On the fifteenth day ...

I didn't take many photos again. Some days I just don't think about the photos so much. I know I should. I took a couple early this morning, the kids slept in their clothes last night, and slept in until almost 8am.
These are of the small one looking for the number 12 on the calendar, we were a few days behind. And for reference we count down from 24 to 1 as in one sleep until Santa comes. It would seem most people think this is odd. A tradition in my family I guess.
Katie did well to find the number 12, and she found a necklace in that little box. Some days there is a note with a coresponding number under the tree, and they unwrap a present, usually too big for the box. Often it is a Christmas story.

This day ended up down time for all of us. I have been cramming too much into my last week, I couldn't keep going. We did a few small jobs and went to my Mums to hang out. Then after a while we went to the shops and took Katie she was well behaved. She picked out her own present to give Noah. That was a fun little exercise.
The day disappeared way to quickly at least mostly it was at a slower pace. I did have to cram in the pre school run, swimming and dinner with a Dr visit thrown in on the side, Noah has a skin rash which is not a problem but could hang around for 6 - 12 weeks! He was a delight on his own this afternoon. I love one on one time. He told me he will continue to be good on these hot summer days, when it is winter he will be naughty, but he may be good on some cold days too LOL! I replied with I like him being good all the time, it makes everyone happy and we all get along well.
It was an extremely ordinary December day. But one I adored especially time with my boy.

On the fourteenth day .....

Pre school day for the kids and Noah slept in, so we all tiptoed around quietly, I finished the last of that ironing.
He woke and we got ready for pre school. It was practise for big school today, a lunch order on a brown paper bag and deliver it to the kitchen. Both kids were very excited, they all got to do it, even the ones who aren't going to school next year. When I asked what they got they told me a sandwhich (they ordered jam) an apple and a  cheese stick. Noah told me he as already decided he will order a jam one again tomorrow.
For me it is usually my sewing day. I had planned to be finished by now but I had a few little bits still to do, a Christmas order for my best friend, and a special job, a dress to send to Hillie's niece. When Hillie left us I felt the need to name a dress after her, you can see my post about that here. also thought it fitting her niece have one, she is Hil's sisters daughter and she is 3 like my Katie. I hope it makes them smile and I can't wait to see her in it. It is ready to post today and they don't know it is coming.
I had decided early on this would be my day, I needed  a break and to do some things I wanted. So I got the sewing out of the way, packed up the machines and headed to lunch with my best friend, on her lunch break at work. It was enjoyable, we talked about a lot, mostly the kids, and Christmas we planned our Sunday get together, a smaller group of us that are close, from our mothers group always get together the last weekend before Christmas, usually the Sunday. This year only Tracey and I can make it so we have decided we might make it our trip to the city to see the windows and the train, but make it late evening and catch some of the amazing lights too. I love the idea ...... I do adore Christmas.
The afternoon was spent with one of my favourite pass times, wrapping the presents, it's a bit like scrapbooking to me, matching the papers and ribbons to the decorations on the tree, I even made the tags, I stamped them, I had so much fun. I will take a picture once they are all nicely under the tree.

The evening was one of my favourite things to do, the road to Bethlehem. It is an amazing production put together and acted out but the community of the local Seventh Day Adventis School. They should be so proud of their community spirit and what they achieve it it phenomenal.

They also manage to maintain the focus of Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas while acknoledgeing the tradions so many of us expect at Christmas. It is a joy to bring our children to watch the performance, which is a half hour tour with about 5 different scenes acted out, they are  different each year. 

Then they participare in the activities which are all free, you can make donations, and you have to "pay your taxes" to come in. The children made paper crowns, clay Christmas decorations, which is always a favourite, they remembered the ones from last year, had their faces painted, recieved a show bag and watched the black light puppet show.

It makes me proud to know my children absorbed the message, at  the end there is a cross below which the children can plant a message on a card. I asked Noah what he wanted to write he said "I am sorry you died Jesus, I love you". Ahhh the true celebration on Christmas.

On the thirteenth day

 I am not even sure I took any pictures on Monday. I do have a few days where I want to slot in some different things. Like our Santa Photo. We  had it taken in November, on the beach. So I need to find a home for it.
This day was an overwhelming one for me. The house had jobs that needed doing everywhere and I felt quite behind, so I took the kids and we met up with my best friend, usual for a Monday and went to the beach.
It was the most glorious summer day one of the first good ones we have had. The kids swam, played in the sand, swam again, built sand castles and tunnels. We had lunch on the grass hot chip sandwiches.
Noah went to Rosie's for the afternoon and shortly after their arrival Tracey sent me a message saying out water babies are in the water again, in a blow up pool in the back yard.

My little one, who said she didn't need a nap, of course I agreed, fell asleep in the car on the way home, she is beyond exhausted at the moment, so much on, late  nights, no naps. I used the time to get caught up on  a lot of those jobs I was over whelmed by earlier although there is still many more to do I felt much better.
We collected Noah the kids ate dinner there, we drove past lights on the way home, Noah fell asleep, of course the one who had a nap did not. She was up till quite late, playing and talking to herself in her room. I ironed quite late into the night. Hence only one blog post not two ..... I couldn't type clearly.
As I look back over this and the photos I will work out what bits I want to highlight. I am loving that on some day's Ali's page is short and concise and captures just one brief little moment. Usually a very adorable one. I am aiming for the same.

On the twelfth day ...

I was too tired and had to go to bed. I crammed so much in I could blog as well!
Regular Sunday programming at the moment means nippers, which Noah complains about but loves when he gets there. We stayed a nippers a little longer than planned. It was the most devine summer day, about time by the way summer! It was a late start as the Nutri grain iron man truck was there, the boys were excited and met some iron men. Nippers Noah got to go on the board again, his favourite. I was so proud when he ensured he got a second turn, telling the teacher more than once that he only had one turn. It gives me confidence with him going to school next year, around me he is quiet and shy and leans to me for help. It seems nippers is going all festive next week too and there may be a visit from the man in red.
Next we listened to Dr Rip, a surf scientist and man after Noah's heart, he wants to be a scientist when he grows up and do speriments, along with building robots and working at TiVo with Daddy lol!
 It was great for the kids to listen about rips, and for the Mummy too. Then he got a lifeguard to put some die in the ocean to follow the rip. Noah thought this was pretty cool! So quintessentially Australian and Christmas time, love teaching my kids about the water.
In the afternoon Katie and I checked out a market. Fun but refrained from shopping, nothing I had to have!
I worked on my photo calendar, it seems a traditional present now, both the grandparents get a copy of the calendar with pics of the kids as part of their present.

Dinner with the kids was tired and grumpy but we got through it. And moved onto taking a pic of us all together, I will put it up as my Christmas header soon. Speaking of which I get the feeling I need to update my blog template, it seems I'm laging behind! After having kept the grumpies up past bedtime I figured they could stay up and have some quality family time, scootering out in the street. Which then turned into the usual wander up the street looking at the lights. I love the time of year and that we have such awesome lights so close and the kids loving to see them. They talk about the ones with music, and the ones with popping up santa and a few other notible ones. The look of joy on their faces makes my heart soar every time.
We chatted with the neoghbours continued on out wander and came home.
I love that Christmas makes people think of the kids (they all put their lights up for the little ones) and that they get to experience some of the magic of Christmas through the kids.
I need to get a picture of the twinkle lights.
Will add the pic tomorrow. 
Till tomorrow....

On the eleventh day ......

I can't believe that we are 11 days into December already. I want to do December Daily, but already I'm behind. I am hoping I can use this blog as a place to make my notes, capture the things I want to remember of the day, and share my pages as they get completed.
I am having trouble starting because this yeat I didn't make a foundation album first, so I have nothing to work around. I think I need to get out some papers and play around a bit first. So I will start with some notes.
Today was a busy day, end of year ballet photos, full costume. This meant Katie and I were there before 9am, that was after I got myself ready (including straightening my hair) prepared the nibbles for the party, got the kids ready packed the presents and left jobs for Noah and Andrew.
Katie enjoyed the photos she seemed to have fun and was happy to participate both times.
We headed home to get ready for Christmas with my family, my sister is up from Melbourne. The kids were so excited to be doing Christmas especially with their cousins. Katie chose to wear her "fluffy" skirt after considering her Hillie Christmas Dress. It is fun to see her display her own preferences, although I still struggle with wanting to put together the perfect outfit, it is something I enjoy, I just have to be aware of allowing her own personality to show through.

Noah was so very proud to serve out his reindeer cookies, giving out each one to the person it was individually decorated for. We had to eat them early as they were melting and loosing their faces.
The kids were all pleased to give and recieve presents, there was a lot of paper going every where, oohing and ahhing some squeals of delight, especially over a Woody and some Zhu Zhu guinea pigs and even a that was just what I wanted. One of my favourite moments was when I asked Noah what his favourite present was he replied they all were.

I also want to remember 5 children all under 8 in the same place, playing together, shifting from group to group, playing on their own, in pairs sometimes 3. I loved seeing the different dynamics, different kids playing together, different pairings.
In the evening we played uno with Noah and he played outside with Daddy. It is nice to see them spending time together and it is funny I see so many similarities while they are together, they were both happy pottering outside spending time.
I also want to remember about Noah loving his Lego advent and the fact that he can put them together on hos own. Kate loved the nesting Santas she got today too.
It was a lovely day with family and I was so proud of my kids behaviour and their enjoyment over such a long and full day. These are the things I want to remember about my kids and this December.

Where I have been...

I have been very busy with my business and my sewing for Just like Katie. I have been enjoying it, but it is all consuming having your business at home. There are lots of little jobs to do, and I still get to have fun with the camera, I just don't have so much time to scrap the photos.
I will work on a little more balance, and give myself some time to do a page or two. There is so much going on. It is all the fun end of year stuff, we went to the Sydney Opera House, my big one is doing kindergarten orientation. And I do believe it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! My favourite time of year.
So while JLK needed a Christmas photo shoot I took my models to the beach and had some fun, and so did they! I have just put them into a template, all there is time for at the moment, will get to printing some out soon.

There were many funny out takes too. I am looking forward to the end of the year,  wind down, time with friends and enjoying every little minute of the silly season.

Who can believe it is November tomorrow!

An emotional week

This time last week I had a great markets, I gave some time to myself and scrapped a page, I was having a small break and enjoying my family. This scap page I will share sat here for a week with no text, it was where I left it.

The week that has gone by is a blur. Last week I enjoyed lunch with my girlfriends and Hilarie, this week I spent the day with them celebrating her life.
On Saturday our dear Hilarie lost her brave and inspiring fight with brain cancer. On Wednesday we celebrated her life, and all she had taught us. Today I am angry with the world. I know it is just a reaction, and it is not the one I want, I want to be able to cry and remember the happy memories but I can't. I am just angry, how did this happen, why her, and why can't we fix it.
I know all the answers, but I don't like them.
It has been a hard week balancing family, work and my feelings. I choose to celebrate the things we have, the memories we have made and the blessings we have.
I love that my children were so excited about our tea party for Ava, and that they took the lesson very seriously. We have had many car safety drills since and they still talk about the balloons that they sent to Ava. Kate said she will be so excited to get them and Noah said he thought the balloons would knock on the bottom of God's house so they would know the balloons were there.
I love that we spent time together taking photos for Daddy for Fathers Day and that I got some great shots of them hugging. I will scrap them soon.
I love that I got five years to spend with my friend and to watch her with such conviction in her choices for parenting her child. I love that she made me a better person, mother and friend.
I love that my children want to send balloons to Hillie.
I love my life. Maybe tomorrow I will be a little more thankful and a little less angry.