Lightening Online

Wishing you all a VERY Merry Christmas.

Relax and enjoy the day. Perfection is a myth (and highly over-rated).

Make sure you tell your loved ones how much they mean to you.

Do the bits that are meaningful to you and don’t be afraid not to do the things that aren’t.

Hope this makes you smile:

Don’t you hate it when you write half a post then come back the next day and it’s no longer there????

Oh well, let’s try again….

Every year our Christmas Day tends to look a little different.  Some years we spend it with extended family and occasionally we spend it with just our immediate family.

This year we’re doing a bit of both.

We’re having lunch at home with just the immediate family and then heading down to the family shack (near the beach) in the afternoon where we’ll have tea with Farmboys parents and 1 of his sisters and her family.  We’ll then spend almost a week there (the other sister is due to arrive a couple of days after Christmas).  I’m sure it’ll be bedlam down there but lots of fun.

Christmas morning we love to attend church.  This means that the kids often have time to look in their stockings but not unwrap many presents.  Our church is about 40 minutes drive away and with a 9am service, it’s a reasonably early start.  It is wonderful to see our church family on Christmas morning though and focus on the true reason for the season.

We’ll then come home and open gifts (and eat lots of nibblies so we’re too full for lunch!  LOL).

I haven’t decided what we’re having for lunch yet.  I like a hot meal but the kids prefer salads to vegies.  I’m contemplating a mixture of both.  Why not?

We’re planning to eat out on our new back decking.  Farmboy has been busy putting up the roofing these past couple of days (updated photo’s soon) and we splurged on an outdoor setting (just a cheap one though).

At some point after lunch we’ll clean up, pack up and head down to the shack.

I’ve suggested we keep things really simple for the evening meal.  Generally people just feel like picking so we’re planning to have anti-pasto platters, cheese, dip biscuits and some fruit.  Simple stuff to prepare and we can just graze the night away. 

I’m not one to want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen on Christmas Day.  Even with having a mix of salad and vegies it won’t be a lot of work.  Just a few simple things.

I do like to make a few goodies in the lead up to Christmas but they are mostly used as gifts for those in the extended family we don’t actually “buy” for.

All in all, it should be a lovely relaxing day spent with family.  I’m really looking forward to it. (and now I had better go and do some wrapping - still plenty of that to do before the day arrives - luckily I LOVE it!!!!  ).

Remember a little while ago I hinted that I was getting something pink for Christmas?

Well, our Christmas has come a little early this year so now I can show you.

Do you know how long it is since I’ve owned a bike?

Hang on a minute while I work it out……

I was 12 and now I’m …..

……

……

I’ve run out of fingers but let’s just say it’s been a while.

I gave up riding due to 3 catastrophic events:

1.  We moved to Melbourne from Port Pirie and Melbourne has WAY more cars!!!!

2.  I tried to ride it down our street (at our new place) which had a HUGE hill and stacked it first time!!!

3.  They brought in a new law saying you HAD to wear a helmet.

Truth be told, number 3 was the major deciding factor.  I mean, what self respecting, almost 13 year old wants to be seen dead in a helmet????  Different these days - it’s more “normal” now.

It even saves me having to do my hair properly before I ride to the shop.

Only then you have to wear your helmet in the shop so no-one can see how bad your hair looks!!!!

ROFLOL.

Anyway, Farmboy has been trying to convince me for years now that we should buy one another bikes.

I keep putting him off.

Until we went to the Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo on our big trip and hired bikes to ride around on.

And I HAD A BALL!!!!

So, this year we bought each other bikes for Christmas.

And no, you haven’t missed Christmas.

Because we’re having a short break at his parents shack now, we decided to get them early.

We’ve gone for a ride every day that we’ve been here so far.

The kids are loving it!

And because all the holiday makers haven’t moved in yet, it’s been nice and quiet traffic wise.

There has been one little problem….

Given it’s been a while since I’ve ridden a bike….

Can anyone say saddle sore????  ROFLOL.

Over the past few days my blog reader has been filling up with posts about how stressed people are about how quickly Christmas is coming.  Or commenting on how they just aren’t getting into the “spirit” this year.  There’s even been a number with the word “humbug” in the title.

I know how they feel.  I’ve been there.  There’s every likelihood I’ll go there again.

Commercialism and perfectionism is squeezing the life out of Christmas.

I was discussing Christmas with my sister in law this past week.  A few years back I said we weren’t buying adult gifts for the siblings anymore.  She made a comment on how it does get expensive.  The thing for us wasn’t the money.  It was the stress of finding something that wasn’t a total waste of everybody’s time and money.  Finding the perfect gifts for everyone was completely STRESSING me out.

It was such a relief to have that burden lifted.

It was around that time that we decided we were going to SIMPLIFY CHRISTMAS.

I now don’t do anything “Christmassy” unless I feel like it.

Fortunately I generally LOVE Christmas and LOVE buying gifts so of course, that helps.

Some years we decorate the whole house.  Some years we don’t.

As long as we do Santa and the Tree, the kids are generally happy.

Some years we do Christmas craft and cooking.  Some years we don’t.

Some years we have more elaborate Christmas fare.  And some years we keep it really simple.

I remember 1 year we went away in the camper trailer for Christmas.  It was the first Christmas after my breakdown and I wasn’t ready to be around people yet.  Money was tight that year so we kept everything VERY simple.  I made a couple of basic salads before we left and cooked a turkey and bought some shaved ham.  All I did Christmas Day was cut up some basic salad items (tomato, cucumber, lettuce).  Dessert was a bought cheesecake.

It was the least effort I had EVER put into Christmas that year and do you know what????

It was AWESOME!!!!

It still ranks up there as one of the BEST Christmasses we have ever had.

So if you’re struggling to get into the “spirit” or feel like you’re just not going to achieve everything before the big day gets here, cut yourself some slack!!!!

There was nothing commercial or stressed about the very first Christmas (okay, maybe a little stress over the inn being full and of course, the labour!!!!  ).

Why do we let media and peer pressure force us into doing what we don’t want to do?

I don’t believe that means we lack the Christmas spirit.  Could be it’s quite the opposite in fact.

Dare to be different (if that’s what makes you happy).

Carve your own way this Christmas.

Focus on peace, joy, thankfulness, family and friends this Christmas.

The rest is all simply “trimming”.

Yesterday Farmboy and I took off to do some Christmas Shopping.  The closest regional centre is a little over an hour and a half away (in either direction) and with harvest coming up on us so quickly, we hadn’t had a chance to do much Christmas shopping.

The kids finish school next week (and it’s a busy week too) so we decided it best to hurry up and go while we still could.

We had a lovely day out together which included a nice “date lunch” at the marina.

As a bonus, I got to see my niece and nephew who we haven’t seen since the June long weekend (due to being away on our trip and then a series of illnesses that have kept us from going for a visit).  My niece has gone from a newborn to a 6-month old.  I got to have a lovely cuddle!!!! 

The shopping expedition was quite successful.  Farmboy and I found what we had decided to buy each other for Christmas.  And they were cheaper than we were expecting to pay (probably not the highest quality BUT this way we can see how much we use them and if they don’t last due to lots of use, can buy better next time).

I’m going to keep you guessing on what they are but mine is pink!!!!  (Farmboys isn’t ROFLOL).

I had to concede defeat and purchase Singstar Princesses hearts desire without getting a bargain.  Only 1 store had them and while they were supposedly on “special”, the special price was full price at other stores.  It was either pay that price or risk not being able to get it.

Next step will be to get everything out and work out exactly where I’m up to.  I know I need 1 thing for Trailer Boy and a beach towel for Singstar Princess (hers got damaged while we were away).

I still have extended family gifts to buy but I knew I could do those when the kids are with us in just over a weeks time (I have an appointment so knew we would be back).

We did buy 1 impulse purchase.  That happens to me most years.  We have everything worked out and then add on another little gift.  It’s something the whole family will enjoy though. 

I just CAN’T WAIT until Christmas now.  It’s my favourite time of the year!!!! 

How is your Christmas shopping going?  Is it making you smile or making you frustrated????

What a pity I know Father Christmas won’t be bringing me one.

I wonder if I sat on his knee whether he would???? 

BUT, all is not lost because I’ve decided to do the unthinkable!!!!

I’m going to steal save up for one.

That’s my new savings challenge.

This could be a bit more challenging than my last one though.

This time I can’t use savings from our regular budget (because it’s for me and not the family).  This time the money has to come from other sources.

Things like:

* survey payments

* pocket money

* gift money

* blogging revenue

* ebay sales (maybe - if I ever get around to actually selling something)

* any other weird and wacky ideas I can come up with to generate a few dollars (within reason of course ROFLOL).

Goal Amount: $2000

That’s pretty high for a laptop I know but I’d like to get something reasonably decent that I can edit video footage and stuff on.

This is only an approximate amount.  I really need to do some more research and work out what I really want before I know the exact cost.

Starting Amount: $50

Amount Still Needed: $1950

I expect it’s going to take me a little while so I won’t update you (and bore you) too often.

Fortunately I have 2 laptops to use in the meantime.  I just don’t have any with working CD-Rom drives - hence the justification for buying a new one. 

What are you dreaming of this Christmas?

We received a catalogue in our mailbox recently that had me scratching my head and laughing at the same time.

I mean, who buys this stuff????

A Nose Shower Gel Dispenser?  Complete with green gel!!!!  Ewwww……

After Dinner Arguments - because divorce rates are so healthy we all need a little “kick along” to end our marriages????  I mean, who needs help in the argument department???  Sounds like fun…NOT!!! 

Apparently “Best served after all throwable objects have been removed from the table….”

Or buy this for your wife (and you’ll not NEED the above game!!!!):

Perhaps you could buy her this as well (although you’d also have to read AND apply for it to work…):

I wouldn’t buy it for your husband though.  Might not go down too well.

And what’s the go with this????

Is nobody spontaneous anymore???? 

Here’s a hint fellas, try vacuuming the floor and see what happens.  You aint gonna need no date planner.  There’s nothing more sexy than a guy cleaning, believe me!!!! 

Okay, this one actually is kinda funny…

As long as you give it to somebody that doesn’t live with you!!!

The nuclear doorbell.  It carry’s on with sirens and all sorts when you ring the doorbell.

But this one is nasty!!!

Merry Christmas, here’s a chocolate bar you can’t actually EAT!!!

It’s a chocolate bar mouse.

Way to tease a girl!!!

Well, someone obviously buys this stuff or why would they make it?

So tell me, what’s the weirdest Christmas gift you’ve ever received?

My sister in law is due to have twins very soon.

When I saw these in our local post office, I just could not resist:

Cute aren’t they? 

Our Christmas season has once again kicked off this year with the Credit Union Christmas Pageant (on TV) followed by placing our own Santa in the front paddock. 

Each year it seems to get harder and harder trying to decide how we are going to present Santa.

However, this year we had plenty of material to choose from.  We wanted to represent something from our “big trip”.

On Saturday we got busy and began making some props to go with our chosen scene:

It’s been a while since we have had any paints out, so the kids thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to do some painting:

It was the perfect way to spend a hot day:

It was also a great refresher of some of what we learnt while on our trip.

Today, it was time for the assembling. Santa and the kids were loaded on the back of the ute:

And….

Ta Da…..

Can you tell where he is????

The kids re-enact some of their Great Barrier Reef swimming:

You can’t see their fish very well but they did an amazing job of replicating the shapes and colours of the fish we saw in Northern Queensland.

We had a lot of fun putting this together.  Wonder how many people going past will guess where he’s meant to be?

If you’ve missed our Santa’s from the past:

2008 Santa Up a Gum Tree

2007 Santa Kicking Back Relaxing with a Cold Drink

2006  Santa In The Old Firetruck

2005 On an old bull-dog tractor (no blog post for this one)

Wonder where Santa will be next year?

I know some of you will cringe at the mention of the word “Christmas”.

I’m one of those “pro” Christmas, get all excited, kind of people.

Usually.

And I’m sure I will again this year….eventually.

It’s not uncommon for me to have already planned most of what the kids will be getting as early as BEFORE the Christmas before.

Of course, as they get older, it becomes harder to choose what I want to give them.  They have definite ideas of their own.  Well, some of my kids do.

Anyway, this year with the big trip, I really haven’t given Christmas too much thought yet.

You might think I have plenty of time but we have a couple of challenges out here when it comes to Christmas shopping and preparation:

1.  We don’t live near shops so if I want something specific, I need to plan early in order to give myself a chance to actually find it.

2.  Harvest is a flat out time of year and often clashes with the lead up to Christmas.  In the last few years, we’ve been busy in November and not so busy in December.  This year it looks like being a busy December.  The thing is, it’s an unknown and there are never any guarantees that once harvest starts, you’ll have time or opportunity for much Christmas shopping before Christmas.

So, yesterday I went with Farmboy to a town that isn’t our local town (not that much further away but in the opposite direction).  I was browsing around the shops while he went to an appointment and I bought a present for Singstar Princess!!!!

That means I can officially say I’ve started my Christmas shopping!!!!  LOL.

It’s so unlike me to see something and just grab it on the spot too.  Usually I like to look around, compare prices, think about it.

This time I just went, yep, she’ll love that.

And I’m kind of glad I did because the more I think about it, the more I think she’ll enjoy it.

Now to work out what we’re doing about the rest of Christmas.

It does feel strange to not really have made too many plans or purchases yet.

What about you?  Are you in the “mega organised” category or the “haven’t even started yet” category.  Or maybe somewhere in between?  Do you use a set formula or vary what you do from year to year?