The big morning arrives...

I don't know about you, but I honestly find Christmas totally anti-climactic. I mean, you spend weeks and weeks on the build up, and the "highlight" of the day is over in a few minutes. My kids would love to keep opening presents all day just to see what else there is. But anyway, grinch moment over with ;)

Everyone was awake early Christmas morning because we heard a chicken going nutso. Joshua, who was camping out in the loungeroom was heard to say, "I saw a chicken out the front!" Of course this was enough to get Terry and I out of bed. There's nothing better than chasing a demented chicken around the front yard, in your PJs, at 630 Christmas morning.

After that bit of excitement, there was no way anyone was going back to bed, so it was up and coffee time. Rod and Caroline were staying with us overnight and so we all sat down in our PJs with our coffee and let the kids go for it. There were some really happy faces, especially Joshua with his guitar and scooter. One of Caitlin's presents held a note instructing her to go to the shed, and out there she found herself a brand new bike, gears, hand brakes, all the bells and whistles. Santa was extravagant this year!!

After all the presents were opened, and some riding of scooters and bikes in the rain, Terry cooked pancakes for breakfast, and then we got dressed, and headed out to Uncle Peter and Aunty Glenys' at Gatton. The best part about going out there is that they have a pretty big property and a pool. Of course the kids were DYING to go for a swim from the moment we got there, so after finding out that lunch would be a while yet, Terry and Caroline got in the pool with the kids. They had a ball :) The rest of us chatted and helped Glenys prepare for lunch.

After that, we had a huge yummy lunch, eating too much as always at Christmas. WE cleaned up and chatted some more and then the kids were itching to get back in the pool, so I got in this time. That was very pleasant and Amy and Alec joined us. The kids enjoyed that, and Asha actually got over her being shy to have fun swimming to Amy.

In amongst that there was dessert, and some more cousins arrived. There were presents and then more swimming. I even managed to convince the very pregnant Mary to join us in the pool as she was suffering in the heat and that helped her feel better.

We stayed for dinner and then left at around 7.30. The kids were asleep before we hit the highway :) Twas good.

Twas the night before...

Pine Rivers christmas Carols and Parade

On the 12th, we received an invitation from Anita Seimsen to join her, Clark and Ruby at the Pine Rivers Parade and Carols, down the road at Pine Rivers Park. As the kids had been dying to go, we thought we would take them up on it (Clark coming along was enough of a nudge to get Terry to go, as he usually avoids such things like the plague!) We got their early evening and the kids were delighted to find that there were rides to be had and we were delighted that they had been subsidised by the council, so the kids had a ball. Even Asha got on some littlies rides with Clark and Anita's grandson Shaun.

Then the parade showed up (this came from Westfield up the road) so we stood and cheered, the kids collected the lollies they were thrown, and then it was over to get a seat for the carols. We had a picnic dinner and then sat and watched and sang along. All 3 big kids went down the front to have a dance, and Shaun and Asha wanted to join in. Not even the rain could deter us. After a while though, Clark and Anita got tired of chasing Shaun down to the stage and decided that it was time to pack up and leave. As Caitlin and JOshua both started to look like crashing then too, we decided it was the time to walk back to the car and head home too.

It was a fun night, and took me back to my childhood of attending, and being part of, many many carols nights. Ah memories...

Savoy Street Christmas

The 5th was the annual street christmas party. Attendance was down this year with a number of people having to be away that weekend, but everyone still had a good time, ate, drank and was merry, as it was. Of course Santa came (thanks Dennis) and the kids were delighted with what he brought them. Asha even got bold enough to sit on his lap for the first time ever. The kids had fun running around like mad things with bikes and scooters, and later with glowsticks. Hooray for summer evenings :)

And the Tree goes up...

After work on Thursday the 3rd, the kids were bored, so I let them put the tree up. I did the lights and they did the rest.

Christmas Service

Apparently each year (this of course being our first) Bald hills SS holds a Christmas service - as it was on a Tuesday and I didn't have to go to work, Asha and I went along to show support to Josh and Caitlin. Caitlin sang a song with the Junior choir and Joshua was part of a mammoth production of the 12 days of Christmas with all of the Preps. Along with a little skit by some older students, a little talk by the school chaplain and also by the principal, it was a sweet way to spend an hour and a half.

Christmas baking.

On Monday the kids and I made gingerbread men and then the kids got to decorate them - a messy, sticky but sweet treat.

Gymnastics grading day.

Today the 21st was Caitlin and Joshua's in-house gymnastics competition and grading at Sandgate PCYC. They had spent the past month and a half learning the routines that they were to do today at gymnastics and today was their chances to show off what they had learned.

It was a hot steamy middle of the day, but Terry Asha and I all went, cause Terry and i both didn't want to miss it. The kids were divided into groups according to their level and were taken through each apparatus in turn (un-even bars, beam, floor and vault). At the end they were given a score sheet which the judges had marked their maneouveres with a Needs Developing, Developed or Well Developed.

Terry and I were so proud of both of them. Joshua had done a year of kindergym prior to Prep-Gym this year, but we all knew he was such a monkey regularly scaring the heck out of us. Well today he got a majority of Well-Developeds and an invitation to join the Male Artistic Gymnastics Level 1 squad for next year.

Caitlin isn't a physical child but she thought that what Joshua did looked like fun, so she went a long this year too. Caitlin has a fear of heights/falling. So she faced a fairly large challenge in doing gymnastics. At the start of the year, the beam and bars reduced her to tears. Literally, she would cry when she got up on them. So to see her go through the whole carnival with no tears, and only a few qualms on the beam is such a huge improvement for her, I could just cry. While she didn't get the glowing results that Joshua did, I'm every bit as proud of her for the work that she has put in on conquering her fears and getting a handle on things that don't come naturally to her at all.

Photo Shoot 2009

This morning was Caitlin's photo shoot for her concert this year. I tried my best to take some pic with her all dressed and made up, but her eyes weren't co-operating because of the sun and she didn't like the light. So a bunch of the photos had funny frowns. Meh, what is it they say about working with kids???













AS an emu, for ballet.










As a Hawaiian girl for Jazz

I think she's rather pretty, don't you? :D

Fish and Chips at the Beach

...Is what we did last night.

Headed off down to SAndgate late yesterday afternoon. Had a bit of a wander on the beach, a play in the park, and then got yummy fish and chips from the shop over the road and ate them in the evening twilight. Good times, even if everyone was frozen by the wind by the time we left. Note to self: Next time, take jackets!!






















My hoped for plan of going for a walk was thwarted when Caitlin came home after a morning at Ruby's with a swollen and painful toe that she had rather solidly kicked. The bruises have come out in it now and we are suspecting quite strongly that it might be broken. Not the best news when she has a ballet concert in 4 weeks. *Hoping* it's just badly sprained, but it doesn't look good :(

Let's go bowling!!

Last Saturday Caitlin got to have a little party with a few friends and go 10 pin bowling.

I wish I had been there. Sadly, the Friday night before, I was putting together party bags when I realised that something wasn't right in the state of Michelle. From there, things went rapidly south (no pun intended) and I ended up with a rather virulent case of gastro and vomiting all night. Needless to say, the next day I wasn't in any state to throw a party, (I was even still throwing up just before Terry and kids left). So it all landed on terry's shoulders to facillitate.

Thankfully, I had done the bulk of the organising, but it did mean that, even though I had cooked the cake the night before, Terry had to ice it. He's never iced a cake in his life, so I have to say with that as a starting point, he did a darned good job. He bundled off with Caitlin and Joshua, cake and party bags to the bowling alley, leaving me huddled up in bed, feeling very sad and sorry for myself.

Once they got there there was a minor issue that the bowling place had no idea they were coming, having lost my booking. But, they rallied and got the game under way.






































A good game was had by all but the most surprising news is that out of a 10 year old, 9 year old, 3 8 year olds and a 5 year old, it was Joshua, the 5 year old who won the game. Caitlin was a bit miffed cause she was pipped by 2 points by her little brother. Of course she got over that, they ate, had cake, and opened presents. Terry's icing efforts must have been okay, cause a fair bit of the cake was gone when they got home. Caitlin was very impressed with her haul of presents too, by and large all Littlest Pet Shop toys, her current favourite thing.





















I'm glad that everyone apparently enjoyed themselves, but oh, I'm so sad that I had to miss it.

Birthday Girl!

I can't believe she is 8. When she was born we didn't have a digital camera. Man, having an eight year old makes me feel old. It's times like these that make my heart ache a little. Ache for the baby she was, the toddler she was, funny, intense, obsessive little personality. It makes me kinda sad that we won't have those times again. Makes me treasure all over again the fact that we HAD them. She blesses me with the intelligent, kind, gentle hearted girl that she is becoming. I'm living in awe that one day in the not too distant future she will be a young woman. Today however, she's my big girl, and she melts my heart.













As you can tell she was pretty darned impressed with her own iPod Touch for her birthday. It's been getting a good work out ever since, with music and game playing and app using (Terry got her classics on it, so she has been reading Treasure Island and 20000 Leagues under the sea). This evening we all sat around, her on her own iPod, Joshua on an Apple one that Terry has had for a while, Terry and I on iPhones and played a game of virtual Uno. Too cool :)

Anyway, this was a birthday post ;)

She got her present (and Joshua got a bad case of jealousy and vanished to his bed with the sulks), took cupcakes to school and got taken out for dinner to Sizzler. All in all, she was a happy birthday girl :)

It's the holidays!

Here we are pretty much a week down in the holidays and I actually haven't taken any photos! But there are a few notable things to mention.

First and foremost, I want to congratulate Alicia and Matthew on the safe delivery of Harrison Robert. Harrison was born at 8:12am on Monday the 21st - weighing 8p 12. He and Alicia are still in hospital, and Harrison is having to undergo a number of tests on his kidneys as his kidney function is compromised. So far the thought is that one kidney is badly degenerated due to having had a complete ureteric obstruction in utero. Unfortunatly, some of the tests that Harrison needs to have, he is too young for and so we are waiting and praying for him and for Alicia.

As for the rest of us...

Well Terry is working like a mad thing, and desperate for a holiday of his own. He has so much on it's not funny. He's even recruited me (unpaid!) to help restore factory settings on 200 iPod touches for next week. 40 down, 160 to go.

This week I have taken leave and kicked around doing stuff with the kids.
Monday we took Asha swimming and then went to the Golden Circle factory for our favourite marmalade (that you can't buy anywhere else now - boo to Woolies and Coles!), then to the library for a bunch of books (that Caitlin has already finished), and then to the butcher.
Tuesday, we went to the park in the morning for a picnic and play, and then in the afternoon we headed off to Sandgate pool for a swim before Joshua's swimming lesson. That was fun until the wind got f-f-f-freezing!!
Wednesday Asha went to kindy and Caitlin Joshua and I went to the movies at Chermside to see G-Force - Caitlin's choice, a movie about guinea pig spies. It was entertaining and the kids loved it :) After that, a spot of shopping (I bought a new top that siad "Buy me!" when I walked past the shop and it's so CUTE!) and then chilling at home for the afternoon.
That brings me to yesterday when we again took Asha to kindy and then travelled into Bowen Hills to the Fame Theatre. We have been there 3 times now and each time the kids have enjoyed the young people singing and dancing. This time we saw the Sleeping Beauty and Caitlin and Joshua were actually invited down onto the floor to give a birthday gift to the main character!

Today both Caitlin and JOshua have play dates. It's kind of cool that the Muller family have children in both Caitlin and Joshua's classes, so today, Lara is coming over here to play with Caitlin and Joshua is going over there to play with Ethan. And of course, Asha is going to kindy again.

So on that note, I had better move and get these kids ready for the day. Happy holidays everyone!