Happy Holidays!

Tis the season, to be jolly! 

We've now been in Western Australia for about a month and we've got about one more month to go here. Paul has had a lot of work over here. Which has worked in our favor this holiday season.  We've been able to spend lots of time with family and friends. We took a drive to the hills or Chidlow where Paul grew up. We met his sister and her two sons for some time at the local lake. After the lake we drove around town and saw the house(s) the Forsyth's lived in growing up. I saw their high school, football oval, town hall, local shops, and that about wraps it up. I think Paul's from a smaller town than my Dad! We also tried to do a bit of eye spy for kangaroos. We didn't have any luck. But my day will come. Oh yes, I WILL see a kangaroo in the wild. 

Lake Lesh in Chidlow

The bush we drove through, looking for kangaroos. 

The ocean on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve we had fish and chips in Fremantle with Mum, Paul's brother Michael, his sister Ness and her husband Dan, as well as the boys. The fish was great. I had prawns and chips. They were deep fried. Paul had battered snapper and chips. Mum had sardines which grossed everyone out! Paul tried it, and said it was actually quite good. After we finished our lunch we went on a speed boat ride on the Indian Ocean. The boys both said they weren't scared, and they were going to join. But they chickened out! I was a bit nervous. But once we got out there it wasn't so much scary, but very wet. It was a blast. I would definitely do it again! After the boat ride we went down to the beach with the boys. Paul, Ness and Dan swam out to the pontoon. But it was a bit too choppy for me. I'm not a strong enough swimmer. Paul also built sand castles with the boys. I did a bit of baking in the sun. We ended the day with some ice cream back at Mum's and some running around for the boys. 

Paul with his melted snow man cookie, Michael with his moustache from the cracker, and Mum laughing at her boys.

Ness liked the cookies too!

The picture doesn't do justice to show how wet we were after the boat ride.

Paul and I picked up a fairy costume for Charlotte. We or should I say I could not resist!

We continued my families tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve. Paul chose one in an interesting shaped box. Looks like my plan worked. I wanted to trick him into not knowing it was a shirt. Good thing it was a shirt he liked.

My gift was a Minnesota necklace and ornament. As well as some little flower earrings from a store back home. He sure knows me well!

After Paul's holidays started from work we moved into the Dempsey's. We'll have been here for about two weeks in total. We get to spend some good quality time with them, and their gorgeous daughter, Charlotte. We also get to have some home cooked meals vs eating out every night when we stay in the hotel. On Christmas Eve in the evening we had some delicious egg nog. I had a lot of firsts this Christmas and Egg nog was one of them! Christmas morning was started the right way with some mimosas!

After our Mimosa's Charlotte woke up to see what Santa brought. This was her first Christmas and above was her first Christmas present. She lucked out! Amy and Kieran are from Brisbane, and this is their first Christmas away from home. But they've got a great support system. Because Charlotte had plenty of parcels delivered by Christmas morning. We all took turns opening her gifts.

Purely by chance the men both got some new undies!

Charlotte let Uncle Freddy read her the book we got her.

The Dempsey's were happy about the coffee we got them! We all did pretty well this Christmas. The women probably did best. I got a new camera from my wonderful boyfriend, and Amy got a spa day from her loving husband! After we finished opening gifts we headed down to the beach for some escape from the heat in the ocean. Kieran has a paddle board. So both Paul and I got to try that for the first time. I also was able to swim out to the pontoon, because the water was still as can be. Charlotte got to kick around in the water too! 

After the beach we had a seafood feast with yummy sangria, compliments of Amy's cooking skills. I peeled a prawn for the first time. It doesn't sound like that big of a deal. But you have to rip of the head, then they legs and tails, then peel the rest off. For me that never even ate meat off of a bone it was a victory. My first Aussie beach Christmas was brilliant. I had a nice skype session with Justine. I'm lucky to have such a wonderful boyfriend. Not only did he give me a great present, but more importantly he makes me happy. This was my first Christmas with out my family. While I would have loved to have been with them, I have zero complaints. The day after Christmas is boxing day. We spent boxing day down by the river for a picnic with friends. Everyone brought the kid's out for some playtime with other kid's. Mr. F attempted to man the grill. Out of all the couple's there, there were only two with out children. We've made it to the beach nearly every day this past week. We've spent time with wonderful family and friends here, and we've got another month to go!

Yesterday we got out for a nice evening picnic and walk along the dog beach while the sun set. I can't seem to get enough of the ocean just yet.

Charlotte had a killer time. She's found her screaming voice, so she let her voice roar on the walk along the beach with Mummy and Daddy. 

I'm now feeling a bit pooped after all the holiday festivities. The temperature here has been about 40 degrees celsius for the past few days. That's over 100 degrees fahrenheit. The heat really takes it out of you. But I can't complain too much. Everyone at home is getting snowed in.