Christmas morning

I am soooo slack and so behind with my updates. So here is the first of many posts I have to get around to organising. Ooops.

this is Christmas morning. My big christmas present? My kids both slept in until about 7:30. My day started with a lovely text from a gorgeous girl just as I was getting out of the shower. MWAH love you honey. This was the first of many texts that went back and forwards that morning!
Our day started with some very excited kids. They had been warned this year that presents were a little on the lean side so were very happy to see their stockings were still there ready to be opened Christmas morning. And Jacob had his santa sack to open as well - so all three kids sat down in the lounge room together and the present opening began!

Hmmmm don't know what she is fishing for here but she is taking it very seriously.

And bam it's all over so quickly. Tell me, why did I spend so long wrapping those presents?!?

I love this pic of Tasha. she is sitting patiently by the phone waiting for THE CALL! We got a call from the Allan family and with the phone on speaker we had a mad present opening session between Worrigee and Melbourne! It was so lovely to hear their voices and if we couldn''t be there in person at least we got to share part of Christmas Day with them! Bring on 2011 - Christmas with the Lucas/Allan clan all together!

Now I am wondering what sane person would buy both kids a water pistol for Christmas that shoots 10 metres ?!?!?!?

more christmas day to come as well as my family celebrations a few days later

Its Christmas Eve

Wow, things are starting to get exciting now....... It's almost Christmas Day!

We have had a busy couple of days. Last night we all (Tracy, Jacob, Kyle, Tasha and I) went out driving around town looking at Christmas lights. Some of them were amazing - with one house even having a band sititng in the front lawn playing carols! The kids were all amazed by the lights and we got out the car at some of the bigger ones to walk through and look at all the decorations. some of the houses had so much to look at - train sets, santas, sleighs etc... I love these pics of the kids on the sleigh - not so much for the picture of the person sitting next to Santa but if you can see it check out the back of the sleigh - that thing was obviously gathering speed!!!!1

Then today (Christmas Eve) we had Jhorjie here for the day. I had lots off cooking to do and a couple of eager helpers. Hmmmmm what happens when you add girls and chocolate! Lots of mess - lots of licking of beaters - and lots and lots of laughs

Then the kids got stuck into the gingerbread house Tasha had begged for. It is an interesting decorating project and I just realised I only have shots of one side of the house which is probably a very good thing! The other side has had every mm covered in icing, chocolate and sprinkles!

Apart from that its just been business as usual. Tried to find half an hour this afternoon to read but the girls decided it was time to play stacks on Aunty Cathy! I laughed so much I was clutching my sides but it was a lovely time.

so I am now trying to get some ironing done. Pressies are all wrapped and under the tree. Cooking started for tomorrow. Kids in bed. Bring on Christmas Day!

oooopps - forgive me

please, for it is a long time since I last blogged.....

Well so people are telling me..although I must say coming from one who has been known to go for months between blog entries and from another without a blog I say "People in glass houses etc etc" ~L~ just kidding. Love you guys and I totally understandhow enthralling and exciting my life is! I am sorry for any withdrawals I have forced you to endure.......

Anyway I am currently editing photos so you may have another post in an hour or so.

As to what has been happening. Today was the last day of my advent swap with Sandra which leaves mixed emotions. Amazing joy because this girl knows me so well and seems to find just the right thing and sadness because it's all over. I am recovering from my chest infection and am breathing properly again - you don't realise how much you take breathing for granted!

Anyway - I'm off to edit photos.

Another year older

Yeps its official. I am older!

My birthday was a bit of a mix. I was blown away by the number of birthday wishes I received. It was nice to know people thought enough just to send a happy birthday message AND I heard from my big bro! the only problem was I was feeling so rotten I couldn't really enjoy it. I have some horrid sinus, fluey type thing which has left me exhausted with a sore throat, runny nose etc.

I had planned to go and see the wonderful Cass today but didn't want to take these germs to her house so stayed home. Got up this morning got the kids organised then went back to bed until about midday. Actually feel slightly more human now.

I am a proud mum!

This last couple of weeks has been full of dance. We have had dress rehearsals and end of year concert which went really well and then this last weekend we had group photos on Saturday then sunday was scholarship exams during the day followed by the end of year party and presentation on Sunday night.

This was Tasha's first ever scholarship exam and she did so well. Here is her class getting their exam results in her Jazz class (they dont do exams for hip hop). Tasha came away with honours! Which is the highest mark you can get. I was so proud of her. And she was very proud of herself...Then the teachers gave out their yearly award. These are given out over each style of dance in all ages. They are discussed and picked by the teachers at the studio. Tasha got the teachers award for hip hop (for the second year in a row). She is only slightly proud of that fact! ~L~ The fact that she was picked over some of the senior dancers was extremely awesome!

Some of the girls with their trophies. l - r Emily, Tasha, Alicia and Jess. These 4 are close and it was great to see them all get trophies!

Advent

Here is an update on the advent swap I received from Sandra. This has become such a family event each day. Thanks to the little notes attached someone will start singing "On the *th day of christmas Sandra gave to meeeeeeee" and everyone will gather around the table. (So that is Kyle, Tasha, Tracy and Jacob - and even Tony if he is awake). Then we all get to oooh and agggh over the parcels. 7th - a gorgeous note box covered in some of my fav papers
8th - Strawberry shortcake cake. Smells beautiful (and it comes in a cute tin!)
9th - Candy cane - yum, yum
10th - Some oil melts from my fav shop. Sandra and Matt introduced me to Le Desire when I was down there. Its a wonderful place and I adore their melts.
11th - Ribbons - I luurrve ribbons
12th - Ribbons and ones you can touch! I love velvet ribbons

Now its definately.....

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

In the shortest amount of time our tree went from this..... To this!

We put carols on, we laughed, we mucked around and we got the tree decorated. The kids (Kyle, Tasha, Jacob and Tasha friend Tegan who was staying over) hung all the decorations and managed to spread them quite evenly for a change!

Le Pointe Summer Holiday

Last night was the end of year concert for Tasha's dance studio - Le Pointe school of Dance, Music and Theatre. Wow what an amazing amount of talent that studio has. There were all sorts of routines from the preschoolers up to an absolutely awesome hip hop routine by the talented Mr Mitch and Miss Nikki. This years theme was Summer Holiday and each dance had music and costumes to fit in with that theme. This was Tasha's Jazz costume And this is her Hip Hop outfit!

She danced really well and I was very very proud of her. She set herself a goal not to get hurt or fall and the first thing she said to me when I picked her up from the stage door was "Mum I acheived my goal" (Last year she had a horrid fall during the finale that saw her being led off stage clutching her side and crying - which led to some tense moments for me before I could check she was okay - she ended up with some amazing bruises all over her hip and down her thigh!)

She is holding out for the video now which usually isn't available until dancing returns in the new year. This coming weekend (the 12th-13th) we have studio photos and scholarship exams so please be praying for Tasha as she prepares for this.

Pressies......

Well in the madness, rushing and insanity that has been the last week ( and this week is destined to become!) I have had a smile put on my face by my gorgeous friend Sandra. This girl is one who I have only known for a few years but who has become so very dear to me. Her and her family always welcome me and love me for who I am which is an amazing gift in itself!

Anyway I thought I would share some of the wonderful pressie sI have been opening each day.

First this very cute snowman to hang on my tree ( if I can keep him away from Tasha) 2nd of December was this adorable journal covered with chipboard and paper (look its paisley!)

with this inscription inside. It made me cry!

Anyone who has scrapped with me recently knows how much I love these little letters! they seem to be turning up on everything I make.

On the 4th day of December Sandra gave to me...................... well if I must be completely honest - slightly more chocloates than you see pictured here. Oooopps got carried away and forgot to take the pic first. Yummy chocolates

5th day of december was this lovely coconut hand cream. Smells lovely.

And on the 6th - another present that is sooooo me. I LURVE Body Shop! Yum yum

I am having so much fun opening these little pressies every day. And every one I open shows just how well this girl knows me. Don't think I could have done better myself. MWAH love you sweetie.

On the first day of Christmas..........

Woo hooo it arrived! I got an exciting parcel in the mail from an amazing friend. It is my christmas advent pack from Sandra. What a gorgeous way of sharing and feeling loved!

For the last few years we have sent boxes full of treats. One for each day of December leading up to Christmas. This year not only did they all come individually wrapped (as usual) so I get to open a present every day but each one has a gorgeous little note attached which says "On the 1st day of christmas Sandra gave to me" etc,etc so that not only do I get a present but I go around singing that song all day and it puts a big grin on my face! Every time I realise I am humming it, singing it in my head etc I grin and remember that someone loves me!

MWAH sweetie - love you heaps.