THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS WITH CHILDREN

This is the first Christmas that we have celebrated with children for about 30 years so it was a wonderful experience. We flew from Brisbane to Victoria to be with our daughter's husband's family. There were four families with children and two sets of grandparents. they were celebrating Christmas in their beach house at Rye on the Mornington Peninsula. We opted to stay in a quiet B&B but on Christmas morning we drove the few blocks to be at the house before the children opened their presents. Santa had left 8 sacks under the tree for the 8 children. The children were still in their rooms waiting for us and the other parents to wake.

 Fox was first out to see what Santa had left, but he wasn't allowed to touch anything until all the parents were up.

 All the children had to line up from the youngest to the eldest to get their sack.  Arlo (15mths) is the youngest, then Banjo (20 mnths) who ran out of the line as I took this shot. He had no idea what was going on. Then there was Fox (3), Freddy (6), Ella (8), Jimmy (12), Lachlan (13) and Georgia (14). (All the cousins)

 The parents helped the younger ones open their presents. Sonya helped Banjo. Fox loved his cars.

 The little beach house was bouncing with glee as children, parents and grandparents joined in the merriment of Christmas with little ones.

Santa couldn't fit Jimmy's drum set or Freddie's guitar under the tree, he had to leave them in the back shed.

This was a traditional Aussie Christmas. After opening gifts everyone goes outside to play cricket. Toddlers, teenagers and parents all join in. It is usually in the back yard but here they use the quiet street.

"Owzat!" I know very little about cricket but I think this is what they say when someone gets out. Our little American born grandson learning to be an Aussie.

 Then it is down to the beach to play.

 The children all get a ride in the boat and then the big boys go out to catch fish and dive for scallops.

 The young boys make wet sand balls to play at batting with later.

The girls play with the little ones in the sand.

 Then it is time to return home to prepare and devour Christmas lunch in the back yard. We had a mixture of traditional and Aussie lunch. Prawns, Turkey, Pork, and a variety of salads.

 Plum pudding, custard, pavlova and ice cream for dessert.

 As the sun starts to set it is Kris Kringle time where family gifts are given out by Grandpa Neville as Santa and his two helper elves, Jimmy and Freddy.

The day was full of hugs, laughter, giving, eating, drinking, playing in the sun, carols and church service.