The Christmas That Was and a 2014 Wrap Up Link-Up

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?

 

 

***A 2014 Wrap Up Blogger Link-Up on Six Little Hearts!***

It's a bit quiet out there this time of year so if you're a blogger and you're still around and want to share a bit of blog reading and commenting love, then please link up your favourite post below and shout out about it on your social media. International bloggers are welcome too!

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Recent posts on Six Little Hearts you may have missed:

 

 

#SLHFeaturedThursdays: Camping or Glamping in Style with Coleman

 

 

Christmas Crafts and Projects for Crafters Plus a Great Giveaway

 

 

An Easy Festive Pumpkin Fruitcake