Happy New Years!

Well it's New Year's Eve and I can't help but reflect back on this year and what it held for us.

Here's an overview of 2006 for us (in chronological order - or at least close to it!):

• Ashleigh started school
  
• Belinda and Abel moved out to their own place in Castle Hill
  
• I decided to start a new online business with the help of Abel ,but still haven't done anything with it!!
  
• I had a mole removed at long last! I've been wanting to get it removed for about 15 years and finally got it done!! OUCH! I can't tell ya how much it hurt!
  
• Lauren started walking!! YIPEE!!
  
• Started this blog!!
  
• I started selling Salt City Candles through party plan - I absolutely loved doing this!!
  
• Amanda and Richard came to visit us!
  
• Lost about 15 kilos (but have put back on about 7 since then - oops!)
  
• Got blood tests done on Lauren to check out that she was OK - and she was which is good.
  
• SEPTEMBER - started working with Dad on Contiform!
  
• Ashleigh got glasses - we found out she has only 25% vision in her left eye.
  

Aaron and I have been discussing what 2007 might hold for us. We would love to go back to New Zealand to see Aaron's family again. Aaron's planning on starting a new job doing exhibitions with Austand. I'm hoping Contiform will do well and keep me busy. Maybe Lauren will start Pre-school towards the end of the year. And we both want new cars so that's the plan.

I hope everyone has a great New Years Eve - we're just having a quiet one at home this year - and I hope next year is filled with happy memories!

Merry Christmas!

I'm in a bit of a hurry but thought I'd quickly post a few Christmas Eve photos!

Lauren having a play on the X-Box with Christopher!

You're guaranteed to win when you play against her!

The Terrible Two!

The Three Amigos!

Smile Lauren - it's Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve!

I thought I'd write a quick message to all my friends and family who are reading this to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year!

The girls are very excited about Santa coming tonight and they are both having a nap as I am typing this to prepare for their big night out tonight with family. We are going to Jodie and Greg's house tonight for Christmas Eve dinner and to walk around (if this rain ever stops) to look at the Christmas lights on their street. It's like Las Vegas around them!! Every second house is light up so elaborately - Griswald's eat your heart out!!

We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and takes time out to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas!!

With love from Aaron, Mel, Ashleigh and Lauren!

Here is a photo of the girls - I really wanted to get some nice Christmas photos but haven't got a chance yet. Ashleigh is very excited about how long her hair is getting so I had to take a photo!! She wants to grow it long like Rapunzel!! Good luck!!

Ashleigh's Celebration Night

Last night we had Ashleigh's Celebration night at her school. It is basically a night to celebrate the end of another year and to congratulate the Kindy students on doing such a great job. They sang and danced and were presented with their awards!

The night didn't get off to a good start for us though. About 10 minutes before it was time to leave Ashleigh was all dressed up in her school uniform with her hair all done and I told her to go in and wash her face because she had some dinner on her face. Five minutes later she came out crying and asked me if she was bleeding on her face. I had a look and sure enough she was bleeding. In her hand I saw one of my disposable razors I use to shave my legs. "What are you doing with that?" "Why are you bleeding?". She had decided to get the razor out and shave her face like Daddy does! It's times like these that your patience is really tested. I couldn't yell at her because she would start to cry even more and I wanted her to be happy for the Celebration night and not arrive crying. It took AGES to stop bleeding. It bled all the way in the car there and only just stopped bleeding as we were walking up to the school.

It's times like these you wonder why kids do the things they do! It all ended up well though. She didn't cry and did a great job singing Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer!

Needless to say she will never touch a razor again!

Aaron and the Girls!

Here is a photo of Aaron with the girls. Lauren has a grape in her mouth.

All I Want For Christmas ......

Ashleigh just turned to me and said:

"You know what I want for Christmas Mum?"

I replied:
"What?"

"A homework machine because I don't know how to do my homework!"

So there you have it - for all you relatives out there who don't know what to get Ashleigh for Christmas you can get her one of those! Good Luck!!

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town ....

Here is a photo of the girls with Santa. As you can see Lauren wasn't too impressed!!

Christmas is Coming!

I can't believe it's less than 2 weeks until Christmas!! It's come around so fast this year! I'm nowhere near ready. I've actualy found it quite difficult to get into the decorating this year. Not much inspiration out there - or is it just me??

What is with this weather??? I wore 3 layers of clothes today - it was FREEZING! It was like a winter's day! This silly thing is yesterday it was sweltering hot! Ashleigh was swimming in Mum's pool yesterday afternoon! Go figure!!?

I thought it was about time I posted some more photos, so below are some photos of the girls. Lauren hasn't been feeling very well lately so she rested her head in Ashleigh's lap for some comfort and luckily she has a very tender big sister who took good care of her!

And here are some photos of baby Jake. He is such a gorgeous little thing. Very cute! We've been seeing a lot of Belinda and Abel lately which is good. I really want the kids to grow up close to their cousins.

Christmas List

Here is something I was sent from a friend so I thought I'd post it on my blog!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrap

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White on the tree. No lights on the outside of the house because Aaron can’t be bothered getting up there and hanging them! Neither could I for that matter!

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No. Afraid someone ugly might walk through the door!

5. When do you put your decorations up? We put ours up the first Sunday of December. Sunday is always a quiet day in our house so it’s a nice day to do it!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Roast Turkey dinner and pavlova – YUM!!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Spending Christmas with our cousins from Canberra and going swimming Christmas Day!!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I honestly can't remember! Mum - help! Can you remember?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No, but I’d like to!!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? We put on Christmas music. Then we get the tree up and put the lights on first. Then we put the decorations on. Usually Aaron just sits and watches me do it while Ashleigh hands me the decorations to put up – she gets bored easily!

11. Snow - Love it or Dread it? Never had it!

12. Do you remember your favorite gift? My favourite gift would have to be a porcelain doll I got one year and I called her Trudy – don’t know why I just liked the name!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spending time with my family and not having to worry about dieting!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pavlova – hands down!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Driving around the streets at night during the weeks leading up to Christmas and looking at all the Christmas lights with the kids!

17. What tops your tree? A star

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? I’d like to say giving but I have to say receiving is always fun!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? The First Noel.

20. Candy Canes? To hang on the tree – don’t like eating them much but Ashleigh does!

I'm Back!!

I got back from Christchurch New Zealand on Sunday and I am soooo tired! I never knew travelling could be so tiring!

It was great to come back home to the family! I missed them so much - I was only gone 6 days but I missed them terribly!

Here is something funny Ashleigh said on the weekend:

I said: "Ashleigh, can you please stop making so much noise, I've got a headache".
"Mummy, what's a headache?"
"A headache is when your brain is sore" (how do you describe a headache to a 5 year old?)
Pause ....
"Maybe your brain has had a bad day!" LOL.

We put the tree up yesterday and it looks great! I LOVE Christmas! Such a great time of the year!

I'll leave you with some photos - one of me in Christchurch another of the girls!