Our 2007 Xmas letter

Well that worked well didn't it - not LOL Been almost a full year since I posted anything on this blog oops. I just don't know how all you others who blog manage to keep up with it. Oh well - maybe we'll try again next year!

What has happened to the Bradley Family during 2007 you ask........

We welcomed 2007 in a great way by holding a party here at home with quite a few friends and lots of alcohol and yummy food. Some mates have a band called Payback and they kindly came and played for us for our joint housewarming/new year's party. A great night was had by all and even tho there were close to 100 people here everyone was really well behaved - even all the kids. In fact it was such an awesome night we are doing it again for this New Year's!

We are loving our house and can't remember what is was like before we had all this room. I'm sure you can believe that there are still boxes to unpack over a year later but you get that with a family of hoarders lol. Getting very close to doing a major clean out of all our junk and getting stuck onto eBay. Haven't really made any changes to the place except installing air-conditioning, replacing the spa and building a monster-sized cubby house. Doubling of the garage is still on the agenda. It really is our very own slice of paradise.

Michaela is growing into a young lady before our eyes. I can't believe that next year my baby will have double digits in her age aaahh. She has had a great year at school, her reading has improved so much and her report was really good. She has the same teacher again next year so happy with that and all of her friends are in the same class. Michaela was a bit upset a few months ago as her best friend who she has been with since 3 year old kinder moved away but luckily she isn't too far and we still catch up on a regular basis. Looking at starting scouts next year as Michaela just loves to be kept busy doing creative things and it gets quite hard to do it at home with a little sister and brother who get in the way and want to have a go too. And she'll have to get on Moon's case to take her to the local motorbike club as she loves riding and will jump on her bike whenever she gets the chance. Or on the back of Moon's!

Georgia has excelled at school again - must have her mother's brains, tho I think sometimes socialising is more important to her than actual school work. We have finally talked her round to starting piano lessons in the new year. Georgia doesn't have much interest in formal activities, she'd much rather just get together with her friends and play. Also no interest in the motorbikes unless it's the 4 wheeled variety. She is our very own Forrest Gump - Michaela will ride and she'll just run lol And man can this child eat! I swear she eats more than the other three put together and yet she is the only skinny person in our family - go figure. I guess all that running and dancing around she does burns it all off. Georgia is very excited that we will be spending her birthday in Perth this January as we are heading west for some much needed holidays.

Riley has really grown. She is talking so well now and it's hard to get her to stop. No longer shy around people at all and will have a chat to anyone. She also takes after me - a total shopaholic. There are days where she just doesn't want to head home after taking her sisters to school, she wants to go to the shops! Loves being outside too and will head out into the yard whenever she gets the chance. 3 year old kinder begins next year and Riley is really looking forward to going. I'm sure she won't be quite as eager once she actually gets there and realises Mum and Jack won't be staying with her but I don't think it will take long for her settle in. She just loves playing with other kids and she'll love making a heap of new friends.

Jack is just gorgeous. Generally he is the easiest baby tho he's not really a baby anymore he's a toddler. Can throw some whopper tantrums if he doesn't get what he wants but they only last a few moments and quite easy to ignore. Doesn't really say many words but knows what he wants and how to get it. Seems to be that every adult is called "mum" and every kid is "georgia". Quite funny watching him standing there hitting Moon on the leg and calling out "mum"to get his attention lol And he really is such a boy. Loves cars and motorbikes and being outside, especially with his dad driving on the lawnmower. Don't know how he'll cope with Riley off at kinder as they are constantly joined at the hip and getting into mischief. They are so funny to watch. He still hasn't had a haircut but I think I've almost talked Moon into doing it. Will be sad to chop off the curls but it's just getting too long.

The biggest change around here has been the sale of our business Cash A Car. Moon had just had enough of all the stress and responsibilities of being the boss. He is still working there but at least now he can have some time off and for the first time ever he'll be having 2 weeks off over Christmas. He is also only working every second Saturday and it's so nice to have more time to do family things. Hopefully early in the new year everything at work will be running smoothly again and Moon will settle into the role of a wage earning employee and leave all the problems for the new bosses to sort out. And even better - I'm out of a job! Don't think the new company really wanted to keep me on for the 6 hours a week I worked and definitely not at the same rate of pay lol

Moon might even get more time to play with all his toys now. He hasn't been too bad buying cars this year, just spending money on the ones he's already got. The latest toy is a blown motor in the F100 that has been dyno tested at 500hp. Georgia isn't too impressed with it and Moon is under strict instruction to go slow whenever she is in the passenger seat. Michaela on the other hand would love to be sitting in it when he finally tests it out down the quarter mile but I won't let her. His other toys these days are of the gardening variety which makes keeping this place looking tidy much easier.

I'm going well. Never seem to have enough hours in the day in between driving the kids around here there and everywhere, cooking, cleaning, gardening, shopping and catching up with friends. The other big news is that we have booked a wedding date - October 18 2008! Yep we are finally going to do it. Now just actually have to organise everything. The only things we've settled on so far is the date, place (here at home) and the celebrant (Moon's aunt). Some interstate family and friends have already started booking flights so that's a good incentive get things happening.

Well that's all for now - this has taken me hours! Hope everyone has a very merry Christmas and a happy and safe holiday. May 2008 bring all of you only good health and great times.

All our love,

Amanda, Moon, Michaela, Georgia, Riley and Jack xxxxxxx

White Christmas!

Santa has been!


Yes it was a white Christmas morning for us! The weather here is so out of whack. A few days before xmas it was stinking hot yet on xmas morning we woke up and had to turn the heater on. The kids woke up around 7am very excited to see that Santa had been and left lots of goodies under the tree. Once I had made coffee for Moon and I it was time to sit down and get to the good stuff - present opening! Everyone was spoilt as per usual LOL Riley was the most excited - this was her first Xmas where getting presents meant something other than some pretty paper to play with. Then the heavens opened and it hailed like mad. Everywhere you looked outside was white. An amazing sight. Georgia ran outside, jumped on the trampoline and slipped straight over, creating what to me looked like a "snow angel". Georgia's "snow angel"
"snow" all around!

Moon's mum and stepfather arrived just before noon, then at 1pm we were informed that the power was to be cut for around 2 hours! Who would do this on Xmas day with food to be cooked??? Luckily it was back on by 2pm and the roast pork and turkey could be put into the ovens. We had 19 people for dinner - the 6 of us, Moon's mum and stepdad, my mum and stepdad, my dad, brother and 2 "other" brothers, Moon's dad, and Moon's brother and family. After pigging out on crays and prawns (not for me - yuck!) we then sat down to a lovely roast. Waited a while for a yummy dessert of pavlova and sticky date pudding as everyone was so full.


Everyone had a great time and by the time we finally got the kids to bed all were exhausted.


Boxing Day the kids just played with their toys (favourite things were their Big Baby Bratz from Santa, digital cameras from Oma and Nintendo DS's from Grandad) and rode the motorbikes with their cousin whilst us girls hit the shops. OMG what a stupid idea as it was a total madhouse, taking 1/2 hour just to get a carpark. Got a couple of bargains but really couldn't be bothered with the crowds. Now just have to get some energy back to have a big clean-up and put the decorations away.

Hope your Chrissy was great too!

Our 2006 Xmas letter

Been too disorganised and busy to do Xmas cards this year so am just posting our Xmas letter here for all to see!
So what has happened with us in 2006? Heaps! The start of the year was reasonably uneventful with the kids settling back in at school and me growing fatter by the day being pregnant with Jack. As the end of my pregnancy drew closer it became obvious that I would have to have a c-section as I had a condition known as placenta praevia (low-lying placenta). Was booked in for delivery but then on 9th June I had a second bleed and it was decided that I needed to get our little man out there and then. So at 7:16pm on 9th June we welcomed a 7lb5oz Jack Adam Bradley into the world. He is just a gorgeous little man and loved dearly by his 3 big sisters, as well as all that meet him. Took him a while to start putting on weight but now at 6 months of age he is 14lb - still little for his age but definately becoming bigger by the day. Jack is generally a happy bub (tho seems to have a habit of being grumpy on Thursdays when his Oma has him lol) and sleeps quite well at night. Just starting to roll everywhere and is also now eating solids. He had his first modelling job this month and hopefully this leads to much bigger things for him. Moon just hopes that Jack will be paid as well as he gets older and moves into the real workforce!

Riley is now 2 and becoming cheekier by the day. She is such a funny character but the past week or so she is testing the limits. Her biggest problem is that she thinks she can do whatever her big sisters can and they teach her some bad habits. Generally she is an easy kid and keeps us all in fits of laughter with her funny antics. Riley is an awesome helper when it comes to Jack. She just loves playing with him and making him laugh. She also likes to feed him his bottle and is great at getting nappies and spit rags when they are needed. She is also getting much better at talking and is saying more and more words everyday. Riley loves to draw, and gets right into music and dances along to any she hear.

Georgia is great. Excelling at school with her reading and story writing and is pretty much about a year ahead of her classmates. Her only drama at school is that she doesn't like being the centre of attention so doesn't like speaking in front of everyone. Anyone who knows this kid would be thinking what???? as she is always performing but I just think it's cause she is a perfectionist and doesn't want to let people see her doing anything other than her best. She has heaps of friends and will tell stories about her happenings of the day for hours. Georgia and Riley are very similar and get along great. They will just go and play happily for hours, either outside mucking about, or inside drawing. Georgia is a drama queen tho and sometimes you think she must be seriously hurt from her carry-on but no, Riley has screwed up her drawing or something else as harmless.

Michaela is a beautiful kid. We have dramas with her in that she won't take no for an answer and likes to have the last word at all times, but when she is being good she is just gorgeous. A perfect example is the other week when they had a fair at school. Michaela did lots of helping out around the house to earn money and then on the day Georgia forgot to take hers. But of course without even being asked Michaela shared hers with her sister so she wouldn't miss out. Am hoping next year school is better for her as this year was a waste with teacher problems. She needs a bit more help with her reading but she does try and thats all we can ask. Maths seems to be her stronger point and Michaela loves it when I give her worksheets to do after school. She is also loves to be useful and will help out with chores around the house. I think we might have to give her the vegie patch as she thinks it is brilliant and was shaped as an "m" just for her.

Moon is as busy as ever with work. Business is going well tho some weeks are quieter than others, and some days are more stressfull too! Ahh the joy of being the boss LOL Unfortunately he still doesn't take too much time off but at least being around the corner he can do school pickups occaisionally and calls past home every now and then for a bit.
The biggest change around here is the new house! We moved in on November 18 and there are still lots of boxes to unpack - wish I could get motivated to do it but with 2 babies still at home it's not that easy. The house is just fantastic. We are on just under 2 acres and the main house has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 living areas. It's soooooo nice to be able to go to the loo when you need to and not have to wait till someone else has finished! There is also a big shed for all Moon's toys that also has a "bachelor pad" in the rear that has a bathroom, bedroom, and living room. Behind the house is a 2 bedroom cottage that will be used for when we have guests, and also as my office. Already people are asking to move in but I think we'll just leave it with a 2 week stay limit LOL. Heaps of lovely gardens and have got the vegie patch going so a lot of time is spent outdoors. Have not had to move schools or anything as we are less than 10 mintues away from the old place.

We had Mum's wedding the week before we moved and it was lovely. The three girls were flowergirls, with me as bridesmaid. Everyone looked gorgeous and it was great to catch up with the many people who came from interstate. And start booking your holidays as Moon and I are planning to finally tie the knot in 2008, especially now we have the perfect place for it - home!

I'm good as always. Just flat out with looking after the kids, trying to keep the house in some kind of order, and working one afternoon a week at the yard (the boss whinges that I'm not there enough) with mum looking after the kids whilst I'm there. Hopefully trying to keep this place clean and the gardens tidy will help me lose some more weight in readiness for putting on a wedding dress lol. And for those who were wondering, there will be no more kids added to this family as I had my tubes tied whilst they were doing the c-section. I think 4 is a perfect number anyways.
Hope everyone is happy and healthy. Have a great Christmas and a safe New Year. Hope 2007 brings lots of joy to you all.
with lots of love from Amanda, Moon, Michaela, Georgia, Riley & Jack
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Xmas 2006

Thought it was my turn......

to start a blog! So here we are. Will try to give regular updates on all the happenings of our family. Just gotta work out how to do it and find some "me" time to sit at the computer. So keep checking back and see how I go lol