Friday 30 December 2011

Christmas Day at our place - in pictures



Christmas Day dawned beautiful and sunny and the clan came to our place for a traditional roast Christmas dinner. After sitting out under the gazebo and umbrella for youngest grandchild to give out presents (a family tradition) we went inside to eat and then outside again to enjoy the company and play with the new toys.






the dinner table finally set



some of the clan socialising

what can I find in here?


where did that go?


cheers

more socialising...


while the boys play cricket


preparing the desserts...


...only cold ones this year






deserted table ...







Saturday 17 December 2011

Merry Christmas to one and all



Only a week to go and it will be Christmas Eve. I can't wait.
The Christmas Eve service this year is at 9pm and the Christmas Day one is at 9am,
so  that is easy to remember.
Then it's all on at our place.
The family will all gather here for Christmas Dinner,
a traditional roast meal this year as that is what my GKB has requested
 and what my little mother prefers.


Our Christmas tree is finally up and decorated - I thought
 for while we wouldn't get it up,
life has been so busy.
We had the youth group breakup
and barbecue last night,
cold weather but the kids got out
 and played mini golf while they waited for the
  food and they were happy.
Above is a picture of the tree in the church that
was officially decorated  by the youth but in
reality was done by the leaders with
 one or 2 of the kids helping.
 We think it turned out pretty good.




These two pictures are of the
Christmas tree the Sunday School
kiddies decorated, and the crib
underneath that one of the older ladies
 in the church made for them.
They had a lot of fun doing this,
 did I tell you we have mainly boys in
our Sunday School.
Only 2 (brave) girls.
Tomorrow they put on their tableau during 
 the morning service
and have their breakup and prize giving.
It's going to be a lot of fun, 
we haven't had a real practice yet. 
Both the trees were decorated with love
 and to share with the community.


The Christmas tree in the foyer at my work place.
A lovely way to be greeted as you come in the door
 and the residents like to sit out there and see it too.
I thought it was very pretty.

A final word -  a reminder of the reason for the season.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." John 3: 16 &17

I wish you all a merry and blessed
Christmas and a very prosperous 2012


Monday 5 December 2011

Christmas doings

What a busy time of year, I'm finding it hard to fit
 in everything I need to do. I haven't even got my
Christmas tree or any decorations out yet, let alone put anything up. But...






I have got the parcels for Japan all wrapped and in the post and so number one son and his lovely wife  should get them some time this week.
My youngest grandson came with me to post them, he was having time off from school because he hadn't been well and there was a BIG bus trip coming up and he wanted to be well enough for that - of course. He's five.


After we had been to the post office we went for a drink at a 'grown ups' cafe, as opposed to McDonald's or similar. After he picked what he wanted to eat and drink I let him find us a table while I paid up.
He sat very nicely and half way through he said to me very earnestly
"you know Granma, I haven't done this before".
I thought it was a precious moment.





Yesterday we went in to the city to watch the Santa parade, youngest grandson and his sister were on a couple of floats. Their brother was too shy to take part.
The Lego float has Daniel in it, he is the Lego man in the red.
The one below that is a back view of his older sister - trust us to be on the wrong side of the street to see either of them properly, but it was a fun time.
We took my little mother in with us as well and afterwards she told us that was the first Santa Parade she had ever been in to see. Oh dear, I hadn't realised that.

Tonight I shall try to get some Christmas cards done.