Ok , I can't believe how fast the days are flying past this school holidays. We've kept ourselves relatively busy, nothing too exciting though just a trip to the pictures and then to the beach twice. My youngest turned 4on the 27th of December so we had a day where it was his choice of what we were going to do so that was sandcastles at the beach followed by swimming in the rock pools looking for sea creatures then a stop at the shop to buy a gift then home for dinner and birthday cake (shaped like a robot this year).

I finally started ona project i have been preparing for for most of the year. I have been buying timber all year piece by piece to timber line the bottom section of the walls in my hallway, due to the numerous holes that I have had to patch in that area. Well I am pleased to say that after two days work I have the timber up and stained and ready to be varnished and the top moulding added. I find now that I want to paint the top section of the walls as I am so happy with the progress, it looks great , if I do say so my self.

Also a milestone today, I plastered the hole in the wall that was the last thing my ex husband left us the night my son called the police in him. I still to this day thank the lord that it was the wall he hit and not my son. But the hole is nearly filled, needs a little more plaster tomorrow but it is no longer a hole. So a milestone, and I feel pretty good about it.

I am, however, experiencing mixed emotions about my 10 year old making plans to move in with his dad if and when he gets a house. My head is playing tug-o-war, as I know how much easier my job would be as he is the centre of a lot of the conflict and damage in our house BUT living with his dad would not be the best thing for his personality as they both suffer the same temper problem and I feel is just running away from the fact that he doesn't have very good social skills and if he can't learn to get along with his brothers then how will he ever learn to get along out in the world?

Alright, so other than that, things are going relatively well (touch wood). My best friend leaves tonight for two week vacation and after a couple of frantic calls today needing reassurance that she is going to have a good time even though the kids are fighting already. She has managed to get just as organised as I was last year when I embarked on a similar journey with my kids in the car, at least she doesn't have to drive all that way with her ex, she's still married to hers! So I wished them luck and a safe trip and am officially puppy sitter for two weeks. And it is the first night and Molly is not complaining so we are looking good on that front.

So  tomorrow is a day out with the kids as I have all four with me for once (he usually tries to make sure that I don't have all four at once during the hols so I can't go anywhere without leaving someone out. (nice of him isn't it?).

see you in about a week by the looks of the amount of computer time I am getting.

So I made to christmas and was really happy with my efforts.

Friday night was spent at the church with their "whoville" christmas celebrations and that was a fantastic couple of hours spent with the kids doing activities and patting farm animals and just being together with nice people.

Saturday night we attended the christmas carol spectacular at the Wollongong Entertainment centre and sung up a storm with the boys and saw Santa. My youngest exclaimed "he's the one mum!" thinking that he was the real Santa and was very excited.

Sunday night we went on a 2hr drive around the local area looking at christams lights and calling out Christmas Wishes to everyone we passed by. The kids even got some lollies from some of the decorated houses who had themselves dressed as Santa for the occassion. this was by far the best for instilling the christmas feeling, and so simple. The boys really enjoyed themselves. When we came home we had dinner and were allowed to open 1 present from underneath the tree, then some carols on the telly and off to bed for santa to come

This morning was surprisingly not an early one, with me being the first awake. So I got up and turned on the christmas lights in the lounge room ready for them to wake. they unwrapped their presents and were all happy with their gifts ( which was fantastic ). We had pancakes and maple syrup for breakfast . And then it was just fighting till 11.30 when I dropped them with their dad early because I had had enough.

The rest of my day has been spent just trying to get over the mornings events, and a visit to my surrogate family for a couple of hours. I am going to pick up the boys shortly so who knows what kind of mood they will be in? I am hoping for the best, trying to stay positive. So wish me luck.

So I spent Tuesday at my mum's working flat out getting christmas orders out and then home to cook my specialty pie for the christmas luncheon today.

This morning was supposed to be our last social tennis game of the year but the weather had other plans(rain,rain,rain). So the morning was spent instead entertaining the little kids until lunchtime when Santa made a surprise visit. So I will report that Santa is definitely in high spirts and in great form.... And what a great job he did for us delivering a colouring book and pencils to all our preschoolers right before we sat down for lunch. This prompted them all to find a spot on the floor and quietly colour their new gifts while we sat and enjoyed a lovely lunch, followed by the pie which was baked late last night....... I thought I would miss out once again on getting a piece as I did last time when I baked one for my class break-up party, but I managed to get some. (lucky)

After lunch we all cleared up then it was time for the grown -ups and the secret santa gifts, I got some bath salts and smelly stuff. Then we were off home.

Since then I have picked up the boys from school in the rain and dropped off my eldest with his dad to go shopping in town with him tomorrow, and now the younger kids are taking the opportunity to play the playstation without him around. I say play but it sounds more like world war three in there, I just don't want to go in there at the moment. But they say they enjoy playing????

So it is 5.27 and I suppose I should attend to dinner for the troups and then I can put them to bed. I have decided that they can have tomorrow off school and come with me to nan's place while I spend another day working so I don't have to rush home for the end of school. That's a good thing because I have a bribery point for getting to sleep on time tonight.

All in all a busy but enjoyable two days, can't wait to see what the next couple of days has in store. I know I am looking forward to Saturday nights christmas concert, I already have the glowsticks and the songbooks ready. Can't wait.

So we travelled up the coast yesterday to attend my nan's 80th birthday celebration. After travelling for nearly 4 hrs we arrived to find that it was simply a gathering at a club and no organisation had really taken place. Regardless I had a good day as I have not seen my nan for nearly 12months so it was great to be able to spend the day with her. Just wish she didn't live so far away!

My boys got their Christmas presents from my mum, when we stopped at her place on the way home, and got spoilt rotten as usual, (so did I for that matter). We would love her anyway, but knowing that it will be my only gift this year I reaaly appreciate it all the more.

We finally returned back home at about 9 and the kids wanted to play with their stuff!! So after 5 mins play I had to heard them all off to bed as they were a bit tired and grumpy (they were even more grumpy that I had sent them to bed). So that was my day yesterday and I enjoyed it till the last. Hope we have more day like those.