Well Happy New Year to one and all, I hope that 2008 brings us all a better year than the last.

We went to mum and dads last night for 2nd christmas/new years dinner. It was really yummy. Roast Lamb, Roast Pork, Roast Vegies, Ratatouille, Gravy, Vegies. Then for dessert we had Dad's home made Plum Pudding (which I don't eat) mum made trifle and I made mini Berry Pavlova's.

After dinner we did the last of the present giving for my sister and her family. Then we played 500 around the dining room table. My dad and my sister and her hubby love the game. I can take it or leave it. So they get shitty with me when I deliberately throw something stupid on. It is only a game after all!!

Connor fell asleep on the lounge room floor. Dave was happy watching cable tv all night. Midnight came, we saw the New Year in, then went to go home. Connor still be half asleep got put in the car and then the fireworks started going off. Well you have never seen a kid run so fast for the house!! He doesn't like thunder and with the rain around he thought the fireworks were a big thunderstorm. I ran after him, with mum on my heels. I had him and was calming him down, and mum started attempting to 'fix' him. However all I wanted to do was to listen to me, explaining that it wasn't thunder and to watch the fireworks on the tv and realise that was what it was.

Eventually got him calmed down again and back out to the car so we could go home.

My brother and his wife go home to Japan tomorrow, so I don't think I will see them again til next christmas. Having a big clean up day today as I haven't really done any cleaning at all the last week.

Cheers and happy new year!! Leisa

Wow this wind is really hitting some places hard. we have had a touch of it here at home, but nowhere near as bad as the coast. It is incredible. The beaches are closed, the water is raging, the tides are rising. I am glad I am here at home.

But on a happy note, it is good to see the new little Rothschild giraffe at Perth Zoo. It is so cute.

 

Well this morning got Alex off to camp. They had to be at the Youth For Christ Centre at 9.30am to leave by 10. Got there and it was see ya mum, ya can go now. Well he has gone for 6 days. Will be a quiet week I think. It's amazing how one missing can make such a difference.

I love the YFC camp each Christmas. It gives Alex a good feeling to go, he gets to spend time doing things he wouldn't get a chance to otherwise, and all the kids are from relatively lower income families. The camp costs nothing to go as well which is a huge bonus. There is a little bible study thrown in, which is something he likes as well.

After I dropped him off, we had a family gathering at Bribie Island for lunch. Took us about 1 1/2 hours to get there with all the traffic, but it was good when we arrived. We had this so that we could see all the relatives that had arrived for Christmas.

My brother and sister-in-law (she is Japanese) are over from Japan, a cousin and his wife (she is Chinese) are from China bringing their twins (11 months old) to be Christened, an Aunt and Uncle up from Adelaide for the Christening. So it was good to catch up with them all. We may catch up on New Years Day as well but I am not counting on it.

Connor went swimming along with the babies and their dad, and a couple of my cousins kids. Spent only about 3/4 hour swimming cause we were tired and the day was so hot, at least the sun was out for a change this week. It had started to rain a little this morning and we thought it might have been called off but it cleared up so we went.

So we are all a little sunburnt, a little tired, fed to the gills on fish and chips, and just bumming around. Going to watch a movie and go to bed I think.

Cheers Leisa

Santa has come, presents been given and received, kids happy, and Santa is still alive for another year. Connor started at 6.00 am. We had told him he wasn't allowed to open any presents til we were all awake and up, and he couldn't wake us up before 6.00 am. It worked. Well I count 5.59 am as close enough!!

Lunch went really well. Everyone stayed til about 6.30 and then left. We had been playing boule, which is always good for a laugh. I am so stuffed now, I couldn't eat a thing. Except to maybe open the huge box of Guylian chocolates I received from Santa!!

Oh well time to recoup. Hoipe everyone had a fantastic day, and for those about to get started, have a good one.

Leisa

Well this week has been Christmas Parties all week. First we had our P&C Breakup on Tuesday night, bring a plate and share, then Wednesday night we had the Tuckshop/Canteen Breakup, Mexican Restaurant, huge meals, Thursday dinner at my sisters for her birthday, Today was the School staff lunch at a pizza/pasta restaurant and they provided plate after plate of food. OMG. Needless to say, I will not be eating dinner tonight.

the weekend is quiet. my brother is over from Japan for Christmas, his wife arrives next week. Coming up next week, is a birthday lunch for one of the girls I go out with (just 4 of us going to lunch) then Tuedsay night dinner with ALL the girls, and then have to go to the hospital for a check up on Wednesday. After that, I think I may have to find some time to do a spot of Christmas shopping.

Mum and Dad have agreed to have Christmas lunch at our place this year, as my sister won't be here on the day, so we are having with her on New Years when she and the family are back. So have suggested lunch here, which means: 1 I don't have to go anywhere on Christmas Day nor do the kids 2 I don't have to eat a roast meal for lunch time and 3 I can have a few drinks without having to drive home.

So looking forward to January when I can relax. Kids are all finished school now so time to go insane for the next 6 weeks.

Leisa

Saturday night, we had hubby's work Christmas Party. A restaurant in the city was booked out for it, and they included beer, wine and soft drink and finger food for the night. Let me tell you, it was great. Lost track of how many glasses of red I consumed,but judging from Sunday morning a LOT! The food was incredible, absolutely yummy.

Mum and Dad had the kids for us, so we caught a bus in and out. Not bad, almost missed the last bus home! We drove to Mums and left my car there, and planned to come back Sunday in Brads car and pick the kids up.

Mum decided to take the kids out on Sunday, eldest didn't want to go, so she dropped him off home on the way, which is how we came to find out that mum was taking them out. About 11.30 we ended up going to pick the car up, and dad wanted some computer help with stuff.

So we got there, Brad dropped me off and went back home. I spent the next 4 hours teaching dad how to download photos from his digital camera to the computer (again), how to resize them, put them onto a USB flash stick, set up the digital photo frame they bought, showed him how to use his DVD recorder that he bought 6 months ago, to record movies and shows and also how to copy his videos onto dvd.

So no time to recover from Saturday night, and now have to go to work this morning and do stocktake. I am so tired. Oh well, only 1 more week of school, then 2 weeks til Christmas. I have 3 dinners to go to this week, all mid week. 2 next week and then I think I am finished and can relax.

Have a good day. Leisa

 

After discovering the Aussie Night Before Christmas while looking for the Aussie Jingle Bells, it made me wonder what other versions of traditional carols there might be. I would love to find out what are your fave Carols for this time of year, and whether you have any that are distinctive to your country. Leisa

I found this as I was looking for something else, but I just had to put it in...

'Twas the night before christmas;
there wasn't a sound.
Not a possum was stirring; no-one was around.
We'd left on the table
some tucker and beer,
Hoping that Santa Claus
soon would be here;
We children were snuggled up safe in our beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced 'round in our heads;
And Mum in her nightie,
and Dad in his shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV sports.
When outside the house
a mad ruckus arose;
Loud squeaking and banging
woke us from our doze.
We ran to the screen door,
peeked cautiously out,
snuck onto the deck,
then let out a shout.
Guess what had woken us up from our snooze,
But a rusty old ute
pulled by eight mighty 'roos.
The cheerful man driving
was giggling with glee,
And we both knew at once
who this plump bloke must be.
Now, I'm telling the truth
it's all dinki-di,
Those eight kangaroos fairly soared through the sky.
Santa leaned out the window
to pull at the reins,
And encouraged the 'roos,
by calling their names.
'Now, Kylie! Now, Kirsty!
Now, Shazza and Shane!
On Kipper! On, Skipper!
On, Bazza and Wayne!
Park up on that water tank.
Grab a quick drink,
I'll scoot down the gum tree.
Be back in a wink!'
So up to the tank those eight kangaroos flew,
With the ute full of toys,
and Santa Claus too.
He slid down the gum tree
and jumped to the ground,
Then in through the window
he sprang with a bound.
He had bright sunburned cheeks
and a milky white beard.
A jolly old joker
was how he appeared.
He wore red stubby shorts
and old thongs on his feet,
And a hat of deep crimson
as shade from the heat.
His eyes - bright as opals -
Oh! how they twinkled!
And, like a goanna,
his skin was quite wrinkled!
His shirt was stretched over
a round bulging belly
Which shook when he moved,
like a plate full of jelly.
A fat stack of prezzies
he flung from his back,
And he looked like a swaggie
unfastening his pack.
He spoke not a word,
but bent down on one knee,
To position our goodies
beneath the yule tree.
Surfboard and footy-ball shapes
for us two.
And for Dad, tongs to use
on the new barbeque.
A mysterious package
he left for our Mum,
Then he turned and he winked
and he held up his thumb;
He strolled out on deck and his 'roos
came on cue;
Flung his sack in the back and prepared to shoot through.
He bellowed out loud
as they swooped past the gates-
'MERRY CHRISTMAS to all,
and goodonya, MATES!'

An Aussie Night Before Christmas  Written by Yvonne Morrison