Christmas 2007

Besides the youngest member of our household waking up feeling rather grumpy (a case of the all-too-muches, don't ask!) our Christmas Day was spent inside relaxing. I swear we spent the majority of the morning unwrapping gifts, after all, we do live interstate!

When we all first got up at the 'normal' hour of 7am, Monet rushed to see if the reindeer had eaten the carrots she had left out for them (they had), but when she first spied her bike her eyebrows frowned. Apparently, Monet wanted a 'Dora (The Friggin' Explorer)' Bike, NOT a Disney Princesses one. (Who knew!! Obviously not us! All she had requested was a bike, pink or red. And it had to have a basket on the front and streamers off the handles. We thought we had ticked all boxes, but according to Monet, Santa got it wrong..)

(Photo taken Boxing Day when someone was back to her cheerful self!)

When Monet first 'cracked it' Lyndon and I gave each other a knowing look meaning here we go! She was pretty much grumpy all day. She did have her moments, let me tell you!

She cheered up somewhat when Grandma and Grandad gave her an art easel and bits and bobs that are all arty to go with it. So that was fun.

Monet received numerous toys. Fisher Price Little People Plane and Caravan, as requested to Santa along with a requested Barbie car, numerous new books (Yay!!), a new doll and stroller and a My Little Pony baby horse which Monet cuddles and kisses like you wouldn't believe. Hopefully enough new stuff to satisfy her during the wet season when we're banged up inside all day! She also received gifts from my parent's friends which was really thoughtful and appreciated.

Lyndon and I got a few little things each, including a iPod shuffle (yippee!) and some money to put towards our Big Trip next year. That's why Lyndon and I didn't give each other anything (we usually don't anyway) as Lyndon picked up our plane tickets the other week when he was in Brisbane on business. (NO turning back from our trip now!)

We had a nice big (BIG) lunch which was washed down with a glass or two of champagne. I had no room in my tum for my traditional Trifle until about 9pm, when I scoffed a big bowl full. (Oh how I love Trifle!)

We all went for a dip in the pool later on in the afternoon then relaxed on the balcony with a cool drink or two.

It was nice to have my folks here to share in Monet's joy, which didn't really happen because she was pretty moody, alllll day. (But since then, Monet has been her normal good self!)

Can you believe Christmas is over for another year? I hope you all had a great, relaxing holiday. Who knows where Monet, Lyndon and I will be spending Christmas next year... *hmmm*

Little Bike Rider

So, the world has another bike rider and a very good one at that!

Santa brought for Monet (amongst other things) a bike. She had been asking for ages, along with a helmet ("so we can be safe"). I honestly didn't think she would pick it up so quick and I imagined ourselves at the park for days on end trying to encourage her to ride. How wrong I was.

This was shot (via my mobile phone's camera) yesterday, Boxing Day.

First go and she was basically off with a little help from her dad and under her Grandad's watchful eye, she was all under control.

I'm very proud and I'm sure Auntie Kim in London will be grinning from ear to ear...

Merry Christmas

These were the Christmas Cards I sent out this year. They still make me laugh.

One more sleep to go and then *drum roll please* it is Christmas Day. I hope you seriously all have a fantastic day, no matter what your beliefs are and no matter how you celebrate the day, just make sure you take it easy and enjoy the company of those you are with.

Monet is very excited, I too for that matter. We have so many pressies under, or should I say, surrounding the tree it isn't funny. I know a little girl who will be busy all day tomorrow with all her new things. I think Santa knows that Monet has been pretty good this year. *grin*

I have been busy already this morning. I have a chicken roasting in the oven which we'll eat tomorrow, the half leg of ham is positioned nicely in the fridge, I have made my 'layered salad', the trifle is half made and I am yet to go to the butchers to pick up my ordered rolled leg of pork (sorry all you Vegetarians out there!) I think I am just about organised.

So from all of us at biglittlesister, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Thanks for visiting.

Oh yeah, one more thing, eat like it's going out of fashion! *heehee*

I Haven't Forgotten This Blog (in case you were wondering!)

It has been a while hasn't it?

I have a few recipes up my sleeve to post here. I'll get around to posting them soon enough.

I presume you've all made that delicious cake in my previous post by now! Still one of my favourite cake recipes which I will be making again for my father's birthday in a couple of weeks time.

Thanks for visiting and stay tuned....

The One on the Right is Busy...

In the spirit of Christmas and today being Friday, here is a Flashback photo for you.

Can you guess which one is me? Yeah, the dark-headed Monet lookalike one. The one who looks sooooo excited and admittedly very cute (what happened?) I have a feeling this photo was taken before the final school concert of the year. I wasn't even three in this photo (it was taken in 1975), which means Kimbofo would've been in about grade Prep or 1. (My dad was a Headmaster at the local school that we both attended so the End-of-Year concert was a big thing for all of us. Mum included.)

I know that mum had painted the Santa picture behind Kimbofo and we had that plastic tree every Christmas until one year mum got sick of packing it up and piffed the whole thing (including most decorations) in the tip. I too hate 'un-decortaing' the tree because no one ever wants to do it. Oh yes, it's very exciting putting the thing up but pulling it down is a completely different story isn't it?

I have my parents arriving tomorrow afternoon for a two-odd week visit which we're all looking forward to. Especially Monet. That could be her in the above photo with the look on her face this morning, knowing there was only one more sleep to go before the arrival of her Grandma and Grandad. She's more excited about them visiting than Santa.

I am off grocery shopping this morning, hopefully to beat the crowds before the next few days, but I find my local 'Coles' not too busy at the best of times anyway so I should be right. I already have 'most' things bought, I really only need supplies. I'll be visiting 'Rusty's Fresh Produce Market' in the next day or so and then I'll be avoiding the supermarkets like the plague.

All presents have been bought now (I think) so I am feeling a little organised. Just need to do some final 'sprucing' before the folks arrive tomorrow and then I'll be sorted. I also have Lyndon's birthday to contend with before the weekend is out too. Busy, busy, busy...

How is your Christmas planning going along?

Dress Ups

After sorting through Monet's bedroom last week, getting ready for all those new Christmas items (ie. the local 'Op Shop' received 3 'green' bags of Monet's old stuff - hopefully Monet doesn't notice any missing items!)

I decided she should have a box specifically for 'dress ups'. In it are old bags (and I thought I had a lot of bags!), hats, shawls, that kind of thing. She has a 'Dorothy the Dinosaur' (from The Wiggles) tail, a tutu and her favourite, Ariel The Little Mermaid costume. I have to post this picture;


Pretty darn cute hey?

Pity she thinks the top half is a 'bra' and insists some days on wearing it under her t-shirt (just like Mummy!) I'm glad I'm not a make up kind of girl as she'd be wanting to wear it too!

Yesterday she came out of her room looking like this;



For some reason or another she really reminded me of my Nana dressed like that. Not that my Nana would wear bunny ears, Lion mane and hat, together with purple poncho and carrying a baby blanket, she just reminded me of her. Funny. Maybe because my Nana once came home from visiting her favourite Op Shop (she was a big Op Shopper) and dressed up in a brunette wig and big thick brown fur coat, which she had just bought, looking like she had stepped off a plane from Russia!

My Nana died some 2 weeks after Monet's birth but I am regularly reminded of her! *heehee*

Two Hours of Peace and Quiet.

How good are Fisher Price 'Little People'? If you've got a child under the age of 5, I'm sure you'll know what I'm talking about.

Monet is always playing with hers; sorting them out, lining them up, placing here, placing there, driving around in the 'Little Bus' etc., She got quite a collection now.

A couple of weekends ago, as a reward for good behaviour, Lyndon and I bought her this;

Sonya Lee's Pet Salon.

Well, didn't Monet think it was the 'best' thing she had ever played with? And so did we! She sat quietly for two hours solid (TWO HOURS!) and 'played' with it. I swear it's the best 30 bucks I have ever spent. And not only on that one evening either, she's constantly playing with the little 'Salon'.

And because it's small enough to fit comfortably in one of my bags we took it to the pub last Saturday afternoon, where Lyndon met up with some work friends for Christmas drinks. Monet sat and played with it and even shared it with a 11 month old.

Monet has asked Santa for the 'Little People' Caravan set. Can you guess what's sitting in my wardrobe all ready and waiting for a little girl next week?

Too Cute To Not Post

Not great quality, I realise, but I filmed this a few weeks ago via my mobile phone.

This is Monet dancing to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song, which cracks us up. That's Monet dancing like her favourite character, Minnie Mouse. Notice the footwork please. I need to film an update on this dancing. The hands are now used and she sings in fine voice! Her spelling of Mickey Mouse is one to be noted here too.

Monet is *so* into Mickey Mouse and Co at the mo, it's not funny. We're thinking a trip to Paris Disneyland might just be on the books now...