Tonsilitis Again

It's been a while since I've posted but I am just emerging from another bout of tonsilitis, my third in the past 3 months. I've still got a sore throat after 5 days on antibiotics and spent yesterday morning in the local A&E with a racing heart and mild dehydration (felt a bit like a drama queen because once I'd had some IV fluids I perked up alot).

So if anyone has any family secrets for keeping tonsilitis away then please let me know, because I don't want to get it again since the tonsils will likely be whipped out quick smart (which would not be my preference).

Have just started checking out the blogs I follow and may take some time to catch up. I'm not planning on going to work tomorrow as I'm still struggling to talk but feeling guilty about it after all the publicity imploring Australians to not "throw a sickie" tomorrow and tomorrow is my birthday too and people will think I'm just trying to avoid providing cakes! Oh well, I need to get better.

Turkey Roast a.k.a. Belated Christmas Lunch

We had a Turkey Roast lunch today (a belated Christmas gathering for Trev's family).

There were even presents still to be opened!

We gave the aunties and uncles and childcarers these great Biscuits in a Jar - they were a hit all 'round (except that one couple had already received the same gift from a sister-in-law on the other side of their family - who'd have thought).

I can highly recommend these as an easy gift for teachers, carers or anyone really and the kids can help to make them (if you can stop them from eating the white choc bits!).

I'm thinking of making some of these biscuits using dried apricots and milk choc bits - 'cause I think it would be a good combination!!

A Little Bit of Switzerland in Northern Tasmania

We've just spent three nights away at The Tamar Valley Resort at Grindelwald (north of Launceston). It was lovely!

We paddled on the lake...

Learnt about icecream...

Went swimming...

Rode the layback bike...

Jumped on the bouncy pillow...

And even enjoyed a relaxed dinner without kids at Mud at the Seaport (yum, yum, yum - who would have thought licorice pannacotta would be so delicious).

Our new nephew was down from Melbourne with his parents and Trev's mum was there too so we enjoyed a lovely family holiday together (although it will be remembered as the holiday of the missing keys).

Christmas done for another year!

I took the Christmas tree down tonight once the kids were in bed. Despite my bahumbuggedness about Christmas this year we did enjoy ourselves on the day.

Celebrations started with a Secret Santa morning tea at my work on Christmas Eve. The kids dressed in their Santa hats and Christmas t-shirts to get into the spirit of things! I was given four "Flat Fat" quarters so a great present, and my Secret Santa recipient was overheard saying "That would have to be the best Secret Santa present ever!" which made me secretly very happy.

We headed up to Uncle Tim's in the afternoon and settled in for the night after enduring 2+ hours of non-stop questioning and singing from the girl during the drive! Both Kelvin and the dog had a tangle with Tim's cat and K has battle scras to prove it (maybe in a seperate post). The kids went to sleep pretty well considering the excitment of Santa's pending deliveries (and Matilda worrying that she might be be woken by the jolly mans "Ho, Ho, Ho - Merry Christmas"ing!).

Mum had to work in the afternoon so my brother hosted brunch which was great - egg and bacon wraps, mini fritatta, stuffed french toast, fruit, banana cake and mini banoffee pies!

A great day was had by all (as you can see below)!

And we drove home after dinner. The kids (and the dog) fell asleep about half an hour in and therefore we drove for 1.5 hours question free and we didn't have to listen to any more Justine Clark / Georgie Parker / Jai Lagaia and got to sleep in our own beds - perfect end to Christmas Day!

Advent Day 21 - Everyone's a Winner!

Well I only had five posts on my giveaway (and Mel declined to be entered in the contest) so on that basis I think I might send everyone a little something!! Over the weekend (yes, AFTER Christmas) I'll have a peruse of your blogs and put something together and pop it in the post!!

As for the Advent Blogalong - I give up! Christmas has been too hectic this year by half. I have been making and taking photos but just haven't had the hours in the day to download them and post about it!

Advent Day 12 - Carols by Candlelight

I took Matilda to the local Carols by Candlelight this evening at Tolosa Park. She loved it (even though the only carols she knows is "Jingle Bells")!

We were sitting pretty close to the front (should read - front row!!).

After a little while she started to get brave and headed up to the front of the stage (the Christmas mosh-pit??) for some singing and dancing with the fabulous Christmas Fairy before Santa's arrival! Normally if Santa is in the general vicinity then Matilda will dissolve into tears and hide behind the nearest parent - tonight was a different story (thanks possibly to the cover of darkness, several marshmallows and overtired bravado).

Yes, that's my daughter sitting on the stage - what else was she to do, she couldn't see Santa for all the other kids!!

What a great night and sure to become a regular part of our future Christmases.

Advent Day 11 - Making Christmas Cards

Matilda is going through a very prolific period with her painting. I thought it would be good to use some of these in my Christmas cards this year (as I'm not sure what else to do with them).

So, last night I cut out 50+ Christmas trees from some of Matilda's artwork - ready for some serious gluing today!

Matilda loved it - gluing away to her hearts content. It felt a little bit like I was exploiting her (child labour) but she was loving it so much, who was I to deny her the pleasure!!

I even offered at one stage to do the stars whilst she did the trees but she'd have none of it.

She finished about half of them before Playschool started this morning and I finished the rest (with a bit of 3-year old adhocery).

I like them and hope that my friends will too! Another task off my Christmas to-do list.