Here's to 2008 ...

Not long now until we ring in the New Year. I've been pretty busy with keeping the kidlets occupied, and Mr H started his 2 week break from work just before Christmas.

Our Christmas was nice and quiet, and RELAXED!!! Just the way I wanted it to be. Christmas Eve, we had my step-son come stay the night. We just had a simple meal, then the kid's got bathed and in their jammies, then we sat around the Christmas Tree. As we weren't seeing step-son for his birthday Dec. 30th, he got to open that gift. We also let the kidlet's open the gifts that were given to us from my brother & his family, my Mum & step-Dad, and my sister & her family, as we weren't seeing any of them for Christmas (brother & Mum & co. live interstate, and sister was going away to her Inlaws). Then I read them "An Aussie Night Before Christmas".

The boys then went and watched a movie with Mr H, while Fairy Princess & I watched an Aussie cartoon movie in the kiddy lounge room. Except, I fell asleep, and forgot to put "Shrek The Halls" on, which was playing on another channel. I woke up about 15 minutes after an Aussie Christmas Carol concert thingy had started. OOPS!!! By then it was almost 9pm, so I scurried around and got the kids all organised to leave out Santa's snacks & letter, then tucked them into bed.

Christmas morning we were surprised to be awake before any of the kidlets. So Mr H decided to go shave and have his shower. Naturally in the middle of that the kidlets came out wanting to open gifts lol Poor things had to wait for Dad to hurry up!!!

We dropped off step-son around 930am, then headed down South to a seaside town where my Dad & Mr H's parents live. I went and visited with my Dad for a couple of hours first, which was nice because it had been around a year since I had seen him. We don't have a real close relationship, not like my other siblings do with him. Then Mr H picked us up and we went to his parents house for lunch. It was yummy too - prawn cocktail starters, then an assortment of meat - roast pork & turkey breast roll, and silverside (corned beef), with veggies & gravy.

We then spent the afternoon taking turns at playing Air Hockey, before heading home on our hour & half long journey back to the city. It was a nice, relaxing day!!!

Since then, we've been sweltering in high temps, up to 39C (almost 100F), with it forecast at 39C again tomorrow - NYE! We don't have anything special planned tomorrow. We'll probably just have a nice dinner, a few drinks, listen to music or watch a movie. I'm not sure, but whatever we do, I am really looking forward to a New Year.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year, and here's to a wonderful & fulfilling 2008 for you all!!!

ps my blogging friend Terrible Speller just reminded me of something. The day after Christmas, the kidlets went and spent a couple of days with their Bio Dad at his parents house, which gave Mr H and I some time alone. Thursday we got to go on a movie & dinner date. We went and saw the new "National Treasure" movie at the cinema, then got KFC to bring home. We hadn't been to the movies together since the 2nd Shrek movie came out lol That's how LONG it's been hehe Time alone is good, but it's a great feeling having my babies back home.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE xoxoxo

6 sleeps to go ...

I've been MIA from the blogging world for a little bit. I've been reading my regular blog reads, but just haven't had time to sit down and type out a post myself.

Last week was the final school week for the year. Here in Australia, our school year starts end of January through to a week or so before Christmas. Then the kidlets go on Summer holidays for 6 weeks. Lucky parents lol

All last week, poor Fairy Princess was struck down with some sort of bug that made her vomit. She seemed fine during the day, other than not eating much apart from buttered toast, but come night time/early morning, the vom sessions started. By Friday it finally ceased, and she's back to being her normal self again.

On top of that, I was sick with a flu bug. It really knocked me around for a few days. We had a kid-free weekend (not this weekend, the one before), and we had a friend come over. Just my luck I got sick lol

Then on top of all of that, I seemed to forever be running around from here, there and everywhere. I wanted to get the last of my Christmas shopping done before the school holidays started. So I had FP tagging along for that. The kid's also had their school Christmas concert on the Wednesday, which even though she was sick, FP still insisted on going to/participating in. She ended up staying the day at school, but Spiderboy came home with me (think he was half pulling the sympathy vote hmm).

Speaking of which - both kidlets did really well in their class performances. Spiderboy's class was a few performances before FP's. His class did a little number to the tune "Rock Around The Clock". He was a guitarist, complete with Santa head guitar. Others were the trumpet players, clocks & the rest were rock n roll dancers. He rocked on during his "solo" lol FP's class did a Nativity play. She played the part of the Inn Keeper. Her "part" consisted of holding up a sign saying "Just Inn Time". It was very cute!!!

I'm not sure if I will have time to sit down and type another post before Christmas. So I will take the time now to wish all my blogging friends & their families a safe and wonderful Holiday Season. May you all get what you wish for xoxoxo

Love Letters from Abby

Last night, after telling my 7 year old daughter for about the 4th time that it was time for bed, I was all set to tell her off for not listening to me, when she handed me a letter she had hand written for me. She'd been home sick from school because the day & night before she had been projectile vomitting! I kept her home just incase, but thank God she didn't have any more episodes. We had a fun day of chatting, and I set up her paintset for her (which will explain part of the letter). The letter is exactly how she wrote it ...

Dear Mum,

I love you very, very much and you been so kind to me and you are the greatest Mum in the universe. Thank you for all your love and that special special picture and those great stuff you've gave to me. So I wanted to make you a very special Christmas.

love from, Abby

My heart just melted, so I gave her the biggest hug and kiss, and just held her forever!!!

Mr H felt left out, so she went back to write a note for him. This one made me laugh ...

Dear Dad,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, just from all your love.

love from, Abby

Mr H wasn't content with that, so FP went back and wrote more lol

And you are the greatest Dad in the whole world.

Love, the world's greatest Abby

hahahaha she's too cute!!!

My favourite time of the year!

I'm not sure where my obsession with Christmas came from, but it is my favourite holiday of the year. I think it has to do with my need to have those special family moments. The household I grew up in wasn't always a friendly one, but Christmas always seemed like a great day full of love. I guess it reminds me of a time when you just had to say you were having some sort of party and EVERYONE would rock up. My Mum's side of the family is HUGE, and all her Aunts, Uncles, cousins etc would turn up. Music blasting, people dancing, hugging and kissing, laughter all around. Good times!

And when it came to Christmas, we always got up extra early to open gifts, then did the rounds visiting rellies (Aussie slang for relatives), big family lunches, that carried on to dinner. Then somewhere along the way, we started a family tradition of water fights on Christmas Day (remember December is the start of Summer in Australia). We'd all get a new water-gun for Christmas, and the fun would begin.

Now we (I speak in terms of my brother, sisters and I) are all spread around the country, some of us not on speaking terms, all have families of our own. My parents are divorced. Mum has remarried. The Uncles and Aunts are off enjoying life now their kids have left home and have lives of their own. Many family members are ailing health-wise. Some have passed on. Christmas just isn't the same anymore.

So, now that I have children of my own, and they are at an age where Santa is a big thing, I am trying to start new traditions so that the Christmas spirit lives on with them. It's not all about presents and Santa to me. I tell my kidlets that it's about family. It's about celebrating life and being with the ones you love the most.

We aren't a religious family but I do like to tell my kidlets the true meaning behind Christmas. In simple terms, I let them know that Christmas is Jesus' birthday, and he would rather we receive gifts than Him. His gift is seeing all the smiling faces and enjoying our families. Santa is His helper to deliver gifts to everyone so we can celebrate His birth. Yeah, I know it's not technically correct, but it works for us!

I really love this time of year. I love to go all out buying gifts for my kidlets. They aren't expensive gifts. I like to buy little things, a few toys, Summer pjs and clothes, then we buy a "big" gift which goes under the tree Christmas Eve. The last 2 Christmas Eve's, the kidlets have left a note for Santa, and some snacks for him and Rudolph. That's my tradition so far. I also found an Aussie version of "T'was the night before Christmas", which will be a new tradition to read on Christmas Eve before bed. I can't wait!!!

Does anyone else have traditions they like to keep on for their families?