And that was Christmas....

(Miss Moo Moo takes her turn to stir the fruit mince and makes her christmas wish)

Christmas is over for another year.

I hope that you and your loved ones have had a happy Christmas. We have been having a lovely time over the last week, eating way to much food and drinking a little bit more wine and coffee than my body is used to.

We are having a lot fun with our extended family, but this time of year can also be very exhausting. I must remember that this time is a holiday and make some time to rest.

More family are arriving tonight and will join us to celebrate New Year's Eve at our place. I am looking forward to catching up with some special people I have not seen for a while.

No photos of Christmas this year. Santa did not give me a new camera for Christmas (even though I had hinted) However as fate would have it, our camera officially died on Christmas morning. I braved the crowds yesterday to buy a little cheapie to get me by until I can really work out want I want from a new (more expensive) camera. But lucky for me little cheapies seem to have come a long way in the last five years. I can't wait to play around with it.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

I just want to wish all of my lovely readers a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe holiday season.

I hope that your day is merry and bright.

We are going to a family Christmas Eve gathering tonight...

Let the festivities begin!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The tree is trimmed, the twinkle lights are hung; on the tree, on the house, in the garden. The stockings are hung. The Christmas bunting is hung. The countdown calender is hung and our countdown candles are being lit.



The rums balls, the cherry ripe slice, the Christmas cake and Christmas cookies have been baked. The panettone and stollen have been bought. The jelly and custard for the trifle have been made. The mangoes and cherries and watermelon have been bought.



The presents have all been wrapped. The Christmas carols have been playing. We have watched Christmas dvd's at rest time and read Christmas stories before bed. I have been flicking through Christmas issue magazine's over breakfast. We have been Christmas drawing, Christmas colouring in and Christmas crafting.



We have attended Christmas break-up parties, Christmas carol concerts and Grandma's church Christmas pageant



Tomorrow, I will make my trifle, tiramisu and a white chocolate cheesecake in the morning. In the afternoon we will decorate our gingerbread house.

We are ready.

Two more sleeps.

"Christmas is a time of giving"

I am absolutely loving this little vintage book that the elves delivered as one of the countdown calender presents this year.

Well actually.... I had seen it here last year and found a copy on Etsy. This copy is in immaculate condition, like it has never been read.

Not only do I love (love!) the illustrations of this book, but it captures the very essence of Christmas for me. While we do not have snow or sleigh rides or village carollers in Australia. This book gives a real sense of Christmas being a special family time of togetherness. That is Christmas to me.



'Christmas is a time of giving.

It's a time of wrapping gifts

and making cookies'



'A time of presents tucked in secret places...

and of children waiting'



'Christmas is a time of family...

and good friends meeting once again.'



'For some people, Christmas is a time of remembering...

remembering other happy days

filled with laughing voices...

and other treasured times, now past.'



'Christmas is a time of giving...

a time of hope...

a time of joy.'

Thank-you Sarah for sharing this lovely find and giving the details of this book on your blog. Another fantastic book discovered through the blogging community. The author is Joan Walsh Anglund if any body else is interested in seeking it out.

From the UK with love

Yesterday afternoon I discovered a lovely surprise sitting at the front door, it had been delivered the day before and missed. An unexpected parcel from an old family friend in England. Oh my, what goodness!

I have a soft spot for the UK (you may have read here) I can often be found checking out the cute British wares at this webshop. But here was our very own special bundle of UK love.



For the children. We love these Katie books, have you seen them? We have not seen this one before. There was lots of excitement.



This beautiful enamel plate is a copy of a 16th century porcelain design. So pretty. Perfect for biscuits, the next time someone comes to tea.



And this gorgeous library bag. Lined in pink (yay) for extra strength. Screenprinted, embroidered and sequins. This mummy is one happy lady. I was desperate for a new library bag. Things really aren't the same when you carry your borrowed books around in a Coles green bag!

I have bought most of my own Christmas presents this year (have you?) I am really happy with the loveliness that awaits me on Christmas morning. But there really is something to be said for surprises.

Happy 40th Birthday

Today a very special person in my life turns 40.

This person is like a sister. Somebody I couldn't live without.

This person has been by my side, guiding me through every part of my life. At every age, no matter how close or far apart we live.

This person gives me the strength to be the person that I want to be.

This person inspires me, constantly.

This person is always there to listen, even if she has heard it all before.

This person make me laughs. Oh, the stories I could tell!

She is the most wonderful mother, wife, friend.

I just want to be near her all of the time. Her energy is pure love.



I wish that I could be with you today, on your special day.

But I know that where you are, you are loved and hopefully being spoilt - just a little bit.

I shout it out to the world - Happy Birthday. I love you.

(these pictures are lobster and swan images from here and here)

Christmas crafting? I don't think so

I was planning an afternoon of Christmas crafting today.

But instead I have spent the last 2 hours hand picking nits from my son's hair! It seems like the tooth fairy is not the only thing making it's 'first ever' appearance in our house this week.

I have been dreading this day and thought that we had got through another year head lice free. I knew that there had been head lice in class and with all of the last day hugging and goodbyes, a rogue louse has jumped onto Spunky Monkey's head. Of course two days later - eggs have been laid!

I'm off now to wash bedding and lounge cushions in hot water. I would be grateful for any home remedy tips if you have any.