1 x 2

How did this year go by so fast? This time last year we were travelling to Hamberg from Berlin, almost on the last leg of our big trip. We also received this text a year ago to say these darling little ones had arrived into the world!

 And now they are 1! 

(sorry Luke hope you don't mind me nabbing your photo!)

Unfortunately we don't live in the same state so we haven't had a lot of physical contact with these cuties, we have met a couple of times and we have received plenty of photos and hear you in the background when we we are talking to your mummy and daddy! We wish we could have been there today to see you, give you a tickle and a kiss and share a cupcake with you, your big sister and the rest of the gang. Hopefully as you get older there will be opportunity to do that.

Happy Birthday Ava Joy and Sophie Christina

xxxx

Love Uncle Tim and Aunty Lauren 

What are you doing New years EvE?

This is so lovely!

Happy New Years Eve!

Happy Christmas!

We had a fantastic day yesterday! We went to church then headed over to Mum and Dad's place for lunch...which turned into afternoon tea and then dinner too!

some seriously silly people... :)

   Nana really had the moves for Bocce! Bocce was a present for Jek from her secret santa...who was me! There were a lot of laughs!

 It was insane how many times Jek got ridiculously close to the jack! I think she's been practicing!

 see what I mean! FREAK!

 A very cute little brroch for me from my secret santa...who was Jek!

I was very spoilt! A subscription for Peppermint magazine, a beautiful cookbook...AND beautiful book that I have been eying off for ages from a very generous friend! And plenty of pocket money!

I have now officially finished at my job! The last couple of weeks were great and bitter sweet. The young people organised a surprise party for me Friday week ago which was fantastic! It also made me cry! I had a lovely send off at the Christmas Eve service, and was given a very generous gift from the congregation. So now I am officially on holidays for a whole MONTH! I am so very happy about that! Perhaps my blogging mojo will return!

AND today the sisters and brother in law are coming over to watch cricket (boys will be doing that) and board games!

Hope you had a wonderful day yesterday with your family and friends celebrating and relaxing and perhaps reflecting on the true joy and miracle of the day

xx

christmas craft

When I sew I usually stick to the things I know, I make things up and usually follow VERY SIMPLE patterns. I always need pictures to show me what it is supposed to look like so I know I am on the right track!

 I started making this table runner the other night...I bought the fabric, washed it and then it sat there for a few days....I had the pattern but no picture, my mum had the original pattern so I got it off her...I needed to be stealthy because the table runner is indeed for her for Christmas!

 once I got started I was on a real roll!

It's a bit wonky at the edges, but it is made with a tonne of love and I know she will really love it which is the main thing! :) There are a couple of things I would change like using less of the dark plain blue...but one end has made a T with that fabric...and her name is Trudy! So it works out!

I think I'm going to make a non christmasy one for our table for all year round! And perhaps it'll be a feature for some other presents too!

What Christmas things have you made this year?

bit of encouragement

We have this calendar that was given to us for our wedding...or engagement...

I've been more diligent lately in flipping it over each day...

except for this week when I flipped this over a couple of days late

And it was exactly the encouragement I needed to hear that day...

It's sort of serendipitous like that

xx

grateful for the light at the end of the tunnel

image credit

I'm about to finish up the job I have been doing for the past 6 years. There's a tinge of sadness and some excitement about what will be next. But the last few weeks have been a little crazy, what with end of year school wrapping up, Christmas dinners, carols nights, end of year youth break ups, advent evenings, secret santa presents etc etc etc. Tonight I can honestly see the light at the end of the tunnel. Most of the BIG things I was to do before finishing my job are done, the next couple of weeks as I wrap up should be a little less crazy. I hope they are enjoyable and that I can savour the last couple of weeks of the job I have really enjoyed these past 6 years. So this week I am grateful to see the light at the end of the tunnel...to not feel like I am JUST keeping my head above water but that I can go at a perhaps slightly slower pace and enjoy the journey.

Wanna read about some more gratefuls, head over to Maxabella's...for the last time this year!

the past week or so...

I have...
walked a labyrinth...several times
organised a really cute children's address about sheep
talked to teenagers, one on one, in groups...and in front of the whole school
TRIED to go Christmas shopping
written some Christmas cards
seen an old friend
applied for many jobs
went to the doctor
tried to blog...
cooked many cookies and cupcakes for a bake sale
went to a baby shower
went to a job interview
went to Ronald McDonald house to watch some superstar year 9 drama students
celebrated with special ladies
was given a present...a couple in fact!
spoke on the phone
ate a lot of chocolate
ate a BBQ tea with some special ladies...again and their kids and vicar husbands
went to a swimming carnival
witnessed 7 men be ordained into public ministry
partied with their family and friends
didn't sleep in
succeeded in Christmas shopping
made some bunting
played games
started reading this book...but then had to return it to the library before I was finished
had some hot chocolate dates
celebrated brithdays
cooked a meal for a friend
sang Christmas carols
put the Christmas tree up
welcomed friends home who had been travelling
sang in a band
had hard conversations
booked flights for a summer holiday
....and slept, ate. farted etc etc...
it's been a crazy, full on week or so...