My day and the last day...

Today was my day.....and the last for the year 2012.......

If you checked in yesterday you probably figured out today is my birthday...you probably even worked out how old I am.......

Today is always about hanging with my family (sisters, brother in laws, parents, in laws, nieces , nephews ...the lot!)

What better way to spend a beautiful morning that was fast headed to 42 degrees.....at the beach.....breakfast , company , gifts galore........so spoilt.

Then tonight........   

.........Just the 4 of us 

Wishing you a Happy New Year whatever it may hold for you......

me....well I have learnt that I can never predict what the future holds....

all I know is to be ready for what ever may come....try to tackle it with a smile, enthusiasm, hope and a whole lot courage.......

Farewell 2012. xxx

A birthday....

'Tis the season for birthdays in our family.......

Dec 1977.......

My youngest sister is 5 and I am 10 .....  

Dec 2012.....

 My youngest sister is 40 today.....I'll talk about me tomorrow xxx 

So special to celebrate with both  my sisters .....we are all grown now and have 12 little ones between us..... my had we known that when we were celebrating in 1977!!!!

Happy Birthday Sis. xxx 

Lights revamped

With the summer well and truly upon us, now comes  the urge to be outside in the evening and there are a few things on my to do list.

One being the restoration of our outdoor lights....

A number of years ago I saw on Better Homes and Gardens some light balls made from hanging baskets.....

I made them and they have hung proudly and brightly ever since.....  

That was until Spring 2011 when the resident Willy Wag Tails decided to make their nest in them.....

They have never been the same  since....

So I finally got around to pulling them apart and relighting them ..... 

One of those jobs that actually didn't take that long but has been put off  for far too long.....

My ever dutiful husband  had them hung in their rightful place in no time....

 They are shining brighter than ever with the new little LED globes......

Now to send out the invites to come and meet and eat under our lights.

Things I am Loving...

This week I am loving.....

*Christmas of course......so lucky to have been able to  celebrate Christmas with all my family spread over two days of fun.....

* The last couple of days with our elf...although I was a little relived that he has now gone until next year...the creativity needed at night was getting to me!!!

* As much as I loved the Christmas celebrations I have enjoyed packing away all the "Christmas stuff" today...reclaiming back the space.

*I love being able to turn last year's Christmas cards into next year's gift tags

*Turning our attention to our outside entertaining area now the weather is super charged and the nights are so lovely.

*Loving that my hubbie has been super creative and busy with the new wok and frypan we received for presents.....yummy dinners on our table.

*Love this time of the year to indulge in a lot of reading time....finished book number 23 for the year.

Hope you are loving the days that lie between Christmas and New Year...they have their own special feel about them.

Joining in with  others here.

 

The upside....

of a very hot day .....

 has got to be the evenings.....slightly cooler with  a little reprieve from the days heat.

                                                 

Perfect for heading out to try new Christmas presents on the neighborhood footpaths....

and then hanging outside eating snacks way past bedtime......

.....more of the same expected for the next few days

and so that was Christmas.....

 

 

 

 

 

Wow and so that is it ,done and dusted for another year....

We have just had a two day celebration marathon...

I knew it was going to be a good one when my family played along with my secret gifts to them of matching PJ's!!!! 


The tooth fairy and Santa probably stopped to exchange pleasantries in the lounge room  ...

There were the gifts and then more gifts....

There was the food... way too much as usual.....just means we get to eat left overs for a day or so...
Did I mention the gifts...

Sharing the days with cousins, aunts uncles and grandparents....

A very welcome way to cool off ...in our 40 degree days....

Two days to celebrate with both sets of families...  

Lots of beautifully thought out exchanges were made....

and now to retreat to the cool and sleep it all off, play , read and explore all the new things that have come into the house....

The hot weather is with us for the next week with very little reprieve in sight.

Hope yours was a good one wherever you celebrated.

xxxx