Pool Users

I haven't blogged for a week, because well we haven't been doing anything. Don't you love the week between Christmas and New Year.. perfect for sitting around doing nothing.

The only thing we have been doing is sharing ourselves around to all who own pools!!

The MR's Parents Pool


The Neighbours idyllic hideaway


Friends from church who live in a gated highrise with LARGE pool!


It rained while we were at that one, and it scared away all the other swimmers!! more room for us!! And we have been at the neighbours pool atleast twice daily for a dip... She is gone away and letting us have free range of her pool!! YAY!!

And this week also marks the time the older two girls learnt to do forward and backward flips in the water.. they haven't stopped since they got it.. and Miss G the two year old, thinks she can swim and has been going under water for two strokes until one of us pulls her up and she says "YAY! ME DID IT!"

Have a pool? Want to be added to our list?
Feel free to invite us over :)

Sabbath

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us ~ Romans 5:5

Boxing Day

This is what I spent my Boxing Day doing - FINDING HOMES FOR ALL THE STUFF!! And this isn't all of it. My children are so spoilt by their large extended family!! They got so much!!

And for those who don't know what Boxing day is (I was once asked by an american friend "Is there like Boxing championships on the day after Christmas??")

Wiki Boxing Day Definition

But basically traditionally in England it was a day when the rich boxed up their Christmas Leftovers and gave it to the poor. That doesnt happen now, it is just an extra public holiday that makes Christmas go longer. Perfect for visiting all that extended family and stretching out Christmas or for going to the Boxing Day Sales! I have never been but many people do go shopping on Boxing Day!

And the day we learn all our favourite gifts!!

Girls most anticipated excited for
BEADOS
(previously Bindi's- You know those little craft beads that you make into shapes and spray with water and they stick together)
These turned out to be the MOST ANNOYING gift for the parents. The box says for over 4 years old, but the beads rolled away, the pictures that you copy don't sit in the holes, your fingers have some disgusting taste on them after - so dont lick your fingers accidentally, fights happened, tears etc.. and all by 8am!! The first thing they wanted to open!!

Most worn gift
New Swimmers
Grandma's Apron - The 2 year old spent half an hour saying she want a bee quuuu... looking in the rooms ( I had never heard her say this word, I am thinking what is a beequuu??... )so I helped her and gave up saying "I don't know what you are talking about" and she was so sad.. Daddy finally figured out she wanted to wear her apron!! her BBQ.. just like Daddy was wearing his!!! So that was very funny.

Most Watched
Sleeping Beauty DVD
Planet Earth DVD series

Most excited mummy gift
I got Photoshop Elements!! watch out for more blog banners ;)

Most Used gift so far
Make up kit, sparkly nailpolish and lip gloss...

Most dragged around
Filly collectable mini horses... they have made many trips outside the house so far!

Gift that gives all year
We got two lots of movie tickets!! We will have lots of date nights this year ;)

The favourite day of the year Rundown

5am Wake Up call to open stockings


Then mum and dad finally drag themselves out of bed to do the present opening thing

Most looked at present Christmas morning - Photo Albums
Bad parents we are, we havent printed a photo in 3 years!! So Miss G was very excited to see her photos for the first time!! I caught up with the other girls and they were happy to see some photos after they were 2 years old!! Thanks to the MR for waiting at the shops - printing 400 photos!!

8am Breakfast with Friends


12pm - At The MR's Parents
Playing with their cool fibre optic tree that changes colour

Favourite Homemade present - these gorgeous cupcake aprons with their names embroidered


2pm Swimming Time!!


We also had a piano recital of what the girls have learnt and grandma played Christmas music on her flute and the girls danced and danced... it was great!

5pm - My Brothers house
We had a relaxing walk along the creek before MORE FOOD!

Fed the already overfed ducks


9pm- Home again home again Jiggity jig


Snuggling with Miss K in bed "This was the BEST Christmas EVER!" makes it all worth it.

The Stockings are hung

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care... In the hopes that St Nicolas (AKA MUM) would soon be there...


Our Christmas Eve tradition of receiving new Pyjama's is done!


And I have started on the VERY SPECIAL Christmas Breakfast we have each year - Toblerone Dip


My girls so look forward to this as I only make this dip once a year. They have Toblerone Dip and all the fruit they can eat to go with it.. Great when you have fruit loving kids who squeal in delight over a tray of mangoes, cherries, nectarines, pineapple, strawberries and the list goes on. We also have Turkey, Cream Cheese and Cranberry Croissants and this year as we have guests we are also having pancakes! I can't wait!! YUM...!!!

The girls are watching a Christmas movie in bed as I type and hopefully we will all be in bed early ready for Christmas to come.

Letters

Dear Primary Teacher

Thank you for looking after my children each Sunday all year! I don't think we missed a Sunday!! What hard work you do. Just so you know they do listen sometimes. Miss K has done what you asked her to do only yesterday!

From a Happy Parent

Miss K had to write a card with a Service in it for someone for Christmas. She wrote

Dear Mum
Merry Christmas. I will Mop the floor for tow (two) days. Love Miss K

Well one day later she has seen through with atleast one of those days. When the entire house is wood floors this is indeed a very much wanted act of service!! Not to mention our floors are ALWAYS filthy!!


Dear Piano Teacher

Thank you for being the nicest, best (and cheapest) piano teacher in the world! Thank you for never getting mad and always being positive - even when we NEVER practice! Thanks for your persistance.. I think we are finally getting it :)

From a Happy Parent


I almost had a heart attack this week whent the girls PRACTICED THE PIANO without a request from me. Miss K has even made up her own song with words and notes and is practicing right at this moment. I even had a small tear in my eye as she mentioned she is practicing her piece as she will play for us for Christmas. Yes I felt a little "Little Women" and "Pride and Prejudice" moment coming on!!

Several Times I had thought maybe the girls posses my musical talents (THAT BEING NONE!! I cannot sing or play any instruments and rarely even listen to music) and that maybe we were wasting the teachers time. Perhaps the price $10 for 2 kids (and dinner thrown in occassionally) per week kept me not worrying as I wasnt wasting money and the fact that their teacher is VERY NICE and Complimentive on their progress we stuck at it... Here is hoping next year is even better than this year and that they might practice more than they did this year (umm about 5 times at my begging) Each week we had to tell the teacher "Sorry We didn't practice AGAIN!!" Boy do the weeks go fast when you think "Oh Oh It's Tuesday again, and we havent practiced again!" But I didn't want to make them practice and have them turned off playing instruments as of course I wish I could play something now I am older.

Thanks to all the adults in my children's lives.. You make a difference!

The First Noel - Our yearly christmas movie

Here is this years Homemade Christmas Movie from us. We would have left a personal message on the end but don't really want our details out there for the world :) So I am wishing you all A MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family. Thanks for all the wonderful comments and online friends new and old I have connected with this year. It's been a great year and I am looking forward to an exciting year next year!! May you all have a joyous and peacefilled Christmas

This Girl Loves to Talk

Sabbath

Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you ~ 2 Corinthians 13:11

Activity Advent Review

These are the activities we did from our Advent Calendar for the week

Foam Nativity Kit


A visit to the City Tree


Sticker Gingerbread Cards
I got this kit 1/2 price ($1.99) while at the grocery store as it is so close to Christmas - It had 10 in it so we gave some to our neighbour to do aswell

Jingle Bell Sticks
I got this idea from Grandma's Modern day Trunk of Treasure I love her blog and want her to adopt me as a grandchild!! Basically thread a pipecleaner through a bell and wrap around a stick.. I got these tongue depressor size ones from Overflow.

Paper Chains


And all the things you already know about - Grandparents dinner, St Lucia day.. we have had a busy week :)

City Christmas

The girls and I made a trip to the city to see the Myer Windows and the City Tree.

We missed out last year (when the Myer windows had controversial Nativity Windows.. A Wombat wanted to be the baby Jesus in the Nativity Play.... Some religions thought this Blasphemous!!) but this year no controversy because they were all about Santa!! ( I personally think anything in the greater community which has the nativity for a theme has to be better than not mentioning Christ at all)..the windows had a Santa's workshop theme.

I remember going to see the Myer Windows when I was a kid!! There are about 4-6 Windows each year that are decorated differently each year with moving parts and general fun for kids and other activities in the Mall.

With all the kids crowding and the glare it was pretty impossible to get a good photo. This is santa's letter room.. it had letters from around the world and funny quotes from the elfs like "this is the 3 100 693 request for a pony"


In front of the tree.. they wanted the star on top in the photo by it was pretty impossible.. too tall


An Angel nearby


On the Ferry

St Lucia

So I am terrible at posting things to do before the actual date.. this is 4 days late.. sorry :) But ever since I saw a blog post about celebrating St Lucia day (back in February when I started blogging) I have wanted to make sure I did a little thing with the girls.. but with such a hectic weekend we missed by a few days... but hey they don't know.

For those who don't know what St Lucia day is.. here is the rundown

St. Lucia was an Italian saint who suffered the martyr death under the Roman Emperor Diocletian in Syracuse, Sicily around 300 AD. She is known by working to help Christians hiding in the catacombs, and in order to bring with her as much food/supplies as possible, she needed to have both hands free. She solved this problem by attaching candles to a wreath on her head.

Saint Lucy's Day (Santa Lucia, Saint Lucia) is the Church feast day dedicated to St. Lucy and is observed on December 13. It retains traditional forms of celebration mainly in Scandinavia, parts of the United States and southern Europe. It is celebrated in Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Norway, Finland, Malta, Italy, Bosnia, Iceland, and Croatia. In the United States, people in areas of Minnesota and other states with Scandinavian roots continue to celebrate the holiday, often centered around church events. Before the reform of the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, St. Lucy's Day fell close to the winter solstice on the Northern Hemisphere, so the festivities are also associated with candles and lights

We made paper candle wreaths to wear on our heads, traditionally St Lucia had 7 white candles on her head


St Lucia Buns and Gingerbread cookies are given out on St Lucia Day - we only made cookies


St Lucia, thy light is glowing
Through darkest Winter night, comfort bestowing
Dreams float on Dreams tonight
Comes then the morning light
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia

St Lucia day celebration Ideas
St Lucia Day
How to celebrate St Lucia Day
St Lucia Buns Idea

As I have all girls I was so excited to share the story with my girls of a real woman long time ago who made a difference to peoples lives. For boys they celebrate St Lucia Day as Star Boys

Star Boys Ideas here
Star Boy hat
Star Boy info

update

So this morning there were about 20 little soft toys still left in the washing basket. We went out for 2 hours and come back and they are all gone.. washing basket included!!! So be careful what you leave on the street!! I am just glad that the girls idea worked!! It worked better than I thought it would.

Giveaway

Each year we like to have the girls go through their toys and throw away the broken ones, gift away ones they don't need anymore and clean up before the onslaught of Christmas and even more gifts for them. We have a tiny house so this is especially important!!

Most of their toys are hidden in our TV cabinet.. so it can get a bit messy down there.. We filled a bag of rubbish and a bag to give to charity.. We have lots of small plastic toys (my girls favourite!! They play doll house or whatever their imagination is doing with tiny dinosaurs and animals.. we arent very girly here for all the girls I have :)


Then it was time to sort the stuffed toys. They have TOO many taking over their room and on top of cupboards.. it was time to Purge.. they kept the most loved ones in a big yellow bucket and then I said the rest had to go!!


Then Miss K had the genius idea of having "a little shop" So we made a sign that said "FREE toy ANIMALS to good homes"
The toys were a little worse for wear (many being second hand to us) and I secretly hoped someone would take them so the girls didn't feel bad. And we live in an area that is mostly old people and students.

Well we went out for an hour and the big teddy was gone when we came back, and then the big dogs went while we were home (that person was stealthy- I didn't see) then the cats and giraffe.. so the girls were VERY excited!! I just hope I don't have to get them all back of my elderly neighbour ;) But they were proud of that they gave them away and maybe someone will be able to have a good christmas present for free. We did hear a girl begging her mum to let her have one of the toys but the mum said NO!! that was funny :)

The famous Grandparents dinner :)

For about 5 years now we have had an annual Grandparents Christmas dinner about 2 weeks before Christmas. This is a very looked forward to event for our family. The MR does ALL the cooking (well I do dessert - but I like to) and there isn't anything he hasn't attempted to cook! He has done whole turkeys, hams, lamb roast, beef roast.. he has done it all! So of course I look forward to this dinner as I don't have to cook it :) The girls love to have both sets of their Grandparents all to themselves and we love a relaxing dinner with just the adults too.

A Simple Dinner setting this year (each year I do something different)


Each year it is all about the name setting! I have done so many different types - decorated ceramic pots full of lollies with name on them, handpainted stones, paper ones etc etc. This years fererro rocher idea comes from One Crafty Mumma and they were a hit amongst children and adults alike.


Drink of choice this year... GLOGG!! Do you live near an IKEA? This European non alcholic drink is an aromatic ginger/lemon limes bitter/cinammon type concoction and is available there. It is very strong so is a mixer... so we mixed it with Soda Water. In cold countries you drink it hot.. but we liked it with Soda water.. YUM!! We also had Bundaberg Ginger Beer (a favourite amongst my husband and kids.. I personally don't like it) and sparkling apple and grape juice.


Family Photo - minus The MR and me


Dessert! Meringue nests with cream, berries and berry sauce


The End!


Thanks to our families for making this yearly event possible.

Sabbath

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God ~ Colossians 1:10

Activity Advent Weekly Review

These are the activities we did this week from our Advent calendar.. we missed a few days due to School end of year Celebration night and other end of school activities.

Pipe Cleaner Stars


Handprint Christmas Tree


Candlelit bath with our lanterns and other candles


Stringing Popcorn takes a long time


We made enough to go along the mantle


Watched lots of oldschool christmas cartoons on Youtube. Here are a few links for you.. They just don't show many of these on tv for kids anymore.. I remember watching christmas cartoons for weeks leading up to Christmas, now they do it for about 2 days.

The Night Before Christmas 1933 Version
Pluto's Christmas Tree
Mouse Christmas
How the Grinch stole Christmas Original Cartoon Version

Day 12 - 12 day walk with Christ

What is the pure love of Christ?
Read: Moroni 7:40-48, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8,13
Have I felt a greater love for my Saviour as I've studied the scriptures? Have I felt His love? Can I commit myself to live each day as He would?

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Thanks for joining me on the 12 days. I hope it has added another dimension to your holiday celebrations. I am glad that I had the opportunity for some reflecting during this busy season.

Day 11 - 12 day walk with Christ

Do I love Christ?
John 13:34-35, John 14:15, Mosiah 2:22, Nephi 13:20-21, 24,33
Do I keep all the commandments? Have I put another god before Christ?

Basically keep the commandments :)
Love one another
For where your treasure is there be your heart also