Monday, December 24, 2012

A Very Tardy Christmas




Hello lovely people. 

I'm a bit tardy with all things Christmassy this year but I hope I've still managed to catch a few of you to wish you a big Merry Christmas and to thank you for your friendship, kind words and inspiration this year - this little space of mine has brought me so much joy as a result.

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So the Kids are all tucked into Bed and all that's left to do is for Mr and Mrs Claus to enjoy a second bottle of cheeky Coal Valley Pinot Grigio, fill a 'few' stockings, eat the stack of chocolate biscuits, bite chunks into the carrots left out for the Reindeers and watch Love, Actually. It's tradition. Baby Flynn will then wake for a feed and then Mr & Mrs Claus can finally retire for the evening of broken sleep that awaits them! to be woken up at the crack of dawn by excited smiling faces.

For the first time in 13 years we will be celebrating Christmas on our own. We have already had visits from interstate family to see the baby and more visits are expected in the New Year but tomorrow it will be just us. But there are now 7 of us which surely creates a party atmosphere in and of itself. It will be grand.

All preparations have been done at the last minute over the last 2 days and I have to say it has been relatively stress-free. There is no assembly of presents required this year pleasing The Pianoman no end. We are going ultra simple this year. A branch off one of our pine trees was chopped off and plonked into a galvanised steel bucket. With 4 kids on the scene, the decorating was done in 5 seconds flat, quite obviously. 


This year I participated in Christina's handmade Ornament Swap and I was fortunate to receive the loveliest ornaments from 2 lovely ladies. Thank you to Kat for these gorgeous crochet baubles - a huge hit with the Kids and they look stunning on the tree.


And thank you to Zara for the sweetest, most delightful handmade Birdy. The colours and cross stitch are gorgeous. It is currently perched on the tree but will be destined for the Mantle for the rest of the year.



We had The Pianoman's work Christmas Party on Saturday night at The Point Revolving Restaurant. It was a fabulous night and due to daylight savings we enjoyed three revolutions before nightfall ensuring hours of glorious views over the Harbour and Mount Wellington. Baby Flynn slept through the entire evening which was very generous of the little chap but it meant everyone missed out on cuddles.



I started and finished my Christmas shopping on Saturday and Sunday and even the trip to the Mall was bearable thanks to some volunteer Elves who were dishing out Free Hugs.


To continue the theme of tardiness we managed to sneak in a Santa photo this afternoon. The benefit of Christmas Eve Santa Photos is that there are no line-ups for Santa and they will let you take lots of photos on your iPhone. It's probably got something to do with the fact that you won't get your actual photo until after Christmas.



And in a final act of tardiness, we originally only had 4 stockings hanging on the Mantle. I tracked down the Etsy Store that I purchased them from 4 years ago and ordered another 3, one for baby Flynn and one for us Adults. They were to fly over the Pacific and get here before Christmas and sure as their word, they landed in my mailbox at 4pm this afternoon. Perfect!

And on that note, I better get on with filling them.

So Dear friends near and far, I hope you have the most wonderful Christmas surrounded by those you love. 

Love Mel xxx



25 comments :

  1. Merry Christmas, Mel. Sounds like its going to be a lovely day with your gorgeous family. Enjoy xx

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  2. Happy Christmas Mel.....hope you have a wonderful celebration with your beautiful family! Rx

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  3. Merry Christmas Mel - to you and all your gorgeous family. A first Christmas with baby Flynn makes it extra special. Enjoy! I am really pleased to have 'met' you this year. cheers Wendy

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  4. I love reading your blog, it lets me see and learn about Australia here in New York. Your family is alot like mine. I have 4 children 1 set of twins. The Santa picture is perfect. He wears a big heavy suit there too. Merry Christmas to you and your family and a Happy Healthy New Year to you all too!!

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    1. It's so funny isn't it? The snow, the big red Winter Santa suit, the snowmen - not once have my Kids thought it strange, they just accept it as part of the magic. You have a great Christmas and NY too x

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  5. Very relieved to hear that the adults now have stockings!
    Have a lovely Christmas Mel xx

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  6. Perfect timing with those stockings. Sending you the warmest wishes for a wonderful, peaceful Christmas Mel xx

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  7. A happy Christmas to you.
    The stockings are lovely.
    x

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  8. The stockings are gorgeous Mel - good luck filling them all!
    Wishing you all a super Christmas and a Happy & Peaceful 2013. x

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  9. Merry Christmas Mel! Thanks for visiting my blog - it's nice to have found yours. I love your stockings, they look gorgeous hung from the mantle like that.

    Gillian x

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  10. We can't find our stockings this year but I found a bag of assorted Santa hats so they'll do. Love your movie watching tradition. We just wrapped and listened to Badly Drawn Boy! Enjoy your wonderful family Christmas especially with that newest little person present. X

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  11. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas Mel. Enjoy it all.

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  12. Lovely Mel! Happy Christmas with your beautiful family. How can you be anything but proud and happy with that lot?

    Warmest wishes and smiles from afar,

    Stephanie

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  13. Dear Mel
    Wishing you, the Pianoman, the kidlets, and I can't possibly forget the whippet, a truly wonderful Christmas. A family of 7 is certainly enough for a party atmosphere. Have a magical time today and also for the new year.
    I am so pleased to have found your blog. I thoroughly enjoy your writing and your beautiful family.
    xx

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  14. Wishing you and your fabulous family a wonderful Christmas, Mel! xx

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  15. Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family Mel. Sounds like an absolutely perfect celebration at your place. Love the Christmas tree, just lovely... and that last pic is amazing, you must be super proud of your adorable family xoxo

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  16. Such a delightful post, Mel, as always. I'm so pleased the stockings arrived on cue - I was crossing my fingers for you! I hope today was glorious. Speak soon. J x

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  17. Hope you had a wonderful day, that photo is wonderful of your gang. mel x

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  18. Just beautiful.
    I hope the 7 of you have an absolutely gorgeous time over the festive season.
    xxxxxx

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  19. Hope you had a wonderful day yesterday Mel and are relaxing today. I am really glad I found your blog, looking forward to reading more in 2013. Taleah x

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  20. Hope you had a lovely Christmas with your family. Pleased to see the superman suit made it into your santa photo!

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  21. I'm even tardier with my Christmas good wishes - we had a whippet emergency Christmas Eve night but all's well now. IKEA toy rats by the way (has to be the oddest thing I've ever written in a comment) in answer to your question about what the whippets get for Christmas, they've had one each every year for the past few years and they love them. No squeak so the rats don't get destuffed, although eventually their felt tails and ears get chewed off!

    I hope the seven of you have had a marvellous Christmas Mel x

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  22. HI there :) I "found" you through Instagram (thanks to today's circus trip) and now I am home I thought I would swing by your blog and say hi :)
    I get excited when I find new blogs, especially ones that are Tassie grown :)
    Hope it's ok if I follow, because I already like your blog lots, just my cup of tea (says a coffee drinker!).

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  23. Dear Mel,

    I hope you had a lovely Christmas. I'm also hoping you're all okay with these dreadful fires. Fingers crossed all seven are fine.xo

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