We Got It Right ...

Finally, third year lucky!

My Christmas was lo-ver-ly. I was dubious the whole day of Christmas eve and even threatened to walk out and go somewhere, anywhere but here. There were a few stressful moments and then the wee one would not settle. All. Day.

At lunchtime I decided the wee one and I would take flight and brave the shops to get my dad a present. There's always one last present to get isn't there? Luckily, my instincts were right about getting out of the house. As soon as I put the wee one in the car she fell asleep and then slept the whole two hours I wandered around the shopping centre with her in my trusty hug-a-bub. Thank heavens for that nifty little thing.

She then slept in the car the whole way home where, as soon as we pulled into the driveway, she decided to howl for a feed. Fed her and she settled again and all was well with the world again.

So, after spending money that didn't need spending - but any mother out there would agree that the cost far outweighs the fact that. She. Slept. The. Whole. Time - I came home and waited with the girls for the arrival of grandma. We then got the girls organised and headed to a friends house for the first celebration of two. It was lovely to catch up and we had a bite to eat then after a couple of hours headed back home to collect grandma and make our way to the other event we had planned.

Nani Kaf and family arrived home at the same time we did and it was the most relaxing Christmas eve I've had in a while. We sat and chatted and I watched AJ and Schmoo sing carols with Barbie B at the piano. Everyone had a nurse of the wee one and we soaked up the good food and the great company.

We then headed home so the girls could beat Santa to bed. They all zonked out and daddy remembered to leave some cookies and milk out for Santa. Phew! The reindeer got their feed next door where grandma had already delivered 20 bales of hay to the neighbours. Another phew!

The girls actually didn't awake until 7am and were overjoyed to see all of their presents back under the tree plus some - I must mention they were absolute angels all day Christmas eve. Poor AJ bit her tongue more times than I care to imagine in order to make Christmas happen for her and her younger sibling. She is an amazing sister and daughter.

T arrived just before lunch and we had such a lovely lunch. Mac arrived around 2ish and played with the girls. It was so lovely to watch him playing with them. They had an absolute blast. And so did I.

It was the best Christmas I have had in three years and I'm so glad we finally got it right.

Boxing Day was just as great. We had a couple of friends over for a BBQ and just relaxed all day. And I have to say that with all the distractions and other cuddlers around, there was no time to focus on whether the wee one was sleeping or not sleeping and she has since settled into her own little routine.

We even managed to take in a movie today as a family with the little miss asleep in the hug-a-bub again. See, nifty!

So, there you have it. A Christmas Day success story. I couldn't have asked or wished for anything more.

And sorry to all of my friends who normally receive cards. This year it just didn't happen but you know I'm thinking of you all and hoping your Christmas was just as perfect as mine.

PS. We even managed a family photo first thing in the morning. ; )

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas ...

... would be me this year.

After my last post I realised I had not yet had a chance to update on the Christmas proceedings at our house. 

Ah, yes. My girls, who are fighting like they need to make up for 2.5 years of getting along so well have been rudely awakened by the fact that mummy has taken all of their presents out from under the Christmas tree. That's right. I. Did. It.

Yesterday, in fact, when I was so sick of the fighting and, after having threatened them with it for days, I calmly and quietly packed all of their presents from Aunty Treeni away and told them I had sent them back.

AJ was hysterical and told me that I "ruined Christmas for-ever!"

And just to add fuel to the fire, Aunty Treeni called today to find out why all the presents were on her doorstep this morning. Luckily for me, this year AJ has no idea of time travel so the fact that Treeni lives in Darwin and has already received the presents makes perfect sense to her.

Treeni has said she'll send them back tomorrow if they're good which AJ thinks sounds alright too.

So, the deal is that there is to be no fighting all day if they want presents tomorrow.

Oh but wait, dear readers. Here's the kicker. The wee one's presents are still under the tree as are mummy and daddy's. Oooh. How low can you go?

Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Fancy Feasting ...

So I've been tagged by none other than Mz K in order to divulge my culinary treats for Christmas Day.

Can I start by warning that you not get too excited. Christmas Day here is small, teensy in fact. The only reason it is getting bigger is because I keep having children. Well, this year the head count is going to be pretty much standard from hereon in.

As I've mentioned, my bestest friend T is coming this year and I have invited my Dad but, whether or not he comes, is one of the great mysteries of mankind to date.

So, tonight we begin our Christmas celebrations with visits to two parties we have been invited to. Now I can let you in on a little sneak peek that the second partay will be providing nibblies in the shape of bikkies and dips and probably a few other simple finger foods. We will take something along although we have been told not to - I'm just not that kinda gal. I have to take something wherever I go and feel terrible if I can't even manage a bag of cornchips!

Tomorrow we will start with the usual breakfast I would assume saving the delicious bacon and eggs for Boxing Day morning. We'll be devouring a platter of fresh fruit - this is quite possibly the only thing I like about summer. Well, that and the pool and our aircon (which gives me the guilts everytime I turn it on with what I'm doing to our environment) - and a platter of sundried tomatoes with feta, crackers, dips, cheeses and olives - yes dear reader, we are olive eaters, me and the girls. Love 'em. The girls would eat the whole jar in a sitting if I let them.

Then, being that my wonderful husband does not like the cold meat platter and salad idea, he will be putting on a roast chicken for lunch. I have banned myself from any "cooking with heat" kind of activities for tomorrow's festivities so the husband is on roasting duties. Adding to the roast will be some ham, prawns and a salad or two because even though said husband is not into it, I most certainly am.

Then the afternoon will be spent picking at any leftovers but I hazard a guess that we will be all nice and gluttoned up. Oh, I know that's not a word but it sounds good.

Then Boxing Day will be the bacon and eggs brekkie and a BBQ with friends who are coming to visit. Soooo, it should be an alright Christmas but after the last few attempts please excuse me for being a little reserved at this point.

Will let you know how we go...

Snaps from Carols ...

Here a few photos we took on Saturday night ...

AJ

Do a little dance ...

Schmooey gets down.

A father's love

This is my favourite photo to date. This is the first time I've really watched CJ fall in love with a baby. Not that he didn't/doesn't love the girls. He just doesn't dig on babies. But for some reason the wee one has him totally smitten. It's so nice watching a daddy fall in love with his baby.

Christmas Arts and Crafts ...

I always come up with one super idea each christmas that I wish I'd never thought of.

And, now that I've finished these, I'm glad I did them but still it took up A LOT of time I didn't really have. It did, however, solve the problem of what to buy certain people this year and the people we have created these for will appreciate them.

Still, I need to remind myself that, like scrapbooking, anything craft takes time. Lots of time.

Even my sceptical husband thinks they've turned out quite nice. The only downside was that I was hoping it was something the girls could have helped with but, the glue being as sticky as it was, set in my mind a whole lot of what ifs that I didn't want to experience first hand.  You know the kind? Hands being stuck to cheeks or up noses. That kinda thing.

Anyway, here a few pics of the finished products.

Instant Karma ...

So, after visiting Carol's house and getting home and getting the girls settled, we fell into bed around 11ish (come on, I have a 6 week old!). 

The wee one was kind to me and I didn't have to feed her again until 4 in the morning but then when she woke again at 7, I was so exhausted that I put on a little bit of a mummy tanty because I couldn't get her to resettle. Now, obviously I realise the poor little mite had done a huge stint overnight so was merely needing a closer feed and every other morning I'm usually okay with that but, this particular morning I just wanted to sleep. 

My wonderful husband offered to give her a bottle but I knew I was being silly and totally unrealistic so retired to the couch to feed my little miss. After her feed I was sitting with her facing outwards holding her in a sitting position in the hope it would help her bowel movement along. I decided I would call T to see how she was feeling after her big day out at Movie World followed by Carols and was mid-way talking to G, T's other half, when I heard and then felt the wee one explode!

Politely telling G I had to go - okay so I gave him all the details - I looked down to see that the wee one had managed to poo all. Over. Me! And my couch! My beautiful brown comfy couch had taken its first hit.

Seriously, there was poo everywhere. I didn't know if it the clean up could be tackled by me alone. It was then that I realised the wee one had managed to totally miss herself and had shot it out the leg of her nappy making sure it got me first and then my couch. 

I guess that'll teach me for getting cranky with her, huh?

Instant karma is a bitch!

Carol's House ...

So, we did it again this year. We went to Carols by Candlelight - well, let's be honest here, it's now Carols by Glowstick really isn't it? - at Movie World on Saturday night and what a good night it was ... again.

Even daddy came along this year which was a big thing for him but he put on his happy face and joined in the festivities. This year, Schmoo really enjoyed herself and my best friend of forever, T, joined us too which made me feel like our family was complete.

T has never really felt comfortable joining us for Christmas previously (or anyone for that matter) because it has taken her some time to find a place to "fit" after her dad passed away 10 years ago. I'm still not sure she has found the perfect place but she is coming to join us for christmas day, which is the best christmas present I could ask for. She is my family, moreso than some of my family members, and I have missed her presence often at birthdays and christmas. There has been no pressure or ill-feeling though. She needed the time and I didn't want her to come if she felt out of place because that would be selfish in itself.

So, moving on, we're all spending Christmas together this year and I am hoping this is the year that wipes out the previous ones that always turned bad at some stage.

Back to the Carols. The only fault I could find was that it started at 5 and by the time we left at 9 Santa had still not arrived and the end was nowhere in sight so we packed up and took the girls home. It was getting too late and poor old CJ really had done his bit to endure 4 hours of carolling.

Anyway, when we arrived at the carpark, Schmoo piped up with "So this is where Carol lives, does she?"

Puppy Size ...

I received this by email the other day and every time I read it I just melt so I had to share it ...

'Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this,' the mother told the volunteer. 

'What is it she keeps asking for?' the volunteer asked.  

'Puppy size!' replied the mother.   

'Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for.' 'I  know... we have seen most of them,' the mom said in frustration... 

Just then Danielle came walking into the office. 

'Well, did you find one?' asked her mom. 

'No, not this time,' Danielle said with sadness in her voice. 

'Can we come back on the weekend?'   

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.    

'You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply,' the volunteer said.    

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door.  'Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend,' she said.    

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her.  They both felt she was being too particular. 'It's this weekend or we're not looking any more,' Dad finally said in frustration.    

'We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size, either,' Mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. 

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.   

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look.  One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.    

One by one she said, 'Sorry, but you're not the one.'   

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.  

The  volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little  longer.   

'Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know  it!' She screamed with joy. 'It's the puppy size!'  

'But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks,' Mom said.

'No not size...The sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,' she said.   

'Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is,  you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!'   

The two women looked at each other for a moment. 

Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a  little of both.   

'Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,' she said.   

Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, 'Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!'   

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. 

I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day.   

Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear.    

'Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.'  

 I hope your life is filled with Sighs!!!

Christmas Cards ...

... with glitter and confetti in them are. Not. Cool!

At the risk of being labelled some kind of fun buster I have to say I really dislike receiving cards with all that loose sparkly stuff inside. It's not so much that I don't like said sparkly stuff, it's just that the card should come with some kind of warning so then when I open it said sparkly stuff does not end up all over my floor or bench top.

I know, I know. People love this kinda thing and I do like the sparkly stuff just not so much as it's falling out of the card all over the table. And, let's be honest here, some people really go to town and there is like a whole envelope full of the shit.

Sorry, but I. Don't. Like. It.

You say hiccups ...

Schmoo says burpies. 

Well, until she finally conceded that she did, in fact, have the hiccups and the pretend burps she was doing were not hiding them.

So then the conversation went something like this ...

Schmoo:  The hiccups are singing to me.

Me:    Really? What are they singing?

Schmoo:  My favourite song.

Me:    What song is that?

Schmoo:  Tim song.

Me:  Tim song? What's that?

Schmoo:  On Hi-5*. Tim sings it.

Me:  Oh, okay. Is that the bom-ba-da-da-bom-ba-da-da-bom-bom-bom song?

Schmoo:  Nah. Not that one.

Me:     Which one is it?

Schmoo:  The 'nother one that Tim sings.

Me:  Oh okay (not having any idea of which song she is referring to**).

Schmoo:  Yeah. They are singing in my chest.

Me:  Is that good?

Schmoo:  Not really.

Me:  Oh.

Schmoo:  But they are singing all my favourite songs to me.

*Unlike her sister, Schmoo has only just started getting into Hi-5. AJ was into them from about 6 weeks old but, considering she was never asleep, I had to do something with her so she did spend a lot of her waking hours in front of Hi-5. 

**You would think I would know the exact song Schmoo was referring to for how often we have watched Hi-5 over the past 5 years but obviously I don't have my A-game going on at the minute.

Time Management Part 2 ...

Well, my prediction for having 2.5 hours between feeds was apparently unrealistic today due to the extreme heat.

However, after feeding the wee one I did manage to get 1.5 hours worth of shopping time which I used almost wisely, providing you don't count the extra walking back and forth to different shops.

I still didn't manage to tick off every "to do" from my list but Santa will deliver to the wee one after all. ; )

Time Management 101 ...

Don't ask me!

I seem to be wasting A LOT of time lately. I just can't seem to get stuff done. I know I have a 4 week old baby which does account for at least 4-5 hours of my day being taken up in breastfeeding duties but I really need to finish Christmas shopping this week before AJ finishes school or I will be using the excuse that Santa does not like 6 week old babies and that's why the wee one has no presents this year.

I also need to do the groceries because seriously the cupboard is bare! I had planned to do that today but by the time I got to the shopping centre and walked into two shops, the wee one was due for a feed. Friend and I grabbed a coffee to pass the feed time and then decided to forego the grocery shopping because all children had turned somewhat feral and it was time to bring Schmoo home for a desperately needed nap.

She has missed her sleep for the past 2 days and it's taking its toll on both her and I so home again, home again, jiggety-jig. 

So that's today. It's now 4 o'clock in the afternoon and I'm not going grocery shopping until tomorrow. BUT tomorrow it is school and kindy drop off and then back to said shopping centre where the wee one will be due for a feed on arrival. Then I'll have approximately 2.25 hours to get everything done that needs doing before the wee one will be in need of another feed, after which it will be time for school pickup! See?

No time management advice here. Just a whole lot of running around, getting nowhere!

My Little Helper ...

While I was on the phone Schmoo decided she would help to unpack the dishwasher.

What a gem!

Techno Savvy ...

Here's the finished product. Not sure that the quality is that great but when you've got a baby in your lap and you're trying to work out how to use a scanner you'll take any picture it spits out at you.

Back on the Topic of Punky ...

And, after just posting this yesterday I happened to run into my sister-in-law whilst doing the Santa photo shoot - and thank goodness I did because we sat down to have a coffee while I fed the little bitey one and she ended up doing 2 toilet runs (including a pooey Schmooey) and getting all the coffees and milkshakes - and she was telling me they have a dress-up party to attend soon and guess who she's going as?

Punky Brewster!!!

Not Too Arsy ...

I did it. Today.

I attempted the photo. The one with him. The big guy dressed in red. Yes, Santa.

Schmoo is not that fond of the old man just yet and after two failed attempts at getting her anywhere near Santa - you know? Just seeing if she'd warm to the idea of getting to know him even just a little bit - I have to admit to being very sceptical of getting anything close to a decent photo with all three girls.

BUT ... as luck would have it - and please don't ask me how I managed because I really can't tell you except to say that I fluke it e-ve-ry year - Schmoo followed her big sister up and sat on Santa's lap without so much as a hint of hesitation which gave me the signal to throw poor ole Min straight on Santa's lap and let the girl work her magic, which she did bless her and she snapped away for all of about 2 minutes before grabbing a pretty bloody good photo.

I want to scan it but my scanner is one of those feed through ones and I'm worried I'll ruin the picture. Will have to see if I can get it to scan somehow. *hmmm. puts thinking cap on*

I was seriously so excited I was shaking whilst signing the credit card payment for the copies. We were at the centre for a total of 1 hour which included 40 minutes of feeding the wee one. And I think I've managed to call just about everyone I know to share in my photo glory.

It really is the small things in life, isn't it?

*will hopefully be back to post my success photo*

TV Trivia ...

So this morning while feeding my little bottomless pit of a newborn i was staring blankly at the TV screen while AJ watched, yet again, her favourite Bratz DVD.

Now, we were all for banning these little upstarts from our home but very quickly realised that AJ is in fact getting her attitude from so many other places that these big-headed, big shoe wearing girls are the least of our problems.

Anyway, sitting staring blankly. That was me at 7 this morning when the credits started to roll. And I had to rewind to double check. Surely there couldn't be two people in the world with that name? Soleil Moon Frye aka Punky Brewster.

Who'd a thunk it? She is the voice of Jade on Bratz!

Made a quick call to my husband who is the king of trivia - and I mean KING. He knows stuff that is totally useless yet interesting all the same - and was quite proud that I had uncovered something he didn't know first.

To which he replied "So, you've spent your morning watching the credits then?"

So, for those that were wondering whatever happened to her, now you know.