Christmas

Christmas this year was in Queensland at Nana and Poppy Rickard's place. They boys helped Poppy put up the tree and put the "celebrations" on. (Poppy's term not the kids!) We had the usual excitement getting ready for Santa's arrival. We put out some special reindeer food (oats and glitter!) and a bucket of water. Santa had a few timtams and a beer. They put the "special key" under the door mat so Santa can still gain entry to a house with no chimney. Then they laid out their Santa sacks and rushed up to bed. There was lots of squeezed shut eyes, you could see them willing themselves to go to sleep quickly! But that wasn't the fun part of the preparation. The fun bit was preparing the house for the intense inspection on every move "Santa" would make in the Rickard household. First of all Daddy only got to drink half a beer. Because apparently Santa isn't an alcoholic and couldn't possibly drink a full beer in every house he visits! But i do know why he is overweight! Because he did eat both timtams! (But then Nana Rickard didn't leave enough crumbs on the plate so Uncle Brenty had a go at leaving a few crumbs!) I drew the short straw and had to pick up the oats after they had been soaked in a thunderstorm! I also remembered to knock the bucket of water over. And I am so glad we did those things because a 4.30 AM!!! While we were waiting for Nana and poppy to get out of bed so we could unwrap Santa's stash the boys inspected every last thing. But guess what! The key was missing! We consoled the boys by telling them maybe Santa would keep it for next year. But guess what! When we finally arrived back in Canberra Santa had left it under our door mat! And he had left a huge amount of presents under the tree! Very lucky boys this year!

4.30am. Waiting for everyone else to get out of bed!

All the boys checking out the goods

Poppy

Hot wheels beat that! They boys are hot wheel mad! And this is just what they always wanted!

Could he get his head any further in his santa sack?!

They brought every gift they unwrapped over to show me. Like I had never seen tehm before!

Benny getting stuck into unwrapping

6am At Aunty Jackie house. 7 cousins, 7 aunts and uncles, 2 grandparents and 2 dogs! We had breakfast there then it was back to the Rickards for lunch.

Lunch. Who is missing?

Somebody couldn't hack the pace and fell asleep before lunch!