I was excited. Our daughters and their families were coming from Melbourne to Brisbane to spend some time with us over the Christmas Holidays. Carol and David arrived first and celebrated Christmas Eve with us and Christmas Day with David's family. Sonya and the boys came later on New Year's Eve they had spent Christmas Day with Bernie's Family in Melbourne. Bernie had been working over Christmas and New Year. He was playing in the Musical, "A Christmas Carol". He came up later when it had finished.
So we had two Christmas Dinners and present giving days. One with just Carol and David and another when Sonya and the boys arrived.
Christmas Eve with Carol and David.
We had traditional Aussie Fare, seafood and salads. Tiger Prawns and Moreton bay Bugs (like small lobsters).
Then it was present time. We really don't need anything at our age but we do enjoy receiving books.
Another day we invited friends for afternoon tea. Carol loves baking so she made us a delicious baked cheesecake.
She also cooked Bill's favourite Swiss breakfast loaf. He enjoyed a Swiss breakfast of bread cheese and jam.
The stormy day ended with a pretty sunset.
I think having family dinners and events together is the most important thing in our lives. It doesn't matter if it is Christmas, birthdays, wedding anniversaries or trips interstate. It doesn't matter if there are presents, decorations or fancy clothes. As long as we have our children, grandchildren, luscious food, cold drinks and gorgeous flowers, the day is (almost always) fantastic.
ReplyDeleteMelbourne Brisbane is quite a long trip :( One of my children and one of my grandchildren live overseas, and I am never as aware of their absence as on special family events. Good food, flowers and wine welcome all the rest of my relatives every Sunday lunch, but I wish we were ALL together.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of Bill and Carol making cake together.
ReplyDeleteso happy to see all of your happy times with family and that you got to see all of them, just not at the same time. good to see your post pop up and that is happy news
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to spend the holidays with family, great family photos. The cheesecake and the bread both look delicious. Take care, have a great week!
So lovely to have those special times with family. to celebrate with delicious food, laughter and gifts of the heart.
ReplyDeleteI love all those memories in the making.
Sue
Lovely family photos of you all enjoying special time together. I always treasure time with our family and although they live relatively close it is not always possible to see them all together as they all have very busy lives and teenagers who are also very busy. Thanks for sharing your Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos Diane.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad the family were able to join you. We do books for Christmas too.
ReplyDeleteSuch moments get even more precious as time goes on.
ReplyDeleteDiane, it looks like you and Bill shared a wonderful family gathering, as always, for the Christmas holiday. It's always wonderful to see such happy faces and the food looked delicious too, especiallyu that cheesecake!
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to spend time with family. We rarely all get together now unless it's a family wedding or a Very Special Birthday.
ReplyDeleteI spent Christmas and New Year alone, I could have gone to the others but I just felt good like this.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you had a fab Christmas and had family to enjoy it with. We had a quiet Xmas but we had plans for friend staying overnight for New Year. They phoned us the night before to say they were positive for COVID. We have been trying to eat all the food ever since!!
ReplyDeleteHappy and healthy 2024, Diane