A Kiwi Summer Christmas

All week, the kids have been getting up at 7:30am. Last night, they went to bed after 10pm. SURELY they would not be up with the sun!! Hahaha! Joke's on me! I didn't actually hear them get up. I'm going to assume it was about 5:30am. MY door opened at 5:45. I didn't want them rummaging around in the living room where their stockings were stuffed and the presents were under the tree (I don't put presents out until Christmas Eve after they're in bed). I told them to come snuggle with me in bed. So they did.

Then, Silas started whispering about all the things in his stocking, naming them one by one. I asked if he had looked in his stocking. He said yes. Then I asked Ethan the same. He said no. But then Silas started telling me everything that was in ETHAN'S stocking. Ha! Ratted out by his little brother. So, I told them to go get their stockings and bring them into my room. They did, and played for awhile on my bed.

Around 6am, I called Colin and told him to come over (initially, I had told him to just come around 7:30 or 8. Nope! If we're up, he could get up and come over). He did, and was here by 6:30.

Ethan wanted to be "Santa" this year and hand out presents, so he got the Santa hat honours.

Then they dug in! Scooters!


Lego!!

Mr. Potato Head!

They each got a magnifying glass in their stockings. Best $2 spent this year!

And Rory got her first "baby".


Outside to test-drive the scooters.

"Take a picture of me!" Love the pose.

Silas is quite the whiz on his. It has 4 wheels instead of 2, but he's got amazing control. And yes, those shoes are way too big and are on the wrong feet. ;)

Mid-morning, Colin left, and I went about preparing what I was planning on taking over to our friends' for Christmas lunch. Around 11:00, I had my one moment all day, of panic/emotion, as I thought that this was the first time in my 35 years that I was spending a part of Christmas Day alone, without another adult in the house with me. And then, as my protective Heavenly Father tends to do, my phone rang. Another friend who was heading to the same house as we were was calling to ask what time I was heading over there, and reminded me that I'm NOT alone today. And I took a deep breath and came off the "ledge" and continued making my salad, packing the car and waiting for my sleepy girl to wake up so we could go. All good.

The sun decided to come out finally and it was turning into a perfectly gorgeous, divine New Zealand Christmas Day. 9 adults, 13 kids (ages 3 months to 9 years), enough food to feed an army, sunscreen, swimming, waterguns, squealing happy children, were all part of this fantastic get-together.




This is how Rory spent the vast majority of the afternoon. When she WAS awake, she was being cuddled and oohed and aahed over. She is amazing. So laid-back. Happy, smiley at absolutely everyone who holds her. I have decided this week that she is God's peace in human form.

Some organized games. (Note Silas, just behind the girl in front, with the trumpet).


Yes, still has the trumpet.

And still! Man, he loved that thing. And insisted I keep taking pictures of him with it!

More crazy fun!


And a very full day winds down with some popcorn and a movie.

Ethan also stayed the night there. Silas fell asleep on the couch, was carried to the car, strapped into his seat, carried out of the car and into his bed and never stirred once. Rory was her usual pleasant self, awake or asleep. And I, well, I need to go to bed! It's 1:15am!! Good-night and Merry Christmas again to all of you on the other side of the planet.