New Years, birthdays and everything in between!

Our Dancing Princess!

Yeah!!! Hubby is back tomorrow, I miss him so much when he is gone and not just because I have two kids to look after! I miss his company and support and him just being there, even if he has fallen asleep on the lounge or putting Amber to bed, he is still around and that is comforting!

I am trying really hard to get ready for Amber's birthday this Sunday coming and she wants a poodle cake (don't ask me why, probably cause its pink lol) and all the trimmings, she has sat down and done many hours of consulting with me about what games she would like and how she would like the house decorated! She is so excited to have all her little friends over so hopefully I can make this year a special one ( no pressure of course). Isn't it funny when your an adult 5 years doesn't seem like a big deal but when I look at my daughter and how much she has grown and changed, and all the things that happened and the things that she has accomplished since her arrival into our lives, 5 years seems to be so grown up and very much a big deal!

I hope I manage to take a few more photos than what I usually manage to take when I am having a party at our house, I am usually to busy running around like a chook with its head cut off!

New Years was nice and relaxing at Jennifer and Adam's place. Poor Adam was ill, so I am sure it was a strange one for him and the rest of us had that nasty cold that was going around that last for around 2 months. All the girls played a boardgame that I gave Jennifer for Christmas named "Jack Arse" and the boys sat around watching TV etc........probably not that exciting for them but David looked after Aidan most of the night and it was just lovely to have a break from the monotony of feeding and putting Aidan to sleep day in day out. We all went up and watched the 8.30pm fireworks and then just before midnight we all ran up to the top of Jennifer's street to watch the 2009 come in! The kids had a wonderful time also and Amber managed to make it to midnight this year, what a surprise, our child the night owl lol!

Sorry Tracey I had to post this photo, I know your going to hate me for it but it just makes me laugh and its a good memory that we were fortunate enough to share this New Year with you while you were here! So thanks mate, your still a true blue aussie sheila lol!



Three in the bed and the little one said...................................

Just a couple of family photos that were taken out on our deck, I just love this time of the year!

Our cuddly bunny after his bath!

I don't quite get what people say when they are wishing school is back in. I truly enjoy the time I spend with my children and it makes me a little sad that I won't get to spend everyday with my gorgeous little girl now! So I am already counting down the days until Easter holidays are here and we can have more adventures together! I will probably eat my words later on down the track when the attitude starts, but at the moment I get immense pleasure spending time with my babies!

We had a late Christmas with our friends a couple of weeks ago and had a marvellous time catching up with them. The kids play so nicely together and then once they all went to sleep (except our lovely late owl Amber, but she entertained herself in the lounge room), we played songstar and a trivia game on the playstation. It was a really lovely relaxing night. Thanks for the fun night of entertainment Ian and Ann, its nice to have a friendship that is just so comfortable!

Well January and February are just birthday after birthday, so Happy Birthday Lisa, Jennifer, Barry, Emma, Darcy, Mitchell, Belle, Angela, Rumi, Adam, Vanessa, Jim and our darling soon to be five year old Amber!

Hopefully we get to celebrate with you all, but if we don't I hope you have a marvellous day!

One special birthday we did manage to celebrate and luckily twice was Miss Emma, as you can see Amber, Emma , Makayla, Aidan and the two mummies had a super fun day at lollipopland! Hope you had a special 3rd Birthday Miss Emma, I know your cousin had a fabulous time!

EMMA'S HUGE 3RD BIRTHDAY WEEK!

Emma's 3rd Birthday was finished off with a lovely butterfly fairy party at mums place, as you can see by the photos everyone had a magical day! Oh I forgot it was also Barry's birthday also, even though it was consumed by fairy's and a whole lot of pink, I hope you had a

HAPPY BIRTHDAY also BARRY!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY SWEET LITTLE GIRL!

SWIMMING WITH THE BIG FISH!

Amber has been going to swimming lessons since she was 6 months old and her journey has been the slow and steady approach, so this year at the end of the year over Christmas school holidays they have intensive swimming blocks. So I decided this might be the thing she needs to get some confidence and hopefully take those first magical strokes with out assistance.

And I am proud to say after a week and a half of going to the pool everyday that it worked and Amber is just so proud of her achievements and so is her mummy and daddy. Amber can now do freestyle and breaststroke and this coming from a little girl that didn't even have the confidence to go underwater without holding someones hands. Well done my little angel, you have done us proud!

Our trip down to Coffs Harbour!

Now that February has started and I still haven't caught up and got my head around the fact that we are now in the year 2009 (I will work it out by the end of the year lol!). I thought I should make a resolution to get my act together and leave more regular posts on my blog, even if I have absolutely nothing going on in my life (no only joking, I wouldn't put that pain on anyone lol!).

I always say that things will settle down around March, but I must be delusional cause life just seems to be constantly busy these days, maybe that has something to do with the new little man in my life that is now 4 months old and growing at an extraordinary rate. Aidan's length is off the charts at the moment, so watch out world if he keeps this up he is going to be 10 foot tall lol!

Well this is going to be my catch up post doesn't that sound familiar(do I ever have a post that is actually current pmsl)!

So some where in between Christmas and New Year we managed to fit a small trip down to Coffs Harbour to see David's parents. It has been ages since we have taken Amber to the beach and for a trip down to her grandparents place(this was evident when she told me that she could not remember their home, I know it has been a little while but not that long lol) and for some reason she has been talking about going fishing in Opas boat for weeks now. I think she was watching one of those get away shows and thought that the sound of fishing sounded like a lot of fun! So in a couple of days we managed to fit in a fishing trip, an afternoon at the beach and a swim in the next door neighbours pool, plus a morning at the shops.

These photos are from Maclean when we stopped for a break on the way to Coffs!

Our day at the beach!

Amber couldn't wait to get her swim vest on to go fishing, they apparently caught a small fish that Opa told her to kiss and let go, but I think the thought of kissing a fish was more than she could handle lol! It was a very hot day so I think the trip was nearly over before it began and Amber hasn't really mentioned the thought of going fishing again, so she might be over the whole concept now lol! Her excitement at the beginning was just contagious though, I wish I had that passion and love for things like 4 year old has!

We also managed to fit in another Christmas dinner and there was also an amazing storm on the last day that produced some amazing thunder and lightening and I think a couple of houses in the area were affected with the telephone lines going out and David's parents computer blew up(lucky they had a surge protector)! It definitely put on an amazing show though and some gorgeous sunsets after the storm!

Snoopy getting in on the celebration!

I am glad we managed to do at least one thing this holidays and get away for a couple of days, it was really nice to have a trip away our first after a year of renovations and pregnancy, I think it was really healthy for all of us as a family! And hopefully there won't be as big a gap in between this time!

Where did January go!

I always find this time of the year is a blur, starting around mid December until the end of February. There seem to be a million birthday celebrations and then you throw in Christmas and New Year. But this year it has been a struggle to do basically anything with David working overseas and Amber starting school, I seem to be constantly running around in circles. I guess that is the reason why I am only just getting around to blogging about all the things that have happened this month.

Probably a saviour to all my family and friends that read this blog as then it is more of an over view rather than my usual blab fest!

So where should I start...........

Well I have to say that I am usually the main photographer in our house and these days with our little bundle that arrived in September it has been a lot harder finding a spare hand to take any piccys, but I do get plenty of cuddles. So there are slim pickings for Christmas day at home and at mum and Barry's. So I will try and find a couple, we did have a lovely relaxing day and the weather was gorgeous, a lot of time was spent in the pool which was very nice and refreshing indeed.

Amber was over the moon with what Santa brought her and Aidan, the trampoline that she had been asking for for the last 6 months and she has been on it nearly every day since! Like every year Amber was spoilt rotten but it was really lovely to finally have Christmas back in our newly renovated home (which we have already managed to fill quite well, who needs space right???), there truly is no place like home, and it just felt really nice to be back. It was even more special this year with the addition of Aidan to make our family four, its always lovely to have a baby around at Christmas. I know he won't remember anything about his first Christmas and the look on his face in the below photo says it all really, but it made it magical all the same.

Normal Amber with food all over her face!

Not the best photo but Amber was so rapt to receive her pony!





Aidan and Makayla on christmas day!

We had the fortune of having David's family for Christmas at our house this year and in early January, so Christmas was certainly spread out this year (not that Amber minded in the slightest, and I am sure if she could she would celebrate Christmas every week of the year) !

David was so happy that he could share his first Christmas back in the house, and with the arrival of Aidan it meant so much to him to share this with his family. Because of the distance we don't really get a chance to spend a lot of quality time with his sister, so it made him very happy to have this opportunity. And even though the day sped by it was really nice to catch up with them. I think the girls had a marvellous time especially under the sprinkler! What would Christmas in Brissy be like if it wasn't stinking hot lol!!! Thanks for making our Christmas such a special one!



















I just adore this photo, Amber loved playing with her cousin, messy face and all!




Here are a couple of photos showing the kids cooling down!








Well yet another Christmas season has come and gone, but we feel so fortunate that we could share it with family and friends! Thank you for sharing it with us and making it such a memorable one, I just this time of the year(craziness and all) xx. P.S. Sorry it took me till February to post this everyone! What do they say better late than never(definitely a motto made especially for me lol!