Saturday, December 26, 2009

Christmas at our house...

Family started arriving at 11 am. The weather was perfect apart from it being a little windy. My guess, about 25C. We had 26 adults and 10kids for lunch then about 19 adults and 5 kids for dinner.
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These are my great-nephews - Brodi, Jed & Jett (cousins)
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This is Saige...
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... and this is Tayla, the eldest of the greats...
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... Mitchell gets ready to send the the ball flying while Jed and Brodi chill out in the shade...
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This was the lunchtime spread of cold meats and salads...
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Everyone was here for lunch or dinner (except one nephew and his family). Kirby said my Mum (79) said quietly to her, while surveying the crowd - "You know, I made this family..."
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Here we are with dear old Santa - he arrived to hand out some gifts and lollies...
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(Back Row - Josh, Mitchell, Tayla, Sapphire
Front row - Jett, Saige, Kobe, Brodi, Jed & Blake)
10 of my 16 nephews and nieces (the girls are out-numbered 4-12). They changed into their swimming gear so they could give the Slip n Slide a whirl...
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Even Santa had a turn on the Slip n Slide - I hope he had an extra suit with him!
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Me and my sisters (L-R) Julie, Leanne, Sue, Mum (Dorothy), Marilyn & Janine
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(L-R) Leanne, Janine, Sue, Julie & Marilyn
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Some of the crowd left to go elsewhere for dinner and more arrived to have dinner with us. We had a baked ham, barbecue chicken plus crayfish and prawns and lots of veggie and pasta bakes. More pudding with custard and cream and mango cheesecake and chocolate ripple cake for dessert. The kids ran around like mad things but they all had a ball.
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I am very lucky to be able to spend my Christmas with all my family - in all my 45 years I have always been with my and sisters (apart from one when Maz was in Perth with her family there).
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I hope your Christmas was just as nice as mine (...probably quieter though!)
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Cheers - Joolz

5 comments:

  1. What a lovely family and what a blessing to have them all (well, most of them) with you at Christmas! The comment your mum made about "I made this family" brought tears to my eyes...

    You're truly blessed, my friend!

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  2. I need to just Ditto the above comment....I too felt me eyes tear up over what your Mum said!
    The meal looks quite amazing and to think there was more to come that night....Where'd you stoe it all!
    How many of you was there?
    All looks fun,and delicious!

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  3. What a wonderful Christmas!!!! And a gorgeous family...and such lovely sisters!!!! I loved seeing these terrific photos!!! And Santa on the slip n' slide? Priceless!!! And your Mum's words...so moving...Thank you!!! Sending you love, Janine XO

    P.S. Loved seeing your sister, Janine!! So fun! ~J.

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  4. That is great that you have never been away from family on the holidays. I can't say that much for us. looks like you guys had a good time. Throughs me for a loop to see the slip and slide out for Christmas day.

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  5. O Joolz what a wonderful tribute to Christmas and family...Your Mum must be so proud of you all....

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