Belinda | The Lattimore Acre

Twelve Christmas Favourites #1

For the next twelve days I will share one of my very favourite things about Christmas. I will also have my usual posts….. if something comes up xo.

#1 Christmas Favourite – Christmas Decorations

I love Christmas decorations. I always have. Some of my favourite childhood memories are of decorating the Christmas Tree. I remember everyone in my family had special decorations. This is something I have continued with Andrew and Ben. Even as an adult I still get excited about putting up the tree. I have difficulty waiting until the first of December. Most years I just can’t wait. This year Ben was excited to decorate the tree and Andrew ……. well not so much! Here are some of my favourite decorations. They are favourites because I made them, they have been given to me by someone special or they have a memory attached to them.

Happy Christmas xo

We’ve Been Slapped!

Slapped Cheek…….. ever heard of it? I hadn’t. It is also called Fifth Disease. Ben has it…… it’s not serious but it has stopped us from visiting anyone with small children or babies :(. We had planned to visit cousins and attend a 3rd birthday party this weekend – BUMMER!

About a fortnight ago Ben had a high temperature for one night. That was it …. nothing else. About fourteen days later a rash started on his arms and legs. I took him to the doctor and they said it was just a topical rash. His probably allergic to something. But the rash became much worse and we couldn’t work out what he was allergic to. I took him back to our family doctor this time and she diagnosed him with Slapped Cheek. She also said that now the rash is out he probably isn’t contagious but he shouldn’t be playing with any small children just in case. Oh yeah and adults can get it too! It is a virus and is spread by coughing or sneezing. The rash is not itchy but gets hot and spreads when Ben runs around or is outside. So for the next little while we are indoors with the air conditioning on. The treatment is to stay cool and take an antihistamine. It looks worse than it actually is. He is happy and still his mischievous little self!

Andrew had a high temperature during the night last week. We are just waiting for the rash. He is on holidays in a week. For sure that will be when the rash appears!! Oh my boys!!!

Christmas Treats

There is something pretty wonderful about this time of the year. I just love planning for Christmas. I have already began gathering ingredients to make those special treats that are saved just for the Christmas season. My favorite of all is Rum Balls – with no fruit and made with Bundy rum. I seriously had the yummiest rum ball recipe…….. but I lost it! I have this habit of writing recipes on scraps of paper and losing them. I have found this recipe. It is not quite the same but I think it will still be super tasty.

I also came across this cute idea. Not really for Christmas day but I thought I would surprise the boys with it this week. Just a little something to make everyone smile.

What’s your favorite Christmas treat?

Star Wars on a Plate

I was excited when we picked up this today.

Ben’s very first drawn melamine plate. Trudy’s daughters Kindy was collecting orders for their fundraiser and I couldn’t resist. Ben drew the pictures in September when his Star Wars interest was still at it’s peak. What am I saying……. he still loves Star Wars. He has drawn Jango Fett, General Grievous and Princess Leia. Our pictures were on paper and now….voila……. they are on a plate! I’m not sure Ben is as excited about it as I am?!

Bits and Pieces

Kindy – Kindy is over 🙁 for the year. Last Tuesday was officially Ben’s last day. During the last few weeks Ben received lots of candy canes, Christmas cards and little trinkets from his classmates. It was so lovely to watch his excitement when receiving these little gifts. Ben gave his classmates each a novelty pencil. We wrapped each one…… well I did! I do love wrapping presents but after twenty-two … maybe not so much.

It is lovely to have Ben home with me……. but would it make me a bad Mum to say I miss Kindy a little already?

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Car Airconditioning – Our car’s airconditioning stopped working over two and a half weeks ago! Oh I know it is not the end of the world but I love my aircon! No seriously I love it!!! Between the heat, hot flushes and Ben holding his ears (from the noise of the windows being open) it has not been a pleasant experience. Tomorrow it will finally be fixed….. YAY! I have learnt one very important lesson from this – Don’t take your car to the nice friendly old guy at the local Auto Electrical Shop…….. take it directly to the Dealer. They can probably do the job in a couple of hours not two and a half weeks!!! My patience has been tested!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Water Play – Ben has been spending his days doing this.

We made our own boats……

I can’t seem to keep any clothes on him when there is water around. He doesn’t even keep his togs on while playing with this. I’ve given up….. his four…….let him be a rudie nudie!

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I HEART These Kids!

I seriously do love these kids. Charlotte, Finlay and Ryan (not in photo) are so lovely. Ben has grown up with them and he is always SUPER excited to see them. They spent Friday afternoon and evening with us. They raced each other up and down the driveway, played Hide and Seek forever, watched Cars 2 and shared pizza. Ben refers to them as his cousins but they are our wonderful old neighbours that have become wonderful friends. Their Mum and Dad are pretty fabulous too! They are true friends – the ones that can knock on the door and find you in your pj’s but you don’t rush to get dressed you put the kettle on!

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Cracking the Whip – Andrew and Ben were up to old tricks again last night. After Ben had had dinner and a bath I find them doing this. The whip was out, the horse dusted off and there was some serious cracking going on. I tell you they crack me up!!! Ride like the wind Bulls Eye!!…….. seriously hilarious! I wonder if Andrew’s arm is hurting again?

I love these two xo

The Christmas Kindy Concert

Ben looked a bit handsome ready for the concert tonight. He didn’t look very ‘Christmassy’ as he didn’t want to put on the Santa hat I had for him.

Well that was until we arrived at Kindy and he saw all the kids with them on and then he couldn’t get it on fast enough.

I was so excited about the concert but was trying to calm my excited so I didn’t freak everyone out. I have been the teacher at many Christmas concerts but this was my very first as a Mum. My heart felt so full xo.

Because Ben is a little shy at times Ben’s teacher suggested that we should sit somewhere around the middle/ back of the room. There was concern if Ben saw us he wouldn’t want to participate in the concert. I was pretty sure this would be the case. Well….. we should have given him more credit. He sat and sang along (well mostly as well as playing with a couple of lego men he had in his pocket). He did well. I am such a proud Mummy! The children and teachers did a lovely job! The children sang beautifully. My favorites and Ben’s – Six White Boomers and Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer.

This was my view from the middle/back of the room…….. I was fretting I couldn’t see!

This was Ben when he spotted us…… LOVE IT!

And I just couldn’t stand it and had to get a better picture. I went out the back door, around the side, nudged my way in to snap this. I had a giggle at this one. So many little personalities – So lovely!!

Ben has grown so much this year. His Teachers Mrs Symonds and Mrs Thorne are fabulous.

Love you to bits gorgeous boy!!