Another year over

It has been quite a year.

Jack has made a big impact.  We had 8 weeks in the USA.  There has been lots of sport and the kids have attended more after school band, dance, tennis, swimming than you'd ever believe.

We've had a great Christmas break and are ready for 2012.

2012 looks like being another hectic year - camping twice in January,  Amy arrives for a month (or two?) in a few weeks,  we are skiing in Vail and relaxing in Hawai in April....and more to be organised soon.

Christmas passed in a flash.  The kids got everything they wanted (James - Scooter, Surfboard;  Olivia - Flute, dolls;  Jack - a garage and a mobile phone).  We had a great day on the 25th - 6am start, stockings, breakfast, beach (great surf), dinner with the Hoffmans....way too much food as ever.

The last week has seen lots of beach trips and Emma playing golf TWICE...and playing rather well for a complete beginner - I sense that 2012 could be Emma's year for golf.

We are now preparing for New Years Eve - heading down to Forty Baskets Beach to see the Manly firework display and chat to friends.  I suspect we'll all be in bed by midnight.

James is loving the waves just now.  This was Christmas Eve - with Stuart Hoffman.

On Christmas Eve the McPherson's joined us for our traditional smoked trout dinner.  It was a perfect evening and the food was excellent.

 Olivia and Tess dressed as Angels and treated us to a play.  The highlight of which was Jack sneaking into the scene and stealing their props.

Despite being super-excited the kids were very well behaved.

James and Olivia struggled to go to bed.  James thought it was best to go to sleep quickly so Santa would come quicker.  Olivia decided that 10pm on Christmas Eve was a good time to quiz me about whether Santa existed or not....

He seems to exist OK - the stockings were overflowing with presents.

Christmas Day on Manly Beach...another glorious day, big waves and blue sky.

One week until the guy in the red suit arrives

The kids are getting excited.  Their excitement leads to tiredness and lots of tantrums - and that's just from me!

I keep trying to convince James and Olivia that they need to be good or no presents from Santa next Sunday.  They listen carefully, are good for about 5 minutes and then....back to normal.  Not sure they believe anymore!

On Friday I had the Christmas Party for the group I run.  The day started at 7:30am with a golf match that included drinking Schnapps on every hole.  At 12:30 the main event kicked off with 240 people at a beach party.  As the 'leader' I had to set a good example, which seemed to involve drinking as much as the 21 year olds.......the night ended at 10:30pm in Manly.  I think that may be the last time I drink for 15 hours....this year at least.

To get over the Xmas party hangover and get the kids out the house we did a lovely walk yesterday with the Underhills - starting at Taronga Zoo, we walked back to Balmoral.  A pleasant few hours in the sunshine finished off with lunch and a swim at the beach.

An early dinner at Bench with the Peaches and Cutlers and then Emma & I headed off to a grown up Christmas Party.  No kids, good chat, lots of nibbles - it was a really nice evening.

Today (Sunday) was fairly relaxing.  Emma sailed in the Manly Yacht Club Christmas Race (came 3rd I think), I've done most of my Christmas shopping and we went to get Jame's new scooter custom built - he got to choose all the components and colours - now it gets built and IF he is good he gets it next week.

Janet is with us just now and is loving spending time with Jack. He is SOOOOOO close to walking.  He will walk all day holding on to one finger of an adult.  He also loves standing in the middle of the room and teasing us - he keeps looking like he is about to take a step (or break into a run), but he just sways then sits back down.  I do reckon he will be walking by Christmas Day.

Our next post may well be Christmas Day - so to all of you, have a very merry Christmas.

Ken

Radio silence will be sorted shortly.

I've just returned from 12 days in the UK.

Will get back into blogging next week.....with Christmas build up.

Ken