Tag: Christmas

Categories
Family

Six More Mondays Till Xmas!

This time last year I was super organised. I had presents all sorted, some purchased and even some wrapped up ready for Christmas Day. I was a planning and organising machine.  I was all over it and made sure no one got forgotten. (One other mum asked me in September last year if I had sorted the kids Christmas presents. I gasped with shock at this comment. Why would I get their Christmas gifts sorted when they just had their birthday? She said that she had kids in December and since I was due to have Alexander in January and we had no idea if he would come in Dec/Jan it might be best to get things sorted just in case I ended up in hospital. Geez I had not thought about this. At first I thought I had plenty of time and how silly to be doing it in September. Although I looked at the calendar and due to being very pregnant thought I best get organised.)

Now the same time this year I am not in a super organised state. I have a few gifts purchased and none for immediate family only a gift here and there for my husbands family so far.

Nothing has been purchased for the kids so far.

I hear you gasp in the disbelief of this comment. However it is very true

So why am I not on the ball this year? Well I have not been motivated due to the kids being very naughty and horrible. Every time I do something lovely for them they act like terrors straight after and make me wish I shouldn’t have bothered. Does this happen to you?

Today is the 11th of November and that means that there is only 6 more Mondays to go before it is Christmas! Yes you read that right! Not long to go now.

I have even added the friendly text “DON’T PANIC” so it might calm you down. Yes very Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

DON'T PANIC - There are only 6 more Mondays until Christmas Day! Yes you read that right. Not long to go at all!
DON’T PANIC – There are only 6 more Mondays until Christmas Day! Yes you read that right. Not long to go at all!

 

Are you the type of person who purchases Christmas presents all year?

I sometimes do this. I see something that is perfect for someone and buy it and squirrel it away. One issue with this technique is that you need to remember where you have hidden the presents. You don’t want to be in a panic and have to race out and get a few new gifts due to not being able to find your clever organised gifts that you of course cannot find.

Or do you do all the shopping in the few weeks before Christmas Day?

Maybe you like to race around the shops on Christmas Eve and get the last minute specials. I for one would hate fighting the traffic and the people if shopping on Christmas Eve, that would be annoying.

I have seen some items for the kids but they are so expensive and of course we would need to get two of them so I dismiss them, then of course they turn evil and then my nice thoughts of going Christmas gift shopping has been sidelined to annoyance and why was I bothering at all.

This has been uttered more than twice from me to the kids, “If you don’t start listening and behaving Christmas is going to be cancelled!” Yes bad mother alert here. Have you threatened to cancel Christmas? Let me know if you did and how that worked out?

Don’t get me wrong I am not a scrooge. I love this time of year, the holidays and giving to others. The one thing that is driving me mental is that I race around doing for everyone and don’t seem to get much in return. Yes I have my cranky pants on today, maybe the cranky pants have been cleaned and worn again due to the constant drama in our house at the moment. Don’t think that I never clean my pants due to being cranky a lot! (I just had to put that in here)

Kermit helping decorate the tree for Christmas. He has done a great job don't you think?
Kermit helping decorate the tree for Christmas. He has done a great job don’t you think?

Is it the age that the kids just ignore you? Don’t listen? Race off and never come back when they are called? Hurt each other and more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you can see I am not a happy camper with the idea of rushing off to reward little peoples bad behaviour. I do think that it is the fact that they are so tired due to it being the end of the year, they are super excited about holidays, being in a new grade next year and of course Christmas. Do you find that your kids go a bit silly at the end of the year?

There is still time to get a few gifts for the kids before the actual day. I am just wondering what to give my darling girls this year. I don’t want little toys that will get lost and also cost a fortune. I don’t want more stuffed teddies as they have so many already, they don’t need more dolls although they have asked for some. I could get them more LEGO but they might get annoyed it is not something different. I do like to get them a set of LEGO to add to their collection (due to the fact they both love to create LEGO I like to make sure they have enough to share, hence adding to the collection).

I have been asked to get horse or a kitten, we will not be getting a horse due to space and costs but the kitten will have to wait until we are in our new house.

Are you organised for this Christmas?

Have you had to deal with kids being naughty and not behaving? Do you tell them to act nicer or else they might not get pressies on Christmas Day?

Let us know what you do to make things easier this time of year.

Categories
Pregnant

Excitement and Frustration

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I will be 38 weeks pregnant. I have never been this pregnant and as you might imagine I am getting annoyed. Annoyed at everything and everyone. Yes sad but true. I did think that the baby would have arrived by now and due to having twins early I am so over it and trying things to evict this little person from my body. However anything I do has not been met with labor starting or even waters breaking so back to waiting and getting bigger and more annoyed as the days progress.

C'mon Baby..... you have been told your days are numbered. You need to vacate my belly!
C’mon Baby….. you have been told your days are numbered. You need to vacate my belly!

I have also had strangers put their hands on my belly and tell me what I am having due to the shape of how I’m carrying. This did not happen last time and it has taken me by surprise. I don’t like it and was not sure what to say. I know they all mean well but I just don’t understand why my belly is suddenly everyone’s property? Did that happen to you? Many have told me that I’m having a boy due to the way I’m carrying so should be interesting when we find out.

I saw that Michelle Bridges had her baby on the weekend. I thought we were due around the same time. Maybe she was a week or so ahead. I have no idea. Now I’m thinking that maybe I should have been doing more squats to make this baby come. Since hearing of the birth of Michelle Bridges little boy, I have added more squats into my day just in case. Well you never know right?

Another frustration at the moment is that I have a sore throat that I got from one of the kids. Yes I don’t feel very well on top of being pregnant. It is not that bad, just feeling generally unwell and a head cold, but it does not help as all I want to do is sleep. Annoying really especially in summer. Oh well. I have been taking vitamins, and sucking on lozenges to ease the symptoms and make myself feel better. Teas and juices as well.

All Christmas presents are wrapped and many are under the tree (I wanted to make sure it was all done just in case I was in the hospital and having the baby). The kids ones will go under the tree tomorrow due to sticky little fingers and curious minds that might spoil surprises before the day. Do you put the kids presents under the tree before Christmas Eve? Or are you like me you make sure that no one can mess with the presents?

Christmas Presents all done and wrapped. Phew!
Christmas Presents all done and wrapped. Phew!

On the excitement end we had a family friend do the ring test to see if the baby is a boy/girl. As you know we have not found out the sex. Some people think we know and are just not saying, but we really have no idea and birth will be the only clue as to if the baby is a boy or girl. This test was done at a BBQ with family and friends. The room was quiet and everyone was very curious about the test and the results. From this test it looks like we are having a girl. Not sure but thought that I was having a girl as I felt the same with the twins this pregnancy, however I did think I was having a boy last time and was very wrong, I ended up with two lovely girls.

I have done the Chinese Gender Prediction and they say that we are having a girl also….but you never know it could be a boy. We are not fussed and just hope that the baby is healthy and happy.

I put some clothes in suction bags to keep them in case, and then I could not find them. Very annoying. However I finally found the clothes.  I still need to go through the draws as I need to put things in sizes so that it is easier to find. I’m glad the clothes were found as I did not buy much for the baby due to already having clothes that I could not find. So happiness all round with this win!

We are all curious about what the new little baby will be like and when it will decide to be here. My hospital bag has been packed for a while and we are all ready if it happens now. Maybe I should take my hospital bag with me on my travels for Christmas Day? Not sure, but it might be a wise idea. At least I will have it if I need it.

I have also been drinking some Raspberry Leaf Tea to make things easier for birth. I have been doing this for a while now. I suppose it can’t hurt right? The night before my waters broke with the twins I had two cups of this tea and then the next morning at 4am my waters broke (33 weeks pregnant with twins), I was hoping that it might have the same affect with this pregnancy but it has not been the case. Maybe it was just the right time for the other pregnancy and plus having more than one child would have made it happen earlier.

The kids are super excited about Christmas and the baby in their view is taking a back seat. I think due to the baby not being here it is not a reality for the kids yet. Once born I’m sure there will be much more interest. I do understand that for kids Christmas is super exciting and much more interesting at the moment.

The decorated Christmas Tree - Not mine but it looks pretty doesn't it.
The decorated Christmas Tree – Not mine but it looks pretty doesn’t it.

I cannot wait to see their faces when they get their presents. I do love Christmas as much as the kids. I love getting surprises, and getting up early on Christmas Day seems to happen to me as well as the kids.

Were you pregnant over Christmas? Were you concerned that you would have the baby on Christmas Day? If you were pregnant were you super annoyed and frustrated that the baby had not come yet?

 

Categories
Family

Preparing For Christmas

Have you realised that there is not long to go until it is Christmas? I have!  Again it is is just rather amazing that the year has flown by. I suppose I have been busy with life, kids, appointments due to being pregnant and everything else that happens as a parent.

As of today 3rd of Nov 2015 there is only 7 Mondays left until Christmas. I thought it might be wrong but I checked. Image shared from Practical Parenting Magazine.
As of today 3rd of Nov 2015 there is only 7 Mondays left until Christmas. I thought it might be wrong but I checked. Image shared from Practical Parenting Magazine.

A while ago I was chatting with a mum from the twins school and she told me that it might be a good idea to start organising the kids Christmas presents now. I said why? She said that she had babies in December and was organised so that her older child did not miss out, and since I am due early January it might be a good idea to be prepared. This was said to me in September so I thought, “Oh, I have plenty of time… silly now to be shopping for Christmas and especially since the kids just had their birthday”.

I went home and thought about it. Maybe this lovely lady had a good point. If the baby decided to enter the world earlier than the due date I will be caught off guard. Since this conversation I have slowly acquiring presents for the girls and hiding them away. I think I just need to get some final presents and all will be sorted, well other than wrapping them up and putting names on them.

My presents that I organised earlier now under the tree. I can hope that I am that on top of things.
My presents that I organised earlier now under the tree. I can hope that I am that on top of things.

I’m nearly 31 weeks pregnant and getting a bit nervous. My waters broke with the twins when I was 33 weeks. I know this is a singleton and a twin pregnancy is completely different, but it is just the fact that the same time in the pregnancy is fast approaching and I am wary. I know that this will not happen or is very unlikely to happen with one baby but I am just concerned. I then had the twins at 34 weeks and 2 days. I have never been more than 34 weeks pregnant so this is going to be new territory. I have no idea what to expect other than the standard aches, pains and of course annoyances.

Were you due around Christmas or your other children’s birthdays? Did you make sure to get presents prepared just in case you were in hospital? Let us know.

 

Categories
News

Merry Christmas Everyone!

My Christmas wishes to you. Thanks for following the blog and spending time online with me this year. 2015 is going to be bigger and better so stay tuned for some more fun.

Have a fabulous Christmas and stay safe. I hope Santa brings you what you have been secretly wishing for this year. I’m sure you are all on Santa’s nice list!

 

Categories
News

Popular Wine For the Holidays

Have you ever wondered what wine variety is the most popular in Australia? I have. According to this infographic from Wine Selectors, it seems like a Chardy and Shiraz are highly popular in Australia. Not really surprising with the Chardonnay. When I was little it seemed everyone drank this wine.

Buy 12 bottles, get 15% off

We are not the largest producer of wine in the world. This honour belongs to Italy, however, we do produce enough to satisfy everyone in Australia and more!

With the holiday season fast approaching what is your favourite drop?

I do like a nice Rosé on a hot summer day, or it could be a nice Sauvignon Blanc.  I am also partial to a nice red so a Shiraz or a Merlot depending on how I feel.

I might be having a nice drink after I brave Westfield for last-minute Christmas shopping.  Yes, I am crazy, hubby, the twins and I need to go to the big shopping centre for more choice. No way of getting out of it. I hope all goes well! Wish me luck. I do love going there, just not when it is so busy!

 Learn more about wine with the below infographic:

Australian Wines Lowdown | Wine SelectorsThis infographic has been researched & developed by Wine Selectors.
The Image Credit can be found here at Australian Wines Lowdown 2014 Infographic – Wineselectors

 

Remember: Drink in moderation and a little bit is okay. A good tip to stay hydrated is to have a glass of water or non-alcoholic drink in-between glasses or have a break. Make sure to eat as well! Stay safe this holiday season and enjoy your time with friends and family.

 

Categories
Wednesday Wisdom

Finding Everyday Magic

Do you sometimes think you are not being a good parent. I do. I sometimes stop and think I am not fun, being terrible and so on. However for the most part I think I am doing an awesome job. Everyone has moments in their work life or any role that they doubt what they are doing or have done. The below quotes are great to help you have the pick me up you need. It will inspire you and give you an injection of ideas as a parent.

 

These parenting quotes will inspire you to be an amazing parent & to stop doubting yourself. You are doing an amazing job!
These parenting quotes will inspire you to be an amazing parent & to stop doubting yourself. You are doing an amazing job!

On Monday the 1st of December I got the Christmas tree and all the decorations ready to put up with the kids. However this did not happen due to a missing foot on the base. I had 3 of them but needed the 4th. If I did not have this last bit the tree falls over due to the weight of the top of the tree. Not good at all!

I could not find it and of course did not know where to start looking. I looked where we normally put the tree up in the living room to see if it was under something. No not there! I looked in the shed where the box for the Christmas tree lived before I got it that afternoon. No not there, although the shed is a mess and it might be there and not seen yet.

So I had two angry and upset kids who were very much looking forward to putting up the Christmas tree. I explained that I was very sorry and I have done my best to find this missing piece for the tree. I had some bad behaviour from one girl and she was sent to her room for some time out.

I told both girls that I will sort out the issue of the tree and we will find something.

Yesterday I managed to find a Christmas tree at Vinnies and it was only $5! Yes how amazing. Other tress that were from the shops were going for nearly $100. I did not want to spend that much and could not afford to on a tree.

xmastree2014

So now kids are super happy and we have a Christmas tree. I still want to find the missing part of the other tree, but now I am glad that I have a replacement, kids are happy and I can find it when I can.

After they saw the tree they were so excited! I got cuddles, kisses and a lot of thanks. I hope this nice behaviour lasts. It was so nice to do this and I was very thankful that I was able to and found something.

Have you managed to create a bit of magic at your place lately? I think it was magical that this happened. I was in the right place at the right time to get the tree we needed. I have made the kids super happy and this will make Christmas extra special for the kids.

“The best way to make children good is to make them happy” Oscar Wilde

Both girls have been telling everyone about our new Christmas tree. They are even asking if Santa will notice the new tree when he visits.

Having the excitement of the Christmas tree I realised that it is the small things and being present that really count. Being with your child and sharing the little moments are what is important. I try and do this and don’t worry about the housework or other things that will take me away from the kids. If I am here with them, I am being with them.

What do you do to have more magic at your place?

 

Categories
5 years and beyond

The Facebook Grapevine

Not long to go before Christmas Day and of course something that the twins are asking for I could not find. I searched and searched and could not find it. One place did stock it locally, however they were out and were going to get new stock. This new stock would have taken a week or so to get here and of course I would miss Christmas. Why did I not notice they had it before. Typical really. At least I know where to go in the future.

I thought why not use the power of Facebook. Yes nearly everyone is on it, and some of my mates from school, family and of course people that I used to work with. I asked the question of what I was looking for and you would never guess. One of my school friends managed to save the day or Christmas actually!

She knew what I needed, She was in the right area and in the shops at the time the update on Facebook came up. I saw her comment to my status and then all was organised. She purchased the goods, and what made things even better was that she was going to be working near by. All I had to do was go and pick them up and give her the money that she spent.

Have you used the power of social media or your network to solve a dilemma or get a needed item. If so what and how well did it work? Was it for a present, a surprise or just for you? Let me know. I am just so amazed at the good timing and how the right message to the right network at the right time can make all the difference.

The kids will be so amazed that they got what they wished for. Three more days to go before the living room floor is covered in wrapping paper. I am getting excited to see the girls faces. I still have to wrap them so they can be unwrapped. Have you got it all sorted?

Send in your comments.

Categories
Sewing

Make Your Own Tea Towels

I thought what could I make to be Christmas presents and decided on tea towels. Yes I am making tea towels as part of my Christmas gifts to family. I have made some and need to finish off quite a lot to be ready for next week. I really have my work cut out for me.

My finished products. Don't they look good.
My finished products. Don’t they look good.
I loved this fabric as well. You could either make tea towels, a table cloth or an apron out of this material. Very much for the chef.
I loved this fabric as well. You could either make tea towels, a table cloth or an apron out of this material. Very much for the chef.
One of the fabrics I chose. I love it as it is different and great for a Christmas present.
One of the fabrics I chose. I love it as it is different and great for a Christmas present..

So how do you make a tea towel. Well you need to do the following:

  • Pick material that is 100% cotton. I chose thicker cotton material that will wear well as a tea towel.
  • What size will you make them? Will they be larger or the average size for a tea towel?
  • If you have a favourite tea towel why not measure the size of that and base the pattern on this size. This way you will be happy with the size and also the fabric as well.
  • Make sure to have the right colour cotton thread to match as this makes it look better and not to see all the seams is nice. However if you are clever you can make a nice decoration with an alternate colour thread. It is up to you and depends on the look you are going for.
  • I purchased 3 metres of each fabric and that has given us 10 tea towels of each type. You might get more depending on the size you make them.

TIP: To get a neat edge, fold over a little edge all round and iron. Then fold over again. This way when you sew it all round you will not see the bits left or any part that might fray. As it is cotton material there is a tendency to fray. If it is folded over and sewn in then this will not happen. Also it looks like a better professional finish

 

So a tea towel is just a piece of material that is neatly sewn all around. You can make them fancy by adding patches, fabric stamping and the like. If you have a tag to add you can add that as well so everyone knows you made it.

I am now thinking of making more and getting more creative with them. They are fun and easy to produce. Maybe I could be the tea towel queen if I ever get really good at it. Look out I might be at your local markets soon with a supply of home made tea towels.

So now I need to get serious and get onto to finishing my batch that I need for Christmas. I have also been cleaning the house, entertaining kids and now they are on holidays! Lets hope that my plans go well. They of course have not had a great start today as I have not stopped sneezing and feel like I am very sick currently.

I need to power on and make more tea towels as hubby would not be pleased with me if he came to find all material not created into towels for the kitchen. So in the next days until Christmas I will be busy working away in my hidden workshop, otherwise known as the dining room (I don’t have a dedicated room for sewing or craft) working away to complete the job.

What have you made or are making for Christmas presents? Send in your comments.

Categories
5 years and beyond

Our Christmas Tree

Our Christmas Tree is decorated and now proudly displayed in our living room.
Our Christmas Tree is decorated and now proudly displayed in our living room.

Finally our Christmas Tree is up. We did have plans to have it up for the 1st but hubby did not get it out of storage and then went to Melbourne for a week for work. Yes busy times, and I was looking after 2 very naughty little people, who did not listen and were not behaving at all!

These little people have been staying up to all hours and everything I have tried is not making them sleep! A big day out, still no sleep. A day in the park, still no sleep. A day out with craft at home, still no sleep. A big day out and a bath before bed, still no sleep! AHHAHHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why won’t my sleepy excited monkeys behave?

Is it due to Christmas approaching? Is it the age? Is it the fact that they need to stay up later due to being older? Is it that they are overstimulated? I don’t know but all I know is that quiet time before bed does not work, so maybe the fact hubby is now home might help. I will leave it to him tonight as I am over the bedtime routine, he can have the joys of kids not sleeping or behaving. You know what will happen now, they will sleep and behave!

The girls as mentioned have been super excited about Christmas and that said were all over the place and very helpful to a point with putting up the tree. Decorations were mostly put on by the twins and I put some fragile decorations on to make sure they were looked after and put on the tree correctly.

So we now have a decorated tree in our living area and it brightens the place up, don’t you think? I do love Christmas and the season, however I am exhausted and want to have a lie down now! Kids were so excited it has warn me out. Oh and the constant questions have driven me a bit insane. Does this happen to you? I hope you are o.k and managed to hang get the tree sorted without incident. The girls are now playing outside and crossing fingers and toes not making a big mess in the process.

Have you put your tree up? When do you like to put the Christmas Tree up for, what is the ideal date? Did your kids help you with the decorations? If so were they helpful? Send in your comments.

Categories
5 years and beyond

4 Weeks till Christmas

When I get some presents they will look just as wonderful! Image courtesy of thephotoholic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
When I get some presents they will look just as wonderful! Image courtesy of thephotoholic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today is the 25th of November and it is 4 weeks till Christmas. I am usually much more organised and switched on, but this year I have no clue of what to get people. Yes a big fail for me. Are you in this boat too? Or are you super organised and will put me to shame.

I must say the kids have been pushing the limits lately so maybe I tried to block the whole idea of Christmas out of my head! I did mutter at one stage that Christmas is cancelled. This as you can imagine got kids very upset and I told them that it will all be fine, as long as they are good and nice!

They asked a very clever question, “Mummy, can Santa hear us?” I then said yes he can. In hindsight maybe this was not a good move, as Santa sounds like a spy or a stalker. He does see you when you are sleeping and awake. Does this man have state of the art technology to help him? You can only wonder? Why is it that the poor mummies and daddies of this world are left to our own devices! Not fair I say.

So as it is in fact 4 weeks till the fateful Christmas Day I better step up. What to get the kids? I do have a few ideas but don’t want to spend up big (cannot afford it) and the fact that we don’t have heaps of space for things or even what we have now. I suppose I will have to take some things to the charity shops, get rid of some things and make room for more toys to come live with us or be scattered all over the house. I just hope they last more than a day.

The big question I now face is what to get family, and especially the husband! I am sure I will find something. The twins even are making secret presents at pre-school so they are all organised. Seems like it is just me.

I cannot be all bad, I have managed to purchase a gift for my secret person in FMS Secret Gift Exchange, and it was posted off today. I am super excited and hope the person I bought for likes it. I went with their favourite colour and the twins helped. They had a great time running around all the shops up here to help me pick something wonderful.

One other thing that I need to think about is gifts for the pre-school teachers. This is the girls last year of pre-school and they will be moving into Kindy next year. It is going to be such an emotional farewell and the kids are sad but extremely excited to start their next adventure at big school. I’m thinking of making shortbread and giving the teachers a nice candle each.

What are your thoughts? Send suggestions as it will all help. Have you got all organised for Christmas. It is only 4 weeks away! I don’t mean to worry you, but it is not long at all!

Categories
4 years and beyond

Christmas Tree Up

Christmas Tree 2012
Christmas Tree 2012

On Wednesday I put part of the Christmas Tree up but left most of it for the girls to help me with. We have a fake one that you need to put the branches on one by one. Each section is labelled with letters. The bottom is C, the next one B and the other one A. I was worried that as I had left the branches on the living room floor and the girls were deciding to do it themselves it might be a bit of a mess. I was surprised and amazed.

The girls knew what letters were which and put the right sections in the right areas. What clever girls. I was so taken with what they did and that they got it all right.  The girls made decorations at school so we added those and also our other decorations also. Each year I get an ornamate for me and my mother in law with the girls faces on it. I have done it since birth. It is a great way to see how they have grown and it makes your tree a little more personal.

The girls just had a great time decorating and helping up the tree, and was topped off by daddy putting up the lights last night. I took a picture this morning of the girls proudly next to the Christmas tree. They were pulling funny smiley faces, very happy girls.

Do your kids help you with decorating and putting up the Christmas Tree? Is it is a chore or are they helpful?  Send in your comments.