Christmas in August

Kia ora!

Way back in 2023 we decided to have a scaled back Christmas, as we knew we would be moving and didn't want to just add more things to have to pack or give away. We also decided we'd have a "second" Christmas after we got to New Zealand. It took us a few months, but on August 17 we held our second Christmas. Each person bought a present for the person they had drawn for Christmas 2023 and Mom and Dad ha da little gift for everyone as well.


It was rather nice of the place we were renting to have this little glass tree just for our Christmas celebration! I lucked out and scored Christmasy wrapping paper at an op shop a few weeks earlier! However, the shiny silver one smelled so chemically, I was glad when it was used up!

James had me (poor kid drew me again for Christmas 2024) and for my gift he made me a red velvet cake. It was not necessarily the prettiest cake I've ever seen, but it was delicious. He even made my favorite frosting (for red velvet), which is a bit of work. What a sweet kid I have!


Daniel got a shark papercraft from Mom and Dad.

And light sabers from his person (me). He also got a cat themed pencil holder and notebook.


Daniel had Brad and bought him a gold medal!

Brad had Autumn and bought her candle making supplies and a Maori pendant.

Autumn had Ryan and got him a set of Lord of the Rings books and some cooking books.

Ryan and Brynn and also got her Lord of the Rings books as well as an antique mirror and brush.

Brynn had James and bought him Whittaker's peanut butter chocolate bar and a notebook with pens.


We even had our traditional Christmas Dinner - french dip sandwiches! It was my first time buying a roast and I tried not to balk too much at the price - about $25/kilo for what is called "bolar roast" but I think is quite comparable to a cross cut roast, which is what I liked to use back in the states.

I bought a package of Mars Celebration Candy Bars for us to try. Some were familiar, some were new to us.

Merry Christmas!

With love from New Zealand,
Lyndsay


 

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