Twas the week before the Christmas.....

....... and chaos ensued!
Yes to call the week before Christmas chaos may just be the largest underestimation I have uttered! With all the personal @!*$ going on around here we added some insanely busy days to the mix.
The weekend before Christmas was Tasha's dance concert. So Saturday we spent hours at the studio waiting for costume checks and photos. Tasha HATES one of her outfits and so would only pose for me at home in her hip-hop costume.
Then Sunday morning we had to be at the entertainment centre at 9:00 for rehearsals which (surprise, surprise) were runnning late and so we finally got out of there about 11:00. We then raced around and picked up Tasha's friends Kaysha and Tegan who were coming to watch the concert before racing home, sorting out hair and make up and then getting back to the entertainment centre at 1:00pm for a concert starting at 2:00! The concert was sensational. Mum and John came along and it was the first time they had seen Tasha dance which was very, very special (especially as we were all aware this may be the last chance Mum gets to see Tasha dance). The dancing was phenomenal - wow the talent blows me away every year!
Then as the concert came out at 5pm and the carols in the park started about then we went over to the park with our picnic blanket. (YEs Tasha was still in full dance costume and make up). We got there just in time for the rain to start pouring down..... so the girls decided to pass on the carols in favour of dinner! We had planned on going back down for the fireworks but the carols were moved to a local church and firreworks cancelled. Instead we had 3 girls to try and get to sleep ( I Gave up about midnight and just went to bed myself)

Then Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs I worked. YUCK! So after work Thurs I picked Tegan up and the kids (Tash, Tegan and Kyle) and I went out on the hunt for christmas lights

We saw some amazing lights, met up with quite a few people I knew and generally just had a bit of fun.

We called it a night about 9:30 as Tegan wasn't feeling too good so we came home and sent the girls to bed.

Friday - The girls put the gingerbread house together (yes for those of you astute enough to realise we are aware that we put the roof on upside down)

This was done much later in the day than expected as Tegan really wasn't feeling well by now and after getting up about 8am put herself back to bed at 9 and didn't wake until 12:30.

The girls did a great job - especially as the icing in this kit was not easy to use - we had not used this kit before and must send a big MWAH to Cass for finding it for us as we thought we have to miss out this year :(

And then it was Christmas Eve.........