The one before New years

Hello everyone, I hope your xmas was wonderfull, relaxing and exactly how you wanted it to be. We had a really lovely xmas, even though we had lots of cooking to do, we started 3 days before so when the time came, most of it was done. We got to spend lots of time enjoying the company of our Cairns family, ate lots, drank lots and everyone helped out where they could. All of xmas was spent outside as it was hot hot hot! Mummy did up the table and decorated everything in a suitably festive tone. She even did a centrepiece (look out Martha Stewart!!) :) Christmas eve we had roast beef, and vegies, with a scrummy potato bake cooked by Marisol, and afterwards we had a chrismas ice cream cake thing that we made - Yum!
Joining Mummy and Daddy for dinner were Mark (aka santa), Scott, Shane, Marisol, and Debbie. Jazz and I had ours early.

Chrismas morning I had 3 special presents to open, I had already got my swing set and trampoline early! The first one I opened was from my Auntie Susan and Uncle John, it was a really cute teddy with a marines sweatshirt, I take him to bed with me for all my sleeps, and have called him new bear until we can think of a name for him.
My next present was from my Auntie Big ears, it was a housekeeping trolley, with heaps of cleaning stuff on it, I tear around the house with it doing "keening" and now Mummy can leave the brush and shovel out without me stealing it all the time. I pretend to polish the furniture and do lots of sweeping. I did, however, pull all the yellow wool out of the mop and the bits are now "noodles" which I feed to mummy and daddy. Mummy was quite tickled by this.
THEN........I opened my last one which was from my Grunk. It was the new tickle me elmo, it cracks everyone up when I play with it, he rolls around and slaps the floor, he is very very funny. Here I am ripping off some paper.
Daddy bought Mummy an ipod, mummy nearly fell off the couch! She really really wanted one but didn't want to ask for one - clever daddy! Mummy bought daddy a remote control tank, he really really wanted one too - clever mummy! Before daddy could have his present though, mummy set up a treasure hunt so daddy had to work out the clues to find the next clue - there were 20 clues and it took daddy an hour to find them all, he did very well and eventually found his present under my cot.

We had Marisol, Jazz and Debbie here for christmas day lunch, which was a crunchy vegetable and noodle salad, fresh prawns with dipping sauces, and spicey prawns with a cucumber sambal. Jazz and I got to open our presents to each other and the adults did theirs as well, we all got spoiled and had a lovely time in all the paper.

It was really really hot and after we had our lunch, Jazz and I got into the little swimming pool and had ice blocks, while the adults slugged at the table.

Marisol had to go to work then and Shane arrived, along with Scott, they stayed for dinner which was roast turkey and veg and was supposed to be followed by plum pudding and brandy custard, but no one could face anymore food. In between all these meals, we had made dips and had shortbread, mince pies, nuts the list went on and on. I also made a slice that never made it out of the fridge for fear we may all pop. We migrated to the lounge to finish off our celebrations watching The life of Brian. One by one everyone fell asleep, some made it to beds, others stayed where they were.

Boxing day was get rid of leftovers day (wasn't it for everyone?) Bruce and Scott came over for a cold meat and salad dinner, where we managed to fit in one more bottle of champagne, a bottle of chardy and some other wine we had in the fridge. We had a lovely time catching up, we hadn't seen Bruce for ages. For those of you who know him, he looks really well and seems very happy. Considering all the food we had, we judged it just right, there was no food wasted, we planned it really well. (pats on the back for us - I hate wasting food)

I have had some lovely e-mails from some of you and promise when I get a spare week I will answer them all :) We are heading down to Lismore/Brisbane on the 7th January to visit Damians family and friends and will be back in Cairns on the 15th. We are spending new years eve with Shane, Marisol, Debbie and Jazz, we are having an early dinner, and will watch the fireworks on the esplinade before (probably) going back to the Mathewsis to put the kids to bed and have a card/game sesh. Shane (who is a cheater) has to work N.Y day so we'll see how he feels.

We all hope that you have a fantastic new years eve and stay safe and happy into 2007. Mummy is reminding those of you who are joining the 2007 challenge (or would like to) that there are only 2 more sleeps to go!!! So drink/eat/ party hard kids! Love and hugs and skishes - Kylin Jett xoxoxox