Christmas Holidays

Alicia with Buster at Swan Reach

Ewan and Alicia at the Fossil Centre - Narracoorte Caves

Alicia and me in the Bat Cave

Ewan and Alicia with the giant wombat

Brad, Alicia and Ewan at the Breakwater

The Breakwater

Brad and me at Warrnambool

The Family at the Grotto

Alicia, Ewan and Brad in the Cape Otway Lighthouse

A koala on the way to the Lighthouse

Brad, Ewan and Alicia in the Maits Rainforrest

Everyone at Umpherston Sinkhole

Umpherston Sinkhole - Can you spot the kids?

Where do we go for the Christmas Holidays? "Anywhere", says Brad. "Do you have a plan", I said. "No", was his response. "All I know, is that we will be using the caravan and we will be spending a couple of nights at Natasha and Todds shack". "Oh, okay" I say.

So we headed to Swan Reach for 2 nights, Naracoorte, Mt Eccles, Warrnambool, The Great Ocean Road, Mt Gambier and Robe. We were gone 9 nights and 10 days which also includes the day we broke down in Kingston. At least we were on our way home by then. We were rescued by Dee and Jim. We saw lots of things, did lots of things and the kids probably preferred to jump on the jumping pillow and hang out at the playground. It was an adventurous holiday to say the least. I have put some photos on here but most of them are on facebook or will be.

Christmas 2009

Christmas was good this year, no one was sick. Our family didn't go anywhere on Christmas Day, we had everyone over instead. It was a great time, the house was full, the presents were everywhere and the food was flowing. What better way to spend Christmas. The kids got everything and then some. Even I did okay with an answering machine and external hard drive, which is specifically for my photos. It was a good day but we were knacked the next day.

We finally have a photo with Santa without the kids crying. It did help a little that Alicia didn't have to sit right next to Santa. She was also warned, that if she did get scared and cry that she wouldn't be able to see him next year. A little bit of incentive, does go a long way.

Matthew is BIG

Its not often I get to have a photo with Matthew, so I wasn't going to let the opportunity pass me by. No doubt in a couple of years he won't want to have one. Here I am when they visited for Xmas, I am on tippy toes! Yes, he is only 16!

Alicia's Xmas Parade

This was Alicias first EEC get together for Xmas and it was organised a little differently than we usually attended. But they did a little parade, which I didn't think she would participate in, which is why the photo looks a little dodgy. She almost ran across the platform, and her head was almost buried into her chest but she did do it. It may have been better if they were paraded in a circle then she wouldn't have felt so self conscience. The person in black is Ms Kirsty, one of her Kindy teachers. No she doesn't normally dress like that, it was a fancy dress parade. Father Xmas even arrived but by then she wasn't entirely happy to be seeing him either. Not a great night in general but we did turn up.

Christmas Day was a ball of fun

Ewan and Alicia were amazing. Santa did as he promised. Ewan got a bike and Alicia got some dolls. The cookies were half eaten, the lemonade was drunk and the reindeer ate their carrots and drank their water. Its a full blown production, but the kids enjoy it and if we can achieve a little of the magic then why not. Its sad when it all ends, but at least we know it will come again. I harassed the family to get some family shots and I think half the fun is actually getting everyone together and taking the picture. Its a comic scenario.

Kids in the pool

Scotty, Fiona and Phoenix came over for a Christmas get together, along with Richard, Jakob and Hannah. The kids had a good time in the pool. Jakob wasn't too keen, then eventually wouldn't come out. Scotty was the only adult in amongst all those kids. Let me rephrase that, all the kids were in the pool! Ewan was riding the whale and I got some spectacular pictures of him, purposely falling off. Alicia was finally doing the swimming thing properly. Head in the water, kicking and using her arms. At least the hundreds of dollars I've spent are finally paying off. Its still a little too cold for the pool but the kids don't seem to mind. They always end up having a nice warm bath.

The last Child Care Christmas Party

It was our last christmas party with Ewan and Alicia's child care centre. We have been involved there for over 5 years. Alicia moves on, to a different child care/kindy program. It was funny as usual and we met up with Dani and her little boy Isaac. He is a funny little fellow, full of energy and looks just like Dani. I used to dance with Dani many moons ago. Ewan had a really good time harrassing the clown/magician.

Decorating the Xmas tree

The Christmas pageant has come and gone and this is the time that we (I) put the Christmas tree up. I like to have it up as long as possible and it brings festivity into the household. This year Alicia helped. She was very helpful even though most of the decorations ended up at the bottom of the tree. Slowly but surely they were moved, but its the thought that counts. I didn't notice until later, but she decorated the reindeer and positioned them so they could talk to each other, in case they got bored.

The last of Christmas 2007

Christmas Day 2007

I thought Christmas Day was gonna be a little hectic but on the contrary it was great. It all started the night before as usual and Scotty and Brad only took about an hour to put the 10" trampoline up. Santa was busy putting rockets on the skateboard or should I say Mrs Claus.

Ewan woke us up at a reasonable hour, exclaiming that Santa had been and to come and look. We had to keep a little quiet because Miss Alicia hadn't woken as yet. Ewan opened all his presents from Santa and wanted to open ours and Alicia's too. In time they were opened and we had toys and stuff open all over the place. Brad made them check to see if Santa had actually been. We could tell because the biscuits had been eaten and the lemonade had almost been drunk. The reindeer also had a little water, they must have been thirsty. It was at this time that Alicia noticed the trampoline and started jumping up and down with excitement. It took Ewan a couple of seconds to notice what she was pointing at and then they were in full swing. The trampoline was a hit, especially with Alicia.

The kids got so many nice gifts and love playing with all of them especially the Baby Born, thanks Aunty Susy. Although this present does cause me to waste my time, putting nappies on and dressing it, Alicia loves it. The other thing that presents a challenge is finding a place to put everything.

Christmas with Phoenix, Scotty and Fona

We had a lovely visit from the Goodwins on Christmas Eve and we were also able to catch up with Phil and Barry. It was a nice night and it really helps that the kids get on so well. Its amazing really considering we get to Melbourne hardly ever. Phoenix had a good time and she and Alicia had the cuddle thing down pat. No they aren't wrestling though it does look that way.

Christmas at Nonninas

We all converged onto Nonninas unit. There was, me, Brad, Ewan, Alicia, mum, dad, Frank, Susy, Ryan, Chelsea, Jennifer, Pat, Julianne, Jono and Jake. We all almost didn't fit but it was nice to catch up. I think Nonnina appreciated it. Families don't get smaller do they, they get bigger.

Christmas at Jans

Christmas at Jans nearly didn't happen again. We had rain and a lot of it. They live in the country and it floods quite easily. We still went because we wouldn't have been able to see them for a while. As it turns out the weather was fine and we had a great time.

Carols by Candlelight

This was our first carols by candlelight. The weather was luckily on our side and we had a lovely time. The kids were more interested on playing on the playground however their attention was not divided when Santa showed up on a fire engine!!! We did have tears, because Ewan didn't get a lolly from Santa and Alicia didn't want Santa to go. We can't be happy all the time.

Anyway, thanks for inviting us Aunty Tash, we had a good time.

Christmas lights are cool

Christmas lights are cool and so are decorations and they are even better all in one place. This particular house at Peterhead goes all out. He must have 1000's of decorations, statues, moving things, stationery things and lights. He has been collecting items for over 20 years and it looks it. There are too many things to see and there are a lot of people who view it. This is dedication.

We finally have it

It took effort and we pulled it off, just. Alicia, as you can tell wasn't completely happy about the whole event and I had to be in the photo which was slightly painful but we finally have it. The last time we had a semi complying Santa photo, Ewan was 3 months old, literally. We didn't get one last year, no point really and the year before that, Ewan screamed his little lungs out. Not pleasant. It would have been nice if Brad could also be in the photo, but he was working.

Advent calendars

Advent calendars never occurred for me as a child, (did they have them in those days) and they haven't occurred in our house until this year.

I decided it was time I needed to teach my kids another thing, like countdown to Christmas. Why?????? I don't know. So I bought these advent calendars ages ago. Both of the kids picked their own and there the calendars sat awaiting December. Unfortunately December arrived and a few days in.....I remembered I had the calendars, so the kids had to make up for a couple of days. Yesterday I explained to Ewan and then Alicia what the whole concept was about and why and when etc. It didn't help that they had to eat 5 chocolates all on one day because I can just imagine what will happen tonight. Anyway....

The concept is explained and probably the care factor for the kids is really not there but its a fun thing to do and at least they are guaranteed one chocolate a day until Christmas. You have to be happy with that.