Christmas 2011 wrap up

We're slowly getting back into our regular daily routine. It's always slightly out-of-kilter having Steve home with no daily routine, but the kids are enjoying playing with their toys, getting ready for a New Years Eve camping adventure.

She was so excited to come downstairs and see a pile of presents under the tree - especially the stockings that each of the kids decorated, stuffed full.

But she was a bit confused that Santa drank all his milk, but didn't eat all his cookies that Mum made. When dad explained that he probably ate one biscuit at everyone's house, so was saving room for all the others, she thought that was ok.

We had our customary buttermilk hotcakes with blueberry syrup. And croissants with ham and cheese for the fussy ones. And bowls of cereal for the little ones. Devoured by everyone.

Last year was a free-for-all with presents - six kids grabbing presents, ripping them open and moving on to the next one. This year we asked the kids to take turns selecting a present from under the tree, unwrapping, showing everyone, then moving on to the next person. It made the morning move a little slower, and gave everyone the chance to see and appreciate each gift.

The stillest she was all morning. (is that a word?)

I was in fits of laughter when I opened this parcel - firstly, a parcel with brown paper and string is an inside family joke between my mum and I, and secondly, she reads my blog to get present information! That's the second time it's worked, maybe I should start directing Steve here?

Inside was a beautiful pair of earrings from Epheriell.

The best present of all was the new trampoline. (this was before we put the net up) The kids have been outside on it every day, without arguements, and Riley has even been brave enough to hope up and try it out!

And I remembered to take a family photo. Looking at this reminds me why I'm starting this journey (and that I need a haircut and a new tripod)

Then we moved on to preparing food, sharing gifts with my brother and niece and nephew, eating, playing, some drinking, then friends dropping in for dinner, before crawling in to bed, tired and happy with a new book.

Hope you're having a fantastic holiday season!

SMSS | what was in the parcel?

My Social Media Secret Santa parcel arrived last Thrsday, just as I was heading out to lunch with Steve, so I only had a quick chance to photograph it.

Inside was a 2012 diary from kikki k, and all my fears about finding the perfect diary have been squashed - this one is spot on! Space to write about each of my interests in the one place (I've already set up blog, scouts and me columns, as well as 100 days to Christmas), pages for all the extra important bits (books to read, websites to visit, an address book). Just perfect.

There was also some gift bags (which I'm going to use for the kids for Christmas day), a beautiful pen (which is awesome to write with), some sticky tabs and a book of stickers. The right mix of little bits and bobs and useful stuff. Thank you, Secret Santa.

Social media secret Santa

blogging for scrapbookers | link love

In 2009 I shared 5 random links which developed into a semi-regular series in 2010. I'me a bit behind the times, and haven't really searched etsy before, so I though that might be fun to do for this prompt (and it helps me generate ideas for Christmas - yes, it's on my mind already)

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Beautiful felted soap, useful and pretty.

(I wonder how hard it would be to make?)

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I've been looking at these patterns for awhile now.

I can definately see these being made for the kids this Christmas

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Because I've never used Etsy before, I'm a bit unsure how to search for things.

I found this shirt by using the shop by colour search, and randomly clicking on a pretty colour.

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I wore dichroic glass jewellery for my wedding.

I can see my sister wearing these.

(found by searching through a treasury)

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I know a big girl who is just starting to show interest in jewellery.

And a couple of little girls trying to copy the big girl.

(found by searching "handmade", "ceramic", "jewellery")

have you fallen into the trap?

... of buying your own presents? It was one thing when it was just Chloe and I, and I was the only person around to take her shopping for my birthday/Mothers Day/Christmas, but now there's a husband involved. And more children. And a brother. And still more children.

Oh... maybe that's why I buy my own presents... because it's easier than listening to the husband complaining about the kids misbehaving in the shops. Or buying the same thing two years in a row (yes, I love the purple, fluffy dressing gown I got for Mothers Day. The pink love heart covered one from the following year, not so much)

But, even my mother does it now. You remember last year when she did such a great job of picking presents? This year she just put money into my account so I could order what I wanted myself. I got the lino carving tools and alpha numeric punches I was after, but it's just not the same.

So, I'm taking a stand. It's two months until Mothers Day, and nine months until Christmas. Plenty of time for me to drop hints and you to take notice. Family, you are being put on notice - I AM NOT BUYING MY OWN PRESENTS ANY MORE,

Have you fallen into the trap?

it's only four weeks...

until my birthday!

Valentine's Day always meant I could start the count down to my birthday when I was a kid. These days, my birthday can sometimes get forgotten, cause Nat's birthday is the week before, but we celebrate it again the same weekend as my birthday, as that's when Chloe is home to celebrate with her (just like Mother's Day can get forgotten in the excitement of Chloe's birthday each year)

But this year, I got presents two weeks ago! My mum has finally (after over two years!) started reading my blog regularly. I mentioned in my letter to Santa that I wanted a garlic crusher and tiered cooling rack, and I had a whinge on facebook one day that I couldn't roll dough for pizza with a bottle of red wine, and then this box arrived with all those items in it! Sometimes the best presents are the ones that you tell people you need! (I never did tell her that I bought a garlic crusher and put it away for the kids to give me for Christmas - cause it's still in that put away spot, it never actually made it under the tree ~lol~)

{if you're addicted to facebook, like me, that link up there will take you to my profile - a girl can never have too many friends, but I don't play games, only live vicariously through your photos and status updates!}

Thanks, mum, xox

78 days...

Until the fat man sings!!

This year, I'm planning to take Shimelle's "journal your Christmas" class... It was around that time last year that I first discovered Ali Edwards, and I loved what she was doing, and want to have a go for myself. I have lots of projects in mind for this year, so I'm hoping that I can actually keep up with my ideas - here's my list for future reference.

1. advent calendars for all the kids. I'm thinking of creating library pockets on canvases for each of the kids, with small "jobs" to do each day to get ready for the big day.
2. Christmas cards. I'd like to make each one individual and different, but that's unrealistic. Last year all I had to do was stick photos to cards, and couldn't even manage that, so this year I'm going to make it easy - probably a photo of the kids, or a really simple design, and mass produce the same cards for everyone.
3. Christmas stockings. Chloe has one buried somewhere in storage, made by an aunt, Douglas has one somewhere in storage made by his mum, this year I want to make stockings for everyone. Yes, I have a full house, so that means 8 stockings, and yes, I am crazy, but I can do this!
4. Decorations for the house. The kids can help with this, it can be part of their advent "jobs" listed above.
5. Teacher gifts. Again, advent jobs for the kids, simple decorated candles, probably.
6. Grandparent gifts. More advent jobs. Simple decorated frames probably - I bought cheap IKEA ones a few weeks ago, so they will probably do something with them.
7. Eventually, I have to start shopping for presents. I have the big present for the big kids sorted out (we like to give them one big things to share - last year was a swing set - and a small pile of other stuff, books, cd's, pens and paper, a couple of toys, etc.) And then I have to decide what to get DH for Christmas. Last year I bought him a pile of stuff for our new BBQ, but I think the joke sank (he can't cook, so I was trying to get him excited to try)
8. That's about all I can think of for the moment, but I'm sure I'll add to the list as the day gets closer!