(if you want to check out some of the other blogs that are joining in the Advent blog-along click on the button in my side bar)
December 1st (or there abouts) is when I like to officially kick off the Christmas celebrations in our home. Today we partook in the first of many of our annual Christmas traditions - putting up and decorating the Christmas tree. In my 'ideal life' this would be a time that the whole family came together, all doing their part to decorate the tree as the Christmas music filled the air, its only competition the sound of laughter and family chatter.
In reality there is pretty much no chance of that actually happening. Craig will give me a hand with the tree lights under sufferance, and Caleb is definitely his fathers son when it comes to decorating the tree - he would rather be any where else! (he was thankful that he had two after school activities tonight and wasn't there!) Luckily for me Nathan loves to help out, Isaac likes the whole concept (and although his actual helpfulness in the whole process was negligible - he definitely made up for it in excitement and enthusiasm) and Jacinta took to her first chance to help out like she had been doing it for years.
The first important step is to set the mood and have the Christmas music playing. Growing up, it was always the same Bing Crosby ( I think?) Christmas Album that mum would put on as we decorated our tree. Ever since the boys were smaller this has been my CD of choice... (and yes it the real, original Hi 5)
I know pretty daggy, but I love it and its become part of OUR Christmas traditions. Nath and I sung along as we decorated today!I put the tree up, and did the lights before Nathan got home from school, and then Isaac, Jazz and Nathan decorated it.
Isaac had been SO excited all afternoon about putting the decorations on the tree, but when the time finally arrived he decided it was much more fun to dance to our Christmas music and ride on the box from the tree, pretending it was a "sledge being pulled by goats" 
(no idea where this concept came from? maybe a muddled version of the sleigh and reindeer, of maybe something he read at kindy or saw on playschool - who knows...he thought it was lots of fun!!!)Jacinta was really excited to see the box of shiny balls, and with a little guidance from Nath
she was hanging them in no time - 
there was a small section that needed a little thinning out after she had finished!Once the tree was decorated, Nathan got the honour of putting the final decoration on, the angel on the top. Its the first year he has been able to reach all by himself. I bough this angel the year we got engaged and she has sat atop out tree every year since...always the last thing to be added.
The kids all have a small ornament with their name engraved on it that I bought for them for their first Christmas. Caleb was more than happy to hang his when he got home tonight - that's plenty of tree decorating for him! 
This is our tree for 2009! Last years tree was Pink (in honour of Jacintas first Christmas)lime and silver. This year Ive kept to that and added some teal/blue baubles as well.
It looks pretty bare inderneath, but my tree skirt is red and green and just doesnt go, I will have to hurry up and get some presents wrapped and under the tree to cover it up!!! Ive moved the tree to a new spot this year, and looking at these pictures, I love how the curtains and windows are framing it!
You started pre entry at Kindy this term, its a two hour session on Monday mornings. 
You are really loving it. Its nice for you to finally have something just for you, and Im really enjoying being able to spend a little girly time with Jacinta. Next year you will go for two full days a week - and as peaceful as it is, Im sure I will miss your constant chatter, and the funny little conversations we have during our day.
I was concerned that you would move past these things too quickly having two much older brothers, but you seem to have found your place and are quite happy to just be four!
We your birthday The following day we went to the play cafe with Auntie vic, Georgia & Bailey, and Aunite Jode & Riley. We all had a fun morning!
We had to give some guidelines of likes/dislikes etc to help our swap partner with ideas - my only request was an actual dolls quilt (could be dolls quilt or wall hanging) which was predominantly pink and pretty.
Well I think 
I love the fabric selections, they are very prety, and the little matching pillow is so cute!
Another month has passed. You are growing up so quickly now, my 'baby' has gone and has been replaced with a sweet little girl. I had forgotten what a delightful age this is. You are amazed by everything, you love to play little games, sing little songs and laugh until you give yourself hiccups - just because you can! Despite looking like a sweet girly little girl, you can more often than not you can be found playng with dump trucks or cricket bats or any other of the stereotypical boys stuff that is always laying around here.
The other day you woked out how to make the little wiggles car go forwards all by yourself. You were so excited. Now you can ride around and around the table with Isaac. 
I think its time to get you a little ride on of your own. Toni gave us this old one of tanners, but it doesnt even have a seat...not that you seem to mind!
Seriously I didnt know where to start, it was right through everything. 
Im still hoping Grandpa will make you a cradle (just like I had) for Christmas so you will have a special place for your 'babies' to sleep. More and more you are beginning to engage in pretend play with Isaac. You both love being dogs, crawling around on the ground chasing each other, tounges hanging out, panting like puppies. Tea parties are a regular occurance, and you were thrilled that we had some real water in the cups the other day - one of the advantages of the spring weather finally arriving. Ive done a couple of little photo shoots of you having a tea party with some of your great Nannas tea cups, it was lots of fun. 
All of our babies were due between the 15th-29th Feb 2008. There are a group of us who are still in regular contact, and these are the two that Ive had the pleasure of getting together with in real life.
You loved the cake even more!
I bound your quilt, and got all the finishing touches done.
Its a really pretty room, and I was thrilled to have it featured on Spearmint Baby.
You really are a sweet little girl. You are quite clingy to Daddy and I at the moment though. If we go any where you spend most of the time climbing up my legs. You want to sit up in the lounge with us, but as soon as you get up there you want to hop back down again. You follow us around the house like a shadow, and like to be right in the middle of what ever we are doing. You have discovered how to open cupboards and are always getting cups and plates out, or your toothbrush out of the bathroom or putting things in the rubbish bin. If we growl you burst into tears. If someone takes something away that you want, you yell. If we try and give you something you dont want, you will either not take it, or throw it away. You love giving us kisses and cuddles, but love the power that comes with being able to shake your head and giggle cheekily if Mummy asks for a kiss and you dont want one. You frighten easily, and are not at all brave. You have woked out how to get safely up and down the stairs at Auntie Vics place, but cant manage the two steps down from Georgias cubby house. Now that daylight savings has started Ive been trying to push your dinner and bed time later so that you can eat with us. You no longer let me feed you with a spoon - either you do it yourself, or you flat out refuse to eat it. You prefer a plate of finger foods that you can pick up and eat yourself. You will usually still let me feed you your weetbix for breakfast - you still have three most mornings. You drink mostly water, although milk is your drink of choice at the moment. You love to run away naked when I have dried you after your bath, and you still kick and carry on nearly everytime I dress you. You love shoes - yours and everyone elses, we are always looking for one of our shoes that you have slipped on and left in some strange place around the house or yard. You like to push things around on the tiles - the noisier the better.
