December 17th ...

- early morning circuit class



- Jack & Lachlan off with John for a truck ride



- decided to go to Tumby Bay with Rohan and Hannah to do the shops over and have some lunch!!

- bought a few more gifts and a couple of gifts for myself!! It's great when shops wrap things up - now I don't have to wrap up my over gift!!

- home and getting some food ready to go out tonight for a BBQ

- made a slice from the latest Super Food Ideas and my made up roast pumpkin and capsicum etc salad

December 16th ...

- worked from 0800 to 1430!

- hot day ... 42 degrees I think

- home and general home things done!!

- off to the hotel for tea again ... this time for the family Harvest Cutout!!

Not other cooperative children for photos!!

- now home and really tired ... ready for bed!

Last night when we were out I had the mobile phone ring ... it was our niece ... "Hannah's done a poo in her knickers" ... "what do I do?". She managed very well with a little help from Lachlan!!

Hannah finally came up with something that she would like for Christmas ... a Barbie doll!! She jumped up and down on the spot saying "yay" when I said that that would probably be possible!!

December 15th ...

- early morning circuit class (0645!!)

- home and a little bit of catching up on my 25 days until Christmas album

- Rohan had a birthday party to attend at the bakery for Tom so we headed into town at 1200

- the other kids & I had lunch while the party was on

- delivered some lunch to John on his way out of the silos from a delivery ... hopefully not too many more days of harvest to go

- 35 degrees C today

- headed home after a bit of shopping

- John and I are off out for a Christmas dinner tonight so some tidying up was in order before our baby sitters arrive

- now need to get ready!

Hannah enjoying some of Jack's chocolate eclair ...

The bottom of Hannah's new skirt that I made on Sunday ... the cream and pink flower fabric is in Rosalie Quinlan's new range of fabric.

Some more simple gift wrapping from yesterday ...

December 14th ...

- woke up way too early!

- John rang to say there were 3 parcels at the PO for me so what was I to do ... go to town and grab them!!

- went in with the kids and had lunch at the Bakery

The scallywags

The cheeky monkey

- came home and did a bit of housework and Christmas gift wrapping

- Madras beef curry for tea ... yummy

- John went to PL today to research a family gift!!

Parcels ...

I have always love receiving parcels in the mail ... it may have something to do with when I was young and we only got the mail once a week in a great big mail bag with a padlock on it!

I got 3 parcels today ...

• my order from Poppies for Grace ... love it all, including the free gift tags they included and how they wrapped it up!
  
• my free gifts from Express Publications for my subscription renewal ... including some Coredinations Cardstock, something I wouldn't necessarily buy but if its a freebie why not!
  
• 3 Scrapbook Trends monthly magazines and a special ideas book on Christmas cards ... can't wait to sit down and read through them!
  

Then I wrapped some parcels up ...

These are the free gift tags ... lovely hey!

10 Christmas questions ...

Saw this over at Mel Godsell's blog ...

1. What 5 items are on your Christmas wish list this year?

Donna Hay's new cookbook, placemats, maybe a novel or two, struggling to think of other things (I know that I am receiving a couple of these ;-)

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

Christmas decorations from friends, next year I am going to suggest we start making them again for each other as they are my favourite decorations on our tree

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?

Christmas tree skirt ... but I figure it would get covered up by the lower branches of the tree and not be seen!

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

Barbie doll stuff ... particularly the wardrobe!

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?

Jack: DS, cricket bag
Lachlan: DS, Lego
Rohan: a big truck
Hannah: hasn't identified much but a phone!

6. What is your favorite holiday food?

truffles, fruit balls that type of thing! Cassata icecream ... have printed off a recipe from here to try if I have a chance!

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?

some fabric Christmas tags by Janelle Wind, a wall hanging which I hope to have on the wall soon, a 25 days until Christmas album, some cards

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?

Don't have one

9. Favorite holiday song?

Jingle Bells, Silent Night

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

catching up with family and friends for some yummy food (turkey, pudding, fruit balls, fudge etc) and special drinks that you may not have very often (think French Champagne, Sparkling Shiraz!!)

December 13th ...

- quiet day at home, little bit of tidying up, lots of washing!!

- made Hannah another skirt, which she wouldn't wear tonight!!

- also made some fabric gift tags by Janelle Wind - I got the pattern via the Kim Archer Christmas online classes that I did

- headed out to Yallunda Flat for the Christmas carols and Nativity play

- had a BBQ with friends, I think we were the only people who were bbqing!! Apparently nearly 1000 there (not sure if that is accurate - some one had a job to do if there was!!)

Hannah enjoyed the music ...

- the boys had fun with their friends and 3 out of 4 children were asleep when we got home at 11.30 ... a late night!

One word comment ...

Now the rules...
1. Answer the questions using only one words answers
2. Pass this along to 5 of your favourite bloggers
3. Alert them that you have given them this award
4. Have fun!

1. Where is your mobile phone? charger
2. Your Hair? clean
3. Your mother? Pam
4. Your Father? Brian
5. Your fave food? Asian
6. Your dream last night? forgotten
7. Your fave drink? wine
8. Your Dream/Goal? happiness
9. What room are you in? office
10. Your hobby? scrapbooking
11. Your fear? snakes
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? out
14. Something you aren't? unhappy
15. Muffins? okay
16. Wish list item? renovations
17. Where did you grow up? "Parakylia"
18. Last thing you did? viewing
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your TV? off
21. Your pets? nil
22. Friends? wonderful
23. Your life? busy
24. Your mood? happy
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Vehicle? untidy
27. Something your not wearing? Lipstick
28. Your fave store? David Jones
29. Your fave colour?red
30. Last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? Friday
32. Your best friend? Husband
33. One place I go over and over? Cummins
34. One person you email regularly? Amanda
35. Fave Place to eat? Del Giornos

December 12th ...

- all the boys went to cricket

- girls headed in later!

- Joe came for a play this afternoon after cricket


- John went off to teach the Swimming Teachers First Aid and then down to load lupins into a silo bag

- made a few more little laminated bags as per previous post

- tea at home

- on the whole a quiet day!!

December 11th ...

- early morning circuit class and then off to work

- home for lunch

- catching up on printing photos for my 25 days until Christmas album

(my album has 8 inch square pages and the cards I made yesterday used the strips I cut off ... 4 x 12 inches!! Pretty pleased with that!)

- School finishes today

- Cummins Christmas Festival tonight (Formerly Trader's Night) so we will head in later and then maybe a few drinkies later with friends!!


The start of the parade ...

The hospital float ...

Ho ho ...

Christmas traditions ...

When I was young we lived on a sheep and cattle station and at Christmas time it was usually hot so we always had a cold lunch of chicken and ham and salad, a cold dessert, one year we had yabby cocktails ... they were yummy! With the invention of turkey rolls we started also having cold turkey.

Since I have been married I have been introduced to hot Christmas lunches ... Weber cooked turkey, pork and chicken with roast vegetables, Christmas pudding (yummy with brandy custard!!) We always try to take or arrange seafood too for the starter.

This year we are having lunch at my sister's and we will have a cold lunch, must remember to get some West Coast prawns!!