Bear

I've posted these photos before but I finally got around to scrapping them. Aaron's got just over a week before school starts, I'm a bit worried about his Bear withdrawals!!!
We had a much busier week this week .... went to Laurieton to see Water Horse ...how pretty is Dunbogan? ... Regan spent a whole day at her friend Danielle's place ... trips to town .... drive to Port Maquarie, although we had packed for a swim at Lake Cathie but they had Blue Green Alge and the area was closed ....play dates... etc....etc




...but isn't it nice when they can just play happily together at home...

Aussie Scrapjack - Jan

I flicked over to Aussie Scrapjacked this week and saw they were using a great layout by Kim Archer which fitted perfectly with what I was trying to do for my chrissy photos ... I havn't tried on of their challenges before, but I gave it a go and here 'tis.

It's been a very quiet couple of days, Shane's back at work and I have been over doing anything, becides a trip to the library and park the kids and I have (selfishly on my part) been hanging around the house. Next week however will be another story, we have a trip to Port planned as well as a few playdates and catchups. I'm sure by then I'll be ready and rearing to go as well.
I've finished my 08/09 photo box ... just a bit of storage for all those photos I print but never get around to, or change my mind about scrapping ... I stick to a purple and green theme each time as the box sits on my sideboard in the loungeroom.



and the last couple...



Copycatcards is back on track for 2008 and there first challenge was 'on the farm' ... not so easy by the way Leisa ... this little guy is from clipart ... kind of cute I thought.

We're home

And what a great holiday we had .... Allan's birthday was heaps of fun, the kids loved being away and just hanging out around the pool with each other. Regan is totally besotted with her older cousins at the moment and hangs off every word they say. She has decided that she's not going to grow her fringe out anymore but will have a side fringe for 'versitility' just like Katie and Sarah.




Aaron and the younger girls couldn't keep up the pace and decided sleep was the better option. Regan was so proud of herself staying awake until the end.



I haven't got any photos to share of the Gold Coast 'cause it was such terrible weather and it wasn't safe to get the camera out... We did however hit Wet and Wild ... theory was we were going to be wet anyway .... it ended up being a great day, it rained periodically but not too much and considering it was New Years day there was hardly any body there ... no line ups at all ... Regan made me so proud and horified me at the same time taking on every single ride including the 'tornado' in a tube with Dad and Uncle Darrin ... the look on her face as she came out of that tunnel was shear fear .... Aunty Karen got to the top and changed her mind, running back down and of course I had to stay at the bottom and look after Aaron (thank god).
The only real disapointment with the holiday was that they had to cancel the New Years fireworks ... we were all really looking forward to them.

On the scrapbooking front... yes I have actually done one ... here are the 'year in review' for the kids ... I found it really hard this time and think I am much better off if I have symmetry when dealing with this many photos. Love the photos, not to happy with the LO's.



I used handsome and beautiful because Aaron is forever telling me at the moment that he is not cute, or gorgeous, or beautiful, or even a rooster, he is handsome and Regan is beautiful.



This is last years, feeling much better about these ones. I don't actually do them as a double page as one day I will give them to the kids but I do use the same range each year.

Chrissy Day

We all had a great Chrissy Day ... the kids were up at around 6:20 ... and this year the family came to us for lunch .... well not so much lunch but continual grazing for about 5 hours.


First presents..


The lego construction starts .... it took Shane a good 8 hours to finish this, I'll post a completed pic later ...












Aaron loved his cowboy suit but didn't like the fact his belly was showing .... once we got him a shirt he was fine..




How big is this tramp??



This was a big hit (ha ha)


Way too much food again...



And of course the Family Photo

Take care over the holidays and I will return after our trip to the Goondi and the Gold Coast.

New Quilts

Nan bought the kids around a beautiful suprise yesterday.... their new quilts ... we absolutely love them ... yes, that is Star Wars on Aarons, he has become a little obsessed lately.



The kids (Aaron actually) decided that they needed their own letter boxes .... here's what they came up with after a lot of "maybe not there" moments .... the rice in the bottom, not such a good idea ... you can guess why.



MERRY CHRISTMAS......

The holidays are here - yeah

The holidays have begun ... I tried to sleep in but to no avail, it did feel good though have to get up and get organised. Aaron had his last day at Early Intervention last week ... very sad ... he's been there for three years and will miss everyone dearly. The list here is the chrissy wishes for the kids at Aarons pre school, I loved the fact that all Aaron wanted was a flag ... a Taree one please ...





Regan got her first pair of Colorado sandles this week ... she's in love, sooooo grown up.



I've finished making and have sent most of my Chrissy cards ... finally ... but can't seem to get a photo posted here. These are my teachers gifts this year ... thanks for the inspiration Julieann ... I put a photo of Aaron in the lid and he wrote his name.



... And one for Ron

Catch up

Todds bucket came off today (he had been scratching at his old age beauty spots) .... he hated it during the latest lightening storms as everytime he tried to get close (bit scared he is) he would hit himself on our legs .... it also took me a day to realise he couldnt fit his head in his water bucket, I couldn't work out why he was drinking out of the storm water vents .... overall he coped quite well.





Regans end of year liturgy was today - the story of Christmas - it was great, lots of catchy songs .... she was so nervous to start with but soon got into the swing of it .... Dad, Aaron and Nan all came along.






Aaron actually shared his bed last night for the first time .... he is normally quite possesive and wont even let Shane or I stay in more than 30 sec after we have finished reading .... Regan said he was scared and asked her to sleep with him but when I asked Aaron this morning he said Regan was scared .... I think she was a little worried about today.

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas is a coming

The first of December has come and gone, the tree is up and the kids have been put through three photo shoots trying to get just the right cutie photo for the card. Overall I'm very excited, what a great time of year.... Shane and Jaimie were trying to put the fascia and gutter on our new room on Sat morning but got rained out way before finishing time. Shane's mood dampened even further when I came home from town and told him that the rain only started about five doors up from us. Whats the chances eh?? Anyway, the rest of the family seized it as the perfect moment to put up the Jingle Bell (as Aaron calls it) tree, however because of Shanes less than festive mood I was threatened with a walk out if I even dared pick up that Christmas carol CD... How many other families can boast that the put up their tree this year to the beautiful tones of AC/DC.





Yes, I'm a bit of a traditionalist, I love my red, green and gold Christmas.



Thought I'd share this great picture Aaron bought home from preschool the other day. It's over 80 cm tall and depicts a castle with all the knights, Donna said he worked on it for ages, I believe her....

Frogs

We have been inundated with these guys at the moment, they are coming in to get the Chrissy beetles which isn't a bad thing. There are two of these big guys and dozens of the little ones. The second pic is of two of the three little ones that live in the fig on our back veranda, they are the cutest things and are lucky to measure 2 1/2cm long.



This is my latest card for copycatcards. The theme this week is 'inspired by something sweet'. I think Leisa was probably thinking more in the line of chocolate and lollies but when I was going through my stash I found these bright orange papers that reminded me of cold fizzy fanta. Can't get much sweeter than that..



Also on the scrapping front these are some tins that the kids and I decorated the other day. They are the eclipse mints tins. I seem to have become addicted to these mints and find the tins hanging around all over the place, they are great for keeping those small special 'things' in.



And last but not least, we have the trusses on!!!! Shane and I (yes that is me in the photo and it's not posed I'm actually working) put them up last weekend. He was meant to go on a Rally to Long Flat but the weather turned bad and he had to stay home, there went my nice quiet weekend with the kids. Anyway they're done a week earlier than planned and we are that one step closer.

Advent calandar

There seems to be a lot of beautiful advent calandars being posted lately so I thought I would put mine out there. I made this a few years ago (as you can probably tell by the paper) and it is basically 24 little boxes in a box file. Every year I put our family photo on the left hand side.





Bought this for the kids last weekend. Definately the best $84.00 ever spent.

I have an excuse...

Yet again I find myself saying it's been a while, but this time I have an excuse. Aaron and I have been down at Manly for the week while he attended the Royal Far West Childrens Health Scheme. What fantastic people they are, it wouldn't of been possible for them to be more helpfull or understanding. Aaron had a ball, when he wasn't at appointments he attended the school and then after school the entertainment crew took all the kids for various outings including the Zoo and Ocean world, we hardly had time to go to the beach! It was fantastic to get all the help we did and to see so many professionals in one spot but also a bit draining on me. Of course I love my little guy sooo much and think he is just perfect, it's hard to then spend four days listening to people tell you what problems he does have and what they are worried about with him going to school next year. Just when I thought all would be OK, seeing him through someone elses eyes can be a little scary. But enough of that, he is Aaron and we all love him for that....


We did have time to catch the Ferry to the city and see the David Jones windows. This years theme was The Nutcracker, and yes it was a tad chilly on the Ferry.



I also had time to do these up for Helen. Incase your interested they are for the Red Hat Society, groups of over 50's women who have heaps of fun together wearing purple clothes and red hats. I'll explain more later...

Up up and away

This is my latest submission for copycatcards....include something that flies.

It's been a while

What a week (and a half)... The whole family went camping at Karen and Darrins farm last weekend, it's the most amazing place.... Aaron's speech therapist thinks he may have dysbraxia, will keep you up to date, we will probably know more after out Trip to Royal Far West Hospital next week.... I have ordered my new camera, a Panasonic FZ18, i'm in love, thanks mum and dad....I have actually done some scrapbooking and... Shane and I stood the frames for our new room this weekend... overall very productive.


This layout is using a kit from Scrapsidaisy which I think I might have to hand in this week, or maybe it's this time next month, I'll have to check. Either way I probably shouldn't put it here just yet. Oh well...


And another one of my DD, these photos were taken on our second day at the farm, those dark rings give her away every time. The LO is much brighter IRL.



Summer has officially hit and it was time to get rid of the Doona. This is my new quilt from Denise my Mother in Law - I'm very impressed, it goes so well with the room.




One step closer!