December, 2014
On the 1st of December, the girls came in to watch a show before bed ... and discovered two Christmas gifts waiting to be opened ...
Caitlin opened hers first and discovered ... a Playmobil Advent Calendar!
Emma opened hers next and found ... a Lego Friends Advent Calendar!
They opened the first "door" ... Emma got "Mia" and Caitlin got a "rocking horse" :-)
Emma's calendar had a "play area" attached.
Caitlin's had a separate part for playing and the box contained the advent toys.
On the 7th of December, our church held it's annual "Ladies Christmas Craft Night" outreach event. This was later than usual, as we usually hold it on the last Sunday of November. This year, that weekend was pretty booked up with a church wedding on the Friday (Anne & Andrew), and that Sunday was the Christmas Craft Fair at St. Luke's School (there are a few families from church that have children that attend there), as well as a birthday party in the afternoon for one of the Filipino girls in the church. So, all in all this led to the Ladies Craft Night being moved into December. This also meant that I could attend, as I would have been in hospital with Caitlin if it would have been on the 30th of November as originally planned.
The decorating theme this year was "Natural" with a bit of silver sparkle!
Sue, Chris, and Tanya set up our Christmas punch, nibbles, and dessert tables.
Here are some helpers wrapping gifts for the decorating team.
Brendan, an elder in the church, checking the foliage and adjusting it :-)
All ready for the evening!
I confess, I snapped this photo too early... Luana wasn't finished with this tree yet so, I missed showing you the finished effect!
The ladies making their craft(s) a snowflake and a luminary (sp?) ;-) We had a new set up this year, with the ladies' doing their craft and having their dessert at the same spot. This was to help accommodate the extra tickets sold ... instead of cut off at 80, we went up to 98 I think! There is talk of next year setting up to accommodate for even more ladies ...
Because the Ladies Craft Night was held in December, our Christmas tree was late being put up at home (they usually use our tree as part of the decorations for that night - it wasn't used at the last minute). So, Joel put up the tree and the girls helped him decorate it :-)
Another "tradition" is for our Ladies Bible Study group to go out to Griffin's Garden Centre in Dripsey, for coffee and a browse through all their Christmas décor & gifts :-)
Caitlin and her cousin Hannah had their first Christmas Concert with playschool.
Caitlin sat with us through the whole thing ... so, these photos are from AFTER the concert ;-)
Emma also had her Christmas Carol Service just before the school break for holidays.
Daddy got to go to that while Mummy stayed home with a very sick Caitlin (a chest infection).
On the last day of school, we took the girls for lunch at Griffin's Garden Centre. They (and we) were happy to discover some live animals with their babies outside in the garden plant area.
And there was a "snowman cutout" photo op for Caitlin ...
and for Emma :-)
I saw Emma kissing ... a reindeer!
And Caitlin wanted that teddy bear's skis, I think!
On Christmas Eve, our tradition is to unwrap two gifts from Mummy & Daddy, something to "wear" and something to "read" ... Emma & Caitlin got Daddy a housecoat & slippers, and a new book to read.
Checking out their new books!
Wearing their new pjs!
Another "tradition" is to have the Batemans over for nibbles, treats, and competition!
This is before the nibbles ...
and after the "competition" ... Darragh and Sean won 1st and 2nd in our first ever "Individual Competition". We did the wii again this year ... remind me (again) to not have "wakeboarding" as an event next year! Yup, that's a big ole "10" point score I have there for that one :-(
Christmas Day arrived!
The stockings were filled!
Checking to see what Santa and Rudolph ate!
Santa ate most of his cookies and milk. Rudolph drank all of his water and ate most of his carrot!
The parents (taken by Emma ... cropped by Mummy).
Emma.
Caitlin.
Eating Auntie Cary's cinnamon buns for breakfast!
Daddy looking protective of his breakfast!
Emma & Caitlin bringing each other's Santa gifts over to be opened!
A baby and a cot that attaches to Emma's bed!
A princess doll house!
Santa even brought Daddy a helicopter! He liked that much more than the onion Santy left in his stocking! ;-)
The chaos of Christmas morning!
Daddy building Caitlin's doll house ... "Are you done now Daddy?"
The doll house is finished and its time to go to church!
Cousin Abi sang a song.
Emma was thrilled to see her friend Alexah at the Christmas morning service.
Everyone singing Christmas carols.
Caitlin left us for Hannah and Auntie Cary!
The Christmas "account" told with help! Emma is "Mary" and Nathan is "Zacharias" ;-)
Steve and Julia are a couple that have retired here from the USA.
"Mary" with "Baby Jesus"
The whole "cast" :-)
