New Year, new beginnings

Wow, it's the last day of 2011 - and as we always say, "How fast has this year gone?!"
Seriously, this year seems as though it has gone a lot faster than previous years.  But, how can it? We have the same amount of days and hours, minutes, seconds in each day.  Next year will go slower, we have an extra day, it's a leap year!!
This time of year is always a reflection time.  A time to appreciate and be grateful for all that we have.
The past year for us has been a tiring journey at times - that's what happens when you welcome a new family member into your lives.  And through his reflux, ear infections and other sicknesses, we have survived it.  When the chips are down, you just have to dig deep, rely on each other, take baby steps, remember to breathe - and in our lives, drink mighty fine tasting coffee!!
Our family has grown over the past year, not just with a new family member, but people's individuality has grown.  Cooper has grown into a confident, chatty, funny little guy (although, he still has his quiet moments where he just wants to hang out and play lego - like on Christmas day at his cousin's house). Charlie has become a real little person, from entering this world at a tiny 6 pound 10 (compared to his BIG brother who was a whopper at 9 pound 5 (OUCH!)), to now walking around the house with his wagon, wrestling his brother and having a very strong personality.  As for Will and I, we have just grown from strength to strength, constantly being a pillar for each other through those sleepless nights.
So, as I reflect, I am extremely grateful for the beautiful part of the world that we live in.  Seaside living suits are adventurous family.  Today we spent the morning at the park in Sorrento, wandered to the beach, had a coffee at our favourite cafe, then shopped at our tasty fruit shop.  Then headed home as things were heating up, and tourists were everywhere.  A lovely Summers day, and a perfect way to end 2011.
Now time to relax, reflect, restore ourselves so that we can celebrate the end of 2011 with our friends this afternoon.  Wine, food, lounging by the pool, reflecting on what has truly been a wonderful year.
I look forward to 2012 - there are going to be some big changes, holidays, lots of great laughs with family and friends.
Remember to always be there for your family and friends.  Share in the good times and tough times (hopefully not too many of them!).  Celebrate life, it really is too short.
Farewell 2011, you have been tough at times, but that's what life is all about.
Celebrate safely with your loved one's.
Do you have any exciting plans for tonight?

Christmas Spirit

This year was the first year, that we got to see the excitement of Christmas from little Coops. His cheery voice talking at a million miles an hour,  telling us that Santa was coming, was beautiful to hear.  The night before Christmas there was a magic electrical storm, Coops was telling us that it was Santa on his way.  A dog barked, Coops said that Santa had just been bitten by a dog - little kids imaginations are amazingly cute.
When Cooper saw all the presents on Christmas morning, he bounced up and down with excitement.  Each present was quickly ripped open, and the playing with new toys began.  As for Charlie, he had no idea what Christmas was all about.  He was just happy to have even more toys to play with - really just looked like a kid in a toy shop!
Christmas lunch was spent with my family at my sister Shelley's house.  Our family is seriously like rent a crowd, mum, dad, four daughters, four husbands and eleven grandkids! Now, that's a lot of noise (oh, and extreme excitement too!).  Dinner was spent with Will's family at his parents house, a much quieter evening with only his parents, sister and her husband and our nephew Jack.  We definitely went home with one full to the brim car of presents.
Living Christmas through the eyes of children, is a beautiful thing to watch. Their imaginations, innocence, laughter and sense of joy, makes that one day of the year, just a touch more special.

Hope you all had a beautiful Christmas with your loved one's
xx

Bringing out the inner child

Today was our work Christmas lunch - the getting together of 170 staff to have some yummy food and laughs.
We had an Adult jumping castle and Gladiator ring.  I was pretty adamant that I was not going to go on either of these - these things are for little kids!!
However, it didn't take long for a group of us girls to jump on the castle.  We squealed like little kids, it was fun, but gee it was hot and hard work.  I don't know how kids bounce around on these things for hours.  I felt like the inner child had been reborn in me, like 10 years had been taken off my life.  Who cares that I am an Adult and probably looked like a fool, it was so much fun!
Then we hopped into the gladiator ring, game on, the competitive side in everyone came out.  It was tough trying not to spin around and to keep your balance at the same time. So much fun was had with wonderful work colleagues.
Oh, and we also had a non alcoholic, tasty slushie machine, I so wish someone had of slipped some vodka in there to see the interesting outcome!
Do you agree that it is wonderful to act and feel like a child some days?
To laugh, have fun and seem like there is not a worry in the world?





Carefree

A surge of energy

Poor little Charlie bear, over the past couple of months, he has had 5 ear infections - 2-3 more and we will have further discussions with the doctor about having grommets put in.
It has been tough, returning to work, continuous sleepless nights, all because this little fella has poor drainage in his ears.  Throw in conjunctivitis, viral infections and gastro - and BOY, I feel like some days, just insert a caffeine drip into me!
And we have so many social events on recently too, 3 weddings in the past month! It has been great to get out and party with our friends, however, in the back of your mind, you know that you have to get up early to contend with the kiddies.
This is what we signed up for when we made them a part of our lives, you are on call for them 24 hours a day.  Every time, those babies of ours cry out in pain, I like to be there to comfort them.  Exhausted or not, they need me, I'm their mum and that's what mummies do.
Charlie's surges of great energy, come and go in between moments of tears and pain.
I managed to capture one yesterday afternoon, when he squealed with delight at being allowed to play on his big brothers bed.
It's the priceless moments in life that pick you up and allow you to keep on going, don't you think?