The last few weeks have been very busy! Getting ready for Christmas driving the 10 hour drive to my Dad's, having Christmas, catching up with people, and then a 3 day camping trip on the way home and then back home again. Sometimes I think you need a holiday to recover from a holiday!

So we drove down to my Dad's house 3 days before Christmas. The girls were really good on the car ride down, I was really surprised! Annabel tends to get car sick so this time I gave her a car sick pill and it worked a charm! Not only that it made her tired so she did a lot of sleeping. We left at 1pm so Amelia was also ready for her nap so both of them slept for a good chunk of the way down. It was great!

We arrived late that night, but Annabel was awake and ready to play. She was so excited to see my Dad and wanted to sleep in his bed with him. I let her sit in there for awhile with him, which turned into and hour and half of talking. I dont know who was worse, Annabel or my Dad! He was just as excited to see her as she was. So eventually we all went to sleep, only to wake up bright and early and excited.

The few days before Christmas we decorated the house and it was very exciting. It was also sad knowing that Mum wasn't there, but we kept it happy for the girls. Before we came down Annabel really wanted to sit on Santa's knee and have her photo taken. It surprised me because she was always so scared of Santa. But we lined up for 20mins and both girls sat there and had there photo taken. Annabel was so excited about Santa coming it was really cute.

Sun shower

Playing in the rain!

This is my third post of the day! I haven't done much blogging over the past few months, I feel like I need to catch up, or at least get on top of what we have been doing over the last week. I always enjoy blogging so its great to be back in the swing of it again!

This past weekend we just stayed around the house. It was too hot to do anything. I mean we could have gone into the city and gone swimming or down to the Gold coast to the beach, but we couldn't be bothered spending more than 15 mins in the car, sounds lazy I know. So we just sat around in the air conditioning and the girls did some craft. Annabel is a craftaholic these days! Its all she wants to do. Its great though, it just make a mess, buts thats ok.

Yesterday we had a storm and a sun shower so because it has been so hot we all went outside and played in the rain, it was great! We got drenched but it was so nice to seem some rain. It hasn't rained properly for weeks and all our grass was turning brown. So Adam ran around with the girls and they had a blast.

Mile stones

So Amelia has a reached another mile stone - she is toilet trained! Yay! Well, she still has the occasional accident, but for the most part she is doing really well! She loves sitting on the potty and is so proud of herself. Bribery has also been a great incentive! Chocolate smarites work a charm! Annabel loves to encourage Amelia as well, as she also gets a smartie if Amelia uses the potty.

But it seems while Amelia is now toilet trained, she feels that she needs to reach yet another mile stone, that being "the terrible two's" and all the tantrums and screaming episodes that go along with it. I mean she had always been capable of throwing a fit in the past, but these days there occurances seem to be much more frequent, louder and longer and more irritating! I try to ignore her, put her in her room and all of that, but it just drives me up the wall. I have had a headache for the past 3 days and I am sure she is a greatly contributing to the tension in my neck and shoulders!

Annabel on the other hand seems to have settled down alot. She doesn't seems to get so worked up about things and is alot calmer and seems to listen more. She still snatches things off Amelia, but is quick to apologise and hand whatever it is back. The girls do play well together though, and Adam and I just love to watch them play their little games.

Amelia has been saying so many things lately. When I have the hose on outside she always quick to tell me " Dont you wet me Mummy!" or if I happen to be sitting in her seat she will say "thats my seat Mummy!". She loves wearing thongs (flip flops) and is always asking me "Mummy, wears my foms?". She chats away all the time, simetimes I have no idea what she asking me for and she gets really frustrated, and that often leads to a tantrum. I guess I would be frustrated if nobody knew what I was trying to say! Needless to say, the tantrums make me what to jump around and scream to!

Christmas Party!

On Friday afternoon we had Annabel's preschool (or daycare) Christmas party. She was so excited about it all week! It was a fun afternoon for all the kids. They had face painting, plaster painting, singing, a sausage sizzle and Santa came and gave all the kids a present. Annabel was a bit nervous before Santa's arrival, she still isn't sure about him, she just likes the presesnts he brings! Amelia had a great time with all the kids. She just loves Annabel's preschool. Everytime I drop Annabel off or pick her up Amelia just wants to stay. I end up having to drag her out kicking and screaming! I just keep telling her that it wont be long til you can go there! I am thinking of putting her in 2 days a week in May after all our visitors have been. She will love it, and so will I!

The girls plaster painting

Lining up for face painting

Amelia enjoying a sausage sandwhich

Face painting!

Waiting for Santa. Annabel's not sure if she's

excited or scared!

Santa's not so bad after all, he gave me a book!

But I still dont want to sit on his lap and get a

photo!

The past few weeks has been a bit of a roller coaster ride but we are settling in quite well. We are back to doing all the normal things, the girls are happy to be home and Annabel has loved being back at preschool and so do I! We've been keeping busy getting ready for Christmas - I cant believe it is only 2 1/2 weeks away! Annabel is really excited has been asking everyday if its Christmas yet. A couple of weeks ago we had a our own little Thanksgiving. The girls did some Thanksgiving crafts which they loved and have been wanting to do crafts everyday. They just love it and it keeps them busy, even though they make a huge mess! Lately they have been making their own Christmas decorations. Our Christmas tree is adorned with beautiful handmade childrens crafts! The girls just love looking at the tree and are so proud that they decorated it. I think that will be a tradition of ours every year, making our own Christmas decorations.

The weather has been really hot here. We've been busy trying to erect a big shade cloth over our back yard so the girls can actually play outside during the day. It is to hot otherwise. We also got the girls a trampoline as an early Christmas present. They love it! Amelia is still a bit cautious and just bounces on her knees near the edge. Annabel jumps around and tries to do all kinds of tricks. The day after we got it, though, she managed to sprain her ankle! I took her to the hospital and sat there for 2 1/2 hours (the nurses and doctors were great though!) and she had xrays and so on. One of the doctors wanted to put her leg in plaster just in case there was small bone breakages, but thankfully they decided against it and Annabel just wore a compression sock - phew! Could you imagine a 3 year old in plaster in this hot, hot weather?! No thanks! So anyways we left the hospital and came home. Before we left though Annabel could bare to walk, but as soon as we got home she ran out to the backyard and proceeded to jump on the trampoline!!!! I couldn't believe it! The little monkey! Needless to say I pulled her straight off and made her sit inside quietly for awhile. I didn't spend half my morning at the hospital for nothing!

So we are settling in quite well. I still have my moments often, and its hard to think that Mum is really gone. But one day at a time. No pressure. The girls sure keep me busy though! We are have a lot to look forward to over the next few months. First Christmas back with my family, then camping with my sister and her family, then in January we have friends from the US, Jeff and Leah, coming over, then Adam's parents and his brother Andy and sister Amye and boyfriend Tyler coming over for 2-3 weeks in February, and then in April our other good friends, Andrew and Emily and their little one Isabel are coming over! Lots of great people to see! I cant wait!

The girls hanging out with Adam in the hammock

Amelia's just a little to scared to stand or go anywhere

near the middle of the trampoline

Annabel has no fear!

The beautiful Christmas tree!

My beautiful Mum....

On November 4th, 2009 my beautiful Mum slipped away so peacefully and went home to Jesus. Her 2 and half year battle with ovarian cancer over, and she is finally free and sick no more.

It has been a hard couple of months but it has certainly been something that I will never forget. It was so wonderful to be able to spend Mum's last few months with her and then in her last month I was able to care for her at home. In all her time of being sick she didn't complain once. She was very ready to go though, and I have a real peace knowing that she was ready. Everything that was needed to be said was said. Even in all her sickness Mum was still able to joke with us. She would joke about dying and many other things, and it was great because it was so nice to laugh with her and know that everything was going to be ok even though Mum was leaving us.

Her funeral was beautiful. There were over 500 people who attended. Mum was able to request what she wanted, but most importantly she wanted it to be simple without much fuss. That was my practical Mum. She asked me to play Amazing Grace and Pachabel's Canon on my violin at the Church and I did. I actually surprised myself because I thought I would have fallen apart but I didn't. I had so many people praying for me that my hands didn't even shake and I was able to play with full confidence. The day was perfect, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and Mum's wake was also a wonderful celebration. We all had a champagne for her which is what she told us to do.
Annabel has had a lot of questions, and doesn't know why Margie cant come back from heaven. After Mum passed Annabel was really upset and cried for awhile. But like all kids, they are easily distracted so she enjoyed a lot of chocolate on these occasions. Amelia doesn't know what is going on, but after Mum passed when they took her away, Amelia stood there and waved to Mum saying "Bye, bye". It was very sweet and heart breaking at the same time.

So we are back in Brisbane after 10 weeks back home, and we are slowly getting back into the swing of things. Mum really wanted us to do our best to get on with things, she always told us that everything would be alright. I have my moments but I think I am doing a lot better than I thought I would. It will be 2 weeks tomorrow since Mum passed so I guess it hasn't been all that long, but the nurses always told us that looking after Mum in her last days will help us with the grieving process and I think it has. I was more upset in Mum's final days, and I am glad that she isn't suffering anymore. But its the little things that get me, just the fact that I cant pick up the phone and ring Mum, or if I have a silly question to ask, or if my girls are driving me up the wall and I need Mum to laugh at the situation with me. But I do know that she would be laughing with me, and I can still hear her saying "You'll be alright Em. Everything will be alright". God Bless my beautiful Mum! She was and still is the best Mum I could have ever asked for.

Love you forever and ever Mum......

God's Garden

God looked around his garden

And He found an empty place.

And then He looked down upon the earth,

And saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you,

And lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful,

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering,

He knew you were in pain,

He knew that you would never

Get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough,

And the hills were hard to climb,

So He closed your weary eyelids,

And whispered"Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you.

But you didn't go alone,

For part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.

~author unknown~

It has been nearly 6 weeks since we have been here at my parents. It has been a very eventful and emotional time for all of us. I haven't really had a chance to write anything lately, nor have I even known what to say. Im still trying to get my head around everything that is happening and still try to do all the "normal" things in life that you still have to do and be sensible and practical. My Mum is always practical and just take things as they come. She is truly amazing.

The fact is is that my Mum is going to heaven soon. Any day now. She is at home with us now which is so lovely. She was in hospital for nearly 7 weeks, but came home last Thursday to be with us.

I love my Mum so much and I am still struggling to come to terms with what is really happening. There are 7 children in our family and we are all a great support to each other which is really comforting.

My girls have been pretty good. I just love how kids are so honest and how they can bring a smile to your face even when things feel like crap. Annabel said to me the other day. "Mummy, heaven is where the sun shines". It was so sweet. She comforts me when Im sad saying "Mummy, dont worry, everything will be alright". The other day I asked her what she was going to tell my Mum. She whispered in my ear "Jesus loves you". I thought that was really sweet so I asked her what else she was going to say, and she whispered in my ear again "Its in God's book". Then she looked me straight in the eye and then just ran off and played. I couldn't believe it when she said that. Ever since my Mum got sick 2 and half years ago, I have always thought of Psalm 139 and how it says that all our days were written in God's book before one of them came to be. I wrote it out in a card to my Mum. I hadn't told Annabel, as I thought she is to little to understand. But when she said that it just blew me away. How did she know? And how did she know that we needed to come down to see my Mum before her health was critical? Its a God thing.

All these little things help me to know that God is in control. But I still feel like crap because I still need my Mum. She has always been there. I speak to her twice a day on the phone when Im not with her. I would fly down every 6-8 weeks to see her. She has just always been there and it is so hard to think that soon she wont be. But I guess God knows that it will be ok. I guess its God that I need. But I am sick of guessing. He can work it all out for me.

So all that said I think I might go to bed. I am so tired, but one thing that I am thankful for is that Adam is here with us. His boss let him come down here 3 weeks ago and work out of the offices down here for the time being. What an awesome boss.

I love my Mum. I just love her so very much......