This is what it looked like at the start of a very long, but fun day! The kids woke us at 5:50 and wanted to open presents. We managed to hold them off until after 6:30am, when my parents arrived. We opened gifts, had breakfast and cleaned up. The flu is working its way through the house and it was my nephew's turn. He had a fever and eventually threw up. My sister decided the best thing to do was to leave and head home (they had a 2 hour drive and then a 2 hour ferry). She wasn't feeling great either and was worried that she'd be sicker tomorrow when she had to make the journey. As they left the house, my in-laws (8 of them) arrived with a two and four year old. I forgot what a two year old was like. Wow... it was loud. Ornaments were broken and I felt like I never stopped until the moment they left. Dinner for 18 was delicious and everyone left by 7:00pm. I'm going to go lay in bed (after I give my son more medicine - his fever is gone but he's coughing something terrible). I hope your Christmas was magical and filled with family and friends. Love to you all!
Such a shame some family were ill, we managed to get through it intact this year. Beautiful photo, have just spent the last hour looking at people's Christmas all over the world,wonderful to be able to share it.
Oh that not such a great Christmas with the flu germs going through the household... But a lovely scene at the start of the day with tree and pressies... lets hope the bugs go away very fast..
Lovely clear and yet dark photo! Looks exciting with all those presents! I know what a 2 year old is like - we had a couple at that age and i just gritted my teeth and got on with it! Hope you all get better very quickly!
This is beautiful, I especially love the half-lit teddy bear on the right. I hope you all get over your ailments quickly, not a good time to be sick (if there ever is one).
That is some pile of presents Kim.......your day sounds great fun but a long day specially for the cook! Sometimes Boxing Day as we call it is more restful with all that cold food to go at. Harry had a rotten cold & I'm sure he passed lots of bugs around but he lasted the day. Your house looks gorgeous as usual!
Wow what a story and such an eventful day. I remember Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere and the cold. Always used to get sick there at Christmas. You should try Christmas in summer some time, it makes all the difference. Hope you are all fit and well again soon.
I was at my nieces where there were 5 children, and 10 adults and me. This is a small house and the noise bounced off the walls. They were doing gift opening in shifts. Early the family that was staying overnight, then my nephews granddaughter, then my nieces grandchildren and there was more to happen. Oh I lasted about an hour and came home to my peace and quiet. You were stuck in the middle of it. Hope you get some quiet time now and don't catch the flu.
I was with my daughter and my eldest two grand kid. My grandaughter got engaged. We are much more organised than when the kids were younger. My grandson, Ben, allowed us to open just one present at a time and the only one allowed to run around and tear the paper off his presents was Nudge! Hope you're all feeling a bit better and that your son' sought has eased
Dinner for 18!! And sickness in the house... I salute you! Hope the rest of the festivities are healthy. My son has sounded and felt rough since school finished - I suspect some of the hoarseness is now due to too many shots out on Christmas Eve though....
Beautiful shot. It sounds like you had a very busy day and I hope everyone feels better soon. A lot of people have colds right now in our family. Holidays seem to be the time when everyone gets sick.
That's a beautiful scene... we had 17 for lunch but that's including a newborn. It sounds like a very tiring day for you, I hope everyone feels better soon.
This is beautiful and festive! Sorry that you have people that are not well..but happy they managed to enjoy the day none the less. Hope you had a chance to rest ... someone has to be well enough to take care of everyone else.
We went to our niece's house and had 28 people!! We only had 7 kids there from 2 to 12 and when we left and walked outside and hit the quiet, it almost hurt our heads!!! Once it sunk in, it was heaven!! We had a great time and of course we had 2 that were there with colds, me being one and then one with the flu and a fever...all adults!! The one with the flu stayed in the corner by himself!! Today I feel aweful but still was happy we went and spent the day and most of the night with our family!! Christmas is magical isn't it? Love your quiet, pretty room!! Hope all are well? FAV!
