We did Christmas Eve again this year – definitely better for singing carols by candlelight.  Kerry ran the family nativity play again.  Dad played the innkeeper; we had a rather African addition to the stable animals – mom was a strange looking leopard, who doubled as a cow, sheep and miscellaneous other animals when needed.  Sam and Craig were shepherds in very strange shepherd attire, but attire none-the-less.  It was loads of fun!  Perhaps next year we can try a different retelling of the story.  I think that as the kids get older they can take over the responsibility of running the show!

We stuck to the traditional colours of Christmas for the table decorations: the kids in the playroom and the adults in the dining room.  I wrapped single containers of Crazy Clay for the kids’ table gifts.  They had fun making all sorts of treasures (and messes) as they shared out their clay after supper.

But, first, crackers were pulled and supper was eaten.  Yum! Yum!

At one of our last Busy Kids meetings, the kids made salt dough candle holders.  When they dried I spray painted them gold and we used our ones for the adult table.  Craig and Kerry contributed their lights for the table runner…

… it looked beautiful …

Christmas hats came out and much food was consumed.  Kerry’s granny, Joy, joined us again this year.

After supper, we sang carols together.  The kids had pre-decorated their candle holders (aka paper plates), but the wax still managed to drip on hands and keep little people busy!  Craig N read the biblical account of Jesus’ birth between carols.

The candlelight was beautiful and the mood festive and joyful.  The kids are all old enough to know what they want so we got quite a few requests!

Finally, dessert and pressies!  Here are some delighted faces!

The next morning, Craig set up the camera for some “formal” family shots.  I think I like the non-formal versions the best – the grumpy Sam; Katie showing off her tooth gap and the funny faces.

FINALLY, pressie opening time.  The kids had been looking forward to it the entire morning.  The lure of gifting opening made all the normal morning routine prep move quickly and smoothly!  Lovely!  We sat on the couch and prayed together first, thanking God for the gift of His son.  Even Micah climbed into his stocking with great gusto (see bottom left pic!)

We headed off to church and met up with both the Hayes and Newill sides of the family.  It was lovely to celebrate Jesus’ birth with everyone in song.  Mervyn preached from the passage on the wise men – a strong to-the-point message that implored us to be like the wise men who recognised and revered Jesus as King, rather than foolish Herod who chose to try eliminate Jesus, completely rejecting His Kingship.  We ended the service with Joy to the World – a wonderful carol!

Christmas Lunch at Bev and Chris’s house – it was delicious!  It was a lovely warm day – the kids and dad were in the pool in two secs.  But not before yakking off gran gran’s ear.  Sam assisted with covering Micah with sun lotion – yes, that is what he is doing in the pic below, despite the stranglehold it seems he has him in.

Craig dive bombed his way into the pool – loved the splash!

Bev outdid herself again with a delicious meal.  Even the kids climbed into the starter and main meal with gusto.  Micah ate his chocolate table gift and managed to smear it all over his face!

Finally, gift opening happened outside in the cool of the tree’s shade.  Poor Murray became the girls’ wrestling mat and mate – he was pummeled; climbed on and attached from all angles.  Lots of fun (maybe not so much for Murray!!)  Thanks everyone for the lovely thoughtful gifts!

Finally, we left around 4pm – headed home, packed up and headed to Hermanus – our last Newill Snr & Jnr family holiday …