Well that's all folks...

It's the night before Christmas.  I'm trying to quell the growing panic by attending to unnecessary tasks and leaving the important stuff for 1 am or thereabouts.  Actually, that's not true.  I'm feeling kind of organised.  Except for the fact I haven't managed to complete the sewing I've been trying to do for my girls and I.  

Today is about Christmas baking, something the MOTH has been attending to for the last few years  (I'm reclaiming the kitchen).  Actually, he's much better at shortbread than I am.  Marv and I have been making fruit mince pies.  Earlier I made another batch of these hazelnut snowballs I posted to Instagram the other week -

I've made the sugar syrup for tomorrow's pre-lunch cocktails, roasted the pumpkin for one of the lunch dishes and the esky is full of ice & drinks.  Even the Christmas presents are wrapped and under the tree (unusual for this household!).

I'm off to tidy the garden before we crank up the BBQ, bath the kids and wait for the sun to go down.  Christmas Eve sees us trawling the neighbourhood for pretty lights.

We're excited about tomorrow.  This is the busiest year the MOTH and I have ever experienced.  We're feeling stretched and weary.  But tomorrow we are reminded of the magic of childhood and the mystery that is Christmas.  We will be without our girls (here and here) for the first time.  But we will be surrounded by family and celebrating this new life -

Merry Christmas all.  Safe journeying.

I'm off for a few weeks of R&R - I'll be back in late January.