Here we come a waddling...

So, did  you all have a good christmas?

I promise this will be the last post on this topic...as you may be able to tell, I am very much a fan of this festive season. Despite the rubbish weather we had, there was still a lot of magic in the air in the Abbott household. After all, christmas is what you make of it :) And with little kids around, it's so much fun!

My bloomin' batteries went on my camera on christmas eve night of all times! And as they are special lithium batteries I didn't hold much hope of getting anymore that evening. So I was camera-less on christmas day :(

But christmas eve is also very special to me, and I managed to capture a few special moments.

Is it mean that I told Lizzie if she kept looking out her bedroom window for long enough she would see father christmas' sleigh? She was there a rather long time and left with a disappointed look. Mean mummy..

We try our best to have a few family traditions on christmas eve, some of which we have only just started. One of which is pancakes for breakfast! Yum...

 We also make each-other handmade presents which we give out on christmas eve. To me, these are the most special presents, and I treasure them.

Impressed, eh? My amazing husband painted me this. I LOVE it! Kinda looks a bit hallucinogenic...Ben on speed!

 We also made a birthday cake for Jesus and sang happy birrthday to him. So cute, Lizzie loved it!

And of course, one cannot forget the christmas classic before bedtime....

Hope you all have a great New Year! xxxxxxx

The true meaning of christmas.

Bedtimes for Lizzie are a special time for us now. I love hearing her prayers. In fact, I would go as far to say that her prayers are often more sincere than a lot of my own. They are different every night, and always involve a rundown of her day. She gives an exhaustive list of all the things she is grateful for, naming each family member in turn.

Children teach us so many things. Things that we as adults often tend to forget. Now don't get me wrong, as every other child, Lizzie is very much focused on the 'presents' that come with christmas day. But I know that all the presents in the world will not make her happy if it were not for the love of her family around her. Give her a toy from poundland and she would be happy as Larry.

So this christmas folks, let us remember it is not about the presents under the tree, or the heaps of quality street (although this is a bonus I admit.) It is about relationships with loved ones. And making the most of what we have.

A friend recently shared the following quote by one of our prophets, who summed up the meaning of  christmas beautifully.

"This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again".

President Howard W Hunter, December 4th, 1994

                                   Merry Christmas everyone! Love from the Abbotts xxxxxxxxxx

Kung fu baby.

So...I'm still pregnant.

Just another 8 WEEKS to go...

I haven't seen my feet in weeks, and if anything drops to the floor I kind of look at it and sigh. It might be there for a while.

This baby has been planning his escape now for a while. I think he has all escape routes covered. And his martial arts kicking contests are a regular occurance.

I figured however, that whilst I am pregnant I might as well make the most of it. And there are advantages to my condition. The extra slices of pizza on pizza night kind of disappear and get reabsorbed into a bigger baby bump. I'm hoping it's all going onto him. Ignorance is bliss.

So without further ado, I give you...Kung Fu baby (cue Kung fu fughting music..)

Maybe I should ease off on the pizza...

What makes a house a home?

Something wonderful has happened in our home lately. Something which has given me the wonderful gift of time. And sleep!

Mmmmm, maternity leave. 

The bit before the baby arrives, where you go to bed knowing your restful nights are soon to be a thing of the past.

I have been having a few medical problems with my latest pregnancy which have caused me to take my maternity leave early. Despite the  bits of bleeding I have been having however, I must admit I am really loving having the time to get our lives organsied, and the house too!

We have been decorating our living room lately, and I have really got a bit carried away with good old pinterest. I no longer just see it as a website, but as a way of life. I have become a bit of a tramp with holding onto things instead of throwing them away. And my dream is to go skip hoarding (asking for prior permission, of course!) 

I have been putting a lot of thought into our home, and how I want it to look and feel. After all, a house is just bricks and mortar, until you add your personal touch. 

I mean, who wants an Ikea home? A habitat home? Don't we all want a home that is full of memories, and reflects our personalities? That's why I love to collect little decorative items from second hand shops and upcycle furniture. I like quirky.

I have been using up the fabric scraps in the craft cupboard, and had a spare wreath that I picked up from a car boot last year. So I kind of went down the same road as the rag tinsel.

 I bring you..rag wreath!

I was quite happy with the result, and now I have more space to hoard more fabric! Bonus!

And I also found I had WAY too many baubles left over from last year. I keep buying them..think I may have a bit of a fetish!

So I strang them together on a string..simples but effective!

I also made an adventure board a while ago but have finally got round to hanging it up. I love pinning new places we have visited..but get a bit sad when I see how much of the world we have unexplored (most of it)! I have thought about making ones for the kids too for their rooms. Not sure how Sam feels but Lizzie absolutely loves travelling and learning about new places. I am already thinking of making a 'before 10' list with Lizzie, of things she want's to achieve in her early childhood. I already know she wants to go in a helicopter..that's how she rolls!

And of course, we have put up the tree! And we may have put it up in November...(I couldn't wait!)

I had a little helper/destroyer of baubles and all things shiny...

She was quite chuffed with her tree.

But her favourite part was the cinnamon rolls afterwards. I'm not sure what she likes more..eating the ingredients or the sheer mess it creates...

It's getting pretty chilly outside guys, so remember to wrap up warm...

And drink plenty of the chocolatey stuff...