Okay I have gained 2 kilos!

Christmas day started at around a quarter to five in the morning. Anna and Nick were allowed to open their stockings, but to be honest it was kind of hard to get back to sleep after that, even though we had a 11.30 to bed on Christmas Eve. (I thought I was so organised... and still it was a late night!). So it was Mikes breaksfast for about 14 people at around 8 am, and then onto the lunch onslaught. Our families stared arriving around 12, we ate around 1.30 - 2.00 ish, and I think the last person left around 6pm. At around 8pm my legs threatened to explode, from being on them all day, and its the day after boxing day and I still feel like Iv'e gone ten rounds! I will leave you with a few pics of the day. Even after all the exhaustion, it was a wonderful day with our families, and not forgetting our candle lighting tradition, for those not with us,especially some long lost cousins we have just discovered, which was the most amazing Christmas present, before my older sister Pauline says Grace, and everyone tucks into far too much food.


Yaay one of the kids, but seriously I dont know why Matt always has to have something on his head!


Me with my two adorable sisters Pauline on the Left and Lee on the Right.


Me and my nephew Damon.


and with my neice Sarah, the coolest little chick!!


And here is my sister in law Maree. Mikes two other sisters live in Oz, and we miss them!
I should have a whole lot more but they are on everyone else's cameras. Anyway Im off to put my feet up!!

With love and blessings...

Getting my kids together for a photo seems impossible. This was taken last Christmas, and Matt will not thank me for the silly hat! Anna, Emma, Matt, and Nick.

And here are Mr and Mrs Busy, which was taken about three years ago, because, I am hardly ever on the other side of the lens, and when I am its some rogue shot the kids have taken when I have dried egg down my top!!

With love and blessings from my family to yours. Be safe, be happy, and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year...

Easiest Christmas Cake... hic

VODKA AND RED BULL CHRISTMAS CAKE

INGREDIENTS
1 Cup Flour

1 Cup water
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 large eggs
1 Cup white sugar
1 Cup brown sugar
2 cups dried fruit
Lemon juice
Nuts
1 can of Red Bull
1 bottle of Vodka

METHOD
1. Sample the vodka to check the quality. (VERY IMPORTANT)
2. Take a large bowl, check the vodka again.
3. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup of vodka and mix with a little Red Bull and drink
4. Repeat.
5. Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.
6. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.
7. At this point it is best to make sure the vodka is still ok.
8. Flavour with Red Bull to taste.
9. Try another cup just in case, turn the mixerer off.
10. Break two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in a cup of dried fruit.
11. Pick fruit off the floor.
12. Mix on the turner.
13. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry loose with a drewscriver.
14. Shample the vodka to check for tonsisticitiy, flavour with a little Bed Rull.

15. Next, ssifffft two cups of salt. Or something Who giveshz a shi*
16. Throw a pinch of Bed Rull over your shoulder.
17. Pick up the can, mop the floor.
18. Check the vodka (shee steps 3 and 4).
19. Now shift the lemon and strain your nuts.
20. Add one table.
21. Add a shpoon of shugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.
22. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.
23. Don’t forget to beat off the turner.
24. Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the vodka and kick the dog.
25. Fall into bed.
Cherry Mistmas!

Teachers present - Solved!!

I thought maybe a softie, but I got these little plastic sewing kits at spotlight for 20cents ages ago. (Now I wish I had picked up a thousand of them). Coupled with a travel pack of tissues, and a little bag for them to go in I think they are not quite as predictable as a box of chocolates. I only have some sample sizes of this lovely fabric, and have been wanting to use it for ages. So Ta Da - teachers gift solved. Yaay. Now if you'll excuse me I have a tip of a house to tidy

Outside my kitchen window...

This is Cleo and we love her...



This is a Tui, and we love them too...



And here is Cleo again, looking like she is not really interested in Tui's at all ...

Okay I have a real blogging problem and need some help!!!!

When I try and do a little story with pictures in between, it all ends up back to front. Some really lovely bloggers do tutorials and everything, and its all in order. (You know the beginning at the beginning, the middle where it should be and the end ... well the end is ... AT THE END). But me, the computer illiterate fool that I am, start telling a story and want to put a picture in and then continue with the story, but I end up with the beginning at the end, so I only ever put in one picture because I can't get it right. I keep thinking perhaps I should be doing the whole thing backwards, but to be honest its hard enough getting my thoughts to go in a straight line, and forward in the first place so to start at the back and work backwards ... well all I can say is, I hope they do a nice line in straight jackets somewhere. So if there is anyone out there in blog land (who in fact reads my blog) can you just point me in the right direction. Like where would I find instructions, because I have looked in the help section, and frankly it didn't really help, and all I have done for the last half hour is wander aimlessly in cyber space, when in fact I should be preparing for the onslaught of ten 8 and 9 year olds who are all arriving for Anna's 8th birthday party at 10am in the morning. Dang I was going to be really organised this weekend as well......

The Traitor and a letter to Santa...

Dear Santa
I’m not sure how your finances are looking this year but in case you have a few bob stashed away somewhere, because you have the elves on minimum wage, and have not being paying their union fees, then could I put in a request?
The thing here is that it’s not so much for my benefit, but for Ms Jones (my sewing machine). She has been a real trouper and constant companion for the last 20 or so years but I really fear that the arthritis which has been bothering her is starting to set in. You see her presser foot, which we have been taping up for quite some time now, has really started to deteriorate. In fact just this morning the tape holding her altogether came apart and her insides started to spill out all over the carpet. I did get in a bit of a state, and the men that are working on putting our tv in, must have wondered why I was on the floor talking to my sewing machine. I was really just trying to keep Ms Jones calm whilst I put all her bits back together. She is want to sudden outbursts you see, so a calming tone is sometimes necessary.
The duct tape seems to have held it in for the moment, but there is a creak to her crank shaft now. Ms Jones really does try to soldier on but sometimes she just slows down for no reason, and then at other times just forgets to stop altogether. As I said she is want to sudden outbursts and I ‘m reluctant to use the word out loud in front of her but do you think sewing machines can suffer from Alzheimer’s?
Anyway Santa I hope this finds you and Mrs Santa and all your lovely little elves in good health? I won’t keep you as I know you must be flat to the boards, with all those demands from those delightful children, whom, may I just point out are probably only just starting to behave themselves because they know the big "two five" of December is fast approaching.
I, on the other hand have been consistently behaving myself. (Apart from that one occasion after a couple too many wines, when I got a bit lout but I went to confession the other day so I’m all good.)
Take Care and give my best to the Reindeer.
Busy Lizzie