Adults only

4 babysitters for 10 kids.

7 adults head out to dinner and a movie.

Simple.

Add snow.

Okay, we're stuck in the backseat here, might as well take a picture of the sisters...

Getting a bit silly...

Why stop now?!

And the best for last...

Give me one reason not to make a snow angel.

It took us nearly 2 hours to cover a normally 20-minute drive, then the road closed... but we did get to a great restaurant anyway, and had such a lovely time away from the busyness that we have come to know so well when we are all under one roof. Thanks Mom and Dad for starting this fab tradition!!

Christmastime

Christmas was a lot of things for us this year - as it always is I guess. First came Christmas in Australia in summer clothes!

Followed by the ever-popular marathon short-LONG-short plane rides (domestic, international, domestic), during which we make every effort to ensure our kids are properly looked after by the in-flight entertainment system (you think I'm joking ?!!! :) )

And lots of family time... (Nick leading his great-grandpa around)

(sorry about not getting all of your face Grandpa!)

... and cousins everywhere you look!

My own cousins too...

17 handmade stockings by Grandma - wow.

More reminders that everything's still bigger in America

And of course we didn't come all this way to not have at least a bit of snow! Yay!

Very cold, happy, mesmerized kids.

Winter Christmas = indoor activities required

Decorating chocolate christmas tree cakes

I'm thankful for my family - on both sides of the world - and the ability to know and love them all, and to not have years in between being together. I'm so thankful to God for creating us to need each other and him.

Hair

Laura is forcing me to learn to cut hair. It was awhile ago that she found the scissors and did this, but I forgot about it. It's the reason she now has bangs (or fringe if you're australian)

Nick's had a couple haircuts too... gone with the baby fly-away hair, and hello toddlerhood! Look at those huge eyes, I'm in love.

Smile!

Really, what is there to say to 3 cheesy smiles?

And a good morning to you too!

Daniel had a big sleep and woke up last of everyone and I said, "Wow, it's not normally that way is it Daniel?"
His response? "No, it's normally you that wakes up last!"
I suppose now is the appropriate time to thank Andrew for all the sleepins he gives me... :)

Song of the day

Laura happily singing to herself: "I can do lots of things, lots of things... I can do lots of things...."

Only knowing Laura makes this song so, ummm... so LAURA.

Diving!

Normal swimming lesson today. At the end of the lesson they take turns jumping in the deep end to the teacher. She asks Daniel if he wants to dive or jump in. He says dive, but I'm thinking, "he doesn't even know what that is..." She says that it's when your head and hands go in first, etc, etc. He says okay, then DIVES! The teacher even let out a yelp (in harmony with mine!) and looked over at me with a smile! Clearly she didn't really expect it either! So so so fun. Very proud boy. I love being a mum.

Australian Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas Southern Hemisphere style!

Courtesy of the Bruny Island Beach Artists (andrew, daniel and ella!)

Today

Accomplishment of the day: 5 loads of laundry, all ironed and put away. Exciting, no. Still an accomplishment.

"What the?" of the day: Calling Daniel a 'bossy boots'. Did I really say that out loud? Yep. Sure did.

Grandma Lowen

Today is Dec 1st, my Grandma Lowen's 90th birthday. Her and Grandpa JUST moved into a duplex in a retirement village a few months ago. They moved out of the only house I'd ever known them to be in, but they are still living independently and seem happy - not weighed down by the demands of a bigger house, so that's a huge plus. Happy Birthday Grandma, I wish I could have been at your party yesterday, we love you so much!

Oh, and forgot to mention that she and grandpa have 4 kids, 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandkids!!!