A Big Catch Up

hey everyone, happy new year to you all, I hope its off to a good start for you :) As some of you have noticed I haven't been around much over the past few weeks - I've been on holiday and have been quite busy with lots on and have also had a week away visiting family. I start back at work tomorrow.

So this morning I thought I'd do a bit of a recap as to whats been happening in my life over the past few weeks.

We had a wonderful Christmas day with our family, and started the day off by visiting my parents. Watching my niece Zoe opening her presents was just priceless.

We all got thoroughly spoilt with lots of great pressies. Glenn gave me a digital photo frame which I was just thrilled with so I've spent a bit of time over the past few days rearranging oodles of photos for it.

This year we decided to celebrate Christmas a little bit different. Usually we all get together for a late lunch but this year after having an yummy brunch at my parents it was back to our house for a few hours rest before everyone arrived for dinner. There would have been about 2o of us I guess. Everyone brought something along to contribute. Here are the lovely desserts we had, yum!!

Then completely to mine, and everyone's elses surprise too, Glenn dressed as Father Christmas to hand out a few Christmas presents. The look on the kids faces were just priceless, little Josh, pictured here with Zoe too, was just amazed by him :)

Between Christmas and New Year I got stuck into a list of jobs I wanted to get done around the house - cleaning out kitchen cupboards, the pantry, the oven, etc. Sure felt good getting it all done. Glenn has been doing some more DIY work around the house including extending the wall between our lounge and dining room, making our lounge to appear much bigger.

Kath arrived a few days before New Year's for a visit and it was lovely to have her with us. For New Year's Eve we invited a few friends and family around and had a bbq. On New Year's day it was off to the Horse Races in Hastings. Even though we didn't come home with any winnings it was a thoroughly enjoyable day out, especially for Kath as she'd never been to the races before.

While Kath was here we made sure we found some time for a stitching session or two :). I usually start a new project every 1st January and this year was no exception, except it was the 2nd January, lol. I've chosen Just Nan's Baby Garden for our baby sampler, here's a little bit of my progress so far. I'm stitching it on a light blue hand dyed belfast, this photo makes the fabric appear alot bluer than it actually is.

Just in time for Christmas, a long lost stash parcel arrived, my Christmas present to myself :)

Then in the mail box, just before I headed out of town, was a lovely parcel from Carol. Carol sent me not one, but two perfectly stitched and finished ornaments, the latest Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine, a Sweetheart Tree needleroll pattern and a gorgeously scented soap.

Thanks again Carol, I just loved everything :)

Last week I spent the week visiting my aunt, uncle and cousin Donna in Palmerston North, taking my cousin Kimberley with me. This will probably be the last time I get to go away with Kimberley before the baby arrives so we made sure we had lots of fun together - we shopped and shopped, lol, and went to a couple of movies, and also spent some time just hanging out together. Kim and I have been taking this holiday together since she was about 7 years old, she's now 14.

Today its my Dad's birthday so later on Glenn and I are heading out with Mum, Dad and Zoe to Napier to have lunch out somewhere. Its a beautiful day here so it will be nice to be in Napier by the sea.

Back to work for me tomorrow, sigh, but it will be good to get back to the "normal" weekly routine of things:)

Catch up again soon with some more stitching wip pics. Take care xxx