Merry (Belated) Christmas

Again, sorry on the late posting but as expected, the holidays were crazy and busy with all of our running around for last minute Christmas shopping, travelling, and visiting with our families. Needless to say, hubby and I ended up getting sick. Actually, my entire family ended up getting deathly sick thanks to my infectious sister who arrived from NYC with the "plague." Luckily, hubby & I weren't as bad off as the rest of my family who should probably be checked in to the hospital. My poor Mum is still awfully sick even with all the antibiotics and over the counter medicine one can have. So despite all that, it was still nice to be home for the holidays. There's nothing like being back home with the ones you love for Christmas. Mum, knowing how much I have missed turkey dinner since we can't really get it in Sydney, fixed a delicious Christmas Eve turkey complete with all the fixings.




On Christmas Eve, we also had a lot of fun puzzling, making our gingerbread houses and opening up our NYC presents. We have this traditions of opening up the presents from my Dad's side of the family on Christmas Eve- yay for early presents!


Our completed Rockefeller Center at Christmas puzzle:


Hard at work on the gingerbread houses:


The finished product:




Presents!











Christmas morning started early with the opening up of our stockings and getting our presents from under the tree delivered by "Santa" one by one all while in our PJs. We got some nice loot and Santa was very generous to everyone. I guess we were good this year.

Oh Christmas Tree:



Puppy opening her stocking with a little help from Sister:


Dad giving Mom his big present to her:



Sister opening up her big present from Paul & I (The iPod Classic):


Paul and I opening up a great present from mum and dad- a wine fridge:







Sister taking her new bike for a spin:



After all that work of unwrapping presents, we naturally had to fill our bellies with some yummy Christmas brekkie complete with Christmas crackers.



I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas just as we did.

Mele Kalikimaka

I know, I'm extremely late on posting "Merry Christmas" from Hawaii, but even though it's now 2008, I still have that cheery Hawaiian Christmas song, Mele Kalikimaka, stuck in my head. I guess it's a good thing b/c it will remind me of the fun times we had in Hawaii... even if it was rather short.

We had a lovely time and despite some windy weather and rain, we made it to the beach three times, hiked Diamond Head, snorkeled Hanauma Bay, paid our respects to Pearl Harbour and checked out the North Shore with a cruisey drive around the island.


The view from the top of Diamond Head:



Hanauma Bay:



Pearl Harbour:



My Patriotic take at the USS Arizona Memorial:



Sunset over Waikiki Beach:



I probably drank half my weight in fruity, tropical drinks but hey, it's vacation, and it was Hawaii... what else should I be doing, ha!

My favourite libation was the drunken pineapple... yum.



Or perhaps the tropical itch complete with a souvenir wooden back scratcher would tickle your fancy (I know, horrible pun)



I think from now on, when flying back to the US, we should stop over in Hawaii again... why this is the first time in three years we've done it this way, I'll never know!

The Silly Season is Well Under Way

It's that time of year again, and no, I'm not talking about Thanksgiving. I'm talking about Christmas- yes, I know, Christmas... in November? But wait, November is for Thanksgiving. You can't even think about Christmas until Thanksgiving has come and gone. I know, I know... it's upsetting to me too, but when you don't celebrate Thanksgiving (being that we're in Australia), Christmas starts getting shoved down your throat November 1st. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but it's been ingrained in me to not even think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. However, every year, it seems like Christmas is popping up earlier and earlier - even before Thanksgiving *gasp* -thanks to our lovely over-commercialised society. Now, we all have our moments of weakness and I admit, two weeks ago I fell prey to the Christmas shopping gods and caught myself looking at Christmas cards. Who looks at Christmas cards before Thanksgiving? Needless to say, I gave myself a quick reality check slap and went on my merry way. But, everywhere I turn, Christmas is in my face. I went to the post office last week to buy a birthday card (yes, the post sells greeting cards) and surprise!- Christmas cards, Christmas crackers, Christmas wrapping and Christmas boxes everywhere. My work has had Christmas trees out on every floor for the past few weeks. On my way to the gym, I pass Christmas banners and the city centre's picture perfect Christmas tree, and, at lunch time they even have carolers singing. Besides it being November and Christmas (otherwise known here as the silly season) is in full effect, it's just HOT and it doesn't feel like Christmas at all. Summer and Christmas are not a good combination for a girl who grew up in Boston.

And since we're on the topic of Christmas, we've just booked our tickets to the US for the holidays! We're flying through Hawaii and spending 5 days in Honolulu just relaxing on the beach- Merry Christmas to us! Then, we're heading on to the mainland where we'll spend Christmas with our families. After missing Christmas stateside last year, it will be good to go home for the holidays. As anyone living away from home or abroad knows, going home to your families for the holidays is a cherished event. And, after everything my Dad has been through this year with his brain tumour and continues to go through, it makes going home and spending the holidays together that much more special. PEACE.

In honour of my post and Thanksgiving, I leave you with this: