Happy New Year!!

Well,here we are with another year almost through....it's been quite a year for us. A year of happiness and also sadness. I think almost every year is but this year I think I noticed it more than ever. We're staying home tonight with pizza and salad and some games. We'll enjoy a quiet evening together and then 2 of us might ring in the new year together although Crispin has a cold so I might just send him to bed instead!! I'll be back again either tomorrow or Monday. Thanks to each of you for sticking with me even when I haven't had a lot to say and when I've disappeared for weeks at a time! it means a lot to know that you are all still there :) And with that, a very happy 2012 to you all!

Friday Tea Time

All week long I`ve been joining in with Dawn for tea time at 4:00. Some days it has been rushed and some days a bit more leisurely. Today was probably the best yet....everyone playing nicely and a quick cup of tea for me. Here's a quick pic:

Nothing too fancy...a cup of Christmas Morning blend Stash tea, a slice of apricot/raisin bread from a local bakery (toasted with butter and delicious!!!) and a mini clementine. It's been a lovely break from the busy busy of today. Steve and Crispin are out at TinTin this afternoon...a long looked forward to treat!! Speaking of Crispin, here's a picture of him and his new bird Jackie. She's such a love but is on antibiotics due to an infection. She's doing well now and the vet said lots of hand raised birds have an infection in the first 6 months of life as their immune systems aren't built up yet. She's just turned three months now.

Well...I have gingerbread cookies to roll and cut with two kids so I'm off but have a very happy Christmas each of you!! I'll try to pop round in the next day or so to your blogs to say the same there. Joyous times every one!

Outside My Window:beautiful grey skies with a hint of sun showing through. It is pretty mild out today...maybe 9C?? At any rate, we haven't needed our winter coats for a few days and have been enjoying walking up to school with no mitts on. I'm OK if it gets colder though...actually, I'd love to have a bit of snow in the next week!!
I am Listening to: The hum of the dishwasher and otherwise silence. Steve has the kids outside so I can have a much needed quiet time. We sang for nearly 2 1/2 hours at an outreach lunch to about 300 people. It was with a group but still a lot of meet and greet with the other volunteers and some of the attendees. This introvert is exhausted!!
 I am Wearing: jeans, candy cane striped shirt and socks :)
I am so Grateful for: so many things but today, that our kids did really well at the singing and outreach dinner :)
I'm thinking about: Making Christmas lists...I need to carve out some time to do that.
I am Reading: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
I am Creating: play food, felt gnomes, possibly tents though that's under discussion
Organizing: bedroom boxes and right now laundry.
Children and Bird: Kids are good~a little Christmas Brain going on right now. Bird is great...she's so loving and affectionate with Crispin :)
Around the House: Cookie baking next week with a few theme days too. I'm looking forward to it!
From the Kitchen:see above!
 Favorite Thing today:: This few minutes of quiet to recharge....always so needed.

Thursday Morning Daybook

Outside My Window:still pitchy black as it is just about 6:30

I am Listening to: coffee maker brewing and kettle boiling. Our has an automatic off which I love. (It's been a long time since we had an electric kettle that wasn't!)

 I am Wearing: Pyjamas and my housecoat, bare feet

I am so Grateful for:  that no one was hurt Sunday afternoon as a driver avoiding police crashed through our little street doing 80 km/h. He took out a neighbour's shed, fence and ended up in a creek. So often our kids (and others) play outside on the street on Sunday afternoons or ride bikes. I am so thankful for God's protection...we were all indoors on Sunday.

I'm thinking about: making lists....I`m so behind this year with all my planning after losing my computer in early November and not getting another substitute until just last week.

I am Reading: mostly recipes

I am Creating: christmas secrets....tents, felt puppets, and a playscape

Organizing:  right now, Christmas decs so I can finish decorating


Children and Bird: children are all good. Crispin and Gregory were both extremely grumpy last night from too little sleep the night before so that wasn`t fun but Greg certainly has woken up happier this morning. Fiona has been going through a contrary stage but it seems to be easing off as I back off about some things. (going to preschool, potty training, weaning...)

Jackie, the cockatiel, is doing really well!! She`s very interactive, has learned  to fly up to Crispin`s shoulder and has also (mostly) adapted to the fact that he is at school all day. He really loves her and they are bonding quite well.


Around the House: I've got a multitude of things to do and many lists to make. I'm finding it hard this year to add my Christmas stuff on to the regular run of the mill stuff. I'm trying to use my crockpot more so that dinner prep is done and finished during the day.

From the Kitchen: starting to think about Christmas baking and goodies

 Favorite Thing today:: taking this time to post- it's been in my head for a while and I just haven't made time for it. Writing my thoughts down really helps me focus and get more done. That being said, I should post every day!!!