Our First Christmas as a Little Family...

Wow, another Christmas been and gone…I think today we are all suffering that Christmas hangover….tired and lethargic, but oh so willing to graze on all the yummy tummy left overs.

Christmas for us this year started Christmas Eve, Michael, myself and Ryan had a sleep over at Nan & Pop’s. We got to Mum and Dad’s around 4:00pm, we wanted to get there before my brother Michael and his wife, Cecelia dropped Seth off for the evening (we were Seth sitting) along with Mum and Dad’s Christmas presents. Neither Mum nor Dad knew what they were getting from Mick and Cec, but (my) Michael and I did. A pair of budgies, one male, the other female, as we all thought their house was little too quiet since Aussie (aka Girl Bird) passed away.

We managed to get both the birds and the cage inside without too much fuss and without Mum and Dad seeing it. We put them on the kitchen table, and called them into the room. Mum did infact hear the birds but thought they were the birds outside. Dad named the male bird Herbie, while Mum names the female Chrissie, short for Christmas but soon after the name Holly was thought of, and so Herbie and Holly it was.

Traditional Christmas Eve tea in our house (well Mum and Dad’s, hell, you know what I mean) is either cold or fried ham and fried eggs for tea. Has been traditional Christmas Eve tea for as long as I can remember. We always have to try out the ham before Christmas day. Mum and Dad had visitors over, and Michael and I sort of took over the babysitting duties. Seth is such a little cutie. I think we got to bed around 2:30am…probably my latest Christmas Eve ever.

Ryan also had his first bath in a proper bath too. He loved it. So much more room to splash around in. At home we are still using his baby bath, (due to the set up of our bathroom) and he is getting so big for it now.

Christmas day and Mum and Dad’s tree was the fullest it had ever been. Lucky they bought a new tree this year otherwise the old 3ft tree would have been absolutely swamped. We don’t do a breakfast as such, just cereal, toast whatever you can find, and we save the feasting for lunch time and then continue to graze throughout the afternoon. A table laid with Chicken, Pork, Turkey and Ham…with Potato Salad, Coleslaw and a Pasta Salad, with scrummy bake at home rolls was our Christmas fare.

After lunch and after Ryan and Seth had both been fed we all gathered around the tree out in the sunroom. So many presents, but this year was special it was our first as parents, as it was for Mick and Cec, and also Mum and Dad’s as grandparents. Let’s just say the boys were spoilt.

Michael and I were pretty spoilt too, jointly we got a new toaster, and also a stab mixer, which will benefit Ryan no end. Oh, yeah and the McGuiness McDermott Adelaide Crows Monopoly board game. Michael also received the Steve Waugh book and Ricky Ponting memoirs and two CD’s, The Killers and Nickleback. Me, well I got ‘Destiny’s No. 1’s’ CD, and also Robbie Williams, ‘Swing when you’re winning’. Michael also got be a voucher to get my belly button pierced, or should I say re pierced, it took it out when I was nearing the end of my pregnancy with Ryan. And my gorgeous little man, Ryan bought me (well he told Daddy want he wanted to get me) a diary for my handbag for the coming year. A diary that has West Highland White Terriers on every page. My little boy has taste...

Desert/Afternoon tea was a choice of either Christmas pudding or Chocolate Mud Cake served with custard and/or ice cream. Mmmm…. Can’t beat Michel’s Patisserie Mud Cake with Ice Cream and custard.

We had a very relaxing afternoon, just sitting around chatting and playing with the boys while Dad dozed in the lounge. We don’t get to see Mick and Cec that often so it was great to have some quality time with them, and not have to share them with their friends, I know that sounds selfish, but that is normally how things are. When they are down they are in such high demand, we usually get squeezed in when we can. This time is and has been different. Now they have a son, Mum and Dad another Grandson and Michael, Ryan and I a Nephew and Cousin they are trying to get as much family time in as possible.

Mick and Cec, and little Seth, left later in the afternoon. Michael and I stay down for the traditional tea of leftovers and also to sit down and watch the DanceSport Ballroom Championships as we do every year. Another one of our traditions. Michael and I wondered home around 11:00pm. Took us a little while to gather our goods and chattels, but it didn’t seem to take that long unpacking once we got home.

We got to bed a little earlier last night, myself around midnight with Michael following an hour or so later. Very exhausted, but very content.

Fran's First Bloom for the Season

Today Fran’s first bloom for the season fully opened.

I have been waiting for it to bloom as a sign that my little girl, Rosie, had got to where she was going. I like to think now that she has arrived at the gates of doggy heaven, ready to celebrate Christmas with all her doggy friends.

A quite sense of peace is with me now, as Fran continues to bloom and her scent so strong on the afternoon breeze. I smile every time I see a flowering Frangipani and think of my very special little girl, and know that she is watching over me and with me always.

Love you and Miss you…

Have a Very Merry Christmas ‘Rabbit’

Limousine's, Scenic Drives & Holidays...YAY!

Yay....as of 11:00am Wednesday morning I started holidays. We don't open the office again until 9th January. So it will be a lovely break.

The morning at work was spent just tidying up loose ends, we had made sure we didn't have a lot left to do during the week. I think we all had checklists in our heads, not have I done this, have I done that? I had been racing the whole week to get my commission run for the month done so I could pay our boys, and because I had had a few days off sick and also had problems with this months run I was beginning to doubt I would get them out on time.....But I did....PHEW!

This year we celebrated Christmas at my bosses place up at Macclesfield. We were picked up in a gorgeous limousine and taken on a lovely scenic drive throught Hanhdorf and Echunga to arrive at Maccclesfield around lunch time.

Our gorgeous host's Richard (my boss) and Gabrielle (his wife) were out the front awaiting our arrival. We were being treated to a 4 course lunch, all cooked on their new outdoor kitchen.

Starters of Atlanctic Salmon with chives and Cream Cheese and Pumperknickel Bread were to be had out on the deck, which overlooked a 1/2 acre block and the spa on a lower deck again.

When 1st course was ready we moved back up under the pergola, and were served Prawns and Bug tails, on a bed of Lettuce and drizzled with Noonies special seafood sauce. It was yuuum. 2nd course followed fairly quickly, Baked Chicken Breast, then grilled with a topping on chopped bacon, breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, with a basil sauce and steamed asparagus, capsicum and celery. This was accompanied by fresh bread.

3rd course was to be a little while, so we moved back out onto the deck again, where a lovely breeze had sprung up. I think we experienced four seasons in one day. It was so peaceful and relaxing. A great way to end what has been a busy and eventful working year. So many birds in the trees, even a Kookaburra family, what merry old souls they are. And monarch butterflies, reminds me of the day Michael and I took our vows everytime I see one.

When 3rd course came out we were sitting down to roast lamb (butterflied) done on the new kitchen, with a red wine jous, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and a cold bean salad with pine nuts. It was very delicious.

We decided to do Kris Kringle between 3rd and 4th course, to let all we had consumed settle. It was great. We didn't do the usual pull a name out of the hat, instead we had to buy a unisex present, and then a names would be pulled out of a hat, or in our case a water jug (empty of course) and the person chosen would then take a present from off the table. It was great.

It came down to two gifts left on the table, with only myself and Gabrielle to be called out. Gab got called out first, and said 'Well I can't very well pick that one can I'...it was they gift she had placed on the table, although she was quick to point out that she would be very happy with her own gift, so I knew I would love it too. It was an Asian style/influenced incense, candles, and oil burner set. So pretty and very apt considering my love of the Asian influence and the fact that Michael is part Asian.

The rest of the afternoon saw us all sitting around the spa, dipping our toes and talking and laughing about the year that was. God, it was so relaxing. Up under the pergola one more time, for 4th course, Raspberry Ice Cream (Allie, you would have loved it, just like the ice cream you make) served with Strawberries and Blackberries, or where they Blueberries, I am not sure.

Coffee and Tea came out, and to go with this we opened the goodie baskets that had been given to us from a couple of our Fund Managers that were full of lots of lovely nibbles and wines, and grazed on them. I don't think anyone really wanted to leave, but our limo was booked to pick us up at 5:30pm.

Kissed and hugs all round and then it was off into the Limo again. We were dropped back at the office at around 6:40pm where there were Taxis waiting for those that had booked them and our cars in the carpark for the rest of us. It was a great day and a good way to finish the year.

I Miss You my ‘Little Rabbit’ – R.I.P Rosie

You were my little baby, from the first time I saw you at 5 weeks old. My little girl, how I miss you so much, it still hurts.

I sit here tonight with an extremely heavy heart. I am struggling to see the screen for the tears, but I want to write this, so know you that I think of you everyday. It was on this evening two years ago that you took your last breath. At 5:05pm, I had to make the hardest decision of my life to date, and that was to take yours, to rid you of the pain you were in. It was so hard to watch you suffer as you did, it was all so sudden, but I held you till you were gone. I will never forget your little body, it went so limp. But I knew you were no longer suffering.

I came home from the vet’s that night so numb, I still remember it so clearly, like it was ‘today’. I sat out the back on ‘our ‘ bench for hours, just staring into space, questioning why, you were so young.

Remember ‘Fran’ well she produced her first spike (since we had bought her). Her first bloom opened the evening you drew your last breath. I took it as a sign that you were at peace now, no longer in the pain you were. There was a warm breeze that night that caught the scent of Fran’s blooms, it brushed my cheek as if you were saying ‘Goodbye Mum’ I am ok now. I sat at the back until midnight. A big electrical stormed rolled in. You funny little thing, you used to love sitting outside in the rain. How ironic that it rained the night I laid you to rest.

Well Fran didn’t bloom last year, it upset me as much as your little personality not following me around the house everywhere. I think maybe you were telling me that you weren’t quite where you were heading, and you would let me know when you arrived when Fran spiked again and flowered.

You must be close my Little Rabbit, as Fran is out there now with a beautiful big spike and at least 60 buds on her. I have been checking everyday, there are 5 buds that are so close, and so you must be near to your destination. I will check everyday until I smile, with a tinge of sadness and then I know you have arrived.

Please let me know soon Little Rabbit….Please.


R.I.P My Little Angel
Aonais Devils Rose (Rosie)
29/12/1998 – 19/12/2003

Precious Baby Boys and Bargain Buys (My first ever Garage Sale)

Although having very briefly met my new little nephew, Seth, on Friday night, I finally got to have some quality time, really get to meet him and catch up with my Brother, Michael and his gorgeous wife Cecelia today. As I said, they did pop in very briefly Friday night, but as they were on their way out we didn’t really get a chance to catch up. Today made up for all of that.

We had all arranged to have lunch at Mum and Dad’s. It was lovely, Mum and Dad and their kids with their own kids. 3 generations under the one roof, something Mum and Dad I think thought they would never see (with the paths that mine and my Brother’s lives were taking). But god was Dad so proud. It felt really good. My Brother looked so at peace and content holding his little son in his arms, like it was meant to be.

Seth is a funny little boy, although only 10 weeks olds he looks like such a serious little man, always has a frown on his face, it is so cute, but we did get some gorgeous smiles out of him today, and they weren’t wind. He very much looks like his Daddy when he was that age it’s incredible really. Considering his Mummy is ¾’s Chinese, there appears to be now Chinese in him at all, none that is evident. When he talks, he talks very quietly, almost a whisper, you really had to listen to hear him, but it was so cute.

Ryan loved him, as Ryan loves kids thanks to the time he spends at Child Care. He didn’t seem to bother by me holding Seth and cuddling him either, maybe because he was having cuddles with his Daddy at the time….I don’t know.

Tomorrow night Cecelia is coming to pick Ryan up with me from Child Care as she works in the industry herself, up in Toowoomba, Queensland. So I think she just wants to have a sticky beak at how things run down here. Friday herself, Mick and Seth are coming along to our local CYH where I get Ryan weighed and measured as Seth is due to be checked a swell. How cute will that be, Brother and Sister taking ‘their’ special little people to be checked out together.

While Cec was feeding Ryan (around lunch time) we were talking about how our babies sleep when they were out. Seth is so new that he still sleeps in his pram, although they have bought a portable cot down with them. When Ryan was younger he would sleep in his bassinette and then his pram, as he got too big for his bassinette. I was talking about how we were going out N.Y.E and didn’t know what we were going to do with regards to Ryan and getting him to sleep. I wouldn’t trust him on the bed, even with millions of pillows, as he is a roller.

Just at that exact moment, my phone rang. On the way out to get lunch Mum and (my) Michael drove past a garage sale, and out the front was a porta cot for $20…something we didn’t have and couldn’t justify pay $$$$ for, for something that we will get minimal use from. They asked the seller if they could keep it for an hour or so and I would be back to have a look at it. I went back, with Michael and Cecelia in tow. Mmmm…I collapsed it and put it up again, giving it a thorough going over, none of us could see anything wrong with it. The seller said that someone else had asked about it in the time it took me to get back there, but she honoured her word and let me look at it first. The first buyer offered $15, but they really wanted $20. I offered $17, and we ended up agreeing on $18. My first ever garage sale, and I think I got a good bargain. Now my little man will have something to sleep in N.Y.E.

Good spotting Nan….THANKS.

So Proud of Myself....Ho Ho Ho!

I am very proud of myself this Christmas…All bar one more gift for the most special little man in our lives, which we just have to pick up, I have just finished wrapping and put the last gift under the tree and all with 9 sleeps to go. Normally we are still out shopping Christmas Eve. But this year it is all done. I can’t believe it. I feel a lot better about Christmas this year than in past years, even though we are probably celebrating on our tightest budget yet. But to us Christmas is a time of celebration and getting together with loved ones, not about the $$$$ side of things.

Maybe it also has something to do with the most precious little thing in our lives, our 9 month old son, Ryan. I know he is too young to know what is going on and what all the fuss is about, but we wanted to celebrate this special time of year, and our first as a little family.

Having a new little man in our lives has seen us tighten the purse strings somewhat on every front. This year Michael and I set a budget, a sum total of what we were going to spend. Michael decided that he would save his overtime from work, and his money he earns from umpiring indoor cricket exclusively for Christmas. I can proudly say, that we have done well. We are both very happy with our purchases for our loved ones, and each other.

We sat down and drew up a list of what we wanted to get everyone, my Mum and Dad, my Brother and his Wife, and their new son, along with Michael’s Mum and his Brother. Although they told us not to get them anything (and to please respect their wishes), but to instead spend what we would’ve on Ryan. We compromised and bought two little identical gifts, one each from Ryan for them. We will put them in the post this weekend.

Ryan’s gift from Grandma Douthie arrived from Tasmania this morning too, so it has been safely wrapped and put under the tree along with the other gifts. This year I have had to put the tree up on the coffee table, so little Destroyer Douthie can’t redecorate it for us. And also to keep the gifts out of his tiny hands, we will let him have his fun with them Christmas Day.

Ryan’s first Christmas, I am so happy to be celebrating this joyous time of the year with the newest man, albeit little man, as he would have to be the most precious gift I have ever received, the gift of new life. A gift I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see…but with the gift of love from my darling husband, I have seen my dream of a being a Mummy come true. I don’t need anything else, as long as I have my family.

Merry Christmas to all who read my Blog….may the festive season bring you everything you dream of and wish for.

Christmas Parties & Paediatric ED's

Last night saw Michael, Ryan, myself and Mum and Dad (Nan & Pop to Ryan) celebrate Ryan’s first Christmas Party.

We kept him home from Childcare yesterday, with Michael taking him to the doctor’s in the morning. Ryan’s cold was just that, a cold, but it was the mucous that was running down the back of his throat that was causing all the problems. A mixture, of breast milk, formula and solids combined with mucous, didn’t make for a very pretty site, especially when Ryan did managed to get rid of the mucous each time from his poor little stomach.

At 6:30pm we wondered down to Ryan’s Child Care Centre where they were holding their Christmas Party. A sausage sizzle was put on and a special visitor arrived at about 7:15pm with little gifts for all the kids. We were lucky to actually get there, as Ryan had been really sick since Monday and I didn’t think it fair to take him to his party if he had been away sick, but at the same time I didn’t want him to miss his first party either. A phone call to the director of the Child Care Centre and we were cleared to join the celebrations. Helps when our little man is the director’s favourite.

We ended up taking Ryan up the Paediatric ED at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, because as of 8:15pm last night Ryan had thrown up 7 of his last 9 feeds (since Monday), and I was starting to get a little concerned. I was more worried about dehydration as his urinary out put was basically non-existent. We only had to wait in triage for about 3/4's hour, which was pretty good, before being taken through to the PED. They gave him a good check up, (keeping in mind Michael had yesterday off and had taken Ryan to see my doctor in the morning.) His oxygen levels were down a little bit and the soft spot on his head was a little sunken.

He was due for a feed around 12:15am this morning, but understandably I was hesitant about feeding him, but at least we were in the right place if he were to share his meal with everyone and everything around him. He kept his feed down, but still no urinary out put, they wanted to test for infection.

So they put a little bag on him to catch any wee he might do. Well because they didn't get it on properly the first time they missed it, and of course the nappy caught it, so they had to put another one on and of course we had to wait for him to go again. 2:30am, he finally went. They tested the sample and it came back fine.

He did have a really wet cough, and was wheezy at times, so they were even thinking a touch of asthma. The registrar in charge wanted to get chest films done, but we had missed radiology by 10 minutes. Diagnosis, well either a 24 hour bug, as he has kept the last two feeds down, or a chest infection (with the food and mucous not agreeing with each other, hence throwing up). He did bring up a little bit of lovely yellow stuff while up there. They can't really treat young babies and it is generally hard to give/get an accurate diagnosis.

So poor little thing, he didn't get to bed until about 3:45am this morning either did Michael and I. Michael is only 5 minutes from work, so he felt ok to drive in this morning, but I knew having further to go I would have trouble concentrating being so tired. Ryan woke up at about 8:20am as it was. I feed him and he kept it down, which is good. He is at Mum and Dad's at the moment (being Thursday), they thought I might like the break, and to be able to go back to bed for while.
I will go and have a nap now and then go down and pick him up and have some lunch with Mum and Dad. Nightie Night….

Christmas Trees & New Recipes.....

Well this weekend saw us having a relatively quiet weekend, but that is not a bad thing. Thursday night after work I went down to Mum and Dad's for tea, as I usually do, as they have Ryan on Thursdays, and Mum likes to cook for me so I can have one night off a week.

Mum and Dad have had the same Christmas tree since I was born, so it is 30 something years old. A few weeks ago they bought a new Christmas tree, only they hadn't gotten around to putting it up. Every time we popped in I was like 'is it up yet?'....this time I didn't bother asking, I just snuck out the back, slowly opened the door and went 'Yay, the tree is up'. There were no decorations on it at that stage.

Two years ago I bought Mum and Dad some hand painted baubles, two that read Margaret and Brian, another two that read Michael and Tanya, and another two that read Michael and Cecelia. One Michael is my brother, the other my husband and Cecelia is my sister in law. So we had the family on the tree. This year having had two new additions to the family I needed to add two new balls to it. One each for Ryan and his new little cousin Seth.

So I went back inside and grabbed Ryan. Together we put up the first decorations on Nan & Pop's new Christmas Tree, the family Christmas baubles. If we are blessed with anymore little people in our lives, I will have balls painted up for them too. I finished decorating the tree after tea, and after Ryan had gone to bed, with my Dad placing the angel on top as the last decoration to go on. I have a rule that the man of the house must put either the star or the angel on top as the last decoration.

Michael had his works Christmas Show Friday night which saw me and my little man home alone. Ryan was in bed by about 7:30pm, so it was a quiet house let me tell you. Michael eventually ended up getting home around 2:30am, after having to wait nearly two hours for a taxi, but he had a good night, which I was happy about, as he had reservations about going in the first place.

Saturday after I had had my nails done, and Ryan had woken from his nap we hit the shops, sourcing Christmas pressies. I decided to get my SIL some cookbooks, so was on the hunt for Low Carb Cookbooks, and my Brother is really into Sci-Fi, so have ordered in the newest book from one of his favourite authors. Michael is really into cricket, so I thought I would get him the Ricky Ponting book that is out at the moment, I think Mum & Dad have bought him the Steve Waugh book too, so he will be a happy little boy. We are a family of readers, so I have also bought Dad a book too. Mum on the other hand, well I had gardening ideas for her, until Michael found what I wanted to get them already out in their garage....BUGGA....back to the drawing board, I guess I could always buy her a book too.

We bought Ryan some clothes, but will be going back in a fortnight to buys toys. God, there is so much to choose from. I want to get him fun but educational stuff. I know he is going to be spoilt this Christmas, not only from Father Christmas, but from his Mum & Dad, Nan & Pop, his Uncle Mick & Auntie Cec and his Grandma Douthie.

As for Michael's Mother and Brother, well we have no idea. They live in Tasmania and are so hard to buy for. I guess we are going to have to put our thinking caps on, as this year, I really don't want to do the gift voucher thing. But I do know that while shopping at Big W I found these drink coasters that you can slip photos into, so we will do a set up each for my Mum and Dad, and also Michael's Mum with photos of Ryan in them.

Saturday night we went down to Mum & Dad's to watch the basketball on 'Fox'. They were going out and didn't mind us going down there to watch it. So we packed up our bbq meat, and Ryan and off we went. Yummy bbq, but a sad result with the basketball with Adelaide losing.

Yesterday we had our first hot day for the summer, 38 degrees. I didn't want to take Ryan out in it, so Michael was a doll and went and did the groceries, while I stayed home and did the washing, not very exciting huh? Mum and Dad popped in around 2:00pm. I did however try a new recipe last night. I have never had, let alone made risotto before. Tragic, isn't it? I don't know why I got it in my head, but last night I just 'HAD' to make risotto.

Ham and Mushroom risotto. Having not had it before I had no real expectations as to what it should be like. It smelt good through out the cooking process so that had to be a good start. Michael kept passing comment on it too. But the test is in the tasting right, (or something like that). Well Michael loved it, I thought it was a little too heavy on the garlic, but I wanted to follow the recipe the first time, to see what it was like, and will play with it next time. Yes, there will be a next time...I LOVED IT!

Just Like A Holiday at Nan & Pop's....Well Almost

Today was Ryan's first day back at Child Care in a week and a half. He has been on holidays at Nan & Pop's, well sort of, only coming back here to sleep of an evening and the heading back to Mum and Dad's the next day.

After having Ryan see two different doctors (or cowboys as I call them) at a local drop in centre, only because he had fallen ill on a Sunday (when my GP was closed), and giving me two different diagnosis, I wanted to get him in to see 'my' GP. After a thorough examination, and with the symptoms I had described and the very visible rash on my little man's body, he diagnosed Glandular Fever.

Without doing bloods, of which it was too late to do, as they should've been done when I first presented Ryan to the other doctors, he was 99% sure it was GF, and the rash had come about due to the reaction with the antibiotics. Apparently if GF is treated with anti's it can cause a rash, not dissimilar to Meningicocal, to break out. So to be on the safe side my GP recommended that Ryan be kept home from child care for the week.

Thanks to my Mum and Dad, Ryan's Nan & Pop, Michael or I didn't have to take any time off work, which we were more than happy to do, so as to be able to stay at home with Ryan. Mum and Dad told us they would have Ryan for the week.

Mum and Dad love spending time with Ryan, so much so that after he was born and we were home from hospital, they would pop over every other day until I went back to work. It was great. They really relished having a grandchild. They never thought they would see the day they would become grandparents, let along grandparents twice in one year.

I think Dad was quite proud to be looking after his little grandson, and found Ryan a great source of entertainment especially as he is now sitting up and a lot more into things, and also rolling around everywhere.

What did they do for the week, well they all went out shopping, attending doctors appts together, and also went to Mum and Dad's fitness classes together too, where Ryan was absolutely doted upon by everyone there. They even went out and bought a new Christmas tree. Not much, but it was great bonding time.

I am so lucky I have my parents here to help out whenever they can, and they appreciate being able to see Ryan whenever they want aswell as their newest grandson, my nephew lives in Toowoomba, Queensland, so they wont get to see him all that often, which is sad.

As for Ryan's first day back at child care, god he was made such a fuss of by the staff, so many hugs and kisses, but he loves the attention I am sure and squeals and squiggles with delight back at them. He had a good day, and it was like he had never been away. He feel straight back into his old routine like he had never been away. He is such a social little butterfly and has little friends (although they are all bigger and older than he is) in all the rooms he visits.

Xmas At The Douthies...

Last night, (Saturday night) saw us celebrate our first (and hopefully not our last) social event on what is considered the busy social month of the calendar year.

Michael and I had spent the day tidying and prettying up the front and back yard, making potato salad, garden salads, home made hamburgers and freshly baked bread, all while looking after our 9 month precious little man.

We had organised a gathering for about 20 of our closest friends, Xmas At The Douthies. Well come kick off time, 6:00pm, seem to be an hour later than was posted 7:00pm, we had 13 guests willing to take the field. Yes, I was disappointed that we didn't have a full team, but this is always going to happen. I had one phone call during the day (apologising) and another just as the first of the guests were arriving. Although disappointed both callers couldn't make it, I was appreciative of them letting me know.

This time around we had asked the guest to all bring something to contribute towards the evening (to help the hip pocket out a little bit). We had offerings of salad and drinks (thanks Fi & Glen), Honey Maple Chicken wings (thumbs up Leeanne & John), Tandoori Chicken Kebabs and Potato Chippies (way to go April & Owen), the yummiest of desserts, Tiramisu Cheesecake and Chocolate Mudcake (a moment on the lips that can linger for every.....yuummmm, thanks Shaz) and Naomi, Glen Max and little Tamsin supplied the Chippies, Chocolates, Dips, Crackers, Cheese and Kabana. Our contribution, well as written above, homemade Bread, Hamburgers, Potato Salad and a Garden Salad, and shop bought Sausages.

The night got off to a quiet start, with everyone sort of sitting around in a deadly silence (thank god we had taken the stereo outside) well that is how it felt to me anyway. I was trying to place host and catch up with everyone at the same time, while tending to my 9 month old, Ryan and also getting food ready. As the evening grew older the noise level started to rise, which was fantastic. Made me feel a bit better about it all. I was worried the dynamics were all wrong and the mix of people wouldn't work, but I think we got away with it in the end.

Strangely the boys tend to congregate around the bbq and all cook together, not on this occassion though. Michael was left to tend to the barbie himself, quite strange (so I took over from him so he could sit down and eat, mind you I hadn't eaten at that stage either), this probably why all the food wasn't presented (as cooked) at the same time. Patties and sausages went out first, and by the time all the chicken had been cooked everyone was too full to want any. Very disappointing, but it was the same as dessert, Shari had gone to the trouble of baking a Tiramasu Cheesecake, and also a Chocolate Mud Cake only to have about a quarter of each eaten.

Naomi had bought her two children along, Max, 3 and Tamsin 6 weeks. They are both gorgeous kids. Max was so well behaved, a real pleasure to have around. I was trying to imagine Ryan when he gets to Max's age, but it seems so far away. And little Tams, well I got Ryan's old bassinette out for her to sleep in. It felt so strange wheeling it through the house empty, but it looked so complete once she was in it. Having Tams around made me realise just how ready I am for another one. I was checking up on her every few minutes as if she were my own.

It was great getting everyone together before christmas, pity the rest couldn't make it. I just wish, for me it hadn't felt like they were all leaving just as I had finished eating. Our first guests probably left around 10:30'ish and the last around 11:00pm.

Thanks Naomi and Glen for offering to stay and help clean up, and Fi & Glen for staying to help clean up, greatly appreciated. Everyones dishes that they bought are all here and clean waiting to be reunited with their rightful owners. Leeanne, thank you ever so much for putting Ryan's first gift under the tree too, you naughty thing you certainly didn't have to buy him anything, but I am sure he will love whatever it is when he opens it.

After everyone had left Michael and I were sitting our the back going now what? Being totally honest to me it didn't feel like one of the best gatherings I have organised, but I can't put a finger on why. Someone elses turn next time.