt for treasures.
There were roller-coaster cars, monster trucks, whoopee cushions, a wooden doll house and yoyo's, chocolates, cookies and video games.
Celeste received a beautiful Danish Moover pram from Santa. Mummy happened to spot the pram online one night just before Christmas and a short search later (at 12am!), saw one on its way in time for Christmas. (How did we ever get by without the internet?)
Little Miss Mumma.
Our Christmas table was pretty and retro. Many of the items were my Grandmother's and were on the Christmas dinner table when I was a child. Christmas is all about traditions old and new and so these same items make an entrance each year.
This year, we ordered our Christmas dinner online from dish'd too! We had an amazing Christmas feast that fed all eight of us for just $40 and we had leftovers! Next year, we're doing dish'd again. We had more time to spend with the kids as they explored their gifts and less time in the kitchen which was magnificent.
Taite tries out the Christmas punch! The kids love punch but they always forget the tang of that first taste. I love this image!
What did your Christmas look like?
What traditions do you have in place?
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cute photos, hope you're having a nice holiday :)
ReplyDeletexx danielle // shades of danielle // bloglovin
Thank you so much for stopping by Danielle!
DeleteHow awesome!!! Love your little family traditions and what great photos! I also love capturing the facial expressions! Am also very impressed by dish'd... That's a bargain!
ReplyDeleteI was running around like a crazy woman trying to capture those first excited expressions! It's very hard when there's six kids and one photographer!
DeleteLove the pictures. We don't really have any Christmas traditions but this year I made Mr 5 a little box to open on Christmas Eve which included new pjs, movie, a Christmas plate, cup and some lollies. Mr 5 loved it.
ReplyDeleteTegan, that sounds awesome! I love hearing about what other people do on these occasions. I'll bet your Son will be pestering you for this same treat next year - and so you now have a tradition!
DeleteWe had 3 days of Christmas this year to fit all the family in, but they were all in a row so I was exhausted by the end of it all. Next year I'm hosting Christmas so I dont need to go anywhere!
ReplyDeleteSounds exhausting Toni! I remember when we used to do the same. Ours are spread out over a month throughout December now with so many family and work and school related functions too. There's no way I could handle hosting Christmas though for anyone other than ourselves - there's just too many of us! (This year I actually had difficulty getting out of bed on Christmas morning I was so tired!)
Delete$40 for Christmas dinner!! Bargain. Gorgeous pictures. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up Julie and yes, I am pleased with those pics. :D
Deletedish'd was an amazing bargain and I am SO doing their Christmas dinner again next year!
Whatever did we do without the internet? It always comes into it's own during the Christmas rush doesn't it? Like you, I was pretty unorganised until the last minute. Food shopping on Xmas Eve and Mr SM did his Xmas presents on the same day. In fact, it was quite a buzz and we were more than happy with what we ended up with for everyone. Your Christmas pics looked lovely and the kids looked so in awe! :-)
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that Christmas is promoted as early as August really puts the pressure on us too. Really there's no desperate rush doing December things in December, it just feels stressful. It was kind of fun being so late though! (Bit of a challenge!)
DeleteI am glad you had a great Christmas and thanks for linking up. x
Wow! 8 people for $40 is pretty amazing. We outsourced the pudding to Lions this year.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a pretty incredible price! I must try one of those Lions puddings.
DeleteWe had one from last year that we hadn't even eaten and since it still has not passed use-by, it was to be this year's pudding as well! We still have not eaten the pudding! Just couldn't fit it in on Christmas Day. Maybe tonight. :D Thanks so much for stopping by.
Christmas looks absolutely wonderful in your home :) Happy New Year! x
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too! xx
DeleteI'm going to check out dish'd - that sounds like such an easy way to go. Love your photos and I enjoy learning about the traditions of other families. Our xmas was very low key this year but we still enjoyed it. All the best for the new year Jody x
ReplyDeleteDo check out dish'd. We reviewed them here and now they're a favourite at our house.
DeleteHave a wonderful Summer holiday and thanks so much for linking here. ;D
I would agree with you there, Jody. Christmas Eve IS the loveliest day of the year x Wonderful to see your family photos of Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteChristmas Eve has a real magic to it doesn't it? Have a lovely New Year! :D
DeleteLooks like a lot of fun. All our usual Christmas traditions went out the window this year. We survived. Just.
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds interesting??! I will have to see why! Thanks so much for stopping by and all the best in the New Year. x
DeleteChildren certainly make Christmas Day special don't they? My day was fairly quiet. My son and I shared Christmas lunch at a local hotel. I miss those days when he was young and there was so much excitement in the air. Have a wonderful 2015!
ReplyDeleteSome quiet does sound like bliss though Mel! I hope you have a wonderful 2015 and thanks for linking up here. "D
DeleteLovely photo set. Happy New year
ReplyDeleteTaite's face drinking that punch!! So funny. Looks like you had a lovely, lively christmas x
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