Blog-a-long Failure :(

So I had all good intentions, and then crazy month that was December happened. I got really busy with work, took on two new clients, got sick, had sick kids, visitors for a week and Christmas shopping to do. As result, my Blog-a-long adventure ended as quick as it started.

So it's a new year, and a new start! I have some plans for this year which I will blog about another day (along with Christmas). For now, I hope 2011 brings you all health and happiness :)

Lea

2010 Advent Blog-A-Long #6 - Book List

I managed to get around to updating my 2010 Book List today. I may have missed one or two as I haven't updated since we moved and usually had a pile of books on my bedside shelves that I had finished, all of which would have been packed and not put back beside my bed. Oh well, I am pretty sure I covered most of them and if I have forgotten them, they mustn't have been very good!

My favourites for the year have been the Joy Dettman Woody Creek series - Thorn on A Rose and Pearl in A Cage. There is a third book to be released in this series which I am looking forward to reading when is hits the shelves.

One that also surprised me was Brooke Shield book about her struggle with falling pregnant and then her post natal depression that followed. Knowing people who have struggled with this, it really opened my eyes more to what they were and are going through.

I am currently reading Eat, Pray, Love. I thought I would give it a go after all the hype it has received. So far - its taking a while to get into it, so I am hoping it improves. I do have a few more lined up to read, so with almost four weeks left in the year, I am hoping to get through at least two more books.

2010 Advent Blog-A-Long #5 - Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas

The tree

Today was a first in our household, the kids helping us put up and decorate the Christmas tree for the first time. I realised today that it will be our third Christmas with Cali and Oscar. Before we had them, Christmas' were becoming a little hard. Christmas to me is all about family, in particular children. We had nieces and nephews to share them with, but no children of our own, despite all out efforts. We are very fortunate that in 2008 we were able to have these precious pair join our family and I can't wait for the excitement of Christmas to grow every year as they get older.

A few snaps of the day. I tried to get a nice pic of them sitting in front of the tree, but anyone who has tried to photograph toddlers would know just how hard it is to get them to sit still, or in my case, face the camera!

Cali & Oscar admiring the tree (or plotting to destroy it)

Helping Daddy with the decorations

Helping Daddy with the decorations

Cali with her very first bauble from Christmas 2008

So tonight the lights are on and flashing and the house is starting to feel festive. Cali was trying to blow out the lights on the tree which was a funny site. A few more decorations to go up tomorrow and we are done.

2010 Advent Blog- A-Long # 4 Busy Day

I don't have much energy for a big post tonight, it was a busy day!

This morning we had a twin 2nd birthday party on the foreshore near were we live. Unfortunately it was raining on and off, so wasn't the best weather for a outside party, but they kids still had fun. Oscar ate his weight in chips and kept walking back to me every min or so with a mouthful of chips, holding up 1 finger and saying "one more". More a statement then a question really.

We came home for a quip nap (me included) and then it was off to daycare Christmas party. Santa was there and the kids received a book, they weren't too keen on him though. They got a lucky dip which kept them entertained for a while and then there was a show which got them up dancing which was cute to watch.

Tomorrow we are putting up the Christmas tree, should be fun!

2010 Advent Blog-A-Long #3 - Christmas Cards

Last year I brought a card making kit and made my own Christmas cards. This year, I have decided to make my own again, this time with no kit, just with some inspiration of others and my own creativity. I really do enjoy making cards. That and scrapbooking are two creative outlets I have taken up in the past few years. I don't have much time to do either, but hopefully it is something I can make time for more in the New Year. I was hoping this year was the year to get into my scrapbooking more, but I really haven't had much of a chance. I now realise it is something that I NEED to make time for. I am sure once I get everything set up properly I will really get stuck into it.

Here are a few of the cards I am currently working on. I'll post some more pics once they are completed.

2010 Advent Blog-a-long #2 - Advent Calendar

Yesterday on my way home from work I stopped in at the shops and brought this really cute Advent Calendar

I am really getting into the spirit this year, can't wait to put up the Christmas tree over the weekend. The kids where excited about the 'trismas tree'

They are almost as cute as it is ;)

2010 Advent Blog-A-Long #1

Ok, so we all know I am not the most diligent of bloggers ;) But I am going to attempt the 2010 Advent Blog-a-long. My lovely friend Car is along for the ride, so I am hoping I can manage a post a day. It is a busy month so I am sure to have plenty of stuff to blog about. So Day 1 and 1 post complete, its a good start!