A beautiful Christmas

My music listening has slowly been shifting from Christmas to the everyday. The most wonderful time of the year coming to an end. It has been oh so much fun. We have been busy with something - lunch, dinner, drinks - everyday for a week now. And Luka has been so good through it all. Going down for the night in new places, eating different meals all over the place, being passed around like a football. Happy and laughing through it all. He has made this Christmastime - his very first - a special one.

I have been cooking like a crazy woman, and loving it! It started off with a glazed ham (beetroot, orange and honey glaze - delicious!) early on in the week. The full hot traditional Christmas meal, topped off with a pudding (that I didn't make!). Perfect timing as we've been enjoying ham leftovers ever since (the best part of Christmas eating, perhaps?). Lots of fresh, summery salads. Barbecued prawns with three different dipping sauces. Stuffed ocean trout, also on the barbie. And desserts galore - Bill's chocolate and raspberry cake, pistachio pavlova with peaches and strawberries, yummy trifle, and chocolate and pear mince pies.

And the presents!

Luka and I have been very spoilt.

There were so many beautiful and thoughtful gifts (and Luka worked out the fun of wrapping paper early on). One of my favourite presents was a cookbook:

A present for me, perhaps? Nope. It was a present for our little chef-in-training.

This lovely note may just have brought a tear to my eye. Our friends and family are so thoughtful and generous.

The last few days in photos...

Last minute shopping at the Rocks Markets


Family preparing Christmas Day lunch...


And family eating Christmas Day lunch!




Luka enjoyed his Christmas lunch too


Post-Christmas lunch nap, a time-honoured tradition


Boxing Day fun with Luka's great-grandfather


Bedtime stories with dear old friends come visiting. (He was paying attention until I got out the camera and distracted him! They were reading one of his Japanese books from the library)




Absorbed in the cricket






Our feathery friend joining us for a Boxing Day BBQ on the verandah


Luka in one of his Christmas t-shirts

I love this boy. Life is so full of joy with him around!

I hope you have all enjoyed this season and that you all stay safe and healthy as we see out the end of this year!