it was a great day.

charles had arranged it so that that kids took care of themselves this morning. he did this by laying out pop tarts and preloading the dvd with THE SANTA CLAUSE. he put sticky notes on the plates with each child's name on it, and by leaving instructions (PRESS RED BUTTON) by the one remote control.

sebastian woke up around 6am and raced into our room. charles told him his mission instructions were in the sitting room. sebastian ate his pop tart and waited. then his siblings followed. actually, sela had to be woken by me at 7.30.

and then the gifting commenced. we started wtih stockings and kept going. it was fantastic. the kids loved their presents from auntie pammie and auntie mandy, but most of all, they loved their DS from mum and daddy.

they ate cursory breakfasts, and then played with their ds' until it was time to get dressed. we were out the door by 12.30 and at terri's by 1pm.

i was responsible for one ham, a macaroni cheese, a happy birthday Jesus cake and garlic mashed potatoes for about 20 people. there were two hams and two turkeys. and it was divine. the food was heavenly, the weather perfect, company excellent and the kids, really great.(left: sela and carys help make the mash potatoes)

i dont know if it is the kids getting older, but this was just a fantastic Christmas. we pulled out a puzzle and they were still working on it when i left, if you can believe it. and, we left at 10.30. after arriving at 1pm. can you believe it. that's how old the kids are getting. we can be doing these things now.

it was such a great day.

only downside, carys isn't feeling well. she started weeping towards the end of the night and that is the only reason i walked away from the puzzle while it was still unfinished.

a wonderful, wonderful CHristmas. thank you all.

xo xo xo tess