Blog Stats for 2022

 A Lot of Little Bit of Love blog stats for 2022

12 months

67 Published Comments

13,000 views 

10,700 visitors from Twitter

892 visitors from Facebook

807 visitors from Instagram

6,000 Chrome browser users

2,360 Mobile browser users

1,730 Safari browser users

4,720 views from Australia

4,280 views from United States 

1,070 views from Canada

Most viewed Post (169 views in 12 months)

Second most viewed Post (101 views in 12 months)

Third most viewed Post (95 views in 12 months)

All Time

896 Blog Posts

567 Followers

10,587 Published Comments

168,606 Blog Views

57,320 views from Twitter

6,770 views from Facebook

4,960 views from Instagram

62,100 Chrome users

41,700 Firefox users

22,000 Safari users

62,500 views from United States

46,000 views from Australia

8,780 views from Russia

First Blog Post

Top Blog Post (2,190 views)

Second Most Viewed Blog Post (783 views)

Third Most Viewed Blog Post (676 views)

and this will be my last blog for 2022.. 

From wherever you're reading from in this great big world, Happy New Year to you and to yours!

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7 Little Letters

As we enter the last hours of 2022, it's Just Nevaeh and I at home. Of all the things we could be doing tonight we decided that we would have dinner and blog together. As I cooked Nevaeh wrote out 7 little letters using Madeline's journal prompts on Pinterest. Here is what she wrote..

To the person who hurt me, thank you for hurting me, I'm happy I had you in my life for that short period of time. You hurting me helped me grow and become stronger. You were special to me and still are, but you're gone now.

To the person who left me, it was out of the blue, you just disappeared. No goodbye, no reason, you left me wondering. What did I do wrong? and why did you do it? I still question that to this day.

To the person I miss, I've been thinking about you a lot recently. I want to reach out to you but I'm anxious you'll find it weird. You were my best friend until you turned your life into having to be the "popular girl"; drugs, sex, getting a criminal record. I miss the old you and our old friendship.

To the person I love more than anything, Mum, I'm so happy and grateful to have you in my life, you're literally my go-to. You've been through so much with me, my whole life actually. I care about you so much. I know we fight and argue but you'll always be my favourite.

To the person who raised me, thank you for trying so hard for being there for me through so much. You have raised me so well and I'm extremely grateful for everything you do for me. I love you.

To the person who forgave me, I'm sorry I treated you that way. I really don't deserve you. You're such a sweet soul and the nicest person. I wont ever forgive myself for what I did. I am thankful for you.

To the person who broke me, I don't know how to feel the happy me after what you did. I'm lost. You make me scared to trust. Love. I've been overthinking a lot recently. You made me hate myself. I hate you and I wont ever be the same again. 

Each written with so much rawness, strength and resilience. My 13yo daughter has had to overcome some pretty tough stuff this year with friendships and relationships. We talk regularly now, share a beautiful bond and when everything gets too much for her you'll find her with Karen and her rescue horses. Life's not easy and even "kids" can feel the heaviness caused by others around them but whats important is giving them the time and space they need to grow, to navigate the tough relationships in their lives and to be someone they trust to ask for help when they need it. This year my daughter's got quite good at asking for help when things get heavy and I'm getting better at giving her my undivided love, attention and careful opinions. Mothering her has been a massive calling, seeing her write these little letters shows me just how extraordinary Nevaeh truly is. So wise beyond her years, just like her mama.

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Christmas Day 2022

Christmas in our home starts just the way it has done the last few years since having sleepless teenagers. 

12am opening of Gifts.

This year this is what the kids got..

Nevaeh

A Beauty Case, Eye Lashes, Eye Lash Glue, Eye Liner, Mascara, an Etch & Sketch Ear Pods, A gold smart watch, Connector Pens, Pencil Case for School, hair ties, hair clips, a beach towel, a DIY candle maker kit, a DIY polyma earring kit, LED lights x4, Scarfs x2, Level Up Neon Sign, Music Cloud Neon Sign Corded headphones for phone, Xbox Headset, $100 xbox giftcard, $20 Best and Less Gift Card, $20 Factory gift card and a new doona set.

Jiedyn

A Car Racing Set, a predictor ball, a beach towel, weights, an Etch & Sketch, Ear Pods, Connector Pens, Pencil Case for School, a smart watch, an Xbox Headset, a exercise rolling ball, a new chess set, Connect 4, Guiness World Records 2022 book, Minecraft Master Builds Book, ear pods, LED lights x 4, an Alien LED light, a mushroom LED light, a light projector, Corded headphones for phone, $100 xbox giftcard, $20 Best and Less Gift Card, $20 Factory gift card and a new doona set.

We all went back to bed at around 1am waking up later Christmas day.

David spent Christmas Morning with his youngest daughter which was spesh!

Nevaeh spent her day with friends and then went to her grandmothers house to see her father.

Jie, David and I spent the rest of the day home and ate a beautiful late Christmas Lunch together

We watched Cool Runnings and then went to the East Side to see Davids best mate Long Christmas night. We enjoyed the cool drive after a warm day and got home to two sleeping Kids.

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TDOC Cooking Prep + Menu

Now this Christmas Tradition is a brand new one now that myself and Jie have joined Nevaeh and Davids love of baking.

This year Jie has been in the kitchen cooking more than any other. 

So this year, in the lead up to Christmas day, we made Chocolate balls, Jelly Cups, Cinnamon biscuits, Savoury Scrolls, Pizza Scrolls, Vanilla and Boysenberry Cupcakes and egg and bacon muffins.

 

Our Christmas Menu this year looks like this:

Grazing Platter

Roast Pork with cranberry &/or Apple Sauce

Roasted Potato, sweet potato, pumpkin and Carrot

Peas and Corn

Dinner rolls

Dessert:

Homemade Chocolate Balls

Jelly cups

Christmas Pudding with custard and ice-cream

What’s your menu looking like this year?!

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TDOC Christmas Light Looking

Our Twelve Days of Christmas activity today took us out of the house and into Eynesbury for the first house on our 15 house list of Christmas light displays to see in and around Melton. 

In years gone by we have had a tradition of getting starbucks and venturing out to Werribee and Point cook but this year there was a hype on facebook saying these 15 houses were a must see.

Stopping at Maccas for Frappes for the kids and raspberry freeze's from KFC for David and I, off we went to the first house. 

Lets just say, the list went out the window after that. 

The whole street was shut down for a Christmas Light Show experience. 

The shows included the music of Bluey the dog, Dance Monkey, Frozen, The Lion King, The Grinch, The Polar Express, Spiderman, We dont talk about Bruno, Top Gun, Down Under (men at work), My money don't Jiggle Jiggle and ending with a  Christmas Mash-up.

More info can be found on their FB Page here..

 

Other highlight of the night included Jiedyn meeting the biggest Gingerbread Man we ever did see, a gold buggie passing us by with me telling the fella driving to "fang it" and Jie and Nevaeh critiquing other houses attemps of decorating.

This years Christmas light looking together has been my favorite year so far.

So many good times and wonderful memories.

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TDOC Christmas Movie Night

 This year the only Christmas movie we watched at home together was 

Fred Clause

And the only movie we saw at the cinema was.. 

Violent Night

Jie payed for his cousin Jeanette to come thinking it was going to be some beautiful Christmas movie. Once the movie started the kids moved to the back seats of the cinema and we enjoyed the movie in a cinema all to ourselves.

Not sure if we will watch another movie together before Christmas but these two were great.

On the way home we listened to a few of Mums favorite songs as it would have been her birthday had she still been earth-side with us.

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TDOC Hillsong Christmas Spectacular

This Christmas activity was extra special being that we picked the kids 11yo cousin Justine up from her foster home to join us to see the 2022 Hillsong Christmas Spectacular at Festival Hall in Melbourne formally known in the aboriginal Language as "Naarm".

On the way the kids played "First to find.." as we listened to our Christmas playlist.

And then in no time at all after parking the car in little bourke Street and hitching an Uber before being shown to our seat in Festval Hall itself.

It was all very exciting with electic guitar solos, a young solo drummer boy, amazing singers and special effects all the way through.

Afterwards was their christmas street party consisting of street food trucks and rides for all ages, but we opted to walk back to the car and head to Grazeland instead.

 

David and I love going to Grazeland and have been a few times now but it was the kids second time there and Justines first.

To explain Grazeland, it's a foodies heaven! With over 50 different vendors serving local and international foods from shipping containers which have been turned into small shops. With live entertainment all day long and in a dog friendly atmosphere, we absolutely love coming back.

I knew what I wanted before getting through the gate, the same thing I get every time and a dish I have not yet mastered in my kitchen. 

The most succulent butter chicken with coconut curry veg on a bed of saffron rice from a Sri Lankin street food vendor.

David opted for his fave fish and chips as did Jie while Justine and Nevaeh shared a Margarita Pizza.

It was a beautiful night out together and a tradition we will keep for years to come.

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TDOC KIRRIP Christmas Party

 As we wait for photos to come back lets just reflect back on all that was one of the best KIRRIP Aboriginal Corporation Christmas Parties ever.

As you walk into KIRRIP you are greeted by the beautiful Lita, Cheetah and Aunty Dawn for your Christmas Card from KIRRIP Staff and the Board as well as a free raffle ticket to win one of four jolly big Christmas hampers of donated food and confectionery.

As you make your way down the hall towards Santa, Tom is busy in the back ground preparing your children's gifts which have also been donated by another org which have been wrapped and sorted into age groups.

Lucy introduces the families to "Koorie Klause" whom is Keenan dressed in a Santa suit that is barely staying together but somehow he makes it work as he greets and smiles for the camera with the families huddled around him and even at times holding babies in his arms.

A highlight of the day was when a few littlies came back after their photos to dance with him. It was truly a gift to see these little ones doing "shake a leg" with "Santa".

After the Santa pic its gift time with kids of all ages ripping open the neatly folded presents in which Ben, Lita, Graham and I wrapped days before, to find their special treasures inside.

After all that excitement, it was time to say goodbye to Santa and head out the back to for a sausage sizzle and drink. 

Tables were set up outside and it was awesome to still see families and elders sitting out in the cool shade of our beautiful twenty degree day when I left at around 1pm.

Another highlight of the day was seeing all the elders in the community together for a photo with "Koorie Klause" and watching them open and be thrilled by their $50 Coles/Woolies vouchers. 

It's times like these we as a community get to be together to share the joy at Christmas and to know that in our community, no-one goes without.

Photo's to be added later.

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TDOC Bacchus Marsh Christmas Market

 

Our Twelve days of Christmas time together brought us together at the Bacchus Marsh Christmas Market.

We picked up my eldest niece Jeanette on the way and enjoyed a stroll around stopping in at he stalls we liked as we went.

There were memory jerking rides I'd been on with the kids in previous years such as the spaceship and the dodge-em cars.

We didn't stay for the carols or the fireworks but it was nice just being out together enjoying the christmas spirit with our growing community.

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{Flashback Friday} Little One

As I was going through my old hotmail account (which I've had since I was 14 and pleasantly suprised I even remembered the password) I stumbled accross a few photos I never knew I had.. one of them was the one displayed here. This was my son only 1-2 months old. I was a single teen mother, in a new house, in a new little community with no friends or family for support. I look back now and think about how lucky I was! Jiedyn was such a good baby who could just sit for hours and listen to me talk to him about sweet nothings. As he grew I too grew to understand him. What he wanted, what he needed etc. He taught me how to be his Mummy..

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TDOC Christmas Cards

 This year I did something I've never done before.

I signed up with Jaqui Lawson E cards for a yearly membership and sent all my co-workers, family and friends and donated $100 to The Neighbours Place on what would have been spent on cards and postage stamps.

The kids still wrote cards though. Jie wrote a card and gave chocolates to his Guitar tutor Mr May and Nevaeh wrote a card and has chocolates for her new friend Karen whom she has been spending time with out on her farm.

David wrote a card and gave chocolates to his best friend long and my Christmas Cards and chocolates went to my BFF's Rachy, Nat, Jules and Sharon.

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The Big Christmas Questionnaire

Today I am taking part in Jordanne's Big Christmas Questionnaire which you can find on her blog here.

The rules are as follows:

• Answer the 15 Questions
• Tag up to 10 others to take part
• Reference “Tag by @Ofaglasgowgirl” in your post
• Thank the person who tagged you
• Have fun!

So here goes..

1. What’s your favourite thing about Christmas?

In the years gone by my favorite part of Christmas has been time spent with family, friends and community over the years doing our family advent activities. We have shared such amazing unforgettable days and nights with friends we've considered family which I've absolutely enjoyed over the years.

2. Do you have a favourite festive scent?

Yanky Candle's White Christmas hands down. 

3. What’s your favourite Christmas movie?

That's easy ELF! but I do love Home Alone 2 better than Home Alone 1 and also Look Whos Talking Now. They all have to be watched at some point in December.

4. Do you have a Christmas eve tradition?

As Christians, we dont leave milk and cookies out for "Santa" but when the kids were little they got a new pair of Christmas PJ's to wear to bed Christmas Eve and I would read the Christmas Story from their Childrens Bibles. It's been many years since we've done that but I think I'll bring that back this year. 

5. What’s your favourite Christmas memory?

The Year my Dad bought me Hanson's first album as well as their Christmas album "Snowed In" as gifts. We went up to the mountains on a camping trip together and for 3 hours we listened to Hanson's two albums. By the end of the trip even he knew the words to Mmm Bop.

6. What’s the most memorable present you’ve ever received?

That's a tough one, maybe the year I was in foster care and my foster family bought me the Jars of Clay Album. I'd never heard of them before as I was newly Christian and they were a Christian band but I really learned to love that album as well as the body shop's Coconut Body Butter which I wore to high school every day as a teenager.

7. How long before the 25th do you put presents under the tree?

As soon as the tree goes up, gifts go under adding more and more as the month progresses.

8. Who did you spend your last Christmas with?

Last Christmas was so cute. Just my son, daughter and partner. I think this year we will do the same.

9. Did you send Santa letters when you were a child?

I think we did it as an activity in school, but I don't remember it being a part of my family tradition in my family or any of the foster homes I lived in.

10. Have you ever re-gifted a Christmas present?

Absolutely never. I am a sentimental person so even shitty gifts mean a lot to me.

11. Do you have a favourite Christmas decoration?

The star on the top. For all that it represents.

12. What does your dream Christmas morning look like?

Snow and a fireplace, but living in Australia it's scorching hot BBQ weather.

13. Do you prefer the starter or dessert at Christmas dinner?

Dad's Christmas Trifle. Never done starters, just bowls of chips, lollies and nuts. But Christmas is the only time we make Trifle throughout the year.

14. If you could invite 3 people to Christmas dinner, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Being the sentimental person that I am it would have to be my Nana as I miss her so much and want to share with her so much thats happened since shes been gone, my Dad because I just need his wisdom, advice and hug. But most of all my mothers father whom she never met as I'd love to hear about his childhood, family and culture growing up. I have such a deep respect for my old people so they would be my three.

15. What age were you when you discovered Santa wasn’t real?

I think I was about 11yo. My Dad tripped over something while putting our play station from "Santa" under the tree on Christmas morning waking me up. 

The next day, I realised all the presents were wrapped in the same wrapping paper and Dad's handwriting was on the tag from Santa. 

Dad tried to say that he did "Santa" a favor by wrapping and signing our gifts but we didn't buy it.

It was later confirmed by my teachers at school that we had to play pretend for the younger students.

Next I must Tag 10 people so here are my 10:

Lauren who blogs here.

Rosie whom blogs here.

Teja whom blogs here.

CeeCee whom blogs here.

Paige whom blogs here.

Nicole whom blogs here.

Courtney whom blogs here.

Jeanette whom blogs here.

Jade whom blogs here.

and Maria whom blogs here.

Again I'd just like to thank Jordanne for creating this Questionnaire as it was nice to look back and reflect on Christmas gone by. I hope those tagged also share with us what makes Christmas special to them through these questions also.

Merry Christmas to all my fellow bloggers - Old and New!

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TDOC Hot Chocolates

 

Now this Christmas tradition has been around for as long as I can remember and has always been one of many of my kids favorites. 

Day three of our Twelve Days of Christmas together was a creating our very own warm and christmassy hot chocolate drinks!

With all of it's triple cocoa, marshmallow, candy cane, whipped cream and wafer stick delights, these self made cups of goodness are and always will be a hit!

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Community Excursion

It was a beautiful 20 degrees in Ballarat earlier this week when we took a bus load of community to the Ballarat Wildlife Park. 

I am in no way an "events planner" but I was so proud of the outcome of this day.

I was nervous right up until the day because I just wanted to make a memorable outing for our elders and attendees, most of which had never been there before.

There were many firsts throughout the day and fears conquered. 

I also received great feedback from community and my co-worker afterwards.

We are now looking forward to our Christmas Party later in the month.

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TDOC Geelong Waterfront Fireworks

 

Day two of our Twelve Days of Christmas together had us front row on a warm night eating icecream in front of the iconic floating Christmas tree on the Geelong waterfront singing christmas carols and enjoying the fireworks display in the distance.

Such a beautiful night out.

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{Flashback Friday} Easter 2011

Woo hoo.. I can take a step back into my past with you all again!! This photo was taken on Easter 2007! Those trucks were filled with chocolate eggs.. and Jie just wouldn't put them down!! The Jacket I must say was nice and warm and he lived in it through the colder months.. he was such a cutie! Still is!

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TDOC2022 Gingerbread Houses

 So our first day of Christmas started today and without me! After work I went to Spotlight to buy some supplies for Christmas Day before I picked David up from work. We got home after 7pm sometime and after checking in on the kids days and organising dinner I went straight to bed. I woke a few times through the night and when David jumped into bed at 10.30pm. 

I woke up at 4.30am to his alarm and haven’t been able to get back to sleep since. It was then that David filled me in on all the fun the kids had last night making their gingerbread houses. He said that they took photos for me to see and that Jie created a gingerbread house wrecked by a tornado! Very creative! 

While I’m bummed that they did their gingerbread houses without me it just goes to show that this is and always has been their most favourite advent activities over the years! 

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Our Christmas Tree 2022

This is our Christmas Tree this year, a $49 half price bargain from Big W. I know, no extravagant ornaments or tinsil like you’d expect from me but I gave all the things I’ve gathered over the years to my eldest niece whom is living in her own little unit now and I’ve opted for just the traditional green and red minimal tree decor this year! Looking forward to building on it over the years to come. Besides, it’s not the tree that matters, it’s what’s under it and who is around it that truly matters Christmas Day. 

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12 Days of Christmas

This year, instead of doing daily Christmas Advent Activities our family are choosing to do just 12 days of Christmas in December.

As time changes, we change, circumstances change and the people in our lives change so, we find ourselves adapting to a very new way of life.

This year, David and I are both working right up until Christmas Day. Jiedyn (17yo) and Nevaeh (13yo) will soon be on school holidays and so the time we'd usually have to spend as a family daily will just not happen this year the way it has previous years.

But, we still want to do something, so we are committed to 12 Days of Christmas doing festive things for at least 12 days this December month.

The kids have chosen their favorite Advent Activities from years gone by like our Gingerbread House making like these ones they made is 2014, 2016 and 2020.

During December we will also be part-taking in a few blog hops.

Follow or Bookmark our blog to check in as often as you want.

Happy December 2022 

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{Flashback Friday} Big Brother from Day Dot

My waters broke at 2am and I immediately woke her father up. We only lived 2 houses from the emergency ward so I wasn't stressed. We woke Jie who was three at the time and as he got out of bed he said "We gotta go to the park first" after we gathered all the baby things we started walking out the door when again Jiedyn said he needed to go to the park first and started walking towards the park. Jie was 3yo.

Once at emergency I was wheeled down to the maternity ward in a wheelchair. I spent all my time in the shower as it was more relaxing. Jiedyn was taken into the next room to watch TV while I birthed his baby sister. He came in right after she was born.

As the doctor was checking her weight, length and head circumference Nevaeh was crying. Jiedyn got worried telling the male doctor to leave his sister alone. "Stop, your hurting my baby" were his sweet words and when the doctor tried to wheel her from the room Jiedyn stood in front of the trolly and wouldn't let him take her.

I'll never forget Jiedyn's First Hold . He held her before me and didn't want to let her go..

The first few days at home were great, Nevaeh hardly cried and when she did it was so soft I wouldn't wake up. Her father and I seeked advise from a friend at the time penny, a mother from our church who, had 5 kids . She helped with getting Nevaeh into a sleeping routine and it really helped later.. she never fought me at sleep times as time went on and put herself to bed when she was 3 and 4yo.

Jiedyn was such a beautiful big brother from day one. 

Always protective, gentle, kind and caring towards his little sister.

 

Still is <3 

Linking up for Flashback Friday Blog Hop

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