I'm an Aunty!!!

Woohoo!! My sister Alissa gave birth to a baby girl at 12.15pm today :) They have called her Emmerson Paige, but not sure if that's the right way to spell it yet... she is something over 8lb apparently, don't have all the details yet...

BUT I'M SO EXCITED!!! This is my first time as a Aunty :) Nice to be able to spoil someone else's baby and give it back!!

I have to wait till tomorrow to visit though, coz I'll wait till Greg is home so I don't have to take the 3 kids up myself.... gives me time to find a pressie and make a card!!

:) :) :)

P.S. Today is my baby girl's 6 month birthday, so little Emmi is exactly 6 months younger!! And she is a due-date baby too, not very usual :)

When did we move into a TOY STORE????

Must have been yesterday coz that's what my loungeroom resembles right now! The children got absolutely SPOILT ROTTEN this Christmas.... now today we have the dreaded task of finding homes for all the new things!! Eek..... I think thre will be a lot of purging of old toys today!!

Hoping you all had a lovely day yesterday. Ours was long but nice... but I think we're going to stay home for our own Mardon Christmas next year!

The day started about 6am, and surprisingly we managed to get Daddy out of bed at 6.30am! Think that must be a record.... but it WAS Christmas so no sleeping in!! Lani managed to stay awake for all the present opening, unlike Eli last year (who was back in bed by the time Daddy got out of bed!)... the kids opened gifts, then seemed to only want to play with each other's toys, strange... lol... they got spoilt rotten, the best bit was when Jai thought he'd opened everything and there was a note in the tree to go and look outside... he screamed when he looked out the back window and saw the new trampoline!! Unfortunately it was rainy so they couldn't go on it straight away... So we opened our presents, played for a bit, then went to church (we were a bit late - the story of our life recently, we're never on time anymore) ... after church it was a mad rush home to pack the esky, presents, let the boys have a quick jump on the new tramp, feed the baby, and jump back in the car for the long two-hour trip to Toowoomba for christmas lunch with my family.

It was a yummy lunch and fairly relaxing... present-opening time was crazy, presents going everywhere, and all too fast, so I really don't know who gave the kids what! And they got spoilt rotten again... thankfully we borrowed a wagon from our pastors (our car needs a wheel balance among other things!) coz we needed the extra boot space... it was full on the way home, oh I should have got a photo of that.....

The trip home was a LONG one... Miss Lani does not like car trips and what should have taken 2 hours, ended up taking a lot longer.... we had to stop a few times coz she was just screaming and screaming and then she was overtired so was just screaming some more... we decided to stop in at Mum and Dad's on the way past to try and settle her to sleep.. well we were there for an hour, she didn't go to sleep, but then did in the car, PTL! So we finally got home at about 8.30pm, put the kids to bed, unloaded the car.... and my BIL gave us a bottle of Kahlua and of Baileys (which I've not had much of before), so we REALLY enjoyed a yummy drink to wind down.... and some left-over banoffee pie too, yum!!

So now is the long task of finding where to put all these toys!!! BIL is *hopefully* (fingers crossed) moving out in a week or so, so if and when that happens, we'll be able to set up the rumpus room again as a playroom, and I can't wait!! We'll have somewhere to put the toys for one!!

As usual, I didn't get a lot of photos.... I never seem to get around to it, and would rather be joining in than running around behind the camera all day... and the lighting is never any good around our christmas tree... but here's a few from the day.... (oh a couple from today too)

Greg got this electric shock game from his sister..... here's all the big strong 'men' (boys) trying to out-play eachother and see who's a sissy and who's a 'man', lol..... I won't play... lol.... don't see the need to intentionally give myself an electric shock, coz no doubt I'd lose....

Jaidyn and Elijah were given matching shirts from their Nan (MIL) and of course I had to put them on them for christmas day.... really wanted to get a full-length pic of them, but Eli won't stay still for more than a second so this was the best I could do - Dad had to be in it... still a nice photo of my boys though :)

Li-Li and Daddy playing on the new tramp today:

And I attempted to take some pics of the kids together.... never seems to work does it... got a couple of half-decent ones though, so that will have to do!

And beautiful Miss Lani on her first christmas (she's in her christmas dress too, but the headband was lost in the pile of gifts and wrapping and boxes in our loungeroom!)

Ooh, wanted to say I got really spoilt... Greg bought me a gorgeous bracelet, and my parents had a freshwater pearl necklace made for me over in Singapore on their holiday earlier this month. Also got the Crabapple Bakery Cupcake cookbook and a cupcake tree, so can't wait to do some baking!! Will make a beautful cupcake tree for Greg's birthday next week.

Hope you all had a beautiful day with your families and stopped to remember the birth of Jesus.

OK, now onto the new year...

One more sleep...

Just thought I should get on quickly, as I might not have time later, to wish you all a very Merry Christmas (if you celebrate it of course!). Hoping you all have a beautiful and relaxing day tomorrow with family and loved ones, and that you may all take some time to reflect on the REAL reason we celebrate this holiday! That is, the birth so many years ago of one special babe who was to grow and save his people from their sins... that'd be us, and that'd be our Saviour Jesus Christ!! And if you don't know Him, why not just ask Him to come and fill you this Christmas? He's waiting for you... :)

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:11
Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord.

Matthew 1:21
"She sahall bring forth a son, and thou shall call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins."

Makes a girl feel good...

... a new hair cut that is... and mine has been WAY overdue... so finally got the chop the other day, and I like it short!!! Haven't been bothered to straighten my fringe yet (hope I can find time to regularly though!), so for now a clip has to do!

Anyway, here's me now :)

Hope you're all nearly organised for Christmas.. I so AM NOT!! Eeek... still have a few pressies to get, probably have to go tomorrow or might drag Greg out on Sunday too.....

Well have a great weekend all!!

Congrats and cupcakes...

So HOW did it get to be the 17th of December already!! Eek!! I'm sooo not organised for christmas...... thankfully though, Greg is working 2.30-12.30 this week so I have a bit more time during the day to go and do the dreaded christmas shopping without the kids (well the boys at least)...

A few things to catch up on...

A HUGE congrats to Amy (my SOF buddy) and Michael on the early arrival of their beautiful daughter, Amalia.... it seems Amy liked my trick of delivering her own baby in the car, coz that's what she did too!! Good on you Amy, its a great experience wouldn't you say... I hope to meet the princess soon!!

Another CONGRATS to Cass (another SOF buddy!) and Dale on the arrival of their baby girl, Annabelle... great name too!! Can't wait to see some piccies of her!!

My sister has a week or so left till her bub is due... can't wait!!!

Yesterday afternoon, I had a lovely high-tea afternoon tea with my girlfriends from school, that I don't see nearly often enough, in fact, I'm not even sure I saw them at all this year, except for one.... oops, must change that for next year.... anyway, of course, I made cupcakes again, this time minis and I tried my hand at making christmas trees again, and this time they actually worked to my liking!! Yay... here's a piccie...

The food at the high-tea (yes all for 5 people, eek!)

ETA: the high-tea WASN'T at my house, so therefore it was not me who went to all the trouble to make this table all pretty... I just took my cupcakes along.... :)

And the 5 of us (gotta get our yearly group shot!) Two girls missing this year, Mel and Jo are overseas in the UK... here's Lou, Erinna, Katrina, myself and Jade.

Other news.... Mum and Dad returned from their cruise last week.... I think Mum is finding it hard to adjust to having to cook and clean again!! Jaidyn is having a few nights at Mum's this week, ahhh, love holidays..... now just have to entertain him when he gets back... I think a bit of christmas craft and cooking this week is on the agenda, maybe a play-date too.

Well, I'm frantically rushing around trying to get christmas presents sent off, cards sent off and the rest of the christmas shopping done. Thought I better do a quick update, but now I have to go and get my hubby out of bed and shower and go do some christmas shopping!!

Have a great day all xxx

Beautiful beautiful Lani...

** I started this post a few days ago (really today is the 17th!) so I'm just gonna post it to get it out and do another one too I think, can't seem to keep up with this these days, but things I want to get down! **

My girl is now 5 months (and a half nearly!) old... where did that time go.... thought it about time I did an update on her development and did a shoot....


She is rolling like a trooper (has been for a couple of months really). She hardly stays on her back these days unless she's particularly happy and then she is seen goo-ing and gaa-ing as in off in another land anyway... or eating her toes...


She has started getting up on her knees a little, and rocking back and forth. At this rate, she'll be crawling by Christmas, just over 6 months, my clever girl. (However in saying that, both the boys were crawling by 7 months I think)


I have given her the taste of solid food a few times. From today though, I think I'm going to make sure its every day, as he sleeping patterns at night have been shot to pieces lately.... she's reverting to worse than when she was born, waking every 3 hours like its daytime!! (as it is, I am updating this at 4am coz she's got up every TWO hours tonight... I'm so sleepy!!) Would just love a *bit* more sleep!! So obviously her tummy needs something more.... maybe I should try the bottle before bed again too. Yes, she's still breast-fed. However, who knows how long that will keep up if as it seems, she's not getting enough!! Hopefully the solids will help though, and I can continue to breastfeed for at least a few more months.

Well here's some piccies I took at 5 months old:

Post overload!!

Oh why do I leave it so long between posts, and then have about 100 things to mention when I *do* get around to posting - really must just do it in dribs and drabs mustn't I!!
So LOTS to mention...

Yes, I got to see my gorgeous Lusi, even though that in itself seems ages ago now (nearly two weeks!). Of course it was too short of a visit, but SO GOOD to see her, as we really don't know when it will be next... here's a pic I nicked off her blog... I managed to show her a lot more of Brisbane than I had intended, as we got a little lost getting from the airport to Maccas where I was meeting my sister.... so she has now been over every major bridge in Brisbane, and got more snaps of bits she didn't get last visit, hehe.... I was sad to hand her over to Cass and Lu though :( Hope its not too long till I see you again sweet girl xxx

It's definitely Christmas in full swing in our house now! The start of December definitely brought with it all things christmassy... This year I have made the boys an advent calendar using an activity each day rather than a chocolate - but actually they have the choccie calendars too, which I had bought before this idea was given to me from the wonderful Ange at SOF... Well as for the actual calendar, hopefully I'll get something made next year, but I've designated a christmas/family related activity for each day leading up to Christmas Day. So far, we've missed actually doing a few of them - due to disorganisation or wet weather - but hopefully we can catch them up. So far we have:

* Been to the local christmas carols

* Put up our tree

* written christmas cards

Today after school we are making some felt baubles... these activities are much harder to find time for with school to work around though! Today's should be fun, and might actually be good enough for yesterday's activity of getting a new ornament each for the tree (even though we just bought new red ones on Sunday) - we will make them this year I think!

So the weekend saw us at our playgroup (the one I've been going to with a couple of girls I went to school with - love facebook!) christmas party. One of the guys dressed up as Santa, which was for sure the highlight of the afternoon, at least for us adults... it was one of the cheap costumes I gather coz it fitted oh-so-bad and Pete had a nice hole in his crotch area - so funny!! The kids thought he was great though, except Pete's own son who was petrified... lol... we had done a little secret santa with gifts for the kids. Its actually the first 'christmas party' I've been to for a playgroup or group of friends, and it was really nice... maybe I should organise one with our other friends from church too! Eli got a little teddy that has velcro, laces, buttons etc to play with; Jaidyn got some matchbox cars; and Lani got a couple of rompers. Of course I made cupcakes again!! Spent ages the day before looking up pics on the net to decorate them..... well they didn't really turn out how I initially wanted them too, but were good anyway!

And Eli thought so too :)

Straight from the playgroup break-up, we headed to our local christmas carols... it was so good that it was on last weekend, as otherwise Greg would not have been able to go (working 6 days/week from now on), and I wasn't sure I would be with the kids on my own (Eli is enough to handle in a place like that!). They were lovely. I really LOVE going to our carols. Ours are particularly great because they are put on by the combined churches in the area, so there is really a big Jesus focus, which is so often lost these days, and I love that Jesus' birth was the main focus still, with only a little bit of Santa, Rudolph and Frosty...

In preparation for this last weekend, I spent the nights of the week before at the machine, sewing a christmas dress for Miss Lani. So of course she wore it and looked just gorgeous!! Might have to put it on her regularly in December to get some wear out of it, and of course on Christmas Day! And Eli wanted in on the photos too:

On Sunday we put up our tree and a few christmas lights... just as we were putting the tree together though, we decided we wanted some more fairy lights for it and I wanted to add some red to the blue and silver we've had for years.... so the tree stood there a little bare while we trundled off to Crazy Clarks to get some more decorations! Then we came home and Jai and I (and Eli tried to help too, but of course really just got in the way!) decorated the tree and Greg chuffed off outside to put up the lights on the house... we don't have a lot, but might just collect a new set each year I think.... we now have one set of icicle lights hanging from our gutter, and Greg bought a set of net lights to hang from the deck (really, we could have done with 2 of these ones though), and we got a neon red christmas tree which is hanging in the baby's room's window (which faces the front of the house).... here's the tree though... I just LOVE looking at it, esp with the lights on at night...

And here's a special little friend on our tree - a snow baby that my grandmother made for Jaidyn (he has 4 - the first 4 years of his life, but she's not making them anymore :()

I have a list about a MILE long of things to make and do.... its getting closer to christmas and I seem to keep adding to it and then not doing much..... I did get some inspiration from Ali Edwards this morning while reading her AEzine email, when she encouraged us to do these projects in the bits and pieces when we can, and they will come together... I am forever waiting for a nice big chunk of time to do it, which face it, doesn't happen much in the life of a SAHM to 3!! So I'm going to try to get these things done in small amounts now...

Anyway, this has taken a good chunk of time to do already, so I'll leave it for now... possibly missed something but oh well.

Take care all xxx