Day 103

I'm going to write my blog while Heloise and Tim read to the boys, so that I can spend some time with them tonight. I feel a little unsociable when I'm in bed and they're watching a movie...so here goes.

Christmas...hmm. Definitely didn't feel like it. I opened my eyes and didn't want to get out of bed. But when I eventually heard little voices, I thought ok well if they're waiting for me to open gifts, I guess I better get up. So I got out of bed, and as I was getting ready I got a much anticipated call from my family. I spoke to each of them on the phone, which made things a little hard...but I sucked it up and walked out with a smile on my face.

When I came out of my room Josh gave me a hug and told me he had a present for me. They hadn't opened theirs yet though, so I went and sat with everyone in the family room. Nathaniel had run in by now and given me a huge hug saying Happy Christmas. Heloise was still upstairs. Tim had already done breakfast for the boys, so I grabbed a yogurt. Soon after I finished, Heloise came down. Zach couldn't wait any longer. He wanted to get into those presents! I was actually amazed they hadn't yet. I fully expected to be jumped on at about 6 this morning.

Into the living room we went. The boys opened some of their gifts, and Josh brought me mine from him. He is so thoughtful. He still can't believe I liked it as much as I did, cuz he doesn't think it was anything big...but he got me a circle keychain that has a pawprint cut out of the middle, and the word "cheetah" written up the side. How nice is that!?!?! I couldn't believe it. Heloise had bought me a box of chocolates, and a bag of marshmallows (which was nice, as I had told them just the other day about our Marshmallow fights). She also got me 2 little capsules that when you throw them in the water, they'll grow into African animals :D Tim got us all a safari! He's booked one for New Years!!! I was VERY happy to hear this as it is the one thing I did not want to leave here without doing. - Aside from skydiving, but I'm coming to terms with the fact that that most likely will not happen -

Josh's big present was a flip camera which takes video. Nathaniel's was his Nintendo DSI. - You should have seen his face when he opened it. It was priceless! Although Josh had already guessed this morning that that is what he was getting. - Zach got a Spongbob laptop. I'm looking forward to playing that with him.

After presents everyone else got in the pool, and then got ready, while I sat in the sun. Around 12 o'clock we headed out for Christmas lunch. It was in a very nice location. A vineyard surrounded by beautiful gardens, a lake and some little paths. We sat down at our table which was located inside, but a huge door was open so you could still enjoy the atmosphere. We had our first course which consisted of Butternut Squash Soup, Deviled eggs and much, much more. Then, as the boys can't sit at a restaurant for long at all...we had to wait to have our next course. They went outside with Tim to play cricket. After a while of waiting, Heloise and I went outside to sit at the picnic table by the little lake. We eventually gave up on them, and went in for our Turkey dinner. They followed soon after. Turkey here is much like turkey in England. It's not the same at all. It sort of comes in a loaf shape, and you get very small slices. So I had 4 small slices of turkey with a cranberry jelly and some gravy, with potatoes, lasagna????? some sausages and some broccoli. Odd. It was good...but just not what Christmas should be. Plus we don't have any leftovers for a turkey, cranberry, mayonnaise sandwich. :| Mom, please send me one!

The boys disappeared outside once again, and I went up for dessert. It was all very good. That's not true. I'm not a fan of Christmas pudding. AT ALL! Finished that up...ok, went for seconds. But don't judge me! It was a buffet! Then we got into the car and came home. You wouldn't believe how many things were open here though! From grocery stores, to video stores...it was weird.

When we got home, they cracked out the Monopoly...OH LORD! I am not a fan, and did not want to play, but Josh asked me to be on his team. So I was. Luckily though, Heloise didn't want to play either...she asked if we should see whether or not my Uncle and Aunt were on Skype. I got out of the game by going to get my laptop. Then Zach and I were so intrigued in taking pictures with my laptop, that Heloise no longer had to play on his team. We left Nathaniel, Tim and Josh to play, as Zach wanted me to go swimming with him.

The pool was pretty cold, so I didn't stay in long. After playing pirates, I convinced Zach to do jumps into the pool and let me judge him from the side :p I laid in the sun while giving him more ideas of things to do. Terrible I know, but it was really cold in there!

We came inside and they watched Transformers. My internet doesn't work in this room for some reason, so I went to sit with Heloise in one of the living rooms, but she left to watch the movie. I spoke to some people online, then to my Nan, Aunt and cousins on the phone. The boys went up to bed, and now I'm watching Star Trek, hoping I can get my internet to work again. Either way, I'll post my pics on Facebook at some point tonight.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Good Night xx