Quick Summary

Leaving the reindeer food out on the back garden wall... so they wouldn't miss it.

Oh I really do have to get away from this computer and tackle my disasterous in-tray before the end of the year. It HAS to be empty for New Years Day... has to. It's just that there is still so much happening here in blogland that I find that my holiday 'chill out time' involves sitting on my front porch, in the rain, coffee in hand, computer in lap.... catching up with everyone else's Christmas...es! Pure bliss.... well for me anyway! Here's how our Christmas panned out:

Santa came, used the special Santa key to get in, took a few bites and left 'the lads' a letter noting their academic achievements and good behaviour.

All presents were loved ' til breaking point.

 

Tree was packed up yesterday - had to do it, it has been up for months!... I needed to do it before my in-tray.

Believe it or not, we have a waterline tile 8 mosaics deep. We will have to let all that beautiful water out into the stormwater drains. Our tanks are full. You'd think in this day and age, there would be a storm water reticulation system here in drought ridden Queensland .....but no....fodder for another post with a political slant!

PS I have a beautiful mirror ,for 'the pool shack' wall, arriving in the New Year.

.........and it has been raining since before Christmas.

I think they're gorgeous... but I think a house at frame stage is gorgeous too!

 Oh, side track... look, we replaced all the scrappy little stones in the drainage channels, around the pool, with some bigger, smoother, nicer ones. They are gorgeous grey river stones that give off a slight tinge of green when wet. It was all hands on deck yesterday, in the pouring rain, digging out the old stones, in the channels. They run right around the edges of the pool area and along under the pool fence near the terrace. Even big boy helped..... for 2 hours... in the rain. Oh how we laughed.... we looked like drowned rats... wet clothes, wet hats.... it was fun!

Now I am off to clear out my in-tray in readiness for the New Year. Enough of this blog stuff, concentrate A-M. I will see you in the New Year. Have a great New Years Eve!

A-M xx

New Holiday Rules

  Tantrum corner - starting in the upper left corner

New rules for playing 'Upwords' with a 7 year old, who insists that he knows more than both his parent's graduate and post graduate degrees put together. Create a corner on the board just for him. You could call it 'The Tantrum Corner', just like we do. Allow 'tantruming 7 year old' to create all his words (that don't fit in with your words) just in that corner....the words that he insists fit in with all the other words that you have successfully created (that surprisingly happen to be totally WRONG in his eyes). Remaining non tantruming parties carry on playing according to the official rules until it is time to tally the scores. Tantruming 7 year old always wins the first round..... unless one has had a few wines and is in the mood for some melodramatic theatrical entertainment.
A-M xx

Ah yes, don't be fooled by the happy faces. It got messy.

I Just Had To Share

Click to enlarge.

Whilst still in the Christmas spirit, I just had to share this one. I knew you would love it.
Yep, all I'm good for is washing, cleaning and not being fat! ...he was under strict instructions from Daddy to write from the heart... and of course it went straight into the envelope, no 'love from' and no checking by Daddy. I laughed til I cried. Happy holidays!
A-M xx

Over And Out

Image Courtesy Martha

This here 'House' is signing off for the year.... to take a break from the bloggy blog and to get ORGANISED for Christmas. Thank you all for your love and friendship. Have a wonderful Christmas.
See you in the New Year!
Your friend,
A-M xx

Friday Nook

Who's up for a Friday Nook?.. as I think Monday will be out of the question in the big lead up next week. My Mum turns 70 on Christmas Day so I am having a Christmas brunch here for the family...for those who actually want to get out of bed for the occasion. Yes, we've already had some complaints logged... too early..... too hot. Yes, the family dynamics have already started.... ahh Christmas... don't ya love it. Just keep smilin', just keep smilin'. Can I hide out here perhaps?

Well I am spending the day with my Mum today. We're going to have a morning tea out somewhere and then trawl some antique shops. The weekend? ... just more dirt shuffling! Thank you all for your truly lovely comments this week. I plan to put in a big 'visit bloggy friends session' early tomorrow morning, on my front porch with coffee in hand. See you then!
A-M xx

A 'D' In Maths

Hang on a minute!.... a 50 x 50 x 50cm  pot is not half a cubic metre ... it's one eighth of a cubic metre. If only hubby had asked me (I'm the one attempting the maths at present) before he ordered all that dirt! We now have a ridiculously enormous pile of dirt at our front gate (which never seemed to get smaller the more we dug), waiting to greet our visitors on Christmas Day. Half of it will end up in my house for sure! Our neighbour thinks we are the best - free topsoil. The rest?..... 400 trips with a bucket up 24 steps on Boxing Day, to topdress the top lawn. Aren't we a learned pair... can't even work out cubic metres.... some scientists! See kids, do your Maths.. it does come in handy when you are a grown-up. LOVE learning from mistakes!... and I can't lift my arms!... or move my neck!
Happy Monday!
A-M xx

Weekend Warriors

That tragic old fence will be covered by lovely Lilly Pillys - soon!

Remember the pots? All 900 kg of them? Well we have 10 cubic metres of soil/mix arriving this morning and the plants arrive on Monday. It's going to be a long hot day. Lots of steps and fights over the wheelbarrow.

Got to remind myself that we have come a long way from this:

Front yard where raised courtyard is now

And this:

Oh look there's 'Lloydy' in the corner. Hey Lloydy, we LOVE our pool, you champion. Can you pop in and teach hubby a thing or two about 'backwashing' though? He makes a terrible mess of the pool when he does it.... we're talking 'mud' gushing out of pipes.

Whatever you are up to this weekend, have a lovely one my friends.... even if it is shovelling dirt. Yes, shovelling dirt can be lovely.... just got to keep one's eye on the end result. Hubby and I have booked a babysitter tonight so we can have a nice meal out..... as a reward for our scars! A-M xx

eBay Love

Answer to emails re my cushions! I have purchased a lot of my vintage style toile cushions from the lovely Pamela on eBay. She makes beautiful cushions from decorator fabrics. They are exquisitely made with the most gorgeous tassels and embellishments and they are so reasonably priced. Visit her store: 'My Cushion Covers' HERE.

These come in a set of 4. Photo does not do them justice. They are divine. Pamela has a set in her store at present. A perfect Christmas pressie! Oh and she wraps them so beautifully too!

A bit blurry sorry, so not a photographer. Similar ones can be found in Pamela's store. Oh the Pom Poms are gorgeous on these!

Have a great day!
A-M xx

Every Moment Matters

 For those who have asked, the little trees at our front door have lights in them... see the cord ceremoniously dumped any which way, when the plant was moved back after the deck 'rejuvenation'. You don't notice messy things until the photo has been taken. I had another version of this photo but there was a SOCCER BALL under the bench in the hall. Ahhh, real life! Oh I just noticed... it's still there! Ha!

Thank you for all your lovely comments yesterday. Hubby and I were contemplating the universe yesterday evening, watching the sun set on our front porch and we both agreed that, while living in this lovely place, neither of us take one moment for granted. We listed off the things we cherish in this place - the sound of the boys running down the stairs, the gorgeous afternoon light creating a glow in the Great Room, the cool breeze that finds it's way from front to back, the way our boys perch themselves at the kitchen bench to chat while we cook dinner, the shade over the pool at just the right times of the day, our neighbours beautiful trees that frame our entire back yard, the "I love my room" comments from the boys as we rub their backs at bedtime. I catch my breath every time I drive into the driveway... so thank you for seeing what I see and enjoying this journey with me. Life can turn on a dime so we cherish while we can. Every moment matters.

Today - our tree - a collection of precious memories of our life together since our boys arrived! Hubby and I put the frame up and the boys decorate it while we sit and sip G&T's! Of course hubby has to do some heavy lifting (children) so that the top gets it's fair share of pretties.We add to it each year, just one or two special little decorations, chosen or made by the boys. Every little decoration represents a milestone, a kindy/school project, a special moment shared in our little family. We have some rather scarey artwork, decaying baked creations, old glitterless glittery thingys and photographs in frames. Enjoy!

Yes - decorated by 2 small boys - throw it anywhere son, throw it anywhere it fits! 

Oh yes, the fish is a newbie. It trumps the winged thing behind it. Don't you love the 'chuck it anywhere' aesthetic. Priceless - wouldn't have it any other way! Pretty good for someone who is addicted to symmetry!

Oh yes, the angel is a keeper!

Have a great day and thanks for visiting. Your comments just make my day....every day!

A-M xx

Monday Nook

The perfect spot for my little Ebay cushions

This Monday's Nook is my hall. I finally got everything off the floor and up on the walls, thanks to the guys at 'The Art Of Hanging'.

As soon as the spirit level and tape measure came out, I knew I was going to be witnessing 'poetry in motion'. Oh, professionals... I love 'em! I sat on the steps in my hall, watching them work, chewing their ears off.... adult conversation was needed in my camp as I had just spent the first morning, of the school holidays, refereeing trivial paediatric altercations (my boys even had a scuffle while they were here... something about someone blowing someone else's 'card house' down).

 I have 2 gorgeous skinny high lamps coming for the hall stand, ah la 'Karnas Hus style'

Anyway Andrew, from The Art Of Hanging' was full of wonderful advice. It was great to have another pair of eyes look over my place.

All I need now is a nice black and white mat for my framed violin music... one can't rush these things.

 

Oh yes, we got everything off the floor, even my old violins, that now take pride of place on the wall in the Great Room.

Have a great week!

A-M xx

School's Out!

What a week it has been! I set myself a goal and achieved it!.... to attend every concert, break up and function that the boys had on. Phew, it's a full time job being a Mum!

Guitar Ensemble played the most gorgeous rendition of Green Day's 'Time Of Your Life'

 

 The Year One/Two Singers sang 'Cat Goes Fiddle I Fee'. 

Got so involved singing the parents chorus, I forgot to take a photo of him singing!

 

My 'Little Wise Man' sang up a storm in the Christmas Pagent
 

A quick cool off before Speech Night

 

We invited our friend over to share the joy - yep that's a (washable!) hat floating in the foreground.

 

 A bit of a 'scrub up' for Speech Night

 

 Receiving our award from the Headmaster of the 'Big School', where we're heading next year

 

 Proud as punch

 

 

 Essential stock up on goodies on the way home!

2009 - what a great year. We are so grateful for the opportunites our boys have been exposed to at their wonderful school. We never take it for granted and cherish every moment of their school lives.

Now I am going to pour myself a coffee, pack the lunch boxes and uniforms away for the year, and enjoy the sound of laughter (and fighting) in our house, for the next 8 weeks!

A-M xx

New Stuff

Not the most exciting photo but you get the picture. 

My new Great Room rug! Goodbye echos! Very proud of this choice. Hubby and I did this one together... umming and ahhing in the showroom much to the amusement of all within earshot. The black and gold border goes beautifully with all the black touches in the room (piano, music drawers) and the gold... well now I have something that brings out the gold in my little Etsy owls and my new Chinesey (is that a word?) lamp!

Last day of school today.... we have the little one's Christmas Pagent and Speech Night tonight. I have promised the boys that they are allowed to jump in the pool this afternoon in their school uniforms (minus belts and shoes of course).... they are more excited about that than anything! Boys!.. they're so basic! I love it! Will share some photos with you tomorrow.

Have a great day!

A-M xx