I am one of the few parents I know who enjoys having the kids home for holidays. Almost every parent I know says they hate school holidays and they can't wait for them to be over and I know some of them are joking but I know others who aren't and I think it is really sad.

I enjoy my children being with me and I find it sad when parents don't. I even have other kids here in the holidays. I love the sounds of children laughing and playing I think that is what being a parent should be about.

I feel like I havn't slept in a week I have been awke since 6:19am and I am buggered. It was such a big day. Zack was the first one awake and when he saw what was under the tree his little eyes went from half asleep to wide awake and then everybody else was awake. So we opened presents and my husband and I took turns in video taping and watching the tree kids open up their pressies. Their eyes growing wider with every present that was opened.

We then went out to my dads for christmas lunch which can be very tiring my dad has a thing about stirring me up until I just give up and ignore him. He is a big smart alec.

All up though it was a really great day and I really hope that everyone out there in minti land had a really great day too.

So it is christmas eve and my girls are getting very excited. So am I love watching there faces on christmas morning. I think it is amazing how they light up like little christmas tree's. This year Zack is going to have soooooo much fun. He dosn't understand yet what all the fuss is about but he will tomorow morning. I hope everyone on minti has an excellent christmas day.

                                                    

I went to a funeral today to bury a good young man who loved life and his family. This was very mentally draining and I felt that there was nothing to smile about until my little man Zack did something so checky that I didn't even think about it I just smiled.

It is so amazing what children can do to make you feel better without even trying. Don't get me wrong I havn't forgotten my grief but I know that anything can happen anytime so you have to enjoy every minute of your life and loved ones.

When I was with my friend, this young mans partner, as she cried and I held her she just kept repeating that he was a good father and you know what I really think he was. He was the type to drop everything for his family. He was a wonderful Kid,Teenager and young man. I knew he would be a great dad. I just wish for his son's sake that he was going to be here to teach his son how to be a good man.

Sometimes life is so hard. This young man will be sadly missed by many people but especially by his family.

Firstly I went to Brielles school presentation day on friday she recieved a certificate for graduating year two. She also had an excellent report we are extremely proud of her. Especially with her maths she had excellent marks in all maths areas.

Today we went to Marias year six graduation. High school next year. She recieved her graduation certificate and also a special award for her love of reading . She recieved a certificate and three books for this award. We are also very proud of her. I almost cried when the year six class sang their graduation song. They grow up way to fast.

It is really great to be able to share all this with other parents. I want to tell the world how proud we are of our girls.

thank you to you all for your kind words. I think I am still in the shock stage. I spoke to my friend and let her know that I am here for her anytime day or night if she needs anything. I feel like there has to be something else I can do but I know there isn't. I have greived before so I know I will survive and so will she it will be a long road for her and her baby but she is a strong girl and she knows her baby is worth sticking around for.

 

Today I rang a friend in Tasmania who I havn't seen for a long time. It was really great to talk to her until she gave me the bad news. A kid I watched grow up, someone who was a part of my family of friends shot himself in the head last sunday night. He and his girlfriend, who have a baby, were having an argument when he pulled out the gun and shot himself. I wonder if he thought about his baby at all. I wonder why he did it obviously not over a silly argument. There had to be something worse in his head. I think part of me is still in shock he was always so stable and happy. I never thought that he would end up this way. Why didn't he think of his child? What is it going to do the child knowing that its father commited suicide? I feel so drained right now. Hopefully I will be back later and be feeling a little bit better.

Maria had her orientation day today at the high school. In all the notes I recieved it asks the parents to come along and support their child and learn the layout of school and alsoo meet teachers and other parents ect.

I was the only parent there. I was sooooo shocked and disgusted. I ended having to leave so that Maria didn't get teased for her mum being the only parent present. I understand that some people have to work but 1 parent from 6 different schools is just pathetic. I am really hoping that Maria has enjoyed herself. I was looking forward to doing this with her.

Today my husbands work held an xmas party for the kids it was graet the girls had a great time Zack unfortunately didn't have very much to do but I still think he had a good time. They all had face paints done ( Zack only on his arm ). Brielle got a fair sized bump on her head from not laying back on the tunnel waterslide and Maria got a burn on her face and shoulder from leaning over to far on the taboggon but the still said they had heaps of fun. They also recieved a bag of lollies and a gift from santa. Overall great day for the kids. It is so nice when companies think of the whole family and not just the individual.

Unfortunately Maria did not enjoy her excursion this year. She arrived home today and was not at all impressed with the accomadation. She said there were cockroaches and bad plumbing problems and the cabins were falling apart. She was very disappointed.