Holiday Recap

Well, I've had a very busy last few weeks - I wish I could tell you about it all, but unfortunately a brief recap is all I can afford to do.


In December, as you may know, we went to Tasmania for 2 weeks as a family. It was a good experience, although some of us are not willing to do it again any time soon.


We got home on New Year's Eve and Jamie and I were left with only 11 days to be at home before we were off to Brisbane for a 16 day holiday. The day of our flight departure from Canberra was almost cancelled because of heavy rain and flooding in Brisbane, but we managed to get in without any mishaps.


Jamie and I stayed with family friends for the whole time and it was the best holiday ever! Life changing!
During the 16 days, we partook in Beach Mission on Bribie Island and on Australia Day, the day before we came home, we went to the Louie Giglio/Chris Tomlin/Parachute Band concert. It was the best concert I've ever been to, partly because of our friends we went with and partly because it was just so epic!
The first day of our arrival in Brisbane my camera broke (lens jam); the first 3 times it stuffed up it was able to be fixed and I managed to get a few photos. But then sand got in the lens, and that couldn't be gotten rid of. So, that is the reason I'm not putting any up =P


We're starting back at school tomorrow. That means computer time will be even more limited, resulting in, more than likely, no blog posts for the next 4 weeks.

Hope you're all well and have enjoyed the school holidays! Happy Blogging! =D

Make the Yuletide Gay

Did I tell you that I love Christmas? Like a lot.

From tomorrow we are going to be in Tasmania for 2 weeks (we have our grandparents house-sitting while we are away), so this Christmas is very different for us. We have opened a few presents already, but are still having stockings on Christmas morning, and when we get home we will do the other stuff. We didn't make mince pies this year, or host the Annual Axelby Christmas Carols, so it has kind of felt like a very un-traditional Christmas, including missing out on Eggnog. But we are going to do our best in Tassie.

Despite all that, I'm still all Christmased up - in the shopping malls they have Christmas decorations up and music playing, there are people all over the place buying exciting things and that gets me excited.

Michael is loving Christmas too... we are having a little trouble keeping him away from the candy canes on the tree but we're getting there =P Whenever I put him to bed he asks me to sing his favourite Christmas song and recently he has been looking through Christmas recipe books.

Lily has already started guessing (or trying to convince us) what her Christmas presents are and she stays awake rather late at night planning what she will pack in her back-pack, which Mum has already taken care of.

We are driving to Melbourne (8 hr drive, people - let's get excited!) and staying the night before we take the boat to Tassie. For the 2 week holiday we are only able to bring one backpack per person, plus an additional suitcase for the transportable Christmas presents. I have a very certain feeling that the car is going to be a tiny bit squishy....

I gave Jamie and Jordan their Christmas present early, because it would be convenient on the way to Melbourne - it was a new Christmas CD by Relient K. It's my new favourite, and Jamie has convicted me of stealing it - but I haven't really, I just borrow it when I need to... without asking. This is one of the songs off their album: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Today is going to be a bit of a hectic one because we have last minute things to do... I probably won't have much access to Internet in Tassie, but I will try to keep updated =)

Hope you're all having a lovely Holiday!!!!!! =)

"To be or not to be....

....that is the question."

To be or not to be busy, is the actual question. And I have been rather busy.

Lily happens to be turning five soon, so we are throwing a small party for the little woman. As small as parties can possibly be, there still is a great deal of preparation.


We have had very slow Internet. Actually, it is pretty much no Internet because it is so slow. I would have been studying, but because of the slowness the pages expire before they download. The only things that do work are my blog, eBay and Yahoo, surprisingly enough =P

I have been reading a bit of Bronte recently.... I read Anne's book 'The Tennant of Wildfell Hall', which was very good. It was different to other books, especially comparing it to Austen, which I've never actually read. The main hero, Gilbert Markham, was far from perfect which is what I like, because it shows realism. Who in this world is perfect? None that I know of.... so yeah, that's what I like in books.

The other book I am in the process of reading: 'Wuthering Heights', by Emily Bronte. I am only up to chapter two, but so far so good.

* * * * * * *

There is more to my busyness, but it is getting late - 6:20 pm already. Time seems to fly - I am still getting over the fact that it is November. Shocking!

Our House, it has a crowd; there's always something happening....

Just thought I'd do a quick catch up post, to inform you of the latest news =)

1). My cousin's almost-three-month-old baby is being baptised on Sunday and we are going to their church for the occasion and afterwards are having a picnic lunch together.

2). From Thursday to Monday we have Mum's parents staying with us; they are down for Georgia's (my cousin's baby) baptism.

3). Last night Carla and Alistair stayed the night at our home. At lunch time today they left. We had a really enjoyable time catching up with them!

4). Bek teaches our little children their lessons, as you may know, and they are all learning so much! Robert excels at drawing and maths, Dan at reading, and Lily can write, sing her alphabet, and read.

She drew and wrote this ^^

5). Michael is just as mischievous as ever! He is talking a lot more than he used to, but they are mainly words that he really needs to know :P When he doesn't want to go to bed he gasps and says in a small voice "dark".

This picture was taken after he scribbled on the wall and was told off. He sulked in this position for about fifteen minutes.

When they watch "The Wiggles" (which they love!) they are often found in this position.... isn't it cute?

6). At the end of June I am playing my flute at a concert. It will be the first time I have ever performed, and I am so excited! My teacher and I have to discuss what song/s I will play &c. but at this stage, I am playing "The Rose", with her accompanying on the piano. But we have quite a few things to discuss before the concert, so we might find something else for me to play.

7). When I did a photography course in May-June last year I met a girl called Antoinette, who was doing the same course. We chatted whenever possible and Jess spoke to Antoinette's mother a few times. About six months later Mrs. L. sent Mum an email asking whether I would like to catch up with Antoinette and do some scrap-booking and photography; we tried to settle a time to make it work but 6 months after that we still hadn't done it. This Wednesday morning Mum got a call from Mrs. L., who had the news that they were moving out to Wamboin; Mum was very excited and after the call she told us what number they were moving to. We looked it up on Google Earth and were surprised to find found... it is only two doors down from us!! We can't wait till August, which is when they'll be moving in!

These are the most recent happenings in my life.... but tell me, what's been keeping you busy these days?

We're in constant chaos .... and lovin' it!

Life has not been dull around our home.

To begin with: we had a party for Jamie's 14th birthday (see here), and although it was not epic parties still need attending to; you need to decided many things; what style the invites will be, what food to eat, which cake to have, what games to play.... well, I'm sure you've all held a party or two, so you will understand what I mean :)

The Australian Open has been on, and we were quite caught up in it this year. We did not watch every match, but the important ones we did not miss out on! We always enjoy watching it, but this year seemed to be so much more enjoyable.

From the 1st of February we have been back at lessons. Part of my schedule is going for a walk on our property directly after I'm dressed....I think that is my favourite part of the day! The air is so clear and crisp and the sun is only just coming over top of the trees. When I come inside I'm more than ready and eager to start my maths. I have also started practicing my flute scales again, for the first time in many a month. My first lesson with Donna P. starts on Friday; I have been playing a lot so I won't be rusty on my first interview :)

After a long time of not having any new books to read, I have found two which have taken my interest and are being read at the same time. The first one is "Emma" by Jane Austen. Believe it or not, I've never read it before. I started it yesterday afternoon and am up to chapter eight. I love reading it and picturing the faces and scenes from the 2009 movie version (see a survey here). The reason I started that book was because I joined a book club run by a few Christian American girls called "Literary Ladies Discussion Society" (see the side of my blog). Once a month we have to read one book. This month's book was "Emma" and in May we are going to read "Jane Eyre". The other book I am reading at the moment is "War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells.... I like it better than "Emma" so far :)

In early March our friends from Tasmania will be visiting; we haven't seen them since they moved away three years ago and we're all really excited!

Jess, Karli & Anna B. finalised their plans yesterday for their trip to Europe.... yes, it's final! Later on in the year they are going to England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Paris, Singapore, and Dubai (for only three hours but it has a great shopping mall in the airport). Mum has been doing a lot of researching, and I mean a lot! The girls have met up with Anna about six times to talk things over, and they've sent emails back and forth at least fifty times. Fun times!