Meatballs

My very first meatballs! My friend Ron gave me his "100% Italian" mother's recipe. These were GREAT! Thanks Ron for sharing your family's secret with me.

3000 Points

Mummy rolled 3000 points in Farkle!

P.O.T.R.

We took mum to Pancake on the Rocks for lunch. I told her the best thing on the menu was macadamia nut pancakes, but she opted for pancakes with ice cream instead.

Teddy Bears

We passed out stuffed animals to the kids at the children's hospital. I was unprepared for my reaction when I saw my first incubator. I burst into tears and left the ward. I was able to recover, but I stayed with the older kids and let Jonathon, Janette and Wayne deliver gifts to the babies.

My FAVOURITE thing to do on Christmas Day is share the love of Jesus with these kids!

Christmas Eve Service

We got out of our pyjamas and re-dressed to attend an 11:00 PM candlelight service a local Presbyterian church.

The candlelight sure made the night feel special.

We enjoyed GREAT music with a weird message. Very strange.

I'm glad we arrived early. The church was packed when the service started.

Merry Christmas Mom!

The Opera House

We took mum to see The Christmas Caper at the Opera House.

We strolled the Opera House grounds for a bit.

We had AWESOME seats, although I doubt there are any bad seats in here.

My beloved and me

The show was most entertaining.

Eden's Mural

We took mom to see the mural that Kelly had painted for Eden.

Christmas Outreach at the Jonk's

The Jonkhoff's started a new tradition last year. They have a neighbourhood Christmas party on their front lawn a couple of days before Jesus' birthday.
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JR and me

Christmas in Australia is a whole lot different than Christmas in Colorado. It is celebrated with picnics, sidewalk chalk, glow in the dark jewelry, sparklers and bug spray.

I told mum that it was SUMMER here. As you can tell, she is not convinced. Despite almost everyone else sporting shorts, she wore Christina's robe and a blanket to keep warm.

Christina and a one of the neighbourhood kids.

Terrigal

We hooked up with friends up the coast in Terrigal today.

Me, Bryan and Grant

Jessie, Grant, their daughter Shania and me in front of their cafe called Harrisons.

Mum and me

Rob and D

Church BBQ and Caroling

Right next to the hall where the church meets is the school canteen. It's ideal for throwing a BBQ.

Peter and Belfy
My mum knows Belfy's sister in El Paso, TX. How bizarro is that?

My beautiful mummy and me.

Yonnie and Kay Lee

The Dutch Shop

Norm took us to the Dutch Shop for arvo tea today.

Dutch Apple Pie with Cream

Mum ordered their fabulous pea soup.

Norm ordered....a big ole' wiener.

Me and my mummy

Ornament Exchange Party

After Bible study tonight, we had our annual ornament exchange party.

Danielle's Yule Log

Danielle made this beautiful and delicious yule log for dessert. It is made my putting cream between Oreo cookies. You stack them, cover the whole lot of them in cream, then top with shaved chocolate.

What a festive treat!

Jonathon LOVED it.

Farkle

After church, a few friends came over to play Farkle with us.

My mum. I definitely inherited some gaming-DNA from her.

Joel - risking it all.

Vim and Eli. This bet didn't turn out so well.

Jonathon, Kay Lee, Joshua, me, Vim and Eli.
Eli is Joshua's brother. He and Vim stopped in Sydney on their way to Zimbabwe for Christmas.

Caroling at the Nursing Home

Our church went Christmas caroling at a nursing home today.

Kelly, Kay Lee, mum and me

Me and Fajita

Phinlay, Jason and me

Tea with Florence

Florence was our neighbour when we lived at our first house in Sydney. She invited us for arvo tea today.

Florence and my mum

Grill'd

We drove up to Newie because Jonathon was teaching for Terry at Calvary Chapel Newcastle today. This time, we made sure to find Grill'd.

Phenomenal burgers are on the menu at Grill'd.

This made Jonathon oh so happy.

Grill'd even offers THREE different kinds of vegetarian burgers. Oh happy day for me! Their fries are seasoned with herbs too. Mmmm, delicious!


Dave joined in on the food and fun.

Gingerbread Outreach 2

Last night I indulged in making my own gingerbread house, but tonight I went to serve the other ladies.

Jazmin and Norm

Me, Karina, and Jazmin

Yonnie, Jonathon and Kay Lee

Ali and her son Josiah