Christmas at the McPhails

There is just nothing like Christmas! I have been especially grateful these past two years for the weekend Christmas - with the public holidays on Monday and Tuesday we have been treated to a decent break!

This year we enjoyed a quiet, restful Christmas at home. Will and I found ourselves both up early Christmas morning, but there was no sign of Justice stirring so we caught a nap. I woke a little later with Justice, but Will was out for the count after the ordeal of the Christmas Eve bake (stohlen, cakes and breads galore!). We finally woke him at 6:30 because the leg of lamb was done (and we made that just for him). We opened our gifts together around 7PM.

We go simply on the gifts, but they were still a big hit! Justice got Kahootz movie making software and the new TinTin game. I got a Glee DVD and a webcam (so I can Skype!) Will got headphones so he can use his computer uninterrupted...

Our puppy cat Merlin is always right in the middle of things. These awesome Christmas jammies say: Naughty or Nice on the back (with a check next to naughty!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Christmas Craft

We made the EASIEST Christmas craft with Sharona today! Applesauce ornaments! Applesauce and cinnamon! They smell AMAZING and look so great on the tree! We're in the home stretch! THIS WEEKEND is CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas Dinner

Tonight we hosted our Christmas dinner for The Just Loaf. We invited our staff and some valued customers and suppliers. As it was a Saturday night (our only night off) in December (the busiest social month of the year!) we only had a small group, but it was genuinely lovely.

We chose a locally situated upscale restaurant - we couldn't choose a customer's place obviously, so I picked a restaurant I had chased in the past because it seemed in line with us. (Its a young family business.)

We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived to a festively set table in a private room, with customised menus! The food was delicious and the company was great. Will and I were both so pleased with the entire thing, I am pretty sure we'll be there again next Christmas!

THE GRADUATE

The teachers...
Ms Holloway

Ms Way

Ms Rose Cooper

After competing in Battle Bots for robotics this morning, and then performing a demand matinee performance of the school musical at lunch time, my son graduated from junior school this afternoon.

GRADUATED FROM JUNIOR SCHOOL!

Will and I attended the little ceremony shortly after the musical ended (Will did get to see it!) I just can not believe it!!! He is getting so BIG!

HE'S A STAR!!!

JUSTICE STARRED IN HIS JUNIOR SCHOOL MUSICAL

He played Spider, the leader of the "baddies" and HE WAS BRILLIANT! Yes, he's mine, and I am supposed to think that - but seriously - he knew and remembered all his lines, he had great inflection and just really nailed the whole thing! I was SO proud!

I took a few pictures of his costume before he was microphoned and took his place...

and a few pictures during the show (so a bit hazy)But I had the perfect seat to get this one inbetween acts...

Isn't he a gorgeous scary spider?! The best part was they sold out and had to add a matinee tomorrow for parents who couldn't get tickets (they only had 1000 seats) so Will may get a chance to see it too!

Forget the Cup - BABY BABY!

HE'S HERE! 1/11/11 How cool is that?! All is well!

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A HALLOWEEN BASH...

Justice and I had a blast at a Halloween birthday bash yesterday! I met my friend Fiona when her eldest and Justice went to pre-prep together. (They also started prep together, and we have managed to stay friends through all the classroom and school changes since...)

Larissa and her sister have those birthdates that collide with summer holidays and Christmas parties, so this year they got an early joint Halloween bash! SO FUN!

Fiona organised awesome games, including bobbing for apples, the donut on a string...

Everyone brought lollies to share, and in the end an entire wheelie bin was overflowing with lollies to be divided up between the crowd (I volunteered to help with that part?!)

The cakes were amazing, the costumes were great - and I love seeing Justice have the chance to re-connect with old classmates. VERY fun! That's another great Halloween done. Well, except that our carving plans were sabotaged by customers (ie I had to go in and help rathher than stay home and carve) with too many rolls - seeing as tomorrow is Melbourne Cup Day!

PLAYING HOOKY

Ok, in Australia we don't "play hooky", its "chucking a sickie", but I hate that phrase! Either way, I kept Justice home from school today. We made our way into the city to see the Queen. Yes, The Queen. I'm Australian now, you know? And still cheesy enough to think that the visit of The Queen is significant enough to encourage my diligent son to skip school. If I had had classes I would have chucked a sickie too, even though its the last week before exams... To be honest, we waited a long time, and I am so sunburned that its nearly frightening, but Justice was right up on the barrier and never complained. (Unlike the scores of children around us!) We saw the Queen, and she came by us by car a little later. (Justice snapped a picture of "the wave"!) Afterwards we went for a quick swim, rounding out a truly lovely day. I am looking forward to summer holidays. Not the heat, but the looser day schedule. I am sad to say that I now have my third bad Australian sunburn. (But three in eight years is pretty reasonable - particularly for my albino self!)

THE GREAT EIGHT

Well, Justice turned EIGHT today! EIGHT! Can you believe that?!

For his eighth birthday he had a lego birthday party.

He was allowed to invite eight friends to the lego education centre (in the city centre) for a MIDIEVAL MADNESS birthday bash...

At 2:30 they began with some dancing/ role playing games and then... they were set free on tables and tables of lego
fantasy, castle and knights legos were everywhere...
some of the kids worked together
some found dragons

and some great creations were born!

then the guests got together and built with these GIANT rubber legos

making a throne for the birthday boy...who managed to blow out all of his candles ~ so hopefully his wishes will all come true!

We can not believe that you are already eight!

AFTERNOON TEA

I put together a baby shower for my dear friend Sharona, she is due at the end of the month with her second.

We had an afternoon tea theme, so the favours were tea cups with "welcome home baby" house shaped tea diffusers and the wishing well was a GIANT tea cup.... The only thing bigger were the balloons!

We had a great turn out and a good time playing cheesey baby shower games like "the dirty diaper" game and "bun in the oven". OF COURSE we did the baby socks game - its my favourite! We also had scratchies and prediction cards...

We enjoyed cakes and fruits and juices and conversation - it was a really lovely shower!

GOOD LUCK SHARONA!