Christmas Round Up

Heck I've been slack in blogging, but rest assured I've not been slack in life.  I've been busy running and busy finishing my 2015 Project Life pages.  Whew, what a slog, I got behind in that scrapbooking project but I've just made a marathon effort and finished every page.  Only the cover and title page to do then I can send it on to the printers for another year of memories on our shelf to look over time and again.

The lead up to Christmas for us was hectic, we had quite a few parties and BBQ's to go to, even the week leading up to the weigh in before Christmas I kept my weight in check even with all the aforesaid functions, so that was a win in itself.  We enjoyed ourselves immensely, and in our quest to get our photos with santa, we didn't disappoint, although only managed two santa's this year, as opposed to our three santa's last year.

These photos were from the Lodge BBQ, poor Santa didn't know what hit him when Mike lined up behind the last child for a sit on Santa's knee.  Not to be outdone, he wasn't going to get one up on me, I lined up too.

Okay jury is out, some say it was a bad camera angle, but is Santa looking down my top????  ((insert blushed face here)) !!

We had the early family Christmas on Mike's side of the family.  Mike's dad does this each year a few weeks before Christmas and it's just lovely.  We can all get together, partners included, although sadly my two stepsons had to work this day.  But it's a lovely relaxed day and it actually feels like Christmas, we do the lunch with the trimmings, the presents under the tree and it's a nice way that we can all be together and not feel pulled in different directions now that there partners families and in-laws and all in the mix.  Bravo to Mike's dad for pulling this off every year, and like every year I set up the tripod for a few photos.

That was a huge day, we had visited my mum earlier on in the day, she still doesn't do the whole Christmas thing since my dad died on Christmas Day in 2007.  She prefers to be left alone on that day, and whilst I fought that for so long, I've come to realise I can't change that, I can only change my reaction to it.    I also went down again the Sunday before Christmas and my brother and I took mum out for lunch, which was really nice, we went down the waterfront and had a delicious lunch closer to Christmas than the first gathering.

So the both of us partook in our town's Christmas parade.  Mike was with the Lodge and of course he played his Bah Humbug up to the hilt.  I was with CWA and was an Elf with my little Elfie sidekick.  Oh bless Lucky, he marched along that road as if he owned it, didn't even try to get his hat off once.  All the little kiddies wanted to pat him, he was in his element.  Although it was so hot and thankfully the parade was in the service lane under the shade of the trees and only went about half a km, so once that was finished off came his elf suit, I took him home and then went back for the Carols by Candlelight which was a great night and resulted in yet another Santa spotting!

  

So for our Christmas Day here at home, it started with a 5km Christmas morning run, what better way to start the day.  Although it was waaaaaay too hot for a santa hat, so I tinselled up instead.

The menagerie got their presents, although Molly wasn't really interested.  I'm afraid we don't have long left with our girl, she was more interested in the big plate of icecream she got later.  Look of devotion right there looking at Mike, bless her heart.

First time we've had one of the kids for Christmas lunch and it was just lovely, Mike was in his element with Saxon here.  Table was set, meal was delicious - turkey, ham, a fantastic cherry stuffing loaf I found in a magazine, vegetables, and then a delicious raspberry white chocolate blondie with icecream and raspberries on the side for dessert.  I always go all oddball with my Christmas dessert, usually find a dessert in a magazine and say right that's it, no plum pudding for us, urrgh.

Mike got a blow up crown entitled "King for the Day" from the menagerie.  Mind you it was only for a day, don't think they allow him to be king longer than that!

Courtesy of my new selfie stick, I think I need to get the hang of it!

How different is it to have Christmas with a little one around.  Just wonderful.   Just in case Grumpy forgets his name, we got him a fun pretend number plate, he's going to put it up in the studio.

It got hot, so off came the clothes.  And this is the look you get when you find out that everyone is having a delicious Christmas lunch and all you get is a jam sandwich!!!  He is allergic to dairy, egg and nuts, so his mum will bring his own food.

Nanna got cuddles too, although he was more interested in Thomas the Tank on TV.

So proud of this little family, with soon to be another baby in February - shhhh I know what the sex is, but I'm not telling!

As usual we set up the camera to take a photograph on Christmas day but honestly forgot and didn't have time early on in the piece.  After everyone had gone, we had changed into our shorts as it was so hot (we won't go there about the socks and sandals Mike was wearing!!!!) and I said hang it, this is us and this is real, lets just take the pic in front of the veggie garden, so here it is, here we are on Christmas day.

Boxing Day saw us have Britt, T and family come for afternoon tea, so lots of the ugly goggle eyed gingerbread men I had made got eaten thankfully, and presents exchanged once more.  And then it was over, Christmas was done and dusted for another year.

Christmas been and gone!

Well what a lead up and now it's over, goodness that happened fast.   So the last few days have gone by in a whiz.   So I'll back track and this is how Christmas was spent in the G House.  Remembering we had gone down last week to do the big family thing, so this was us hiding out here at home, just as we like it.

Christmas Eve we went to church, and all is well, the roof didn't fall in.  It is a lovely Christmas Mass here in town, we walk up to the church, it's packed with friends, people from the community, their relatives who are in town visiting.  We've done this every year.  Then once at home Mike does his "Santa" calls.

He's been doing this each year, at one stage he had a list of five children to ring.  It started when he first rang his niece and nephew, unbeknowns to their mum that first year.  Since then he gathers the info beforehand from the mums (what grade they were in, what their best friend's name is, any achievements they've had during the year ... cause Santa knows all remember).  I tell you some kids are quick, they actually remember what he said to them last year.  "Hey Santa, remember last year you told me..." and "do you want to sing the magic key song with me Santa" (think quick Mike, you made up a Magic Key song!!)  So he had two Santa calls to make on Christmas Eve.  It's fun to watch, I often listen in on the other phone, and he has to get into character with the hat and he has bells that he jingles too.

And as I've done the last couple of Christmasses, I was up early and out the door at 6.30am for my Christmas run around town.  I tell you a lovely warm day was ahead of us and it's hard work running in a santa hat.  Hot head!  But run in it I did the whole way.  Photobombed here by the Christmas Cow!

It's a bit of a running (haha) joke in our 12WBT Runners Connect group that I usually try to get a cow in my weekend running photos that we post in our group each weekend.  This year the lovely Karen organised a Secret Santa and when I came home from my run it was the first gift I opened.  Oh how I laughed and laughed.  A mug with "COW WHISPERER" on it !  Such a mystery, the sender on the box was Santa, I still have no idea who sent it.  But if you are reading this blog, I adore it !

So set up the tripod during our cruisey morning and take the annual Christmas photo.  Thank goodness for the self-timer.

We had an unexpected guest for lunch and our Christmas lunch a deux became a trio.  Mike's dad had a change of plans and he travelled down to enjoy lunch with us.  Even though it's just us, I still make sure the table is decorated nicely.  This table cloth was a bargain I got last year ($25 down to $6) and it's a very sparkly aqua colour, just lovely.

And here's our Christmas dessert this year.  We aren't into the Christmas pud, so every year I just grab a magazine and pick something.  This year I went online and just searched "Christmas dessert" and came up with this.  It was an Almond and Date cake (I've linked up the recipe).  I didn't realise it at the time that it was gluten free (I think it's gluten free, the only flour is a tiny bit of rice flour, does that have gluten in it??).  I didn't put the lemon glaze on it, we had it with custard and low fat vanilla icecream (see you can have your cake and eat it too, right!).   Mike gave it two thumbs up.

The hot diggedy dogs get a Christmas lunch too, ham, turkey and some selected veggies, bearing in mind what dogs should or should not be eating.  Come to think of it, they probably shouldn't be eating Christmas lunch either.  They loved it.

Miss Bo Bo does not look amused here as I gave her her Christmas pressie.  Oh the shame!  I think Lucky was laughing at her.

So that was Christmas.  Late afternoon our lovely neighbours from across the road came over with some delicious cheesecake for yet another dessert.

Then roll on Boxing Day and we did it all again.  Open house here.  We didn't want to add any stress to the kids as we realise there's partners families in the mix too.  I remember the days where all you do is travel from house to house and end up pleasing everyone except for yourself.  So we said Open House, come if like when you like.  Ended up having Wes and girlfriend for lunch and then Tab, Aaron and the little mister for dinner.  Yay lots of cuddles!

And who got the most presents over Christmas?  One guess who!!!!  Although he was more interested in the paper and all the toys went straight into the mouth!!

So easy to take a photo of the little man, he already knows to pose for the camera and give his best smile.

 

And finally I just wanted to end this mammoth post to remember my dad.  He passed away Christmas Day 2007, hard to believe it's been seven years.  My true Christmas angel. X 

And now onward to the end of the year rushing towards us and to new adventures in 2015.  See you on the flip side!

Santa is almost here

Almost 11pm Christmas Eve, time for all good people to get to bed to make Santa's job easier.  Don't worry, Molly will be sleeping outside as she usually has been of late, on Santa watch.  Hope she doesn't bark at Rudolph.

Enjoy tomorrow everyone, make the day whatever it is you are wanting to.

Carols by Candlelight

One of the things I love is to go to Carols by Candlelight and let me tell you this little town has had some disastrous ones weather wise.  More than a few years events have been moved to the local hall and one was so disastrous with torrential rain it was cancelled completely.

Last nights was a pearler though.  A gorgeous night, got cool once the sun disappeared but nothing a jacket wouldn't fix.

We arrived and made sure we partook in the local fare.  A sausage in bread from the Rotary BBQ, followed by a pancake from The Men's Shed.  Yum.  Then Mike decided to follow on with a hot dog from the School stall!  Then another!  

Obviously I don't feed him, ha.

Then quite fitting after all that food he broke the chair!!!  First the arm came off then the whole bottom collapsed.

Hmmmm how is it he broke HIS chair and yet I'm the one who ends up sitting on the ground and he took my chair!!!

The main event and Santa arrived on s horse and cart.  Well I will say that Mike did wait until the line of children subsided before he went to sit on santas knee!!!!  Excited much??

Okay so I sat on his knee too!!  Then Santa told me I jingled his bells!!!  Oh dear!  Does that mean I'm on the good list??

Maybe we both are as Mike ended up putting a bottle of whiskey in santa's sack to which he was most appreciative of!! Ha.  Great night where it's all about the community, singing loud and proud, enjoying catching up with friends and get into the spirit.

I met the big guy!!

Hey hey, last night I met the big guy, who incidentally if you check the photos closely had a lot of trouble with his moustache!!

We were part of a lovely Christmas BBQ dinner with Mike and his friends from his club down at the lake, it was a gorgeous evening, but once the sun went down it got really chilly, hence the jacket!  There were a number of children there and the fact that a couple of our friends are from the CFA, Santa ditched the reindeers for the night and came on the back of the firetruck!

It was nice as there were eight children there, so there wasn't a huge rabble of kids and they all got to spend as much time with santa as they wanted, just lovely.  

Incidentally I found out that I was in the top 5% of good girls on his list, so there's a scoop for you!

Santa was just a tad scared at the exuberance with which Mike greeted him!  Hmmm, was Mike making up for past misdemeanors, I wonder!  Making sure Santa realised he was good after all, hmmmm. 

This has really put me in the Christmas spirit, for sure.  Seeing the delight on the children's faces, not to mention the delight that Santa had too.  Love these photos of this very special man!   Fun fun!

So today we had a Christmas lunch with some of our staff from around the area, including some old staff we don't see any more.  It was really lovely, but I came home exhausted and needed a nap.

I fear I am now behind on my Days of December pages, but no sweat, the photos are here, the ideas are clicking along, I'll get there.  

First Christmas get together for the Silly Season!!

You may be mistaken in thinking I have dropped off the planet.  Not so.  Life (as it sometimes happens) has gotten in the way.  But on a lazy Sunday evening I thought I best post.  Actually I hate Sunday evenings, hate them with a passion.  Because that means it's nearly time for the work week to start.  I feel this way oh around 4pm of a Sunday, each and every week (apart from if I have a Monday off!!!)

So as my northern hemisphere friends can see, we are having some glorious weather right now.  Summer officially starts tomorrow, and I reckon it will be a hot hot summer.  But for right now I'm enjoying this lead up to the really hot weather.

Saturday was the first Christmas get together of the silly season for me.  I met up with some of the lovely friends I have in the Warrnambool & Surrounds 12wbt crew.  Leah had organised us to meet up nice and early down at the foreshore for an early morning run and then back to the Pavilion at 8.30am for breakfast, Christmas colours/theme a necessity.

So bright and early I met those that were able to make it, I tinselled up my running hat (note that it's in the correct way this time!!) and while a couple of the girls who met earlier were running the Surf T Surf course and beyond, the remainder of us ran along the foreshore.  It was so enjoyable running with the other ladies, I do have trouble talking and running but it was just an easy morning, good friends and a festive feel in the air.  Debbie had even brought her dog KT who was dressed to impress.

Now I am going to go on record and say I think tinsel is a definite must for all runners.  I got such lovely 'good mornings' and big smiles on my run.  Either they were smiling at the tinsel or they were grinning awkwardly at the crazy lady in front of them.  Eh!  Either/or !!  I was having fun.

I call the group my health & fitness sisters.  They come and go in the crew, but there's that core group that remains constant.  Saturday morning was awkward for some of the ladies, but these are the ones that made it.  And a loose decision was made that next year we need to organise a monthly run - maybe the last Sunday of the month or something that stands out.  As long as two turn up so no one plays Larry Lonely for breakfast, then any more are a bonus, right.

Is this a happy smile or is this a happy smile?  KT I think wins the best dressed of the morning.  She ran with her santa scarf on for 6 kilometres.  Way to go KT.

I looked at my calendar earlier and we have got a lot of functions and get togethers to go to over December.  That usually never happens.  Next week is a bit of a lull and then it hots up.  And I'm pretty pleased that apart from one more present I want to get Mike, and the couple I'm waiting on mail order to come in - I have all my gift buying done and wrapped!  I aimed to get that done before December hit so I could just cruise instead of the crazed lead up to Christmas I had last year.  

I'll be doing Days of December again this year, I'm doing it this year with a difference.  Both in the theme and the size of the album.  Here's the front cover to whet your appetite...

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