Photo a Day Challenge - 31.12.2012 - Self Portrait.

You asked for it... you got it!!!  :-)

Photo a Day Challenge - 30.12.2012 - Something that made me smile this year.

All fifteen of us together, all in the same country, all in the same house... all together  :-)  Very Big Smile !

Photo a Day Challenge - 29.12.2012 - Cold.

Big hot fire to warm us on Christmas Day in Sydney, Australia.... that's all wrong isn't it!  It's wrong but it's true!

Yesterday we Celebrated the life of Rosie and Ripley Rodd, on Rodd Island.

 Our Rosie passed away last August aged 89, Ripley passed away in July 2010 aged 93.

Yesterday, with their combined ashes, the Rodd family, their cousins and their friends gathered on Rodd Island to Celebrate what these two wonderful people had given us all.

 Family flew in from London, Dubai, Macao, Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, Queensland, around regional NSW and Suburban Sydney as well...  77 of us with only a few of our family unable to make it!  Not bad for a family as large as ours.

We spoke of their lives, we laughed about their tricks, we marveled at their antics then we collected, in beautiful gold cups, some of their ashes and scattered them all over the island that Rip'n'Rosie loved so much.

Watching Great Grandchildren very proudly, carefully and seriously scatter some of those ashes was indeed a wonderful sight.

 Rip'n'Rosie on their Honeymoon.

 Rip'n'Rosie in retirement.

 Rip'n'Rosie out shopping.

 Then there was a chance to take a 'Cousin' photo that has long been a tradition of ours... The call will go out...  'Mama's Grandchildren'!  we stop what we're doing and head to the designated spot for our photo. 

Left to Right Back Row - Andrew,  Simon, Matthew, Tim, Nick, Pennie.
Front Left to Right - Susie, Megan, Meredith and Marcus.

Rosie's mum, Eileen Cobcroft had 10 Grandchildren and when all 10 of us are in the same place at the same time... the cameras come out.

 This has to be one of the very first of 'Mama's Grandchildren' photos... taken at 'Glenroy' in Windsor in about 1955? 
Left to Right - Tim, Pennie, Susie, Meredith & Andrew.

 At Newport in about 1962?
Left to Right - Pennie, Marcus, Tim, Susie, Meredith, Andrew and Nick.

 Then yesterday with our partners, our children and our grandchildren... we now total 57!  Wow!

Mama's Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and Great-Great Grandchildren.

Photo a Day Challenge - 28.12.2012 - Cold.

She's already been in once but it's cold in there... will she jump in again???

Photo a Day Challenge - 27.12.2012 - How I relax.

 How I relax...  Firstly by watching Briony making Pizza's with the three little angels from Macao...

... and Secondly by watching these same little Angels helping David do Suduko!  They are hooked and want to help him every day now.

Photo a Day Challenge - 26.12.2012 - Mess.

 The last of the mess... after Christmas in the Garage!

Christmas Day at our home.

 Cars as far as the eye can see...

 Presents as far as the eye can see...

Menu.
Enormous leg of Pickled Pork which we slowly smoked in one of the Kamado's for 7 hours, a Turkey smoked for not quite as long in the other Kamado, some really wonderful salads from Emily's Mum Meg - Louisiana Yam Pie, Beetroot, Carrot and Apple Salad and a Mango, Lettuce with Orange Salad.  All very Yum!

Gwilym carves Pork/Ham...

 Yum Yum...

 Ice Cream with berries and crushed Violet Crumble Bar on top.

 Who gave the boys water pistols!!

 Pennie and David with five very beautiful grandchildren.

 All nineteen and a half of us.

 Wouldn't you know it, the dishwasher broke down but all hands on deck and the dishes are all clean...

 Then into the Sitting Room for a raging open fire!  In all my 67 Christmas' I have never once sat in front of an open fire on Christmas Day in Australia!  All that rain and freezing cold didn't worry us one little bit, we had a fantasmorogorical day!!  The best ever!

 Charlie showing Georgie how to make pictures :-)

 Then it was Charades...  First up Charlie!

 Tim...

 David...

 Charlie, Briony and Abigail...

Emma and Charlie...

Tim and Nerys, Tomos and David, George and Charlie.
Gwilym, Emily and baby, Briony and Kate, Meg and Chris.
Jackson, Andrew and Ros, Pennie and Emma... where were Abi and Tilly?

Photo a Day Challenge - 24.12.2012 - Tradition - Something you always do.

Photo of the Day Challenge - 23.12.2012 - Joy.

The Joy on the faces of these 5 little people was just a delight, especially the face of the youngest who was enjoying a day out in the Big Red Bus for the very first time... don't worry Georgie, it won't be your last :-)

Aren't they just wonderful!

 

Photo of the Day - 22.12.2012 - Decoration.

Photo a Day Challenge - 21.12.2012 - Tree.

 Our Christmas Tree this year is a Ficus in a pot, with so many children in the house Santa will be delivering our presents outside under this tree.

Below, Christmas Tree with Posers!    It's interesting how differently the boys pose from the boys :-)

It's been a busy day...

 First up for Breakfast, George and Charlie.

 Then to the computer with Jackson.

 Three little boys are really interested in David's stick?

 Aahhh... he's fixing the wicket!

 Nick and Casey and Madi and Kaye arrive from Dubai.

 Georgie is being shy...

 ... and shyer!

 ... and even more shy.

 I sent David outside to learn something, sent the children outside to teach...

 Kept them all busy for ages... what did they teach David?  They taught him some cooking, they charged him $40.00 for a hamburger and gave him several shots of Vodka!   :-)

One of the several dips in the pool.

 Georgie played by himself on this mat for ages, very content he was.

 Talking to himself, moving to one old toy to another.

Back to the Computer and it's only 4pm!