I am alive and thriving and I bring you Christmas day....Santa's helpers put streamers across Erik's door to wake up to Christmas morning and thought it would be a fun touch. Unfortunately Erik woke in the night and it was all ruined when we ran in to see what was the matter. Oh well, maybe next year the elves will try again.
Such a cutie. Here he had opened his Christmas crackers/bon bons and put on the traditional crown, read the joke and won the prize. The bon bons are a fun tradition and I wanted to send some so badly home to family to experience but they cant be sent because they crack/pop like a pop it kind of, or a cap gun and thus it's considered explosive I think. But we have enjoyed them each Christmas since being here and I am hoping I can find some or order some from a company when we move back to the states to keep up the Aussie tradition (I am pretty sure it stems from their British roots, but not sure). You usually 'play' with another person, each holding one end of the cracker and then pulling, whomever has the bulk of the cracker gets what is inside.
Santa filled stockings and left Erik a new airplane, the one he had his eye on. He calls it a 'helper' airplane except in his not quite refined language it sounds like he is saying 'hopa' or 'hope' and it is quite cute.
looking at the back and seeing which ones he has and which ones he wants, isn't that one of the best parts of opening a new toy, looking at the packaging and getting excited. I know it was one of mine!
And man, Santa had some great ideas this year. When we go to the newstand Erik likes to look at the airplane magazines, and this Christmas one landed in his stocking, he devoured that thing and spent a lot of time studying it.
His stack of gifts. We decided on trying to keep things simple this year. We gave him three and one was sent by grandparents, the other came from a family at church. Our little guy is spoiled by our church friends I tell you, we really feel like we have family here and it is so nice.
The Christmas mess. I love it, and Erik loved it as well. I felt bad because shortly after opening and playing for a short bit we headed out to some friends' house for brekkie and then we came home for just a wuick bit to get packed for a couple days away up on the 'Sunny' or sunshine coast and he really didnt want to leave the fun of the Christmas mess and toys. Once we actually got on the road he kept saying he wanted to go back home to Christmas. I felt a bit bad, we did let him bring his airplane with us on the trip and I promised we would leave the mess as is to come home but he completely associated the holiday with all that fun stuff and relaxing. I took a mental note for years to come, dont leave on Christmas day if we can help it, leave the next day.
We spent the next couple days around Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach. Since we drove up on Christmas day and not the next day (Boxing day-which is a public holiday here and big traveling and crazy day) when we got up into the little town of Tin Can Bay there was nobody to be found. It is a tiny town and everyone I think was holed up enjoying the day. We walked around to a park and small beach and had a great evening. And luckily we have learned enough here, to have packed all our food with us so we didnt have to scavenge for somewhere open to eat which we would not have found.
We took some fun pictures among the long grass by the beach (keeping thoughts of snakes out of our minds). I love how much personality our little guy exudes and he is such a happy lad.
spent some time climbing a treet with Dad
and some cute ones with mum. I have accepted the fact that I am a mum. I dont know if I have mentioned it before, but I have now spent more of my time as a mother known as 'mum' than 'mom.' and while Erik still occassionally calls me mom it's mostly mum or mummy and I relish it, I know he will revert when we move back so I gladly accept my title as mum and have since living here. SOme of these things I will greatly miss and just want to take it all in and wrap it up in a pretty package, which I will do and keep them in my heart forever.
uh-oh he did get a time out. And Erik doesn't get in trouble real often, but he is a normal child. I just thought it was cute seeing him there...
And that's all for today folks. Erik actually fell asleep this afternoon for a nap buying me this time. I need to go wake him but I have lots of fun things to share, I can't wait!
