MissE and Me: It's Christmas time in the city...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Given that Halloween is not as widely celebrated here and Australia does not have Thanksgiving, the shopping centres have had Christmas decoration in their stores since the end of August, and yet somehow I feel like it's snuck up on us! Now it's the end of November and the shopping centres are bustling, houses are starting to light up the night, and MissE is getting more and more excited (she is also excited because she knows her birthday is after Christmas).

Mr.E's 1st Trip: The Hunter Valley
Only 2 hours by car, the Hunter Valley is one of Australia's most well-known wine regions and a great weekend away. The Hunter Valley Gardens, which already has fantastic display gardens (particularly the Storybook Garden), create Christmas displays. I am not sure who was more excited, me or MissE. Even better, MissE's best friend, Calvin's family joined us.
With two families, both with a toddler and an infant (although Cam would beg to differ!), we chose to stay at a cottage, and to keep the toddlers entertained, on an alpaca farm! While the farm was a few minutes from the Hunter Valley, it was worth it! MissE loved the alpacas and started each morning feeding the white ones. As it is Spring, there were a few baby alpacas running around. There was also a pool and play area on the farm, not to mention our porch swing that MissE loved sitting on, plenty of toddler entertainment! Mr.H and I loved the comfort of the cottages complete with a BBQ on our deck that looked out at the Brokenback Range, alpacas roaming, and a small pond with ducks and ducklings.

Starline Alpaca Farmstay (Waterview Cottage)

I need more of this in my life!

MissE agrees!

5 little ducks went out one day...

Alpacas!

MissE feeding the very friendly and gentle alpacas

The Hunter Valley is obviously different with a toddler and infant in tow, so we only managed 2 wineries (3 if you count checking out Mistletoe Winery's sculpture garden), but were not disappointed. We had lunch at Potter's Brewery where MissE discovered how much fun cut-outs were (like mother like daughter).

But first we had to feed the alpacas

Keith Tulloch Winery

Mistletoe Winery Sculpture Garden

Potters Brewery

Tempus Two

The Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular was just that. MissE was dazzled by the lights! Her favourite was "Georgie Porgie" in the Storybook Garden and dancing to the Rammstein Christmas trees light show. (If you are not familiar with Rammstein, they are a German heavy metal band). I enjoyed the lights, particularly Cinderella's horse and carriage, although I will admit some parts of the gardens were reminiscent of National Lampoon's Christmas lights aka Christmas vomit. The only negative to the night, the mosquitos... EVERYWHERE! I thought I was prepared and we all wore "The Mosquito Patch" (a small square containing citronella that you stick to your clothes. Safe for children and infants.) It supposedly provided a 1 metre buffer, but I guess there were too many in the gardens! While the patch did work, our extremities (toes, fingers) were a lost cause. MissE continues to proclaim she "tickles" which really means she's itchy. The only one safe was Mr.E who was shrouded under the cover of a sunshade on his pram.

My favourite: Horse & Carriage

Under the toadstools (Storybook Garden)

A very Aussie Christmas

Ho, ho, ho! It's Santa Eloise!

O'Christmas Tree

Mr.E enjoyed his first trip! While it wasn't a jaunt around the world like MissE's first trip, he was a good traveller. He had never seen lights like at The Hunter Valley Gardens and was coo-ing his approval.

One last "goodbye" to the alpacas and we were homeward bound!

Hey! Be patient!

Christmas in The City
This year, we've explained Santa Claus. Since then MissE asks us every day when she can see Santa and sit on his lap and ask for presents.

On the list: a lollipop, a truck, a Princess (Disney Princesses of course!), and chapstick

This year we decided she was old enough to enjoy going into Sydney for her Photos with Santa. The 2 large department stores have Santaland and the Christmas Cave, and new to Sydney is the Swarovski Crystal Garden at the beautiful QVB (which displays the Swarovski Chirstmas Tree), and of course the window displays. I have fond memories of getting all dressed up and viewing the window displays of rescue puppies and kittens at Gump's in San Francisco at Christmas. Plus it gives Mr.H and I an excuse to eat at Food on 5 (a gourmet food court inside Westfield CBD)