It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I just love this time of year.

I get to go overboard on the family traditions and memory making.  

This year, I'm cramming in as many as I can because I am all-too intimately aware of the fact that time goes really, really quickly.  

Before you know your sweet littles are all-grown up adults and ready to fly the nest!  Giving you one last Christmas to revel in your family before everything changes. *sobs*

So, we have been very, very busy savouring the season.

Decorating every inch of the house... 

 

Thoroughly enjoying the tradition of unwrapping a Christmas book a night then cuddling up together on a bed to share it as a family...

We start with the book that comes with Scout, our Elf on the Shelf (see below).  Some of our other favourite Christmas books are - An Aussie Night Before Christmas, That's not my Reindeer, How the Grinch stole Christmas!, Merry Christmas, Little Mouse, and Christmas at Grandad's Farm.

We've been learning to ride bikes...

Attending class Christmas parties and fare-welling our friends and amazing teachers with much joy and a little sadness. (Hamish made the Donna Hay Christmas wreath front left of the table.)

We thanked our incredible teachers for a wonderful year with homemade Rocky Road and jewellery the kids chose themselves...

Our traditional Pizza-Movie night has become Christmas themed and has included the occasional yummy Christmas themed dessert...

(Link to bauble ice cream sundae inspiration (and many others) found here.)

Operation Cubby for Christmas is in full swing.  It's WAY too hot to be painting up here!  Regular water breaks are necessary and end-of-the-day rewards are essential...

Our friendly elf visits us every day... 

Even breakfast has had a festive makeover...

Last night we completed another family tradition - driving around to view the Christmas lights... (I told you hubby blinks in every photo...)

...and then we go eat Cold Rock Icecream.  Even at 9 o'clock at night! Cue horrendous (me), cute (him) ice cream-covered selfie...

And, this morning, we finished decorating our Gingerbread houses.  We pimped the Donna Hay version with mini m&ms...

Christmas traditions kick into overdrive next week with ham, turkey and trifle preparations (plus we need to get the Cubby finished!), so I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a joyous holiday season, whatever your traditions.  

Thanks also for all your support this year on my journey into blogging.  Your comments here and on Facebook mean so very much to me.

Merry Christmas and all the best for a wonderful New Year.

Sarah xx