Christmas morning the kids were up around 6 am. Of course the adults were not! Jack came into our room several times to ask if he could open his presents. Naturally, we said 'no'. Now we know how our parents felt. I was the last one up, just around 8 am, and then it was down to open presents.
Once the presents were open, the kids spent the day playing with their new gifts. Millie was by the far the most interested in all of her new things. She carried everything around the entire house.
Millie loved her new puppy.
The boys played a game of thumb wrestling, which was quite clever.
We had lunch of prawns, salmon, and ham. I had a cracking headache, so the meal wasn't as wonderful as it could have been. I spent some of the day trying to mend my aching head.
Everyone was on the beach after lunch. The kids were playing on the beach for a while and finally insisted that Uncle Matt and Grandpa bury them in the sand.
Louise, her mum and her Auntie Joyce left for the afternoon to go and visit her dad in the hospital. He is suffering from renal kidney failure.
Then all the kids were playing with the kayaks and the paddle board. The beach at Lou and James' is unbelievable and provides the kids with entertainment all day.
Dinner was served just after 7 pm. We had turkey with all the trimmings. The kids ate out on the deck while the adults ate in the dining room on the lower level. It was a wonderful day for sure.
The evening ended with everyone having had a fantastic Christmas Day.
Monday morning I was up and feeling much better. I decided to go running with Matt. We ran to the Como Marina. Matt ran in place to keep up with my pace. However he was kind enough not to give me crap about it. James, Stuart and Grandpa came to get us. Since the Como Marina coffee shop was closed, we headed to the St. George Motorboat Club for coffee. After two coffees we headed back to the house.
We decided to have lunch at St. George's as well. While we were there I facetimed my brother. He was headed to Missouri the following day to spend time with my mom and dad.
Once we had eaten lunch, we went to the pokies and had a play. We all came out ahead, which was nice. Grandma and Grandpa had taken the kids back to the house while we enjoyed the pokies. Once we were all back at the house it was clear we had not been missed. Grandma was building a sand castle with Millie and the boys were playing on the lawn.
For the evening meal we had leftovers. Matt and I peeled the leftover shrimp from Christmas lunch. We knew if we didn't peel them they would not be eaten. I am proud to say that all but 4 prawns were consumed.
Once the kids were in bed, the cricket went on. I certainly do not understand this game at all, but it seems to be one of the most popular games in Australia. Jack understands more about it than I do.
Bed was in order from another amazing day. And when we arose on Tuesday we were back at the fun. Because of the 2.5 mile run the previous day I was unable to cope with another run, although that was my intention. Pain wouldn't let it happen.
Matt, Josh, Grandma and Grandpa left just after 9 am to go to Matt's. Louise had planned to work for a bit, the kids were playing outside, Stuart was watching cricket, and I decided to go into Cronulla a bit earlier than everyone else. The plan was to go in for the afternoon, but James took me to the train to go in early. Cronulla is a beachside town with a bit of shopping for those who enjoy that.
Once everyone else was in Cronulla we ate lunch. However, I had been at the pokies about 30 minutes prior to their arrival and as Stuart said they had arrived, I won 800 Australian dollars. Yahoo! Oh, and lunch was on me.
After lunch we had ice cream and a play in the park. Stuart, Louise and James went to get some provisions for the evening.
Once we were back at the house the kids decided badminton was in order. It seems there is never a dull moment at Uncle James and Auntie Lou's house. We are having such an amazing vacation.
We moved to Grandma and Grandpa's room for two nights since they were staying with Matt across town. Stuart thought their bed was way more comfortable than the pull out sofa we had been sleeping on, but I wasn't as sure. As long as I have a place to sleep, I'm totally fine. I'm never too fussy, I hope.
We were up just after 7 am on Wednesday morning. Jack and Billy were up much earlier than any of us, and Millie was up much later than the rest. She's a sleeper for sure. It was Louise's birthday so the plan was to go out for a meal in the evening.
We hung around the house while Louise went to work for a bit. Stuart and James headed off with Zoe to do some errands and the other three stayed with me. We played a game and then they went off to do their own thing.
I took the kids to the park and James dropped Stuart off to meet us. We had some lunch first, and then we let them play for a while. James went back to the house and cleaned during this time. Just before 2 pm, I dropped Stuart off at the house and took the kids to the cinema to see Moana. It was roasting outside so the air conditioning felt fantastic. The movie was phenomenal. It meant so much more to me because I have so many island friends from New Zealand. I think the kids enjoyed it as well.
James and Stuart collected the kids from me so I could do some shopping. I wanted to get Louise something for her birthday. I knew of a few shops she liked so settled on one of those. I did a little shopping of my own because I needed a certain color of a t-shirt to go with some new pants Karen gave me for Christmas. I waited almost too late to get Louise's gift, not knowing the shops closed at 6 pm on Wednesday evening. It seems that Australia really does shut down for the holidays, at least longer than things do in the states. It's kind of nice that they recognize everyone needs a break from the hustle and bustle of life.
I met everyone at the restaurant only to be told Stuart and James had won money at the pokies just up from the mall. They both thought they would see me in there. Ha! I do love the pokies.
We had a lovely meal with Auntie Joyce, Ev, James, Lou and their kids. There was a birthday cake at the end, which everyone seemed to enjoy. It was a great night out.
Once we were home all the kids went to bed while Stuart and James attempted to drain the kegerator. It was due to be picked up at 9 am on Thursday morning. I think they might have drank three pints a piece and then called it a night. I'm not sure James got his money's worth out of the keg, but he had bid on it for a charity event so I suppose all was not a loss.
Thursday morning I was the last one out of bed. I got up around 8 am and went downstairs for a cup of coffee. I put a load of laundry on, which seems to be an every other day event. I didn't bring as many clothes as I thought I had. Thank goodness we are staying with family where laundry is no big thing.
It had been decided that we would go to Matt's Friday morning and spend the night, returning to James and Lou's for New Years. So I began to think of an overnight bag for us. James and Stuart headed down to the shop to get some breakfast for everyone and Louise continued to work out some things for this big dance tour she is putting on in January. I know it has been very stressful for her, but she's a pro so I'm sure it will all turn out incredible.
Once breakfast was over and kids were nice and full, Uncle James decided bumper tubing was the event of the morning. They looked to be having a fantastic time for sure. We decided to book St. George's at 1:30, but James asked me if I wanted to go and play the pokies about 45 minutes before. So he took me on the boat early. I ended up winning 350 dollars and paying for lunch, again. What a special treat this is for us. Is it wrong to be thankful for the blessings of gambling? Maybe! At any rate, it has bought a few good meals for us and I've had a great amount of fun for sure.
Lunch was fantastic, maybe because essentially it was free. After we ate I hit the pokies again. I lost some, but Stuart won, so I ended up even thank goodness. I think Stuart is still down, but since I'm ahead I suppose he is as well.
We came back to the house just before 5 pm. The kids played lawn darts and I sat in the air conditioned living room. By this time of day, in the summer, in Oz, it can get pretty toasty. It's was relatively mild until Thursday, which was muggy and not nice at all.
Once the kids had played in the water and on the lawn, they opted for a splash in the jacuzzi, as did the rest of us. We sent them out several times so we could have it on our own. The kids finally ate dinner just after 7 on and my two went to bed just before 8 pm. They were whiney and argumentative and just not nice at all to each other. I took this as a sign of exhaustion, therefore I put them to bed. Neither Jack nor Millie has been to bed at their regular bedtime since our holiday started. One of the issues is that it doesn't get completely dark here until after 8 pm. The other issue is that they are having so much fun they can't stand for it to stop for sleep. Therefore, we sometimes have cranky kids.
We had chicken tortilla wraps for dinner and then watched the cricket. I have mentioned the fact that I don't understand this game, right? I was bored by 9:30 pm and decided to head to bed. With a load of laundry in the washer, I could rest easy for the night knowing that in the morning I could pop it the laundry in the tumble dryer, ready to head to Uncle Matt's house.
I was up early to get the laundry started drying, but discovered that a laundry fairy had beat me to it sometime in the night. So I stripped the bed we had been sleeping on, put our duvet back on our bed in Zoe's room, and began the clean up to Grandma and Grandpa's room. I packed our stuff for Matt's and did have some peaceful time with a cup of coffee out on the deck.
James and Stuart went to the supermarket to buy the provisions for our New Year's Eve taco bar extravaganza. We had wanted to roast a pig and have more of a luau, but the pig folks never returned James' call, so taco bar and salsa making contest it would be. They needed to shop before we went to Matt's so there would be little to do on Saturday.
Once they returned from the store and everything was put away, everyone had a bite of breakfast, and then we were off to Uncle Matt's. The kids and I headed straight there while everyone else headed to Uncle Matt's warehouse to work on the merchandising for the Mackenzie and Maddie tour.
The kids and I stayed at Matt's house while they all worked. Grandpa came back to the house with Billy and Zoe about an hour before the rest of the gang headed home. When they were finished they all headed back to Matt's where we decided to go to the RSL club of Castle Hill for lunch. We sat outside and the kids played in the play structure. I, of course, went to the pokies and won 400 Australian dollars. Everyone is worried that I may actually start losing. When that happens they feel I will need an intervention.
We came back to Matt's for a pool and jacuzzi party. We ended up ordering Thai food. At the end of the evening, once the kids were in bed, the adults played Articulation. Matt ended up being my partner and he stinks. We didn't win. Karen and Stuart won, as usual. At the end of the evening I fell asleep on the sofa only to wake up at 4 am and go to bed. My neck was a bit tweaked on Saturday morning, but nothing some headache medicine wouldn't cure.
We had breakfast at the local coffee shop around 8 am, then we were back at Matt's to pack up and head back to James' house. Matt and company went to the airport to collect Uncle Giles. Once we all convened at James and Lou's, Karen and Matt went to the supermarket, Stuart, James, Grandpa, Giles, and the boys went bumper tubing. Millie wasn't able to go because her ear was hurting again. She was none too happy about that decision, but it was a necessary one.
The brothers went to the boat club after bumper tubing was finished. They were gone for about an hour and a half, then came back for more boating fun. The evening festivities began with a salsa making contest that started around 5:30 pm. We decided to have all the adults pick a number out of a cup. We matched up according to numbers and made our salsa. Naturally, Stuart and Karen's salsa was voted the best. Those two seldom lose a competition. It's annoying.
The boys went down to play cricket afterwards, while Stuart finished making the barbacoa for the taco bar. We had decided on a Mexican themed night. Millie's ear was hurting her again which stunk because we knew we wouldn't have access to a doctor until at least Monday because of New Year. We gave her Tylenol and she went to bed. Bless her heart! The boys were still up and trying their best to stay up until midnight. Unfortunately, they didn't make it. The adults finally congregated down on the beach for the last hour before the new year. Matt kept pulling stuff out of the boathouse and pestering everyone. Clearly he was bored. Everyone was tired from the bumper tubing and cricket that was played all day, so it's not surprising we all struggled to stay up to see the Sydney fireworks.
Just before the fireworks had finished, I took off to take a shower. Since the shower we had been using was leaking, it meant there were 2 showers for 13 of us. The shower in Grandma and Grandpa's room is open so if someone is taking a shower they are exposed to whoever else might be in the room. It's tricky, but we have managed and no one seems too fussed about it.
A new year is getting ready to begin and we seem ready for another year of fantastic adventures! Happy New Year!
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