Christmas Day 2023

We were in Sydney for Christmas Day 2023 at Mum and Dads 

with the grand-kids and great grand-kids.

Absolute chaos.

Lunch was cold so we didn't have to heat up the house by using the oven.

We gave all the kids kites, so they spent some time in the park giving them a go.

Then a story read by Nan.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Flories 4th Birthday heritage train ride

 On Saturday the 10th June we went on a heritage train trip from Armidale to Uralla and back for Flories 4th Birthday.

 

 The party guests filled the whole carriage.

They all got to blow the whistle which was just as exciting as using the toilet on the train.

The we all gathered at the Curtis park playground for a picnic.

And a Womens Weekly 'Duck' cake

Ruby's 1st Birthday party

So, the next weekend another birthday party at the opposite end of the age spectrum.

Ruby is now one.

And Ruby and Violet both ate their respective birthday cakes in a similar manner.

Use your fingers and shovel it into your mouth as fast as you can!

Yum, nice dairy free cake!

It is so nice with the icing.

Whoops, on the deck!

Quick! Shovel it in before the clean up crew arrives..

Christmas Leftovers - Hamish!

Next stop was a visit down the south coast to visit Andrew, Hailey and our grandson Hamish.

(I look a little startled above in this pic, not sure why)!

Hamish has just turned one and is nearly walking now.

First time we've seen him in a year due to the Covid pandemic.

 

Here's Andrew at about the same age. while Andrew was very, very red 

Hamish is very, very blonde.
 

 

Andrew and Hailey have moved into a new house in 2021.

 

Lots of new teeth to show Nana.

 

 They also have a new puppy named Ernie, a doggie pal for Gretel.

Christmas 2021 - The first slice

Merry Christmas everyone! 

This year I made a Fig and Chocolate Christmas pudding and this is it above lit up with brandy, although the room was too bright to see the flames, and Edith is looking decidedly underwhelmed!

Tasted yum though!

As in the book  'The Magic Pudding' I am naming this years 3 Christmas blog posts 'slices'!

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Christmas Morning in Armidale!

Positively exhausted after enjoying the dog gifts!

And Christmas wouldn't be the same if not for negative covid tests!

Meanwhile - out at Kentucky there was a Strictly Ballroom theme beginning in the new house.

Also, a farmyard including dinosaurs.

Ruby's first Christmas!

We had Christmas lunch with Sean, Rose and the kids.

Here is Kimba having a read with Edie and Florrie on the windy back deck.

MENU

For starters we had savory spoons.

Spoon 1- thinly sliced cucumber, smoked salmon, creme fraiche and caviar.

Spoon 2-  Rocket, prosciutto, boccaccini and a balsamic dressing

Then there was prawns, roast pork and veg, a layered salad, finishing with pudding fruit and custard.

And finally gingerbread houses, one was made by Mum, the other by Rose and the kids.

Long day, we were all a bit exhausted at the end!

And lets start as we began with the magic pudding.

Here is the recipe from one of my scrapbooks.