7 woo hoo who thought I'd make it!

Well I hope you all had a great Christmas and have recovered ready for the new years eve parties.
Lets start my blog by saying I'm still married and just before Christmas I was considering divorce, which happens every year at Christmas time with help from the monster in laws. Families are funny things, some are supportive and some are not and some are a bit of both, I guess all families are dysfunctional just how much and at what time varies.
Leading up to Christmas was the usual frantic running around shopping and partying, more so with only one car, but I got it done! My work Christmas party was nice and calm with laughs and good food. JH's on the other hand is always interesting! He works for a small family company where family is a loose term. The bitching and fighting is something to see, I think once a year is only time they manage to be together without coming to blows or insults. I think it depends where you sit on the table as to what comments you hear. It was at Mounties and was nice for us and the kids.
My sister came down from Port for Christmas this year. I haven't had Christmas with her for at least 5 years, so I was just over the moon.They arrived late Christmas eve. Christmas day started at 5am when Marcus' alarm went off. Mental note to self turn of kids alarm clocks next year. The kids had a great morning. When we were growing up and had Christmas lunch at Nanna's house we had to have lunch and clean up afterwards before we were allowed to open presents. It used to nearly kill us. So what do we do the same thing to our kids, mean mean mean.
My brother is the model for total disorganisation, always late and you only ask him to bring things he can buy on the way at the servo, He has got slightly better now he is older and married. So my sister started a book on what time they would turn up. 50cents to enter, half hour time increments, with 15 min either side buffer zones. after the 2 hour time period it went to 5 min intervals. Bro rang at 11am to tell us he was on his way, a 2hour drive. He arrived at 2pm (I won the $2 pot) with only one of his 4 kids, the others at ex partners houses. This was extremely disappointing, Christmas is for kids and not to see them open their presents was a blow. Let alone not ringing to let us know just how late they were going to be, the kids were starving and getting ratty. Then the presents, woo hoo what a score. We did presents first this year. My Dad & Step Mum were extremely generous, I had to get up the next morning and check they were still there and real, a digital video camera and a tom tom. The presents we buy each other are always something to get a great laugh. We have a warped sense of humor and the presents we buy each other reflect that. My sister and I both got the same thing for each other and our brother a pencil sharpener in a nose, a big nose joke that never gets old in our family. The kids were beside themselves with their hauls. Now the task of finding homes for the new toys and getting rid of all the rubbish. Then Jon took the kids to his mum's for dinner and the Christmas with his family. I told him I wasn't going, I don't think he believed me until the last minute. His family Christmas is not fun for me and sometimes JH as well, so when my sister can make the effort to be here for Christmas I was going to make the most of it. JH scummed to the manipulations that his family do so well, much to my disgust. I know that's not fair for him not see his family at Christmas, but the balance is never fair and I'm sick of it. Oh well its done now for another year, thank goodness. Must say am looking forward to some upcoming parties as is JH, good friends, good food and lots of laughs. No firm New Years eve plans as yet, we usually can't stay up. Now the fun of the sales, are the bargains real? Is it worth the crowds? Is it worth the parking fun?
Well I hope you enjoyed the day and the relaxing afterwards. Hope you have a great night New Years eve, don't forget next year will be a pearler and full of interesting options, rewards, and fun.
Love you all
DonnaJ

6!! One more than 5!

Well what a weekend. Started Friday morning, I'm in the shower, which is where I do my best thinking, planning and plotting!! M1 runs in and yells "your phone's ringing" so I answer " well answer it". So M1 returns a few moments later to tell me "Dad wants you to ring him on the mobile". So I ring him right away, only to discover he has had a car accident. He is so sexy a young p plater wanted to be in his space. The poor kid didn't see him and changed lanes, damaging the drivers side and pushing hubby into the gutter. Hubby said there was a telegraph pole fast approaching also wanting to be in his space, but that was avoided. Hubby came home to change cars because his one didn't want to play anymore that day and wasn't steering in the appropriate manner. So as you can imagine that just changed the day 360 deg. Well not to blow my own horn, but the car was down at the smash repairers with the claim lodged by 11am. Of course the assessor can't get there until Tuesday, so despite my best efforts the car most likely won't be repaired until after Christmas. What a pain, one car and now we're doing the shuffle and postpone dance. The smash repairer did say they may get the mechanical stuff done before Xmas so we may have the car over the holidays, cross everything you have for me.
Saturday not to bad, did some shopping at Macarthur Square so not stressing quiet so much. Does anyone know where to get cheap one way tickets for my mother in law?
Every year its the best fun finding something just stupid enough for my sister and brother. I found it on Saturday. Can't wait to see them open it. Found a great pressie for the hubby, can't tell you he is reading this now. Saturday night was not fun, hubby woke up at some ungodly hour and had a chat to God. If he had been drinking it would have been expected but he was sober. Anyway being the great, wonderful wife that I am I let him sleep in after getting up to him during the night. So When he still hadn't surfaced by 10.30am Sunday I texted his brothers to let them know he wouldn't be attending the boys lunch today. Hubby got up 15 min later and said he would go but not drink? Well I told him you better let them know because I already declined for you on the grounds of health. Anyway off they went a midday and hubby rocked in at 6pm. He was amused at his brothers, they were worse for wear, while he only had coke.
(is that any better for your after a night on the vom wagon than beer?) anyway he had a small win with his brothers on the horses, so its not all bad.

Anyway finally got the Christmas tree up tonight. J2 Was having a great time, tinsel around him like a feather boa yelling "I'm sexy" and then a tinsel roll on his head yelling " I the queen". What can you do? The cat took about 10 min to go up the tree as the picture attached shows. Well the chaos starts now.
Trying to get ready for the week ahead, only 4 more days at school. Yeah Yeah Yeah.
Hey Rell, read your blog, 36 things today & 37 tomorrow?? Again Ha Ha Ha older than me. You are a stirrer. So how was dinner on Friday night?
DonnaJ

No 5 Hubby's fav no.

Well I re booked the dentist now in March - who can come hold my hand?
The weekend was a full on event. Friday night was the school Christmas concert, which considering the two mental giants running the school went really well. Narelle won a truly unique raffle prize. The neighbours all partied afterward and had a really great night full of laughs and friends.
I was mega stressed Friday trying to get a report ready for the BMX AGM / Christmas party. The computer was not being cooperative, but I finished it Sat morning just in time. Then of to BMX to set up. We had a great day, ending in a monster water fight. Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was a great end to the BMX year. Then I came home to a much needed medicinal drink.
Sunday saw us do some Christmas shopping and then off to the Carols at the Catholic Club. We have never been to the carols before, but BMX being a part of the catholic club had a stall selling nearly 120kg of watermelon all cut up. So another late night, with J2 & I getting stuck in the car park afterwards. The parking was a nightmare, and the wonderful christian attitude from the event was something to be seen & heard trying to get out of the car park. If everyone had just a touch of consideration, patience and courtesy it would have been so much easier for all, but what can you do? I sure learnt some interesting new swear word combinations. J2 & I sat in the car for 20mins just watching the chaos unfold.
Meanwhile our fridge decided that it was time to see our super wonderful fridge mechanic Roy. It stopped working Saturday arvo. So on Monday I had M1 home from school sick and Roy popped in to look at the fridge. Roy is the man if you need someone to look at your white goods, can't recommend him enough. Roy fixed it all up, and told me to start putting $10 a week away to finance the new fridge in the future as this one is a lemon, having been to fix it 3 times for really weird things. Like he said sometimes you just have to look at the situation and know it just isn't going to happen for you, don't fight it, just accept it and move on. Great advice for life. Doesn't help that the fridge is only 4 years old and has been looked at 5 times. Anyway thanks to Roy it cost us so much less than we were expecting. Thank goodness the bin went out today, it was full of freezer & fridge victims. So off to the shop today to start the restocking process.
S3 went to a party yesterday for his friend Thomas. It was at the Wiggles Play Centre at Seven Hills, which is really set up well. S3 had a great time playing. Might even get the tree up tonight, you never know your luck in the big city. It's getting harder to get everyone (me included) up and going in the mornings, only one more week - Yeah!!

Happy Birthday to Danielle for Monday, ha ha older than me.
Rell, give Michelle our love, hope she's ok. Hope your ok, keep your head up, not much longer to go for the year.
Remember you don't have to go home but you can't stay here. ??

Donna.

No 4, My fav number.

Well hello there!
VIC was great fun. But first the dentist was cancelled, I should have known, it was one of those appointments that you know was never going to end well, I had the wrong dates on my calender and then the phone call confirming the appointment never happened. Dot the wonderful dentist assistant never rang, so I rang her and the message I left weeks earlier confirming the appointment never reached her ears. What can you do? It was all for the best, I nearly rang some of the mums from school to come and give me the support/help I need at the dentist. At least this time I didn't need to go to the doctor first to get Valium for the dentist. Taking kids to the dentist does wonders for your brave front.

VIC titles were HUGE!! People from nearly every state were there, the competition was wonderful. I am the proudest Mum ever. My boys were amazing and raced their hearts out. They have never had that level of competition ever, and they rose to the occasion. 1M finished 11th out of 44 riders. He did so well. 2J finished equal 20th and after count back finished 22nd out of 36 riders. They both rode hard and fair and you can't ask for more than that. I tear up with pride, love and wonder writing this.
Our club did well with every rider (bar the one that broke his collar bone) finishing semi finals or better. We had great runs there and back and saw the dog on the tucker box, ettamoga pub and the big marino. Lodging was nothing to write home about but we had a great time together. The only draw back was getting up Monday morning feeling less than ordinary and chatting to God on the phone. HJ said he didn't feel great too, so maybe we got the latest bug. 1M also had his fingers shut in the car door on the way home by 3S, I don't know why I say anything about shutting doors to children.

The kids were just beside themselves about going late to school tomorrow due to teacher disputes (who can blame them), when I told them they would wake up to some of their friends being over to go school later. Alarms were reset so fast your head nearly came off. Will put up the Christmas tree tomorrow night with hubby home. God Help Us he needs to go up in the roof again to get the decorations down.

Just a special note to let my friends know that I love them very much and their support is so wonderfully appreciated. Without your friends life would be so much harder, supporting each other is our most important job, together we stand yarda yarda yarda. Knowing your friends love, support and rally around you is the most wonderful knowledge you can have. Always remember your not alone, you have us!! We will always come running with support and chocolate and alcohol.

How soppy, Love you all.

DonnaJ