That was Christmas...

Well another year down with another Christmas gone :(  As hectic as it is, it would have to be my favourite time of year.  We started our festivities with 2 parties on Christmas Eve (once I got home from work at 7pm), and didn't stop until the swing set was put together which took until 1am. It was safe to say that my head hit the pillow and I was out like a light until 6.30 when I woke all excited because the girls were due to wake at any moment. But of course the one morning they decided to sleep in until 7.50am and 8.20 would have to be Christmas morning. It got to the point that I started to make lots of noise hoping to wake them as I just couldn't wait any longer.



Of course we all got spoilt (especially the girls), and then headed to Helen's for Christmas lunch and more pressies (where we all got spoilt again).  Boxing Day we headed to Brett's parents for a Christmas BBQ (and even more pressies) which was lovely. The weather was perfect and the kids had a ball running around playing with their new toys.

I can't say I am looking forward to New Year's Eve as I have just heard that the weather is going to be a scorching 41 degrees with it only getting down to 25 during the night. It kind of spoils our plans for New Year's Day as we usually head to Mornington in the EK, but I think it is just going to be too hot and who knows, I have heard that my work may be open so maybe I will earn a little extra cash and be in a cool building all day?

Anyway I hope everyone had a fab Chrissy and that you all have a fun filled and safe New Year.

Luv Caroline XXX

2 sleeps til santa...

Who can believe that it is nearly Christmas yet again? The presents are wrapped and Brett is in the garage assembling a swing set so let the festivities begin. At least this year the weather is on our side and with the next few days being nice, the ground may have a chance to dry out a little? Not that I am complaining about our 140+ ml of rain in 3 days. My tree out the front hasn't looked so green and healthy in quite a while. 

Last weekend Piper had her first haircut. I am trying to grow both the girls hair but it is just taking so long? Isabella has only had 3 trims in her life and I only let my girlfriend take the smallest amount off, but it just won't grow??? As you can tell by the photo, Piper doesn't mind one bit.

  

Wow what a busy week we are about to have. It started today with us helping Lee celebrate his 1st birthday with a Tigger themed party which was loads of fun, and then heading home to tidy up as we had some friends pop over to do the "Present exchange" for the kids and a BBQ dinner. Mmmmmmm. Tomorrow I am working until 6pm :( which is a bit of a bummer as we have 2 Christmas parties to attend tomorrow night and poor Brett will be left to get everything organised so that when I get home we can just leave. We are then heading to Helen's place for lunch on Christmas Day, to my parent in-laws for a Christmas BBQ on Boxing Day, and then back to work for a rest on the Thursday. Gee I'm getting tired just thinking about all that eating, drinking and driving.

Well on that note, I would like to wish EVERYONE a very Merry Christmas and a safe and exciting New Year in 2008.

Lots of Love

Caroline xxx

My gingerbread house...

Yay, it's finally complete! After having the box (yes I cheated and bought a DIY ready cooked, flat packed gingerbread house.) cluttering my kitchen and getting moved from one place to another for the past 2 weeks, I finally pulled my finger out and got creative. What do you think?  A few years ago my mum made me a beautiful gingerbread house which came out for a few christmas's, but unfortunately it got eaten and no we didn't get to enjoy it but the mice did! It use to get wrapped up in a towel and placed up the top of Piper's bedroom cupboard until the summer of 2005-6 when we had an invasion of mice (we can only assume they were looking for water?) It took me a while to trigger that the smell of the gingerbread house probably attracted them in the first place, and by the time I remembered that it was up there in the cupboard it was too late. Over half the house had been eaten which would explain why the mice we did catch were so fat. I'm pretty proud of my efforts but now that I think about it, I should have taken a photo of the mess in my kitchen as I had royal icing stuck all over my kitchen bench, lollies everywhere and those little silver sugar beads all over the floor :) I do have one tip for those thinking of making a gingerbread house in the future. DO NOT attempt to make it on a hot day as the icing doesn't want to set and you have to stand there for at least 10mins holding it all together and then you still end up having the 2 roof pieces slide off. Lots of swearing and cursing believe me. 



Here is a picture of Piper who obviously enjoyed her bowl of ice cream as she had to lick the bowl clean. Hmmmmm, don't know where she learnt that one from??? Oops :)



Well I should probably get going as it is 12.45am and no such thing as a sleep in.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

Caroline xxx

my funny names...

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)

- Scratchy Falcon (I sound like a bird with lice??? LOL)

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavour, favourite cookie)

- Caramello Tim Tam (Oooooo nasty!)

3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)



- C-Bay

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)

- Red Dog 

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)

Jane Dandenong (gee that's a bit boring)

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)

- Bayca

7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The" + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
- The Pink Moscato (how exotic...)

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
- Lesley Richard (pretty normal)

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
- Jasmine Twirl (mmmmmmm yum)

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names )
- Wendy Joseph (I could live with that)

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
- Cook Canberra (Mmmmmm???)

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
- Winter Rose (I like it.)

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearing right now + "ie" or "y")
- Banana Trackie

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
- Jam Blossom (yeah man...)

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: ("The" + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + "Tour")
- The Sleeping Snow Tour (Gee that's sounds like fun. NOT?)

oh christmas tree...

Well the tree is up and surprisingly still in one piece. I will admit it and say that I was naughty and put it up on November 30th after I got home from work (which was 9.45pm), but technically it wasn't finished until just after midnight so hopefully I haven't jinxed myself? The girls got a lovely surprise when they got up the next morning and saw the tree in the corner :) We keep telling them that they can't touch the tree as the lights are very hot which is why I have a photo of them foofing the tree. They seem to think that if they cool down the lights, mummy and daddy will let them play with the decorations? What can you say to that?



Last night we headed to our favourite Turkish restaurant in Mentone with my best friend and her sister for our christmas catch up, and the girls got very spoilt. Piper got a "Little Peoples" aeroplane and Isabella got her first Barbie doll complete with "Dream Stables" and accessories. I have also been informed that to complete the set she will be getting the horse for her birthday so giddy up Barbie :) Gee has Barbie changed over the years! She seems to have put on a little weight especially in the face and her boobs seemed to have gotten a little smaller and she also now has built in undies? 



Today was Isabella's 3yo kinder orientation which she absolutely loved, and as soon as we got there she tried to push her way through the doors and once in the room just stood there as she didn't know what to play with first. It was my first time in the kinder as well but was very happy with the layout and the activities that are available. They also have pet lizards, fish and 2 x chickens which freely roam the playground and supply the center with a few eggs (if not too stressed by the kids). I don't think I will have any problems getting her back next year when she starts as she didn't really care if I was there or not?



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Well here it is. The picture of me with Bam Margera and Tosh Townend. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm what more can I say?



Take care.

Caroline xxx

ho ho ho it's nearly christmas...

When mummy's away, the kids will play!

This is what the girls get up to when mummy is out of the house and daddy is home. Do you think they are having fun?

 

Well tomorrow is the 1st of December and we all know what that means? DECORATING TIME... I'm a little worried how my tree will go this year? Piper is just so much more into things then Isabella ever was and for some reason I don't think my tree is going to last too long or will be bald on the lower half? I stuck some christmas stickers on the window the other day and Isabella got so excited that I have decided that when I get home from work tonight (9.30ish), the tree will be going up so that she can have a surprise in the morning when she gets up.

I attempted some christmas shopping at Fountain Gate this morning. Oh my goodness what absolute chaos that place is at the moment. I couldn't wait to get out of there as nothing was going right for me at all. I thought that I would do the right thing and get there early like 9.30, and already the car parks were full when I saw someone loading up their kids in a "parent with pram" park and thought goodie I got poll position. It wasn't until I was walking to the door that it dawned on me that I didn't have the kids with me as Brett was home and Oh no should I move my car or stay there??? I then got in trouble in Big W for going thru an express isle with 6 things instead of only 3 things as stated on the sign. (whoops thought express was 6 items or less), then almost getting stuck in the lift while heading back up to Target. The silly doors wouldn't open and me and another lady thought that we were going to be stuck there when all of a sudden the lift moved again and the doors finally opened. Thank goodness. After all of this I have decided that I should never have gotten out of bed this morning and considering I didn't get into bed until 3.15am this morning, that would have been heaven :)

Last night we headed to The Corner Hotel in Richmond to see Royal Crown Revue (an American Swing/Rockabilly band), and as predicted they were fantastic. They even recorded last nights performance LIVE so that it can be sold as an MP3 audio download for all the world to enjoy which was pretty exciting. Hence this is the reason for the late night/early morning to bed this morning.

Happy Chrissy decorating to all.

Caroline xxx