Yesterday (Sunday 6th) we joined together with our friends and family for Bethany's dedication. The day started with Bethany's early morning feed, then straight into cooking preparations. I must admit I was a bit nervous as we have never entertained that many people before, and with a newborn & only having just moved into the house I found myself wondering it was all going to pan out.
Do I have enough seats for everyone? (The old house was a 1/4 the size of this one and we only have enough furniture sufficient to fit in the old house!)
Where is it best to serve everything? Do we have enough food? Do we have enough tables? How will it all work?
We were expecting some 45 people for dinner after the service so now is the time to test out the new kitchen. Oh what a pleasure it is to have some bench space for once!! What a wonderful thing it is to be able to have 3 or 4 dishes on the go at once. Unlike previously, where I could only do one dish at a time, making the whole process take 3 times as long! But not yesterday - I got all the hot food done by 10am, just in time for Bethany's second feed! Wonderful!
Once the cooking was down there was still plenty to do, nibblies to organise, drinks to buy & platters to pick up from the shops. Oh, and plastic plates/cups/utensils. Oh, and some more serving stuff & dips to be bought. It was then off to Woolies to battle the Sunday shoppers. Still - cooking done, there was a whole house to clean, and I couldn't have got everything done without two angels, my sister-in-law Sal, and my niece Jemma.
Then it was off to church for the 4pm service. And boy was it hot in there. Whenever anyone asks me about the dress-code at our church, I always tell them the same thing, "dress for comfort". Because we've not long moved into the building and it hasn't yet been fitted out for church-use, so therefore it's not air conditioned, nor conducive for breezy air flow.
Pastor Lex did the dedication as Pastor Troy was away in India. And I must say that all went well and Bethany was on her very best behaviour. She was asleep during the dedication ceremony itself! She looked resplendent in the dedication gown, hand-smocked by Grandma Moore for me when I was dedicated all those years ago. It is a wonderful family heirloom that has now been worn by: Myself; Beck; My aunt's children - Rachel, Vicki, Natalie, Cameon, Caitlin, & Jemima; My boys Lachlan & Harrison; My niece Marcella and now little Bethany. That's 12 children that have worn Grandma's dress - and I must say it has held up well, looking every bit as good as when it was first made. That's thanks mostly in part to Vanessa, who cared for it so well for so many years.
Anyway, the dedication over, we only had just enough time to take a few pictures at church before rushing home. There was a storm coming and it was supposed to hail, and no one wanted to be caught driving in it. It turned out to be only quick shower of rain, no hail, fortunately.
Dinner at our house went off without a hitch. We managed to fit everyone in, had plenty of food, and a good time was had by all. Again, a big thank you to Sal & Jemma for their tireless efforts in serving up & clearing away the food. I couldn't have done it without your help! Bethany did quite well all in all - it was a very big day for her - and even though she was passed through many sets of hands, she eventually settled well for the night, after a bottle and an extended cuddle from Nanna (Jackie).
As for Kevan & I - well we collapsed into bed also. It was a great day, and we enjoyed finally being able to have the extended family over to celebrate in the new house!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Merry Christmas & Welcome 2008
Merry Christmas to all our family & friends!!! I trust you and yours had a happy day celebrating Jesus' birth.
I love Christmas and all that it means. I love celebrating together with the family, and I love the relaxing day we always have together at Mum's.
We start off the day (always an early start with kids) with the kid's opening their presents from 'Santa' and then from Mummy & Daddy. Then it's off to church when the hour is more reasonable. Usually we all go to our own separate church services respectively, but this year we decided to start a new tradition: to join together at the one church, alternating between ours & Beck's each year. And since Dame was on team this year, North Brisbane won the vote. It was really lovely to sit together, the whole fam taking up the whole row, with Nanny's chest swelling with pride.
Then for me it's usually straight home to glaze the ham, but thanks to the fact that Bethany's only 8 weeks old, Mum did it for me instead this year. Thanks, Mum. Still - we headed home to gather the cold foods I'd made the day before, and after a quick feed for the girl it was off to Mum's.
I love gathering together at Mum's each year. I love the fact that Kylie comes home from London and is there to share the day with us. Aunty Mal comes too, and she always enjoys a good laugh at our stories. Nanny & Pop join us every year. And Beck & Dame share lunch together with us as well. And it's all the more fun now, with little Marcella able to walk around and have fun with the boys. Mum always prepares a wonderful feast but usually leaves something in the microwave, Nanny always gets a photo taken of her with her mouth 'full', Pop always carves up the ham/turkey (and you name it) because no one does it as good as he does, we all crack open our bon bons, groan at the seriously-not-funny "jokes" and most of us wear the silly hats. Benny always hangs around the table for tidbits of food, while none of us want to be the "Santa" when it comes to handing out the presents. Oh, except Lachlan this year decided it's the job for him. Which worked out fine until he got a cool present then he quit to play with it! Most of which usually gets caught on video camera (usually with Dad or Kylie at the helm). Then it's straight into Mum's plum pud with her delicious custard, orange peel 'butter' and brandy cheer. Oh - and I forgot the one thing that all of us are certain to do every year - eat too much.
And then we spend the afternoon sleeping, playing cards/star wars monopoly, trying out presents and still eating nibblies. And then we feast again in the evening...
Recover overnight...
And then go to Mum's for leftovers on Boxing Day.
Thank you for another wonderful Christmas Mum. You go to so much effort every year, often cooking for days beforehand, just so we can create such wonderful memories as a family. I loved it as a kid and I know my kids love it too. You really are wonderful Mum... thank you!
I love Christmas and all that it means. I love celebrating together with the family, and I love the relaxing day we always have together at Mum's.
We start off the day (always an early start with kids) with the kid's opening their presents from 'Santa' and then from Mummy & Daddy. Then it's off to church when the hour is more reasonable. Usually we all go to our own separate church services respectively, but this year we decided to start a new tradition: to join together at the one church, alternating between ours & Beck's each year. And since Dame was on team this year, North Brisbane won the vote. It was really lovely to sit together, the whole fam taking up the whole row, with Nanny's chest swelling with pride.
Then for me it's usually straight home to glaze the ham, but thanks to the fact that Bethany's only 8 weeks old, Mum did it for me instead this year. Thanks, Mum. Still - we headed home to gather the cold foods I'd made the day before, and after a quick feed for the girl it was off to Mum's.
I love gathering together at Mum's each year. I love the fact that Kylie comes home from London and is there to share the day with us. Aunty Mal comes too, and she always enjoys a good laugh at our stories. Nanny & Pop join us every year. And Beck & Dame share lunch together with us as well. And it's all the more fun now, with little Marcella able to walk around and have fun with the boys. Mum always prepares a wonderful feast but usually leaves something in the microwave, Nanny always gets a photo taken of her with her mouth 'full', Pop always carves up the ham/turkey (and you name it) because no one does it as good as he does, we all crack open our bon bons, groan at the seriously-not-funny "jokes" and most of us wear the silly hats. Benny always hangs around the table for tidbits of food, while none of us want to be the "Santa" when it comes to handing out the presents. Oh, except Lachlan this year decided it's the job for him. Which worked out fine until he got a cool present then he quit to play with it! Most of which usually gets caught on video camera (usually with Dad or Kylie at the helm). Then it's straight into Mum's plum pud with her delicious custard, orange peel 'butter' and brandy cheer. Oh - and I forgot the one thing that all of us are certain to do every year - eat too much.
And then we spend the afternoon sleeping, playing cards/star wars monopoly, trying out presents and still eating nibblies. And then we feast again in the evening...
Recover overnight...
And then go to Mum's for leftovers on Boxing Day.
Thank you for another wonderful Christmas Mum. You go to so much effort every year, often cooking for days beforehand, just so we can create such wonderful memories as a family. I loved it as a kid and I know my kids love it too. You really are wonderful Mum... thank you!
Tis the Season to be Age-ing
Yes, that's right - for us it's not just the season for Christmas, but also for birthdays... Right on the back of Harry's (at end of Nov), we have Kevan's, Grandpa Moore's, Mum's & Lachie's all in December, and all before we hit Christmas!So a big happy Birthday to Kevan, Grandpa (who turned 90), Mum & Lach !!
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