2011 in a nutshell

The year 2011 was a year filled with challenges. The most difficult year my little family has ever had. We knew it would be hard. Having 3 children under 4 would keep us on our toes. Having newborn twins would make sure we were going to have lack of sleep, lack of time to ourselves, lack of time for our marriage. Its very dramatic but we said to each other at the beginning of the year that if we can stay married and not get divorced for the next 12 months then we will be ok.

I wont lie -  it was tough. We had times that we were so physically and mentally exhausted that we took it out on each other, even though we hardly ever argue.  The twins were sick a lot. They were hospitalised at 3 months with bronchialitis. They got Scarlett Fever at 7 months. They both currently have Tonsilitis and Harper spent all day Christmas Day and boxing day crying the poor little thing. We all had challenges. Charli had to adapt to having 2 sisters to share everything with. Raj had to work hard at a demanding job and come home to a tired me that needed help. I had to make sure everything at home kept running like clockwork. Money was tight with me not working and mortgage rates sky high.

But guess what - we made it and we got two new members of the family to boot! We met Harper & Sophie and fell in love. We laugh and have fun and still cant believe we were lucky enough to have twins. I count my blessings every single day that I have a wonderful, healthy family with 3 beautiful girls and an amazing husband who I love more than ever. I have very supportive parents and parents in law. I have a great brother and brother in law. I have great friends. I am so very blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!

Some personal highlights:
Charli -
I have watched Charli grow from a toddler to a little girl and one that I am so awfully proud of. She is thoughtful, funny and oh so smart. I watched her learn ballet and do her first ballet concert.  I watched her learn to write her name, to read certain words, to count to 30. She does great magic tricks. She has great dress sense. She loves helping me shop. I just love hanging out with her. She calls me her best friend :)

Hubby -
I watched Raj battle through sleepless nights. Watched him work so hard in his demanding job and still have time for me and the girls.I watched him fall in love with 2 new little ladies and see how happy his 3 girls make him. I watched him compose some kick arse music, devise a plan for his band, train his heart out in running and do his best time yet.  I cant believe that I could love him even more than I did, but this year its more than ever.

Sophie & Harps
They were born so healthy and have gone from strength to strength. STill not sleeping through the night  but such good little girls who love to laugh. Harp crawls at lightening speed and follows me around the house like a puppy. Soph is alert and wants to see what is going on at all times. They both have 2 teeth each and both crawling. Both say mum and dad and know their own names. They love their big sister and are just so fun to be around. They are already good friends even at 9 months. I couldn't imagine life without them.

What will 2012 bring us?

More challenges but also more fabulous times I hope. I am going back to work in 4 weeks and the twins will start daycare one day a week. I am nervous and scared and sad but I am sure they will be ok.
Charli has her big number 4 birthday shortly. We have been planning it for months! She also starts at her new daycare shortly (the same one as the twins) so it means she will need to make new friends. That is also terrifying but I know she will be ok. She also starts swimming lessons in a few weeks and will keep up with her ballet lessons. Raj will have new tasks with his job and maybe some more travel. I will have work and time away from the children for the first time in a year. I want to organise the christening of the girls. I want to do well at work. I want to decide on a primary and high school for the girls. I want to save money. I still want my fitness to be on the top of the list and want to keep up my classes each week. For Raj and I to have time to ourselves. Maybe even a date night or two :) Potentially a holiday...?

Happy New Year All  x x

PS We are going to win lotto tomorrow night - all 31 million. We have a syndicate going with the family. Just doing you all a favour so you don't waste your money buying a ticket x

Merry Christmas!

May you all have a wonderful Christmas and may 2012 be filled with love, laughter and good health.

Best wishes from Hayley, Raj, Charli, Sophie & Harper XX

Sell, Buy, Swap - why I am addicted and I cant do a damn thing about it

Northern Beaches Sell, Buy, Swap, Giveaway

2 weeks ago I was introduced to our local buy, sell, buy, swap, buy, buy, buy Facebook page. Well what a great little invention! But what a fantastic disaster. It is fantastic because I have gotten rid of lots of crap sold lots of items we don't need on there. But it is a disaster because I have also purchased lots of great items on there that we absolutely needed at the time but now I'm notsosure.

Let me take you on a short tour of the fantastic bargains that I have won purchased:

1. A trike for $4. Yes it is used. Yes the paint is flaking in parts. But it is one of those full metal well built trikes from Germany. Boy does Charli like it! She has a phobia of anything that she can loose balance on (like swings and bikes) but this one she actually rides and peddles. Yay.

2. A Lamaze chime toy for $5. Was thinking of getting this for the twinnies for Christmas anyway so WINNING

3. 2 pairs of ballet slippers for $15. I am putting these away for the twins. What if they don't do ballet I here you say? Lets think about that later cause right now it was a bargain.

4. A Christmas light in the shape of a bell. Yes they are for sale in Big W for $6 and I bought it for $5. BUT I was going to buy it anyway and therefore saved a dollar. Totally worth it! TOTALLY.

I know, I know. I need to stop. But its highly addictive and the next bargain could be being listed right....now!

Catch you later, in the meantime you know where to find me...

Things that I 'like' and 'unlike'

What delights me at the moment is:

* That the Christmas tree is up and the lights are blinking at me from across the room
* That Charli's ballet has finished for the year and I don't have to do any more ballet buns
* That for once the twins aren't sick
* That Raj is not travelling for work this week
* That my mum won 2 free ham's at her local club and is bringing one over today
* That I have lost 2 kgs in the past few weeks
* That I have my work Christmas party this Friday even though I havent been at work for nearly a year
* That I have sold $70 worth of crap on our local buy sell swap facebook page this weekend
* That I just got my hair done and the colour is awesome

What I 'unlike' at the moment is:

* That even though I lost 2 kgs in the past few weeks I put on 600g in the last few days
* That I wasnt invited to the Mega danz christmas party even though I go every week (seriously they are racist towards mums, mums are still cool you know)
* That the only people I spoke to last Thursday was charli's kindy teacher for about 5mins and the lawn mower man who is lovely but seriously he just wanted to mow the lawns and get out)
* That is is freezing and raining even though it is now officially summer
* That I have bought over $100 worth of crap on the local buy sell swap facebook page this weekend
* That Raj has got 6 billion rehersals and gigs lined up over the next 3 weeks which means he will be MIA and I will be stuck with the kids forever.

There are good people in the world

This morning I was at my local mall and was waiting for a coffee when I saw an elderly couple sitting down at a nearby table. Well they weren't actually sitting down. He was using all of his might to help his wife into the chair and then he picked her up under the arms and moved her back into the chair. He then rearranged the table in front of her so she couldn't slide out. He then reached into a bag and took out a bib and placed it around her neck. He kissed her on the cheek and then walked over to the greengrocers and picked up a basket to do his shopping. They both would have been in their 70's or 80's and he was very lean but still used all of his might to help her around. I got my coffee and approached him and I said that I couldn't help but notice how lovely he was and that he was amazing. I asked if I could help him do his shopping but he just smiled. He said that his wife lives at The House with No Steps and for 35 years he has picked her up on a Saturday morning and takes her to the shops so she can get out and about. He didn't complain. He just smiled and wanted to know all about me.

I little piece of my heart cried when I heard his story. What a beautiful, kind man. All of those years helping his wife, when he was elderly himself. What perfect love. What giving, selfless love. I hope I see them again next Saturday. Maybe he will take me up on my offer to help next week.

How I know I am getting old

Every morning on the days that I drop Charli to day-care we turn on the radio in the car and sing the songs together. Even when she doesn't know the words she just makes them up as she goes. This morning I was flicking through the radio stations and couldn't settle on a song I liked. I tried Triple J and didn't know what the hell they were playing. I tried 2dayFM and they were playing an RnB number (yuck). I tried a few more and they were too loud, or too dancey or too ravey. And then I found it.  95.3FM - Classic songs. They were playing " I want to know what love is" from Dirty Dancing. I let loose and sang at the top of my lungs. Charli said to me "Mum, what IS this song?". I sang away, so happy that I knew all the words. Then I realised, that song is about 18 years old. HOW OLD AM I?

Pretty soon I bet you that I am going to be listening to talk back radio in the mornings. 2GB here I come.

M'ladies

The twins are now 8 months old and Charli is 3 years and 10 months. Such good ages!!