Now that I have a little one, I can finally try out some Christmas ideas which I've saved over the years. In the past, I'd often read about fun family Christmas traditions on blogs and I'd file them away in a box marked "for when I have kids".

One tradition I've decided to start is to make or buy a Christmas ornament for Evie each year. After seeing a super cute matryoshka doll ornament on Pinterest, I decided to make one of these for Evie's ornament this year. I embroidered Evie's name and the year on the back too, so that we can keep track. It was so cute that I decided to make one for Audrey too. Awww, two little dolls for our two little dolls.

Audrey doesn't have any problems smiling for the camera. I captured these beautiful photos of Audrey the other day. Such a smiley, happy girl.

Here is a cute photo of the cousins holding hands. Because of my cloistered uni life the girls hadn't seen each other in a while. This was the first time that they have acknowledged each other.

A new new bubba present. I made this blanket for Audrey as her birth day gift. It's patchwork on one side and polar fleece on the other side. Apparently this combination is a quilting no-no. I hope it holds together.

I put the colour combination together when I didn't know whether Audrey was going to be a boy or a girl. I really like the colours and think I've managed to make the quilt gender neutral.

It's my first experience of making a patchwork quilt. It wasn't a very complex endeavour though. I simply sewed pre-cut squares together, then quilted in the ditch (aha! look me with my fancy quilting terms) and then bound it. I did have to visit Daphne for a lesson in quilt binding. I really enjoyed that part because it involves hand sewing. I like to sit on the couch and watch TV and do a bit of sewing. I'm such a 50s housewife.

I think Audrey liked her blanket. She better watch out though because another person really, really liked it. After a busy Saturday, Leo curled up on the couch underneath Audrey's blanket to rest and watch tele. Leo said he was just looking after it for Audrey. At least I now have a good Christmas present idea for Leo.

Last weekend was also Evie's first experience of the ocean. As we drove down the hill into Copa I said "Look bubba! the ocean!". I'm sure she would have been really excited if she was awake. And if she could see it. Bit hard when you're in rear facing car seat. She did have a nice nap one afternoon in the sunshine listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach.

It was a bit too cold for swimming but that didn't stop the boys. Even the enormous waves didn't stop the boys. I've never seen surf so big at Copa. The waves were 3 - 4m and were crashing right up the beach. There were lots of surfers out enjoying the conditions. There were heaps of spectators too. People videoing and taking photos from the safety of the shoreline.

The boys weren't hiding from the surf though. They had heaps of fun splashing around in the waves that crashed on the shore. Leo even found getting dunked fun. He had his feet knocked out from under him by one massive wave. Richie waded in and picked him up. Leo was spluttering and covered in sand but was still happy. "Did you see THAT!" he said. We found sand in some very unusual places during bathtime that evening.

This is a great sequence of photos captured by Andrew. Annie watching the boys play in the surf. Annie running away from a monster wave. Annie realising that she should check that the boys hadn't been washed out to sea. Phew! still there.

More photos (slideshow) on Flickr.