in the bush...

We are at the farm...the kids are enjoying it...Morganne loves to have a bath in the laundry sink!She loves scooting around my sisters house after everyone and is standing up holding onto everything...They all love the trampoline....And having fun with Ben!We have been going to swimming lessons each day too...it is 85km each way which is a bit of a trek! It is harvest time at the farmThe weather has been odd..stinking hot, then rain and storms, and dust storms (this was the start of it and it got lots worse...I couldn't see the road in front of me in some places coming back from swimming)...fire bans (when conditions are too dangerous to harvest)...hot nights and cold nights...you name it and it is happening...the harvest is going very slow....and soon it will be Christmas! Lissy

festivities...

My nephews stayed for a week...while my sister was having her gall bladder out...not nice but she is fine now!So the kids were out in the Pirate Ship and walking the plank!E's school finished on Dec 10th with a Christmas Concert...and eggnog and gingerbread for morning tea...my photos were not good...

We have been getting very festive around here! Diana came and helped them make a Ginger Bread House! They loved it...and did a great job! The kids did most of it themselves...We went into the city to see Father Christmas at Myer...and wrote our Christmas Letters...We went out looking at Christmas lights...and went to a local Christmas Carol night... The kids had lots of fun and after a hot day it was a lovely evening...and then we packed up and all headed to the farm...Ben is here too...Lissy

gorgeous...

Here is one of Sharon's photos she took for us on Friday for Morganne's first birthday...I am "patiently" waiting to see more! Ben gets home tomorrow - YAY!I shall update more soon as we have been very busy! Lissy

one...

Our littlest bug Morganne Isabella has turned ONE today!She loved her presents...we gave her a silly musical chair which she loves....E gave her a wheel barrow...and she has plenty of other gifts to enjoy...E and my nephews has fun helping her open the presents... We had a lady bug party for her....I took a few mediocre photos but... Fortunately Sharon came and took photos for me so I will be keen to see them soon!

I cannot believe that one year ago today she was born! She is a precious happy little thing who loves music and bops away to classical FM in the car! And bops to any musical toys! She ties to put her socks on and puts her arms in her tops when getting dressed...she climbs and sits on the lounge chairs and is standing up holding the furniture...

She loves to bang things and put toys in and out of things and anything musical...she will take your hand and get you to do something if she cannot...she can blow a whistle!

She is letting me spoon feed her again finally after many months of refusing to be fed...she is also starting to eat better again after being sick...she weighs about 10.25kg but shall get that and her height checked this week...
And she loves balloons of course!
So Happy Birthday Morganne! I am sure there are lots of other things she is doing but I cannot think at the moment! I have lots of other news but that will wait until another day! Lissy

photos...

I tried another photo shoot...no reindeer ears but some nice photos of my girls...And so this is our Christmas Card photo...couldn't get M to smile but still cute anyway!And then E and I took photos of each other ( another one of our advent activities!) I love these ones E took of Morganne and I...This is Evangeline and me when she was about one...the girls are quite different...and I look a lot younger...lol...it was only four years ago! She had more teeth and was walking by 11 months...They have similar hair but different coloured eyes...and I am sure their personalities will be quite different!Anyway here is hoping we all have a good week! Lissy

and so...

We have had a busy week including Market Day at school where the classes make things and have a stall...E's class had play dough and bubble mixture to sell.... They have been learning about money this term including an excursion to The Mint...they have been "banking" money each week at a school which they then spent on Market Day...

And the school had Open Classroom on Friday when we go to see what the children are doing and can visit the other classes too...I love to see what Evangeline is doing...she has been working with Fraction Puzzles learning whole, half, thirds, quarter and fifth...all very practical and hands on learning developing their mathematical and literacy concepts plus lots of great practical life stuff...E has learnt to tie bows and shoe laces this term! They have a little washing machine in class and do all the washing them selves including hanging it out and folding it when it is dry...I should get E more involved at home! Sadly I forgot my camera!

We have been making Christmas decorations...and glitter has now been added and these string baubles hung on the tree! She has made some lanterns too...And she taught me how to make snowflakes...lol...oh and we painted toe nails and finger nails!Evangeline loves salad and likes to help prepare it too...it's a bit chunky but tastes the same! We have lots of stuff growing in our garden which is great...the lettuce is going well and the tomatoes are starting to ripen...Morganne loves the moths E made and hung from the ceiling!She is standing up holding the furniture all the time now...and she likes to try and put socks on! She is starting to eat again after being sick...and I can even spoon feed her! She is a happy little soul mostly! She turns one in a few days! We had E's dance concert on Friday night which went quite well! They are always cute...E isn't really into dance any more so we won't be doing it next year. I thought we might try gymnastics instead. I tried to take Christmas photos yesterday! Not very successful! Oh well! I babysat Lara today so E had fun! And I managed to mow the lawns and do some much needed gardening...And even some cleaning! I was so tired yesterday that I went to bed with Evangeline! So I felt a lot better today so managed to get some jobs done!

Anyway I think that is about it! Ben is due home in about 7 or 8 days! YAY! He has only been home for about one month out of the last four months! Lissy

tree...

We have put up the tree....only a little one this year so we can put it up out of the way of our littlest one! Evangeline decorated the tree all by herself...My favourite decorations are the ones E has made over the last couple of years at play group and school...
and Morganne threw baubles around!
I have made a list of advent activities...I have put one in each advent stocking that I made a couple of years ago...We will do one activity each day...some of which we will be at the farm so the boys will join in! Plus we have quite a collection of Christmas story books to read each night at bed time!

Here are our activities...in no particular order...
Set up the Christmas tree
Bake Christmas cookies and decorate them
Have a picnic for dinner in the lounge
Purchase a present to give to charity
Write a letter to Santa
Eat fancy ice cream sundaes after dinner…with smarties and sprinkles
Watch a Christmas movie before bed with popcorn
Make paper lanterns
Paint everyone’s toenails
Make Christmas decorations for the tree
Make Christmas Cards for the family
Put on Christmas Tattoos
Wrap gifts for the teacher
Have a camp out around the Christmas tree
Fancy dress for dinner time
Pack a picnic dinner and have it at a park
Go out to see the Christmas lights
Making paper snowflakes
Have a treasure hunt
Make a great hide out and then hang out with flashlights
Take photos of each other
Play board games
Have hot chocolate with all the fixings (or milkshakes if it’s too hot)
Christmas Eve Picnic Tea up the Rock

I have done all the shopping except a couple of small things...and everything has been wrapped mostly too! I sent most of the presents and "the Santa presents" to the farm with mum on Monday...We have a Santa Stop Here sign ready to take to the farm as Evangeline wasn't sure he would know where she was...so we might add that to her Santa letter!

We read "Six White Boomers" tonight...E decided it wasn't real as kangaroos can't fly...only reindeers can fly! Christmas is coming! Lissy