Christmas Day is my favourite day of the year. We celebrate the birth of God in human form - as a precious little baby - and consider again why it was so necessary, ever mindful of Easter. And of course, it's the one day of the year when we come together as a family and eat (too much) fabulous food and give/receive presents! Unbeatable!

Our 2011 Christmas tree laden with decorations and presents.

Our beloved Tanzanian nativity scene.

Edward's gorgeous angel. I can't imagine real angels looking any happier than this little fellow.

The first present of the day (Lego's Hogwart's Castle) was for Annabelle, though the merriment was clearly shared by them all.

Charles Willoughby Swan's first Christmas! Oh how he enjoyed eating all that paper.

I was very pleased with my 'How People Change' book by Tripp and Lane.

Edward keen to see his Kumon Mazes book which he had stared at under the tree all month.

Lachlan and some new Star Wars Lego. Despite the fact that his "ideas desk" and bedroom floor is positively strewn with the stuff, apparently you can never have enough. Though if I step (bare of foot) on one more tiny smiling lego action figure, I'm going to leave home.

Adelaide carefully opening her present. Each torn piece of paper was handed to Daddy with a "there you go" and a smile. Sweet, tidy daughter of mine. She and I will be good friends one day.

Tim helping Annabelle put her flute together, which our friends Ross and Marilyn, sent her from Sydney. Superb!

As our Chilean friends open presents and celebrate at midnight on Christmas Eve, it was eerily quiet at church on Sunday morning. This is the terrific local school hall where our church plant meets.

Tim and the great little music group.

Christmas lunch with at home Beth and Derek and Sam.

I know my North American friends think we're completely mad, but Christmas to us Australians couldn't be possible without a stinking hot afternoon, watermelons and a swim!

Charlie is as yet too small for the pool but my heavens, the boy makes his own fun in his outdoor bath.

The final activity of the day was dessert. I made the Women's Weekly brownies with caramel sauce and we added a serious fiesta of rasberries, blueberries and strawberries.

I'm unashamedly proud of my first Christmas cake. My friend Rebecca came over one afternoon and helped turn it into a fabulous success. A week later and I've hardly eaten anything else!

Gracias Señor for your abounding goodness and mercies to us this Day!