Sultana?

I recall writing a similar post when a young boy went quiet about 2 years ago, except he was found in the front seat of my car in the garage...

Lucy was quiet, too quiet... James and I had been building with duplo in the family room and then went on a Lucy hunt...

She'd found James' bag and helped herself...

Sultana anyone?

Pleased as punch with her efforts too...

There could be worse things though!

Mum's Group Christmas Party 2010

We have such an awesome Mum's group. Really awesome. None of the competitiveness and ego that Mother's Groups can be notorious for. And it's actually a Family Group of sorts too with us having regular weekend catch ups for Dads as well as those Mums working full time...

Sunday was our annual Christmas party. Our 3rd one. And, unbelievably, 12 of the original 14 members are still meeting regularly.

When the weather looked inclement, we all arrived at Scrambles Indoor Playcentre and played the day away including a visit from Santa Pete (one of the Dads) carrying a sack full of Kris Kringle presents for the kids.

Like all Santas, Pete was met with strong reactions. Some loved him, the majority didn't. But all the parents did so thanks Pete!!!

Some of the group with Santa Pete. I'm in the bottom right with James and his friend Ruby on my lap. Lucy is in the middle in hot pink slightly behind Austin in the green and white stripes...



We forgot our camera (just for something different) but were lucky that Trish snapped a couple of the Tinkler mob...

And, although this last image was to show off Jameson in his elfy outfit, I had to include it to show what tricks Lucy is getting up to at the tender age of 9 and a half months!!!!!

AGGA-do

I'll explain the AGGA-do bit in a minute.

Background:
In the olden days, when I still lived in Tassie, and was growing up, finding my feet and finding my friends, I lucked upon 2 of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Angela Brereton and Sarah Bain. Since then, our last names have changed (3 lucky men), our lifestyles have changed (lucky for us and our livers) and bodies have changed (not so lucky but beautiful kids as a result), but one thing has not changed and that is how much we love being friends. And even though we've thrown challenges out there like geography, and the hectic run of family life, we still maintain regular contact and haven't gone longer that 18months without seeing each other since I left Tassie at the start of 2000.

So this year, Bainy and Ange threw the idea out about coming over to our home town, to see our new house and new Lucy, and to see James, Matt and I on our home turf.

It happened! And November 19th was the date!!!!

We packed so much into a long weekend. Rutherglen Wineries, Milawa Wineries and Cheese Factory, The Spa at Beechworth for a Girls Get Together Day spa treatment, and a tourist drive of the surrounds...

I've stolen these photos from Bainy and Ange's blogs and they are in no particular order. Actually, they'll confuse the life out of you but I can't be bothered fixing them up and putting them in order. I was true to form and didn't pull my camera out all weekend - only took a couple of snaps on my phone and you can barely see them!


An artistic shot from Bainy at Brown Brothers winery...




My boys and I after we got back from the Day Spa (note the greasy hair and relaxed Jane!)

My girls... Ange on the left and Bainy in the middle... Bainy is known to most as Sarah but I'm so used to her being Bainy that I struggle to remember to use Sarah. James also calls her Bainy but got a bit confused as we waited out the front of our place for them to arrive on Friday afternoon and said "Mum, where's Boony?" Good to see he has an appreciation for Australian Cricketers though I guess.

And that's it... Brilliant photos (thanks girls) and a brilliant weekend.

So AGGA-do is what I've decided the weekend should be called. It was our inaugural Annual Girls Get Away-Do. So next year is my turn to go solo to Tassie for sometime with the Carmichael and Pidgeon kids without wrangling my own and to indulge in some time with my girls again.

Thanks so much Ange and Bainy for making a huge effort (both physically and financially) and to your lovely husbands and children for donating you to the cause for the weekend. I'm still on a high...

Pharmacy Photos - 9 months