2 sleeps to go until the christmas tree!! - They boys were at preschool today so I wrapped all their christmas presents up.  It is good relaxation therapy wrapping presents.  I then went out shopping and bought myself a new swimsuit for Queensland at christmas.  Found out that I am a bit fussy when it comes to swimsuits.  Have to hide all the post pregnancy bits.  One day either they will fix up or my attitude towards them will change.  "saggy stretched marked bellies - who needs them"  Anyway - my dad comes home from New Zealand tomorrow so that will be exciting.  Especially for the boys.  It's been a while since they've seen him.  Guess I must go join the family now.  Good night everyone!!

Only 4 sleeps and then I get to put up the Christmas tree.  The boys want to do it already, but trI told them they have to wait until the 1st of december.  I can't wait.  Everthing gets busy now too.  Parties, christmas gatherings etc. etc.  not to mention the kids parties. Boy oh boy where does the time go? 

My youngest son Cayden, when to preschool yesterday, and for the first time wore no pullup.  It was undies for the day.  He doesn't have a problem at home, but because he is in the small room at preschool, there is a child gate between the kids and the toilet, this scared me a bit.  Anyway I packed 3 changes of clothes and dozens of undies, and you know what, he came home in the same clothes he left in.  Nice and dry.  It really was a successful day.  He ate his lunch for the first time since starting preschool, several months ago, and ate his afternoon tea.  Yeah!  As you can imagine, I was the proud mum yesterday. 

Christmas is my favourite time of year, and so I have made the Christmas cake. Yesterday we went and bought decoration for it. I am now thinking of making a gingerbread house, and gingerbread cookies to hang on the christmas tree.  Yum!! 
It is supposed to reach about 39 degrees today.  I think Rick got the pool cleaned just in time. 

I finally have a clean swimming pool.  I have asked and asked and asked my husband to get it finished, and finally, it is done.  Yeah!!!  With the hot weather coming I want to be able to cool off.  My husband is one of those who won't teach me how to use the creepy crawly and filter and things. It's a mans job.  I don't know why it's called a mans job. Jobs get done, when it comes the the men I know, they don't get done. he he.  Cayden is on my lap as usual, so mistakes may happen.  Thankfully he's the light one, as he always wants picking up.  He's a little cuddler.

You have to love modern technology.  We wanted to get a cable to connect our camera to our computer, to be told that we have to get internal cards and things.  All I can say is, thank christ my brother in law is a computer man.  He'll come to my rescue.  The prices differ so much also.  At the shops one part was around $25.00 and the other bit we needed was about the same price.  If what I saw on ebay are the same thing, we can get the whole lot for $20.00.  What's the go?  We were pricing batteries also, the rechargeable ones, they differ so much in price for the same thing aswell.  I just don't get the retail industry?  If it was me, I would want to have a cheaper price to sell more.  Don't they realise that cost doesn't mean quality?

We put the last of the Christmas shopping on lay by today.  Now all we have to do is pay for it.  But we are happy with what we have got this year, which is really good.  Did more "Cars" craft today with the boys.  They can't get enough of that movie.  Oh and get this - yesterday, my mum had sleet at her house.  You know the really light snow.  It is the middle of November in Australia.  What the?
Wishing everyone a wonderful evening.

Mummy gets cooking!!!  I made our Christmas cake today.  Sebastian and Cayden were at preschool and Rick was at work, so it was lovely.  I had the music going (great for relaxation and fun!) and made the cake.  It smells divine.  It's a pity we have to actually wait until christmas to eat it.  Hopefully it will travel well.  It has to make it from south west Sydney to Maroochydore area in Queensland.  We are going there for Christmas, we arrive on Christmas eve, and we are doing the lunch.  Wish us luck!! 

Sebastian had a strange dream the other night.  I woke up and he was really crying, I mean really!!! crying.  I went in and I couldn't get him to talk to me.  I was trying to calm him and it just wasn't working.  In the end I told him I was going to turn the light on. (last time he had a strange dream he was cowering away from me screaming, if I touched him he screamed even more, so I was trying to be careful)  Once I had the light on I could see him kneeling on his bed facing the wall.  He still wouldn't stop crying.  I managed to get him to lay down, but he wouldn't talk (I actually think he was still asleep).  I asked him about it yesterday morning and he had no idea.  Couldn't remember any dream.  When he went to bed last night though he asked me if the lady would get him again.  i asked which lady and he told me the one that came through the wall with the stick with fire, who was hurting him.  I am pretty sure it was his dream.  I hate dreams like that.  They give me the willies! 

Got quite annoyed today. I understand that it is early, but I gave someone a Christmas card today, and they threw it back in my face telling me not to give it to them until December. When did christmas spirit start having a date put on it!! Is she doing christmas shopping? Yes!
Now that I' ve let off steam, it was a lovely day weather wise, got some more bargain christmas shopping done, I now only have 2 kids left to buy for.(Well I might get some more for my boys yet - we'll see how we go financially). 
Have a good night everyone

I am pleased to say I now only have 4 people left to buy gifts for, for christmas.  We had a very productive shopping trip today and found some fantastic bargains (always like a good bargain, being an at home mum, money is always an issue).  I love Christmas - I love the movies, the carols, the getting together with friends and family, and when I didn't have the expense - I loved the presents.  Now, I just love everything else.  It is fun to buy for other people though I must admit when you do some good bargain hunting.   It is a lovely sunny day in SW Sydney and that makes today all the better.  Hope you are all hagvving as good a day as I am

take care

This is the first day that I have had to myself, since my 2 boys started going to pre-school, one day a week. How good is it!! I have to admit I was wary at first putting them into pre-school, but they have both become much better people for it.  Sebastian is no longer quite as shy, and I am hoping that Cayden will become a bit less clingy.  I love the cuddles and all, but not when he punches other people just to get to me.  I used the opportunity to do some uninterrupted christmas shopping. 
We wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year!!  I love Christmas.
Well take care all

I would just like to state that computers are a scary thing when it comes to children. My son is 4 years old (just turned) and already he can turn on and log into the computer, bring up microsoft paint, and compute away.  I don't think a computer even existed when I was that age.  Not one for the general public anyway.  It is scary, as this child is going to know more about computers than I will, and one day he will come home wanting help with an assignment and will I be up to speed to help him with that.  Let's hope so!!  Now I know how my parents feel when computers were first invented. 

I don't really know what to say. I have never really done this before. I am sure I'll get the hang of it eventually.  As I have said in my set up I have 2 children.  The eldest suffers with croup and eczema.  We are actually starting to beat the eczema.  My step mum got me some cream from Go-Lo (a discount variety store in Australia) for 2 dollars with emu oil in it. Papillion brand.  It has been working wonders.  That and the soap flakes I have been using to was the boys clothes.  If anyone reads this I highly reccommend a site called simplesavings.com.  Fantastic.  Lots of good idea's for saving money.  I use this alot.  Being an at home mum it is always good to save money.  The site gave me the idea of buying a cheap gentle soap and putting it through the food processor for the boys laundry.  It cost me $1.60 for a huge bucket instead of $6.00 for a small box of lux.  Great site!