Christmas Day & Boxing Day 2004
This year we stayed at home for Xmas, a quiet one (or at least as quiet as it can be with two kids full of the joys of finding a stocking filled with new toys). The first picture is of Belinda relaxing on Christmas Eve having set out the presents and helped Jamie and Caitlyn prepare supper for Santa Claus.
The day itself turned out warm and sunny, a bit of a novelty after the worst weather on record over the second half of 2004. It was a long day of feasting with Melissa and Gareth turning up to share the day. Good news because as a former chef G produced some wonderful food for our pre-dinner "snacks" from the barbeque. In fact it was so good that by the time we came to have our main course later in the evening, we could hardly fit it in. A bit of petanque helped the digestion. Obviously it was close needing some careful study to determine the winner. Caity was the final judge (is G looking for a coin in his pocket to bribe her???). Later Caity showed off another skill, making her hair stand on end, although that balloon may have helped just a little in creating a hair raising experience.
The next day and it is off for lunch with Belinda's sister Karen, Shayne and their team of two, soon to be three. Everybody seemed to have a good time, Caity got close to Olivia (too close by the worried look on Olivia's face) and Darryl was pretty cool, Jamie is not quite with it without his sunglasses.
Caity is still singing Jingle Bells well into 2005 and Jamie is already perusing his Thomas Wooden Railway catalogue for next years request to Santa! In fact Belinda had to get a second copy because he had worn the first one out.
We hope you all had an equally enjoyable Christmas.
Belinda & Gary