happy christmas!

Happy Christmas to you all! Hope it's a beautiful day wherever you are, and that you're spending time with people you love. I'm still feeling under the weather, but actually ate something today (hello Christmas stollen!) and have ventured over to the botanic gardens again for some sunshine. Actually fainted on my way home last night, guessing it was too much sun and too little to eat and drink (nothing, really). But made it home safely due to the kindness of an observant stranger on the hill. That actually reminded me of another Christmas morning years ago when I was terribly sick and dehydrated, and ended up spending the day in the hospital taking fluids and getting stitches from a nasty fall. Here's to hoping there will be no more sick holidays!
Anyway, these are just a few pictures from our night driving around town looking at some lights displays, a little study of the tree (which is actually three small ones the Italians chopped down all bundled together. Grazie mille!), and one great one from yesterday morning, opening presents. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who sent presents, kind words, and loving thoughts. It really was a merry Christmas!
P.S. To really get the full experience, look at these pictures while listening to this song (of which the studio version is much superior, but this is the only version online):


Dili All Stars (Painters & Dockers' Paul Stewart) - Nothing Tastes Better Than The Neighbour's Chicken @ Palace (17th Nov 2010) from Carbie Warbie on Vimeo.

Baby Benson! 

december traditions

Another memory rewind. Love all these pictures, the people, and the rituals this time of year brings. Unfortunately woke up feeling pretty dang horrible this morning (Merry Christmas!), and am spending the day at home instead of in and around Melbourne with the family. Just got up from a near six hour nap here, and just been lazing about on the grass in the gardens looking at these pictures and fondly recalling years past. Absolutely miss the cold and snow of a Camp Conor Christmas, but so grateful to be here this year on a great adventure. Lying in the sun, surrounded by tall trees, beautiful flowers, and singing birds? Really love the holiday season down under. And now I'll look through these pictures one more time before gathering the determination to walk back home. Enjoy this peek at a typical Ward family Christmas!

Get up on the roof and put up those Christmas lights!

Prepare yourselves to attend The Nutcracker or a holiday performance by the symphony. Let your best friend wear your coat if she's really that cold. Pose to your dad's content

                        

Stop at some point to dress the dogs up in their holiday finery

Catch an early morning flight to New York...

...and arrive to this. Heaven.

Immediately cozy up and settle in

Make sure everyone wears at least one piece of fur per outing

Test the ice at the boathouse. If its solid, head out on the lake! 

Spend hours every day enjoying the great room. Read, try your hand at a puzzle, just hang out and relax

Venture into town. Do some last minute shopping, iceskating, maybe go bowling

Get outside and just enjoy the scenery 

Get a little overexcited by the winter weather and attempt maple candy. Determine to re-read Little House on the Prairie to get the proper technique for next time

Be amazed at how full of static your hair gets 

                 

Christmas Eve. Decorate the tree. See that the Sprite bottle topper gets respect

                          

                          

Christmas morning! So many presents! Take a bet as to how many there are (winner buys everyone a round of drinks), take all morning to open them, take cheesy pictures with the kids

Take a break from presents at one point and send that adorable kid down the driveway in his own tiny sled

Cook and then enjoy a delicious dinner. Toast the holiday, the house, the family, feel the love

And don't forget to strike your favorite pose with/for your best friend!