messyart

A few more Xmas pics...

Because we had a smaller geathering for Christmas, we didn't go all out. But me being me, i couldn't help but still have a cute Christmas setting :)

I had flowers that i'd picked up from the supermarket, mixed in with flowers from my garden. I placed them in jars wrapped with paper diolies and twine. Simple and effective. The table was scattered with pinecones the kids had collected and painted themselves, and we picked up some DIY cracker kits from spotlight and made our own Christmas Crackers as place settings for everyone.

 Most everything was made from stuff i had lying around the house this year, as i was on a mission to be extremely budget friendly this year and re-use instead of replace where ever i could.

 This is an 'After" photo of our Xmas lunch which was put on by my mother and sister (Mmmmmm....thank-you-very-much!)

 I did the desserts. I tried my hand at making truffles using this recipe here. I also made a delicious gluten free lemon cake, but cheated on the pavlova using a store bought base but covering it with a homemade marscapone and brandy cream and fresh berries and served it with a homemade raspberry coulis.

Now it's time to start getting ready for New Years! 

Ho Ho Ho!

 

Christmas came and went so fast it almost feels like forever ago already! This year was extra fun for us because of 2 reasons. One, because this was our second year to celebrate in our new home, and Two, because this year Little man really got what Xmas was about (well, the gift giving and opening part anyways ;). He was ALL about the opening of presents! All morning all he would say " Mumma, open pwesesnts? ...Yeah! " He says "yeah!" with a definitive nod of the head , as if to say...i'm not waiting for your answer, the answer WILL BE yes!

Really cute, for now.

So we all got alot of enjoyment from watching Little Man have so much fun opening his gifts...and everyone eles! As it was such a lovely morning too, we opened most of the gifts on the back porch.

(pics are a mix of iPhone, slr and instagram picks)

Little man especially loved his stocking :)



The boys were excited for Santa to bring them their Spay Watches :)

My daughter handmade some gifts this year....like this window hanging for my mum.

And this teacup plant for me (The most awesome gift ever!)

I got my sis a couple of surf lessons with me, but fooled her by wrapping the voucher in a big box, where i also had a jar filled with sand (to add wieght to the box) and a tag hanging of it saying " this is not your gift, it is just a jar of sand. Ha ha ha ." I think i'm sooooooo funny ;)

The kids got a Just Dance Wii game....ummm, the most FUN gift EVER! Seriously, we haven't stopped playing it since! And great excercise too....whew!

It was a small family gathering this year as my uncle passed away the day before Xmas and my father and step mother went to Sydney to be with the family. My brother and his family were at my SIL's family this year, so it was really just us, my mum and my sister! But that definitley didn't make it any less wonderful :)

My sister and i made some homemade Sangria, with presevative free wine so i could have some too! It was sooooo yummy!

 Big sister helped me make some personalised Xmas Crackers filled with little surprises for everyone :)

Lunch was followed by dessert and then lots of relaxing by the pool. I couldn't have asked for a better Xmas!

I'll do a post tomorrow with some pics of the table settings, but i didn't want to make this post too photo heavy! I hope you all had a lovely, relaxing, happy Christmas!

 

Twas the night before Xmas

Are you ready? Can you belive Christmas is only one sleep away? Everyone here is pretty excited!

 

We have a Xmas tradition of doing a Secret Santa in our (immidiate) family every year. We all draw names out of a hat and then make or buy (with a $10 limit) our Secvret Santa their gift. As i'm usually the one who needs to take everyone to get their gifts, i usually end up knowing who has who pretty early on ;). On Xmas eve, we open our Secret Santa gifts. I did that on purpose, because i wanted everyone to really savour what they recieved from thier family, and i didn't want the Secret Santa gifts to get lost amoungst all the "bigger" gifts from Santa. This way they have more time to appreciate what they recieved, no matter how small.

Afterwards we relax, have a nice dinner and watch Xmas videos together. I was so organised with all my wrapping, so i don't have to worry about doing anything after the kids were in bed! Such a nice change from Xmas's past when i wouldn't get to bed till some ridiculous hour!

Goodnight everyone!