Happy New Year 2010!

Well I was late with the previous post – sorry! There was the mad run up to Christmas and then while I was on holidays, I took time off from all my commitments. I was worn out.

The year of 2009 was kind to our Family. We enjoyed good health and were well cared for. As a Family we enjoyed luxuries many can’t given the hardtimes. For that we are truly grateful.

Personally, I feel lucky to have a job given the economic crisis. My children do not go without and my husband is a constant source of support to us all.

I would also like to thank those who sent well wishes to help me celebrate another 40 something birthday. December is a fabulous month!

May 2010 bring you all goodtimes and lots of great memories. Cheers to you all!

It must be Christmas

I love how the festive/silly season allow us to be just that.

We dress up and dress up our surroundings.

I love  Christmas.

It has to be one of the largest community events in the world!

Peace on Earth to all.

PS.  Sorry for the delay!

It’s quiet without you

It is the first week of the school holidays for private school children here in Queensland.  As Paul and I are busy at work, Sam has been spending the week out at my Mum’s place which is about a 30 minute drive away.  So since Sunday afternoon, there has only been three of us in the house.  I have been busy with Christmas preparations, Pat’s Christmas concert and Paul has been travelling.

Pat has been pretty mellow and chatty.  He sometimes says he misses his brother, but mostly he has been pretty happy to occupy himself and play solo. He has also had the luxury of his parents undivided attention. There have been no fights, and neither Paul or I have had to raise our voices since Sunday.  Needless to say, we are pretty relaxed also.

While I am enjoying the relative serenity, I do miss my big boy.  I am so looking forward to you coming home tomorrow.  I need a cuddle!

I love you Mum

A conversation between my son Pat (3½ years) and myself yesterday afternoon.

Mum: I love you Pat.   Do you love me?

Pat:  Yep, I love you Mum.

Mum:  Do you love me the most?

Pat:  Sure.

Mum:   Cool – that means I’m your favourite.

Pat:  I love you and I love the birds.

Mum:  What?  I thought you loved me the most.

Pat:  Well I don’t love all the birds Mum!

So different but the same

Brothers

3 years separate them

Different physical attributes

One is an extrovert the other an introvert

One is very competitive in nature while the other isn’t

One is kind and gentle to his brother the other is more selfish

In nearly every way these two are polar opposites

but  when you turn off the hose

Same reaction.

Deck the Halls

December is “the” month. It is the month of my Mother’s Birthday. It is the month of my Birthday. It’s the month of Jesus’s Birthday. It is the month that we Aussie’s call – The Silly Season.

Christmas in this part of the world occurs in Summer. It’s hot here, damn hot! Regardless of the lack of snow, we still follow alot of the traditions that people in colder parts of the world do. Things like making plum puddings, gathering for a scrumptious lunch or dinner on Christmas Day, running all over town in search of the right present, the Christmas card write-a-thon and the main event, the decorating of the Christmas Tree.

Most of us Aussies use artificial trees. It has been the rare occasion that our Family had a real tree taking pride of place in the lounge. For our little family, decorating the tree is a big deal. Both the boys put on their decorations, and Mum or Dad help them reach the higher parts of the tree. Each takes a turn each year to place the star on top, while the other has the task of turning the Christmas lights on.

Decorating the Christmas Tree - 2008

This is little event is very much looked forward to in our home. It brings back great memories and creates a few new ones. Nothing silly about that.

One of those moments

My eldest son will be completing grade one in a weeks time. Last week his class and the other grade one class celebrated the end of term and their science and gardening project studies by holding an “Ugly Bug Ball”. The students dressed up as insects or creatures from the garden. They had a parade to show off their costumes, they sang songs and they danced.

They all had a fabulous time. Paul and I both attended to enjoy the moment with Sam and we weren’t disappointed. A highlight was watching Sam and his partner dance the Tennessee Waltz together. They were so composed and in unison. It was beautiful to watch. I was so proud of them both. He looked so grown up!

And afterwards I got to dance a turn with my little man. It has heavenly

It’s been a big day

A conversation between Pat my 3 year old and myself upon his arrival home from Kindy.

Mum: Hello Pat, how was your day?

Pat: I’m very tired Mum, I had a big day.

Mum: A big day huh! Sounds good. Did you do anything interesting?

Pat: Not really.

Mum: But you said you had a big day. What did you get up too – some drawing, painting or playing in the playground?

Pat: Nothing much. I just saved the world, now I am very tired so you can stop talking now!

Danger of the slippery kind!

I live in Australia and as such are used to the jibes of foreigners about the amount of dangerous animals, insects and reptiles that are indigenous to our land.  I grew up in the country and was pretty much used to these creatures being around.  We were careful, but as children you have no real sense of fear.

This afternoon our neighbour called by to say he saw a very poisonous snake on the border of our gardens.  A place where we all frequent and the boys do most afternoons.  It comes as a real shock.  I have never seen this type of snake in this city, always in rocky wind rows or scrubland of rural areas. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthophis

I am very upset and pretty anxious about hearing this news.  The weather is very warm which means snakes are very active after the winter months.  It is a time for caution and common sense.  As a parent I am concerned.  Until further notice my boys will be coming and going the house via the front stairs.  The garden stairs are now “out-of-bounds”.

Such is the burden for living in such a wonderful place.

Special Moments

I have been asked quite a few times this week what was my favourite day on holiday.  Was it a place I visited?  Was it a particular activity or event?  Well when I think about it  I saw lots of wonderful things, but my best memory is an event.

Ten days ago time caught up with me – in the sense it gave me a subtle reminder of  its passage in our lives.  As a family we were enjoying an adventure when something happened to Sam. 

He lost his first baby tooth. 

For weeks he had a wobbly tooth, but I pretty much forgot about it with everything else we were doing.  Then ten days ago Sam became anxious about the whole thing – he just wanted it out!  On closer inspection we found that the replacement tooth had already broken through the gum behind the wobbly one.  So after a lot of whining and some coaxing by Beedo’s (Grandma) fingers, the tooth was out.

Sam was so excited.  My youngest son Pat didn’t want to be left out so in the preceeding minutes he was certain one of his teeth was wobbly too.  So here I am in Rotorua wondering whether the tooth fairy was going to find Sam and also wondering where the time had gone? 

My babies are growing up, such are special moments.  I will remember it always.

PS.  The Tooth Fairy did indeed visit – paid in the local currency too.