so far.

* Finished my Christmas shopping and wrapping with the majority of my sanity intact.  Just.

* Was able to restrain from road raging the billion people who decided to elbow their importance onto the road.  They are called indicators and it's called don't cut me off.  Try it some day.

*  Pack all our holiday clothes in one suitcase.  That's kinda like asking me to walk on water.

*  Snuck in another black dress while Chris wasn't looking.

*  Piled into the car.  

* Drove along the highway.  

* Planned a pit stop

* Beechworth is awesome

* The {bakery} is even more awesome.  Ate a Ned kelly pie, was ten shades of happy. 

* Bought Ninja an icy pole maker.  Best $2.50 ever spent.

* Wandered around to the {brewery} and hid in the sun until Chris found a six pack of beer delights.

* Turned a three hour trip into a 6 hour one

* bypassed Kmart and found a present to put under the wishing tree

* Danced a happy dance that my lovely mate Jane and her family were safe after all the rumbles in New Zealand.

*  Melted in the heat

*  Arrived at my inlaws

to be continued...

Thank YOU.

If you never hear from me again, it's because I have eaten myself into a sugar coma.

Yesterday, my sister delivered this gorgeous tasty house of a treat.  Yum.  It is currently living behind the fortress known to most as the baby gate. Ninja remembers it's there and then proceeds to hang off the bars asking "cake?  Mum... Cake?  MUM! CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE"  

We had a mini feast.  We had some vino.  We had a laugh at the Ninja-isms.  I like nights like these.

I can't quite believe that Christmas is only a matter of sleeps away.  I sat yesterday, wrapping presents and my heart skipped a beat.  It's funny how some random things totally capture your mind.  Writing out a label for Ninja's present.

Love Mum and Dad.

The pride and love engulfed me.

We're parents.  We really are.  Mum and Dad.  

It's been a funny ol' year.  The highs, the lows and the marshmallow fluffy of the middle.  We had many stumbles, many wins.. and many learning curves.

But we're still here.

Last night, a tiny Ninja lay in the strong arms of her dadda.  She felt safe there.  Her mind over-tired.  Over stimulated.  Bed, was far far from her mind.  Tucked up on the couch, her tears faded.  All was well again. They fell into slumber on the couch.  Midnight.  The two tired souls lay, breathing as one. I found a blanket and tucked them in.  The emotion prickled all my senses. 

My family.

All under one roof.  Safe.  Secure.  Warm.  

Happy.

After the year we've had.  That's all I can ask for.

~

Thank you.  Thank you.  For stopping and reading. Commenting.  Sharing.  Saying "I get it"  Sharing the highs and building me up from the lows.  

Thank you. 

I look forward to sharing the next chapter with you.  

Until next year, 

Loz x

Find your happy.

Deck the halls.

Phew.

Operation Christmas tree:  Completed.

It finally feels like Christmas in these parts. The halls are officially decked within an inch of their life and we have totally had the Toddler Tornado moment with the Tinsel.  

Last night, we decided not to risk the severe weather warning and gave the Carols by Candle light the flick.  Instead, Ninja waddled around with one leg in a stocking while Chris precariously balanced on a ladder.. hanging bunting. Because he's good like that.

Listening, to this:

In a brief lapse of better judgement, I purchased this gem from Big W last year.  It kinda offends my ears really.  I wanted merry, and merry it wasn't.

All though, it does make me crave eggnog, chestnuts and the dire need to put an Aspen jumper on.

Toasted marshmallow anyone?

The boxes were retrieved from the roof and we promptly tumbled down memory lane.  

We picked through our box of trinkets and with speed like precision took away all the "I will die a little inside if this was to get broken" pieces away.  

When I first met Chris, we were were in the aisles of  need-lollies-to-watch-Big-Brother Coles dash for cash.  On the shelf was this red nosed delight.  I could not leave him there.  All alone on the shelf.

He came home with us.  His name is Rudy.

Had to marry the man that saved Rudy from another lonesome night on a dusty shelf.

Every time, I unpack this reindeer I think of a holiday I had with just Mum and I many moons ago.  When you still developed film. In the UK, there was a promo, if you developed about 30billion rolls of film, you got this awesome reindeer.  Thanks mum. His name is Boots. 

I

This morning, the tree lights have been turned on.  Turned off.  Turned on.  Turned off.  With each flick of the switch, Ninja squeals {I think she passes the sound barrier} and then shouts a variation of:  TREEEEEE! CHRISTMAS! LIIIIIIIGGGGHHHHHTS.  

And I don't mind one bit.

Merry Christmas.  Happy Holidays!  Wooooooo... day of eat/drink/be merry! 

Love Loz xx

 

and Christmas Moose.

High Five, Friday!

Friday is here my friends and I'm embracing it's arrival enthusiastically.  How?  Not only have I turned the air con on {yay} but I have also compiled a little ol' list for you.  A high five list of sorts.

Bringing in the weekend with a wrap up of the week that was.  Ninja is more of a 'thumbs up!" kinda gal, we're cool with that.  Thumbs up, high five.. whatever camp you reside on. Celebrate this fine day.

The walking canvas, Ninja.

{one}
Ninja is firing on all cylinders.  She climbs, she sings, she talks.. mostly saying "wazat?" Everything is what's that?

" Wazat mum?"  "Muuuuum, Wazat?"  "Wazat MUUUUUM! "


The brain inside her noggin, surprises me daily.  Her memory of things is outstanding.  She relates certain objects or words with people or places.. so much so it takes a few seconds for even me to make the connection.


She has learnt her name, hearing her say "el-lily" is beyond awesome.


She managed to use Siri (voice activation service for Iphone) and called dadda.  Too bad Siri heard lana, and she got the phone call instead. 


Drawing and dancing are her favourite things to do.  And watch Charlie and Lola.  That theme song, has been stuck in my head for weeks.  





{two}
Driving, is still such a novelty to me.  The realism of the fact I can jump into the car, when ever I want to.. is all sorts of awesome.

Since Chris has been designated driver for the best 10 years, it is about time I paid my dues.

During the week, I dropped him off and picked him up from the train station so he could enjoy beers and dinner in the city.  Ninja was beyond excited for a night-time trip in the car.  I may have added to the excitement when I saw houses had their xmas light displays on.

Can I add,  it was the longest day of my life.  Ninja and I were sick of the sight of each other.

I've just dropped him off now, at his work xmas party.

I think it will be a very merry trip home.

{three}
I am actually quite reluctant to admit this.  Our Christmas tree, is still not up. I know.


I know. 


In my defence, I go to the gym at night, three times a week and Chris is spending every hour known to man.. at work.  Another nail in the coffin of Xmas fail, is all our decorations have been stored in the roof.

I have also been reluctant to extend Ms Excitable 2011 any more in the day.  Bed times are a drawn out enough process without adding baubles into the mix.

Saturday people.  Saturday.

Then Sunday, we're going to Carols by Candlelight.

Phew.


{four}
A present arrived in the post this week, that has both Ninja and I a tad happy.  My uncle sent us a DVD of The Snowman by Raymond Briggs.  Magic.  Just magic.  The memories flooded back.  The music took me back to being a kid.  All those beautiful xmas memories.  Waking in the night, to feel the pillow case at the end of the bed is now full of presents.  Riding my new bike up and down the cul-de-sac.  Writing letters to Santa.

I sat on the couch, with my daughter jumping up and down as the snowman flew in the air.  I sat and and felt a sudden rush of emotion.  A whole new era of memories is being created.  The old and the new.

The beautiful thing about it is, the memories Chris and I have.. can live on with Emily.

Magic.  Just magic.

{five}
The beauty of phones that double as cameras, is that you never miss a beat in capturing a photo.  I am in love with the photo app Instagram.  A social media platform to share your photos.  Here are some of my favourites from through out the week. {I am lozduncombe if you too, heart the instagram}

 

have a fabulous weekend, 
Love Loz 

Shift the Focus.

I took my camera and headed outside.  

I closed the door.  

One breath in.  One breath out.  Focus.  

Forcing every single thought from my mind and focusing only on what's in front of me.

The bee.  

Nothing else is allowed to inhabit my mind, just for this single moment.

I imagine that there is nothing else happening in the world right now, other than me snapping away.  

Focus, on the singular sound of the lens snapping shut.  

Not on anything else.  Being a Mum, dirty floors, unfolded washing, lost shoes, unwrapped presents.. Nothing.

Only the bee.

Just for one more minute.  

Then you will retreat back indoors. Back into the mayhem.  Into the world where the Ninja has decided that listening to you, is not on today's agenda.

The world where chaos rules.  Where you are achieving nothing more than play referee.  

Your patience has reached paper thin levels. 

Just for one more moment, you need to shift the focus.

It is nice out here.  Quiet.  Tranquil.  

Of course the lawn is over grown and there are weeds a plenty.  But I don't see them.  

I keep snapping away. Just me and my trusty camera.  

Just for one more moment. 

Then.  Then we'll go back inside to the sleep-striking one.  

Shoulders back.  Shaking off the previous feelings of self doubt.  Can do Loz, is back in the building. 

Just.

We are in full swing Toddler mode.  It's the stage of the best and worst of everything.  All thrown in a size 2 pair of shorts.

Some days my cape blazes in the wind.  Other days its in a wet sodden mess soaking in a pale of napisan.  

Days like today, I cut my losses and walk away.  Walk away to take that moment.  Restock.  Get back to basics.

Shift that focus.

Thankful, that I took these moments.

Linking up for {Thankful Thursday}