It was the night before Christmas

The 24 December has rolled around and its’ looming Christmas Eve… With all these birthdays and baptisms leading up to this special event, I had been feeling as though my festive cheer had waned from the energy put into prior festivities, but by watching my bright eyed children become engrossed in classic’s like the Polar Express and singing Christmas Carols, and counting down sleeps until the jolly man in his red suit arrives, how can one not be of a smile and warmed heart and find that little bit of rekindled Christmas Joy!

To help with my festive spirit, I pulled out my family photo of my very first Christmas to become lost in reminiscent poise (as I often like to be) and of traditions of old and new that arise with your own family ...

Mel (6 months old) with her sisters Wendy, Maree and brother Graham

I have seem to somewhat started a new tradition with my beloved parents coming to our home for a Christmas Eve Feast since Jaxon was born.

In many ways, by having my parents join with us at this special time of year, and me taking on the role of cooking and serving (as my mother has done for many years before me) in some small way enables me to feel like I am saying “thankyou for everything you have done for us over the years.”

Sentimental wise, the traditional white table cloth is now 3rd generation, having been used by my father's mother, my mother and now me ... Our own modest dining table to which we join each meal, is my Nana's (father's mother) table from the 1930's, which in itself creates nostalgia at this time of year.

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008

Following this photo, we added the traditional candle stick holders (as featured in 2007) and sprinkled the table with glittering balls of red, green and silver (from our local craft shop.) The children both used their plates that they had carefully created during the year as part of Caleb's Pre-School program.

With Dinner set for around a 6:30pm commencement, I had been baking up a storm during the day to ensure that our meal would be a feast to celebrate a wonderful year together.

Christmas Menu from Echuca

(thanks to being tagged by the delectable and skilled Ave)

Main Meal

Roasted Turkey Breast with Cranberry and Apple Seasoning, served with Cranberry Sauce

Roasted Seasoned Rolled Pork with a side of crackle and served with Apple Sauce

Honey Glazed Ham, mouth watering

Golden Roasted Poatoes, sliced in fanned patterns

Tossed Roasted Butternut Pumpkin, Sweet Potato and Carrot

Brocolli and Cauliflower

No meal is without being complement by a variety of sparkling white wines

(or a delicious red dulce' too, Baileys & Baileys 2 Fat Ladies)

Dessert

Trifle Perfecta!

there is no trifle like that of my Mother's and something that I look forward to each festive year.

We followed later with coffee and my rocky road (with turkish delight and macadamia nuts)

A wonderful, relaxed evening was had, and no Christmas Eve goes without a visit from Poppy Santa to bring the children their gifts. Caleb, his new St Mary's School Bag & Spencer die cast, Jaida the prettiest peppa pig and dora pyjamas and Jaxon, some new pyjamas as well (real boy pj's now, no baby sleep suits!) ...

A couple of photos to remember Christmas Eve 2008, Jaida and Grandma, Jaida and Poppy, Jaida and Daddy!

The epitomy of the evening as well was a phone call from my beautiful friend Tracy who now lives in the wilderness of Woods Point while her devoted husband Mat fulfills a lifelong ambition to become a pastry chef. Words do not express the emotions of being able to hear her voice (this quaint mountainous town only has 5 landlines going in, no mobile range, no internet) Tracy had borrowed a phone to send her love at this time of year! Precious and capped off what was a perfect evening!