Christmas Eve...

OK, the photos are sorted out and I've picked out the best of the lot to put up on my blog. I'll have to do them in various little posts as and when I get time (sorry). So, back to the beginning of the festive season we go...

Christmas has always a been a bit of a crazy time of year, not only for us, but for most people. I find it a very difficult time of year and one where, obviously, I feel Jacques absence strongly. It's a family time and mine's broken. It's also always very difficult trying to divide our time up fairly between my immediate family and Jacques' family. We normally alternate meal times, so that we're sure to have seen everyone. This year, we had dinner with my family on Christmas Eve, well, it ended up only being my parents, Jake & I. Joanne and Rosanne both have partners with families they need to spend time with and they're trying to set traditions of their own. Joanne and Paul always have a quiet night on Christmas Eve at home on their own and then have Christmas lunch with my folks (Paul's mom joins in as she's on her own). Rosanne also has to fit in seeing extended family on her fiance's side of things. Like I said, it's a bit of a time juggling act in our house. Actually, that doesn't really only apply to Christmas time, it's a year-round act. We had a lovely dinner of slow roasted lamb, gravy, roast potatoes, Jake's home-grown butternut and salad. Of course there was plenty of wine on the table and a delicious chocolate marshmallow pudding for dessert (I must remember to bring the recipe, it's a real winner and just thinking about it's making my mouth water!).

In line with tradition, before bedtime, we laid our Christmas sacks out under the tree for Father Christmas to fill. My sisters & I still have ours from when we were kids and they still get used - if you don't put your sack out, you won't get any presents! I've made Christmas sacks for Jake and now for Connor too - they're bright and Jake loves his. We also laid out a mini-feast for Father Christmas and his reindeer. The reindeer were going to feast on freshly picked carrots and water, while Father Christmas was getting chocolates, home baked shortbread and a glass of sherry. Delicious.

Jake spent the night in my bed, which was the best gift I could've asked for. He's just so precious. Sure, he has his faults, which of us doesn't? But to me, he's absolutely perfect in every single way.

OK, enough blabbering, here are some of our Christmas Eve pictures...

Picking carrots for the reindeer. Jake was very fussy through this process - if they weren't big enough, they weren't good enough...

The haul... Totally excited...

Us at the dinner table... An excited little boy on his way to bed. Did anyone see these musical toys at Woolworths this year? They sing Jingle Bells and Jake has had so much fun with his... The spread for Father Christmas and his reindeer...

Jake getting cosy with Father Christmas' sherry...

All partied out! The cutest elf in the world (to me anyway)...