thoughts for the year

i finally had a bit of time to think about what resolutions i'd like to make for the new year. some i liked and borowed from others, some are my own. but on the whole i'd just like to live with greater kindness, happiness and genuine commitment.

h a p p y n e w y e a r ! ! !

2008 was a great year for me. i'm almost sad to leave it behind. ;-)

the house is quiet - everyone is having a lovely sleep in after welcoming the new year in with a bbq with the same friends we have celebrated with for the last 8 years.

my angel sleeper of course was up early, so sleeping in is never an option for me. at least i get to catch up on blog Christmas entries...

i can't believe she will be 1 in two weeks, moving officially into toddlerhood. technically i don't have a baby anymore. :-(

friends gave her a doll house, complete with furniture, cars and people. she loves it.

she says "ta" now, handing me block after block. she says "took took" (chook) and "da".

well, here is to a new year, praying it brings lots of good times!!

(i had to add this picture again, cause i love it)

what are you listening to?

i always love reading those snippets in magazines - what's on your ipod, or what's in your handbag...
my ipod nano is my little bit of technology. i don't need anything grandiose. i'm not into technology for the sake of technology. don't have a mobile phone. sitting on the bus it can seem a little anti-social, everyone with wires coming out their ears. but when you have limited down time, it's a great thing! i have a few podcasts that i've subscribed to. a couple from Radio National: The Book Show, Late Night Live and Rear Vision. others are: The Creative Mom Podcast, Revive Our Hearts and The Prents Journal.
music at the moment? The Audreys, Elizabeth Mitchell, Priscilla Ahn, Klaus and Kri Jobe.
i love the bus. my time for music, podcasts or reading.
today i took A with me for a walk to the shops. i listened to a Late Night Live interview with Harold Bloom (Sterling Professor of the Humanities and English at Yale University) and Bob Carr. it was a great episode, about books. :-)
a thought though, why is it that when you sit on the bus and pull out your book, that you are obviously engrossed in, there are people who will engage you in conversation about the book you are attempting to read. even if i want to say "you don't understand, this is my time..." i'll sigh and close my book, to be just a bit sociable.

the cook and the chef

the night before Christmas... and the day after... and the day after that

what better way to share the past couple of days, than through pictures!!


Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

i was stunned that A took to dolls the way she did...

next year i want to learn to make the pudding!

Boxing Day

Christmas poem

Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst




In The Bleak Midwinter
Christina Rosetti

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen,
Snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign;
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God incarnate,Jesus Christ.

Enough for him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day
A breast full of milk
And a manger full of hay.
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But his mother only,
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what can I give Him -
Give my heart.

time... and collecting eggs

something strange has been happening in my house. the kids are going to bed early (for them) and staying asleep. i have not had to spend every moment from when I put them to bed until 10pm either resettling one or constantly saying “stay in your bed” to the other. this is very new for me, and i find i have the dishes done and some “free” time. although i look at the fridge and think i should clean it, or think of the basket of folding/ironing waiting patiently for me in the laundry, i instead have been madly trying to finish A’s stocking. i made rocky road for work colleagues. on the side I have been doing A’s 1st birthday invitation. all making me realise that each year (especially as she gets older) i will have to be really planned to make Christmas and her birthday enjoyable and separate events!!
i am also proud (relieved) to say that our Christmas shopping has been done without fuss and barely a trip to the shopping centres. we bought all presents for nephews and the niece from an educational toy catalogue N's old childcare centre had. so that was done weeks ago and delivered to our door. i stepped out at lunchtime today to buy a book each for the two older nephews. and there you have it - we are finished!

* * * * * * * * *

anatomy of a picture: