Finally a day off

Yipee, i've finally got the wednesday off that my boss has been promising me and I'm trying very hard to fit everything into it that I can ... I've been to the school to have a chat with Aarons aide ... coffee with friends that I haven't caught up with for ages ... vacummed my scrap room ... cleaned out the car, the computer desk and the pig hut ... and I've still got time for a bit of scrapping before taking Aaron to his dance lessons..... A day wll spent!!



Aaron is so very much into Star Wars at the moment and keeps bringing home these massive books describing all the ins and outs of each episode. It amazes me that someone can write such detailed accounts of something that doesn't exist!?!



It was mums birthday yesterday - only one more year till the big 60 ... and this is what I sent her ... so very cool I thought and such beautiful colours.



As for scrapbooking - not much has been going on in that area but I did manage to get this layout done of Aaron last week.... He is such a boy ... It is near on impossible for him to look forward when riding the quad ... I'm having second thoughts about getting them a motorbike for chrissy....

Weekly catchup

Firstly, but also very late - I hope all those mothers out there had a great day last Sunday.... here are a few of my favourite gifts...





Old Toddy dog has had a pretty rough week ... one suspected snake bite ...3 visits to the vet including x rays ... 2 pain killing injections, anti inflammatories, antibiotics and a shot of cortisone ... apparently he has arthritis in his back which he has damaged and inflamed somehow ... he's hardly been able to move for 5 days now but hopefully it will get better in a week or two.



Its been a busy week for cards, one for mums b'day which I will post later and this one for my cousin who has just had a new baby girl ... a sister for Abby. I'm also doubling it up as this weeks copycat card challange.



This one however is for a much sader occasion. Last tue I lost a very special friend to Leukemia, we have been friends ever since I first moved to Alice Springs when I was 10. It was 28 fantastic years where we always managed to catch up regardless of how many moves we made or where we were living, she was a unique and amazing person and will be sadly missed by all her family and friends especially her husband and three year old daughter, this card will be for them.



We went shopping for caravans today .... no we don't actually need one ... can't afford one ... and don't have a car big enough to pull one ... but golly, it was good fun looking... and how good would it be to have one for those quick and easy weekends away. ... Shane even mentioned us being able to drive over to you guys Grandma and Grandpop !?!!

Till next time...

Home Again

We're back from Sydney and all went well. Aaron had heaps of appointments and did very well with the busy schedule, over all I think all the specialists were pleased with his progress - back again in September. Regan enjoyed joining us this time and was very impressed with the school even though on some days she was the only one in her age group.
And of course while we were in Sydney we tried to fit in some holiday stuff ... we took the ferry to the city ... had lunch in Hyde Park ... visited the Museum ... walked up and down Manly beach ... shopped ... and of course worked our way through heaps of Krispy Kreme Donuts.... Regan managed to go to the Zoo with the RFW staff and Aaron got to go bowling....




Since weve been home I've managed to finish 2 challanges one using the Scrapsidaisy monthly pack ...



and one for Copycatcards....




these are some random photos that I took on the weekend ...



Aaron trying to eat chips with his helmet on ....



and Regan being beautiful....

Bye for now.

Anzac Day

We all got dressed up today for the Anzac march however because of the rain it has been cancelled andthey were holding the memorial in an underground carpark. Very damp, very stuffy and the kids just didn't cope so we're home again already. I had been telling them on the way in the car that it was 'Anzac Day' and rain, hail or shine they would always march... I was very dissapointed as were the kids ... it was only sprinkling and I really believe it should of gone ahead.
Regan has a girlfriend over for the day, hopefully they can entertain themselves inside because it is still so awfuliy wet and soggy outside.



Have I mentioned the rain! it doesn't seem to have stopped all year, I am so over it ... the kids have cabin fever, the dog is bored and has reverted to taking our sneakers for a walk up the yard, and the chooks can't get to anywhere dry to peck and carry on so have turned on each other ... balding chooks are not pretty!



And yes, I have finished my March in review using some of the goodies I got from Pip Prosser in her double up pack I ordered this month.

We're off to Royal Far West on sunday for the week ... Shane and Regan are coming this time so we're planning on turning it into a bit of a family holiday...Will catch up on our return .... until then ....

With a window

Falling further and further behind.. This is last weeks copycat card - 'with a window' ...

I have been busy at work this week .... first time I haven't been home with the kids for the holidays ... it's made me very sad but I don't think the kids have minded ... thank god for Nans ... this week shes only got two as opposed to 5 last week ... lots of flowers and chockies going her way.



Did get a chance to take them bowling on thursday - such style and grace...

Feb Review

It's only 3 months in and already i'm falling behind ... February took a while but March is already on the table.



Both the kids got an award at this weeks assembly (the first one I've managed to get to this year ... and with a camera and all!!!) Aaron was very excited and was jumping up an down when all the kids were lined up ... his was for 'always trying his best and being a happy smiley person.' Regan's was for 'beautiful handwriting, excellent work habits and always listening carefully to instructions given.'


Regan has started her next Girl Guides badge on Pets. She has decided that Todd will be the easiest of our pets to look after for three months....i think it was the cleaning out of the chook pen or Guniea Pig hut that turned her off the others ... so it started with a wash however she wasn't overly keen on touching any part of him that was likely to be dirty... Todds got a rough few months ahead of him....


Off to work this week ... first time ever that I won't be spending the school holidays with the kids... I finish at 2 so here's to lots of fun activities in the afternoon..

Modern Technology

This is what I found last night in my bed ... Regan watching our newly aquired bedroom telly, Aaron still immersed in his Star Wars marathon and Shane texting his brother ... the "joys?" of technology....



And without meaning to be on the same theme I also finished a LO of Regan on the phone this week.... the photos were taken in Jan .... oh how she loves to ring her friends for a chat... I don't know if you can tell but I love all the expressions ... there are so many important things to discuss as a 7 yr old.



This weeks challange for copycat cards was 'a stamp and a punch'... I've lent out all my punches to a friend so I hope corner rounders count.... sorry.

As for the family this week .... I really enjoyed my day as Teachers Aide and have been offered another day with more to come ..... I also am enjoying my time at the Takeaway ... I had a slight meltdown on thursday but I think it's just going to take a while to get used to.... this old girl hasn't officially worked for very close to eight years and it is a bit of a culture shock.... We had a meeting about Aaron's individual programme at school and all is going really well ... he is coping great and all the teachers, aides and hangers oners seem to be on the same page ... Shane has been working his butt off doing some huge days (made me feel pretty cruddy about complaining about my day) ... and last but not least Regan is fine, she got her first badge at Girl Guides last week and is very proud of herself.... her best friend and her are on and off - but I have officially given up - I will never understand.


Till next time...

Working girl

I know it's not exactly up my alley, but I've got a job at a take away in the industrial area and, so far so good, I haven't managed to deep fry any part of my body or clothing. It's been great fun and the girls there are my age and very easy to get along with...If I play my cards right I might be able to spend my days travelling around in one of these....



Impressed??? I will however have to change my style a bit ... it seems I will need more cargo pants, push up bras and low cut singlets ... im not sure the world is ready for that...

It also happens that I was offered my first day as a paid Teachers Aide for special needs kids which I will be doing on monday..... Life is looking good and so is that pool we keep promising the kids.



This of course is my card for this weeks challange ... It's hip to be square..... and I have a layout to share as well ... Could it be any brighter you ask? The gear is from this months challenge over at Scrapsidaisy ... definately not my normal colour scheme but I loved playing with such pretty colours.



All is well so until next time.....

One tough week

Regan has had a really tough week this week. Last week she stood up to one of the girls in her group that had been deciding what they would all do during their lunch break, when she went to play else where two of her friends joined her. So, this week it was decided by the same girl that if you wanted to be her friend and play with her you couldn't talk to Regan. Unfortunately they all followed suit and even her best friend, who I expected much more from, ignored her for the whole day and then on to netball training. She was devastated, there was nothing Shane or I could do to calm her down and eventually she cried herself to sleep. Have I mentioned that these girls are only 7 ... I couldn't believe they could be so cruel, after much discussion I decided to tell Regan's teacher the next morning who, I am very happy to say spoke to the girl in question straight away and made it clear that this does not happen in our school, and on Wed everything seemed better, as though nothing had happened. They are only 7 so I guess I couldn't expect too much from them but these girls have all been friends for three years now and not one of them was willing to go against the group. It scares me immensely for the years to come ... And to top it all off I found these under Regan's pillow the next morning



they are Guatemala worry dolls ... you tell them your worries before going to bed then put them under your pillow to take your problems away during the night ... Regan has had them for a while but hasn't used them at all this year. I broke down in tears thinking about how sad and worried she must of been that night .. how on earth am I going to survive the teenage years. 10 points to Regan though, she wanted to go to school on the Wednesday and wasn't scared, all in all she handled the whole episode much better that I did.

And on to more happier things ... this card is for you Grandma and Grandpop but Aaron doesn't want to send it to you (no he doesn't know you have sent him one yet). He got me to write inside it for you, it says - To Grandma and Grandpop When we go to bed the big giant bunny will come and bring chocolate eggs. Little one and big ones and chickens. Love Aaron.

Ran away

Aaron ran away from home this morning ... hopefully none of the neighbours saw me chasing after him in my PJs .... aparently he is very very angry with Regan because she wants to move her bears into the loungeroom of the dolls house and of course they have to live in the bedroom ... he is paying no attention to the fact that his bedroom (the same size as the loungeroom) is twice as big as the room he wants Regan to play in .... this happened at 9 this morning, it is now 11:30 and it still isn't resolved.



I'm taking a leaf out of a few other bloggers books and doing a month in review page this year ... not only have I done a 12 x 12 LO but it's a double ... so much space! ... so here's Jan, Feb isn't far away.

Layer it!

Here is my entry for copycatcards challenge for this week.



And this of course is my beautiful boy on his sixth birthday - how did that happen ... I got a bit carried away with colour here but am loving the brown circle(y) paper...

General Stuff

All is going well here ... it's Shanes birthday on tue so we are off to dinner sun night ... the kids are great ... Regan lost another tooth yesterday and then actually lost the tooth in the backyard - those of you who know her will now how devistated she was ... Aaron managed to get his arm stuck in the benches at school last week - it took three teachers and a bottle of oil from the canteen to get him out - he took it all in his stride .... and could even see the funny side of it ... and as for me I'm enjoying being at home and am keeping very busy doing, well, just stuff.

I Love Purple

Isn't this just so cute, It's my new wallet, I just couldn't resist.

Now on to scrapbooking ... I seem to spend most of my time thinking about, looking at, checking others, reading about and researching techniques that I tend not to actually scrapbook anything myself .. so ... I made this cute little board to put up in my space and list all those pages I need to sit down and do ... hopefully I can cross two off a week ... heres trying.



... and this is Regan doing her promise for Girl Guides .. I used the latest pack from scrapsidaisy for this ... very dark colours and lots and lots of stuff ... great value but too much choice.... I must of redone it 4 times before I got to this.

Pupil Free Day

The kids are home from school today - the teachers are doing some maths thingy ... we've been out all morning using the vouchers I've been hording for 12 months that run out today ... we got two for one at the video store (at the moment they're watching Surfs Up)... cheap entry into the Aquatic Centre ... and then free Happy meals at Maccas ... Regan wanted to go swimming to prove to me she could swim 50 mtrs and therefore go in the swimming carnival... I had previously told her I didn't think she could do the distance.... I am very proud to say that she has proved me wrong today and can easily swim it even though shes never tried it before... so very very proud. Bring on next years carnival.


Here's the first page i've completed in my new 'space' It's all the girls (grown up) on Shane's side of the family.



And last ... a very plain card done this week for copycatcards - useing inks.

Feb - Aussie Scrapjacked

I'm quite enjoying challanges at the moment ... I think i'm just being lazy ... it's nice to be told what to do when the mojo isn't exactly flowing ...here's mine for this months Aussie scrapjacked.

All is well here at the end of another school week .... finally, it has stopped raining and we have been blessed with a beautiful warm day ... I can hear about 5 different mowers going at the moment and am just about to jump on ours ... hopefully I can get this jungle under control before it rains again.

I had a arvo tea with the teachers and other mums from Aarons Early Intervention group today, it was good to speak to the other mums in my position and realise that they are just as unsure as me as to how their kids are "really" going. Ros gave us some great handouts however about just the right questions to ask, overall a very informative time. Went to pick the kids up to find Aaron in tears - sobs - because someone else had taken home his Spot the dog drawing. He gets so attached to his things...

Blue, Brown and Buttons

Tried to do something boyish for this weeks copycatcards challenge. Hope you like it.

My new scraproom

From this...






















To this!!!!!!


We are finally able to lock up the garage (Shane's just got to get the eaves on)... so we spent the weekend getting my new scrap space up and running ... so excited ... it will be a while until it is lined but i have big plans which include lots of shelving under the bench tops, good lighting and special places for each of the kids to do their homework ...