THE GREAT FAMILY COOKIE SWAP
Last year our family began the tradition of the Family Cookie Swap with about 10 people participating.

This was last year's Cookie Swap all waiting to be 'swapped'.

This year we have decided to pre-package our cookies in groups of six, ready for the 10 recipients to collect at our FAMILY FEAST this Saturday, being held, this year, at my sister Julie's house.
Here is my contribution to the Cookie Swap.  I'm calling them Glassy Bauble Biscuits!

I bought the gorgeous cellophane bags in Walmart in Hawaii two years ago.  The tags came from Big W.  I thought they were very appropriate having food picture on them.

SOME NIGHT SHOTS OF MY TREE AND MY DECORATIONS

 My tree looks a little bare in this photo!  No present underneath yet as I haven't wrapped any.
Hope to get around to that next week.

 Part of my beautiful Lemax Village.

Above the window in the family room.

 A TRIP TO SYDNEY ON 12 - 12 -12
Yvette and Tassy trying to fatham the ticket machine.  After several attempts we realised it didn't have sufficient funds to give her enough change.  Once she reduced the size of her money note she was right.
Jeff and I, of course, only paid $2.50 each for the whole day.

 Catching the Sydney train from Thirroul after having caught the commuter between Fairy Meadow and Thirroul.

 Jeff, Yvette and Tassy looking at David Jones's animated windows.

 We had morning tea downstairs at Bon Bon in the Strand Arcade.  Bon Bon is chocolate heaven.  It was very busy with business people as well as shoppers.  Totally hidden from view, it was like a cave downstairs, with a delicious chocolate and coffee aroma.

 Yvette and Tassy shared the delicious chocolate cake which is supposedly 80% chocolate and 20% flour, with raspberries and ice cream.  Jeff and I shared the same, after Jeff had eaten his healthy cheese and biscuits he had brought himself.

 Thye Bon Bon choclate shop.

 The magnificent Strand Arcade.

 After the Strand Arcade Jeff left us and caught the bus to Cicular Quay and took a ferry to Watsons Bay and had fish and chips for lunch.
Yvette, Tassy and I looked around the Queen Victoria Building and then walked two blocks to the Capitol Theatre to see CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG  which we loved.  It was amazing how they moved the car on stage and even made it 'fly'.  David Hobsen and Rachel Beck were excellent, as were the two child stars.  I loved seeing Alan Brough at the Barron after years of seeing him on Spicks and Specks.  He really enjoyed himself on stage.

Yvette at Tassy at Ciruclar Quay beside the Radiance of the Seas.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

My front door now has it's wreath, my holly tree is tied with red bows and decorated with a string of gold bells, and my basket is filled with pine and pinecones.

WELCOME INTO MY HOUSE
 Yvette and Tassy were visiting for the last three days (more on that later).  Here is Yvette standing in the doorway to my kitchen.  She gave me the two deer years ago but this year I have changed them from gold to silver and I love them all over again.

 I love these wall stickers.  Some are out for their third trot but we have to restick them every day as they're beginning to peel off.
My new ones are now 3D and I love them.  My wooden snowmen and shovel will eventually be joined by the rest of the Christmas crew.
It has taken me weeks to get everything out.

 My Christmas Vignette at the end of my kitchen has gotten a little out of hand.  I have lots to eat then people have given me.  Haven't done my own cooking yet.  I have been just too busy.

 My Lemax village has grown again this year with a new Gingerbread Shop and a Miners Cabin representing Alaska.  Plus some extra squirrels, rabbits, reindeer and trees.

 My gorgeous berry wreath,  with a bird I recently bought as it reminded me of the Spatchcocksen I saw in the markets in Munich in 2003.  I thought I'd never get through customs, but someone can import them.

 My beautiful pinedresser in its Christmas decor.
















I love this bunting.  The Holly Leaf  bunting I made a couple of years ago.  The bed balls are made of wooden I think representing cranberries, and the woven straw ball bunting I just bought in Vinnies with Charlotte.  I LOVED it.  I think it represents popcorn.

 And finally my TREE.

Hard to photograph in the daytime in front of a bright window.  I want to photograph it again at night.

 Yvette made me this gorgeous bauble from street maps.  It shows Como where I grew up, Jannali where Jeff grew up and Balgownie where we live now.     I cried!!

Each year the girls try to give me something which makes me cry.  If I do, then they win!

 This is one of my favourite tree decorations.  I have had them for years.  It is thick cardboard.  I just love it.  She is so sweet.

 This is a new ceramic flat 'bauble' I bought at a pottery exhibition Norman and Annette took us to in Gosford.

 My twig tree, holding just birds and birdhouse and a few balls.

This new owl ornament has John Howard eyebrows.  He is soooo cute.