Christmas 2013

There is just something fun and special about traditions.  Things our family does the same every year to celebrate Christmas.  Some of our traditions include putting the kids to bed on Christmas eve and then setting up the packages under the tree and filling the stockings and getting everything ready for when the kids walk through the door into the front room on Christms morning.

Ready for the kids (some sneaky little elves snuck out at night and hung candy canes all over the room, much to the parent's surprise!)

Another tradition:  Our kids aren't allowed to just 'get up and go' on Christmas morning.  Matt and I go out first, get the Christmas music playing, light candles and then we have the mandatory filming of each kid walking out into the front room.

Then it's time for opening presents.  We like to take it slow and enjoy the gifts as they are opened.  We often pause for a hot chocolate and brunch break.  (Depending on how many gifts there are, sometimes it's just after all the gifts are opened.)

Hot chocolate break

Christmas Peeps to go with the hot chocolate

For brunch, we have our traditional egg casserole and sweet bread.  Most years we have cinnamon rolls, but this year, due to sick kids and sleepless nights, I cheated and used some cinnamon-raisin bread we had been gifted by a friend.

Once the presents are opened and brunch is over, we just lounge around, reading new books, building new lego sets, playing with new toys.

'Christmas with the Kings' is also a part of our annual tradition.  I think the tradition started years ago with 'Boxing Day with the Kings' and eventually became Christmas Day instead.  Now, I can't imagine Christmas in PNG without our 'family'!

We enjoyed Christmas lunch on the verandah with roast chicken and all the trimmings.

 Then we spent the next few rainy hours playing games, watching movies and just hanging out.  When the rain stopped, it was outside to jump on the trampoline and play on the slip-n-slide.  We finished off the day with more movies and games and lots of Christmas goodies.

Catching air!

Thanks to Phil King for many of the great photos!