So this is Christmas...

A few pictures that illustrate our Day of Christmas this year.... we all had a wonderful day.

After present-opening together (post-breakfast), the assemblage procedures begin...

Beth tries out her new leap-pad activity book...

Liam received a large Lego-City pack... it was complete by lunch time!

Christmas cuddles...

Christmas lunch...

So this is Christmas... pm...

We enjoyed our feast out on the back deck of our new house. Prawns, chicken, ham, delicious salads, sausage rolls, drinks... Yummmm...

We spent the day with Andy's Mum and Dad, Bec's Mum and friend Elaine, plus ourselves - a party of 8.

I know it's not pretty, but a picture of prawn waste is a little original, don't you think?!

Aaron called in later in the afternoon for an hour or so, and joined us for a cooling swim.

Carols stars...

This year we allowed both Beth and Liam (well, actually, "strongly encouraged" would be more accurate) to participate in the church Christmas Carols. They learnt dance steps and got to dress up - Beth (to her utmost delight) as a princess, and Liam as a mini-Santa and later a shepherd. It was a great night, and they both had a ball experiencing what it is like to be up on stage in front of thousands of people!

More holidaying...

Rainbow Bay beach... LOVE that crystal-clear water!

The kids and I went for a walk one afternoon and ended up in the Coolangatta shopping centre. I let Liam and Beth have a 'ride' on this car while I browsed a book table nearby. When I glanced up and saw them from this angle, how could I resist taking a picture?

Our last morning was spent exploring the Currumbin Rock Pools, about a 15 minute drive inland from Currumbin. We thought the water would be freezing, but in fact it was quite lovely. Can't say I love swimming in dark brown water that I can't see through, but it was a nice change all the same.

A great day for the beach...

Coolangatta has come and gone for another year. Once again, my brother Aaron joined us, and this time we stayed in the same apartment that we stayed in last year (the first time we have returned to the same unit). Despite the strong northerly winds and bluebottles that lasted from the time we arrived until the day we left, we still managed to enjoy a proper beach holiday, spending most mornings 10 mins away at the Currumbin inlet where the water is still and it was nicely sheltered from the wind and stingers.

Ready and 'sun-screamed', as Liam calls it. Liam learnt to lather on the 'sun-scream' quite thick this week, and Andy took on the look of a ghost many days with the 'ghosting' effect of Bec's sunscreen. We think you could patent a new brand of sunscreen, named 'Sun-scream', that purposely gives you a ghostly appearance. Yeah?

At Currumbin... sand play...

The water was cold, but lovely and refreshing. With floaties adorned, Andy, Liam and Beth swam to many 'islands' (really just other shores of the inlet) during their swim.

Of course, we buried the kids in the sand... surely this is a rite of passage growing up in Australia and having a beach holiday???!

Grade 1: done and dusted!

A class photo taken of Liam's class on his last day of grade one a few weeks ago. Isn't it funny how girls are (mostly) so placid and sweet in pictures, whereas boys are (mostly) so excitable and - dare I say it - SILLY!

Liam had a great year in this class, and was blessed with the loveliest teacher in Mrs Strahorn. She's about to have her first baby next year, so - much to my disappointment - Beth won't have the opportunity to be taught by her when she reaches grade 1 in 2011.

Breakups and Concerts...

Already we have reached that part of the year with all the busyness of end-of-year breakups and Christmas concerts. Beth and I had our playgroup breakup this week, our last playgroup together. The children all enjoyed a small feast for morning tea...

... As usual, Beth was one of the last ones to finish eating, and I'm sure she would have carried on munching all morning if we'd let her!

Surprise surprise! We had a special Christmas visitor to playgroup later in the morning... this was the first time that Beth had ever been willing to approach Santa. In fact, she even did it happily, and was good enough to let me take a photo - her first ever pic with SC.

Last night was Beth's kindy Christmas concert. She has been counting down the days for quite some time, and thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Sitting right at the back of the hall, Liam even provided us with some entertainment during other class performances as he danced to the songs being performed. (Including some break-dancing on the floor).

A moving experience...

We've spent the better part of the last few weeks packing up our house at Bald Hills and moving over to our new house in Aspley. During the packing phase, we discovered that Liam loves to pack boxes! He spent one weekend asking us what he could pack next... thanks mate!

Moving day... it began early, but it needn't have. The movers, who were expected at 8am, did not arrive until almost noon due to a sick driver. So my helpers and I spent several hours during the morning sitting around chatting. Quite a relaxing morning for a moving day! But it certainly made for a looong afternoon once they did arrive.

Is it just us, or do we have a lot of stuff? Is this really normal??

It's amazing the things that turn up when you move. This is what turned out to be hiding under our fridge!


The van was chockers, and nor could the trampoline fit into it, so they had to tie it to the back!

So we're in our new house... obviously the best place to take an afternoon nap is on the floor! (Perhaps checking out the new carpet??)

Our new pool!

After much house-hunting, and months of open homes trying to sell our place, we now own a new house in Aspley. Our current house in Bald Hills is under contract (finally!), and we are set to move in about a week and a half after doing a few reno's on the new place. Yesterday afternoon, we took the opportunity to go to the new house and try out the pool. As you can see, the three fish of the family L-O-V-E it! (Well, the Big Fish would probably prefer things if he wasn't also playing the part of the Little Fishes' amusement centre for most of the time!)

Alex Heads weekend...

We took the opportunity a couple of weekends ago to get away for a short break before we get too heavily involved in the throes of moving. We found a unit at Alex Heads, and spent Saturday enjoying Mooloolooba and the nearby beaches on the headlands of Alex.

I picked up one of Aldi's cheap kites they had for sale about a month ago, and so we gave it its furst run - or should I say flight - on Saturday afternoon. Although the weather was beautifully sunny on Saturday, it was also quite windy and cold - perfect weather for the kite. Despite a few crashes onto the beach, nearby trees, and into the water, we got some good flight out of it, and shall give it another go when we take our holiday down the coast in December.

As I said, the wind made things rather chilly, but kids being kids, Liam and Beth still wanted to go swimming in the ocean to use their boogie boards (which they call surf boards!). Prior to this shot being taken, we had jumpers on! It didn't take long for the goosebumps to appear.

Great imaginations...

Here is our little 'cat in the hat'!
Book Week was celebrated at Northside last week, and on Friday the children were asked to dress up as one of their favourite book characters. Liam choice was fine with me, as it didn't require TOO much technical ability, but provided me with enough challenge so that I gained that mother's sense of satisfaction of having done something creative that she is proud of!!

This weekend has been rather interesting as our family of four has expanded with several new additions! Beth has been getting around with new babies growing in her tummy, declaring every so often that her new baby would 'hatch' soon! So we have two new 'hatchlings' (babies). Got to love her!

85, not out!

My Nanna recently turned 85, so we celebrated her birthday with her, along with the dozens of other members of my family. It was a lovely afternoon of sweets, gifts, catching up with relatives, and of course singing the extended Hohns version of 'Happy Birthday'. Here is Beth with Maddie, my cousin Chrissie's daughter, who is about 6 months younger than Beth. Cute.

Grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bits and pieces...

Beth loves creating spaces that are small and cosy, yet large enough to fit inside. This was her recent 'bed'.

Another sports day. This year, Liam raced in the 100m sprint (I like to refer to Liam's involvement as a 'happy jog'), ball games, and a fun run. Liam seemed to have a fun time, and really tried his best. I'm not sure exactly where he placed, but he didn't come last, and I loved watching him enjoy himself. (Plus his team won !!)

School holiday fun... Every so often, I bring out this construction kit, which can be used to make all sorts of different 'cubby houses'. I think Liam and Beth built something different each day during the holidays - cars, rockets, castles - which kept them busy for a while, and provided a novel spot for a picnic lunch each day.