Life is a Journey not a Destination

MONDAY - Friends over for NYE

- Make your own hamburgers, pineapple rice salad, asian noodle salad, stuffed eggs

- Desert : Pavlova nest or choc basket with cream and berries

TUESDAY - Leftovers (friends over for BBQ lunch)

WEDNESDAY - Chili con Carne Burritos (made with TVP)

THURSDAY - Pasta with pumpkin (from our garden) sauce

FRIDAY - Falafel wraps (before Basketball)

SATURDAY - Spinach (from garden) Feta Pie

SUNDAY - Leftovers or from freezer

For more menu planning idea visit the organising junkie

Well, I’ve been slowly recovering from Christmas, and this cold that I’ve had (not to mention the sore knee). I took the girls to the beach on Friday - had a great time - went swimming again and decided I want to get a boogie board (not that I’ve been on one since I was a teenager). I got it today - mine is the green one and the pink one is a new one for Christy.

I spent yesterday putting away all our Christmas decorations (and returning the house to normal) and then cleaning up the fridge, which I restocked today. We’re having friends for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so it will no doubt be empty again in a few days. I’m being pretty lazy with the food this time around - having a BBQ, a couple of home made dishes and a REAL easy desert. If you click on the second photo you can read what’s currently in our fridge.

My Perfect Housewife DVDs turned up so Amy and I have been watching them when time permits - she’s decided she’s going to be the perfect housechild - we’ll see…. so far so good. Even if your house is tidy and organised (mine is pretty much) I still find the show very inspiring. What I still need to work on is the detailed cleaning. I certainly wouldn’t pass her white glove test…..

Took the girls to see Enchanted - what a wonderful movie - we all loved it and it was first movie that Christy has actually sat through without getting bored.

Last night the girls went camping… in our loungeroom. Kevin has bought a tent to use when we do our Ayres Rock trip (he’s riding his motorbike, the girls and I are going with Mum & Dad) and he wanted to try it out. Orginally they were all going to sleep outside (I was seeking the comfort of my own bed) but it was too windy. Christy was so excited that alternate plans had to be made. So the loungeroom it was. They thought it was fantastic.

As the year comes to a close (and Christmas is over) I’m starting to think back over 2007 and make plans for 2008. 2007 was a pretty great year and I spent most of it in a happy, positive state of mind. We had a wonderful family vacation to Mexico and Disneyland, got a new dog, Rosie, Kevin and I had Weight loss surgery, the girls did well at school. I feel I’ve grown a lot as a person - I’m happy in my role of SAHM and taking care of the family, house and animals; I’ve developed new friendships (mostly online but a few in real life); and I’ve spent more time on crafts/scrapbooking. The last couple of months I’ve gotten myself into a much better routine and with the weight loss and extra energy I’m sure I’ll achieve a lot more in 2008.

Here are the goals I wrote a year ago and how I went with them. Bit of a mixed bag. A lot more work/commitment will be needed next year.

HOME
- Maintain new household routine    : kind of, I seem to be able to keep on top of most things now but this still needs work

- Reduce processed/packaged foods/meals     : Yes, but can be improved

- Menu plan properly and buy ONLY what is needed   : NO, especially since surgery I find the chooks and dogs are getting more and more leftovers

- Minimise disposable products - napkins, plates, towels, containers  : YES!!! Pretty much eliminated from our lives.

- Make from scratch where possiible  : KIND OF, still more work needed

- Buy organic produce where possible : YES, but it’s getting rather expensive when much is getting wasted (see above)

FINANCE
- Read up more on budgeting/finance   : NO
- Reularly review budget : YES, not that it makes me stick to the budget any more

- Put $50 a week into long-term savings  : YES. but just had to use it all to fix up overspending (see above)

- Start paying extra off mortgage in June  : NO

PERSONAL
- Write in blog regularly  : YES, probably too much

- Learn to download photos and update my website myself  : YES, hence above

- Work on novel for 2 hrs Mon - Thurs  : NO - decided not to pursue writing at this time, between blogging and scrapbooking I don’t have time.

- Limit e-mail/internet  : NO!!!!

Firstly before i show you my new baby I just had a share a photo of knee a couple days after the fall. Nasty isn’t it? It doesn’t hurt too much except coming down the stairs and if I bash it into something - funny that.

Okay, so here’s my new baby.

My washing machine died on Christmas Eve for about the 3rd time this year. It hasn’t worked properly in years (I always have to spin the clothes twice) so that was the final straw. Yesterday we went out and bought a new machine. I’ve already done a couple of loads and it’s great. I love not having the spin everything twice. This is my first front loader so it will be interesting to see if it’s as gentle on clothes as they say. It was a bit of bargin - discounted by $150 plus you get a $150 rebate from the water board. Will cost us $490 including extended warranty.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas Day. Amy and I were up early - around 4am (which is not that unusual for us). Amy watched a movie and I read blogs until Christy woke up around 6.30am. We then got Kevin up and opened presents.

Amy knows all about Santa (she worked it out herself) but was still very excited and I don’t think any of the magic has been lost for her. Santa bought them Zongo Bongos

From us their main present was the High School Musical Sing-a-long for the Wii. They love it.

We had our usual French Toast for breakfast with Nanny, Poppy and Granny. Then unfortunately I fell and badly hurt my knee.

It swelled up pretty quickly so I sat AND iced it for a while but with visitor coming for lunch I really couldn’t just sit around all morning. I also hurt my back, so on top of a cold and runny nose I really wasn’t feeling the best. Still I managed and we had a lovely lunch with my Aunts, Uncles and some of my cousins. Kevin took the great family photo at the top of this post (I stole the idea from a layout I saw in a scrapbook magazine a few years back).

This is me, my Mum, cousin Tara, Auntie Irene and Granny.

And of course Rosie, who decided to eat the remainder of the reideer food (wonder if she can fly now).

It was a great day, despite not feeling well, but I’m looking forward to a very lazy day today. We ended the day watching The Long Way Down - which was Kevin favourite present. We’ve watched the Long Way Round a number of times and always enjoy it. I can’t wait to play with my new toys - the Crop-o-dile and Making Memories Tag Maker.

Finally, here’s a photo of Christy asleep - shes wanted to sleep downstairs last night.

 Just wanted to share some photos. The before were taken just 8 weeks ago when I started the 2 week pre-op diet. I actually bought this outfit about 7 years ago and have NEVER worn it. I couldn’t do the skirt up 8 weeks ago and yesterday it was. Can’t wait to see what I look like next Christmas. It’s sure going to be an exciting year ahead.

Oh, almost forgot, I lost another 1.1kg (2.4lbs) this week. Not bad for the week before Christmas.

Okay, cheesy title but I just couldn’t resist. I’ve had a busy two days getting ready for Christmas Eve and Day, and now remember why I’m so over Christmas as soon as it’s past. I love it and love preparing for it but it is tiring and exhausting.

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with our friends. We sat outside while the kids (and Kevin and Rodney) went in the pool. The weather was a little cool for most of us (though they reported the pool was warm).As is our new tradition we ordered Pizza for dinner, we exchanged presents and had desert. It was a really great night and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I’ve been celebrating Christmas Eve with friends ever since I was a child and cannot imagine not doing so.

I made two deserts. Raspberry Cheesecake and Pavlova. Don’t they look yummy? The cheesecake was a real hit.

Christy putting out milk and shortbread for Santa.

Okay, even though I’m going to do menu plan for this week I’m not sure how much it will be followed - will depends on how many leftovers we have and just what we do (I don’t think Kevin is working).

MONDAY - Takeaway Pizza (Christmas Eve Party)

TUESDAY - Cheese on Toast or leftovers (if anything after Christmas Lunch)

WEDNESDAY - Baked Potatoes with Mexican Beans

HURSDAY - Chili Con Carne (made with TVP) Burritos

FRIDAY -OUT?? (Basketball)

SATURDAY- Potato Gnocci with Tomato Sauce

SUNDAY - Leftovers or freezer

Last night we went for a stroll around the neighbourhood to check out the Christmas lights. It was  nice night for walking - not too hot, a nice breeze and a full moon.  My Mum and Dad (who live next door) also joined us so it was a real family outing. The girls loved seeing the lights and some kids were even handing out lollies at one house. Christy is clutching the “merit awards” that she made to give to us for good behaviour. I’ve got 3 so far

This last photo is of the full moon over the lake. Not the greatest photo but you get the idea - it looked so magical in real life.