christmas in the forest...

And so Father Christmas came to the Forest...


And everyone got presents...
 

And got to open them...


And to have a new friend to love...


Thanks for all those who donated toys and clothing to be sent...

You have put a smile on a child's face this Christmas...

The Rice Appeal is going well and has raised £1,412.40...

And a special thanks to Zoe (8) and Sabine (6) who sold mini christmas trees to raise money...fabulous job!

Imagine the relief of the staff to know they have the funds secured to feed the children for the next three months! You can still donate here!

I am currently gathering school supplies to send...lead pencils, coloured pencils, erasers, and crayons...let me know if you can help...

And here's to a great New Year for you all and for the Children of the Forest...Lissy

christmas capers...

We had a busy Christmas this year and I hardly took any photos...

Lot of cooking and preparations as 20 odd people were staying at the farm for Christmas! There are no shops near by!

I was up before the girls at 5.30 am in anticipation of them waking! But they slept in...lol...

Evangeline loves her sewing machine which I got at a spotlight sale...having a first lesson!
And the sewing kit which is in the basket that was my mum's as a child...

and Morganne is wrapped with the Sylvanain doll house which I managed to get free with credit card rewards points!

I managed to have migraine on Christmas day and spent most of it in bed...and got up at 5pm...

 
Boxing Day was fairly relaxing...guests left and the kids played and swam some more...they swam several times each day....

And Evangleine did some crafting...

And had her first real go in the go cart....

And yesterday...which was Ben's birthday....Happy Birthday Ben!! He is out at sea!..

We packed to drive home...I managed to fill the car with diesel rather than petrol so caused a major job for my brother in law...remove exhaust and other things to remove the tank to drain it!!  We finally got on the road at 2pm and headed home with mum following..

Morganne vomited on the way...nice! And when we finally got home at 6.30 pm the girls were hip hip horaying!

But despite all this it was still a merry christmas! Lissy

kids and friends...

Any mum will tell you how important a mum's group is...well there is 9 mums in our group...and 20 kids...and we met with our first babies 7 years ago...and we still catch up now...

Some we see more often than others...with the kids at different schools, one moved to the north of Perth but she is coming back, and two have moved to the other side of Perth and one to the other side of Australia...

But she is over visiting so seven of us caught up today...and 15 of the kids...we tried to get a group shot...some waiting patiently...

And some not cooperating...

And then sitting still while the others moved...and a blow in...boy in green not with us...lol...kids!

We had planned on a playground or water park...but no it was raining...so we headed to an indoor play gym...the kids still had a ball...

It was so nice to see the girls...Lissy

5.45 am...and a toddler bed...and some outings...

And I hear howling from the bedroom on Thursday...I rush to investigate and it is Evangeline...she has woken to discover Ben has left for work...poor thing...she takes it hard...so we phoned him on the mobile and she sobbed a bit then cheered up after loots of cuddles...he left home at 5 am to catch his flight...he will be back at the end of January...so wont be home for Christmas or the school holidays...

And Wednesday night was Morganne's first night in a little bed...about time really! She is three...but since she never tried to get out of the cot there was no urgency! Except for her calling out very loudly to be got out in the morning! This bed was made by my dad for my sister and I...and then Evangeline used it and now M...nice and low...just as well as she rolled out this morning when she was waking up! Evangeline chose the matching PJs...
Monday we had  little Jess to play...
And Tuesday we took my English cousins to a local wildlife park...to pat kangaroos and koalas! E had a little friend Kiarra to play for the day...

And Evangeline went to her last riding lesson for the year...they are doing "games" now!
And Ben's parents came for tea...


Wednesday we went down to Safety Bay to go on the Penguin and Seal boat tour...Morganne whinged a lot  but Evangeline enjoyed it all...a lovely outing...saw sea lions, dolphins and fairy penguins...
Evangeline decided to write about the day as she went...

And Morganne kept saying she wanted to be the captain...so she was very pleased to sit in his seat...

Then we had a few days at home as the girls had colds and coughs...and Evangeline made Morganne a rabbit for Christmas...and one for herself...I copied the one I was given from Mel

I had lunch with Sharon who gave me a fabulous bag and organiser she made...

We have been out riding the pony...and up in the tree house at sunset...
And lots of swimming...Morganne has ventured away from the step! A huge thing for her...she can actually stand here!

Last night we went to our local Christmas Carols...it rained a bit! But all was well!
Presents are mostly all wrapped ...except this one...it is a sewing kit for Evangeline and just want to get a couple of more things...we are getting ready to go to the farm for Christmas in a couple of days...

And today is our mum's group catch up...but not at the park as it is raining! Lissy

retromummy giveaway...

Retromummy is having another fabric giveaway!

Go take a look....Lissy