FAREWELL 2008...

I can't believe that in just over seven hours 2008 will be over!! Today we have been swimming, out for lunch, got some great bargains shopping & now we are relaxing watching movies, eating some delicious snacks & Roy & I are having a few drinks before we head out to celebrate the end of 08 & to welcome in 2009! From my family to your family we wish you all a very Happy New Year... may love, peace & happiness be yours for the year ahead & may all your dreams come true! I look forward to our friendships growing in the 2009 & I'm so blessed to have you as friends.. take care everyone.. be safe & see you all in 2009... HAPPY NEW YEAR xxxxxx



Christmas gifts....

More beautiful gifts from even more beautiful friends thank you so much to Tania and to Elise for their lovely gifts, I've been so spoilt this Christmas, thank you to all my blogging friends for your beautiful gifts this festive season xxxxx

Simply divine :D


Perfect for my handbag :))

Our Christmas..

Christmas Eve...
Well we did some last minute shopping, the kids went swimming, we had roast turkey & pork with lots of yummy baked veges, craziness I know considering it had been around 36 degrees when I started cooking.. not nice!! A storm rolled in & it rained for hours so the kids couldn't sprinkle reindeer food, which they weren't too happy about!! I fell into bed at 2.30am Christmas morning only to be woken TWO hours later!!

In their new pj's, Sam's covering his ears because of the thunder :))

Pretty lights...



The storm approaching, so not pretty!!


Christmas Eve cuteness..


The hair.. alot shorter & yes it's red :D


Christmas Day...

Christmas Day started very early... 4.30am to be exact!! We held them of for a little while lol!! We opened our presents, had a leisurely breakfast, then the girls came over for more presents, then it was off to have lunch with some of our family, more food & the best eggnog ever :))) All in all I think everyone had a wonderful day. Boxing Day (no photos) we had the Ryff Family at our place to celebrate Chris's birthday (Roy's older brother) it has been a tradition ever since I can remember, even though Chris does not like the attention so much.. I think he does enjoy the fact we get together to celebrate his special day! At the end of the day I was exhausted & so ready for bed. Since then we have just chilled at home the kids in the pool & me in the a/c lol!!! it has been very hot indeed this Summer! xx

Sam with his new Roborapter..



Tayla's Pandora bracelet, love the handbag charm :))



Playing a new DS game..


Loving his new toy..


They truly are the greatest gift of all!


The family :)))

MERRY CHRISTMAS :)))))

Well it's only an hour & 48 mins until Christmas here in Oz anyaway!! I've been flat out the last couple of days... shopping, shopping & more shopping & had my hair & nails done, priorities I tell ya LOL!!! Now as I sit typing & drinking a Crown Lager (beer!) it's still so hot & I still have presents to wrap! Tonight we've had a lovely roast turkey & pork with baked veges for dinner, yeah I know crazy considering it was nearly 37 degrees before lunch! & the thunderstorm has done nothing to cool things down! I just wanted to wish my blogging friends a very MERRY CHRISTMAS I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families :)

Must go, take care my friends :))))

love,
Tanya xxxxx

The Santa photo, gosh they're just so cute :D

Amanda....

Photos from Amanda's birthday on Friday... her precious bump is getting bigger, although Amanda may look tiny still, this is huge for her as she is such a tiny build!! Amanda received perfume & we bought her a new camera, didn't want her to miss out on taking photos once baby is here! Sam & Tayla were amazed at how big Amanda's tummy is getting, loved seeing them just being together... makes me very happy even a little teary! xx

Please excuse the poor quality of these photos... someone had been playing with my camera :p

The bump...


Pretty sure she liked it :)))


Our gorgeous girls...


A very rare event!!!


Cake time...

The View...

Here are the photos I took last Sunday! First up some of our room, Sunrise, looking straight down from 55 stories high made me feel quite ill!!! The views were amazing, you could see the clouds so well.. for some reason I could have sat there all day just watching the clouds!!! It's funny but looking out from here it was like seeing it for the very first time...


Our room...


Sunrise, just after 4.30am...


Not for the faint hearted, really does your head in looking straight down!!!


Looking South, the Q1...


To the North..


Just amazing looking out on this!!


Hubby enjoying the view...


Roy worked on these buildings, many years ago...


the reflection of US :))))


The high rise we stayed in, South Tower...


North Tower, where the photos were taken from...

More Christmassy goodness...

This time from my beautiful friend Dani all the way from Kentucky in the States!! Dani, thank you so much for my gorgeous new pj's, they will come in handy come winter time, I did have the a/c cranked up when Roy took the photo, it was around 9.30pm & still so hot!!! I also have a new addiction (like I needed another one!!) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups... what can I say except for... oh no Dani, what have you started LOL!! lucky for me they're from the States!! they are divine!! Dani, thank you so much for my Beauty Full gifts I absolutely LOVE them! :)))) xxxx




Samuel & Tayla wanted to be in the photo too, they wanted to show off their new Christmas Bears from Myers, but unfortunately you can't see them that well! They are very cute though :)

Our night away...

We had a great night away, we had lunch, coffee, dinner & then breakfast with no Mum, Dad, we're bored or are you ready yet or I'm hungry or thirsty lol!!! but we did miss the kids big time!! Our room was 37 stories up with views to the hinterland, Roy tried to get beach views but out of over 100 stories between 2 buildings they were fully booked! We did a little Christmas shopping, hubby bought me a gorgeous pair of black Sachi high heels.. he insisted... what's a girl to do :D Our time away went way too fast, so for our anniversary in Feb, we're hoping to get away for two nights! I will post some photos I took on Sunday from level 55!!!!! the views were amazing! Be back with that later, off to do more Christmas shopping!! xx

The view from our room, was really pretty once night fell..


A gondola cruising the waterways.. not a great shot, but we were 37 stories high!


Good old Hard Rock Cafe...


Christmas Tree in Surfer's Paradise..


A Louis Vuitton display, it really looked like the shoes etc. were floating in midair!


Night shot of where we were staying...


Relaxing in a beautiful bubble bath..


Couldn't relax without a glass of moscato.. pink of course...

Can you BELIEVE...

That it's only 9 days until Christmas!!! I'm NOT ready!! I've got so much to do & so little time to do it!! not to mention we've got one more birthday to celebrate before Christmas!! Amanda will be celebrating her birthday this Friday... 6 days before Christmas! It'll all get done I know it will, lucky the shops stay open a little later this time of year! Are you all ready for Christmas????
Here are some pics of our Christmas Tree & some of our new decorations & of course my boy!!