WTF am I doing awake at this time of the morning

Holy Cow - why am I awake at 5.30am - Oh yes I know - the cat is meowing rather loudly as she has just clambered through the window in her elderly state, and its light.  Yep its light as this early hour of the morning.  Not even blackout curtains have stopped the light sneaking through the windows. 

OK so i will fill you in on the last couple of weeks of happenings in the Mabon household.

Our precious oldest daughter celebrated her 18th birthday party, and my dear mum her 68th birthday.

Bumbles attempt to go cross eyed

Amelia and her boyfriend Jason

the Bonfire at Kakanui Beach

Our lovely kids at the beach

For Amelia's birthday she wanted to have a bonfire at the beach with her friends.  As parents we were a little anxious about controlling a group of lively

Mum and the girls

birthday girl - Abbey doing the cross eyed thing
 a very tired Amelia after the party the night before,and work the next day.

teenagers, whom fully intended to have alcohol present. However it was a fun occasion.  We had twenty eighteen year olds at her party, and they were all respectful and well behaved.  I have to say though there seemed to be a whole lot more boys than girls present.  Keeping up to our tradition for bonfires at the beach it was rather less than tropical again, and we were all glad of the heat from the fire.  We fed everyone Pizza and hot chips, and it disappeared quickly.  When it got dark we had a small fireworks display, and some sparklers.  It was funny seeing big stropping teenage boys enjoy something as simple as sparklers - there is a little kid in all of us still.  After dark all retired to our garage to continue the celebrations.  I think we eventually got everyone home safely by 2.30am - even if some stayed the night on our lounge floor.  As parents our lives are full of firsts - and this was our first experience of hosting a party involving alcohol.  All I can say is that WE SURVIVED - phew.

In the last week leading up to Christmas, we are winding down.  Bumble finishes on Wednesday and i on Thursday.  Abbey finished school last Friday.  Amelia and Alex are both working heaps this week and over January as they save their dollars for various things.  I find myself once again having to think about childcare for Abbey as  our built in babysitters are working more hours than mum and dad this week.  Alex spends all his time thinking about what he can spend his money  on, and Amelia is saving madly for University next year.  We have finished all the Christmas shopping, and have done the big Christmas grocery shop.  Urrgh each year I spend more and seem to get less. 

We are starting to make plans for next year and have decided that 2012 is going to be a fabulous year with lots of exciting changes - Ill talk more on that later when all will be revealed., so until next year that's all folks

Have  a safe, happy and blessed Christmas and enjoy the Holiday break.

PS I wish the cat would shut up - please someone get up and feed her.