Christmas

What a fantastic Christmas we had. It was a Christmas that my dreams for many years have been made of. It was probably my favourite Christmas ever.

Rieley was so VERY excited when he woke up on Christmas morn at 6:45 am. Thankfully Kellie woke up at the same time.

On Christmas Eve, we had a very nice dinner, then we put out stockings, the Santa sack (where Santa puts one present for each child unwrapped), cookies, a carrot, water and a beer. We stood at Rieley's window for quite a while trying to spy Santa's sleigh but no luck, maybe next year. ;)

The kids opened the Santa sack and tipped out their stocking, then we had breakfast and a much needed cup of coffee for Mum and Dad. :) Our breakfast was 'ham and smoked cheese croissants' which were so yummy, we've had them for the last 3 Christmas breakfasts now. We then went and opened the rest of the presents. It was so much fun and took a lot of time, which was even better. Each toy or book or whatever had to be examined and exclaimed over (by Rieley). We had to help Kellie open some presents which she wasn't terribly interested in, she just wanted to play with what Rieley opened. lol We decided that we would only tag those presents that were specifically for one child and the rest were for whichever child got it first. Our policy in this house is that all toys are to be played with by both of them, they have a couple of special items but I've found neither are territorial. So that is why we didn't tag the majority of the presents.

Rieley was so excited he was shaking like crazy and just so happy and 'loved' everything and everything was 'this is the best xxx that I've ever seen'. lol

Ron and I napped a bit in the lounge room while the kids played with their toys around us. We then made a 'decadent chocolate mousse' during the morning and a couple of salads. Lunch was cold meat and salad and it was delicious. I just bought 5 x 250 g of ham and turkey from the deli. Tiger prawns and leftovers for dinner plus the Mousse in brandy boats for desert and OMG it is totally delicious. First time I have ever cooked a chocolate mousse.

I got a wii game (Super Mario) for Ron and we played that for a short while in the afternoon and later when the kids were tucked in bed - too funny. It's two player, simultaneously and a bit like watching Laurel and Hardy. PMSL

I asked for a push bike and a trailer for my Christmas and birthday present. I went and got the bike the other day but I'll get the trailer in a month or so.

We have had a lovely, relaxing three days. Ron is back at work tomorrow morning and won't have a day off until about 8 January as we have some friends staying for a couple of days, so Ron is taking some leave for that.

Only blot on an otherwise perfect few days have been my headaches, I get them daily (I've always got a headache, it's just how bad that varies) anyway but they seem to be getting worse when I'm ovulating and when I get my period. Of course I'm ovulating. I'm also taking some tablets right now that seem to be giving me a different headache also. I think it's my weak area of my body, so my head is affected very easily. I'm just so sick and tired of having a headache all the time and it seems worse when it is a special time of year - I cried to Ron this morning (which doesn't happen very often). He thinks we should nudge the Ophthalmologist and see what is going on with what he wants to do with my nystagmus surgery which might help with some of these headaches.

Well ... 8 (now 5 - oops I've had this open for 3 days) big sleeps until Santa comes to town. So very exciting for an almost 4 year old. I'm revving him up as best I can too. :D Love it.

When we ask Rieley what he wants for Christmas, "Lots of Chocolate / Candy" is the answer we get (still). I think, well I hope that is a reflection that he doesn't get a lot of sweets. lol So, I guess he will just receive what we think he will like. He's getting a real (albeit fairly cheap) laptop, a small aquarium with a few fish and some small stuff. Kellie is getting a shopping thing, some dolls and small stuff.

Have to amend this as the other day he finally wanted to write a letter to Santa. It was like getting blood out of a stone but we finally got some play doh on the list, a gold fish :) and a swing. They are hopefully getting that for their birthday - I told him Santa couldn't carry big things like that on his sleigh. lol

There is so much to buy out there and so much I know both kids would love to play with ... no wonder it is so easy to spoil kids at this time of year, or any really. I hope we have a balance between spoiling and not. Although, there is no-one else to spoil them, so we have to do the job that grandparents, aunts and uncles normally do.

I just can't wait to see Rieley's face, especially because he has Christmas all worked out this year. :) I hope Kellie is able to follow Rieley's lead and she gets right into the excitement too.

Rieley's laptop got here today and we are quite impressed with it for $499. We've charged the battery, loaded his favourites on and done the connection to the internet - so it is all raring to go on Christmas morning.

Ron's about to start a pretty hectic work schedule. He finally got a break from the repetitious work at the site dump after about 3 months and is going underground to work on road maintenance with the roster being 13 on / 1 off and 12 hour days. It scares the crap out of me. We've agreed he has to get early nights and try not to get too run down. Might get a few more vitamins for him too. He's being doing quite well for about the last month perhaps 6 weeks, so here's hoping all goes well, he's only driving a bobcat around so not terribly hard work.

Our car decided to break down AGAIN last night when Ron was coming home from work. Something just about went through the motor but for the life of me, I can't remember what has gone wrong. Might have something to do with a harmonic balance. So about $200 later, the part should arrive Monday or Tuesday. We need to get a 'new' car but it isn't in our hopes until 2011, we just need to ride this car out for another 12 months, 18 at the most.

We all went for a walk around town last night to have a look at the Christmas lights - it was a lovely night for a stroll, even though it didn't get dark until after 9 pm.

Well I better end this before another day passes. :)

Merry Christmas