Our Holiday Part 3: Christmas Day

After unwrapping presents at home, it was time to get dressed and ready for our family Christmas lunch at my mom's.  Of course there were plenty more presents to be opened - always fun! Jake was thrilled to get heaps more presents, including things that he'd desperately wanted, but didn't get in his Christmas sack earlier.

Bi was too cute and she was thrilled with her very own pink "Titty" bike.  She looked like a princess in her pink and white dress and really stole the show this year...

Jake showing off his stash of Go-Gos to Corky...

Bi was keen to get in on the action with the boys too...

There were presents for the "big" people too...

Chocolates - always a hit...

Bi was thrilled with her handbag...

Pauly-wauly's cousin, Anne-Marie and her husband, Jason, were visiting from the USA and joined us for lunch.  I think they may still be in shock from seeing the present unwrapping going down...

Jason and Bi...

All together...  Anne-Marie reads my blog, so I like her!  Hi Anne-Marie *waves madly*...

Jake got finally got his much awaited Mario 2, so had a quick go on his new game, while we got lunch prepared...

And Bi kept the waiting crowds entertained, while dancing to Christmas Carols...

Funny girl - she's learning to pull faces for the camera too...

Never one to miss a photo opportunity, Corky joined in the fun...

Goof balls...

OK, this was the best I could get of these two clowns...

Our table this year, was multi-coloured.  We did it for the kids, but I think we all enjoyed it as much as they did...

Little bowls were filled with an assortment of sweets and chocolates...

Check out the cool serviettes...

Bi found the chocolates and they were gone long before lunch.  She just quietly snuck up into her chair and helped herself...

Our full table...

Jake had waited in anticipation of cracker pulling.  He'd seen on the box that there were fart bombs inside the crackers.  Fortunately Pat, Gareth's mom, didn't want the one she got...

Mario joined us for lunch...

My delicious plateful.  A bit of everything - I was so stuffed, but it was so good!!

Jake's able to pace himself better than I can...

Gareth & Rose...

Future model, Paul...

After lunch, time for a snooze for Gareth and another go on his new game for Jake...

Dessert by Jo a little later was delicious.  We also had a chocolate marshmallow pudding that was to die for...

And after dessert, we all headed into the garden for some relaxing in the sunshine.  Jake got this awesome water bomb filling station from Rosie & Gareth...

Corky joined in the fun too, he hates getting wet, but loved throwing the bombs.  They're bio-degradable, in case you care...

After her nap, Bi was ready to entertain us all again, this time with mommy's shoes...

She struggled a little at first...

But Anne-Marie helped her get her feet in properly...

And then she was ready to go again...

Another of Paul's cousins popped in to say hi, so we tried to get a family shot before everyone went home.  The kids just weren't in the mood though...

I tried, but it just didn't work.  This one's probably the best, but the light is all wrong, blah, blah...

And that brought an end to our Christmas Day.  Nice and relaxing, with fabulous company and amazing food!  I was even too full to have my usual left-over gammon and tomato sandwich for supper!  The weather was incredible and I think we can all say, it really was a very Merry Christmas!

Love,

Sue XXX

Our Holiday Part 2: Christmas Eve...

 After a lovely weekend camping, it was back to reality and work on Christmas Eve was no easy feat.  My heart was at home with my sweet boy and I couldn't wait to lock up and get home to him.  Christmas is such a special time of year, especially when you have children to share it all with.  We spent the afternoon helping my mom to get things organised at her house and later relaxed with a movie at home.  We spent the evening with Rosanne and Gareth, enjoying our first braai on their new patio - it was delicious as always.  We'd also decided, for the first time ever, to go to the midnight church service, rather than Christmas morning.  It meant that Christmas morning wasn't rushed and, now that Jake's getting bigger, it really worked for us this year. 

Hilux is growing by the moment.  He already weighs 21kgs and is just 5 months old.  He's super strong and needs a tiny bit more training in the jumping department.  Here, he was waiting paitiently for a sample off the braai...

 He doesn't drool yet, but I'm pretty sure with those floppy lips, it's coming soon...

 By the time I'd eaten, I was ready for bed and midnight church didn't seem like such a great idea any more.  Jake was too excited to sleep though, so wouldn't have helped changing plans...

 Rosanne and Jake got into the festive spirit and ended up dancing on the coffee table, which kept us all entertained for a while and then it was time for church...

Jake was very stressed about going to midnight church - that Father Christmas only delivers gifts once you're in bed and asleep was a big problem for him.  What if we got home and Father Christmas had some how bypassed our house?  He was also worried about arriving home in the middle of the delivery and chasing Father Christmas off.  Once we got home though, he was super excited about putting chocolates and Amarula out for Father Christmas and carrots and water for the reindeer...

 Getting his sack out and ready to be filled.  I made this sack for Jake's first Christmas.  His cousins all have one too...

 Despite his late night, Jake was up at 5:30.  I told him it was far too early and he actually rolled over and went back to sleep.  We eventually got out of bed at 6:30 and the present unwrapping began!  A fishing magazine was a highlight...

As was his new tackle box, which is way better than all 3 of his other boxes put together...

 Another hit was his Guinness Book of World Records.  There are some seriously odd people in this world...

 In true Jake style, all the little bits of junk were way more exciting than anything else he got...

 His full haul - puzzles, books, goggles, games, sweets and heaps of junk...

 Just what he needed - a new cooldrink bottle for school.  It would put me off my lunch, but Jake loves it...

 Jake was thrilled with everything he got and I know that he was so super spoilt this year, but Christmas only comes once a year...

Sue XXX

Our Holiday Part 1: Kommetjie...

Jake and I spent the weekend before Christmas with his grandparents, aunties, uncle and cousins at their campsite in Kommetjie.  As you all know, I'm not the world's keenest camper, but I can honestly say that we had the most wonderful weekend.  I was a little stressed about going away the weekend before Christmas, there's always so much to do, but it worked out perfectly.  Jake & I got new sleeping bags from his granny & grandpa, so we were snug as bugs in our tent and we didn't see a single bug or spider.  The weather was stunning and we had the most relaxing time with our family.   Above is Jake in bed with Becky early on Saturday morning.

Jake's plans for the holiday were to go fishing.  So, first thing on Saturday morning, we headed off to the beach to fish.  Check out the perfect sea...

 Still a little blurry-eyed, but nobody really cares what you look like when you're going fishing...

 Within a few minutes, Jake had made his first (and only) catch -  a whopping big Klipvissie...

 I was entertained by an early morning bridal party having their pictures taken on the beach...

 While Jake tried unsuccessfully to get the hook out of the fish...

 Jake made a few friends on the beach too.  I love seeing his self-confidence blossom.  These kids were showing him a little shy shark that their dad had caught...

 And these kids had found a little crab.  I think Jake likes sharing his knowledge and sounding all smart...

 Because the weather was so super perfect, we went out for a little ride on Jake's Grandpa Hubie's boat.  This is Becky again...

 She's got snot-coloured toenails...

 A gull (ans skew horizon, again) hanging around for the fisher men's leftovers...

Jake with his cousins trying to fish in the slightly deeper waters.  Jake did have a life jacket with him, but it was a little big and he couldn't manage to cast with it on...

 After fishing, it was down to the beach for some body boarding...

 Jake's far from brave when it comes to the sea, especially when the waters so cold...

 Abi coming out for a little breather...

 But not for long, the water was just too tempting...

 Jake is pampered and spoilt by his cousins.  The girls are really good sports and do their very best to help him have the best time...

 Becky is 10 and Abi's 12, so just 2 and 4 years older than Jake.  Such sweet girls...

Next up it was Becky's turn to pull Jake around...

 Abi having fun on the water...

 Becky helping Jake catch his first wave.  Unfortunately for you, I made a video, so don't have photos to share...

 But this is one happy little boy after having braved his first mini-wave...

 Jake & Becks decided to build a dam...

 And then it was time to head back off to the campsite.  Trying to get these 3 to smile nicely for a photo is almost as difficult as getting Jake, Corky & Bi to smile at the same time...

 Morons...

 OK, I'll try again...

 Seriously?  What is wrong with these kids??

 The next morning, Jake and I went off again for a little trip on the boat.  This time it was to go and help Grandpa Hubie with his cray fishing.  Jake and Becks...

 Jake pulling up his first net - he was so excited...

 And proud of himself...

 Look what he caught...

 We had crayfish for dinner both nights while we were camping, it was AMAZING, if you're into that kind of thing...

 Pulling hard...

 Ooooh - this time the little shy shark that tried to bite Jake while I was taking this photo was way more exciting than the crayfish...

 looking back towards Kommetjie - a perfectly flat sea.  This is what it was like in Greece...

Our little mini-break in Kommetjie was just about perfect.  Thank you to everyone for making it such a special beginning to our holiday!

Love,

Sue xxx