Belinda | The Lattimore Acre

Twelve Christmas Favourites #11

#11 Christmas Favourite – Giving

I adore giving gifts to loved ones. I love finding that special something, wrapping it up and keeping it safe until Christmas day. I have difficulty waiting until Christmas to give people their presents. I just get a little excited.

This year I also thought it was important for Ben to experience giving gifts and not just receiving. This year Ben gave some gifts to World Vision. Online we looked through the gifts you can give children that aren’t as fortunate as Ben. We explained to him that these children don’t have Christmas trees with presents, special treats to eat or maybe even toys to play with. He had trouble believing that this could be possible. He chose pencils, a chicken and feed and a fruit tree – small gifts really that can make such a difference. I am not sure how much Ben understood but hopefully we have planted a seed.

Twelve Christmas Favourties #10

#10 Christmas Favourites – Family and Friends

This is just the most fabulous time of the year because it is filled with family and friends visiting, Christmas get togethers and family dinners. This year it is the ‘Wood’ family Christmas. We will spend Christmas day with my Mum, Dad, Brother and Sister-In-Law (I have the small family). We will catch up with Andrew’s family in the week after Christmas.

We have spent the last few days at the beach celebrating with our friends. We have just loved eating our dinner on the beach watching the kids fly kites, chase seaguls and run themselves silly.

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without family and friends – feeling very blessed xo

Twelve Christmas Favourites #9

#9 Christmas Favourite – Wrapping

I love wrapping presents. I always have. I think it has something to do with building the excitement of giving the present.

This year I am keeping it simple – brown paper, twine, bells and stamping the name on the present. SO EASY!

Twelve Christmas Favourites #8

#8 Christmas Favourite – SNOW

Yeah yeah I know there is no snow in Queensland ……….. like ever!!! But it is ok to dream of snow, isn’t it? I have had one white Christmas and I do dream of taking Andrew and Ben off to the snow for another.

In 2005 my Mum and I booked a last minute holiday to America for Christmas. We went to visit our dear dear friend Kathy and her family – Hi Kathy xo. I had the most amazing time. I loved every minute of the snow – the jackets, the gloves, scarves, hats, freezing toes, cold nose – everything! But I do realise I have rather a romantic notion of snow. I was on a holiday! Here are some holiday snaps.

I love snowmen. We didn’t actually build this one. We just borrowed it for the photo!

It was freezing the night we went to pick the Christmas Tree. But it was snowing…… I loved it!!!!

There was always somewhere to go and warm up. I can’t remember what I use to order from Starbucks but it was YUM! I am so glad I got to blog about this holiday. It was way before my blogging days.

Here’s hoping for another white Christmas…… some day.

Twelve Christmas Favourites #7

#7 Christmas Favourite – Christmas Stories

We love Christmas stories in our house. I have a rather large collection from when I was teaching. I still can’t resist buying them. Here are some of our favourites :

Six White Boomers by Rolf Harris and Bruce Whatley

The 12 Days of Christmas (pop up) by Robert Subuda

The Christmas Book by Dick Bruna

It’s Christmas by Tina Burke

I love Christmas by Anna Walker

Christmas Cookies by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

The Mitten adapted and Illustrated by Jan Brett

The Three Bears’ Christmas by Kathy Duval

and my all time favourite that I struggle to read without tears (I am such a sook)

You Are My Miracle by Maryann Cusimano Love

There is just something lovely about reading Christmas stories with Ben before bed.

We where excited to receive a new story from Cousin’s Tom and Maggie this week – Santa’s Aussie Holiday. I love the inscription xoxo. I think we have read it every night since it arrived in the mail. THANKS xo

Twelve Christmas Favourites #6

#6 Christmas Favourite – Santa Photo

Before I had children, I had many rules and “I will never’s!” Then, I had a child and I laugh as you break each and every rule. I soon realised that I should have never said never!! One rule I broke was the Santa picture. I remember saying “My child will never do that…..ewww!”. It’s quite hilarious really that it is now one of my favourite things about Christmas. I just couldn’t wait to get Ben on Santa’s lap the first year! Here are the slightly tragic photos that only a mother can truly love:

2007

2009

2011

HO HO HO!!!