Christmas is a destination, not an event!

So where was your Christmas this year? Growing up, it always seemed to us that the question was "Where is Christmas this year?" - never "Which relative is hosting the festivities?"

I never cease to be amazed at the amount of traffic on the roads on Christmas Day. It seems that everyone is doing the "travel between both families" thing (or several sets if you have step-families). Christmas is clearly a destination.

Thank goodness it's all over for another year! Hopefully everyone else managed to survive the festivities (as we did) and escape without too much family drama.

After 5 years, Cheyenne has finally started to enjoy unwrapping presents herself. We kept her presents simple - Tinkerbell movie on DVD, clothes for her Barbie dolls, and a Tinkerbell toiletry bag with her name on it (gotta love Identity Direct !). She also received a shower gel pack and miniature pony playset from our friends, the Sheather family.

Christmas Day itself was fairly quiet for us. Spent the morning opening our presents, then went to my Mum and brother's for a light lunch of cold meats and salads, then on to Steve's parents' place for a BBQ dinner with Steve's brothers and their families.






Isn't this photo priceless? His expression just says it all. I simply had to buy this shirt for my brother for Christmas because it pretty much sums up his whole attitude. It could have been designed especially for him.

Cheyenne and some of her cousins enjoyed dressing up as Santa and his helpers, to help hand out the presents. Callum (Santa) is obsessed with all things Christmas, especially Santa, and has been Santa for the past two years running now.

As usual, Cheyenne came home with far too many presents that we really don't have room for. Amongst other things, she received a t-shirt and patchwork bag in the shape of a cicada (from Grandma), a Polly Pocket Pool Party playset, a tennis racquet and several other things (from Nanny and Poppy), $10 from Great Nanny, and a stationery set, some puzzles, Bratz folding chair, dolls and some other stuff from her Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

I got Steve a new electric razor (his old one doesn't hold charge in the battery anymore) and he got a foam rocket launcher from Cheyenne - which they are both getting a kick out of, so clearly I should have bought two! He also got a car wash extension brush from his parents.

I got an electric toothbrush, weather shields for my car, some more beads for my Amorica bead charm bracelet (one from Cheyenne and Steve and two from Steve's parents) and a box of chocolates.

We also got some shared presents - a cheese platter with knife and a nice bowl full of chocolates from the Sheather family, and some bamboo placemats and a tin of shortbread from my mum and brother.

All in all, it was a good day...if not as jam packed with rellies, as in days of old. Thankfully the idiots at BoM got it wrong (again) and the day was not horribly hot and muggy, and the evening storm did not arrive as predicted.

Roll on New Years Eve!