Christmas House Tour

Welcome to my house, please wipe your feet on the door mat but you don't have to worry about taking your shoes off.

Sorry about the heat, but it is summer after all down here in New Zealand. And before you ask, yes it does take some getting use to having Christmas in the sun.

There are no dark nights with bright lights shinning, yes we have bright lights but only after 9pm when night comes in. So very difficult to take 2 little guys out to view the lights because they are a sleep by 7.30pm and even if we kept them up they would be a sleep in the car within 5 minutes of driving down the road, so something I will save for 1 year when they are older.

There is no sitting cosy in the living room having the family all together around the open fire. The only open fire you would get here would be the campfire on the beach whilst on your summer holidays camping, although due to the dryness of the land even that would probably be banned!

We have lots of chocolates and cookies, but no warming hot chocolate and fluffy marshmallows to go with it, too hot and humid, give me a cold one from the chilly or fridge, preferably with ice.

But we do do Christmas, just the same as everyone else. The shops have been full of the stuff since August and we have already had the 'Pre Christmas Sales!'

So please forgive the meagre amount of decorations around my house this year. As you know we have just moved into this house, it is a rental and so a lot of our stuff is still in boxes as we decided we didn't need it out just yet, and also the fact we will look to purchase our own place next year then I can't be bothered to unpack stuff I don't really need just to repack it 6 months later.

Anyway, I have made some effort. Unfortunately we don't have a nice front door, a deck with ranch sliders is what we have, so no wreath hanging there, but I do have a Santa welcoming you as you come up the steps. He did have a complete tree but my 2 snapped it, also you can see the angel at his feet in the plate pot, she was on her stick (on ground behind!) but again these 2 little munchkins I have living in this house dimolished her within 1 day of her being there!

This year Grandma got all 4 grandsons a lovely advent calendar, it is a decorative thing with draws for each of the days, you then fill the draw with the little surprise/gift. As my 2 don't seem to like chocolate then theirs are filled with stickers and balloons.

I have my reindeer and santa door hangings, although again my 2 love playing with these and guaranteed everyday I am picking them up off the floor somewhere in the house and hanging them back where they are currently staying.

Next we move into the living room where the tree is. Most people in New Zealand swear by a real tree, I did that 2 years ago and am happy with my fake one thank you very much. Again I have only gone with the basics this year, but it still has the effect. No presents under there yet. Some may say this is because Santa hasn't delivered yet, others will tell you it is because if any did appear under there then I know who would open them within 10 minutes?? I think they are called Ben and Alex!

Last of all for this quick little tour, we have my 2 cute stockings hanging on the doors. No Fireplace in this house, so as close to the tree as possible is fine with me.

I thank you for coming to see our little abode at this wonderful time of year, especially as we do things slightly different here with the sun and the sea and the surf.

Although I am impressed that I had the tree up so early this year, it has been there at least 2 weeks. I have so many plans for next year, things I would like to buy over the next few years to start having some Christmas traditions of our own as a family, or more things I will do each year and the boys will remember that they always had it!

So Merry Christmas to you and yours. May you have wonderful glorious times with your families and friends and may 2008 bring you some of your hopes and wishes.

To go and find out more about the tours of other peoples house at this joyous time then slip on over to here and enjoy the sights of Christmas.

Don't forget to leave a comment so I can skip over to your house to have a wee look.