Christmas was a month ago. A whole month! And I've only just found time to have a quick squizz at some of my photos. It was AWESOME! We ate, drank and were very merry. We started the festivities with a delicious dinner at Rosie and Gareth's house on Christmas Eve. Their table looked magical and the food was divine. Plus, it was awesome to see Rylee so excited ahead of bedtime.
Jake was a really good sport and did his best to make the holidays magical for all his younger cousins...
Rylee has an elf that visits him over the holidays. Connor and Bi have an elf too, but I don't have pictures of their one. Rylee's elf is called Elfie. Elfie arrives on 1 December and Father Christmas picks him up when he drops off the presents on Christmas Eve. Elfie's job is to keep watch on Rylee and to report back to Father Christmas on his good/bad behaviour. Elfie can be really naughty and Rylee gets so excited to wake up and find what Elfie's been up to during the night. After dinner, Rylee cried big, fat tears at having to say goodnight to Elfie...
Rylee's nativity scene that he made at school...
My parents joined for dinner too. My dad had a bad eye infection and had been to the ophthalmologist that morning - he's looking so much better since then...
Rylee handing out crackers - can you see the excitement?
A plate full of YUM...
Our little party - it was delicious...
A very excited little boy...
And his equally excited big cousin. Gosh, it feels like yesterday that Jake was Rylee's size...
After supper treats - little sweetie pies with white chocolate, coconut and blueberries. So yum...
Rylee sharing the love...
Getting ready for Father Christmas's visit...
These boys are so precious. We really missed having Connor & Bi with us too...
Water for the reindeer...
And sleeping on his feet - waiting for everyone to leave so he could get to sleep and tomorrow could come...
Teenagers still love surprises...
Our latest Christmas tradition is to wait until Rylee wakes up, then take Jake's sack to Rylee's house and they open presents together. It's such fun. Problem is that Rylee likes to sleep in. But just wait, can you see how tall Jake's got?? I am properly short these days...
Super, super excited...
Rosie and Gareth had their kitchen done up recently - looks gorgeous doesn't it??
But enough about that... Look at that little boy in his undies...
It started off calmly. Rylee had far more presents than Jake (51, to be precise!) Rylee opened all his presents in his undies...
Rylee tried to slow down and see what Jake was getting too...
But once he realized that he was getting even cooler stuff, that idea disappeared out the window...
The teenager found Father Christmas's stash before Christmas morning. Fortunately Father Christmas had wrapped everything already, but this long tube had Jake quite excited. It was only a scratch map, but Rosie had told him that it was a bonsai growing kit and I think he was a bit worried that I'd bought him something so boring...
See? Jake was totally forgotten about...
Jake got a few good surprises too...
Disbelief...
and real happiness...
Yep, he got the new Xbox remote control. It came all the way from England, because they aren't yet available in SA...
One of Rylee's favourite presents - a share the love t-shirt...
Which meant he put some clothes on to unwrap the rest of his presents...
Father Christmas made sure that Hilux got something too...
Thank you...
Rylee's started pre-school this year. He got some awesome new goodies for big school - a new backpack was one of them...
Jake got a 2ft gummy worm... he's still eating it...
Rylee's very into pranking people at the moment, so he got lots of gag gifts...
A Remote Control Sheragegni...
The gift highlight for sure! Rylee was straight outside to play with his new toy...
And everyone piles off outside to watch his every move...
Christmas lunch was a chilled affair. Jo made delicious mocktails for the kids...
And granadilla champagne cocktails for the grown ups...
Rosie was super creative with her gifts this year. She made my dad a chocolate guitar!! And please note how much better his eyes were already looking from the night before...
Reindeer craft beer for Paul...
And money Christmas trees for Jake and Connor. Isn't she clever???
Once everyone was settled with drinks, it was time for presents at Nini's house...
Jake and Connor. These two spend a lot of time together online, playing Fortnite...
Our fairy...
Nini pranked Connor for Christmas. All he wanted was money and she'd wrapped a huge box and hidden the money in that. He was so disappointed at the thought of getting a toy...
A Cabbage Patch Doll for Bi...
She's been such a girly girl with her dollies. Not sure what Jake thought was so funny, but anyway...
Cash is king...
Rylee's been asking me since about May for a Nerf Gun. He helped choose it online, so has been very patiently waiting for this gift...
I bought Bi a glitter L.O.L. doll. I had no idea what they were about, but she was thrilled to have a new one to add to her collection...
Starters...
Bi got a new iPad and headphones from Father Christmas...
After starters, it was time for a swim...
And, oh, one last picture of the most beautiful girl in the world in her pretty, sparkling Christmas dress. Isn't she lovely?
And that's it for another year. I have been really bad about taking photos lately. I have so many that I need to take and print and I just don't seem to get there. Life is crazy. And Jake's also a very unwilling subject these days. Hopefully that changes soon. They're such lovely memories to have and look back on in years to come.
On a happy note, my dad seems to be doing really well. His feet are looking OK and they're getting lots of attention. My mom is doing everything she can in the hopes of helping him keep his feet for a little longer. Fingers crossed. We've booked a few nights in Kalagadi in March, so we're hoping and hoping that we don't have to cancel that. Jake and I have also booked our annual Kruger holiday again for June/July school holidays, so lots to look forward to at the moment.
Jake's settled in to Grade 9 well. I went to a meeting last night for his grade and met his teacher - she seems lovely and I think he's going to have a busy, happy year. Jake got academic colours at the end of last year through very little work, so he is determined to work this year to improve his results. Fingers crossed!!
Love,
Sue
