Christmas at the Keady residence

All photos: Life in Oz

Hello everyone!

I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season so far. Just wanted to show you how we are celebrating this year in our first home! This year, being our first Christmas, I decided to make some of my own decorations and get as frugal 'n' crafty as possible -- which was very fun for me! Our home has become so cozy and full with all the decorations, so I am enjoying every minute! Hope you enjoy them as well :)

Merry Christmas to you and your families. We sure will miss you this year, but we know we will be together again soon for this beautiful celebration.Sending lots of love and hugs,

Alex

It's Christmas time in the city...



All photos: Life in Oz




Last Friday night, Damien and I decided to go exploring in the city to see the Christmas sights. Since I am a big Starbucks fan (they're not in Melbourne), we grabbed a caramel hot chocolate and hit the streets!
The first thing we discovered with a projected light show on the state library building! It was so beautifully done and it portrayed the Nutcracker story. People gathered on the steps of the building and were mesmerized by the display. It was a great start to the night!

We travelled down Swanston street where charitable bands were playing Christmas music and everyone seemed to be in a Christmas spirit! It was magical! Big department stores had their famous annual window displays on, where kids were lined up down the street to see. It felt like we were in the 50's and it was wonderful.

We then discovered a Christmas square with Christmas trees growing out of presents, a large nativity scene and a digital nativity storybook for all to read. They also played Christmas music as you travelled through the maze. It ended at a large wall of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke telling the story of the birth of Jesus. When we reached the wall, one of our favourite songs came on, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and I was overwhelmed with emotion. Coming from a "politically correct" country, it was amazingly refreshing to see the city focus it's Christmas displays on the true reason of Christmas.

As we moved along we discovered another light show projected on the Anglican Cathedral which was beautiful. It then led us to Federation Square, where they had a moving Christmas tree forest displayed! It was so much fun! We read that they have a photographer on Saturdays to take family photos amongst the trees and a Christmas picnic on Christmas day in the midst of the forest. What a great city we are in! Although I am not a city gal whatsoever, I am thoroughly enjoying Christmas in Melb. I hope you will too through these pics I took yesterday....

Federation Square

The Christmas tree forest

Digital storybook - it reminded me of the beginning of Sleeping Beauty!







The great Gospel wall

Hope it's nice and snowy where you are! More pictures to come! xx

Alex

Meet "Gloria"

"The best Christmas trees come very close to exceeding nature.  ~Andy Rooney"



All photos: Life in Oz

 Last week we bought our first Christmas tree --- good ol' fashioned style! We grabbed our classic Christmas carol cd and hit the road to the country!

It was a hot, balmy 31 degree day and we sweated the whole way through, but it was fabulous! I never thought that would be possible when picking out a Christmas tree. I must say, I did miss wearing mittens and a toque - it just felt wierd wearing flip flops and shorts - but nonetheless, it was great.

The Christmas tree farm was exactly like the ones back home --- sans snow though. They had a barn full of Christmas ornaments to perouse through and instead of selling hot chocolate, they sold ice cold sodas! They even had a talking Cockatoo named George :)

 We took our time browsing through the field of pines, enjoying the beautiful aroma around us. There is truly nothing like the smell of fresh pine trees! I don't know what I'd do if Australia didn't have pines, it's one of my favourite scents. When we finally found "the one", the friendly staff sawed it down for us and had it bound while we browsed around the barn.

It now beautifully adorns our living room and our house is filled with the glorious fragrance. I have a habit of naming things, including Christmas trees. Two years ago my dad brilliantly named our tree "Spruce Springsteen"! How could I beat that?! This year we decided to name our tree "Gloria", it just seemed to fit! We just decorated her and she looks beautiful :) Pics are soon to come. In the meantime, enjoy the pics below of the Aussie Christmas tree farm.

Hope you all are having a beautiful Christmas season so far! Sending you lots of love from afar. Love always,

Alex

 

Amen, Prancer!