My little show off

Christmas Day

We had a fantastic day with the girls, starting with waking bright and early with my Mum and Dad to help us get the girls ready for church, not before a few more presents from Santa.

After church we headed to Mum and Dad's to get together with Kym, Dave, Mitchell, Lucas, Sheriden, Gary, Chloe, Jake and Nanna (Grandnan) and Grandma ("Ma"). It was a great day and the cousins absolutely loved playing together. The present frenzy, was just that, you had to be there to believe it. Presents were flying everywhere and wrapping paper filled the floor. It was absolutely crazy. None of the kids really understand why they were being inundated with cool gifts, but they lapped it up all the same.

Christmas lunch was great, all the babies got to sit up at the table with us, so we got to sit and enjoy our lunch. The afternoon was the Wiggles and sharing the cots for naps. We headed home aound 4pm and the girls were high as kites with excitement. I played with them and their new toys for a few hours, eventually it was bath and dinner time and they were out to it by 7pm. It was a fantastic christmas.

Christmas Eve

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By the time Christmas Eve was over, we felt like we'd already had christmas Day.

We took the girls to Mum and Dad's for an early christmas celebration with Ben, Dean and Auntie Net and Nanna (Grandnan). They got to open some early presents and played with the train set.

Christmas Eve night they had so much fun. Mum and Dad had a "sleepover" at our house, so they could enjoy the girls opening their presents. Santa came early and the girls received a few presents before bed. We took lots of photos then put them to bed so they could get a good night's sleep for their huge day.

Merry Christmas!

It seems like yesterday i was posting my christmas message at the end of 06. What a crazy, busy, fun-filled, challenging, amazing year. Those are the first words that came to my head when i think of this year. We've enjoyed settling into our house here, meeting new friends, catching up with old ones and spending time with my family. We've also been lucky to have Dustin's family visit and stay with us as well as being able to meet up with them overseas. The best part of the year though, the absolute highlight, has been watching our two baby girls grow into adorable, loving toddlers.

This Christmas has been particularly exciting for us. Last christmas was the babies' first christmas but it was bittersweet, as we were worried about Violet and her occular issues, naturally we were concerned her issues would greatly affect her life and prevent her from enjoying everything we wanted her to experience and enjoy. As the year unfolded, we slowly started to relax as all the questions we had and (sometimes inaccurate) doctors advice all became irrelevant as our little girl blossomed and showed us she had all her faculties, was in perfect health and loved nothing more than to show off and make us laugh. It was a challenging year, but i wouldn't change a thing, our experiences have allowed us to grow stronger as a family and appreciate how fortunate we are to be parents to Violet and Olivia.

We have been busy this christmas catching up with friends and family, christmas shopping and decorating our house. The girls have no real idea of what is going on, but every day they are happy little campers. They love playing in their tent and giggling at eachother. Violet is still the alpha crazy baby, she loves to kiss her sister, and tries to pin her down for a kiss anytime and anywhere. The other night i heard Livi giggling (which is what she does when Violet kisses her)but it turned into a crying whine, i found them both in the tent, Violet had pinned her down on her back and was attacking her with kisses -- it was so cute. They love to sing, copy us, and wrap their arms around us for big cuddles.

Next year we will probably enjoy a white christmas in America with Dustin's family, so we definitely want to enjoy everything a hot Australian christmas has to offer this year.

We have a big 2008 planned, business-wise and otherwise, i think we're in for some more enjoyable adventures here and abroad. I am getting the girls passports updated also so they can join us, at least this time it will be a bit easier (you can read the post titled 'passports' in 2006 to learn of our last hideous experience).

On behalf of the Hamilton family, i want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and happy 2008!


Kirsty, Dustin, Violet and Olivia
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