Random Thoughts

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-10T13:44:00.000+10:00

With Christmas, New Years and Joseph's birthday celebrations behind us I feel like I can finally stop and breathe! It has been a wonderful month filled with lots of swimming, eating and general merriment! Here are a few pics ...

November Wrap up!

2011-12-09T23:49:00.000+10:00

These days I am always pleased when November is done and dusted. Don't get me wrong, I love all our celebrations, but adding them to end of school, extra clients and the usual hury burly of family life, each special function feels like a small accomplishment.

These two thankfully have been spending lots of time together...finally. It has been a long two years with the two of them competing for my attention, but now I just need to dump out a box of Barbies of Polly Pockets and they play together for ages! Here's to a life long relationship like that!

Greg and I have celebrated 12 years of marriage. We have been together for 18 years this year. It is the year I have been with Greg longer than I was without him. I know we have a lifetime of good and bad times ahead of us too!

Annie has had her second birthday. She was surprised with a bike...do you think she likes it?

She also had her hair cut off. It was so fine and whispy that I was worried it would not thicken up. So we chopped off the bottom and she is just as cute as ever!

She totally loved blowing out her candles this year...she looks a bit close here though! Eek!

To celebrate the girls birthdays we had a joint party. I made these cake pops...something I have wanted to try for ages, but never gotten around to it. i am so glad i did...they were delicious!

And here is Miss Audrey celebrating her 7th birthday! She is already telling everone she will be eight next year...it all will come around again so soon...she really is so grown up now.

So after all that I think we deserve a big holiday! Caloundra here we come!

Wow...that was an epic hiatus!

2011-11-14T23:21:00.000+10:00

Like a bear I have finally risen from my hibernation and am finally ready to face the rest of the ear! That sounds a bit dramatic doesn't it? Not really like that at all! I have been so busy that any down time I have had has been spent (wasted) on blog reading and zuma blitz playing rather than creating!
I do have a couple of layouts that I wanted to post...here they are!

This first one is based on the BG Sketch for the week...I have had the Studio Calico Kit sitting on my desk since May I think! Finally found the right pic for the beautiful papers!

The rest of these layouts are done in my usual style of gathering a kit together and scrapping it until I am well and truly done! I thoroughly enjoyed using this BG line...Lauderdale I think it was called. Some are based on sketches, some are inspired from other images...one day I will improve my system of inspiration gathering so I can give proper credit!

I know this one was inspired by Keisha Campbell...I do love what she does...and I love to turn the tables on her neutral colour schemes too ;)

The family are all well...kids are growing like weeds! We had Annie at the Pead this morning for her 2 year old check up (I know...2...I am not really ready to go there yet!). She is still under the 3% but has decresed the amount she is under in the past 3 months...so that is good. She is just tiny. Luckily she is completely adorable and has everyone under her spell.

These two have finally startd playing together. I knew it would take a while for Audrey to adjust but now that Annie is starting to play real games she is realising how much fun a little sister can be...I think we will have a year of good times before the drama starts! Fun times ahead I am sure!

I am off to bed...hopefully I will have something more interesting to post after scrap night tomorrow night!

We're home!

2011-07-14T22:06:00.000+10:00

I love school holidays...most of the time. Last year I decided that holidays were a great time to do all the things I used to love doing with the kids before they went to school instead of dropping them at vacation care (where they thought they wanted to be!). So every holiday is now a bit of a challenge to fill with playdates and fun activities.

This time around, we did lots of new things and a couple of old things and had lots of new experiences with the littles one. It is a mazing how adding a new person into an activity can change it so much (for better or worse!)

I took Annie shoe shopping for the first time...these are the ones she picked out. I was leaning towards a pretty red patent pair, but she was quite adament that these would be the ones we went home with! Not tantrums, just a few choice actions...

We went to Caloundra and spent a couple of nights with Greg's parents. So nice to spend quality time together.

We had icecream at the beach...in freezing cold windy weather!

I got a pretty good pic of Thomas...he is so handsome <3

We went macadamia nut farming for an afternoon with our very dear friends.

We went strawberry picking at Strawberry Fields - check out the dipped ones below! Yum!

We went fossiking at Opals Down Under, then spent a whole morning classifying and sorting our rocks.

My parents also joined us for a few days. We went rock walking around the point at King's Beach...it was hard caryying my camera and Annie, but I managed with a lot of help from mum and dad!

So now we are home and it is full steam ahead for fete day! I also have a stack of things in the works for Fiskars again! Yay!

Fiskars!

2011-06-30T01:04:00.000+10:00

A few months ago, Fiskars sent me a pair of secateurs to try out. I was quite excited...my old ones were pretty rusty and blunt. There is a big Mulberry tree in our back yard that grows out of control every year, so we do need to keep it pruned back as much as possible!

I had a little play with them and they seemed to be very easy to use. Having had hand surgery a few years back, my wrists and hands get quite stiff, so I was keen to see if there was any pain when I did the big SQUEEZE! To my surprise, the handle rotated in my hand and they sliced through that branch like a hot knife through butter!

It was so easy I let Thomas do the rest of the tree...he was only 9 then and thoroughly enjoyed the power of the Fiskars secateurs! Plus I got to have a beautiful hand model!

2011-06-29T00:06:00.001+10:00

So this is what our May and June have looked like! It has been such a cold and dreary Winter so far...so we have done lots of wintry activities!

Here is Annie at her cousins first birthday. She loved the party atmosphere!

All the second cousins and cousins...minus my boys who were too cool for photos...check out Annie...she was totally posing here!

The beautiful and exceptional Audrey! Who lost a tooth and insisted on a photo shoot. OK, mummy insisted, but she was more than willing!

Here's Annie looking all sweet and innocent...we know better though! She is starting to put a few words together now. That one, look me mummy, and that daddy are her favourite things to say. She doesn't have a lot of single words, but that will improve soon I am sure. She certainly has no trouble getting her point across!

She loves sucking on oranges while I watch Thomas play soccer. He is playing so well this season...I love seeing the strength in his body when he kicks the ball or jumps up...it makes me feel so proud to know the food and love he gets makes such a healthy, fit body!

Kerensa and Gary have bought a dog...they called him Baxter...I am smitten!

Joseph would love a dog for himself. He is such a gentle soul this boy...I love him to bits!

Again with the sports, this time it was the 100m finals at Sports day. Thomas came in third in the finals and won a place at the District sport event. Unfortunately on the big day at QE2 he had an asthma attack in the middle of the 800m and had to pull out.We were so sad for him, but he was totally non plussed...

The children all had lovely reports from their teachers this year. It was so nice to sit down and hear three lots of good news!

In other news, I am working Saturdays at Somewhere to Scrap now...come and see me if you can!

And in the most important and exciting news of all...Mrs O'Neale is back in the building! I have gone back to the classroom and am doing some relief work in readiness for my proper return to work next year. I am also doing a special course to refresh myself on all the new initiatives that have been put into place since I left the workforce all those years ago. It has so far been so exciting and I am looking forward to going back to work so much more now.

School holidays are upon us again...I know I am enjoying the sleep ins, but not the day long open kitchen! For some reason the kids think because it is so cold they need a hot lunch! My waistline won't cope with two whole weeks of this!

Mother's Day

2011-06-16T13:49:00.000+10:00

I know it was well over a month ago, but I really wanted to pop by and post these pics...I love them all so much!Look how much all my our babies have grown!

And yes...I kind of made them all match...but I did not ask Grandma to wear blue...that lucky coincidence was just that!

Almost winter...

2011-05-27T19:57:00.000+10:00

Well it has been a fairly quiet week in the O'Neale household! I have just registered to do some relief teaching this week, so look out western suburbanites...I could be at a school near you soon :)
With that decision came the need to get Annie cared for in some way shape or form. The best and most favoured (and actually cost effective) option was to get a nanny for her and the kids after school. So that started this week too and I have to say it has gone superbly! Rita has joined the family seamlessly...I am so pleased we chose this path!
I have been doing a little bit of scrapbooking. It has been something I would love to spend more time doing, but I seem to be so easily distracted by silly games and the Facebook that I don't get much done. Maybe I need to turn the Internet off in the evenings?
So below is my latest offering for My Scrap room Rules. I much prefer this layout to last weeks, it is a lot more my style!

There is a pressure test tonight! I can't wait to see what that will entail!

Last weekend we all hopped in the car ands travelled to New Farm to watch Greg play soccer. It was such a nice day I thought I would try and get a couple of pics. He played really well, but he always does :)

While he played we all hung out in the park. His mum and dad came to watch too, which was really nice as did his sister Mel. I love casual, impromptu get togethers!

Markets bright and early in the morning...I have to get some more of those delicious Stanthorpe Strawberries! Have a great weekend!

Scrapping to share...

2011-05-22T19:13:00.000+10:00

So I know it has been a while since I have shared any scrapping on here...and rest assured I do still scrapbook, like as much as I can! So here is an example of what I have been up to recently...

First up I have joined in the Scrapping Outback girls for My Scraproom rules. I just love a challenge and this one was a good way to strat it off! This is my layout and a few extra pics of the flowers etc.

The rest of these layouts are all from a retreat I went to last weekend. We had so much fun, stayed up way too late and slept very little. Thank goodness Daniela came and gave us a massage to get us through the weekend otherwise I would have fallen asleep in my chair! lol! It is a hard life for some of us! I used a few sketches and other layouts as inspiration...mostly from Studio Calico and Creative Scrappers I think. I really need to improve my inspiration folder setup...it is hard to give credit to an image that is just a series of numbers...

Most of the layouts used Emma's Shoppe from Crate Paper...I loved it and am looking forward to using up the rest of the kit with some cards for the Fete at St Joseph's!

I had better go and watch Merlin with the rest of the family...we do love our TV here!

Chaverim Retreat

2011-04-29T00:13:00.000+10:00

I love Facebook...and not just because I have wasted many hours on there keeping up with the goss and playing Zuma Blitz. It has put me back in touch with heaps of old friends...and given me a chance to run away from it all for a weekend!
At the beginning of April, I met up with Justine and Jody...old friends who I rarely see any more as they live in Bundy and Rocky. But because of Facebook, we realised we needed to catch up again, so we jumped in our cars and met up at the Shalom Chaverim Retreat in Bundaberg for the weekend. Luckily there was a Scrap camp on that weekend so we joined in with a bunch of really lovely ladies and had an absolute ball. The grounds were stunning and the weather was perfect so we made sure we had a bit of a photo shoot!

Thanks for organising us Jody...I know it took ten years. Was certainly worth waiting for though :)

Dad's 60th Birthday Celebration

2011-04-28T22:50:00.000+10:00

So what do you get the man who has everything he needs? A trip flying through the skies in a Tiger moth Aeroplane!We met at the Caboolture Airport one Saturday morning, watched him suit up and take off, then waited around for a while until he touched down again, fully thrilled and exhilarated just as we planned!

I do love the usefulness of a gift that is an experience...something that brought all the family together and will be remembered as a lovely outing for many years to come...of course made easier by the family record keeper (that would be me!).

In the spirit of Easter...

2011-04-28T13:02:00.001+10:00

I am bringing this 'ole blog back to life :)

I was only thinking the other day how much time has passed since I blogged last and I thought I would get on and check it out. Seems it was much longer than I thought.

Nothing too important has happened though...so I will just post a few pics and layouts...

Thomas had his first school camp.

Annie discovered her belly button...and all her other parts. She is speaking a lot and can say her own name now!

She also is a big fan of the Easter Bunny!

And has become a little attached to Penny the Penguin.

We had our annual group holiday to Aquarius with the Burges, Oghannas, and Lows...as usual it was a blast!

Thomas missed out on this pic :( Sadly it was a good one.

Easter dress.

Handsome as always.

Hunting with cousin Ben.

Cheeky little monkey...definitely been sent to us to test our parenting skills to the max!

Thomas turned ten on Tuesday...Will post that later when I get a chance...along with the 30 or so layouts I have pics of!

Home safe and sound

2011-03-01T23:28:00.000+10:00

It started as a wild suggestion, but as these things usually have a way of going, it soon became a good idea, and before we knew it, Greg and I were off on a real road trip, our first together in many years! Yep, we have just returned from a long weekend to Sydney and it was just wonderful. We drove down and back along the coast line, passing through towns I had only ever heard of (and even stopping in a couple!). I think we did about 1900 kilometres in three days...almost 24 hours in the car togehter! And even by the end of the last minute, it was not too long...so I guess we are doing ok! lol!
My internet connection is shocking tonight...I will upload a few pics tomorrow!

We made him a cake...

2011-02-15T14:05:00.000+10:00

Greg's birthday today...mine was yesterday.
It is a quiet one this year as we are off to Sydney in a few weks, just the two of us. It is going to me wonderful!
That said, it is just not a birthday without cake :)

Time to share...

2011-02-15T13:59:00.000+10:00

Anyone would think that I have not scrapped at all since Scrapbook City Closed...and you would be closer to right than you think! I have had a bit of a break, spending more time moving things around me room than actually scrapping with them!
Here are my January Layouts (minus a couple)

Our Summer...

2011-02-15T13:49:00.000+10:00

There are still a couple of weeks left of summer. It doesn't feel like summer though...such a strange year we have had so far.
Here are a couple of pics of our time over the holidays:

School is in!!

2011-01-30T21:14:00.000+10:00

Back to normal programming this week. It all went quite smoothly, no worries about new teachers or classmates at all. They are all stoked with their teachers and even though it has only been a couple of days, Thomas is keen to improve his reading already which is a huge milestone for him.
Here they are on their first day back:
Joseph is going into year 3

Thomas is going into year 5

And Miss Audrey is going into Year 1!

I know this is blurry, but they all were...it got really cloudy really quickly and I forgot to change my settings!

I will do a holiday post tomorrow.

Queensland Floods

2011-01-14T10:19:00.003+10:00

Hi there everyone! I just wanted to pop by and document everythng that has been happening here in Brisbane and the surrounding area over th past week. It has been a very harrowing time for many people and we are so lucky to have escaped the drama unaffected. It has definately opened our eyes to the sheer power of Mother Nature and made us realise how small we are as individuals, but as a united group we can perservere and survive.
I was able to get a few photos on the Tuesday but as the sewerage had gotten into the water I was not going anywhere near it to get any other images! I love photography but not enough to end up with Giardia! lol!

Jindalee Gold Course

Centenary Highway Jindalee on ramp

Centenary Highway - to Ipswich - Jindalee on ramp

One the overpass at Jindalee

At the entrance to the highway at Jindalee...Annie was a little scared! Kids were just fascinated

On ramp to the city at Jindalee

Skate Park at Windamere

Edenbrooke Park where kids play...

The 'high' path around our lake...it is about 1.5 metres about the water level usually!

Unfortunately Gary and Kerensa's (Greg's sister and hubby) house went under. Although the water reached almost to their top level on the outside there was only 20cm of water inside...small blessing but one to hold onto none the less. He is in Brisbane helping out where he can. I have come up the coast to get out of the way of emergency crews and to not use up the small about of resources that are still available there. I am looking forward to staying here a while until things calm down a bit and all the roads reopen so more supplies can be brought in.

I know a lot of my friends and their families homes have been innundated with water and I am constantly thinking of them and their loss. Take care everyone!

Hello 2011!

2011-01-05T16:13:00.000+10:00

Well hello there! What a great couple of weeks we have had! I have been relaxing with the family, Greg has had a bit of time off and we have replenished the stores ready for part two of the summer holidays!
Christmas came and went with the usual fanfare! I love all the lead up to Christmas so we have lots of fun traditions we do together. Somehow we managed to miss out on watching the Polar Express this year though...don't know how that happened!
So celebration wise, first up we had Christmas with my side of the family. A delicious ham was enjoyed for mains and I made a baked white chocolate and mango cheesecake for dessert to go with the traditional pudding and trifle! Yummo!!!

The kids were terribly spoiled and loved playing with all their new gifts a week early! Here are some of the cousins...Annie and Bradley were napping!

My dad playing Santa...the light is awful in this room but I love these pics!

And finally a stair shot for my mum to love! We have been meaning to do one for about eleven years, since mum and dad moved to Indooroopilly...all good things come to those who wait...I think it was a family shot worth waiting for!

The it was back to the beach for a couple more days for us. We fit in a few more trips to the water and swims in the pool and then we came home on the 23rd. I went shopping until midnight that night, because I could! Then Christmas Eve we went to church and got rained on, drove around looking at a few lights and put out the reindeer food. We let the children give each other their gifts on Christmas eve too...have to space out these toys or they will be overlooked!

An awful photo...I was tired already...and still had the gift wrapping and sorting marathon to go! Greg and I try to be organised each year but somehow Christmas Eve arrives and there is always so much to do! Luckily the kids leave it until 6:30 to wake up and open gifts so we get a couple of hours sleep before we have a massive day!

Annie was most excited by the ball pit Santa bought her!

We had brunch at mums which was very nice. A huge spread that kept us going until dinner at the O'Neales.

We went home and rested then went off for our traditional roast at the O'Neales. Kids were perfect and thoroughly enjoyed all their pressies and giving gifts as well. We played a game of Trivial Pursuit into the late evening and slept over there.

Mads was not in the mood for this pic!

More another time...Annie is pinching me to stop already!

Some cards to share!

2010-12-22T21:26:00.000+10:00

Hi there! Usually while I am away I do heaps of scrapbooking, but this time it has been cards that have been taking up all my time. I am going to package some up for sale as I made multiples of them all!

I am loving Danielle Flanders' work at the moment and these cards were influenced a bit by her style of work. Plus I had a double lot of Mix and Mend to play with! I also finished six layouts,I will share them another time!

Myer Santa does it again!

2010-12-17T07:16:00.001+10:00

Every year we make the trek into the Myer Centre in the city to see Santa in there. There is a train ride and a private room for your visit with the man in red. We love seeing Santa here, no distractions, and as much time with him as the kids need. A few years back we met this lovely Santa. He left a real impression on me as someone who genuinely enjoyed his role. I was so happy the children got to see him again. Thomas didn't really want to hang out with him too much, but Joseph and Audrey were happy to have a chat.

The thing I love most about Myer is that they let you bring in your camera and take your own photos. I do buy the group shot...it is a rare opportunity to get all the kids looking at the camera at the same time! But I also like to snap a couple of more intimate shots.

See what I mean...he is an AWESOME Santa!

Hope Joseph is still into posing with him next year (I think he will be) and that Annie is keen for a cuddle then too. Would it be weird of me to stalk him to make sure we get him again??? LOL!

Audrey's Birthday Party

2010-12-04T21:52:00.000+10:00

I have just a few pics to share from Audrey's 6th Birthday party. She wanted a Belle Princess party so we themed it in yellow and red and pink and away we went! I managed to pick up a wad of papers from Scrapbook City that were only 40c a sheet and the most beautiful colours. They are from the Basic Grey June Bug range, and when I made the banner I was smiling from ear to ear the whole time! If you ever need a pretty banner for your party please ask me...they really make me so happy! We also made five poms of varying size to hang. As usual I was running way behind schedule, so the placement was not as precise as I would have liked! I finished the table with a red spotty tablecloth from the bargain bin at Spotlight, a tiered cupcake stand and a selection of lollies that were soooo yummy...and totally colour co-ordinated as well! lol!

I told the children a story about how a long time ago there was a castle on the land we were on. When they demolished the castle, there was a treasure left in the basement. So across the road on the reserve there are hundreds of valuable jewels that have been mixed with the earth by the bulldozers. They went off in search of their treasure and returned with a stack of large plastic jewels (Spotlight). Then we played pass the parcel and did a few craft activities. We all watched Joseph play Happy Birthday on the organ for Audrey. It was so sweet to watch her take it all so seriously!

Of course Jose had to hamm it up at the end and did a huge bow and all the little girls and boys giggled with glee!

Then Auds got to say a 'few' words...she lost them after a few minutes but wasn't worried...after that we dug into the yummy Princess Belle cake. All the kids seemed to have a wonderful time together. There were no dramas at all; even the birthday girl didn't melt down! She was totally spoiled by her friends too. We are still opening new toys every day, I am trying to string it out a bit and make it last!

I made her princess dress as a special surprise with a bit (read a lot) of help from my mum. It was quite simple as we used a singlet from SUPRE and gathered about 5 layers of fabric for the skirt. A few embellishments and a fancy hairdo and she was looking perfect! I am so glad I was finally able to do this for her...it has been a long time in the planning! I only wish I had someone come to take the photos for me... next time perhaps!

Another Year Over

2010-12-04T21:04:00.000+10:00

Hi there all...the first day of summer came and went without much summery heat at all! I am sitting here in my room with slippers and a cardy on...totally ridiculous! With no end in sight to this wet and windy summer I am going to have to get inventive in the activity department this holidays, especially as we decided to keep the kids out of any holiday fun programs this time around. All ideas for what to do are received most graciously :P
The beginning of summer always marks the end of the school year. All the kids have had great teachers this year. I love snapping a photo on the last day of school with their teachers; they are always so relaxed and happy then!

These lovely ladies have been so good for the children to have around them this year. A big thankyou from us to you for all you have done for them! All of them have grown in confidence. Both Joseph and Audrey are achieving so well academically and Thomas is starting to finally come along.

I will do a separate post for Annie's birthday...way too many pics for this post!

It is Birthday Week!

2010-11-24T10:45:00.000+10:00

From now on in our house this week is going to have to be known as Birthday Week! We have had three birthday celebrations so far and have one more to go. All for two very special little girls!

First up on Thursday was the delightful Audrey. She turned six and had the family over for cake that afternoon. She was totally spoiled with lots of craft activities and books and things. She's been hanging out for a Birthday Party for a couple of years now so we threw her a huge party on Sunday. I went all out. A whole other post when I get my recovered photos back from this guy. My card was corrupted, but he has recovered most of it for a very resonable price....and he lives down the road! If only I knew of him in February!

For her birthday I made her a special Belle dress (very easy if I do say so myself...I only do straight lines!) And we turned her room to her new favourite colour...aqua. She is feeling so very loved at the moment!

And today we are celebrating the birth of this little princess! It is so hard to believe she is one year old! She has a few words already (dad, hello, that and see (for Josie). She has a limited palate (nice way of saying it hey) and is mostly sleeping through the night. She is a pure delight to be with and is always smiling. She adores dogs and birds...she yells at me to look if I miss a puppy walking down the street. She has the most divine little fingers and such loving eyes. Her hugs make me melt and her kisses, even though they sometimes leave bruises make me feel like the best mummy in the world. She gets a thrill every time her daddy walks in the room and her eyes light up when he picks her up. When she sees her brothers and sisters she reaches out for a cuddle every time. And when she wakes up from her naps and I go in to her I see this beautiful smiling little face.

Happy birthday princesses...hope all your dreams come true xxoo.

300 Posts!

2010-11-10T10:38:00.000+10:00

Wow, what a milestone! Three hundred random entries filled with a bit of inspiration, a smidgen of craft, and dash of parenting faux pas with a few drops of mundane daily drudgery! The main aim of this blog when I started it all those years ago was for it to be a record of our lives together and a place to share what I work on during the day. Not much has changed here in all that time, so I guess I have achieved that goal. I still love reading over old entries and often occasionally pick a random month to review from the side bar.

Here is a layout I did last week...I used the Pencilines sketch on the Aussie Scrap Source Blog again. I love a bit of inspiration every now and then! I used the October Studio Calico Kit...These are the October Afternoon Seaside range...I still struggle to mix manufacturers!

Annie and I went to lunch with the ladies for Melbourne Cup at the Monier! I made her a quick fascinator with some left over feathers and a crocheted flower...it was too cute! SHE should have won the best dressed award! I was lucky and had a win on the race...$150! Whoop Whoop!

And this is where we are at at the moment...pointing and yelling! LOL! Luckily she has the sweetest voice, so I am not tiring of it YET...

Finally, Michelle L has sent me this lovely blog award!

The rules are:

1. Thank the person that gave it to you. Thanks Michelle...glad someone is still reading!

2. Post it with pride on your blog.

3. List 3 things you love about yourself.

1) I am a glass half full kind of girl.
2) I am dependable.

3) I am a good cook...one day the children will appreciate it :)

4. Post a picture you love.

My eldest doing what he does best...He painted the headstone to decorate the reserve across the road for Halloween. We strung up cobwebs (his idea) and dangled spiders. I made a garland with shapes I cut out using the cricut machine. They splashed fake blood everywhere (nice) and had a wonderful afternoon. We had about 40 trick or treaters come through so they loved that! Next year I might let them go round...have to see what they think then!

5. Pass it on...but all the blogs I read has it so it will have to stop here!

And finally I have a story to share, just for prosperity. I went shopping yesterday and I saw these gorgeous red gingham shirts for the boys for Christmas. I always like to get them a new shirt and have had them matching for a few years now. I was a bit apprehensive as Thomas is 9 now and a few things that were cool are becoming not cool, so I unveiled them with a flourish yesterday afternoon. I need not have worried, both boys gave a resounding "COOL!" so I guess i can have my picture perfect Christmas for another year...now to dress the girls :)

Annie is awake...I better go!

OOOPS...there goes a few weeks!

2010-11-06T21:17:00.000+10:00

Wow it has happened again...not really sure how because I can't say I have been crazy busy at all! Just lazy I guess!
Everyone is well here in Casa De One Ale. We have mostly avoided all the lurgies that come with the hot/cold/hot weather that has been around of late. With a couple of very important birthdays in the next couple of weeks, I am going to be snowed under with the little details that come along with that! Still deciding if I am going to have a party for Annie orr just a family thing...she is finally coming around after the whole hospital stint and is happy to go to other people again, so a party may not be the drama it would have ben a couple of weeks ago!
Audrey is having a princess Belle party...not pink please mummy! So I am in the midst of red and yellow cupacke holders, banners and poms! I am loving it and wish I could do a girly party every year! If I time it right I will be able to eventually...
Here is one lonely little layout from the past few weeks. In between updating my gypsy to get the free 6 cartridges they were offering to planning the party, I have not had a lot of scrappy mojo! I am enjoying sitting on my butt and watching movies on Foxtel while I play with photos though!

I had GRAND plans in the school holidays for an awesoome shoot of the kits. There was this stunning field of dandelions and clover that I wanted to use. It had everything. So I dressed them up on the one and only fine day there was and rocked up...only to find council had literally just left...and the field was mowed :(
Enter plan B...ie do it anyway! Not the image I had in mind but a lovely one of the four of them anyway! I wish I could get them to smile like I can get my clients to smile, but it seems that is too hard for them some days.

Off to watch a movie with my hubby now...and indulge in an icecream! I have lost 9 kilos since Annie went into hospital...12 to go until I am happy, but hey...it is a good start!

A new look!

2010-10-10T16:03:00.000+10:00

Hi there!
Just wanted to pop by and trial a few new bit and pieces I have added...I love playing with my blogger template...it is starting to look a little like a dog's breakfast though! LOL!

We have had a fairly low key weekend. Lots of TV, movies and a bit of shopping. It was raining here all weekend and there is no end in sight, so the week will be filled with much of the same!

Mum and dad are coming over for tea in about an hour. Greg is downstairs cleaning ...I probably should go and help!

Back in the swing of things...

2010-10-07T18:27:00.000+10:00

Hi there everyone! Back froom school holidays and like most mum I know I am relieved! I love my kids...lots and lots...and we had lots of fun this holidays...but with all the rain and the inside activities and the sleep co-ordination necessary with a baby in the house...it was EXHAUSTING! Now they are back at school and I can have a bit of time to clean up and blog and read and not be interrupted or sabotaged!

So the SCRAPBOOK CITY retreat was sensational! I had sucha wonderful time and really enjoyed getting my scrap on for the whole weekend. I got a moderate amount of work done...

This is one I did with the challenge kit. There were a few others but I am having issues with rotating images...

Not much else happening here at the moment. I have done a couple of client shoots this past weekend. Glad to be getting back into the swing of things again.

I will leave you with a couople of pics from our trip to the coast...

While I was away....

2010-09-23T10:35:00.000+10:00

Hi there!
We have been at Caloundra this week...in the rain and the cold...seriously not the spring break I was hoping for. All the inside time has resulted in copious amounts of movies being watched, lots of snacks for the children (I was good, I didn't snack much at all ), and a few short tempers. Not many, the kids really were very good considering.
Greg stayed in Brisbane so I was able to scrap whenever the mood took me...what a luxury! Here are a few layouts I did. I took the Olivia Collection from Basic Grey and a few embellishments and stuck with that. Have done 8 layouts now and whilst there is plenty left, I have had enough! Love what I have created though...with the help of a couple of budding scrapbookers in some cases too ;)

Some were pretty simple, some took a while! I don't have many tools with me, so I have had to make do a little!

Here is a layout I did for Scrapbook City - I used the Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutant line.

Not your usual baby layout, but it worked with the photos!

I am off to the retreat tomorrow! It will be a much needed break for me, although I am not sure how I will go being away from Annie...we will see I guess!

Jinx!

2010-09-19T22:15:00.000+10:00

So after my last post I was feeling a bit wary...I don't usually post stuff that I am axious about in case I jinx it...and lo and behold I did! Annie and I spent a few nights in hospital last week because she went on a hunger strike and needed to be tube fed! So we have lost a half a kilo and we are now on the bottle :(

The positive thing is that I can count all of her calories now and I know how much (read LITTLE) she actually eats. That girl was a sparrow in her last life I swear!

Here she is looking adorable as usual! How can you get angry with that face?

Here are a few pics from our Fathers Day celebrations...See what I have to live with!

Hope it warms up soon...this is not the spring break I was hoping for!

Fuzzy

2010-09-07T10:37:00.000+10:00

Hello! How are we all today? I am exhausted! Annie, Joseph and Audrey were all up multiple times last night, but rather than have a winge I thought I would write down five things I am feeling thankful for today! Hopefully that will put me in a more positive place :))

1. Joseph is eating more vegetables. This is a huge deal and has been happening gradually over the past few weeks. Last night he ate a chicken and pumpkin risotto with no protests! Woop Woop!
2. Annie has finally put on some weight...over a kilo in the past five weeks! Yay!
3. Audrey is becoming more and more helpful. And she is super at cleaning up her room...a task that is met with many grumbles from other family members ;)
4. Thomas has a new friend who is a lot like him. A little more outgoing, but for my quiet, sheltered little man, that can really only be a good thing. Lately they have been skyping and showing each other their toys every night. It is so cute!
5. I have an awesome husband. He had to stay home again on Friday when I pulled a muscle in my back AGAIN, and did it with no grumbles or anything. He really is a wonderful man. Not sure why he puts up with me sometimes.

I have been scrapping a fair bit lately. I am getting a lot of inspiration from studio calico as well as some of my favourite designers. This next one is a copy of one of Cheryl Ameteewee's and I really love it!

This one is based on a sketch from the studio calico blog.

So is this one!

We have just celebrated father's day this past weekend. Will post some pics next time...not sure if they will be any good though, it was so cloudy and dull!

He is here!

2010-08-29T16:15:00.000+10:00

A very big welcome to our newest addition to the extended family! Baby Bradley Adrian Stewart was born on Wednesday 25th August at 10:38pm weighing 3.6kg. He is my brother and sister in laws first baby and they are totally thrilled! I may just have to sneak in another visit tomorrow!

A night for blogging!

2010-08-24T23:35:00.000+10:00

Tonight I have updated both Annie's and ... shock horror...my photography blog! I have a new monitor and laptop, so if the pics look strange, please let me know...I am pretty bad a calibrating my colours!

Here are a few of the thousand layouts I have done recently!

I am trying to use up more of my stash at the moment. I think I have had this title in my stash for three years!

I did this after I recently finished organising my supplies into colours. I have had my ribbons and flowers like this for a few years. Now my peg board is colour coded as it all the small embellishments I have lieing around. It has been inspiring to go through everything!

I love this piccy...even if she does look a little cross eyed! ;)

So in family news...soccer is finishing up this week. All three of the children played for Oxley this year. It was a massive juggling act as they all played at the same time usually on different fields! Greg was the coach for Audrey and Joseph's team. He is quite proud of his kiddies and thinks they all have a fair amount of skill.

It took all season but we were finally at the same field all together on Saturday so I was able to get a shot of them. They were all itching to go and play, so I've had to make do with what I got. I'm not sure what we will do next...maybe Little Athletics.

I played netball for the first time in 4 years last night. It was so much fun...the last time I played I broke my foot, so I was a little apprehensive. I did wake up this morning with a shocking migraine and ended up at the doctors for a shot, I am not sure if the two were related or not. Let's hope not!

I am having all of the Scrapbook City girls over to scrap on Friday night! I can't wait, even though I know I won't get a lot done! It is always so much fun to scrap with friends.

Mum and Dad got back from their big trip last week. I took the children to greet them at the airport as a surprise. They made a sign each and waved them up. Then I paid $40 for breakfast :( Seriously...who thought a few pancakes and a piece of taost would cost that much! Lucky Dad sprung for parking...thanks Dad! It was so good to see them after a month away. We are so lucky to have family close by.

Mum and I are off to lunch like ladies tomorrow. I think we will go to Gardenway and kill two birds with one stone...ie shop and eat!

Fete Update

2010-08-05T15:33:00.000+10:00

Well the fete has been and gone for another year. It was a wonderful day for both and us and the children. Face painting, rides, fairy floss and performaces for the children. Good food, good company for us!

I spent most of the day in the craft stall which did really well this year. We made garlands and banners and all sorts of funky new items which sold like hotcakes!

I was able to get out and see the kids dances and also got to snap a few pics on the day!

Annie had a lovely day too...she was such a trooper and stayed at the fete until it was over! I think she had cuddles with at least 20 different people and was so happy the whole time!

I have been a bit tired of late. Scrapping is not something I seem to have a lot of energy for at the moment. It is really bothering me too...I am itching to get in and get some work done. I think an absence of deadlines is not really working for me!

Here are a couple of layouts from the last few weeks.

Hello July!

2010-07-11T23:49:00.003+10:00

Goodness me where did June go? We were, I suppose quite busy with the School Ball, Annie's Baptism, Dad's 60th, Sports Day and then School Holidays...phew...blink and life really will pass you by!

All the family!

Annie's Godparents, Lorena and Ben.

Annie is seven months now! She has started babbling and loves to make her daddy smile. She has a special smile she saves just for him!I get the normal one...he gets an extra big cheesy grin!

I have been busy scrapping up a storm for my Scrapbook Apprentice submission. Off to hand it in tomorrow! I am feeling a bit nervous though...although do love my project.

I suppose once the children go back to school I will have a bit of time back, but we have the fete coming up and with that comes the craft stall and all the things that we have to do for that. I found a great door stopper tutorial online tonight...I have been so inspired this year by all the talented people in the world!

Here are the four littlest O'Neale's at our recent trip to Caloundra. I was lucky enough to have my mum come and stay for a couple of days too.

The weather was dreadful and we barely spent any time at the beach, but them's the breaks!

On this day, the sun was hiding behind some clouds and the wind was just a gentle breeze.

It was cold, but bearable. Not so much the rest of the holidays, but we did get to watch a lot of movies...I have even seen most of the Harry Potter Movies now! Yay!

Off to bed for me now. It has been a big couple of weeks here and I bet Greg will be up watching the world cup at 4:30am!

Scrapbook Apprentice Round 1

2010-06-04T20:24:00.000+10:00

Hi there!

Comments for Scrapbook Apprentice Round One are now being received here.

You know me...you know my style! If you have seen the mag and would like to comment please do. All comments are appreciated! If you have not seen the mag and would like to, go here for stockists. Or come over for a coffee and I will show you mine :)

And because what is a post without a layout, here is one I did a few days ago!

I really really like the Basic Grey Nook and Pantry line...I do have a thousand embellisments left over as most of my pages have nothing to do with food! I just love the colours though...especially the yellows!

I have also been trying to use up a bit of the felt I spent a small fortune on when it came out a few years ago...a little bit here and there and we will be fine!

The layout was inspired by one of the challenges in the 52 Scrapbookign Challenges again. This one was to tilt your photos.

We have our school Winter Ball this weekend. I have been employed to take photos again, so I guess no drinkies for me, but I may have to feed Annie in the night, so that really is no biggie! As long as I can have a couple of champers I will be happy!

Have a great weekend...I am off to enjoy a slice of Impossible Pie...a one bowl wonder promising to be a three layer pie!!! YUM!!! Don't forget to vote for meeeeee!!!!!

Welcome baby Caitlin

2010-06-01T22:49:00.000+10:00

This past week we have had the pleasure of welcoming baby Caitlin Marion Reed into our extended family!

The lighting in the hospital was clinical at best :) but we made do! Can't wait for a little home visit to get a few more pics.

Congratulations Gerri and Ian! You will be wonderful parents!

Brrr! It is cold!

2010-06-01T11:50:00.000+10:00

Whoosh... and there goes May!

So welcome June! It is going to bring us lots of fun things, like the School Ball, and my dad's 60th and maybe even another little trip to Melbourne! Saturdays are going to continue to be filled with Soccer as are the weekday afternoons. Annie is going to have her Baptism soon too (about time I know...we had to wait until she actually fit into the gown!)

Speaking of which...she just woke up, so I am going to have to continue this another time!

Check out the latest issue of DoCrafts Creativity Mag...my first Scrapbook Apprentice Entry is in there!!!

A very quick one...

2010-05-19T16:12:00.000+10:00

Wow...are we really half way through May? Where is time going? I certainly have not much to show for it!

Needless to say we have been super busy here. Soccer and Family have taken up our time quite a lot so I am finding it very hard to keep up to date with the blogs and the scrapping. Scrapping wins out hands down at the moment so here is a little of what I HAVE achienved over the past month!

First some DT layouts for Scrapbook City:

These are done with WRMK and I have used the Patriot range...neither layout is based on that theme though!

This one is with the Tea At Elsie's range from Kaisercraft. I do love most of their releases these days. They are just so nice and bright and crisp and clear!

Now these are a couple using Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry line. I know it is all about food, but again my layouts have nothing to do with that! lol!

And finally, one I did using leftovers from Pink Paisley's Bayberry cottage. I think this is one of my very favourite layouts!

SO I suppose I have something to show for the past month!

Thomas had his birthday too...he is now 9! I can't believe how old that sounds. I am trying to give him a few extra responsibilities with his age but have come up a bit blank...any suggestions?

Here he is on the day of his party. Greg took him and a couple of his friends to IronMan2. They loved it of course!

How handsome has our little man become!?!

We have also had Mothers Day in the past few weeks...here is the first family photo of the six of us!

I think I may play with this one in Photoshop a little to 'improve' it!

I am still waiting to hear how I have gone on the first round of Scrapbook Apprentice. There is an entry you can register your favourites with here, but I think they are the ones doing the judging and the booting! LOL!

That's it from me! I will update Annie's blog soon...maybe tonight!

OH MY GOSH...

2010-05-19T15:10:00.000+10:00

Bazzill have an iphone app! Download it now...you know you need it!

Here they are!

2010-05-05T10:00:00.001+10:00

Just a few layouts I have done for Scrapbook City lately. We had the retreat a couple of weekends back and lots of new product came just in time for us to have a big play. I am slowly working my way through the six inch stack of photos on my desk. I am thinking I will be done by 2020 if I am lucky ;)

Please excuse the bad shots here...it was raining and overcast when I took them and I have not gotten around to doing them again. They were part of a class the ladies did on retreat...kind of like an extra if you have time.

That one is a favorite...so quick and simple!

I took Annie along on the Sunday so I could visit Danielle for a massage. She now has a thousand new fans :))) Next retreat she will be so much more fun to have around. I just love the vibe at retreats, I always come away feeling so inspired and connected. I suppose because I sit up here in my little room scrapping on my own I forget how social it can be! I do need to get out more!

More layouts next time...some I have just done with no deadlines and I have to say, they took forever and I am really pleased with them. Happy scrapping!

We have been busy...

2010-05-05T09:49:00.000+10:00

A picture heavy post to show what we have been up to of late!

Easter was spent at Golden Beach with my family. It was cold and REALLY windy, but everyone had a lovely time!

I love this photo...can't wait to show it to them when they are older. I hope they always get on like this!

Egg hunting at Edenbrooke again. Plenty of bounty was found...and a few went missing I am sure too!

School Holidays were good. They went too fast as usual. We tried bowling for the first time. I loved it. So did the kids. Will be doing it again next holidays for sure.

Greg and Annie and I went for a weekend to Melbourne. We had such a wonderful time but it was way too short. We are thinking of road tripping down there in a year or so.

Annie started solids. She really was this apprehensive about it. But now she loves them. So far her favourite has been blueberries!

Joseph grew older this month. I don't know how it happened so fast but he is such a big boy now. And just perfectly wonderful with Annie. He plays with her for half an hour in a stretch just babbling along with her and playing right at her level. So patient!

Thomas turned nine! He is BIG now too. And ever so handsome. He received lots of books for his birthday this year. His favourite was a drawing one from my parents. He has it under his pillow and it is miraculously filling up with drawings even though I don't see him doing that much in the light of day. I think there is a little bit of twilight scribbling going on but who am I to stand between a boy and his creativity? I read many books by torch light as a girl and I turned out fine!

We celebrated with family and a cake that was a giant block of chocolate. I forgot to get a photo of it...it was not that exciting though.

Here are the twins that afternoon. They are growing up so fast. Stella is the spitting image of Emily and Harry is just such a cutie!

And I go a new camera! And with the purchase came a whole stack of work out of the blue! A christening, a wedding and a couple of corporate shoots all in the space of a week!!! So I am becoming very close to my laptop again and editing like mad. So I guess I am returning to 'work'. If you would like to get your portraits updated, now is the time!
I also have a few dozen layouts to share...next post!

Happy birthday Thomas!!

2010-04-26T08:09:00.001+10:00

Thomas is at this very moment downstairs sitting in a sea of megablocks in pure heaven! He is nine today.
I am upstairs in denial that my little man is almost two hands full. He is growing up into such a wonderful boy.
Happy birthday Thomas!! We love you to the moon and back!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Scrapbook Apprentice Finalist! WooHoo!

2010-03-30T20:22:00.000+10:00

Hi there everyone! Just a little toot from me today...I have been selected as a finalist for the DoCrafts/Printblocks Scrapbook Apprentice competition! I am so excited I can hardly wait to get started! We have received our first packs and will be starting our projects soon...check out your latest DoCrafts Creativity Magazine for all of the finalists...this is the layout I submitted for the entry.

These are the ones I sent in for my application...

There will be voting to be done...(thanks in advance hint hint!!!)...and lots of projects coming up! I am so pumped!

Inspiration Abounds...

2010-03-21T15:06:00.000+10:00

Yes I have been scrapping a lot lately. Partially due to the fact that Greg is back playing soccer giving me time to go up to my room and play of an evening. Also I am enjoying a bit of quiet during the day once I have done a few chores, so I am spending it either planning or trolling the internet, looking for inspiration!

Here are a couple of layouts I did last week. I had a stack of Basic Grey that I wanted to use up...still plenty leaft though! I am up to nine layouts with this range...

They are fairly plain and quite basic, but I love them! And I have made optimal use of all the products...see how the corner from the rubon frame in 'Original Goofballs' is taken from the bit supposedly behind the photos in 'My Wonderful Boys'? Tricky hey ;)

Then there are a couple I did using the 52 More Challenges book.

Inspired by the layout for challenge 1 by Elizabeth Katrchner...felt good to use up some lace paper...I have bucket loads of the darn stuff!

Inspired by the layout for Challenge 1 by Keisha Campbell...going back to my old favourite ever range from Making Memories...Notebook!

I did a couple more last night...one just using found paper on my desk and keeping it the size I found it...that was a bit of fun!

I do need to change up some of the punches on my desk though...I tend to use whatever is in reach when an idea strikes...very lazy I know!

We have had a fairly quiet weekend. Greg had to get some more KMS on the car because we lease it. So he drove to Coff's Harbour last night and today is going on a quick trip to Toowoomba!

We also celebrated my neice Emily's 6th Birthday this morning with a yummy sausage sizzle and a choc vanilla marble cake made by my sister...yummy and hassle free for me! Two thumbs up!!

This week I am going to go back to the gym! It has been almost 12 minths since all the drama of last year began and my body is starting to finally protest at its terribly unfit state, so I really do need to go back. Can only do nights and weekends though...Annie is too little to be left with strangers yet!

AAARRRGGG!!!

2010-03-20T23:09:00.001+10:00

The second time in a month I have lost photos! I know I take a lot and many would think it would not hurt to have a few less, but seriously...not happy!
I have just lost a dozen photos of the childen at Thunderbird Park. We went for a drive up there last weekend. It was raining but still a pleasant day none the less. The children and Greg went to dig for their very own thunder eggs, and Annie and I stayed behind to check out the park in the rain. It was so nice to go out on our very first family outing! We went and had lunch at The Bearded Dragon that afternoon. There was a band playing for St Patricks Day and plenty of old ephemera (JUNK) to look at. All in all a lovely Sunday for everyone. Hopefully next time the majority of the car trip won't be spent listening to Annie protest at the backwards travelling...2 months til we can turn her around!

I was going to upload a few layouts but for some reason they keep coming up sideways! Very strange! I have been having a lot of fun with ths book:

So far I have done three layouts inspired by the challenges in there! I am loving having a new focus again...lots of fun!

I took these pics of Audrey the other day. She has noticed me taking 100's of photos of Annie and asked to get in on some too! There are a stack more soon to be gracing a few scrappy pages in the days to come!

Off to celebrate my neices birthday tomorrow! Hopefully we can get a couple of pics of the twins too! They have grown sooo much since our last shoot!

Oh and I should be able to post about my fun news next week some time...Scrapbooking related of course! Until then, have a good weekend!

Car tripping

2010-03-14T09:47:00.001+10:00

Rain rain go away, we're going on a trip today!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Howdy!

2010-03-04T14:33:00.000+10:00

So I have done a few more layouts for Scrapbook City to share with you! They were lots of fun to make. am a fan of the new border stickers by Sassafrass, I have lots of ideas for them!

We are all well here. I have had some exciting news but have to check if I can share it yet. I was too excited to remember to ask LOL!
I have just updated Annie's Blog. Whose idea was it to photograph her every day? Luckily she is such a cutie pie...I could just watch her all day and not get bored! I know it is a far cry from my usual behaviour, but there you go.

I have been busy...

2010-02-27T20:27:00.000+10:00

doing a lot of layouts for Scrapbook City!

Off to do some more!

A bit of fun!

2010-02-27T20:21:00.000+10:00

Check this out!

I saw it on the WIP blog and had to give it a go. Works great with photo heavy sites!

These are the images from Annie's Blog! Love it!

Give it a go here!

Greg Rocks! (In more than one way!)

2010-02-24T10:15:00.000+10:00

Do you know how wonderful my hubby is?
I do.
Aside from the general helping out around the place he has been up to for the past 12 months. Aside from totally spoiling me even when he really shouldn't.
Do you know what he did for me?

He taped Rob Thomas' concert on his little ol phone for me! I had won tickets from B105 for the concert and was really hoping that Annie would be at the stage where I could disappear for a few hours at night, but she wasn't and still isn't. So being left with two tickets to the concert Greg took Rob's other biggest fan...our Thomas. His thoughts about it when he got home were that it was awesome and he LOVED the last song. When he got up in the morning he made a comment that made me laugh. He said it was just a lot of people sitting around watching and singing. And that it was fun but it wasn't what he thought it would be.

Anyway, seeing as I missed it, Greg taped a few songs on his phone and whilst they ae pretty bad, I am just so chuffed that the thought was there <3.

Love you too honey.

What type are you??

2010-02-20T22:27:00.000+10:00

I came across this quiz on The Spotted Sparrow. It was fun. My text is apparently Universal...I liked it!

Meanwhile here is a pic of my world right now. See on my bedside table...coffee, Zantac for Annie, tissues to mop up the Zantac she spits out, a novel or three, all on the go, nappy bucket and change station in the background and one little munching munchkin who never takes her eyes off me whe she feeds. I am so lucky to be able to breastfeed again - especially after all we went through. I love it and hope to continue at least until she is one.

And because I didn't get around to it back in January, I did want to post about Joseph's birthday. He turned 7 after Christmas. We celebrated with a family dinner at the local pub and a cake for dessert. I also took the kids to the movies for a special treat. We saw Alvin and the Chipmunks The Squeakel...funny and very juvenile! He received some beautiful gifts, but his favourite was his latest gaming device -

Is he not the cutest seven year old ever?

Top Ten again!

2010-02-17T23:50:00.000+10:00

ok...I was a bit slack this week...way too hot to sit at the computer really! Luckily it has cooled down some and now I can do a bit more than lie panting on the couch! LOL!

So last week Tam had top ten childhood memories/pop culture items. We are of the same era, but I will try and do mine differently!

1. Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew Books. Dad bought a case at a garage sale one time and I would get one every now and then...I LOVED those books :) As I got older, Stephen King became a favourite author and still is today. All time favourite book is The Talisman
2. Spokey Dokeys - for the bike tyres. For some reason they just didn't go well with my vintage yellow bike!
3. Care Bears take one - I almost laughed when they brought them out again!
4. Watching "The Goodies" and laughing my guts out...I saw an episode the other day. I only lasted a minute...man I must be getting old!
5. Terry toweling clothing...something that has not been revived lately!
6. The ESPRIT logo T Shirt. Mine was green with a hot pink word. I was attached to that shirt for a long time!
7. Country Road Bags...still going strong in this house 20 years later!!!!
8. Listening to Bruce Springsteen...my first cassette! I never did get any more of his music, but Born in the USA still rates as a favourite tape.
9. Does anyone else remember RATCAT?? Don't go now? I think the lead singer is now photography editor at a darling downs magazine or something!!
10. I too was a huge Molly Ringwald fan. But as I got into my teens I started enjoying a few movies of a more thrilling nature! Pulp Fiction in an ALL TIME FAVOURITE for me!

I will post some pics tomorrow. My memory card had a &*^&^$% and I lost a weeks worth of photos on Sunday night! Not happy Jan :(

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-14T07:18:00.000+10:00

Hi all! Hope everyone out there is feeling loved today! Lucky for me it is my birthday too, so I am thinking I will be feeling plenty of love shortly. At the moment I am the only one up and am really enjoying some peace and quiet! I do need to go and get ready for Breakfast soon...we are off to celebrate at the Jindalee Tavern!

Last night Greg and I went on our first double date in YEARS! We met up for dinner with Lorena and Ben at the Pig and Whistle at Indooroopilly and then went on to see The Wolfman. It was awesome...plenty of jumps and loads of special effects. Annie thought it was pretty cool too. She stayed awake the whole time...probably beacuse her seat kept jumping up and down! She never cried though, so that was a blessing. We came home and she slept from 10 until 5am...woo hoo! Mumma got 5 hours continuous sleep so I am feeling semi human on my birthday!

And here are a couple of quick pics...

The only way I can get photos of the kids at the moment is to let them take a silly one at the end!

Auds doing the happy dance on her first day at school!

Annie trying to suck her thumb, or fist...or sometimes I think she may even be trying to suck her wrist! Time will tell I guess!

Have a great day...I have some layouts to share during the week and will alsoi be posting on Annies Blog http://www.annieo365.blogspot.com/

Tam's Idea...

2010-02-06T13:02:00.000+10:00

is to list top ten school memories...
Here are mine...not in any order, but oh so fun to sit here for a while and reminisce!

1. Swapping shoes with Gaylia in Grade two because she had pretty sandals and mum bought me BROWN ones.
2. Collecting pinecones at lunch time for the teacher for Arts and Crafts
3. Making papier mache puppets from scratch in Year 5.
4. Finally learning how to colour in properly in Year Seven Geography!! I never really understood the whole pressure thing with a coloured pencil til then...maybe I just didn't colour in enough!
5. Reading 'The Hobbit" after lunch in Grade Seven...and conducting sign language conversations across the room with my friends.
6. Catching the bus home on my own for the first time in Year 8...very daunting!
7. Choir and band practice after school...feeling a part of a whole...so rewarding!
8. Managing to get out of swimming classes in high school by taking tennis lessons...then going on to represent the school team and winning!
9. Singing with the choir with The Great Britain Youth Choir at the Lyric theare.
10. Reading Mills and Boons aloud to the other girls when an English teacher didn't show up in Year 9. We got busted and were in sooo much trouble. The thing is we bought the book at the school fete the weeked before! So ironic!

That was fun! Thanks Tam!

Resurfacing...

2010-02-03T20:23:00.000+10:00

I have been kind of busy with this little one of late! Luckily she is an absolute pleasure to be around hey! She has just started giving out kisses to anyone who puts their cheek close enough, much to the delight of the children! The hair does not look like it is falling out anytime soon either, and her eyes have lightened up to a very pretty blue.

Audrey has started Prep, Joseph is in Grade Two and Thomas is now in Grade Four! I am wondering where all the years are going and have been feeling very nostalgic of late. Here are all the kids on the first day of school...

I do hope the boys will look after Audrey at school. She absolutely adores it and is already well known around the place so has fit right into the new routine. She asked me yesterday if now, because she was going there they would change the name of the school to Since Audrey's, because it has been Since Joseph's long enough! HA ha she makes me laugh.

Meanwhile, Thomas takes out the award for pulling the wool over mummy's eyes...he had not brought any homework home and I asked him where it was. He told me his teacher was CHALLENGING him to do two nights worth in one night and I believed him! LOL!

I have had a little bit of time to scrap. I have a huge ile of new poduct waiting to be played with, but I try to get all my Xmas ayouts done by the end of January every year first. Her are a few of the Christmas layouts from this year.

Hmmm not sure why that is sideways...too bad, I can't be bothered changing it now.

Mow that the children are back at school I hope to have a bit more time to potter. We'll hopefully see some results in that area after all the doctors appointments are over and done with!

What's up with us....

2010-01-01T14:11:00.000+10:00

Happy New Year! We have had a quiet one here at our place due to a very small and cuddly little baby who has taken over our lives! Greg and I watched a movie and I waited for the last feed of the night, saying I would go to bed when she woke up to feed...and she slept until 11:30, which meant I could stay up to see in the new year. Greg on the other hand didn't make it til midnight. I don't know why...could have had something to do with the wine he had to drink on his own. I am still on the blood clotting medication so no party drinks for me!

Here are the kids on Christmas morning. Unfortunately I didn't get a lot of shots on Christmas day...had my hands full most of the time, if not with Annie, then with food! LOL! I did get this one of Dad and Joseph though...I love it!

And speaking of photos I love, check this out! Here is Audrey and Annie...two sisters. Auds asked to have a photo with Annie...I got heaps of beautiful shots of her, her hair was doing good things on this day!

We have a few things coming up for us to go to. It will be strange getting back into the real world after having a six week hiatus. But life must go on, and we can't sit up in our rooms cuddling babies for ever...or can we??? Be sure to have a look at Annie's blog http://www.annieo365.blogspot.com/ Some entries will be pictures only from now on...that is really what I would lilke for it to be about.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-26T22:33:00.000+10:00

Here's hopinbg everyone out there had a wonderful time with their families/friends. We had a very nice day with ours and have enjoyed the Boxing Day Play, with all the new gifts being thoroughly examined here!

More soon...

Time to resurface!

2009-12-21T17:20:00.000+10:00

Hi there! It has been almost a month since our little Annie joined us, so I suppose it is time for me to get myself back into gear and back into my old routines. I have been recovering slowly from the cesar and hysterectomy and am almos back to normal again. I still get dizzy if I walk aound too much though! These late nights are not helping much either...I just can't do sleep deprivation like I used to! Luckily Annie is such a little doll...just a dream baby really!

I have started a blog for her...I am trying to take a photo a day of her for the first year of her life. I have been having fun with a few props the past couple of days, but am in no way near caught up on the blog yet! I am just itching to get them editted and printed though...there is nothing like an actual photograph to look at! Her blog is at http://www.annieo365.blogspot.com/ if you want to take a look. I am keen to do this project so check there regularly if you like!

Everyone else here is fine. Greg has been the MOST AMAZING husband in the whole world this past few weeks. I would not have healed so well without his love and attention. He is totally besotted with his little girl and has fallen back into the role of baby daddy so well...even better than last time even!

I will have some photos soon. Until then, take care,
Ang

Well, I am here now...

2009-11-10T15:58:00.002+10:00

I came on to delete some annoying spam comments...and thought I may as well pop a little post in here to keep everyone up to date with our family once again!

We are all well this week. Everyone is getting very excited about the new arrival...13 more sleeps now and she will be here and all will be well...phew! I am 32 weeks pregnant and have a belly the size of a full termer! There is not a lot of room left in there though and she is starting to knock me about a bit when she moves. Especially due to the whole scar thingy, we are having to take it easy for the next two weeks. I haad a week at the Wes last week to rest and if I don't slow down I will have to go back...nothing like the threat of incarceration to keep you on the straight and narrow! LOL!

The children are waiting patiently too. Thomas is about the most excited as anyone can be...in fact I really should be printing off the calender I promised I would for him to count down the days! He is really going to be a great big brother to this little one I am sure the others will be too. I bet in two years time I will be one here with pictures of this poor child dressed up as Princess Laya in a pram or something else...hopefully she won't be too strong willed like her sister and happy just to join in!

Only four weeks left of school too...time to start some Christmas shopping I suppose...I have a list and this year I have to stick to it! Doing well so far though...

I had a huge clean out of my scrap room a couple of weeks ago. It looks so different now! I wish I could sit in my chair to use it but unfortunately I am too uncomfortable...so all scrapping is done in my head. Now would be a great time for a Gypsy wouldn't it! lol!

I have been meaning to take pictures of the layouts I did on retreat with Scrapbook City but I have never gotten around to it. I will one day I am sure!

Take care everyone! Back soon I am sure!

HELLO!!!

2009-10-31T12:09:00.002+10:00

Oh my it has been a while hasn't it?

Let's do a quick update and thenI can cross another thing off the list ;)

So we had a fantastic school holidays up in Caloundra. Lots of trips to the beach and the pool too. Thomas had a really bad reaction to some suncream that took almost the whole time to clear up, but aside from that we were all happy and healthy the whole time! I had an assignment to shoot while I was there, so I did get a couple of ok shots, but for the most part I left the camera in the bag! So not like me, but I really couldn't be bothered!

We had lots of visitors and really enjoyed seeing our friends in our second home. I always end the holiday trying to come up with ways we could make a complete sea change, but it never works out! I need my extended family close by I think! That and the fact that if we lived there any time we went on holiday it would not compare relaxation wise so I think we will have to keep things the way they are at the moment! It would have been perfect if Greg had been able to take some time off, but we compromised and her comuted every day, so at least we saw him in the evenings.

I also had a break from all the doctors appointments for a few weeks which was so lovely. Even though I missed checking up on my little bubba, it was nice to have a break from the running around that has become my weeks. We were back into it the second week of term though, with 3-4 appointments each week up until now! Seriously, I am keeping at least one staff member at Medicare employed I swear! Happily, all is going well and we are booked in for a CS on the 24th. Hopefully I will not have any issues until then because A. she will only be 34 weeks at that stage and that is young enough for me for her to be born. and B. I have a huge list of things to achieve before then and really can't afford not to get it all done! So no dramas (pretty please with sugar on top!).

We have celebrated Dee's 40th , had High Tea Buffet at the Stamford, been out to tea with Lyn and Trea and Rod from Fiskars while they were visiting from Melbourne, had some fun family trips (bushwalks are not their favourite thing to do!!! tough luck thugh, I enjoy them!), been to a couple of tupperware and Grace cosmetics parties. I have done a few fun photo shoots, plus the centre photos for YWest again. We have watched lots of scary movies (my favourite!) and some good thrillers/suspence ones too. I have almost done all my assessments for tafe after having a min fit that I wouldn't be able to get it all done...Almost time to put my feet up and rest. Unfortunately that list is not going to achieve itself so I better go and cross this blog entry off (plus the three I did for scrapbook city), make the kids lunch and start getting ready for the big Halloween party at school tonight! Bye!

Fathers are fabulous!

2009-09-06T21:03:00.003+10:00

To mine, his and theirs, I want to thank you for the influence you have in my life! You all make me want to be a better person.

Today we celebrated Father's Day with a BBQ at Rosie's and afternoon tea at Greg's parents. It was a lovely day and so nice to catch up with family. The boys were totally smitten with their new cousins and Audrey and Emily had fun setting up a jewelry shop in the front yard. The dads and the boys and my brother had a great time playing cricket before lunch too. Thomas had his first bowling lesson and seemed to pick it up ok. I made up a recipe for Beestings (dad's favourite bakery item). Possibly could improve on it for next year though!

We spent yesterday afternoon playing ping pong in the garage. Greg and I use to play quite a bit B.C. (Before Children :)). In between tennis and mixed netball we had a bit of time spare every now and then. The kids had a great time and I even managed a rally or two with Thomas. I forget how much fun that sort of thing is, and I guess as the kids grow up they will be able to do more with us, so maybe our active lifestyle will return one day!

Everything is going well with baby at the moment. We are now 23 weeks along! I can't believe how fast it is going. Only 9-11 weeks to go and we will meet her. I can't wait to hold her in my arms and neither can the rest of the family. Out of everyone, I think Audrey is going to have the worst trouble adjusting, she has been the baby of the family for so long. She has always known she wouldn't always be though and is eagerly awaiting the day she is not the smallest or last one to do something. She did say today that if bay came before her birthday rather than after it her life would be ruined forever! Let's just hope we can hold out til 33 weeks then hey!

The kids have been playing so well lately. Their imaginations are just so well developed it is scary. This week they have been developing a special alien language they speak to each other when they are role playing! It is such a crack up to listen to them...a life in the theatre is destined for one of them I think!

Only two weeks until holidays. I can't wait to get to the beach and hear the ocean and the gulls again. My skin is in desperate need of some sunshine...not a tan, just that healthy glow I get ;)

I have not had much time to scrap lately, TAFE is sucking the creativity out of me! I am hoping to get back into it soon. I have already packed a stack of layouts to do on holidays have been busy scouring the internet for inspiration. When I find it, I will let you know!

Have I said lately how much I love these guys???

2009-08-18T23:45:00.002+10:00

Singing along to Mama Mia! The best mondegren comes from Auds this year..."Mumma Mia, here I go again, my my, how can I digest ya!" She sings it to anyone who will listen!
JOse showing off for his best friend who was pulling faces to make him smile with me!

ANd our three little munchkins...not long til there will be four!

Introducing Stella and Harry Bidgood

2009-08-18T23:13:00.003+10:00

Are they not the sweetest things in the world? ALMOST makes me wish we were having two.....almost but then I see Rose and how tired she is and I am thankful we have only one little bubby on the way now!

Told You I Had Been Busy!!!

2009-08-18T22:57:00.003+10:00

This one is based on an idea I saw on Two Peas!

This one is from a sketh challenge it I am a Scrapaholic that I never entered! I can be so lazy sometimes!

Lookie! It's a girl!

2009-08-11T21:45:00.002+10:00

Had another scan this week. I think we are up to 8 now. I am almost ready to take a degree in Radiography!!! It is so cool to be able to watch the baby grow and change each time! She is spot on average growth wise which is fabulous and I am still going well for my dates too. We are 19 weeks now. I can feel her moving at night when I get to sit down and relax, she is really active. I am still sleeping on my side comfortably, but the vivid dreams are starting to keep me up at night! lol! I have had no cravings but am kind of off food all together...although bread has made a big comeback in my diet. We have lots of names floating around at the moment, we are not settling on one until birth day though...there have to be some surprises!

I will post some piccies of my new nephew and niece next time. They should be home soon which will be very exciting for Rosie and Clint...and a bit chaotic too! I had a cuddle of them both today and it just made me want the next four months to go by so much faster.

I have a ton of layouts to post soon too. I have been very inspired lately. Going to scrap a bit tomorrow night too!

Off to watch True Blood now...Greg and I are hooked!

Still here!

2009-07-26T20:21:00.005+10:00

Hi there! Just wanted to pop by and say hi! I am still here...everything is going swimmingly! I've had a couple of blood clot reappearances, but aside from that, I have been fine!

We had a scaan last week and the lady was 90% sure of what sex baby we have growing insode of us, but I think I will wait until next week, when we have the next scan to announce it to the world...just to be sure! I had both Auds and Thomas with me for the scan for differnet reasons and they were totally underwhelmed! All Auds was interested in was whether it was going to be a girl...and Thomas was more interested in his DS! Ahhh well, they are only young. I however cannot get enough of seeing this baby grow and change so often. It is making the whole pregnancy go by so fast. We are 17 weeks tomorrow, which is actually past half way for our delivery schedule! Can you believe that!!!

We have had such a busy couple of weeks...let me try and update with a couple of pics .

First of all we recieved the devestating news that my Grandfather (who turned 96 on Friday!) has a brain tumor that is quite advanced. He is currently in hospital, but we are hoping he will be moved to the Canossa Home soon...it is just down the road and I can see him every day if he is there. We are very close and it has been pretty tough for us all. As you can see he is the most handsome and dignified man, I have so much love and respect for him. I hope the next few weeks are not too hard on him. He deserves much more than that.

Then last Sunday my darling Nana turned 90. I took a bunch of photos and I am so glad I did, they have turned out sensationally! It was great to catch up with the Stewart clan again too, we don't seem to do it enough these days!

Here is my dad and Nana...can you see the family resemblance?

Here is Joseph helping with the very important job of blowing out the candles on her cake.

This is Nana and her eldest child, my Uncle Ian. He looks more like my Pop did.

And here is the beautiful Birthday Gal...can you believe she is 90?? I cannot...so thanks for the great genes Nana!

And lastly, my little sister gave birth to two healthy babies last Wednesday afternoon...naturally too! Harrison and Stella are still in Special Care at the Wesley, so I have not met them yet, but I am sure to see them soon. I think they will be out by the end of next week. Rosie carried them to 35 weeks so they are still a bit tiny, but they will have caught up in no time!

I have been designated to home and small gatherings for the remainder of the pregnancy. It seems that the pluresy has put me into the category of 'people with other complications' so I really cannot contract swine flu! So if you are sick, stay away! LOL!

Hoping to scrap soon...it has been forever! The school fete has taken up all my time again. It was today, but I could not go, so Jen and Lorena had to run the Craft Stall without me! It was another successful year though with a $1600 profit, so I am pretty happy with that!

See you round like a rissole!

as promised...

2009-07-04T21:33:00.004+10:00

here are a couple of layouts I scrapped for Scrapbook City this week. I have used the new Kaiser Ranges Child's Play above and Penny Royale below. There are heaps of embellishments to choose from and lots of beautiful colours and designs. I like the way they have made the packaging usable when you are done with the product...I can see a lot of those little envelopes in my future!!!

Hope you are having a great weekend. Auds and I took Aunty Mel to luch at Paddington today. We had a lovely time, although I am sure Auds tired Mel right out. The little darling did not stop yabbering the whole morning! She was so good though. We dragged her from shop to shop and ooohed and ahhhed over all these things and didn't buy anything. Tomorrow we are off to a big BBQ at Rocks. If you are there come say hi!

2009-07-03T12:46:00.002+10:00

School Holidays are always so much fun. I love that I can start the day and not have to get out of my pj's until 9am. I love that I can get he washing and baking done early and then we are free for the rest of the day. This must be what it feels like for people who live close enough to school to walk...if only hey!

We have been super busy and I am really tired, but the kids are happy and that is the main thing! We have been to the park a couple of times, to a movie, to IKEA, to cartooning camp, to high tea, to a crafting day at Lorena's as well as watched a couple of new DVD's and a fair bit of Ben 10. This afternoon we are going down to the local cookie shop to decorate cookies. Just as well though, it is blowing gale force winds here! We have just got back from the park and Audrey has the slapped cheek look happening...chaffing...ouch!

I have been scrapping a little but not had time to photograph it. I am to tired to get much done of an evening, but I am trying...I have a few deadlines to meet!

I took these pics at Anzac Park on Monday. I know Auds is not looking her usual girly self, but I do love them. I cannot believe how big they are getting. And that soon a tiny one will be joining them...that is still a bit surreal to me! In my head they are all still my babies, but when I see a photo like this it reminds me how grown up they really are.

Back later with those scrappy pages I guess...til then!

Slowly, slowly...

2009-06-30T14:36:00.002+10:00

So I am slowly getting back into the swing of things. It is taking a while though. I think the medication the doctor has put me on for the blood clots messes with my head a bit. Either that or baby brain has set in early...I am going for the med explanation...suits me better!

We had a scan yesterday to test the nuchal fold. It came out really well which was a huge relief. I know I am only 33 and we would never choose to end this pregnancy willingly, but it is always a stress in the back of you head. It was too early to determine the sex, although they could see Rosie's twins at 13 weeks...the next scan is in 3 weeks so we will hopefully see then.

I have a mountain of TAFE work to catch up on. Something like 4 assignments! I can't believe I got so far behind with a few weeks of drama's. I will have to be extra specially committed next term that's for sure. I have learnt so much this past 6 months...it was such a good decision to go. My business has just gone from strength to strength. I just have to get off my toosh and update the blog. I think I have about 8 shoots that I have not posted on there since Feb!!! Shocking!

The children are on holidays at the moment. They have been so good to me this past couple of weeks. I am so lucky to have them. I took some pretty awesome shots yesterday at the park...I love getting all three of them together in one shot...

The boys are off to Cartooning Camp tomorrow and Audrey and I are taking a friend to Hannah Montanna. Massive girly overload I think but I hope I will get through it OK. It has never been said that I am a girly girl that's for sure! Then on Thursday we will see Miss Sue and Sharon...I cannot wait, it has been too long again. I just wish she could live in Brissy again...it has been 11 years now since she moved to the UK! Geez time flies! Friday I am hoping that Greg can stay home...I think I will be totally knackered by then!

I am going to go and do some scrapping I think...will try and post it here tomorrow, I know it has been so long!

By the way, what do you think of the new template? I am trying to add stuff, but it keeps coming up with errors...will work on it with a friend who knows html back at TAFE!

A close one!

2009-06-21T22:28:00.002+10:00

So we have had a pretty interesting week here at our place. Or it could be thought of as terribly boring depending on which side of the fence you are standing on!
Last Saturday night I went out to tea with some of the mum's from Grade One at school. It was a nice night, but I left early as I had a sore shoulder and was needing to lie down. I went home to an early bed, but didn't sleep all night. The next day it was a little worse...couldn't breathe deeply, that sort of thing. I went and saw my dear friend Donna who is studying Bowen Therapy who tried to alleviate the pain, but it only worked for an hour. By 7:30 Sunday night it was pretty unbearable, so I thought I would take myself off to hospital for a special injection. Being pregnant, you have to be careful what you put into your body and they always have the right stuff at the hospital. I went alone, thinking I could catch a cab home if I was too zoinked to drive...mum and dad had a scare with my sister on the Friday night already too...
So I went into the Wesley and was hooked up to a couple of machines instantly. They started talking blood clots and I started panicking! I called Greg and he got his mum to come up. I had a chest xray and they found shows on my lungs that indicated pleurisy and they admitted me for further tests.
The next day they did a CT scan and found numerous small blood clots in my lungs. They had come off a bigger one somewhere but it was in my abdomen and they couldn't do the xray over where the baby was. I also had a scan to check on bub...who is doing quite well actually considering! If I had not gone into hospital, my OBGYN said I would have likely passed away in the night. SO I have spent the week in hospital being poked prodded and injected every 4 hours and came home on Friday afternoon very sore and tired but oh so glad to be home!
My little babies managed ok without me, I suppose but I was spoilt with lots of hugs and kisses all weekend. I was even treated to breakfast in bed on Saturday...it was so sweet to see Audrey carrying it up the stairs...she grew up a little bit this week!
I have to have blood thinning injections for the next 6 months which I know I am not going to enjoy. I was alright for the first few, but after seeing the mess they make of my tummy I am more and more reluctant to do it. Luckily Greg has no such qualms and has been totally fine with stabbing me! Hopefully the REST of this pregnancy will go without trouble...
I know our family could not have gotten by so well this week without the love and support of our family and friends, Mum, Barbara, Donna and Lorena...You help has meant so much to us all. Thankyou! xxx

She's Back!!!

2009-06-10T21:48:00.003+10:00

So have you been wondering where I have been?
I have not been on an impromptu trip to the US or anywhere else...
Neither I or any of the family have been struck down by swine flu...yet!
My computer was not eaten by a shark or a dog either...
I have just been busy growing this....

And growing it is! We are only 10 weeks so far, but I am huge already! We have had a few dramas so far, but at this stage all is well in the world. I am almost over morning sickness which was a novelty for the first day or so as I have never suffered from that before, but got rather annnoying pretty quickly.
Looks like bubby will be here well in time for Christmas though, which will be nice!

So I do apologise to anyone who booked in to do my class at the Convention. I had to pull out for health reasons. It seems the next few months are going to be pretty quiet and boring too...doctors orders of course. But that is fine, I am looking forward to being calm and collected for a change!

The upside of a risky pregnancy is that I get to have weekly scans, so I can see bubby growing stage by stage. It has been fascinating so far to see it go from a blob to a tadpole to a baby! I am going to make the best scrapbook ever!

Of course we are not in the safe period yet...still a couple of weeks to go before I am even supposed to announce that we are pregnant! LOL! I think the crossing guard at school even knows...It is really no secret! More in a week or two....I have so much to catch up on here...

MIA

2009-05-16T12:01:00.002+10:00

So we have been lying low lately. Sorry...not too much going on, I am just REALLY over committed! I will be presenting a few more photos to clients this week...I am always so excited to show them! I had a HUGE canvas done up for a client yesterday...it looked so cool! It is a surprise for her hubby...I hope he loves it!

A busy weekend with soccer, sacremental program, hens nights, birthdays and more! No time to scrap and even less time to get any work done! Have a good one!

Hello there!

2009-05-05T12:26:00.004+10:00

Are you all rested from the past weekend? Whilst I enjoy long weekends, they always throw me and I spend the rest of the week catchingup on the 'lost' day!

I had planned to get a bit of scrapping done this weekend, but was at the last minute asked to do a shoot for Mother's Day and ended up spending the weekend editing those images...

This is an outake from the shoot...but I love it none the less!

And because I feel like I have been a bit slack in the layout department this year...here are a couple I did this past couple of weeks. The first two are DT ones for Scrapbook City. The last two are from a paper pack I got ages ago and only found when I was cleaning up for the Garage Sale...I LOVE the beachy colours...could easily base my whole house on them next time we build!

Fancy Pants - Summer Fun

K and Co - Wild Raspberry

Inque Boutique

And a little Audrey story to give you a giggle...we were driving home from Grandma's house last night and Thomas put the window down. It was pretty windy and I was tired and cranky, so I cracked it.

"You are NEVER to put the window down when we are driving Thomas!" I chided him.

"So what are they there for then mummy, if you can't put them down?" pipes up Miss Audrey.

She is FAST and oh so witty...we are gonna be in BIG trouble!

2009-04-30T23:26:00.002+10:00

Guess whose birhday it was this weekend?? That is right...Master Thomas has turned 8! We had a lovely day full of family and presants...really what could be better to a kid than that?
We started the day with morning gifts. Audrey took out the best birthday presant ever proclamation with an Ironman Mask and hand shooting thingy. She was pretty chuffed!
We then headed down to the park for breakfast BBQ with my side of the family. It was my sister's birthday on Saturday, and would have been Grandma's on Monday, so we all like to get together each year. It ws lovely to see Grandpa there too. He was in his shiny new wheelchair which was a big help to him...he'll be out and about a bit more now I bet!
We then went home to build some Lego...surprise surprise, but Greg took him over to the Toy Shop at Garden City and he got to choose a presant from us...he was so estatic and chose....yep...more Lego!! Seriously can the boy not see it spilling out of his cupboard??? Ahh...whatever makes him appy I guess. He probably sees all my scrapping stuff and thinks it is normal to want to own one of everything! LOL!
That night we went out with the O'Neales for a delicious dinner at The Centenary Tavern. I had a Chicken Mignon that was soooo yummy! Then it was back to our place for an Xman Cake! You can see I spent a lot of time on this one...it was exactly the way he wanted it though! Check out the boys here...they are trouble I tell you!

Happy Birthday my little man, Mr T, B1, AKA Bruce Wayne :) Love you xx

Retreat Hangover!

2009-04-28T21:08:00.003+10:00

Well I am back from the Scrapbook City Retreat, with what can really only be described as a hangover!!! I am sooo tired and I only slept over one night! I taught two classes and did a whopping 10 layouts! Here are a couple...the others will be on the Fiskars Blog over the next couple of weeks!

Thanks to Anne, Abby, Christina, Judy, Michelle and Regina for letting me crash at your table! I really had a great time chatting with you all!

Speaking of Scrapbook City...have you heard about the new kits we are doing? They are great value and come with typed instructions. You only have a couple more days to get the April Kit...done with the Baboushka Doll range from Kaiser. Here it is...

Go here to get one>>>SCRAPBOOK CITY!!!

Scrapbook Expo - Brisbane

2009-04-28T20:47:00.003+10:00

Hi there! Just wanted to post my lil ole project I have going for the Scrapbook Expo that is on in Brisbane on the first weekend of June. It is going to be so much fun! I have designed a wall banner that would be perfect for a baby/little girls bedroom wall...but have also got the prduct to turn it into a boy style banner...cool hey!

Here is a picture or two!

You will get to use stacks of Fiskars tools and some very nice product by Chatterbox!

Hope to see you there! Follow this link to book in! I will be joined in the Fiskars classroom by the very talented Jill GG and Ngaire B...I know it is going to be great!

We went away...

2009-04-23T14:08:00.004+10:00

For the Easter break with some families from school to the Gold Coast. Same group as last year and it was just as much fun! We all got to stay on the same floor this time so there were plenty of night time gatherings with the parents too!

I have stacks of photos but no time to edit them all...plus my shoulder keeps hitching up and hurting me...so I can only sit at the computer for short bursts!

The Scrapbook City Retreat is on this weekend. I am teaching a 7 Gypsies mini album class. Here is a little peek at one of the pages. Warning: it is oober simple...took ages just to cover the pages so I made it as easy to complete in class as possible. I will add more before I give it away to the lucky recipients ;)

I am heading out there for a while tonight and then tomorrow night and Saturday! I wish I could stay the whole time, but I did happen to have a very special little boy eight years ago this Sunday, so I am MORE than happy to be there when he wakes up on his birthday morning!

Check out this stunning rainbow I saw yesterday! Isn't it gorgeous!

I shot a wedding on the weekend...over 800 pics to sift through! Lots of reles and family photos so that is super. We also found the most awesomr spot to take photos...I feel a field trip coming on with Miss Audrey!

Better go and get the boys and then get ready for Tafe tonight. See you soon,

Out of the mouths of babes...

2009-04-12T21:18:00.003+10:00

So I was taking the obligitory Easter shots this afternoon at our Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Auds was having a moment and I was pulling out all the usual tricks to get a bit of eye contact. Usually I tease the kids about there being a little fairy in my camera who takes the picture and if they look right into the lens they can see her clap.
Today, when I asked Audrey, "Where's the fairy?" she answered with a very cheeky grin,

"IN YOUR HEAD!"

She is growing up way too fast!

Hope you had a lovely day, we sure did!

Howdy Doody!

2009-04-08T16:00:00.003+10:00

Wow, that does sound chipper! And I suppose I am feeling pretty upbeat at the moment...and why shouldn't I? Tafe is fun, the kids are happy and healthy, I have been busy with my lil old business, I am finallly losing weight, we have our annual Easter Egg hunt this weekend... Yup...all is good! I am just wishing I could get a full nights sleep again, but at the moment I am sleeping so lightly, Audrey rolls over down stairs and I wake up! Must be all that info going round in my head...no where to store it! LOL!
Lorena, Tiff and I ran our annual Trivia Night on Saturday. It was so much fun, only a little bit competitive but such a riot! We had a really successful evening and managed to raise lots of money for the school which is really cool! We finished up at about 11:30 and a big group of us thought we would kick on at the local pub for a while...Saturday night is karaeoke night there...woo hoo. Perhaps I am still recovering from that one...I am pretty sure I didn't sing up on stage, but we were doing plenty of stage front singing!!! There was actually some pretty good talent there too! Big thanks to my lovely husband who drove us all home too...he is so good to me!
The next day I met up with some friends from TAFE for the AIPP judging at Mt Gravatt Tafe...Wow there were some seriously awesome images there...very inspiring! I am dying to get out and take some photos soon, but I am lacking in willing posable subjects...my kids have hit saturation point! My sister is expecting twins in July....now there is an awesome photo opportunity!
We have had a great week for catching up with old friends. Jason and Ingrid (Audrey's OTHER godparents) came over for dinner on Sunday night with their gorgeous girls and then one of my dear friends (who was also one of our bridesmaids) Kim and her hubby David came for tea last night. They are visiting from the US so it was lovely to see them for a bit and have them all to ourselves for a whole evening. They only got married shortly before leaving Brissy so I have not spent a great deal of time with David, but I am happy to say they are a gorgeous couple who are just perfect for each other. Audrey was totally smitten with Kim and could not stop gazing at her adoringly! So sweet!
Well I better go and give the kids some afternoon tea! Catch you later!

Hellooooooo

2009-04-01T22:50:00.003+10:00

Hi there everyone out there in blogland! I am here and alive and kicking! I had no idea I had left it so long between posts but I have had so much on my plate...let me walk you through a few things I have been up to!

GYM

I have been hitting the gym for three times a week for the past couple of months. I have not really noticed a lot of changes yet, but I am assured it is coming soon!! I do feel like my ahem core muscles are doing a much better job...and so far my back has held out quite well! I am loving it so won't be giving in any time soon! Unfortunately I have lost my gym buddy Lorena so it is not as much fun as it was but I'm too invested in it now to give in!

TAFE

So much fun and oh so busy! Three nights a week is a lot to be away from home and Greg and the kids are doing so well. I am really looking forward to the holidays in a couple of weeks though...it will be nice to sit and do nothing. I am trying to get all of my assignments done before we break up so I don't feel like I have to do them while I am away.

TRIVIA NIGHT

SO I am organisisng the St Joseph's Trivia Night with Tiff and Lorena this term. It has been fairly breezy until this week...why do I always leave things to th last minute? I have been printing tickets tonight and writing worksheets at 6am this morning...it will be worth it though...going to be a corker of a night!

SCRAPBOOK CITY

We had a huge shipment come in from CHA and then had the first Leisa's Favourite Things day. It was such a great idea of hers. She picked a whole stack of new and unseen product at CHA and had a release party. $100 got us $300 worth of stuff...love it all even the page kit! LOL!

Here are a couple of layouts I did in preparation for it.

GOLD COAST

Last weekend I represented Fiskars at the Gold Coast Craft Fest. Jill, Ngaire, Merle and Glenda joined me for three days of cards, notebooks, mini albums and door hangers! With a new format we managed to scrap with a couple of hundred ladies over the three days. It was a lot of fun as the craft shows always are! I love the whole atmosphere during the setting up and pulling down and all the people you meet at thes events. I have been demonstrating for Fiskars for over two years now and have started to remember some ladies from year to year!

The Gold Coast is such a fun place to go, I couldn't be there and not have a bit of fun, so Kel and Dee came down for Friday night and we had a bit of a girls night out. We started with a few drinks at home then headed out to East 88 for tea and dancing and more drinks! It was such a great time...I have not been dancing for years...and while I was pretty tired from the two days work prior to that, I had a ball and danced into the wee hours of the morning. The next night Greg came down for our anniversary dinner. We met 15 years ago on Friday so a night away from the children seemed like a lovely way to celebrate. We had a beautiful dinner at Valentino's Italian Restaurant, a restaurant we dined in when we first started dating back in 1994. I reckon the same family is running it now, even mumma was in the kitchen! A couple of bottles of Italian Chianti later and it was midnight again. Taxis were impossible to find so we decided to walk home...and made it half way before it started raining!!! We were soaked by the time we returned to the apartment but a nice warm shower was all I needed to be sleeping like a baby!

I have been spending the past few days getting on top of everything again. Once the trivia night is done I will be able to focus on a couple of projects I have going for my photography business. Then it is school holidays...and I seriously cannot wait to be able to sleep in for a couple of days in a row!

I'll update again after the mammoth weekend. Aside from the trivia night, we are catching up with old friends as well as going to a function for TAFE...another biggy but always fun! Ciao for now!

2009-03-16T22:45:00.002+10:00

Well hi there friends! How are we all? Hope the storm tonight has not caused too much damage out your way. We have just got a wet staircase, but it will be dry soon!
I had a great weekend working for Scrapbook City at the Paper Arts Festival. It is a shame that the other retailers don't embrace it as a chance to showcase their new stock. The number of customers who were disappointed with the array of products was quite large. Of course there is always going to be people who have come solely for the bargains, but if we are going to keep the scrapbooking industry alive we need to support it...as both consumers and retailers!
Anyhoo...I am so lucky to be able to do this and work every now and then on the weekend. If Greg was not so good with the children I wou ld have no chance of getting away! So thankyou honey...you are the best!
My shoulder is killing me. Apparently I have torn a rotator cuff muscle which is not as nasty as it sounds. In fact it is hurting more nw that I have had a bit of therapy on it! It should settle down soon, then I can get on with the business of hurting everywhere else! I have been trialing a whole lot of different classes at the gym, trying to srtep it up a notch. Today I did an RPM class...won't try that again either! Far to hard on my back! I will be going to Body Combat on Friday though....that one is so much fun. I didn't realise how much pent up agression I have in me!

Some pics from the iphone...

2009-03-13T13:47:00.005+10:00

I have not really checked these out before...but the quality is no as bad as I thought it was!

So here are a couple of pics from the phone...two of Coldplay and one of the new do!

I suppose I do look like I have escaped a little! I was going for the jet setting movie star look...ha ha...that is a joke!

This was when tey sang "Yello"...still my alltime fave of theirs! They had these giant yello balloons filled with confetti bouncing around...my sister in law's hubby is very tall so we were hoping to commandeer one, but they didn't bounce our way...

What's Up Doc?

2009-03-11T22:31:00.003+10:00

Strangely every time I hear that phrase I think of Laura Palmer, not Bugs Bunny...but no one is judging me right?

Time is slipping away so fast this year. I have been boycotting the shops, so really I should have tons of spare time to do lots of blogging and take heaps of photos of the children, but for some reason my days are so full! Not that I am complaining mind you, it is great to be so busy and fulfilled without shopping! LOL!

I have just had a great weekend in Sydney working for Scrapbook City at Sydney Craft Fest. It was at Homebush and so much fun. There is such a great vibe at the craft shows, they are so much fun! I stayed on Saturday night by myself, so rather than sitting in the hotel on my own I took myself off to a double feature at the movies. I saw "He's Just Not That Into You" and "Watchmen". Both movies were OK...probably would have enjoyed them more with a special someone by my side...but he was home with the kidlets...:( So next time I am going away for the weekend I think I will bring him with me. He can sit in the hotel room waiting for me to come home! lol!

Home late on Sunday night, then off to Coldplay on the Monday! What an experience that was...I enjoy Coldplay, but am not a manic fan like I am of the Counting Crows. They were such wonderful performers though. They really put on a great show! My favourite part was when they dumped literally thousands of confetti butterflies on the crowd during one of the songs. They were in my hair, on my shoulders even down the back of my top! I grabbed a stack for the kids and we are going to throw them in the air as soon as the sky clears!

Here is a picci of miss Audrey and her dolls house from way back near her birthday! It is straight out of the camera, but I did want to put one on here at least! She is standing up in this photo! It is so tall...taller than her even! The pink glow is from the sheer pink curtains we put up in her room...they are so her!

i know it is late...

2009-02-24T00:24:00.003+10:00

but if I don't blog now, I will never update this little blog of mine!

Wow, this past month has just flown by! What with school and TAFE and all the stuff in between, we have been overwhelmingly busy! But here are a few little tid bits of information from our happy home from this past few weeks:

* Greg turned 35
* I turned 33
* My brother Mark and his fiance Kareena had an awesome engagement party
* We bought a new car...a MAZDA CX9...yes I am spoilt!!
* My sister has announced she and her hubby Clint are expecting twins in July!
* I have been attending the gym AT LEAST 3 times a week for the past month...it seems for nothing as I am almost the same weight I was when I started...may have to look into this further as I have been rreeeaallly good in the non nibbling department!
* I have cut my hair off. I wanted to go for a bit of an edgy uneven look but my hairdresser (and dear friend) Dee said she didn't want me to look like I had "escaped", so I settled for razoring it to midlength oblivion!
* Thomas has had a great start to year 3 and finally seems to have a teacher who 'gets' him!
* Joseph is living up to our predictions and relishing in his newly acquired role of class clown. We are not as amused as his class mates however, but he is still coming along so very well, it is hard to get cross at the little monkey!
* Audrey is growing up way too fast...we were in the car the other day and she managed to pick Riannnas voice in her new song...as "the one who sings the dum dum dee dum dum dum dee dum dum" song nonetheless!
* We spent a whole day in the garden on Sunday planting trees...well Greg did anyway...I just soaked the plants after Greg dug the holes and before he mixed the cow manure into the soil and then put the new plant in the ground! I don't think I was much help, but we did have fun! Now our back yard is a bit prettier and I finally have a herb garden again! Hooray!!
* I am heading to Sydney on the 5th March for Craft Fest with Scrapbook City! Woohoo...I love flying! Then I will be working the Paper Craft Festival on the 20/21 March for them, and the fiollowing week I will be representing Fiskars for Craft Fest at the Gold Coast. It does mean that I have had to cut back a number of portrait sessions, but most have been rescheduled before Easter. I just cannot believe how fast this year is flying by...

I will be updating the FreshPix Blog later this week with a couple of images...check it out if you get a chance! Bye for now!

A short update!

2009-02-11T22:36:00.002+10:00

Wow, I cannot believe it has been so long between posts. This past week and a half have just whizzed by! So much has happened and is still happening before we know it it will be March! I saw the yogurt had an expiry of mid March today and it took me a little by surprise...wasn't it only Christmas a couple of days ago?
TAFE has started and it is AWESOME!!! I could not believe it on the first night when I showed up and ran into an old friend too! And a class member is actually an acquaintance's father in law! Six degrees I tell you! My class is mostly mature age students and everyone is lovely so far. It has been great to sit in a room and chat with other adults...no one has even asked me if I have children yet, so it has been a child free time in more ways than one! Such a rarity these days...
Of course there has been a lot of coverage on the VIC bush fires. I am finding it hard to comprehend the gravity of it all not being familiar with all the townships and areas that have been burnt down, but I am trying to educate myself so that I can understand more. Of all the things I have heard there are a few stories that are haunting me...I heard a very valid point of view on the news tonight, and that is that while we are all focussed on the numbers and the statistics and the future threats, it is necessary to aknowledge that each of those numbers and each one of those statistics is one family, just like yours and mine, whose lives have been turned upside down. Each one is a story of survival and is filled with an uncertain future. I just wish I could do more.....

I told you I was busy!

2009-02-01T21:09:00.003+10:00

And these are the good ones. The photos for a couple of others didn't really turn out. My hands still shake a little and until I get my good lens back I have to make do with what I have.

I start TAFE tomorrow night. I can't wait...literally got ants in my pants with the anticipation it is bringing me. The feeling I got when I went to hand in my folio was just so satisfying, like I was finally where I was meant to be again. I don't think I will be sleeping well tonight...far too excited!

I have just completed another project for Fiskars and am in the process of putting a class together for Scrapbooking Convention in June for them, as well as manning the stand at the Gold Coast Craft Fest with Ngai and Jill! It is going to be a busy year that is for sure!

I have been very lucky and received a Stamp Factory to have a play with. Check back here next time and I will show you what I have made!

And I must apologise for the blog header....I love this photo of the kids but have not had a chance to make a proper header for ages...so this will have to do! See you!

2009-01-30T16:35:00.003+10:00

One boy dressed and ready for Grade Three...check!
One boyr dressed and ready for Grade One...check!

One little girl dressed and ready for PrePrep...check!!!

Three kids who have had an AWESOME summer together...check!

Phew!!! They have gone back. It has been a busy week getting back into morning routine...I may have mentioned it before, but I am really not a morning person at all. I am however, proud to say that we have been out the door before 8am all three days this week! Off to a great start! The kids all love their new teachers and are happy with their class mates too, so it really has been a good start to the year.

I have been to the gym too and am super keen to get fit this year. Lorena has inspired me to be "fitter than I have ever been." Now I used to play A LOT of sport, like five nights a week back in my day...so I am aiming for 5 gym trips a week by Easter...and 8kgs GONE. Hopefuly never to return...I did a sculpt class today which was pretty good. I think the key is to do it early in the day so you keep moving . Night time classes only lead to sore muscles the next day, especially when you are as UNFIT as I am!

I was very productive at the coast last week and managed to complete 10 layouts! Only a few are fit for public viewing though...I think I must have scrapped in the dark one night LOL!

I will upload them later this weekend! Toodles!!

the holiday is over...

2009-01-26T10:44:00.000+10:00

We are heading home today from a beautiful break at Caloundra. we are all totally relaxed and ready to attack the new year with vigour! Thomas is starting Year 3, Joseph is starting Year 1 and Audeey will be going to PrePrep three days a week. I am going to be going to TAFE to study Photoimaging! It's going to be a busy year especially with my brothers wedding and all the functions associated with that, Thomas' communion and confirmation and all the other things we have lined up for the year. It will be Christmas again before we know it!
Here are a few kidisms from this week I don't want to forget:
Joseph: "Thomas, you are unpeeling!"
Joseph after consuming his first BubbloBill icecream: "I have had my bubble gum."
Me: "did you swallow the bubble gum?!?"
Joseph: "no, I ate it."
me: "so you swallowed it."
Joseph: "no I ATE it!" I guess there is a difference in his mind!
Actually now that I think about it, Joseph has really developed a big personality this summer! he is quite the performer and such a clown! I guess we will see more and more of that behaviour in the years to come!
I have no photos to show as I barely took any. The only time I attempted to get some photos was sabotaged by Thomas and his very scary face...or as jose put it..."oh my gosh, NO EYES!!!!!!"
happy Australia Day!

A few more....

2009-01-15T23:50:00.000+10:00

This last layout is done using Making Memories Paperie range in Blue. Available now at Scrapbook City!

So I have done a little bit of scrapping!

2009-01-14T23:44:00.001+10:00

Will upload more tomorrow!

Now he is 6!

2009-01-14T23:21:00.003+10:00

And totally pooped...take a look at all the fun things he has done this week...they are too hard to get into the right order..sorry!

On Saturday we had a Star Wars Clone Wars party for him. He chose a galaxy far far away for his birthday cake! It was pretty easy...

I made this banner and made all his guestshave a photo with him under it...noticibly absent from them is Thomas and his mate Fraser. Aparently it was not cool ...but Jose liked the idea!

Greg dressed up as Darth Vader and light saber blasted a couple of hundred water balloons the kids threw at him...he managed to aim quite a few of them at me...the kids LOVED it!

On his actual birthday we had Aunty Mel over and had a special number 6 devil cake. For some reason when I lit the sparklers he would not go anywhere near it until they had finished...the look on his face was priceless!

On Friday night we had a special family celebration for dinner and cake (again!). I wasn't cooking again, so I just purchased a couple of icecream cakes from Coles....felt the guilt, but it really is way too hot to cook more than necessary!

We also spent the week at the pool improving our technique. The boys are now swimming laps both in freestyle and backstroke! Auds is able to dog paddle back to the edge if she 'thinks' someone is holding her back! We are off to the beach on Friday, so we will be spending a whole lot of time at the pool then. It is so exciting to see the boys swim laps...to think they were water phobic 15 months ago!!!

2009-01-04T21:51:00.002+10:00

Well the Christmas decorations have been packed away for another year. I have done a huge clean out of each of the kids rooms too. Thomas wins with 5 garbage bags full of rubbish!!! The others only had a couple so he definately wins the award for best hoarder, which I might add cannot be genetic/inherited trait surely...lol! Only one room to go...the play room...where all good toys go to hibernate it seems! The amount of lost toys in that room is astounding, it is like the black hole in our house! Maybe tomorrow...or the next day...I need a bit of time to work myself up to the task!
I have also done a huge rearrange of my scrap room. I have moved it all closer down one end and tried to make better use of my work areas. Greg attached some hanging board to the wall so now every time I look up in a moment of scrappers block I stare at a wall of product! It looks so awesome and as soon as the cloudy wather goes away I will take a photo.
I have been scrapping up a storm too...I am really looking forward to sharing a few new layouts..it has been too long!
Greg is back to work tomorrow which means my little holiday is over too...I am going to miss the sleep ins we have been indulging in! At least I will be able to work my way through the folders of photos I need to edit for both us and some clients. See you when it is sunny again!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-26T22:45:00.003+10:00

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to quickly upload a couple of photos from the past couple of days just in case Mum and Dad were checking in from the Ocean Liner. We have had a fantastic couple of days...the children are totally pooped and have been spoiled from all directions! I am pleased to say that Thomas is still a believer in Santa at 7, having exclaimed the loudest ofver the mess the reindeers left on our back deck...naughty Rudolph...he will have to have his food on the lawn next year apparently!

We went to White Water World with the Taylors today...it was so much fun! I have never been keen on the whole water park idea, since the kids are not the most confident swimmers, but it was actually a whole lot of fun and we had a ball! There was something there for everyone, even me who was not allowed to get wet as per doctors orders! I just spent the day working on my tan and hanging out in the wading pool with Audrey while the boys tackled the big slides! No sunburn (thank goodness) and no major injuries...a great day by all accounts!

Greg has however more than likely broken his toe after incepting the dryer with his foot while taking it down off the wall! We thought it was just a dead toenail, but two days later it is still very sensitive...poor baby...luckily he is on two weeks holiday so he will be able to rest up!

I am definately scrapping tomorrow night. I have a photo shoot in the morning at a new location...I am really excited to be trying somewhere new!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T21:15:00.002+10:00

Hi there everyone! I know this is the slack way out, but I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all my family and friends (who read this blog) a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Due to all the dramas here this past few weeks, I am not posting out Christmas Cards...again! So please don't think I/we don't care for/about you all! We love all our friends dearly and cherish every moment we get to spend with you!
I hope you all have a day full of happy memories and time well spent! It is our first without Grandma and Mum and Dad have taken my Grandfather to Hong Kong on a cruise. My Nana is in Melbourne, my sister in Boralaba and my brother and his fiance are in Caloundra! So I am a Christmas orphan!!! Luckily I have my wonderful in laws close by...so we are having our Christmas celebrations together with them for breakfast and dinner!
We have just spent the evening watching The Polar Express. We have watched it on Christmas Eve for the past 3 years, but the kids still act like it is the first time they have seen it! I love it! We made some food for the Reindeers and left Santa some Chocolate Balls...not Reindeer Balls as Audrey would have liked! LOL! So now all that is left to do is to wait for the Jingle of Santa's sleigh bells!
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Well I have been slack!

2008-12-15T07:37:00.000+10:00

I can't believe how fast time is flying at the moment! these past few weeks are a blur of end of year concerts, break up parties, baking, shopping, wrapping presents and the occasional champagne! Add to all that a busy work season, a HUGE project for Fiskars, a couple of birthdays...my head is REALLY spinning! Thankfully we have come up the coast for a breif hiatus at Mum and Dads unit. That should revive and refresh us for the rest of the silly season!
I am looking forward to getting down to the beach for a swim today. our favourite place to go at the moment is Currimundi Lake. my friend Kelly has just bought a house near there so we are heading down there this morning. I want to leave you with one of Joseph's photos but since I have never blogged from my phone before it may not work. u

Some challenge layouts...

2008-11-25T21:41:00.003+10:00

A couple of weeks ago I had every intention of ding the Noel Mignon Harvest crop and entering all the challenges...but I ran out of steam and never even got to postthem on the site! Oh well...at least I did some layouts!

This first one is from a sketch from Jana. I took the photos on the day before when it was raining...we had a little it of cabin fever ;)

This one was a challenge to use brown, ribbon, the word HOME and stitching...the colour is a little bit off, but I really like this layout. All the products I have used were from Scrapbook City!

I am looking forward to the Christmas party this weekend at Graceville Hall. I will be teaching a free class to two groups of 50 people!!! To say I am feeling a little anxious is an understatement! Carole is coming down from Gladstone with Lauren (YAY!!!) and we will be sure to have a great night. My teaching responsibilities will be over at 5:30...it will be dinner and make and takes for me after that!

It is our wedding anniversary on Thursday! Nine years of marriage seems like it should be ages, but it only feels like yesterday we walked down the aisle! Both of us have changed so much over the past years, but thankfully we are still strong together and walking the same path. Happy Anniversary Babe...love you!

The best one liner from a four year old EVER!

2008-11-22T19:49:00.001+10:00

OK...I may be exaggerating a little...but it had Greg and I chuckling for ages!

This morning Audrey and Greg were playing the Wii. Auds stopped to grab a snack and came back ready to have her go immediately.

"Can I have a go now Daddy?"

"Not yet, soon..." he replies.

"How about now?" She offered three seconds later.

"Yep...soon."

"Would you do it for a scooby snack?"

I was in the kitchen and it was a good few minutes before I got myself under control!

We have a quiet weekend socially...Greg and I had our P&F dinner last night which was heaps of fun and a good excuse for a few drinks!

Lots of clients to prepare for this week! Hopefully the weather will hold out for me!

I will take those piccies of Auds too when it fines up a bit. I know how I want them to look and I need them to be just right!

Happy Birthday Audrey!

2008-11-18T20:22:00.003+10:00

Yep...today my baby turns 4! I am not going to lie...there is a bit of sadness in it for me! But I have had my little weep and gotten over it and now spent the mst part of the day playing with my best girl! (I can say that because she is the only girl ;)!)

We had a cake for her on Sunday with the family...right before the big storm hit. At least we were all together when it was pouring down. Luckily there was no damage done to our place, but next door were not so lucky! I was just glad the heat had gone so my 30cm high birthday cake didn't fall down, melted on the floor! It took hours to make but the gasp of delight was well worth it.

She woke up to her presents with the boys this morning. They both made her some beaded necklaces and she told everyone we met all day that her brother had made her jewelry for her. Greg and I spent a few hours putting together a little something, but I didn't get photos of it today, so I will post that story tomorrow. This morning we had ballet and then a bit of birthday cake with Arabella, Donna and Scarlet, then home to watch a movie with the boys after school in the movie room...fun all round! She even got her favourite dinner of wraps and birthday cake for dinner!

I think we have cracked the O'Neale Family Birthday Cake Record this year...she is going to have 5...yes FIVE cakes this year! One for the extended family on Sunday, one at the Y, one with Arabella, who couldn't make it Sunday and HAD to share some cake with her bestie, one with us on her actual birthday, then one for kindy on Thursday! Man...and only one will be store bought..I am sure to put on a couple of kilos this week...my weakness is cake batter!!! I can easily say no to a second piece of cake, but I am a sucker for cake batter! lol!

I will be back tomorrow with some other stories and some layouts from last week...see you then!

More Layouts!!!

2008-11-12T12:46:00.004+10:00

I have a few layouts to share today. I know the first one is really not my style, but aside from doing a mini album, the only thing to do with ALL those photos was a photo collage! It worked out ok! I do love this photo of Sue...and how I have managed to pink up miss Auds without clashing too much with the photo. I have used (finally) the prize pack I won from "A Million Little Things" when Jill started the blog up a while back! Thanks Jill!

This one is another one that I am quite happy with..have I mentioed how much I love my cricut? Those circles are supposed to be part of a bubbles title! This is also I suppose one of the newes photos I have of Thomas and his new smile! He is a bit cagey with the camera but those teeth will be grown before long at all. Beside when he smiles his mouth is the last thing I see...those eyes melt my heart!

And this is my first entry for White + 1 Blog...Mr Jose in his swimming garb...I think he is just too adorable myself! Another cricut layout...it is so all about shapes for me!

I have heaps on this week. Last night I stepped down from the ST Joseph's P&F Committee as VP and will now be supporting Lorena as the Fundraising Co-ordinator. It will be fun! I have a class at SBC on Thursday...Using the Cuttlebug...which I am looking forward to. I have two shoots this weekend, as well as Kindy Fundraising Photos and a Hand Bag Party at my sisters. Plus it is Audrey's Birthday next week, so the family are coming for cake on Sunday afternoon! She has just changed her cake request from a simple ballet shoe thingy, to a grand castle! Whoo....Hope I am up for the task. I have only ever done the boys cakes, so this will be a challenge! But I am going to give it a go...I think!...

Have a good one!