2010 ...

... and back to reality!
Happy New Year to you all and welcome to a new decade.

Reading through some blog posts over the last couple of days I have seen some people reviewing their previous decade, so I decided to look back as well ...

In the past decade I ...
... married my best friend
... lived at the opposite end of NZ to all my family
... moved to the other side of the world
... travelled to some amazing places
... relocated back to NZ, slightly closer to family
... had our first baby
... bought our first house
... had our second baby
... enjoy seeing life through the eyes of my children
... lastly I started an amazing new hobby ;) and through it I have met so many new people both online and in real life that I am delighted to now call my friends!

As for the next decade ... I am not sure what it will hold, I have dreams of more travels and things I want to learn, I want to spend time with friends and family, but most importantly spending quality time with my hubby and my gorgeous children - and capturing our life through my scraping and photography.

On the ninth day of Christmas ...

I know this post is a day early, but with my 'to do' list is still a mile long am not sure that I will get back to post for the next few days.
So ... from me to all my blog readers (and stalkers) out there I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Hope you have a fantastic day with your family and friends.

On the eighth day of Christmas ...

... another busy day getting ready for the festive season. Grocery shopping with two kids in tow, not the most ideal way to visit the supermarket but they were pretty well behaved on the whole - now don't think I will have to venture back there until after Christmas - fingers crossed! ;)

After lunch was time to do a bit of baking for the tins over the next few days ... lots of yummy gingerbread men (little and big ones) ...



And a photo of the 'tree' that I bought on Saturday, have a few decorations that I will add to it have decided to stick with a silver and red theme.

On the seventh day of Christmas ...

... was our traditional trip to visit Santa at the Hospital. The kids had their photo and chatted with Santa - this is an annual fundraiser for the Neonatal unit (NICU) at Dunedin hospital. We have had Santa photos there for the past 5 years - sort of a tradition now. Is also a bit more special supporting the unit after my niece was born this time last year, 10 weeks early - although in Melbourne I know that these units do an amazing job with the new babies and their families.
The kids smiled nicely for this photo and yes Emma was in the photo too - but made sure Finn was sitting between her and the big guy in red - LOL! Then afterwards as we were walking away the kids had to go running back to tell Santa where we were going to be on Christmas Day - Santa was very quick and answered 'I have a map but don't worry your Mum and Dad have my mobile number so can text me the details. They can also let me know whether you have been bad or good' - too funny!

On the sixth day of Christmas ...

... started with a cricket game, the last one til the end of January. Finn had a good win and more importantly he had lots of fun bowling/batting and fielding.

Today was getting piles of linen, food, clothes etc sorted for our travels over the holidays, and getting house and garden tidied. Nothing too exciting really ...

With being away for Christmas we wanted to take away a small tree with us, unfortunately despite scouring the attic area above the garage we couldn't find our little one?! So I had another idea, after a quick trip to our local Lavender Farm (they have a few craft bits and pieces also) I came home with a trendy new 'tree' (well it is part of one anyway - LOL). To be honest it just looks like a giant branch off a tree that has been sprayed with white paint . Will post a pic tomorrow (camera is chooker at the mo and have to delete a few photos). Am planning on standing this branch in a vase with coloured baubles, then hanging a few small decorations off it - should be very cool!

On the fifth day of Christmas ...

... a sleep-in, no rushing around this morning ... aahhhhh bliss!

Today was a lazy day at home, enjoying a gorgeous 27 degrees (that was until the cold front hit about 4pm - opps).

We did venture into town later in the day with a visit to Santa's Grotto at CadburyWorld. Finn was more than happy to have his photo taken with Santa, but Emma didn't want to at all - so she had a photo taken with the Christmas Fairy instead! Very cute!

On the fourth day of Christmas ...

... was the official school breakup service and leaving ceremony for the Year 8 class.

No more kindy (ever), no more school for 6 1/2 weeks, am grateful that I have a job where I can spend the summer holidays with the kids, and just enjoy them and have some fun getting out and about. Gets better each year as they are older now and able to do a bit more.

On the third day of Christmas ...

... we saw Santa - the real one according to Emma! Apparently he came from his Santa photos especially to Kindy this morning - too cute! She was so excited to see him, yet burst into tears when we went to get her Christmas star and hat from him. So no photo of her sitting nicely on his knee ...
And this was our final day at Kindy - so sad after a 4 year association with these teachers ... almost a few tears from me ... :(

Tonight was Finn's school production, themed 'Christmas around the World' - a great night and awesome singing by the children. The Year 8 kids essentially wrote the whole thing themselves which is fantastic!

One day of school left then the holidays can begin :)

On the second day of Christmas ...

... we had a birthday leaving celebration at Kindy for Emma!
Yip my baby has grown up and is heading off to school (in the New Year). So today we did the whole playdough cake, '5' hat, sing the favourite song and review of the kindy scrapbook.

Tonight we helped with the Foodbank can drive - kids rode in the fire engine ahead, and we collected cans round a part of Mosgiel - filling 3/4's of a trailer. Many community groups helped out so we completed a full sweep of Mosgiel.

On the first day of Christmas ...

... our parents (DH & I) gave to us (Emma & Finn) one bouncy round trampoline!

I know it is early to be getting presents but unfortunately can't take this with us for the holidays so decided to give it to the kids early. They are loving it already, it's quite a low one so haven't worried about the nets round it - also think this gives them a bit of a false sense of safety, so would prefer they know not to be silly on it or else they will get hurt. Have been getting some cool photos of them jumping on it!

Thinking of doing a mini album, hence the above title, on the 12 days of Christmas (starting today with the 12th day being Christmas day), thought this was a bit easier than doing a daily December album - with still doing my Project 365 I thought this would be way to much work when combined with everything else going on this month!


Yesterday we had an early party for Emma's 5th birthday. So with 4 girls complete with wings we ventured off to the Butterfly House at the Otago Museum. Here are a few pics of the adventure ...

Have a busy week ahead, Emma's birthday at Kindy, Christmas party at Kindy, School production and helping with the Foodbank Can drive round the streets of Mosgiel. Whew - think I will need a break by next weekend!