Goodbye 2007

Ashleigh made this cake at Nana's. She was very proud of herself.

Does anyone else think the Santa with Jarryd is a little creepy??

Because it's been so hot, the kids have spent lots of time inside playing with their christmas presents. Jarryd has spent too much time on the PS2 but hey it's new. Ashleigh is into the 'Little Pet Shop' toys and got some new pets.

We had a lovely few days in Stansbury. The weather was perfect so we got outdoors a lot. Nikki got a skateboard for christmas so she spent a lot of time trying new tricks.

We are having a New Years Eve party today and tonight. I'm expecting people in about an hour so I'd better get my act together. It's been in the 40's for the last 3 days and I haven't moved very far from the pool and airconditioning.

I'm looking forward to starting afresh tomorrow. Something about a new year that helps the motivation. Sounds like there are lots of us motivated to make 2008 our year.

I hope you all have a wonderful and very safe New Years Eve and a happy and healthy 2008.

A Very Merry Christmas

We are off to Steve's parents tomorrow morning to spend christmas with his family.

I am very much looking forward to spending time with his family. We haven't seen them since before we went away in October. It is such a relaxing time doing nothing. The kids have all their cousins over there to play with.

I have to pack bags tonight and tomorrow morning it's Steve's job to pack the car with all the presents (from us and santa) and all the presents for the rellies over there.

We caught up with my family today which was fun. My mum bought a PS2 for us which was very naughty but the kids were so surprised. They had no idea they were getting it.

So I won't be back until Boxing Day. Unfortunately Steve has to work on Thursday or we would have had more time away.

I wish all my blogger friends the most wonderful christmas with your families. It really is a time to look at what we have around us and to be very thankful.

Is the Weekend Over Already??????

We had a fantastic day today. It was Steve's work kids Christmas party. We went to Greenhills Adventure park at Victor Harbor. The kids had a ball. So much to do for all ages.

The girls wanted to try rock climbing. It was very high and they both were very keen to do it but when they got up there, they both froze just before they got to the top. Great effort though.

It was an action packed day and the kids were all exhausted when they got home. They all got a present from Father Christmas. Nikki got a lava lamp, Ashleigh got a bag with some bath gel and hair glitter and a Happy House book to write all her friends in and Jarryd got an unreal racing car set with a race track.

The only problem was it said on the racing set box it took 'D' size batteries which were included but when we got it apart it really needed 'C' size batteries (Bloody cheap chinese toys - LOL) So we had one very upset little boy and a dad who had to make a trip to the local servo to find the right batteries. All ended well.

We had a very sucessful gargage sale yesterday. We ended up selling about $180 worth of stuff. Considering we had nothing over $5 we did very well. Most things were $1 or $2 so it really was a good day's work. Lots of hard work though getting it all together over the last few weeks. Cleaning out all the clutter from the kids rooms and then setting it up on Friday night. By last night I was exhausted and was in bed by 9.30pm which is unheard of for me. I must have really needed it though because I slept until 8.30am this morning.

I am totally organized for christmas. My sister took the kids for a few hours yesterday after the garage sale and I wrapped all the kids presents. The tree looks great with lots of pressies underneath it. I still can't get motivated to write cards though. Does anyone else feel like that?

I just can't be bothered. I know once I get started I'll be ok but I just can't face them. It's the first year I haven't had them all out by now. I guess I am just so mentally tired it's all too hard.

The kids finished school on Friday and came home with glowing reports and they are all very happy with where they are placed for next year. Nikki is in a grade 6/7 class (she is grade 6 next year) so that will be interesting for her. I can't believe next year we will be thinking about which high school she will go to. And my baby Jarryd will be in grade 2. Ashleigh will be in a 3/4 class. She will be in grade 4. Not sure why they have these mixed classes. Do other states and countries do the same thing?

I only have 4-1/2 days left of work. We break up at lunch time on Friday and then I have 2 weeks off. My best friend Lee is coming over from Melbourne over christmas and I can't wait to catch up with her and another good friend is moving back to Adelaide from Melbourne after 5 years away so I am very excited about that.

My diet has been ok but there have been far too many social occasions and christmas parties. I have been having a few too many alcoholic drinks. I am glad to have maintained over the last couple of weeks so I'm not stressing about losing weight over christmas. I will just be happy to maintain and get back into it in the new year. Life is too short to be worried about what you eat and drink over christmas. Especially as most of it is free - LOL!!

This week will be much quieter here. Everything has stopped now for the holiday break. Yahoo!! I am really looking forward to christmas day. My kids all still believe in Father Christmas and there is nothing better than seeing the look on the kids faces when they see what has been left under the tree.

Only 9 more sleeps!!!!!

3 Weeks Until Christmas!!

Here is the promised photo of our christmas tree. You can tell the kids decorated it - LOL. It has character. It looks so good at night with just the lights on but I couldn't capture that in a photo.

Don't you just love my little tigger!! Jarryd comes jumping into the lounge after his shower. The kids all have a different pooh bear character towel.

OK, where did the last couple of weeks go???

I think, like a lot of bloggers, I have lost the inclination to post again. I love reading and commenting on other blogs but just can't be arsed writing in mine. I don't want to stop blogging but it just gets so much harder to spend time on the computer at this time of year.

I have taken on a huge task 3 weeks before christmas. We are having a garage sale on December 15th. It started off as an idea when I decided to have a clean out of the girls room. And as I was going through their room I realized how much good quality stuff they have to get rid of. So I thought maybe if we have it before christmas I can advertise it as "stocking fillers" and "christmas presents"

And it helped that the house 2 doors down is going up for auction that day so it will mean more people in the street. Next weekend it will be Jarryd's room that gets a clean out.

The girls room is so much better with the bunk beds in. Being the hopless blogger I am, I totally forgot to take a before photo but I can tell you it was disgusting the amount of crap we took out of that room. We have a temporary wardrobe in there that came out of our room to help with storage but I eventually want to get built in robes in there. I promise I will post a photo in the next post.

We went to my grandma's 96th birthday today. Mum put on afternoon tea and it was lovely to sit around and catch up with my family. Grandma is amazing. She still lives in her own home and gets out and about most day with the help of the council bus. She is starting to slow down a bit now but she is incredible for a woman of her age.

I had my work show last night and had a great night. We went to the Mawson Lakes Hotel for a 3 course dinner. I had prawn salad for entree, atlantic salmon for mains and Death by Chocolate for dessert. The only problem was all the meals came out one after the other and we didn't get much of a break in between. I was very good and only ate a small amount of dessert. I wanted to save all my points for drinking - lol. I didn't overdo it and was very proud that I didn't have a hangover today. Must have been all the water I drank in between.

I did a bit more christmas shopping this morning. I really don't have a lot more to get. Just stocking fillers. Hey maybe I could recycle some of the things I have put in boxes for the garage sale - LOL. I wonder if they would notice!!!

I am pleased to say I have been following the ww plan for 2 weeks now and have lost 3.9 kgs. I have made up a plan of basic healthy eating with a few treats along the way and it seems to be working. I know christmas will be an obstacle but it's all managable.

It's going to be a very busy week. The girls have their end of year dancing presentation on Wednesday night and the school end of year event is on Thursday night. Then we have Steve's work break up on Friday night.

I can't believe it's just over 3 weeks until christmas. It's going to be a very busy 3 weeks. Thank goodness I have 2 weeks off over christmas. I'll need it!!