• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • RECIPES
  • WEDDING
The Little Jogger

  By an exercise-loving Registered Dietitian

Christmas 2011

12/26/2011

1 Comment

 
Despite the fact that some parts of Australia had terrible weather (cyclone in the Northern Territory and torrential rain and hail in Melbourne), we had a lovely Christmas in Adelaide. 

I started off my day with a three-mile run in a park near Al's mom and dad's home at 8 am. The park was full of walkers and joggers and dogs, and everybody was happy since it was a sunny and warm Christmas morning. Al's mom and dad were also out walking, and Al went there to run (although I never go with him since he runs so much faster than I do). 

At 11, Al's brother Nick, his wife Anna, Al's brother Hamish, his girlfriend Ayzsa and her son Nate came over for mimosas and presents. 
Picture
At 12:30, we arrived at Aunt Susie and Uncle Andy's new house in the Adelaide Hills for lunch. As usual, there were drinks and plenty of food!
Picture
We also had our assigned seats and our Christmas bon bons (they contain the Christmas hats, as you will see in a few pictures). 
Picture
We had passed appetizers before the big meal, such as amazing homemade sushi, spring rolls, and smoked salmon tarts. After that, we had lunch. I filled my plate with roasted potatoes, green beans, incredibly moist and delicious turkey, and tomato pie (sliced tomatoes, onions, and crusty bread). 
Picture
Most of the fam (minus myself) were from Adelaide, but there were also two uncles and one aunt from Melbourne. 
Picture
I sat in between Uncle Tim and Jamie (my future father-in-law). I have fun no matter where I sit on Christmas since we are always a chatty bunch. 
Picture
Soon after we started eating, we cracked open our bon  bons and put on our Christmas hats. Festive, eh?
Picture
Instead of going out and buying presents for everybody there, we did a "Kris Kringle" gift exchange. Each person buys a gift with a $20 limit and wraps it in red paper. We then take turns grabbing presents. We did the same thing last year in Melbourne when there were 30 people there, and it worked out very well. 

I got a pairing knife and a dish-washing scrubbing bristle gadget that fills up with soap (I really can't think of the name of it right now...if there even is a name for it). I'm pretty stoked about them, but I'll probably trade for Al's Jamie Oliver's 30-Minute Meals cookbook. He got the same thing last year for Christmas, and I really don't see the point of him having two of them. He doesn't, either. 
Picture
We ate our dessert on the patio. 
Picture
There were Haigh's truffles, mini mince pies, brandy butter, Christmas pudding, cream, ice cream, and a saliva-inducing bowl of fresh raspberries. If you don't know what these desserts are, then look 'em up on the 'net! 
Picture
Picture
I have zero complaints about the desserts. Everything was just perfect. 
Picture
Soon after dessert, we got a visit from Father Christmas. He drove up the hill on Uncle Andy's jeep. Perhaps Andy let Santa borrow his car, which was very nice. We looked around for Andy during this ordeal, but we couldn't find him. Maybe he ate too much and had to lie down for a power nap. 
Picture
We expected Santa to bring his reindeer, but he instead had his Little Helper named Lolla. 
Picture
As soon as he got to the top, they made a dash for a the house. They had important presents to deliver. 
Picture
We didn't see Santa after that, but we found Andy a little while later. I wonder what he was doing all of that time?

Santa also visited last year, but there were too many children present for Lolla to make an appearance. Alastair's family is just full laughs...yes?

I hope everybody else had a wonderful Christmas! I'll be in Adelaide relaxing until the first or second of January, and then we'll go back to Melbourne until it's time to go back to the States. As of now, I'm enjoying my relaxation and am not looking forward to going back yet!

P.S. Thanks to Penny for letting me steal a few photos off of her camera!
1 Comment
barb
12/27/2011 06:19:54 am

Jenny, what great pix of Christmas! I miss everyone so much! How amusing that Al got the same Chris Kringle gift this year as last year! You should bring that one home and we can all look at it. Give our love to everyone. It's 40 degrees here in Chicago and still no snow. it poured last night! Miss you!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    ABOUT jennifer Martin, MS, RD, LDN

    I am  a Chicago-based Registered Dietitian working primarily in Acute Clinical Care. I started this blog in 2010, before I even knew that I wanted to be an RD! Now, as an active dietitian, this blog will become part of my life again. Read about my current healthy habits, but please peruse my old posts (from 2014 and before) to read about life as an RD student and my previous years in Australia!


    @thelittlejogger on instagram 

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Adelaide
    Australian Culture
    Australian Food
    Baking
    Books
    Chicago
    Cooking
    Culture Clash
    Dining In Chicago
    Dining Out Down Under
    Drinking In Chicago
    Exercises
    Flashbacks
    Jenastair
    Jogging
    Kangaroos
    Moving To Australia
    Nutrition Education
    Nutrition School
    Oz Travels
    Puppies
    Races
    RD
    Recipes
    Reviews
    Usa Dining
    Usa Travel
    Wacky
    Weddings
    World Travel

    Archives

    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2014
    December 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010

    Weather for blog
    YoWindow.com yr.no
    Weather Widget
    YoWindow.com NWS
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • RECIPES
  • WEDDING