our new zealand christmas

On Christmas eve our friends the Dimayas came over for lunch and festivities.  Calla and Bryn had made sugar cookies that the kids loved decorating and delivering to neighbors.  

We then acted out the nativity.  Max originally wanted to be baby Jesus but then decided on being an angel with Maya after he saw her wings.

Christmas morning the kids woke up to find their gifts from Santa.  They were thrilled with their train and doll house.

The gifts continued.....

Later in the morning we drove out to Piha beach for a BBQ with friends.  I was lucky enough to have my friend Cecily in town visiting her sister.  It was a great Christmas treat.

The weather was a little overcast with a breeze.  We gathered against the cliffs and ate sausage, shrimp, potato salad and fresh summer fruit.  Max and Maya (especially Max) also consumed quite a bit of sand.  

After they moved on from playing dinosaurs Max and Maya decided to embrace the fine sticky black sand...rolling around and getting it all over their bodies...

In the end Max won the covered-in-sand competition.  I didn't get a photo but his entire face was black, but at that point we decided it was time to try and shower off and head back home.

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!

We are grateful for this time of year to help us remember and recognize our blessings.  We are thankful for the love we feel as a family, the support we receive from those close by and far away.  We are especially grateful for the sacrifice of our Savior and the comfort and joy that the gift of his life and atonement bring to our family.  

                                                        Much love,

                                                        The Mercer