And Nikki's masterpiece.

Father christmas put these cool bath crayons in their stockings. These are Jarryd's drawings. They also got tablets to change the colour of the water.

This is my favourite decoration on our tree.

My brother gave Nikki and Ashleigh this stunning fairy night light. They really love it.

Jarryd has all the characters from the Ice Age 2 movie and this completed his set. Crash and Eddie.

Just some of the things the kids got for christmas.

It's Over for Another Year

Well christmas has come and gone once again. All the build up, shopping, cooking, wrapping presents and sending cards and it's over so quickly.

We were all very spoilt again. Father christmas did make it to our house. The children must have been good this year - lol. Nikki got a nintendo DS, Ashleigh got a Little Pet Shop Get Better Centre and Jarryd got a fast talking Lightning McQueen from the cars movie. In fact, he got lots of cars stuff this year - a towel, dvd, t-shirt, jocks, stickers, textas and other cars from the movie. We gave him a simpsons scooter. Nikki got a camera from us (the old film type!!!) which she was thrilled with and a huge 100 pack of gel pens, dvd, beanie kid, makeup, clothes and lots more. We gave Ashleigh some fairy books, a barbie set, dvd, clothes and beanie kids.

I gave Steve a ticket to the Roger Waters concert (Pink Floyd - I think), a $50 I-Tunes card and lots of chocolates. I got very spoilt by Steve and the kids. I got a floating lilo for the pool, a Robbie Williams cd and front and side shades for the car.

We had a lovely lunch with my mum, grandma and sister. We caught up with my brother and his family christmas eve and had a bbq and seafood dinner. Then we drove 2 hours to Stansbury to have tea with Steve's family which was great to catch up with everyone over there. It's been far to long since we have been there and we all love it over there. I just wish we could have stayed longer but Steve had to go back to work today so we came home late yesterday afternoon.

The only problem with christmas presents is finding room for them. We had a bit of a cleanup today because the house looked like a bomb had gone off in nearly every room. Because christmas day is such a rush for us, we walked out of the house and left it as it was when the kids opened all their presents in the morning. Unfortunately the fairies didn't come and clean up while we were gone.

The kids have lots to keep them occupied for the next few weeks with all their presents.

I have 3 weeks off - one week is nearly gone already. I have a good friend over from Melbourne with her kids so I'm going to spend some time with her and also lots of other people with kids we can catch up with. I also intend to spend a couple of days doing absolutely nothing. How often do you get to do that?????

Not sure what we are doing new years eve yet. It's going to be hot so we might have a few people over here to use the pool and have a bbq.

I think I have put on about 5 kgs - lol. Not really but I have eaten lots - mostly good stuff but too much of it. And also a few chocolates have crept in. I'll start afresh in the new year and get right back into it. There is something about the new year to kick start things again.

I've posted a few photos of christmas but I'm disappointed again with the red eyes in some of the photos. I really must remember to see if there is a way to stop it from doing that.

Not sure if I will be back before new years eve because there is a bit on in the next few days so if I don't I shall see you next year.

3 More Sleeps

I can't believe it is only 3 more sleeps until christmas. We are so excited in our house. I am fairly organized. All the presents are bought and wrapped and under the tree. Just have the food shopping to do and I will tackle the shops sometime tomorrow.

The best part is that I am officially on holidays now. I have 3 weeks off. 3 weeks with absolutely nothing planned. Steve only has the public holidays off so we are only going over to Stansbury for christmas day and will come back boxing day. I intend to spend lots of quality time with the kids. We might go to the pictures - lots of kids movies on at the moment, the beach, parks and catch up with friends. And hopefully lots of sleep ins.

We broke up from work today. We had a nice staff lunch and then a few drinks. It was very casual and relaxed and I even got a $100 coles myer gift voucher from my boss. I have no idea what to spend it on yet but I'm sure it won't be too hard to think of something. We also had a dinner last Saturday night in the city which was great. All the food and drinks were paid for. I love this time of year. It makes all the hard work during the year worthwhile.

Ashleigh is almost over the chicken pox. She definitely isn't contagious anymore but still has a few spots that are slowly disappearing but she may still have a few in the christmas photos.

We have my brother and his family coming over for tea christmas eve because we won't see them christmas day this year. Then we will have lunch on christmas day with my mum, grandma and sister and her little boy and then we drive 2 hours to Stansbury after lunch to spend christmas tea with Steve's family. I don't mind driving on christmas day. We have done it for the past 3 years. There is very little traffic on the road. Everyone travels out on Boxing day.

I doubt I will get the chance to post again until after christmas, so I will post some photos of the kids and their chrissy presents.

I wish everyone a very happy and safe christmas and new year. I hope you all have a wonderful family christmas.

We've got chicken pox again!!

It's been 18 days since Jarryd's chicken pox came out and I really thought Ashleigh might be immune. Just after I took the photo of Ashleigh with her dancing tropy, I noticed a spot on her back. After she had a shower, there were a couple more and this morning quite a few more. Bugger!!!

In a way I am glad she's got it because she is the last one in our family to have it, but the timing is rotton. It's the last week of school this week and she was looking forward to a class party tomorrow. Also the company Steve works for is having a children's christmas party on Sunday at the Semaphore water slide. I just hope she is past the contageous stage by then.

Oh well on a positive note, she should be ok for christmas day which is 2 weeks today.

We get to keep this trophy at our house for 12 months. We are very proud of our little girl.

It must be silly season

I'm sorry it's been so long between posts again but I haven't had one night home this week. It's been crazy.

Quick run down..........

Monday night I caught up with some friends for tea. We used to go out for tea once a month but lately it's been once every two or three months. We had a great night catching up. We went to a stonegrill pub and for anyone who hasn't had stonegrill, you really need to try it. It's where you cook your own meat or fish or chicken on a very hot stone at your table. It's fun and very tasty. After tea I put $5 in the pokies and won $95 so I was very happy with that.

Tuesday night was the Robbie Williams concert here in Adelaide. I didn't get a ticket and a work friend and I decided to go and sit outside. It was a balmy night but the wind came up and it got a little cold. I forgot to take a jacket but it wasn't too bad. During the first encore, they opened up the gates and we got in. What we saw was amazing and he looked soooooo hot. It came across that he was really enjoying himself and so was the huge crowd. I haven't heard a bad word about the concert and I know heaps of people that went.

Wednesday night was the dancing trophy presentation night. Every girl got a trophy so it was a bit drawn out but a good night, especially since Ashleigh got one of the pepetual trophies. It's huge and has her name engraved on it. She gets to keep it for twelve months. I was so proud when they called out her name and she was so cute. She wouldn't let it go. She was dancing around with it after the presentations. I will take a photo and post it later. It's nearly bigger than her.

Thursday night was the school end of year event. Usually these things are very boring and drawn out, but this year was fantastic. Every class had a different era from the twenties to the naughties (00's) and it was amazing. Music from every era so it catered for everyone. Nikki was the narrator from the 30's and her class had a few dances to do. Jarryd did 'Singing in the Rain' from the 50's and Ashleigh did 'Rocky' from the 70's. A very enjoyable night. Unfortunately I forgot the camera because I had 5 mins to get changed and to the school when I got home from work.

Friday would have been netball but Nikki's team had a bye and because it was 38 deg, Ashleigh's cricket was cancelled. I did manage to finish off the last of the christmas shopping during the day. Yahoo!!!!!!

Today it got to 41.5 deg and we spent the day in the pool. We've had a few of the kids friends here as well. I also managed to write out my christmas cards. It is still quite hot and one of our air conditioners has decided to spit the dummy. So I have moved the kids out into the family room because it is far too hot in the front of the house where the bedrooms are. Steve has gone out to his work christmas show so goodness knows what time he will be home. I decided not to go because partners had to pay $60 and it's our work show next week. It would have been too hard to get babysitters two weeks in a row.

I have decided to have a break from weighing myself until after christmas. I don't want to stress about what I am eating and drinking so I'll try and do the best I can, but I'm not going to miss out. Christmas comes once a year (thank goodness) and I want to enjoy myself. Life is too short. I know I have put on a little bit but it will come off again in the new year. I still have that goal of looking good in bathers for out Qld holiday. Only 42 weeks and 6 days to go.

The good thing is that everything stops this week until the kids go back to school at the end of January. No dancing or netball or cricket and soon no work for me for 3 weeks. We break up on Dec 22nd and I don't have to go back until Jan 15th.

So much for a quick update. I will be back soon with some of our latest photos.