A new addition to the Jones family....

Just had a very exciting text - my friend Kirsty and husband Davin are the proud parents of Cooper Aeron, born yesterday. Corey is now a big brother!
You don't have to worry about stocking up on pink bits for your scrapbooks now!

K xx

A little quiet time...

I am sitting writing this in a lovely quiet house - John is at work and kids are asleep.

The one thing I notice about holidays is that I never seem to get "me" time. Everyone is home and wanting things - I can't even go to the shops by myself. It seems very strange to be in Melbourne - usually on Boxing Day we head to Lake Mulwala for a couple of weeks. Now I have 3 teenagers who don't want to go there (no broadband internet!!) so John and I will go by ourselves for a few days before I go back to work.


Christmas Day was great - the kids loved their presents. Sean got a 20" flat computer monitor, Bec got a Ninendo DS and Emi a new MP3 player and other bits and pieces. Pancakes for breakfast then off to my mother's for lunch. As usual we had a seafood entree, turkey and trimmings and finished with a huge pudding made to my grandmothers handwritten recipe. There were 16 of us - my family and the Maskreys (who are near enough to family!) - and the day was filled with fun and laughter. I missed my father not being there but we gained Ben. Tom was very frail but was able to be with us. My mother did an amazing job - she does the majority of the work. No wonder she was tired at the end of the day!

I am thankful for a family that can enjoy being together.

Boxing day sales - that's a whole other topic (now I know why I don't like being in Melbourne...lol)

Not many days of 2007 left now.

Karen.

Looks like Santa has been...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Karen

My flock have landed...

My birds have landed on their branches now - there's about 12 of them in the tree. It must be time to start buying presents to put under it.
Crop/party night at Paperdoll was fun as usual Friday night - got a great little paper bag album from Leeanne in the KK. I have made such a great group of friends there - we will have to stay in touch in the New Year (especially as we need to borrow Vesna's stamps...lol). I am having withdrawal symptoms on Fridays already - coffee beats housework any day.

Off to the movies with Em tonight to see Mr Magorium then only 4 more days at work. YAY

K x

Countdown to a break...

Isn't it amazing how the thought of 3 weeks off keeps you functioning. Gradually the "must do" pile is reducing. Christmas Show is over for another year - and I did not take one photo for a change - Bec had no training last night so I didn't have to go out (except to do three loads of washing - must get washing machine fixed one day!). One Circle Journal layout to complete and they are finished - and on time. More birdies to sew but I need to buy more ribbon so they will have to wait. I can see the top of my desk at work - just - but now its down to getting my easy client accounts done so boss can do tax returns while I am off. Do you think I should tell him I am having holidays????? Bit depressing though that first December BAS's are already arriving in my PO box. Anyone told Michael D'Ascenzio that he needs a break too! (Not until he deposits my tax refund into my bank account though...lol)

Em's gingerbread house is looking a bit...mmm...eaten!

Better think about Christmas shopping soon too.

Karen

Look what my girls have made....

This year I have been lucky - my girls have been cooking at school. Look what they have made for me!

Rebecca decided that "Spot's First Christmas" was her favourite story when she was little so instead of Santas and snowmen she put him on her cake. Emily came home with this on Monday. I am so happy she has settled into her new school so well and cannot thank AYCE enough for giving her hope.

The only problem is that they want to start eating them now!

Karen

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Tree is up and this year I have decided after years of putting everything on the tree that I want a more "elegant" look. Maybe its just because the kids are older and don't want to do the "decorating" any more. I have been watching the influx of little birdies (Ngaire Bartlam's project from Crop for a Cure http://scrapblogmebaby.typepad.com/) at PaperDoll and decided that they would be perfect. I loved Amy's cuttlebugged wings and just happened to have some gold sheets left over from my Christmas cards. They are such fun to make.

The outside lights were switched on last night - I think after being left up for 5 years that some new ones are needed, they are a bit faded and some of the wires have come apart. Might take the kids out on a light hunt tonight.

Karen