happy new year 2012!!

Phew.

This year has been a challenging one.....one where I have been pregnant, in hospital, tired and unwell for most of it unfortunately. In years gone, I have wanted to focus on ME for the new year, but I have to say, in 2012, I want to focus on FAMILY. With baby #1 starting big school and baby #2 starting preschool, all the focus will be on them and helping them settle in with the big changes ahead. I'm looking forward to having two days to spend just with baby Ben, and having time off work. This year I was really juggling too many balls with parenting and trying to work at the same time and it just wasn't working. So not having work in the equation finally is such a relief. I feel unburdened and free to focus on my children which is a lovely feeling indeed.

So, tomorrow I should be able to have myself a glass of bubbly to welcome the new year in! Hurrah! Otherwise, my new years plans are pretty bleak. I'm so tired at the moment that even the thought of socialising or doing anything that requires taking the children anywhere or even entertaining them leaves me feeling exhausted! Wish it wasn't so, but is to be expected I guess for only 6 weeks post bubba. And the bubbly plus the tired mama will probably mean I will be passed out by 8.30!

I hope your plans are much better than mine and that you welcome the new year in with much joy and with renewed vigour for the coming months!

Happy New Year! Here's to a fab 2012.

PS. One thing I do plan on getting involved in is fat mum slim's photo a day challenge. Read all about it here, and check out the challenge below. Let me know if you'll be joining in too!

sleep is for the weak or something like that...

There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I wish there had been a little more of this last night. Someone decided to stop doing longer blocks of sleep overnight and did lovely three-hour stints last night. So, anyway, I'm rather ridiculously and stupidly tired today. Sleep deprivation sucks. Especially when you can't 'sleep when the baby sleeps'. Yeah, that kind of only works with the first baby.....bit tricky with a four and three year old in the mix! Hallelujiah for my mum again though who has taken the older two to the park this morning to give me a little time to rest (ie. blog). I've just fed the little cherub (doesn't he look so innocent when sleeping!) and put him down, hoping he will settle and then I can make that second cup of coffee to drink while dunking my choc chip cookies, and then a doze on the lounge is in order!

Here's to a better night's sleep tonight!

wall candy

I've done a spot of shopping recently. It feels like forever since I have gone shopping for pleasure instead of for specific purpose. It felt good!

One of my little goals this year is to finally put up some art/pictures/photos on our walls. We have put off this job for the last two years. We have things already framed and ready to go but I wanted to add a few pieces to the collection as well.

This first set of prints I bought from here. My plan is to hang them together in a row above a set of drawers on one side of the kitchen.

This next print I found on a blog somewhere recently (can't for the life of me remember where!) and loved it. Kind of sums up our life! I'm not sure where to put this one yet, but I had to have it. It was purchased from here.

And lastly, I bought this bus roll style print, that I am imagining at the end of our hallway, visible as you walk in the front door. I love the concept of this, and love that I can have something to refer the kids to if need be! Purchased here.

Think I now need to go get shares in Ikea and 3M Command!

this beautiful little boy

This beautiful little boy is the baby that has completed our family. I wish I could hold onto this moment forever. He will never be this little again. But he will always be my baby.

finding my feet

Hey, I'm actually all showered and out of my pj's today. At the moment, that is a major accomplishment! I'm still finding my feet with adjusting to life with three little babes to look after. My hubby is around this week and next so that has been a huge help. And tomorrow I will get the doc's all clear to finally drive again post csection which will be a big weight lifted, and I won't feel so trapped here at home. In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to the start of the school year already. For a person who doesn't normally like strict routine, I really need it in order to get organised and to feel like I'm in a good groove with life. And I need to be organised this year! One starting school, one starting preschool, and a small baby.

This month is going to be a super busy one too in the lead up to start of school year. I've got doctor's appointments to make for catch up immunisations and baby's first lot, dentist and eye appointments for Josh before starting school, school uniform and shoe shopping to do, as well as a few holiday entertainment activities too.

I'm so torn about Josh starting school. Part of me can't wait because he is just such hard work at the moment, and the other part can wait as I know I will miss his little face around here everyday.....

If you've had little ones start school, how did you go with the adjustment? Any tips you can share?

In the meantime, I need to keep finding my feet here in this new little family of ours. Finding it harder than I thought.

Have yourself a merry little christmas

A Social Network Christmas from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

Just wanted to share this little clip that I found via The Bonjour Family. Thought it was clever!

If I don't get a chance to pop on here again in the next few days (I actually hope I do!) merry christmas to anybody reading. Have a wonderful festive season and may the new year bring more happiness to you and your family. xx

the tree is up!

Well, we didn't manage getting the tree up a week ago, but we found the time on Saturday afternoon this weekend. Wasn't quite the happy family moment I was planning on. There were lots of tears and tantrums and time outs going on, but we got there in the end, and I'm glad we did. I wasn't really feeling too Christmassy to be honest. I'm so super tired at the moment with a newborn and the older terrible two that I just don't have the energy at the moment to be too happy. I feel wiped out most of the time.

I managed to get the kids Christmas presents all wrapped too, and placed under the tree with their stockings. I must say I'm impressed so far at their will power and the fact that no little fingers have managed to accidently on purpose open any presents. It was very cute watching Josh check all the tags and see who all the presents were for. It's the first year he's been able to do that. On finding the largest present under the tree, he yelled, "I've got the biggest present EVER!" Yes, indeed he does! It's the LEGO City Police Station that he has been begging for for so long. Can't wait to see his face when he opens it!

Excuse the dodgy photo above - taken in low light on iPhone. Here are a few more pics of the rest of our Christmas decorations:

Merry Christmas!

yes, it's true

maybe even a little more than sometimes....

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get my christmas on

As much as I'm still in recovery mode after babe and feeling absolutely utterly exhausted, there is a part of me that desperately wants to get my Christmas on and get the tree up and decorate for the older kids. I want somewhere to put the wrapped presents under, and somewhere to gather on Christmas morning with my family, and somewhere for my kids to look with wonder and to remember the real wonder of Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Today, with hubby's help, I'm going to see if we can make it happen. Let's just hope the wee one sleeps well today so we can get it done. Will share pics this week if there is success!

PS. Don't forget today is the last day to enter this giveaway!

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the cutest bedlinen ever

Just spotted this matching pair of pillowcases. Cutest thing I've seen in a while!

Found at castle where you can see more of their colourful linen and homewares.

big school time.....*sniff sniff*

See this little baby of mine? How did that baby get to be nearly 5? And when did he get to be nearly ready to go to school?

Josh is super excited about going to school next year (even though he probably doesn't know what's going to hit him!!). He saw me with his school uniform purchase and asked if he could try it on. So here is the obligatory school uniform photo that most 4/5 year olds have! He is wearing his school hat with the sports shirt and uniform shorts -  a bit of a mixup of the sports and normal uniform, but his uniform nevertheless!

I just love the smile on his face too. He doesn't hand out the 'nice' smile too easily these day (normally we get a sillier version when we ask him for a photo) but he was so chuffed to be wearing his uniform you couldn't wipe the smile off his face.

I'm so proud of Josh and how far he has come, especially in his two years at preschool. He is such a delightful and bright little man, with an awesome imagination and mind. I can't wait to see him flourish and grow more as he starts his schooling life. I know it will have its ups and downs too but I can't wait to see the man that this precious little boy will become. Love you lots Josh. xx

christmas lights spectacular

Do you do Christmas lights at your house? I've never really been into decorating our place with lights out the front. Mainly because it's a big enough job to get the Christmas tree and lights up inside the house, let alone have time for the outside. I do like the idea of it, but it would also mean hubby would have to set it all up and I don't like the idea of the extra electricity expense either! There are a few houses around us that like to get into the Christmas spirit with lights on their houses. Maybe one day we will join in.

The Hunter Valley Gardens also do their own Christmas Lights event - the Christmas Lights Spectacular! It's in its fifth year of running and t looks amazing!! Our family was invited to the Hunter Valley Gardens earlier this year to visit, in particular, their Storybook Gardens which the kids loved. We were recently invited back for the Christmas Lights event, however given the recent arrival of our third little babe and my illness, it is doubtful now that we will be able to get there. Instead, one lovely reader will benefit by being able to win a family pass to this event!

The HVG Christmas Lights Spectacular runs until the 14 January and includes lights and music displays, entertainment for the whole family, food and beverage stalls, Santa visits and photos, amusement rides, and a nativity scene. For all the details, read this page and have a little look at the video above for a sneek peek at what to expect.

I have one family pass (2 adults & 2 children 4-15yrs) to give away, valued at $52. Children under 3 years and under can enter for free. To win this pass, just leave me a comment below telling me your favourite childhood memory of Christmas. I will announce a winner on Monday 12 December and have the pass posted out to you ASAP so you can start planning your trip! You can even go on New Years Eve and see a fantastic fireworks display!

Good luck and I look forward to reading about all your memories!

welcome to the world.....

Our littlest man arrived on the 14 November. This is little Benjamin Jesse. Well, he wasn't so little really. He was 3.94kg but he is still little to me.

His arrival and our week in hospital went smoothly. Josh and Zoe adore him as does his daddy and I.

Unfortunately within two days of us arriving home, I was struck down with a mild case of pneumonia and have had a rough few weeks recovering from that as well as the csection all while caring for this beautiful little newborn. Fortunately, we have had loads of friends pitching in with meals for us and my mum has tirelessly been helping out each day with laundry, keeping my house tidy and entertaining Josh and Zoe. I'm still not out of the woods yet, but am hoping by Christmas to be back to my jolly self!

Ben has been coping very well amidst the drama around here. This mama just wishes she had more time to sleep! But of course I knew that was coming.