Saturday 29 December 2007

It was a Wonderful Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas, very busy. Babes Mum flew in from Cairns Australia on Christmas Eve morning so we hosted a family dinner on Christmas Eve followed by breakfast on Christmas morning before we drove off to Hamilton, one hour south of Auckland to spend the rest of the Christmas with Babes Dad and his side of the family.

Here is our Christmas tree with an obscene amount of gifts under it. A large proportion of which were for The Princess who was beside herself with excitement!

Santa gave her a big pink BARBIE party bus!!!!! Its very cool, has a fold out hot tub that actually makes a bubbling noise!!!! You can see the bus in this photo.


Here is The Princess first thing on Christmas morning opening the stocking I had whipped up for her the day before.


This is Babes, The Princess and I playing with the Barbie bus early on Christmas morning.


Here she is dressed in a new Dora Explorer beach dress and wearing a new hat and matching bag. That's Babes Mum on the right and mine behind The Princess.


It wasn't all pink, she was given this hideous Spiderman mug. She adores it as she plans on marrying Spiderman!!


But mostly her gifts were pink. Due to splits in both our families and her birth family still having contact with her, she has 6 grandmothers, 5 grandfathers and numerous Aunts, Uncles and cousins which means she gets a ridiculous amount of gifts each year.


Santa gave her the Barbie Bus and stocking fillers, we gave her a ballerina jewellery box and the pink bag and hat, from everyone else she got a large pool, toilet bag complete with toiletries, pyjamas, 3 dresses, DVD, Barbie overnight bag, another bag, heirloom bear, books, more clothes, 3 paper doll books, crayons, Lego, hair ties and clips . . . . way too much !!!

She's a much loved and very lucky little girl.

The last few days have also been quite busy, another family dinner at our house for Babes Mum and then lunch today at my Mum's with some cousins.

We are off to Babes Dad's beach house for a break. Its at a beach called Whangamata and the house is just a 5 minute walk down to a beautiful beach where we spend most of our days.


My life has been truly enriched over the last few months by all of you wonderful caring and creative fellow bloggers. At times blogging has been a sanctuary for me and for that I thank you all.

I will have a toast to you all on New Years Eve, with .... Champagne of course!



Happy New Year





35 comments:

Alison Gibbs said...

Rachael, what a wonderful christmas The Princess Stella had.
Enjoy your time away at the beach. happy New Year.
Alison

Barbara said...

the beach!!!! goodness you tease me! (sending some of this white stuff your way!)

thanks for sharing your holiday with us! and oh...princess stella has many more aunties out here in blogland! what a family we have become!
happy new year hugz!

Betty said...

Happy New Year Rachael! It looks like you had a wonderful Christmas!

Unknown said...

Happy New Year to you too! Looks like lots of fun - your princess is sooo cute!

Ruth Welter said...

Hi Rachael, looks like you had quite a Christmas with all those gifts under the tree. : ) Thanks for sharing your photos.

Sugar Bear said...

Looks like a wonderful holiday was had by all - esp. the Princess! A very Happy New Year to you Rachael!
Karla

Unknown said...

Oh Rachael, I LOVED the pictures of your Christmas! Princess is so adorable with all of her goodies! I love all the pink goodies she got! What did you get Rachel?? I will be posting about our Christmas next week.

Have a wonderful time on your break! Wish I could go!
Hugs,
Amy

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

She made a haul!

bluemuf said...

Looks like you all had a wonderful Christmas. I hope you all have a happy New Year and enjoy your time away.

Hugs Karen

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

Oh, I remember the pink Barbie Party Bus, I had a similar one myself! Fond memories!

Looks like you had a fabulous Christmas!

Wishing you the happiest of New Years, looking forward to many more good times!

Melissa

Anonymous said...

pleased you had a wonderful Christmas
pleased I am not the only one who people will see with my nightie on LOL
my Christmas day photos will be up as part of my weekly review tomorrow
do come by and check it out

I didnt know your daughter was adopted :)
what special parents she has now in you and your hubby
God knows best :)

Enjoy Whangamata I love it there we use to have access to a friends holiday house there

safe travels

Happy New Years

HUGS youre awesome too Rachael

Jen at http://my3boysandi.wordpress.com/

Gail McCormack said...

What a wonderful Christmas you all had. Enjoy your break away, sounds heavenly.
Happy New Year to you all

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

We have a couple of those little princess and some princes around. They are our wonderful Grandchildren. They are so much fu. Hope you all have a great New Year

Aimz said...

Looks like loads of fun! I like the way you set your table - very festive!

Anonymous said...

Hi Rachael, such gorgous family Christmas photos, so special with Stella :) Have a wonderful time at the beach, sound bliss Rachael, enjoy every minute! Happy New Year :) Jenn and Jacqui

Siobhan said...

Lots of fun on Christmas morning and so very special!

Hope you enjoy your little break and Happy New Year!

Siobhan xo

Linda said...

Hi Rachael, your Christmas sounds most happy and I loved all the pictures.
Happy New Year and all the best in 2008. Hugs Linda

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Oh Rachael! What a wonderful Christmas you and your loved ones had!

I hope 2008 is a FABULOUS year for you too!
Hugs,
Penny

Sandra Evertson said...

Happy New Year!
Sandra Evertson

Anonymous said...

Hi Rachael, forgot to say, yes, all the photos are taken by Jacqui, it's her hobby, maybe a career?!! Hugs, Jenn xo

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

Hi Rachael,
I raise my glass of bubbly to you and wish you a very 'Happy New Year'.

It has been great blogging with you and sharing the highlights of your life.

Hugs,
Kerryanne

Southern Lady's Vintage said...

What a wonderful time you all must have had! Thank you for sharing your photos of your Christmas! Your little girl is a cutie pie for sure!
Hugs,
Barbara
Southern Lady's Vintage

Beth Leintz said...

Oh a Barbie Christmas- how fun!

Britt- Sparkled Vintage Charm said...

oooh!! it looks like you had such a fun Christmas!! Stella is adorable!!
I hope you and your family have a very happy new years!!
have a great day!!!
xo Britt

CIELO said...

Everybody looks so happy, and the house so festive! .... Blessings to you and yours during 2008, my dear Rachael....

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. ~Hal Borland.

Cielo

Gina said...

aww, looks like a dream of a time. happy new year!

Reginas Cottage said...

Happy New Year Rachael!
Hugs Regina

Barbara Jacksier said...

Ah, the beach. It's only a memory for us east coasters in the USA! Happiest of holidays.
Barbara

kari and kijsa said...

oooh- the days of the pink Barbie bus! Fabulous! (love the barbie meets spiderman too!! Wanted to wish you a wonderful, prosperous, safe and healthy New Year! Here is to a fabulous 2008!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

karri said...

just popping by to wish you a very beautiful new year!!!
xoxo, karri

Artifax said...

What a wonderful magical Christmas you all had! Love the shots of your daughter and all her gifts Christmas morning.

Hope 2008 is starting out fabulously for you!!

Just Between Us Girls said...

Dear Rachael,
Thank you for the sweet words about the heart. OOOOH my gosh THE PRINCESS has enough Christmas presents to start a department store. She certainly is lucky but then she looks so lovable who wouldn't want to buy her a few gifts. You have a SPECTACULAR NEW YEAR. Your comments are always so welcome and I am glad to see them in my blog.
Pat

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

Oh Rachael, what a wonderful Christmas you had. I really enjoyed the pictures. Thank you for sharing and the princess..well she is just that, a princes and you are certainly a queen. Enjoy the New Year and I'll be looking forward to your posts.

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

You are my December giveaway winner! I have something special in mind for you, and will let you know when it is ready, I need to make it first!!

Felicia said...

Love the montage! Looks like an awesome Christmas. Hope you're having a terrific new year :)