Family time

Boxing Day my siblings gathered at our house for brunch and a quick gift exchange.

So of course, it was a perfect opportunity to grab some pictures of the littles. This one in particular is very good at posing for pictures.

And Elisabeth loved having an extra little cousin to cart about and baby.

Here's Jade, who is also always ready to mug for the camera.

I have a little bistro set that I bought for Elisabeth - mostly because I thought it would be the  most wonderful thing to set up a cute little bistro and coffee shop. The new littles love playing coffee shop...and pretending to eat all the little treats.

My sister and her oldest <3 p="">

This little campfire set was for sale at one of the craft sales I was at this season. As soon as I saw it, I called my sister and asked if I could buy for the Rossis this year. I knew Ada would love it.

I was right.

Ruben loves it too, but he might not be allowed to play with it for a little while.

Mnnnnn, s'mores any time of year, and no matter the weather.

Our gingerbread houses were of great interest to these two.

In fact, I think some of the pieces may be missing since I took these pictures.

This was David's Christmas miracle. He decided to cut his hair short on Christmas Eve to surprise everyone on Christmas Day.

Ada also received Hungry Hippos for Christmas. We had a great time playing with her. Although Ada likes to make sure everyone receives the same number of marbles.

More cousin time.

And more food at Grandma's house.

So this is Christmas...

There was so much holidaying to be done, but finally it was Christmas. We had teased the children mercilessly about the fact that they always need to be woken up on Christmas Day - so David set his alarm for 6:15 and woke us up for a change! Time to open presents!

Like most people, we start with stockings. This Christmas, David wanted to draw names and each do the stocking for one of our family members. Unfortunately, I'd already almost finished the stocking shopping so we reached a compromise and the children shopped for mine and Andrew's stockings.

Also new this year, is that the kids shopped very extravagantly for all of us at their school Christmas store. David also spent all his birthday money shopping for his sister.

There was an awful lot of hugging.

And Elisabeth was very tired.

After breakfast, we went to mum's house to open presents there. David got this pair of Santa pyjamas from Grandma, and the Star Wars Battleship from us. A rather rousing game of battleship ensued...

And finally the guests of honour arrived and we were able to have a game of Apples to Apples Jr.

I had no idea what a competitive player my brother is.

And even Charlotte got in on the action.

Uncle Dave showed up and we realized that the three of us had inadvertently coordinated our outfits.

And that was a wrap on Christmas Day.