We had a very lovely Christmas.  The night before I took the girls to the evening service at church and they got to dress up like angels with tinsel halos and various white lingerie for angel dresses (the kids shared all the white things in the church dress-up box).  The next morning - for the first time ever - we didn't have to wake the kids up on Christmas morning!  Unfortunately, I was in the shower when they got up and when I came out they'd already started ripping into the presents. Even more unfortunately, my youngest daughter, who can't read yet, opened one of mine!!!  But it all worked out well.  The kids went to their dad's for lunch and me, BF and my mum went out to the local club for Christmas lunch.

In the afternoon, my mum and played my new "Who wants to be a millionaire" DVD game.  I think the best we managed was about 64,000 virtual dollars.  LOL!  Then me and BF just lay around in my new hammock in our house for the afternoon.

Boxing Day was incredibly lazy and I just read books and lay around the house all day.  BF got called into work the next day - so I let myself have another lazy day.  The next day BF had night shift and so he slept all day, but one of my friends who I only get to see every couple of months came over and we got to hang out.  Today I caught up with another friend who's just got engaged too and she and her new fiance came over and BF and I got the chance to christen our new BBQ.

Tomorrow we'll have a great New Year's Eve at a friend's party, and the day after is my youngest daughter's birthday and she comes home that day.  Yay! 

Hope every one else has had as lovely and relaxing a Christmas as me. 

My blog is not being kept up-to-date!  Well, the short version of the last little while is that I'm on holidays now.  Getting ready for Christmas and in between I'm still unpacking the house and planning our wedding - which we've finally set a date for in early 2009.  It's all very exciting!

Let me just take this opportunity - cause I'm immensely bad at the moment at getting in touch with people personally - to say how much I appreciate all you wonderful Minti mums who I have met  - both online and in person - over the last year.  It seems strange to say that I only joined Minti a little over a year ago, cause so much water has gone under the bridge since then.

I also feel like I've learned some very important lessons from this site and the people here.   And cause its Christmas and I'm feeling philsophical, I thought I'd write them down.

I've learned that there are so many different people in the world with different opinions and that doesn't mean that any of them are wrong.  I kind of feel like before I joined Minti that I was labouring under some false assumptions as to how people should think and feel and act.  Since I've been on here I've learned that just cause one person treats you badly, doesn't mean everyone will.  Just cause even a group of people think you should behave in a certain way, doesn't mean you should. 

I've learned more of what I really believe - and not just what other people think I should believe.  I've learned that friendship is totally valuable no matter what guise it comes in.  I've learned that true friendship can come from unexpected places and through unexpected avenues, which is why its so important to be open to the possibility.

I've learned that you need to be careful how you express yourself, even about matters you're passionate about, because you never know what the person you're speaking/writing to is dealing with.  I've also learned that some carefully chosen words or just a virtual hug can be worth more than gold.

And I've learned that I am not nearly as good at keeping up with people as others are - but please don't anyone think that means I care less.  I'm just bad at expressing it well.

So Merry Christmas everyone!  Hope you have a really great Christmas day.  *hugs & kisses*

I'm a bit delayed in getting these up (given they were taken less than a fortnight ago - LOL!) but to keep OB happy, these are the photos we took of me, OB and Monarogirl when I visited their hometown less than a fortnight ago.

I feel like I just haven't stopped for months.  Big week this week.  Last week of work before the holidays so was trying to get heaps done.  Had to go down to Adelaide for one day, but I got to catch up with OB and Monarogirl so it wasn't wasted.  LOL!  Had to stay back on Friday night till nearly 8pm but I was able to leave with a clear conscience.

Was expecting that this morning would be my sleep in morning for the first time in I don't know how long.  Then at 6:30am in the morning BF texted me and asked me to meet him for breakfast at 7am.  I thought it must be important so I dragged myself out of bed and went.  Nothing important, he just wanted to have breakfast.  I was quite grumpy at missing out on my sleep-in.  I guess at least he wants to spend time with me though!

Since we were up so early, we decided to get started with Chrissy shopping.  Got almost of it done.  BF is determined to get a puppy.  I have said no to a duck, a goat and a mini-pig so a dog is all that's left.  We saw the cutest spoodle (spaniel X poodle) at the pet shop.  We went and had a look at the pound, but they didn't have any puppies.  I've had bad experiences with pound dogs before, so I'm not willing to take a full-grown dog.  We might think about it for next pay day. 

Anyway, that's all my news for now!  Just still trying to clean up the house and unpack.

Hi everyone! 

I'm finally back online!  Yay!  It's been such a busy few weeks.  So much to tell you all.

We moved house on 22 November and, by a terrible coincidence, I had to move my work location the same day.  It was quite a huge thing.  I had boxes at home and boxes at work.  Just didn't feel like I could get away from them!!!  I've been working really hard to get things packed away since then.  Yesterday we had a housewarming party so I had to get the house ready.  Admittedly, not everything was unpacked in time, but most of it was.  The other boxes are in the garage, so I'll keep doing those as we go.

Been having issues with the ex in relation to the bond on the old place.  But on the bright side, at least now I can put him behind me completely and focus on my new and wonderful man! 

Speaking of which, I am just loving living with BF (or just "F" for fiance. LOL!!!). It's so nice going to bed together every night and talking so much and just enjoying each other's company.  Right now, life seriously feels good.  I finally own my own house, my relationship with BF is fantastic, I am getting along so well with my kids, I have great friends and I am just happy.  And you can't buy that.  I wish I could just give everyone this same happiness that I'm feeling right now. 

I've missed you all though!  It's been frustrating to be without any internet at home for so long!  But I'm finally back online!  I hope you're all doing well.  If any of you had my old email, just minti-mail me and I'll give you my new email address.

*Big hugs* to you all!