Coolangatta has come and gone for another year. Once again, my brother Aaron joined us, and this time we stayed in the same apartment that we stayed in last year (the first time we have returned to the same unit). Despite the strong northerly winds and bluebottles that lasted from the time we arrived until the day we left, we still managed to enjoy a proper beach holiday, spending most mornings 10 mins away at the Currumbin inlet where the water is still and it was nicely sheltered from the wind and stingers.
Ready and 'sun-screamed', as Liam calls it. Liam learnt to lather on the 'sun-scream' quite thick this week, and Andy took on the look of a ghost many days with the 'ghosting' effect of Bec's sunscreen. We think you could patent a new brand of sunscreen, named 'Sun-scream', that purposely gives you a ghostly appearance. Yeah?
At Currumbin... sand play...
The water was cold, but lovely and refreshing. With floaties adorned, Andy, Liam and Beth swam to many 'islands' (really just other shores of the inlet) during their swim.
Of course, we buried the kids in the sand... surely this is a rite of passage growing up in Australia and having a beach holiday???!
After present-opening together (post-breakfast), the assemblage procedures begin...
Beth tries out her new leap-pad activity book...
Liam received a large Lego-City pack... it was complete by lunch time!
Christmas cuddles...
Christmas lunch...
We enjoyed our feast out on the back deck of our new house. Prawns, chicken, ham, delicious salads, sausage rolls, drinks... Yummmm...
I know it's not pretty, but a picture of prawn waste is a little original, don't you think?!
Aaron called in later in the afternoon for an hour or so, and joined us for a cooling swim.
This year we allowed both Beth and Liam (well, actually, "strongly encouraged" would be more accurate) to participate in the church Christmas Carols. They learnt dance steps and got to dress up - Beth (to her utmost delight) as a princess, and Liam as a mini-Santa and later a shepherd. It was a great night, and they both had a ball experiencing what it is like to be up on stage in front of thousands of people!
Rainbow Bay beach... LOVE that crystal-clear water!
The kids and I went for a walk one afternoon and ended up in the Coolangatta shopping centre. I let Liam and Beth have a 'ride' on this car while I browsed a book table nearby. When I glanced up and saw them from this angle, how could I resist taking a picture?
Our last morning was spent exploring the Currumbin Rock Pools, about a 15 minute drive inland from Currumbin. We thought the water would be freezing, but in fact it was quite lovely. Can't say I love swimming in dark brown water that I can't see through, but it was a nice change all the same. 
