THE LASLETT LIVES...: The end to another year...

Can you believe that 2008 is just a few days away from being over?! How can this possibly be? I remember when I was young, always hearing the 'older' generation always talking about how quickly time passes and remember rolling my eyes in a mocking kind of way thinking, 'how ridiculous'! I guess I have reached that same category as part of the 'older' ones as time literally does just slip away far too quickly, each day, each week, each year. I can't believe it has been two years since we moved up here also! I had a brief vacant moment in the kitchen earlier on thinking that it could only have been one year for sure. I had to think really hard to work out that it is actually two!...anyway, sorry, just went into one a bit there...let me just adjust my crochet blanket over my knees, have a cup of tea and then I shall continue...

Anyway...I really hope that anyone reading this has had a wonderful Xmas. We had a lovely little one, just the four of us. The children woke us up very early Xmas morning and Ian and I were knackered as we had a late night Xmas Eve. We stayed up cooking and preparing! Everything from the turkey, a chocolate yule log, some rocky road, potato salad and the trifle. I had it in my head this year that I would do it all, I wouldn't do the 'easy' thing and get a ready made log etc...I saw the rocky road recipe and just 'had' to make it...it ended up costing me about 5 times the amount as if I'd just bought one...and I'm not even a huge fan of rocky road...Ian still shakes his head about it. Once I get an idea though in this maze inside my head, I have to do it to satisfy my curiosity and my desire to create. Well it all turned out O.K. The log was very time consuming and I'm sure I turned a few hairs greyer after getting the 'roll' right and dealing with chocolate ganache that was melting in the Queensland humidity and wouldn't spread properly...Ian certainly knows the right things to say though when the following day I was feeling a bit kind of 'down' about it not being perfect, and he told me that it was more than perfect because it was made with my love and goodwill and enthusiasm. How beautiful! Just what I needed to hear. Yaz was the 'gift person' this year and handed out all the pressies from under the tree. I remember when they were younger, we had huge mountain fulls under the tree, now the presents seem to be getting smaller...still costing as much, if not more, but it definitely decreased in floor space this year. Yaz got the phone she has so desperately desired for so long, plus some clothes, jewellery, a straightener, wii games etc...Bailey got a wii fit, games, a microscope, clothes, book etc...and as a joint gift they got a wii 'rock band', which I think our neighbours have now realised we have it! Yaz is the drummer, Bailey the guitarist and Ian or I on the vocals. I haven't even had the chance to try the drums ot the guitar yet...mind you I have been pre-occupied with my new singstar game and my Dawn French book...plus other treats. Ian also got a wii game...like the big kid he is...plus a blue tooth for work, cd, dvd's etc...so we were all utterly spoilt....again! As usual we ate WAY too much on the day. Why do we do it? Although I must admit, since Xmas, tonight was the first night that I had to cook as we've been spoilt with all of the left overs! The day itself was fun and relaxing and went very quickly. I spoke to my family twice during the day...I do miss them!...and we finally got hold of Ian's parents in the evening as their Xmas was just beginning. Next year we dearly hope to be over there with them celebrating Xmas. It's been way too long and we miss you all sooo much!

Boxing day we all got up a bit late and then gathered some food together and headed to Nicky and Seans for the day. Again we ate heaps, had a drink or two and played singstar and went for a walk. We didn't get home until around 9.30pm and we were just so full and so tired from two days of non-stop eating rich and junky food, too irrisistable to turn down!

I feel like I've piled it on over this past week so back to the healthy lifestyle I was into before-hand and back to the gym again. Xmas always seems to take it's toll in this way with me, but oh does it feel so good getting here!

So as of tomorrow I head back to work until New Years Eve and do it all again, this time without as much junky food but more alcohol and a few days off work. We are heading to Charmayne and Mike's for New Years Eve so there's no doubt that there will be lots of drinking, singing and dancing. Bring it on!!! I keep saying to Ian that 2009 is going to be our year...I pray that my prediction will be spot-on! In fact I hope that 2009 is everyones year. There seems to be a lot of people that have had a terrible year this year for one reason or