This month- November

November has been a busy month. We started the month in Thailand.

Tui and I on the Ferry to Koh Phangan

Spent the first 9 days on the Island of Koh Phangan.

Tui in one of her (many) new outfits. The kids cloths were just so cute and so cheap I couldn't resist!

...waking up to beautiful sunrises

...exploring beaches and villiages

Mr T picked his first Coconut.

Kayaking to deserted Islands

...where we found Wilson (Tom Hanks' mate)

Although technically I think Wilson was actually a volley ball.

And since we arrived home I've been creating like mad.

Going to local celebrations and to the beach,

...and finding Faeries at the bottom of the garden.

Not to mention that it's almost that time of year again!

Well, it's that time of year again...

I was trying to think of something fresh to write about christmas but instead I'm just going to be lazy and re-post this from last year. Well not exactly lazy because I think I said it well already;)

This Christmas I wish for you that all the wrapping paper you receive is old newspaper or recycled kids art-works and that it ends up mulching your gardens.
I hope everyone appreciates the effort you've put into your hand-made gifts.
Hoping your children don't receive any presents made with poisonous plastics or lead paint.
May your in-laws NOT feed the kids too many artificial food additives.
I wish for you that you don't receive too much crap that you will have to keep because you'd feel too guilty to give it straight to good-will.
I hope that none of your friends or relatives argue or get too drunk and obnoxious.
I hope you get as much from giving as receiving.

BUT most of all have FUN and remember to LOVE
It's only one day after all. See you the other side of Christmas.

See you the other side of Christmas

This Christmas I wish for you that all the wrapping paper you receive is old newspaper or recycled kids art-works and that it ends up mulching your gardens.
I hope everyone appreciates the effort you've put into your hand-made gifts.
Hoping your children don't receive any presents made with poisonous plastics or lead paint.
May your in-laws NOT feed the kids too many artificial food additives.
I wish for you that you don't receive too much crap that you will have to keep because you'd feel too guilty to give it straight to good-will.
I hope that none of your friends or relatives argue or get too drunk and obnoxious.
I hope you get as much from giving as receiving.

BUT most of all have FUN and remember to LOVE
It's only one day after all. See you the other side of Christmas.

Making Christmas

Well, the little top fits Tui and she was very proud showing it off.

I've been busily trying to get on top of making a few xmas pressies.

A rasta beanie for one nephew

A shoulder bag for a niece. This was inspired by a pattern on ravelry

And here's rain modeling it!!!

Xmas time

I've decided to refer to the whole shebang as Xmas not Christmas. I do explain to my kids who Christ is if and when they ask...it's a bit like sex...they're bound to ask at some stage!

But I'm not christian. I don't celebrate Christmas because it is a religious holiday but because it is a family tradition of getting together and giving gifts because we do love each other no matter what altercations we may have had during the year!

We planned on having a quite Xmas but ended up having an enjoyable Xmas with all P's relatives. It was a really enjoyable day. I didn't get to take photos of everybody though...must have been the fruit cocktails...just got a bit slack after they kicked in!

Tui with nanna

Tui with great-nanna

Shy nephew, texting!

And today we spent the day with my Mum and Dad and had a beautiful time. We had a nice salad from the garden for lunch and Mum's famous vegetarian sausage rolls. And they left with some eggplants, capsicums, lemon grass and eggs. Now they're the type of pressies I like. Home grown, organic and full of love (not money)...

Mum, Rain and Tui

Dad, Mr T and Tui

It was lovely to catch up with them all...

Merry xmas,

Hope your New Years celebrations are just as exciting and happy.

The biggest trampoline in the world...

We had an early christmas picnic lunch at the beach today with my family. I'd never been to Kings beach before. There is a beautiful salt water swimming pool near the beach and heaps of rock pools to explore. Also a large fountain-thing which the kids can play under (but looked strangely like a communal bidet. Maybe that's just my warped mind!)

And a bungy trampoline.







It was good to hang out with Mum, Dad, my sis and her new boy friend (what a gentleman...running to carry things for her, very nice and good looking too!) My brother wasn't there. He is in Paris with his boys and wife visiting her family, so they were probably rugged up while we were all splashing around.
Zan is going to his fathers house for christmas, he's leaving tomorrow so this afternoon we exchanged gifts.

The kids loved their new trampoline. Mr T has dubbed it the biggest trampoline in the world!

Tui watched as they assembled it...

They already had a trampoline but it was damaged in a storm we had last year....more like a mini tornedo than a storm actually. The wind picked the trampoline up and blew it 50m across the yard into a tree, so it has to be propped up to be stable. We thought about just replacing it but then I saw these really big ones. It's 16 feet (4.8m)...well I do have four children!
They spent the afternoon assembling it and even now after dark they are outside bouncing around.

Only five sleeps...

We've been busy here over the last week. It seems to always be busy in the lead up to christmas. I went xmas shopping and all I can say is I'm glad that part of it is over. We are staying home this christmas (instead fo visiting the family)which will be nice. No driving...yay!

It's been so hot this week I relented and let the kids turn the air conditioning on. I don't usually use it because I hate the waste of energy of these over-used appliances. I also don't like having all the doors and windows closed. It's so stuffy.

But mostly we have been swimming to cool down. It's a very lovely Summer...

O, Christmas Tree...

Today Rain went to her new friend's house for a play. It was very exciting for her as she is a very social girl and it was nice for her to meet someone who lives quite close. They got on really well and Rain informed me that they were normal people who hardly ever wear shoes like us!

Zan came back from his Dads house after having a good time over the weekend.

Mr T helped Peace paint a chalk board inside the cubby house yesterday and today the paint was dry enough to try it out. He loved it as he has a penchant for drawing on walls (usually ones in the house!) Perhaps this will give him somewhere else to draw. LOL. Later he helped me bake a cake but he was very excited all day because he knew when Zan and Rain came home we were going to decorate the Christmas Tree.

We put on the obligatory Christmas Carrolls CD (that over the next month will drive me barmy) and all helped hang the decorations.

I usually just whack the decorations on haphazardly but this was not good enough for the aesthetically minded members of the family. They decided that this year the decorating theme was blue and purple. So I stood back and watched them go. (Gently humming Frosty the Snowman to the baby)

I must admit they did a much better job than I usually do.
Yes, it's an old fashioned "REAL" Tree. Ah, love the smell of pine needles...