Catching up Part 2 - Christmas!

Our Christmas preparations were low key this year, as we were traveling away for 

both the weekend before Christmas (to see the MIL in Hervey Bay) 

and the big day itself (to my folks in Cooroy).

I still had a decorating theme though - this year it was red, white silver and lime. 

I didn't go crazy and do the front door etc (like this year) but will go the whole hog next 

year when it's our turn to host the family again.

(My new decoration this year - just a cheapie, but so sweet!)

For homemade gifts this year, I made Limoncello (for the first time), 

gingerbread star trees, rum balls and shortbread.

The limoncello was delicious - 

I had to keep some aside for myself - and really easy. I used this recipe:

Peel just the zest from 10 lemons. Put into an airtight jar and cover 
with 1 litre of vodka.  Allow to sit in a cool dark place for 2 weeks, 
giving the jar a swirl every second day.
After the two weeks are up, strain the liquid and discard the peel.
Make a sugar syrup by dissolving 2 cups of white sugar in 
3 cups of warm water. Add the lemon vodka to the syrup and 
bottle while still warm. Cap tightly and wrap up for giving, 
or drink it yourself with lots of ice and soda water or lemonade.

The gingerbread star trees were similar to previous years, just with
different coloured icing.

(Lemon colored and flavoured icing if they were going with a bottle of limoncello)

(green if they weren't.)
The teachers all got rum balls and shortbread this year - packed in noodle
boxes and finished with a handmade tag and striped ribbon.

The two younger boys took some treats for friends -

Chocolate sultanas in a cello bag with a label from here!

I also made some easy cards using the free star paper in the Christmas issue of 

Better Homes and Gardens and some black A4 card I already had. I combined

these with a free printable sheet of labels, found here and some self-adhesive bling. 

(All my crafty friends and family got these ones, the non-crafty ones 

got nice fund-raising ones instead.)

Christmas morning was spent at home, opening gifts with the boys
 and eating yummy ham croissants...

 

before traveling up to Cooroy for lunch with Nan & Grandad,
Aunty CC, Uncle Shane, Anouk and Oscar.

A lovely day was had by all, despite the heat, and we camped on
 the property for a few extra days as well.

Phew! Up to date.

P.S. "The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."  Burton Hillis