Christmas 2011 was a busy one for the Hough’s. Celebrations started the night before with Christmas Eve at Jenna & Michael’s new abode which they moved into only a few days before. A gorgeous, big, kid & entertaining friendly home which I’m sure will be the setting for many happy times together. A warm night with the 5 kids running around together, opening presents, scooting up & down the street and spending time with each other.

A late night (or very early start) for mum & dad as we ‘prepared’ for Santa to arrive. Ava woke up first at 5.45am (argh!) but waited patiently for her little brother to wake up….which wasn’t until 7.30am. A hard wait for Pickle so she settled for her santa sack until Tate was finally awake and the fun began with Pa & Nanny also with us to watch pressies being opened. The big gifts included a keyboard & basketball ring for Ava and a balance bike for T Man. As always, Santa was very generous, as were the grandparents and aunties/uncles/cousins. Ava & Tate are a very lucky duo.

Tate & Ad in their matching Philladelphia Penguins tops.

The eating fest kicked off with Gran, Rocky, Nikki, Steve, Arielle (celebrating her first Christmas) and Steve’s brother Noel, Rachel & Taylan for breakfast. Ad did a great job with the cooking and Nero & Charlie chilled out together drooling at the spread.

Next stop was the Smith family lunch. Ava & Tate very happy to see Olivia, Josh & Indy there to play with and run around the backyard with their new toys. Baby Lila’s first Christmas as well so lots of cuddles and photos – she is such a smiley, talkative little character. The big roast lunch & plum pudding washed down with wine and chocolates. The heavens opened after lunch and our departure was a bit crazy with umbrellas held over our heads and racing to the car before we all got drenched. Home for Tate to kip and Ad set up Ava’s new keyboard which she loved. #1 on her Santa list so she was so excited to finally be sitting at it.

Tate was woken by the thunder & lightening and again we had to time leaving the house to get to the cars without looking like we’d all jumped in the shower fully clothed. Such a massive storm with big hailstones which Ad & Ava ran out to collect. Off to the Collins’ family dinner which is always a full house, big spread of food and lots of kids to play with. “Santa” arrived just after 6pm to give the grandkids some last minute presents – whilst Ava was onto who Santa’s helper was this year (Fuzzy) the little kids were in awe and it was priceless to see their little faces light up with yet another gift to unwrap.

Marjie was surrounded by all her great grandchildren and it was a very special night to have her there after a fortnight stint in hospital with pneumonia.

The highlight of the night was definitely the grandkids dance party. With a new Christmas kids favourites CD on they all were busting a move and had everyone in absolute hysterics of laughter. So cute to see them all loving each others company and the beautiful memories together. Ava is the oldest and was a bit more conservative with her dance moves but Tate Man let it all hang out and was literally burning up the dancefloor. Who knew a 2 year old could bust a move like he can! At one point he found a santa oven mit, put it on and bopped around like there was no tomorrow. So funny.

A perfect ending to a lovely Christmas day. Thanks to everyone for their presents and presence that made it all so special. xx

Where has the year gone?! As I write this post, Ava will be meeting her Grade 1 teacher and spending an hour with her new classmates for 2012. It’s an exciting day. She’s had a fantastic year at school and goes into the summer holidays with a passion for learning, an inquisitive mind and a love of school. We couldn’t be happier with her progress.

On December 6th, Ava did her Ju-jitsu grading and went up to the orange belt level in her Pee Wee grade. We are very proud of her.

A few days later, Ad & I had a “kid free” weekend and headed up to Moama on the Victoria/NSW border for my cousins wedding. It was weird to not have our mum and dad hats on but a lovely break and we had a great night with all the Collins’ family kicking up our heels on the dancefloor. Congratulations to Garth & Jess once again!

And of course we’ve done the Santa circuit with the obligatory Myer windows and 2011 Santa photo.

Ava was overwhelmed seeing the big guy in red and, when asked what she wanted for Xmas, repeated her last year’s wish of a “zhu zhu pet” as I think she was stuck for words. Tate on the other hand was loving himself on the train ride out the front of the photo booth but wouldn’t have a bar of Santa when it came to photo time. He was happy to knock on the door but once it opened and he saw Santa on his seat he waved goodbye and kept asking Ad to take him out the exit. Needless to say all 4 of us ended up in the photo this year, the tradition continues that it is a family shot, maybe next year he’ll sit on Santa’s lap without a barrier in between.

Merry Christmas everybody. xx

Tate gets it.

Over the last month or so he has started to really change and talk. Cup weekend at Torquay he had everyone around the table (Arnie, Penny, Will, Ava, Rocky, Gran, Mum and I) throwing words or sayings at him and he was mimicking like a complying cockatoo. He had us in stitches. Taking center stage he knew he was entertaining the crowd with what he said. He has also taken to running up and down the hallway after his nightly bath. A bit of a nude streak with his mum chasing him around. He also has a fierce lions roar that he does that can scare the lights out of anyone.

Its not all giggles though. Yesterday we were shopping for the final items for his 2nd birthday party today and 3 times he cracked it and did his best louie the fly impersonation, rolling around on the floor throwing a tantrum. We let him ride out the tanty and then took him on to the next place. He cracks it but it doesn’t take too long to get him over it.

His favorite saying at the moment is “Noooooooo” and will often put his wagging finger up to another child to make them aware that he means business. I can’t recall Ava’s terrible two’s but I reckon I might remember Tates’s in years to come. Also when he wants something for himself he as been pointing to his chest and saying “Tate…Tate”. Our baby is becoming a little man.

Like I said. It was his 2nd birthday today. And he gets it. Up until now, as a little guy both birthday’s and Xmas have not meant anything to him. Well today it was clear that it did. Over the last few weeks we had told him it was his birthday coming up and he was having a party. We would put up 5 waving fingers as an imaginary candle for him to blow out and we sang happy birthday to him yesterday and he knew what we were doing. It is exciting for us to see that he understands that this is for him.

Sat night we had Sienna sleep over so along with Ava the girls did there best to stay up as late as they could. Jumping from one bed to another and finally falling to sleep around 10pm, top to tail in Ava’s bed. That didn’t stop them climbing out of bed at 5:20am this morning. I’m certain when they are 16, getting up before 6am will be foreign to them. At least getting up that early meant Marnie had a couple of helpers packing lolly bags for the party.

Tate woke up at 7 and we gave him is presents. He already received a new digger from his cousin Arielle (and Nic and Steve) yesterday and we had a John Deer digger for him to unwrap too. Needless to say this man loves his diggers. Every time we go for a drive we are on a constant look out for diggers and fork lifts…and there are plenty around.

We also got him a Mr. Potato Head.

Opening the presents, it was obvious that he was aware that they were for him and his excitement at receiving both presents was a joy. He was off playing with the potato head with the girls and digger straight away.

An excited birthday boy

Time flys when your having fun…or getting ready for a 2 year olds birthday party and we had a cake to finish (after burning the first effort last night) and two excited kids to bundle into the car by 10:30. We had previously arranged to have his party in the gardens in Yarraville but due to the downpour yesterday we shifted to a play center. The weather today was ripe for outdoors fun but the ground underfoot would have been wet. Too wet for kids to run around in.

Tate digger cake

At the play center we got shuffled off to a party room that was themed for a princess??? Surprising seeing the pirate room was not occupied. So we setup in that room. When another group of people arrived half an hour later with a little girl dressed as a princess it was clear a mix up had occurred and we had been given the wrong room. We were quickly shuffled to the pirate bay, not that the kids knew as they were all running around enjoying themselves on the cars and slides.

Tate on dad’s shoulders

Thank goodness for the invention of the play center. In my day, as a 2 year old, either the parties were on a smaller scale (not 23 invites) or every weekend there were houses getting trashed all around the land.

The kids enjoyed themselves. The usual fest of jelly, cup cakes, biscuits and prima’s. Tate loved his digger cake and blowing out the candles, for real this time. The first present he opened had some clothes in it. Again his astonishment at receiving some clothes was nice to see.

Tate opening his pressies

Caleb checks out the bear

Later in the party the big bear came to visit. A few of the younger kids were not keen. Tate was definitely not keen. Happy from a distance to wave and at one point he puckered his lips towards the bear and I took that as him wanting to give him a kiss. I moved towards the bear but Tate shook with terror so I had to back tail it out of there. Given this reaction to the big cuddly bear I’m thinking 2011 is not going to be the year that Tate takes an old dude in a red suit and a long white beard and the slight hint of whiskey on his breath (aka Santa) into his inner circle. Maybe next year.

Family photo

Ava and Alannah scooting

Home after the party. We opened the remainder of his presents. Seriously, I’m not sure what Tate will expect in January when at the end of the previous two months he had been bestowed with a showing of what Toys’R'us and Santa have to offer. I’m sure he will learn to deal with it over time. He had been given, books, a toy golf set, some tools and many more wonder presents. A lucky boy.

No sleep for this little until later in the afternoon. He had his Nan and Pa, aunty and great, great grand mother (with sponge) came for dinner. “Dean” also came with a box full of cup cakes. We were so busy at the play center that we had not played pass the parcel. Ava instituted the game after desert and controlling the music worked in her favour as she ended up with the present. A chuckle for everyone.

Home time and Ava went to bed after very little sleep and a long day. Marn and I spent the last half hour of Tate’s day in the lounge, reading some books to him and reminiscing about the day with T Man. I am already looking forward to Xmas day. It is such a nice time of the year when the kids….get it……

Tate’s favourite party trick. Some like to caterpillar…Tate does this move!!!

Aren’t long weekends just the best! As is usually the way, we counted down the sleeps and headed to Granny & Rock’s home in Bellbrae on Friday night for some R&R and a lovely catch up with Arnie, Penny & Will. Ad had to work much of the weekend which meant that we needed to take both our cars down – I obviously didn’t pull the short straw (!!) and ended up with just the Hound in my car. A stop at McD’s for some chippies & nuggets and we were off down the highway in the pouring rain.

Saturday morning we were on the go early as Tate is now too big for the portacot so he starfished in the queen bed which means little sleep for mum or dad but lots of lovely morning cuddles when he wakes up. After breakfast we took the kids to the new playground in Torquay – the highlight being the flying fox which Ava loved and after watching for a while, Tate had a turn and became just as addicted. Trouble is he needs to be held the whole way which meant a workout for daddy.

We then watched Senna the movie which I’d highly recommend for any F1 racing fan – a very interesting, moving film. Arnie, Penny & Will arrived late Saturday afternoon much to the delight of Ava who had asked about 100 times when Will was arriving. They get along like a house on fire and the place is filled with laughter and activity when they are together. Drawing, playstation games, kicking the footy, throwing rocks in the dam and riding bikes – never a dull moment with little T Man following closely behind.

We headed home Monday lunchtime much to the disappointment of Ava who actually cried as we drove up the highway cos she “loves being at Gran’s house”. We are certainly very lucky to have Bellbrae as our own special escape where we always feel like its a home away from home. Looking forward to the next visit already.

More rain today. Maybe the drought is over. Long trip into work with plenty of flooding around.