Christmas is Wrapped!

Well another Christmas is over. I was up first on Christmas morning at about 6.30am had a cuppa and then woke the kids at about 7am. Of course the presents were over and done with so quickly even though we each took turns at opening a present one by one. The girls’ got a couple of main presents this year and then things like new beach towels, pj’s etc. We got Renae a pancake hot plate which is fantastic! Here’s breakfast….

Gemma got a hair dryer so she doesn’t have to borrow mine or Renae’s now…and an iDog in a little carry bag that one was a surprise…..

She has been hounding (no pun intended) for a dog for ages so now she has one, just not a real one!

It was a stinker of a day here weather wise – 42 degrees easily up where we live. We just relaxed and had a cold Christmas lunch on the verandah and then headed back inside to the Air-con for our mandatory afternoon sleep. A family photo – very rare – I set the self timer so not the best of photos but at least we have one.

Boxing Day was great fun. We had some friends visit in the morning and then at 3.10pm we were getting ready to leave the house to go to our friends place around the corner and we lost power! Yay. Ok so we thought maybe a few hours and it would be back on. Off to our friends’ and we had a fantastic time although it was a stinker of a day – about 46 degrees up here. We filled our plastic glasses and then alternated between the pool and the spa all afternoon – we had one game of Bowling on their new Wii and just about expired so it was back in the pool/spa. Some photos from the day.....

We got home that evening around 10.30pm to a very hot house! Still no power Aaarrrggghhh.

About 4am Steve transferred the contents of our freezer to the car freezer and hooked up the generator in the shed....we couldn't even shower as we are not on mains and need power to run the pump on the water tank! We rang Western Power and were told it would be restored by 1.30pm - we were a bit worried about the contents of the fridge too by then. About 12.30pm we regained power and everything went back to normal although it took some time for the house to cool off again. Needless to say our claim form is in! Don't know how far we will get.

I have never been that hot before in my life!!!!!

Anway I have to drop girls to movies etc today so I might check out the sales if it's not too busy...wish me luck!

Is it Christmas?

I have such good intentions every year of cooking, making pressies and generally getting into the Christmas spirit….and every year it doesn’t quite happen. There are so many pressies under the Christmas tree that I think we need a bigger tree. It’s a great feeling actually, I’m organised and all we have to get tomorrow is the Gourmet Turkey Roll and Ham from the butchers. But the Christmas Spirit is just not happening for me, it doesn’t feel like Christmas.

Steve finished work on Friday at about 2.00pm and it has been great to spend some time with him over the last few days without the stresses of working. We went shopping in Joondalup yesterday and Steve finished off his presents and then we did the food shopping….mayhem would be a good word to describe the atmosphere….pushing a trolley full of food through the malls was not fun – it always amazes me that people with no bags of shopping in their hands still expect you with a fully laden trolley of Christmas fare to get out of their way! Add to that a trolley that has a mind of its own and………well you get the picture.

I have managed to do some of these….. Classic Cocoa! Yum!

Very easy to do but the jars were extremely hard to find.

I would like to wish you and your families a very

Merry Christmas

and if you have to be on the roads, then please stay safe!

Thank you to everyone that has dropped in on my blog and left messages, I really appreciate it and love reading all my comments.

OK I'm off for a swim and some yummy prawns for dinner!

Revived....Not!

Well, Sunday was spent on the couch in front of TV and sleeping....Monday I woke with a very sore throat, like I was swallowing razor blades....fun....not! Monday night we went to Renae's awards night at the Belvoir function centre which was great - Renae was asked to take the photographs for the school for the evening which was a fantastic honour and she loved every bit of it.

The next few days were spent not doing very much at all....the house is a mess and I think I have 2 baskets of ironing to catch up on. I guess it was just my body saying you did too much the week before Sharon and this is your punishment.....thanks!

I made this on Wednesday......

You can find the recipe here, but I have substituted the cherries with Raspberry lollies - it is very rich and you only need a very thin slice served with ice cream but it is very very yummy!

Did anyone see the TV Mini-Series Long Way Round a few years ago when Ewan Macgregor and Charley Boorman rode motorbikes from London to New York? I loved the series and now they have done it again but have ridden from Scotland to Cape Town through some amazing countries and seen such diverse cultures along the way. I bought the book last week (something in my subconcious saying you are going to need a book to read in the next week or so because you are not going to be capable of doing much else). I can't put it down, it puts such a more personal perspective on the journey and I can't wait to see the visual account of their trip now - the DVD is out but I will probably wait til it appears on pay TV again.

Tomorrow we have a Christmas function at Oakover winery for one of the companies Steve works for which we are looking forward to. We have seen so little of each other in the last few weeks so some time out on our own will be lovely.

I have done very little creating lately although the photoshoot I did the other week was a huge success and I have two mini albums to put together and prints to get done ready for framing too. I will be uploading some more of the photos to my Photography gallery at sharonmanning.com.au so you can check them out over there if you like.

Congratulations to Lis, Ben and Evangeline on the birth of their precious little daughter and I'm sure Lis will be back soon to fill you all in on the rest of the details. I can't wait for a cuddle when I'm feeling better!

MIA

Yes this week is nearly over thank goodness, here’s where I’ve been in bullet form:

• Wednesday – Renae’s boyfriend stayed here the night – in the office with the door locked from the outside (just kidding!).


• Thursday – Took kids to school and Gemma had her awards in the afternoon and she danced her solo routine and did a fabulous job – she was soooooo nervous doing it in front of her friends. Gemma also received an Endeavour award for Media Studies – YAY well done darlin! Why is it so hard to get good photos at School assemblies?????
  In the evening was Gemma’s Full Dress Rehearsal for Dance concert – went smoothly. Got in about 10.15pm after an hours drive home.


• Friday – Gemma had Kalamunda Water Slides for the day. Renae’s boyfriend was leaving for Melbourne with his family (he will be back at the start of the 2008 school year). So off to get luggage to the airport and see them off at 6.00pm….a few tears were shed. Steve home from a few days away at work – thank goodness. Gemma had last Acro class last night.


• Saturday – Steve has gone off to work for the day – Renae’s work rang and cancelled her shift today – apparently Woollies are cutting back on staff’s hours due to the little turnover they have been doing lately – yeah right!!!!!!!
  Off to Dance Concert about 11.00am – Matinee and Evening performance – should be home about 11.00pm.


• Sunday – sleeping!!!!!!!!!!!!! All Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In between and when I have been at home I have managed to finish another 2 bags as Chrissy gifts - can't show you though because they read my blog. One of them I want to keep myself I like it so much. Isn't that always the way?

Lis is having a give away on her blog – she has made an awesome Christmas stocking and you can win it if you guess the exact day and time she will have her baby girl! Lis is three days overdue now so head on over and take a guess! I do hope she comes soon for you Lis.

I know I have been neglecting my Messageboard over at sharonmanning.com.au but I promise I will be back posting by Monday or Tuesday. I have some exciting things planned for the New Year which need some attention now (well last week really!!!) so once I get all this “stuff” out the way I will be back. Oh and the 12x12 Acrylic Frames are now back in stock (well they will be when I can get to the manufacturer to pick them up - but they are made!).

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend and catch you next week!

My Calendar....

still says Wednesday 21st November.....gee I wish it was!

Week from hell this week - This would have to be the busiest week of the year for our family. Renae finished school officially last Thursday after her last exam, Gemma finished this Friday and we have awards nights/days, dance concert rehearsals, dance concert (Matinee and Evening performances) end of year excursions etc etc etc. I cannot fit another thing in the diary!

To re-cap the last few days - it was our 18th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday - hard to believe. We didn't celebrate officially but had a yummy lunch of Fish and Chips at Hillary's on Sunday when Gemma had a break from her Stage practice for dance concert.

On Sunday evening I took some photos for some friends of ours....here are just a few....

Gemma played my assistant and was fooling around behind a Blackboy when I took this one.

I ran alot of errands yesterday and visited the new Spotlight at Innaloo (yes there is a suburb here in Perth called Innaloo!!!!!!!!!!!!) and purchased all this yummy fabric......

Some became this today......

a gift for a friend of Renae's. I have another 4 cut out ready to sew and enough fabric for another 3 or 4 which will all become pressies for Christmas.

I'm sure there is heaps more but we are due at our friends (the family above) for a drink for Michael's Birthday - Happy Birthday Michael!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy hump day for tomorrow. This time next Tuesday I am putting my feet up with a drink or three!