Everyone was excited to be heading off to West Beach in Adelaide today for two reasons, first being that we were going to a caravan park, and secondly because we were catching up with the Woods again..... The kids even helped us pack up!!!
It was only a short 1.5hr drive up the highway from Parham to West Beach but the kids made it feel like longer, wanting wee stops and also asking "how much longer?". We checked in at 11am and headed down to our allocated sites where all three families had been put alongside each other. Nikki and l actually had to question it in case they were taking the Woods spot... Anyway, we headed down and found our spots and we all nearly started rolling on the grass when we saw it!!! It's a crack up what little things you appreciate these days. We hadn't seen lush green grassed lawn forever!! After we got over our excitement each family went to doing their own things. We washed the Jayco before setting it up, to Martys disgust. Caused some heat between us but l thought seeing we were selling it we should at least wash the dirt off. Marty made a huge "for sale" sign and put on it out front, fingers crossed someone will like what they see and want it so we can get that van at Tenundra!! The rest of the day we hardly saw the kids and Nikki and l spent the time catching up on washing. Have no idea what the men were doing but they looked busy enough...
The next day Nik and l headed down to the beach for the morning with the kids. God l had missed the sand and sea. Was a bit chilly for me to swim but the kids had fun splashing around and playing in the sand. We headed up and were greeted with surprise that Amanda, Mark, Charlotte and Jake had arrived. We all ran over, hugs and kisses shared. The two Charlottes hugged like lost sisters, Boo had missed her, even though it had only been two weeks!! Don't know what's gonna happen we we part for a long while next time. Anyway, after our hellos we let them finish setting up and hung for the day.. Great to have everyone together, and seeing l was never a fan of Christmas, it was great to be around families that were excited about it. Our discussions did centre around the organising of Christmas Day and what we should cook. Funny to see the differences in each family and which foods have meaning to them on Christmas Day. Funnily enough, it didn't really feel like Christmas approaching seeing we had been bush camping prior and not around the hype of towns preparing for it. Then l saw the calendar and started getting anxious as it was only six days away and we hadn't even started any shopping for the girls led alone food!!
The following five days were spent running around getting shopping done. Amanda kindly looked after the girls for us while Marty, Nikki and l headed out for a day to knock the Chrissy shopping over. Marty had delusional thoughts that we would be finished in a few hours, five hours later we got back, all in need of a wine and beer. Sadly we hadn't got everything either! I felt so claustrophobic in the Westfield shopping centre, l hadn't seen so many people in forever!! Was glad to get out of there but also feared having to go back.. Amanda did give the kids a great day and seeing she is the Christmas spirit of the group it was only fitting that they spent the morning making the table pieces and decorations for Christmas. They also spent time down at the beach and we were told that the kids all had a ball. Funny to see all the kids together, they just all mix and mingle so well. The other kids in the park (oh l forgot to tell you the bloody caravan park is so huge and fully packed, really crowded), keep to themselves and don't tend to go out of their way to interact and they are all dressed so clean and done up to the hilt with all clothing labels. Glad to see our kids aren't intimidated and really don't even acknowledge their simple life and how different they are to them all.
The days leading up to Christmas we had some great times with the Woods and Cronans. One night we decided to head out to the life saving club in Glenelg for dinner. Was great to all be out and able to dress up a bit, put a some make up on and enjoy the finer things in life. It had all been quite some time since we had been out for dinner and it was sensational, especially because we didn't have to cook or clean up!! After dinner we went and had a fantastic time at the local Christmas Carols. It was being e performed out front of the yacht club, the backdrop was spectacular with the sun setting over the ocean. If we weren't in the spirit yet, we were all definately getting there by the end of it. The kids had a ball! They sat up front listening to the singers perform all the classics. Will and Harrison were hilarious, up on they rocks dancing away. Don't know many kids that would do that at their age and not worry who was watching (again, l think this is the example of how travelling kids are). All is adults sat up the back, huddled under blankets and some sipping wine trying to warm up! I must admit, l had a fabulous time and by the way things are going l think l will more of a Christmas person after this one. The families we are travelling with are making things so much fun, not like other Christmases we have had in the past. Anyway, back to the night out.....get off track sometimes. After the Carols we went and checked out some awesome Christmas lights. As we turned the corner, Boo and Meg screamed with delight at the sight of this amazing house decorated with lights. The UHF radio also let us know that all the other kids were also impressed. They were spectacular and the old couple we lovely and told us about the preparations and maintenance it took to do the lights. They were obviously a fan of the Christmas period with such an effort made to celebrate it, and they didn't even ask for a donation like some other houses do. It was such a great night and l think l went to bed with more spirit than I've had about Christmas for a long time.
Another fabulous day that we had out was when we all went into Adelaide city for the day. Prior though we had to get the usual Santa pics done and headed to the nearest Harvey Norman. i think they were shocked when we came in as after the photo (which all the kids loved seeing Santa and talking with him) the kids acted like bloody animals. We couldn't find Meg, then next minute she came hooning around the corner on a toy peddle bike and it looked so bloody hilarious, l couldn't stop laughing but l had to control myself. Meanwhile Marty is bloody following her, you'd think one of us would be a responsible parent. When we finally got her off l saw the sign on it which reads "no riding, keep kids off!". Well we did well at that hey... When we composed ourselves we turned around to see all the kids and most of the adults were testing out the electric reclining chairs! They were all lined up next to each other, all totally relaxed with their eyes shut, totally relaxing! The manager came up, l explained quickly that we were travelling families hoping not to get in trouble, but he didn't care, said for us to enjoy! After our fun morning we caught the train into the city from Glenelg and l think the kids would have been happy with that alone. In the city we took the kids to Santaland in Myers, which they were all totally excited about. They met him and posed for photos, the little ones rode the train (which Boo got a little upset about as she was too tall), and they even got to email Santa their toy lists. While this was going in l turned around to find Marty and Matt had found some couches to relax on, so funny what you miss from home... Felt so strange being in a city around all these "normal" people. I watched them all hunting for the perfect gift and l just remember thinking that on glad we're not having to be a part of that this year. Glad to escape materialism! Anyway, we treated the kids to a macca's ice cream and then sat and waited for the free city loop bus. while we waited the kids all thought it would be fun to wave to everyone who went past and count how many people responded. They then decided to yell out 'Merry Christmas' and count how many people said it back. Surprised me to see that most people greeted them back but l wonder what they all thought of us. we either looked like total tourists (well Mark did with his cowboy hat and backpack strapped on lol!) or just country bumkins!!! We finally boarded the bus, which happened to be driven by Santa!! Again the kids were stoked... The Adelaide city is so full with history, love the old buildings and churches. Some of the heritage houses have plaques out front which have a story about the building written on them. It is also such a clean city with beautiful gardens. This was such a fantastic day, we all laughed and chilled out and the kids were so well behaved, shocking really....lol.
Poor girls had a few crappy days. Boo was having a ball riding her scooter with Wil when she came a gutser and the poor thing had taken off so much skin on her face, knee and arm. While l was patching her up, Meg was telling all the kids that "she had the bravest sister in all the world". What a sweetie and Boo is such a little toughie. any other killed would have squealed the street down. Then a day or so later, Meg was refusing to eat dinner like always and l cracked it and told her to sit in the seat. Next minute she projectile vomited all over Marty's seat. We had hoped that it was a one off but the poor thing vomited off and on the whole night. She was such a trooper, she would just wake and spew in the bucket besides her then go back to sleep. Thankfully all the tumbles and tummy upsets were before Christmas.
The day before Christmas the kids were treated with a visit from Santa on a motorbike in he caravan park. He gave them some lollies and books and talked to Meg for ages, she is so infatuated with him.. Pity Marty and l couldn't get out of our crabbiness for one another. Things have once again been on and off tense between us both and on the night before Christmas we had another barny, l went for a walk on the beach to clear my head and then went to bed not talking to one another. Next morning Christmas had arrived!! The girls were so excited, but like last year we had to wait for them to wake up! Bloody late nights meant that they slept in later than usual (lol).... Anyway, when they finally woke, it was all screams of excitement with all the pressies under the tree being quickly ripped open, then it was out the door and going to show all the other kids what they got. Girls were very excited that Santa brought them Friends Lego and Boo got a boogie board and Megs favourite was her box of cars. Marty and l weren't even talking at this stage, but he had gotten his kayak a few days earlier, and well l had gotten my iPad on my bday for both occasions. The morning was great, the kids played with their new toys and the adults got the lunch preparations going. The men were in charge of the meat and us women took care of the veggies. We all set up Mark and Amanda's annex and decorated he tables with the kids decorations they had made prior. It really did feel like Christmas. The lunch was such a feast, everyone had done a spectacular job. Was well worth the wait, with us sitting down at 2:30pm for lunch. We were all stuffed and the drinks were going down a treat. I think Nikki and Amanda had downed a bit, they had the giggles.. After lunch we were going to go down to the beach and have a game of cricket, luckily we were a little lazy because shortly after we saw a helicopter circling up and down the beach. Marty, Amanda and l headed down to check out what was going on and sadly a man had been pulled out of the ocean and had died. For me, this sad event put things in perspective for what was going in between Marty and l. As we headed back to the groin to let them know what had happened, Marty and l put out our white flags up and made up. No words needed, just walked hand in hand back to the van. Everyone was deflated after finding out, we all sat around saddened by the news. After a bit we decided that it was time to put some joy back into Christmas and what better way to do that than to have a game of cricket. What a bloody fun time we had, kids and adults. We all took turns having a bat, but the funniest of all to watch was Amanda. By this stage she'd had more than a few and she was hilarious. Standing out fielding leaning on a post with her wine glass in hand...then next minute she was lying on the grass with Meg tickling her. Very hard to put into words but Nikki and l nearly wet ourselves laughing at the things she was doing. It was such a great way to end Christmas Day.....
Boxing Day we sadly had to say goodbye to the Cronans as the park was already booked out for them to stay any longer. We headed out to Harbor Town for a squiz at the sales and picked up a few bargains. The rest of the day we spent down on the beach and lazing around eating left overs.....the only way to spend Boxing Day really!!
What a fantastic Christmas, thanks Woodies and Cronans for making it so wonderful!!!

Bell Xxx