the party!

garlands, cake... family & gifts:: must mean a birthday!

we love this girl ~ her own car and her own mobile phone. ;-)

who can believe that 12 months ago she lookd like this??

good morning!

and happy 1st birthday!!

* * sigh * *

back to work tomorrow. having three weeks off work has reminded me how "in control" you can feel when at home. no rushing. no packing, unpacking and repacking bags for various minders. no leaving great piles of toys, clothes and dishes as i run out of the house. well, maybe just a bit of that. i always imagine that if i were home full time, with a car, we would have this very orderly life. wake up, breakfast, dressed and clean. structured play time. maybe a morning or afternoon outing. naps. dinner on the table by six. (if D had a 9-5 job rather than 7 -6).

maybe it would all be so if i were REALLY the good housewife i was at my dad's 60th birthday party... most people dressed as rockers. i took the liberty of being the good housewife.

Leave it to Beaver 50's boy:

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY DAD!

i will always believe this

... no matter how unrealisic people think it is. amen to Mahatma Ghandi - one of the greatest pacificsts of our time.

to make you smile

ever thought of dancing your way around the world?



here is the original - i couldn't decide which i liked best...

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)