Search This Blog

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Christmas is close!

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, which is when DH and I have our family Christmas. Some previous Christmases...
2012...

This tradition started when I joined DH's family, as Christmas Eve had been when my family gathered to celebrate Christmas thus allowing my mum to join her friends on Christmas Day. In the early days of our new blended family, my stepdaughters used to spend Christmas Eve with their mum and grandma and see their dad on the morning of Dec 25. But after their grandma moved north to Ingham (in North Queensland) they started coming to our Christmas Eve dinner and spending Christmas Day with their mum. 

2009...
Today we have been tidying the house, I have been doing some food preparation, gift wrapping and preparing the spare bedroom for our visitors for the next few days...DsD1 and Dan arrived at about 7pm tonight...they live 6 hours away in Wandoan. 
( in the background Eduardo is asleep on that chair on which I draped a small patchwork quilt this afternoon...he doesn't waste any time sitting on that quilt! He seems to have radar to find quilts and knitted/crocheted rugs! Lol)
Now that the girls are all grown up, organising this gathering has become much easier and less work for me! DH sent out  messages to family a few weeks ago inviting them as usual, and asking them to nominate what food they would bring...
Then I made a list from collating all their answers...DH mailed that to them...

And it's all organised! Done and dusted :-)
The gifts are wrapped and under the tree...DsD1 and Dan added a whole lot of gifts this evening....hmmm I wonder which one is mine! Lol.
I made 2 lots of brandy truffles this afternoon; Dan has sampled them and said they are yummy :-)

This year, 4 of our girls will be here on Christmas Eve. It's a long time since all 5 were here for Christmas. There were working holidays overseas, DsD2 and our son in law spend alternate Christmases  with his family in NZ and my girls have also spent time visiting their dad in Victoria. This year,  DsD3 will of course be again celebrating Christmas in Ottawa so we will Skype her, just like we did last year... 
So tomorrow we will get out the Christmas tablecloths, set the tables, find all the serving spoons etc, bring out the extra chairs, and generally get everything ready. It will be wonderful! My niece, her husband and their 2 children are coming and children always make it special. My 2 nephews are now 17 and 22...it's lovely that they still want to come along and help us celebrate. 
Merry Christmas !!!

7 comments:

Susan said...

Things get complicated with step families & in laws etc...fortunately I only have one set of in laws to juggle and they had set the "rules" long before we were involved....so\ we just tow the line.
Enjoy your day!

twinpeakprimitives said...

That's the family Christmas!

Dear Maria,

I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ♥

Let all dreams come true in 2016!

Warm greetings from far far far away ♥

creations.1 said...

Merry Christmas Maria and may 2016 bring lots of laughs, happiness and good health. Enjoy your family Christmas - so hard to get everyone together on the one day isn't it - technology does have its advantages!

Lyn said...

Have a lovely Christmas Maria

Vireya said...

It all sounds wonderful. Have a lovely day!

margaret said...

wonder how your day has gone I am sure it was lots of fun and so good to share with so many of the family even if some were missing. Must start as it is 6am and I should be sorting out for the meal at lunchtime, like to have all veg prepared etc before the girls arrive

Nanette said...

Looks like it'll be a memorable day with family gathered for food and fun, Maria. Hope you can eat most of what's served. Have a very happy day.