Leaping into a new decade

They say that you should start the New Year in the manner in which you intend to proceed. Unfortunately I spent New Years day doing housework only to hear this proverb a day too late.

The Rooster and Tools threw caution to the wind and plunged into the new decade. Nothing could hold our fearless boy back as he followed his father, leaping so quickly that my camera only captured his little splash.

We brought the new year in with just our little family. The zoo, an evening swim, pizza at one of our faves and a DVD. We clean forgot about the fireworks we have seen every year and went to bed 15 minutes before the stroke of midnight.

Our summer has taken a vacation. Our garden is lush with all the rain but we need some sun so we can open up our van and get to work before we head away on the weekend.

Hope your New Year has been filled with little bursts of sunshine.

Phew!

I am not sure what happened to December. One minute we were lighting the first of the candles in our floating advent wreath and the next its a rainy boxing day on Shark Island.

The elves kept us busy, delivering daily messages into advent calendars instructing us to make and write and create and make believe. To dance to Aussie Jingle Bells, sing carols by candle-light and to be the best little duck at Christmas concerts. To love the stories that make Christmas real and to learn how to be patient and grateful for what comes our way.

The rain of Christmas day brought a gentle mist and cooler weather to enjoy a house full of family and a table full of food. Admittedly, the same rain caused us a little stress as we packed for Boxing Day on Shark Island. But the weather gods were kind with only a gentle drizzle to spoil our fun.

I am not sure where our summer has gone. I am glad that we got the chance to flop on a beach before Christmas to celebrate the end of another year and the start of our holidays. New Years Eve, camping in our van, overseas visitors. There is much more to come this January.

Wishing you the merriest of New Years. I hope you welcome in 2010 with the silliest grins.

A Christmas wish

Peace. Not world peace. Although that would be nice. Not peace and quiet. That would get boring after a while. Just peace amongst my children.

They love each other way too much. And of course they are polar opposites. Missy walks around singing an old Playschool song "I like peace, I like quiet" which is the most ironic tune to ever pass her lips. She charges through life with a bang and a crash, upsetting as many things and people that pass through her day. Don't get me wrong, she has the sweetest of natures and everyone she meets can't help but fall in love with her, but she is quite simply, an antagonist. Which does not mix well with my gentle boy.

The Rooster loves a quiet place to broom his car and push his train and look at his books. He doesn't need someone upsetting the space that he has set up so very carefully. It distresses him to no end to see his things disturbed.

The day started out so joyful, the littlies finding a treat and a note in their advent calendars, but by 10 I was exhausted from sorting out their squabbles.

So please Santa can Mummy please have some peace. I won't be greedy. One day will do. OK, I will be greedy. Maybe just once a week?

This weeks eye spy brought to you by the gal that puts it altogether, Cindy.

And then on number 25 it will snow at my house

The Rooster has been counting down the days since the 2nd of November. We even made a countdown calendar just to get us to today, when I said we would put up the tree, and tomorrow, the start of advent.
I didn't even remember the Christmas train we had under the tree last year. But I am not a 4 year old boy who spent the day lying under the tree's lights watching it go round and round.

The kids needed something to do while mummy battled with the branches. And what train doesn't need a tunnel to run through?

The advent calendars are ready for tomorrow, stuffed with a treat and a little Christmas activity, a different one each day to keep the littlies busy until the 25th. Tomorrow we are off to the library for some christmas borrowing. I am not sure how many more times I can read Aussie Jingle Bells without wanting to throw myself in front of a Rusty Holden Ute.

Adventures

We have just got ourselves one of these. Admittedly, ours does not look exactly like this. Its a little older and a little more pre-owned but we are just ridiculously excited by the many adventures that await us.

Thanks to Louise for such a well timed theme and to Cindy for hosting. Go check out the skirts she has been busy making for Mathilda's Markets.

pic via as ebay wouldn't let me copy a pic of the real thing. The one we now own. Yikes!!

New favourite gadget

A set of these, too sweet to resist, measuring cups arrived on my doorstep earlier this week. After spotting them over at Georgielove I couldn't resist getting myself and 3 other special people a set (wouldn't you when the postage was the same as getting one and Christmas is just around the corner?) .

The littlies love them and they currently rank as most fought over toy this week. I can now happily retire my little handpainted set from Prague back to the treasure shelf.

Getting sick and tired of the gadget that I am tapping away on. I have now written 81 school reports on my mac and I have to say quite frankly I AM OVER IT.

More gadgets at Cindy's.

PS These little guys were from here just in case you were wondering.

Orange polkadots

Yeah for me! I am having a tinny week. Had a win on the horses on Tuesday and have just discovered that I have won this cute as a button, shirred top for my Ellie from another Ellie who haunts the blogsphere. I have no idea how Miss Ellieboo does all she does. I am constant awe of what she packs into her week. Go check out what she is up to now. I tell you she never seems to sit still!

Will post shots of my girl flitting about and strutting her usual attitude later.