monochromatic

Here's my entry for this weeks copycatcards challenge - monochromatic + 1...

Yeah for the weekend ... hopefully we can get out and test run the boogie board Aaron got for his birthday ... summer seems to be disapearing very quickly ... till next time ...bye

Happy Birthday to You

It was Aaron’s birthday on Sun … just the family this year … we said he could have a party next year when he gets to know a few more of his school mates… he decided on a ‘scary’ cake … happy 6th buddy.



I too have fallen in love with the new ‘two scoops’ range … the layout is Regan and her best mate Layla … and the card is for a very special friend of mine who told me last week that she has Leukemia … I want to say so much to her and am just trying to find the right words before I post it off.
‘till next time …

Back to Scrapping

Yeah I know there hasn't been a lot of it going on here at the moment... I sit down to do some and then this one calls, and that one wants me, and suddenly it's time to get dinner ready.... Now being an official lady of leisure I should be able to get heaps more done, we'll see !! Anyway enough wingeing I have managed to scrap these two...



This one reads: I've never seen a kid take to school so easily. All that worry, all that concern , all those tears (on my part) and in the end, one happy little boy and one perfect 1st day. I am so very proud of you.




All is well here in Taree... the rain has finally stopped, but for how long is any ones guess... Aaron is still enjoying going to school but hates having to brush his teeth at the same time every every day ... it's his first news day today and he has taken in his very favourite Pirate flag... Regan is also going well and is signing up for netball again today... Thanks for stopping by.

Big School

Guess who had their first day at Big School… after all my weeks of worry, specialists getting ‘packs’ together and general uncertainness it was all just too easy … Aaron went off no worries and his teacher and aide both said he had a fantastic day … did everything he was meant to …. got up and introduced himself and generally just enjoyed his day.



I have been very emotional about him going to school for quite a few months now but today, when the time came, we were both really happy and not a tear was shed. How grown up we’ve both become.



Oh yeah have you noticed Regan’s new grown up hair cut … she’s had it shortened and layered and is growing out her fringe ….for now!!!!

Australia Day Weekend

What a great Australia day weekend, yes I know it was a few days ago but it’s taken me this long to get back on track. We had our good friends Steve, Kel and the kids come down from Armidale for the weekend and we did all the typical Aussie Day things.

the kids played in the backyard…



spent hours in the pool….



we went to the beach and had a BBQ in the park…



and finished it all of with movies for the kids and a few drinks in the pool for the grown ups….



all and all a bloody good weekend..

About Me

I found this questionaire 'somewhere' last night and thought I'd give it a go .. so for those that don't know me well-

1. What is your occupation?
Stay at home mum but looking for a job in 2008
2. What color are your socks right now?
Bare feet.
3. What are you listening to right now?
The dishwasher and the kids.
4. What was the last thing you ate?
Choc chip cookies
5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Yes, but not very well according to my husband.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Bright purple, it’s out a fair bit but not too much and quite happy to stay home in the box.
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
The bank.....Ahhhhh
8. How old are you today?
37yrs 6mths and 8 days (if I post this today)
9. Favourite drink?
Anything that’s not a dark spirit, you can’t beat a good creamy cocktail.
10. What is your favourite sport to watch?
Don’t tend to watch a lot except for my daughters netball
11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes, oh god yes, continually and in many varying shades, from Blonde to Black over the years.
12. Favourite reality TV show?
I never admit to watching any but I do tend to watch the beginning and end of most with exception to Big Brother which I can’t stand.
13. What was the last movie you watched?
27 Dresses
14. Favourite day of the year?
Can’t beat Easter, time off to spend with the family AND chocolate.
15. What do you do to vent anger?
Tell someone (out of the event) and of course my side is the only side.
16. What was your favourite toy as a child?
I remember a doll whose hair grew out of, and retracted into her topknot.
17. What is your favorite, autumn or spring?
Spring.
18. Hugs or kisses?
Hugs
19. Do you want your friends to email you back?
Yes, but it might help if I sent something first!
20. Favourite dessert?
Cheesecake (flavoured, preferably with maltesers or mars bars) and ice-cream.
21. Living arrangement?
1 husband, 1 daughter, 1 son, 1 dog, 1 fish, 2 guinea pigs, 4 chooks. Nice house on 4acres with extensions in progress.
22. When was the last time you cried?
During a movie the other day staring Adam Sandler – can’t remember the title but he had lost his family in 9/11
23. What is on the floor of your closet?
Shoes, tin box, craft paint, the letters for REGAN which I will scrap any day now, and a pair of bikinis I will never again wear.
24. What did you do last night?
Went to see 27 dresses with my mother in law, sister in law and niece.
25. What inspires you?
People, and the incredible things they do.
26. What are you afraid of?
Locking up the chooks at night, Aaron going to kindi this year.
27. Favourite breed of dog?
My gorgeous dog Todd is a mix, Kelpie and Border Collie, good looking, intelligent and very active
28. How many years at your current job?
Coming up to 8 years since I was actually employed
29. Main Career?
13 years in the Royal Australian Navy
30. Favourite day of the week?
Saturday
31. How many states have you lived in?
4 states, 9 towns, 12 houses.
32. Celebrity crush?
The guy with the cute smile in 27 dresses, I think his name is James Marsden.
33. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery?
Motorbike a long time ago, I’m not allowed to go near the hubby’s new one. We own a bobcat and excavator but I’ve never driven them.
34. Do you have a house phone that is not cordless?
A what?
35. Freezing cold or boiling hot?
I’ve done my time in both, much rather be cold than hot, but saying that I’m not a fan of winter clothing.

Tear it Up

And here's my submission for this weeks copycatcards challenge "Tear it Up"

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....