We had a really special Christmas this year for a few reasons. Firstly, Cheese is now the right age to “get” Christmas, so she’d been getting more and more excited over the past few weeks, building up to a fever pitch on Christmas Eve. She’d run into no less than five Santas over December, who, this year, was a celebrity spotting rather than a scary weird looking person when Cheese realised he was going to give her presents.
It was also the first Christmas we’ve spent back in Sydney since Cheese was only four months old. As fun as it was celebrating in Hawaii and New York, spending it in Sydney at my childhood home, with all of my family traditions passing down to Cheese, was really special.
Christmas Eve – can you tell that Santa came?
Christmas morning.
My mum’s brother and his partner joined us for Christmas lunch this year. Due to my uncle’s ill health we rarely see him, and it was the first time he’d met Alec and also Cheese. It was a really wonderful lunch – simple and full of laughter and great conversation.
My parents had a wonderful day with Cheese. Seeing the big smiles on their faces really made this whole move worthwhile. After the big scare in January when I thought I’d never get another Christmas with my dad again, it was doubly special this year to have the chance for one more (and hopefully many more!) Christmases with Dad.
Merry Christmas to and from my loves. I hope your Christmas was equally joyful with your friends and family.
2013 was my very first year spending Christmas away from my parents. The airfares were just so expensive for three people that we decided to go home at a different time when the prices were a lot lower and spend the holiday season in New York. New York is just beautiful over Christmas. In Australia it’s always hot over Christmas, so I was really looking forward to enjoying Christmas in true winter, with cold-weather food, clothing, decorations and traditions.
New York does everything big and bold, and Christmas is no exception. Trees and lights start to sprout all over the city following Thanksgiving. The biggest is of course the Rockefeller tree, but there are trees all over the city, with tree lightings and caroling in a lot of the small neighbourhoods in the lead up to Christmas. Santa likes to visit all the ‘hoods as well, from the famous Santa at Macy’s to the lesser-known ones that pop up in the smaller ‘hoods for breakfast with the kids.
Since Missy E is a very … inquisitive toddler, we decided to forgo a tree this year (mostly because I just didn’t want to have to put the ornaments back on it over and over and over again). Instead we chose a little felt tree from Etsy, with felt ornaments, that E could decorate herself repeatedly. It did the charm, as this year was the year she decided Christmas trees were the best thing ever. Christmas Eve we placed a few gifts around the felt tree to surprise E with in the morning.
Our present opening in the morning was truly a high tech experience, with my parents skyping in from Sydney to enjoy the festivities with us. It was so lovely that they could still enjoy being with us from afar. It was really difficult for me being away from home this year. I really missed being with my family on Christmas Day, and we decided that next year we will save up so we can afford the airfare home for Christmas.
After present opening (the biggest hits for E were the doll house, train set and guitar), we attempted to get E to nap before lunch. After a few hours with no napping for the hyper toddler, we set off into the city, walking over the Brooklyn Bridge to get her to take a stroller nap. It was a brisk day, with a high of -5, so it’s fair to say that it was a pretty cold walk! Thankfully, E did nap, and we did make it to lunch on time.
“Cheese!”
Since we would be on our own this year, I made a booking at a restaurant for Christmas lunch – the Bryant Park Grill. I wanted to capture as much holiday spirit for us as I could. The Grill was a good choice. It was a bit crazy busy, but the location was fabulous. Right next to the ice rink and Christmas tree in Bryant Park. We had a really love, non-traditional meal, and then let E run around Bryant Park. She loved the tiny carousel, and watching the ice skaters. She was actually begging to go ice skating – maybe next year … The Christmas tree was the big hit for her. Unlike most of the trees, this one you can go right up underneath and touch the giant ornaments. A very gleeful toddler though this was the most fun in the world.
And so was our very New York Christmas this year! We tried to fit in as many of the holiday activites as possible, but only managed a few, like the department store windows (Saks and their Yeti was the favourite), visiting Santa at The Plaza, and seeing the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller plaza.
The Plaza Hotel Christmas Tree
Rockefeller Plaza
I feel blessed for my little family, and blessed that our lives have been so lucky. Hoping everyone else’s Christmases were filled with love and family.
We decided to fly to Hawaii for Christmas and meet my family there instead of flying back to Australia. I booked us a three-bedroom suite at a resort in Ko Olina, right on the waterfront.
The flight was brutal – 10 hours straight. Eloise napped just once and then was awake for 12 hours straight.
It’s a miracle, she’s asleep!
The resort and beach were so beautiful. Ko Olina was a little piece of paradise. We spent most days walking around the beaches, swimming in the ocean and pools.
Checking out the beach for the first time since she was four months old in Sydney.Pure joy.Ocean!Walking by the beach with Daddy.Beach with my Cheese.Decided she loves the beach.Hey beach baby!
We also did the toddler dolphin experience at Dolphin Quest. It was wonderful to meet dolphins with Eloise. It totally blew her mind. She was fascinated by them, and has been saying “dolph!” and pointing to pictures of them since.
Dolphins!View from the balcony.Sunset.
One thing I really wanted to do was the Disney character breakfast at Aulani. It was so much fun! A decent buffet breakfast with a great omelet station, Minnie Mouse and Goofy wandering around to the tables for meet and greets and photo ops. Every so often, “Auntie” would strike up music and sing cute Hawaiian-y songs, handing out instruments and leading the kids in a parade around the restaurant. Eloise was in absolute heaven.
Disney breakfast at Aulani resort.
Alec and I had a few hours to ourselves one day so went for a drive to Mokule’ia Beach, where Lost was filmed. It was stunning – a pure white sand beach with almost no one in site for miles.
Mokule’ia Beach, Oahu
We also went on an easy hike one day with Tim and Michele up to Diamond Head. It had an amazing view of Honolulu.
View from Diamond Head.
I also got up super early one morning to see Pearl Harbour with Michele. It was a sobering experience to be there and see the sunken Arizona ship.
Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbour.
Even though I get really sea sick pretty much just by looking at boats, I thought it would be a fun idea to get on a boat and go snorkelling and whale watching. True to form, I felt ill the entire time, but we did see about 10 Humpback whales.
Humpback whales spotting.
We went for a stroll through Waimea Valley. It was really beautiful – a little too manicured, but some amazing plants.
Crazy antics.Waimea Valley.
We also went on the Ranch and Movie tour at Kualoa Ranch, where a lot of movies and TV shows have been filmed. I loved the tour – especially seeing where Jurassic Park was filmed for the famous scene with the log below.
Jurassic Park filming location, Kualoa Ranch.
It was really strange being somewhere other than in Warwick Farm for Christmas morning. It was really lovely, but also really strange! My first Christmas not in Warwick Farm in my life so far. We had breakfast at the neighbouring Marriott resort, followed by present opening and relaxing.
Christmas morning with my baby.Christmas palm tree.Family shot, Christmas Day.
What a wonderful trip! It was so great to see my family all together. Hawaii is paradise – can’t wait to go back again.
This year was special as it was Eloise’s first! There is something magical about Christmas and kids. EVen though Eloise is too young to enjoy it yet, it’s already more fun because she’s with us.
For the second year in a row, Alec’s mum and uncle joined me and my parents for Christmas day.
Jan lives in Stockton, so we picked her up from Hornsby station and drove us all out to my parents’ house on Christmas eve.
Initially I had no idea how this kind of arrangement would work out, but it was the only option that I could think of where everyone would get to spend the day with those most important to them. Luckily, it was a great idea, and for the second year in a row, was a great success.
My parents love a traditional roast turkey and baked veges on Christmas day, so feeding me is a challenge they are not overly impressed about. I was prepared however and came armed with a faux schnitzel at the ready. Is it as tasty as turkey? Hell no, but does it make me feel better about myself for choosing it instead? It sure does, and holding on to that thought was what got me through watching everyone else eating the sweet, fragrant meat.
I made an ice-cream and berry frozen cake for dessert – which was a great idea when we were planning for a 30-plus degree day, but the temperature didn’t pass over 25, which was a huge disappointment. I love a stinking hot Christmas day!
There were far too many pressies, lots of tasty food (I made have eaten an entire block of cheese), and a lot of puppy love as well. A really great Christmas day!
