Nanna is relaxing for New Year's Eve

I am having a wonderfully quiet evening enjoying blogging and having no pressure to go out and party.... to be honest I am a bit over parting.... I shall go into the New Year well rested....

I am wishing all my beautiful children and grandchildren a wonderful New Year... and hope that the pressures of life will be small for them and that the children will blossom and bloom into superb young children guided by their parents... and of course the grandparents..... its sounding a bit Corny.... what the hell...

Whats in store for the grandchildren.... Jasmine starts school... year 1, Dylan starts Pre-school and has his tonsils out in January (no swimming for 3 weeks poor boy), Jessica starts Kindergarten not before time.... she will love it... Talia is our in between child at two and a half... then there is Sam, Isabella and Logan who are all 18mths there abouts Logan being the youngest at 15mths.... so I guess its their turn to be home alone with mum/dad.... and miss the sibling that has gone to school.... it will be interesting to see how these three blossom this year.

But there parents still have to entertain them until February.... oh how I use to get so tired of the Christmas holidays..... it does bring back memories......

until next time wishing you all a Happy New Year.......

Summer is great for the kids playing in the pool.....

Dylan, Jasmine, Jessica



Over the week or so I have managed to spend more time with the family... what a surprise... because I have been off work... even though I do have work to do, i have not been motivated to do it... the weather has been wonderfully hot therefore I have spent a lot of time in the pool.

Jodie with Sam and Talia


Isabella


Scott & Logan


I looked over previous blogs and note that I have not blogged much on this site....that is mainly because I have been too busy with my other blogs and work... there are many times I have spent with the grandchild and have laughed at comments they have made and thought I must blog that .... but alas time gets away with me and I don't get it done. The children come out with such gems..... at times...you wonder where they get it from.

With seven grandchildren we are busy all the time.... I do try very hard to be fair and equal with them all in terms of everything.... this week we have one each night for a sleep over...of the older children...the younger ones make it to hard... already having the kids invades on our sleep in of the mornings and our playtime... remembering this is our holiday too as during the year we are both busy and tired. We do have to train the grand kids to knock on our door.... before entering...

Jasmine helped wash the dog (Muffin) don't know who needed their hair brush more!

Next year Jasmine starts school, Dylan starts pre-school and Jessica starts kindy so a big year for all of them.... they are certainly ready for it...Talia who really is the middle one will probably do four year old kindy, then there is Sam, Isabella and Logan who will be left at home..... I also think next year we may be heading for grandchild number 8 if Ben & Peta's plan goes ahead.... that is there baby plan... so watch this space for more adventures with the family.
All the very best for 2010 to everyone.

Santa came to visit on Christmas Day:

The kids call out Santa, Santa, Santa and then Santa appears with lollies and presents in hand....


Joy at our house, we have a special arrangement with Santa, he comes to our home to give out the Christmas presents in the evening with all the family.... it is such a special time.... everyone is welcome... and often we have special people visit us...like Auntie Pastie from England who was staying with Auntie Audrey and you know what, Santa had presents for them as well wasn't he cleaver.... we put a lounge chair and an umbrella in the back garden and Santa sits in comfort and hands out the presents to the eagerly awaiting children and parents.... it really is a fun day....



We went to see Jasmine, Talia & Sam at there house for lunch.... just as well because the kids were at there best..the girls looked great in the dresses, that I bought them in Singapore last year... I get so much pleasure out of seeing the kids wearing the outfits you buy for them.... in the afternoon the two little kids were tired and poor Sam was sick.... it really is a big day for the kids....



There is lots of family, friends, food and drinks... a good time was had by all....




Isabella Rose in her angel dress was as cute as ever.. however she was not impressed with Santa.. she stuck close by to mummy....


like wise Logan Mark.... stayed close to Daddy... this is a great picture of father and son... both smiling at the camera.... they have the same nose...thats his grand-dads nose....


Dylan got this great present from his Uncle Scott & Auntie Nikki.... he went around asking everybody if you could open it after mum and dad said wait.... poor boy...Nanna found it hard to say no.... but she did...


The family having Christmas dinner outside after Santa's visit, it was all very good food and fun... roast turkey, pork, ham, crayfish, prawn salad, roast potatoes, salads.... cakes, lollies, Moet Champagne......etc

I am so blessed to have a loving family.....Thank you....

Putting up the Christmas Tree with the grandchildren

Dylan helping nanna put up the Christmas tree he did a terrific job..



Singapore: a Christmas tree made with teddy bears:


Oh my favourite time of the year.... work has come to an end at least for a few weeks... I switch off and concentrate on my family life... leading up to Christmas is always very busy... this year I was in Singapore early December which puts pressure on in terms of time and Christmas parties.



My Christmas tree was late going up this year... as Kirsten moved out in October and she normally helps me.... so I was tardy getting up this year... until I thought the grand kids can help put it up... so there begins a new trend.... the kids putting up the tree.... they are such helpful little cherubs.... even Isabella helped by the decorations on the tree..




The Christmas cake was later than usual but the fruit managed to get a soak for at least a week.... it was too late this year to make the gingerbread house.... so I had to find something else to make for the kids that would distract from the usual ginger bread house.... so I put chocolates and candy sticks in the welcome bowl near the front door and made some Christmas crackles which went down a treat... and nobody mentioned the gingerbread house... will do it next year.....




Then the kids decided that uncle Scott could be decorated as a Christmas tree and then Dylan also thought he would make a good Christmas tree and put the tinsel all over him... it was all good fun......

Dylan's first Kindy Christmas Concert:

Oh the joys of Christmas... I just love it... I love the fact that I can buy the children presents... looking through the shops to see what they would like.. to spoil them in a nice way... to see there faces as they open their presents... it is a real pleasure one which I look forward to and enjoy immensely...



With Christmas comes the children's concerts.... how I love to watch them... it brings a tear to my eye...they look so cute and innocent and they try so very hard to please and do the right thing.



Dylan's kindy class was dancing to Lilo & Stitch - Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride - they were all dressed in Hawaiian shirts and the girls had grass skirts on they all looked so cute.... and did a wonderful job... I managed to persuade the others to watch several other performances before we left for dinner at Faye & Brendon's with the other grandparents.... Dylan was so proud that both sets of grandparents came to watch him on stage... he really loves all the attention and love he gets from both his grandies... and I must say I do enjoy spending time with them all.... it is one of my greatest pleasures in life..... and I look forward to many more concerts.....