life and tribulations of a mother, wife and scrapaholic

Snow snow snow

2009-06-16T16:23:00.008+12:00

Snow snow snow, and lots of it. We woke this morning to 4 inches (10 cm). The phone rang hot and there was no school, yayyyyyy. But during the day it has snowed more and more and we ended up with 8 inches (20 cm) of it lying around by 4.00. Heres our outside chairs

This view is from our gate across the hills, just beautiful

The kids were in and out all day, making snowballs and throwing them at us, luckily the window was between them and my camera :)

As you can tell by Abby in her short t-shirt, it wasn't actually cold, I did manage to get her out of her shorts and then a skirt, so we comprimised and she could keep her t-shirt on if she put longs on, (wow, shes only 5, imagine the negotiation skills I'm going to need when she is 15?)

After lunch we decided to go out with a wool pack behind the bike. Wow, what fun we all had. The dogs came too and were running around like lunatics chasing the bike and rolling in the snow. Still not sure who had the most fun, but we ended up coming inside when the fingers started going numb.

Here's Jake going for a spill and he was laughing all the time. And he has Lionels gloves on too :)

Heres Ollys turnHe wasn't too happy at being thrown off and Abby having her turn,

But Abby didn't mind (here I was on the back of the bike to get this photo and I just missed her being sprayed with a shower of snow, just after this)

She thought it was great fun :)

Birthday gifts made

2009-05-30T15:54:00.004+12:00

What a great birthday party it was. There was a magician there as well, and he was good, even had all us parents wondering how on earth he did some things. :) I ended up taking just Abby (it was meant to be the whole family, but Lionel had things to catch up on then Jake wanted to help him and so did Olly, so it certainly made the whole thing easy :) )

I brought a book and I also made this for her. Sorry about the photo, I had to take it this morning before I wrapped it up, and the photo doesn't do it justice at all. The buttons below the book are attatched to ribbon and to be used as a book mark.

And here is the card I made as well, again it looks so much better in real life than here.

Well the weather is turning to custard here now, and they have dropped the snow fall warnings down to 100 meters again. The Brass Monkey ralley is on in Oturehua this weekend too, so I hope all the motorcyclists are well equiped. Be careful on the roads everyone if your traveling. :)

Battening down the hatches

2009-05-29T20:36:00.002+12:00

Well the weather forcast is terrible for this weekend, and I'm not concerned about it at all, plenty of coal and wood, nothing nicer than sitting inside by the fire, might even get scrapping done if that happens, I did say might. We have a 5th birthday party to go too tomorrow, Abby is so looking forward to it. I made a notebook personalised with her name (will try and get a photo of it tomorrow), which I know she won't have.
Just a quick update on layouts. Here is one I can share with you called "our Mary Poppins"
The journaling was printed out on acetate then I painted pearl paint behind it so that the journaling stands out just a little bit more. I've used the crafters template for the journaling spot (I love this template to bits, so versatile), I hope to do some 2 minute cards so I can share them with you using this template.

The flowers weren't quite what I wanted, so I used glimmermist on them, and it really does change them subtly (a bit contradictory I know ).Well that is it for now. I hope everyone has a safe queens birthday weekend, and if your on the roads, drive safetly :)

Proud yong Man.

2009-05-18T20:27:00.004+12:00

We have one proud young man in the family. Why? Well they had another opening morning for duckshooting up central and Dad wanted to take Jake out, so Jake, Abby and I went up on Friday night. Olly wanted to stay so he could play rugby. Jake was awake at 3.30 in the morning wanting to know "if its time yet". LOL, luckily he went in to ask his Gran and Grandad not me LOL. After another 2 and a half hours they were having breakfast, getting guns and amunition out of the cabinet, getting food ready (they took enough for about a week LOL). And off they set. I on the other hand got ready to go and see my Nana in Ranfurly. She wanted her photos sorted out and I'm going to do her a couple of albums. I want to do it so that when she goes into a home then she can have her albums around her instead of her wall plastered with them, as I know that your not alowed too many on the wall. Well she had suit cases full and there was so many photos that she had no idea who was in them or what they were about, just really brought home to me the reason why I scrap book, "to tell the story". Well it turned into a four hour marathon but I've brought home photos that mean the most to her and will start a realy simple album when I sort out the size I am going to do and papers.

Half way through doing this I got a phone call. It was Jake and he was so excited, he had two ducks with three shots, and flying too. When I got home they had just left again to stalk a few ponds and he came home with another one. Because I'd forgotten my camera we took the ducks home with feathers and all their bits and pieces on so we could get photos. (I know, silly forgetting my camera, and I haven't worked out how that happened). Well here is the proud hunter :)Doesn't he look proud :) And we had them for lunch on Sunday, they were beautiful. :) After getting home all Jake went on about was shooting and going out to get another one for Garry (the neighbour). Sunday after lunch they (Jake, Lionel, Olly and Abby) went out and Jake got another one, so it got plucked and gutted and taken up the road immediately. Lionel said it was so funny stalking the pond, Jake was trying to keep Abby quiet, Olly was pretending he was getting a try and was running around looking for spend cartridges (he uses them for fences on his farm LOL). Wish I was there to take a photo LOL.

The week before at Rugby Olly got player of the day so here he is showing off the trophy before he had to take it back

Now a couple of layouts to share. This layout was for a spring challenge. And I told the story of how old these daffodils are and me not bringing any of the bulbs with us :)

This layout is for a challenge at scrapbook outlet . It was a shopping challenge and I brought, circles, flowers and eyelets. (the eyelets are in the centre of the flowers). I actually enjoyed this one and quite like the circle as a frame/mat.
Well that is all for now. Take care

Snowing

2009-05-10T13:55:00.009+12:00

Lots has been happening here over the last week. And I do love it like that. We had one of Lionels sisters and her husband visit last weekend, they came on Friday and left on Sunday. It was mainly for duckshooting, which by the way was an utter disaster. They shot two ducks, and could only retrieve one. But they did get 10 goats. Jake had a ball and was absolutely shot by the end of the weekend.

Then on the Tuesday night a wee friend of Abbys came and stayed the night after school. Her mother had a course in Dunedin and it was easier that she stayed than coming to get her later on, and there was no complaints from here.

Then Wednesday night a friend from Oamaru was here. Was great to catch up with him, the only downer to that was Lionel had to head away first thing on Thursday to Oamaru. His mum is sick and he had to go and find out for himself how things were. There was a few contradictory stories so it was better that he see for himself. So while he was up there he booked the Falcon into a guy we know up there, and on the Friday they had trouble with it, so in the end he had to bring a loan car home and will go back up next week.

Friday my mum came to stay and brought my Nana down to stay with her sister in Clutha, so I met them in Lawrence and we went out for a lovely mothers day lunch, the three of us.

Mum left today early as it was snowing, couldn't believe it. Not much but snow never the less.

For the last two winters we've had real trouble with moisture inside. It came around when we pulled the internal wall out which had the open fire in it. New carpet went down at the same time but now where the sliding and stacking doors are it is starting to go moldy, and it hasn't been three years. Last year I started researching domestic ventilation systems. And finally I have found the system for us. It is called Drive air and is going in this coming week. The man came and talked to us on Tuesday and gave us a price, so it will be good bye to wet windows. Will let you know how it goes

Saturday the boys had rugby in Clutha, so we all went in and watched. They just lost but it was a very good game and the team has come on leaps and bounds since the start of the year.

Jake having his little run :)

Saturday afternoon Lionel went and watched the seniors here in Lawrence, the boys wanted to go,(it was cold), so we said to go get warm clothes, jaket and a hat (meaning a warm one) and this is what Olly came back like. He couldn't see the problem with his hat LOL, apart from the fact it would of blown off and the fact it isn't warm, I guess it would be alright LOL.After doing the photo a day a couple of months ago I thought that I should take my camera with me more often. The fact that everyones days are filled with such different things, and what I think is normal is quite different to what others do. One day I did remember to take the camera, the day wasn't the best but I got some photos of what I was doing. Shifting sheep LOL, so this is what my busy schedule involves, Unfortunately you can't see my dogs, one day I'll get a photo of them :)This is going up the lane, Just on the other side of the hedge at the top is where our house is. The lane goes around the back and up to the woolshed. I guess this is my usual roadblock "SHEEP".

Scrapbookoutlet has had little challenges going all month, each time you complete a challenge your name goes in the draw for a RAK (little something). And this month I was lucky enough to win it so yayyyy, not sure what it is yet. Here is some that I will share with you ;) This was a recipe challenge, 30x30 piece of card stock 28x28 pp etc, and this is what I came up with.This one had to have circles in it. This actually has 11 if you look, plus the buttons and the pp has dots too :)This one was for something and now I can't remember what for, I actually think I forgot to upload it LOL.

Also there was worldwide scrapbooking day last weekend, and with visitors I never got to compete, but I still won something. Now its not often that happens is it. But the awesome Jenny won a free copy of the new scrapbooking mag inovations. And what did she do, no she didn't keep it for herself, she has told Andrea to pass it on to me. So Jenny a huge thankyou, YOU ROCK :)

Onlsow photos and a couple of layouts :)

2009-04-17T21:17:00.004+12:00

This layout is another one as the guest designer. Its called "TIME CHANGES many things (but not the love of friends)." its about friends of ours in Oamaru, and they came to visit, we see each other once a year, and the kids just play together like they have never been apart, its just wonderful :)

Now some photos from Onslow (for those of you that emailed me wanting to know what its like. This is what you drive through on your way to the lake. Your on top of the world with no one else around :)

Except for this old tractor in the tussocks. It was used years ago to pull vehicles up the hill, in the days when your vehicle would over heat on the big hills.

It is like in the middle of know where. You drive in and this is what you come too. :)The family skimming stones :)
This is Abby being a boat LOL. The light is natural, I haven't altered it at all, itsn't it gorgeous.
And a layout to finnish with. This is for the April challenge #3 over at scrapbookoutlet . It isn't how I envisaged it but I'm certainly happy with it :)

Belated news

2009-04-16T11:12:00.005+12:00

I am late in this, sorry. But most of you may know that the new Ezine is out. It is fantastic too, lots of inspiration in there. I had the absolute privilege of being guest designer for the month. For this I was sent a gorgeous box of supplies (the February kit), that included, pp, cardstock, diecuts, ribbon, brads, chiboard album cover-gorgeous, there was the goreous Making memories note paper and probably a lot that has slipped my mind. I had a play with it all and completed a couple of layouts and cards. I can now share with you all as the Ezine is out.

This layout is of our gorgeous Flo. The flower was stamped on a seperate card then cut out and had dimensional magic over the top.A card I did for Megan and Baz's wedding.This one I wasn't happy with but others thought it was the best one, so thought I'd better share itThis one was to go in a frame into Abbys room, but it hasn't made it out of the lounge LOL

Blog candy.

2009-04-11T20:59:00.006+12:00

Check this out over at Carols Paper playce . Its Carols birthday and she has some blog candy to give away. The picture above is a example of what she has on offer, just gorgeous, look at that bling and look at the colour. Now I've managed to take some photos of the section. I've dug around and have photos of when we first arrived here so you can compare. The trees that were in the garden were rotting and hadn't been looked after for ages and they were blocking all our sun out, so they had to come out, and the lawn was full of moss and really wet and with the tractor over the top, well it made a real mess so it got sprayed and worked and well, now its lawn and a new garden. :)

Here is the old out the front photos and unfortunately you can't see the window that was replaced by the sliding door after the alterations. And this is the view from the road. The mail box is in the middle of that flax bush (poor mailman)

And now it is like this, lawn isn't up yet LOL. the hose is in the fish pond which now houses 5 fish, Smudge (Olly's), Foxy Loxy (Jake's) and Bubbles (Abby's), plus two unnamed :) When there is pea straw on over the weed mat it will look 100% better. And you can't see the front deck from here either, it is 11 meters long by 5.6 meters wide (I'm standing on it zooming in)

And here is old out the back photos. The window over Lionels shoulder is the old dining room window that we pulled out and put a sliding door in, for that one day deck (and the one day is now) and the water tank, well it was just a tank full of holes with a old water pump shed beside it that had about a foot of water under it, really safe!!!!!!

And here is the one day deck. On top of the posts we are putting a seat along the front so you can just sit on it and if you want swing your feet out the other side to watch the kids or you can just sit on the deck if your out on "the not there yet" lawn

Well we are really proud of it, must admit, I took a photo before Lionel had trimmed off the decking timber at the other end, sorry.

Layouts to share

2009-04-10T21:25:00.004+12:00

As most of you know, last week was scrapcamp in Dunedin (Mosgiel to be precise) and what a hoot it was. I had two fantastic roomies. Lee and Sharon who put up with me for two whole nights. Not that we were in our rooms much, first night was 3 - 31/2 hours and then the last night was about the same. So a very long weekend and very productive weekend. Here is a selection of layouts. The first is of Abby on the fire engine at school camp. She's always wanted to be a fireman and this was just her in her element :) It was also for a challenge to use 6 pieces of paper This was very simple, although time consuming with all that hand stitching around. The title was doen using the slice machine. Don't ya love it :)This was for a challenge to use bling on a layout. :)

And this was to use food on a layout, either word wise or a picture LOL.

Family layout- to use stamps on a layoutThis one was just because. I love this photo of the boys :)This layout kit was kindly donated by Andrea from Scrapbookoutlet and designed by Lara :)And this is for the sketch challenge. There was also a north Island retreat so there was a North vs south sketch challenge kindly being sponsored by fiskars and also fiskars are judging it. This is probably my favourite layout for the weekend. It's based on a sketch but I love the simplicity of it all.

I also did a simple mini album and two cards. So it was a very productive weekend.

We've also been really busy on the home front. We finally have our lawn in. Yep, after two years of having it worked and sprayed it is sown out. And to be honnest, it was the best thing that we could of done (waiting this long). The garden that was there originally with the big trees, well all the roots were gone (because of the spraying) and it was a fine composty type of soil. It has come up awesomley (if there is such a word). I marked out a garden and Lionel has been helping me with it. Then I decided a fish pond would be cool- well I've decided it for a while really, just actually admitted it to Lionel LOL. Then there was that cool water trough over in the paddock that wasn't being used- hint hint. We went over for a look (with the tractor) and brought it back, and it looks brilliant. To top it all off, a big nursery not too far away was having a big sale. We shot over for a look and came back with 50 plants, including a big Japanesse maple, a weeping maple, and a whole heap of natives plus a pom pom tree (Grandads rememberance tree), oh and the water lilly that they kindly dug out of their pond. The weeping maple is just behind the pond. Then on Wednesday after school we went into town and came home with 5 fish. Friends gave us a garden voucher when we moved so we used this for the fish - plus there is five in their family too.

Now there is not only the garden and the lawn but we've nearly finneshed the back deck. I say nearly as there is a seat to put on and the steps and about 4 lengths of decking (This can't go on till the seat is done). Hopefully I'll get some photos reduced and put on here and you can all see.
Well I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and please drive safetly if you are driving.

Come with me.

2009-03-24T15:06:00.002+13:00

Follow me for some fun. . . . . Just click here and it will lead you, , , , , where? To scrapbook outlet . Andrea has something planned and it is kicking of on Friday. We don't know what it is yet, but follow the link and join in the fun :)

Thursdays news

2009-02-26T21:10:00.004+13:00

Well today the senior kids had swimming competition, against Lawrence. Olly wasn't in it though as he is classified as a junior so he stayed at school (to his disgust). It certainly wasn't very warm, 19 degrees brrrr . There is no way I would of been swimming :)

After finishing about 1.00 we came home and then went and picked Olly and Abby up a bit earlier and went to the Farmarama in Lawrence. It is a farming thing that is held every two years and there is all sorts of different farming things there. I spent a bit of time in the satelite tent, asking questions etc as this dial up is driving me nuts. Only problem is the price and the usuage. Mmmmm, some convincing Lionel I think :).

When we got home the boys decided that they were going to show Abby how to ride her bike over the motorgate as she wont. She is scared she will fall in. Well it was quite humerous. Jake was doing wheelies and riding over some of it on two wheels Olly was riding like a mad man And even Flo joined in.

But Abby would ride flat out up to it and jam the brakes on. There was no way she was going over it on the bike. Jake was saying "Look Abby, even Flo is doing it". To which Abby replied "yea, but shes not riding a bike is she!" I had to laugh at that.

Fingers crossed

2009-02-25T21:47:00.006+13:00

Fingers crossed that I am able to upload to blogger. (Now I'm not sure if it is dial up or blogger, but I'm blaming blogger :) ) It hasn't let me for the last two nights and I'm getting frustrated. Is typepad or word press any better?
The weather has warmed up and it is starting to feel like Autumn instead of winter again, (Although I would rather it feel like summer) which is a blessing as I've got a back log of washing. Mud and boys and wet days don't go together very well when you can't get the washing done.

Well this photo is one of the ones I took Two days ago for the challenge (I had a few to upload but I don't want to jinx it OK?) Jake has put up a fence behind the house for his pet lambs and he is now working it to get it sown so there is some "nice feed" apparently LOLAnd this photo is from yesterday. Some of the family relaxing :)And this one sums up today, not a very good photo as it was getting dark when I went out to get the washing and hadn't taken a photo all day. I must remember to take it when we're out on the farm, as I could of had a nice photo of some sparrow hawkes when I was mustering this morning.

Well thats it from me today. And yayyy its uploaded my photos, not all that I had to share, but it covers some :). Till tomorrow (fingers crossed)

Another wet day

2009-02-22T18:44:00.004+13:00

The rain hasn't stopped. We've had 60mm of rain (240 points) . It is needed though, so were not complaining (yet). So not much was done today, been up to the yards and weighed lambs that are going to the works on Monday, and will crutch them tomorrow morning, yayyy. Now for some photos to share.

This little machine is to be blamed for our early morning wake up call. It went constantly, not like when you get a flat battery or anything, like when you get a bug in it and it shorts out, and I can't get the little blighter out, so out came the battery at 3am.here is our breakfast cereals. There is only four as Jake decided he was going to have porridge with me

Morning tea, Lionel and his favourite cup :)

Jake with his Flo. When ever Jake or Flo come inside they seek each other out for a cuddle before they go and do what they were going to do.

I went for a walk outside (while it was pouring down), I was hoping to get a photo of Jake and Lionel coming back from being out shifting sheep on their dirty bikes and soaked, but they went and did another job and I wasn't hanging around outside LOL. This is a old bike that we worked out to be 30 odd years old that Jake found in the gully not far from the house. He put it in his garden and I must admit, I love it :)This is a puddle out the front and look at the rain drops. The drain isn't working 100% yet. :)Here is some photos of our school camp (camped at school and went for a bike ride and visited the local firestation). Abby dressed up in Darrens firefighting gear.Swinging off the back of the fire engine. Abby thought if there was a fire then the firemen have to hold onto the back of engine and fly behind by holding on :)

Real life photos.

2009-02-21T15:15:00.004+13:00

For those that don't know. Vicky Gibson is doing a challenge for a week. It is entitled "real life". The idea is to take a photo or series of photos for the day and post them on your blog. You don't need to do any writing if you don't want to, just post the photo/s for the day. Well here are mine, they hopefully show what sort of day were having :)

Its raining and cold so we have our fire going and boy its nice :)

Some of the family enjoying being inside Where Lionel been doing most of the day, and watching Rambo movies :)Flo in her playful mood with a hair tie in one of my baskets
Olly playing farms. I asked him if they were his sheep, he said "no, they're my cattle and I've just weaned them. Look at the size of them compared to my tractor Mum!!! Sheep aren't that big". I should of known that shouldn't I. Other days he will have those mega blocks and they will be his cattle and the lego his sheep, some days you just don't know.Abby with her farm and pigs. My big bite box is her top paddock aparently.Wheres Lionel and Jake? Well they're off to check some stock and make sure the river isn't too high, or they will have to shift some lambs. :)

Here are the people that are joining in to date. I'm sure there will be more that decide it might be fun, they are

Vicky Gibson
Rach
Raewyn
Julie Maree
Vicki M
Julie B
Mich

Blog award

2009-02-13T21:43:00.004+13:00

Thankyou Amanda for this awesome award. :) In getting this award there are some rules. They are, I have to say one nice thing about the man in my life. Well the man of my life is the love of my life, he is there for me and hey, he is supportive of my awesome hobby-luckily.

Now list six ways i measure my success in my life.

1] Knowing my children are growing up and have their parents there to support them in everything they do

2] My awesome group of friends around here

3] The awesome friends that I still keep in touch with from my past

4] The group of awesome friends that I have met through scrapping (both in person and through messageboards.)

5] Being able to balance my life both work wise, hobby wise and sometimes house wise IYKWIM

6] Seeing my husbands face when I do a layout that I'm proud of.

Now I pass this award on to 4 fellow bloggers. These ladies are awesome and so very talented. So, ladies, I present you with the "This blog measures up" award and they are. Drum roll please......

Vicki, Penny, Jenny, Heidi.

Well this week Jake and Olly are away to school camp, and I've managed to talk Lionel into going teeheeee. I've been lucky this week, I'm guest designer for Andrea at scrapbookoutlet . My parcel of goodies has arrived and I can't wait to get into it. When I've produced some layouts and other things that I have envisiged I will share with you all and also over at SBO. Till then :)

Hot hot hot.

2009-02-08T21:33:00.000+13:00

Wow its been hot here. It is still 27 degrees and it is 9.50pm. Well the long weekend is over and our visitors have left. We had friends from Oamaru come and stay. They arrived before lunch on Friday and left after lunch today. It was so great to have them come and stay. I can't get over how the kids have grown in 8 months. Their daughter is 7 and son is 4 nearly 5. They had a ball on the farm and Baxter wants to come back and stay by himself to help Lionel :).

I've done a little bit of scrapping. The first one is for a challenge on scrapbook outlet . The challenge was to do somthing you (or someone else) loves. Have three hearts on it, red somewhere and something layered. So I did a layout on Jake and how much he loves Flo (yep Fur B has had a name change). The next one was to do a layout of "Five things about me that you never knew.

And the next layout from the same site (sorry can't remember the name of it) was to do a layout "Because of you" so I did this one. Because of you 3, I truely know what living means. About how I thought I was living before I had kids then had three and found the true meaning of it.Well all the kids are back at school, and I truely miss them. The house is so quiet and kind of ....empty. But the long weekend has helped ease me back into it :). We have another week at school then the big class (both Jake and Olly) are going on school camp up to Sutton (not far from Middlemarch) and they will go to the Macraes mine, skink enclosure, salt lake, Hyde railway disaster site. Now its just who is going.... Me or Lionel. Hopefully lambs won't be going away or it is me, which will be fantastic but there is alot of biking involved agghhhh, I'm not fit. But imagine the cool photos I could get :).

My Big boy is 9 years old

2009-01-06T21:01:00.002+13:00

Well our big boy is 9 years old today. Can't believe it. still remember the day he was born, like yesterday. LOL Scary.

Well we decided yesterday to get him a kitten, as the cat we had dissapeared about 6 months ago, and he was Jakes mate. We rang the Vets and the SPCA yesterday at lunch time. The SPCA had 11 kittens in and they were all fixed up and the vets had 2 tabbys. We decided to go to the SPCA for choice and for ease really. Well we got there at 1.00 today and told Jake what he was getting. But we got inside and all their kittens were gone. They said they had a rush on. So we had Jake all hyped up and couldn't go home with out a kitten. We went to the pet shop down the road and they had one kitten. A white one. All throughout my life I've had white cats so I was thrilled to see her. As a child I had 4 white ones and when Lionel and myself married we got a white cat as well. Usually with white cats they are either deaf or blind and luckily we have only ever had one that was deaf. I'm unsure of this one though, definately not blind so I guess time will tell.

So anyway once Jake spotted the kitten that was it. We weren't leaving without her. They put her in a cat box and we came home (1 hours traveling). Jake took her out of the box and she curled up on his knee and slept all the way home. Was gorgeous.

But before we got the kitten we went to Moana Pool and what a ball we all had. Abby is doing so much more now that it is hard to believe, shes turning into a little fish, and the boys have grown in confidence too. Mum met us down there and we went to lunch at KFT, a real treat for the kids, as we dont' do takeaways. Then the kitten. Here she is, isn't she gorgeous? Jakes decided to call her Furby, (short for fur Ball). That might change though. Here is a photo of all the kids, Jakes giggling as Furby is licking his hand and of course his toungue is so rough. :)
Till next time :)

2009-01-05T21:02:00.003+13:00

Wow, two updates in two days. Shock horror :). Well thought I'd update on a few quick layouts I managed to complete today. Must admit, it was nice to sit down with some "me time" and have a wee play. Because I photographed them tonight, they don't look as good here as in real life.

The first layout I did based on "triple the sketch" sketch. "connect four". A very quick one but it got me back into the swing of things.

The second "farm favourites". I've used a transparency and painted behind it to give it a bit of oomph. It is a older photo but one I've had printed off for a while and needed to get it done.The third one "growing up" again looks alot better in real life. There is glitter on there that you can't really see from the photo.

Treasure-everyday moments is about Abby helping me grocery shop before she started school. I just love the fancy pants papers I used on it. :)

Happy New Year to you all.

2009-01-04T13:27:00.003+13:00

Wow 2009 already, its hard to believe really isn't it. Christmas was fantastic this year. Kids have said it but I truely believe this year has been the best. I've felt like we got the right presents, sometimes I've felt, ohhh we shouldn't of got that or thats not quite right, but this year its been perfect. Food was great (as usual) even though I never got around to making one of the puddings. Not all my jobs were done before hand that I wanted but it doesn't really matter (I never got the windows washed or Christmas cards sent this year). I think my biggest mistake was with Abby starting school I kept saying, "I've got plenty of time." then all of a sudden it was like "Christmas is tomorrow".

Boxing day the kids went to Central with my parents as they had swimming lessons with Graeme Laing between Christmas and New Year. They were well and truely worth it. After their initial assesment Graeme worked out times for each child as they all had two lessons a day. All the kids were in the afternoon, starting at one and last one was out at 5.00. All of them improved so much, Abby will now put her head under water and breath properly doing the freestyle with the aid of a flutter board out of her depth, where as before hand she had to have a ring and touch the bottom. Olly can now swim a width- instead of floating like a stone and Jake is easily swimming the width breathing properly and has style. We will definately be going again next year. Abby waiting for her turnJake Clowning around

All the crew before lessons started :)

New year was very quiet for us, we didn't even see it in, for like the first time in how many years, even when I was 9 months pregnant I saw it in LOL. But with the kids just getting back from Central, they were wanting to play with their goodies, so it was great watching them. In a few weeks we will head away to the river and camp a few nights. With our farm boundaring it, it certainly makes it easier and if we forget something can just pop home to get it, and feed animals etc.
Well I'm off to sort out my scrap area.

Till next time

Aggggghhhh Snow

2008-11-06T13:42:00.005+13:00

Well today our baby girl turned 5 and look what we woke up to. Can you believe it that it is summer and we get 5 or 6 inches of snow.

This photo is taken from the lounge stacking doors.

And this one is of our outdoor furniture that is on the decking, aghhh look at all that snow.Poor Abby wasn't happy as she got a new bike and couldn't ride it LOL. Luckily as I write this (nearly 2 oclock) it has nearly all gone but it is snowing again.Well I've done a bit of scrapping lately. The first is a layout for New Zealand dares we had to inclue a bird on the page. I do love the owl :) Well its been a long day today with my baby girl gone. She has taken to it like a duck to water and bossing the boys around at school LOL. Lionel took them to school today and she told him not to come in because she is a big girl now and Dads and Mums don't go to school and ran in stopping half way down the drive, turned back with a big smile on her face and waving flat out. Now what am I going to do? The house is so empty.... And no, there is no more children coming LOL. Might get to have a clean house and full scrapping albums LOL. Now that isn't a promise I hope you realise :) Till next time

2008-10-12T09:55:00.002+13:00

Wow, the school holidays are over and done with already. What happened to them? The last week wasn't a good one for us. Mum was over the weekend before and took the kids back to her place on the Monday. Mums best friend and a wonderful friend of the family had cancer and been in for treatment about a fortnight before and things weren't looking good. Unfortunately she lost her long battle to the dreaded curse on Wednesday. The funeral was on Friday and what a wonderful tribute it was for her. I'd hate to say how many there was there, over 800 and could of even been 1000, it was too hard to say.

The Monday of this week, after Mum had taken the kids away I was taking Lunch over to DH and had a mishap on the motorbike, but to make a long story short, I was trapped under it and had to push the bike off the top of me. It was a 4 wheeler 500cc and DH says its about 300kg. Lets just say I was extremely lucky and I put getting out of under it down too the self defence/street wise course that I've been doing. The last two weeks we'd been working on being in your own bed and if someone comes in and climbs on top of the sheets, how you get out. I'm 100% positive that this is the reason I could get such a large machine off the top of me. I was grateful mum had the kids and for next 3 1/2 days I did nothing, well I couldn't if I wanted too. Friday was better until at the funeral, everyone insisted on cuddles, and I was like wincing in pain. So apart from extremely sore ribs, two huge bruises on my leg, a couple of smaller ones on my stomach and a graze on my back there was nothing wrong. Talk about lucky. (gee, aren't you glad I made the story short LOL).

Lionels trip to Aussie was great. He had an absolute ball and caught up with his brother. He said the shearing was fantastic too and he had a fantastic shear on the crossbreds. They had to shear 12 merinos and 12 crossbreds in the transtasman. He was second off and the NZ team came second, but they didn't disgrace themselves. The organisers asked if they would go back next year, as it was the best competition theyd seen for years. The other shearer was in freemantle the next day and he had people coming up to him, and shaking his hand, saying theyd watched it and what a fantastic specticle it was. So that is great, if it is showing the sport off in such a fantastic light, and getting people interested in it.
Well that will do for now, till next time.

Bronny :)

Wow, I'm back and still alive

2008-09-26T13:37:00.008+12:00

I know that is hard to believe LOL. So much has been happening, Lionel is in Australia (Perth) at the moment, he is in the New Zealand shearing team and they have a transtasman competion going on for the Royal show over there and got asked to go. So he flew out on Wednesday and comes back into the country on Monday. It is the longest time he has been away from us and the kids, but I think he is finding it harder than the kids. So I'm farm manager at the moment and touch wood, lambing is going well. This lovely weather certainly helps.

Just a photo because I can :) This is Jake

and this is Abby :)On the scrapbooking front, I've done a few projects. The first was for a friends 30th birthday party that we went to a while back. I made a album for her to get the guests to write in, and there is also room for her to put photos in. I was also photographer for the night so got lots of cool photos to go in it. It was a fantastic night, and specially since mum was here looking after the kids, so Li and I managed to go out for tea before hand. A pleasure that we not often get.
I also got picked for a guest DT spot for scrapbox New Zealand . I completed three projects from the scrapkit that I got sent. (Now I'm uploading them I can only find two) so when Li gets home with my camera, I will get a photo of the other project.

I've also had a layout published in the New Zealand scrapping magazine, entitled, "Boys will be boys" This made Jakes day, although the photo was fairly old, I must try and scrap more photos with in the calender month that the photo was taken, instead of like two years later :)

The boys had cross country a couple of weeks ago and Olly managed a 2nd and Jake was placed 10th out of about 30 plus kids, so he was wrapped about that. Must say mum and dad were thrilled for them both too. This photo is Olly coming in :)

and this one is of Jake :)

Well that will do for today. Till next time. :)

Rugby weekend

2008-08-05T16:00:00.006+12:00

Talk about a busy weekend with Rugby. The boys had a 7 aside tournament in Millers Flat. Unfortunately their teams didn't do very well but both boys played out of their skin. Ollys team won three games and drew two but it wasn't enough to get them into the finals :) I have to say the amount of work that the coaches do is amazing, what they do for the kids, the time they put into organising something of this callibre is just mind boggling. They are there everyweek for the kids and have everything organised :) Then of course after that we had the alblacks game. Wasn't that exciting. Talk about a turn around from the week before. To be honnest it didn't bother me who won. I would of liked Robbie to win again but we can't have it both ways aye.

For scrapbook outlet we were given a piece of ribbon and had to use it at least three ways on a layout. Here is my resulting layout entitled Tom. I've used ribbon as a flower, as a flower stem, frame for the photo, hanging device for the photo and as a arrow down the bottom left hand corner.and closer of the flowers and their stems and photo frame :)

And on a realy realy exciting note, I am guest designer this month for scrapbox New Zealand Which I am soooooo looking forward too. When the box of goodies arrives I will start to create and share it with you all :).

And on another realy exciting note, Lionel has just been selected to shear for New Zealand in Australia at the end of September. On a bad note, I can't go :( Because his passport is 11 years over due, I've been ringing around flat out, trying to sort out about getting a new passport. Aparently it doesn't take the 8 weeks like I was told so fingers crossed it gets here in time :)

Well that is it for now. Take care :)

Wet wet wet

2008-08-01T21:24:00.005+12:00

Thats about all I can say about the weather. Or though I have to admit that we are lucky. I've seen the news and everywhere north of here is getting a real hammering. I'm hoping you are all safe and well, tucked up and keeping warm and safe.

Rugby last weekend was canceled for the under 7's as it was cold and wet. Olly was in tears for ages, saying it wasn't too cold and wet for him, he could handle it. Then Jake had his game so he had to suffer through watching that and not being able to play grrr. Well Jake played extremely well, scored a try and made quite a number of breaks. Such an improvement that it wasn't funny. This weekend we have a 7 aside tournament in Millars flat with both the under 7's and under 9's playing so we get both kids at the same venue. Yayyyyyy. Family and friends from Central are also playing there so that it will be a great catch up. Mum and Dad are catching a ride down with some so they can get to see the boys play, especially since it is their last game for the season :).

After thier tournament we have the final of the country wide rugby here in Lawrence and all the Lawrence players in the under 7's tournament are to be the guard of honnor as the teams run on. Sam - the lawrence captain and our neighbour called in tonight and Olly was telling him. So the boys have to give him high five as he walks on. Because Sam has played for Taranaki and Otago and knows alot of "famous" rugby players, Olly just thinks he is God, so everything that Sam says and does is just to worship. It is quite funny, if Sam has a friend staying Olly will be all quiet and when we are away from him he'll ask "was he a famous rugby player Mum." So for Olly this is a really big thing.

Now here is some photos of Abbys room- sorry they aren't very good but it gives you an idea. The shelves with the cane baskets in are Abbys favourite as she can fit everything on and see it all. Above it you can see the butterfly wall hanging that was pictured in a previous post. This is her bed and new curtains. I couldn't get kids ones big enough so I have brought some insulated ones (on special at the red shed) and have the pink fringy one over top. Must admit it is kind of cool. None of it is what I picured but it does all look good :)

Here is a layout I did for Magistical memories. It was based on a sketch that they had up. The photo was taken about 18 months ago after she'd been playing in the mud. Don't ya love it :) (Hope you read this Tanya :) )This is a closer up of the flowers and the ferns.And the chipboard that I have altered :)
Well that is all for now. Hope you all have dry feet and full tummies. Till next time.

Back into routine.

2008-07-24T19:39:00.004+12:00

It is hard to believe that the holidays have been and gone and we are getting back into routine again. What have we done? Well my Aunty was down from Waihi just before the holidays started and flew home the first Thursday of the holidays. On the Tuesday Mum and Aundy L came down and Wedesday went back, with all three kids. The price of the fuel we decided to try and make less trips so all the kids went back. So all Wednesday afternoon I stripped wall paper from Abbys room (above, I was sure she was sick of the big trucks on the walls), thinking when we went to Dunedin the next day I'd get some cheap paint. Well the idea was right, but reality was slightly different. The walls were about as straight as a dogs hind leg and paint just wouldn't cut the mustard. So the cheap paint job turned out to be a wall paper job. And to make things worse I couldn't get pink paper, well I could if I could wait a few days for it to arrive, but I wanted it done by the time the kids came home. So I had to get some neautral paper that they had in stock. There had to be a sealer underneath so I got that done on Friday, then Saturday we had visitors turn up in the afternoon. It was fantastic to catch up with them, but my papering job didn't get finneshed until after the kids got home. Then I got some baskets for Abby to store her toys in and she just loves them. So much so that they get carted onto her bed before she gets to sleep. :) Jake had rugby last weekend and had an absolute blinder (not that I saw it, I was waiting at home for some visitors). He came home with the player of the day trophy, and scored a try. He is really coming into his own now, and wanting the ball instead of running around behind everyone.Now some layouts that I have done- the ones that I know that I haven't shared with you :). The first is for stampinscrap Christchurch A layout about how much I love Jake (warts and all)

This one is for scrapbookoutlet A challenge that I had to matt a photo, do more than 6 stitches and distress some part of the layout. All about how Jake made this "tractor" out of stuff lying around the sheds :) This one is also for scrapbookoutlet It is a challenge from Jenny doing your favourite place. Well this photo represents my favourite place, wide open spaces, no phones, just the sound of nature :)
This one was for New Zealand dares where you could do a layout about winter based on a add that they showed on the website. (The photo isn't very good, it was raining and dull outside so I couldn't get a very good photo)
Well that is it for now. Till next time.

Scrapcamp

2008-07-01T21:09:00.007+12:00

What a fantastic weekend. I arrived on the Thursday afternoon and set up. On Friday night there was the opening night of the Winter festival so we went down to enjoy the fireworks on the water front. It was fantastic. Here is some photos of the fireworks :) Here is some of the wonderful ladies that were at the camp, these ladies made the whole weekend worth while, so to you ladies thankyou very much, awesome.
The new look Julie and Nik.Kim and Lara and E I managed to get 13 layouts done two mini books and a off the page. Not as much as I had hoped too, I think there was too much talking going on LOL.

Over the weekend we had a few challenges. The first was a 30 minute challenge. You had to try and complete a layout in 30 minutes. aghhhh. Well here is my resulting page.

Another was to start a layout and then pass it around to the next person after 10 minutes, and it continued like this until it was finneshed. :) And my resulting page was Honey. So thankyou to all the wonderful ladies who contributed to this layout.

We also had Nik doing Stampin up. What an awesome product. I loved it. Nik did a couple of projects, the first was a card with the new colours- gorgeous. The second was a scrapbook page.

Now I just have to wait for my little order to arrive :)

Now for a just because layout ;) This one has hidden journaling under it explaining how we were at the collie club and a older boy had his bike and Abby asked if she could ride it. He said she was too little but she got it and kept riding past saying. Look at me Shit I'm good aren't I LOL

There was more layouts than this and there was boy layouts too, I will share them with you another time. Can't overwhelm you too much :)

Snowing and Two more sleeps

2008-06-24T21:04:00.002+12:00

Just to let everyone know that it is snowing. We currently have two inches of snow outside and it is still falling. If I get photos tomorrow I will post some. But more importantly to say TWO MORE SLEEPS TILL SCRAPCAMP AT QUEENSTOWN RAFLMAO. Till later

Warming up - preparing for snow

2008-06-22T15:26:00.002+12:00

Yep, its warm here today and last night it was still 9 or 10 outside. Usually when it is warm like that you know it is going to snow, and when they predict it down to sea level, you can almost guarantee it.
Again this week we have had the dreaded cough, we just can't seem to shake it and the boys had Friday off school. Poor Olly was coughing that much that he has vomited, poor wee mite. So there was no rugby for them yesterday. There was one very unhappy boy, it nearly started world war 3. In the end we all went out for lunch to a new restaurant (to celebrate Lionel and my birthday {yes we are on the same day}), and it was fantastic. To be honnest it is the only time all of us have been to a restaurant together, so it was great. And the food was fantastic too. The kids had a ball and Jake has decided that is what he wants to do for his birthday :)
Now my box of goodies...............I haven't photographed it, but I can confirm that there was a bigbitecropodile in the packaging. And it is absolutely fantastic. There was also some Little yellow bike papers and they are just divine. And that was it really - I think.

Well only four more sleeps till scrapcamp, Fantastic. Then on the downside, there is only one more sleep till the dentist :( . I have a filling which I'm not looking forward to, it is only my 4th ever so I shouldn't complain, but I hate going to the dentist LOL

My computer is back

2008-06-15T21:19:00.004+12:00

And it is fantastic. Lionels was Ok but mine is like a comfort blanket IYKWIM. Now I have it set up in the lounge as it is warmer here and I can keep an eye on everyone. Just for winter though.

We had rugby on Saturday and for the first time both kids were at the same place, so was fantastic. Mum and dad came down just for the day to watch them, then they went home that afternoon. Abby actually had her first game as well, they were short and needed more players, so she stuck it out for about 3/4 of the game then wanted to go and play with a friend on the playground LOL. She scored one try so was wrapped with that . Olly well, he scored 5 tries in the first game and the second game he got at least 5. Last week he got the player of the day trophy and thought it was wonderful. Here are some photos of him with it and of Abby ready for her first game.Jake said he enjoyed his game, and he is getting into it more than what he was at the beginning so that is good.

I've just discovered a fantastic blog that you might enjoy. It is Jozzas. Jump on over and have a squizz. Some wonderful cards and a gorgeous BTP.

Till next time, take care

Sick kids.

2008-06-05T10:30:00.003+12:00

Well its been a long couple of weeks. Ive had Jake at home all this week and a few days last week. He is on antibiotics for a bronchial infection and has a terrible cough on him. Hopefully he will be back at school next week.

My parcel from Andrea is in the post so I will be able to share with you all the goodies. Hopefully my computer will be back with my programe so that I am able to downsize photos other wise they will be just too big IYKWIM.

My street wise programe is going very well, and boy, I've learnt allot, and am absolutely loving it. Its just getting it all down patt so that in a situation it will come naturally. Lets just hope I don't get into a situation. One of the first things we were taught is, if you are mugged or attacked, don't yell out "help" "stop it", specially if people are near by. Apparently people won't come to that, The lady that was nearly killed in Dunedin at the beginning of the year, they say at least 50 people would of heard here but chose to ignore her. But if she had yelled "FIRE" people would of come running. So don't forget that, yell "FIRE" at the top of your lungs, you will be surprised apparently.

Lionel and the boys have their white belts in Karate and Lionel also has his white belt in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He loves the MMA and says it is very physical, and now comes home and practices on me, luckily I do street wise, so am able to fight him off LOL.

Queensbirthday weekend was a fantastic weekend. Abby and I went to a 4th birthday party Saturday morning then in the afternoon we had friends come and stay a night from Winton. I hadn't seen Her for 7 years, so meeting the kids was fantastic. We've seen her DH a bit with trips he does but just not the kids or his wife. Then on Monday we had more visitors which was fantastic, very unexpected, kind of off the cuff, so we all had a great catch up and laughs.
So not much got done over the weekend.

Well that is it for now, just a quick hello and good bye. till next time.

Darn computers

2008-05-26T20:49:00.003+12:00

Last week, we brought a laptop for DH. Lionel has decided that he has to start getting up with the 21st century and broadening his horizons a bit. We didn't want two desktops so a laptop was the only way to go, then in the winter when its cold I can sit out in the lounge and use his (he he he). Well we got it last Wednesday. Fantastic I thought, then Saturday the mouse stopped working on mine, so it was Lionel's computer. I brought a mouse today from the local computer man and after being to Clutha turned my puter on. What happens...... It goes bang.....bang.. Nothing. It won't work at all, so now I have a brand new mouse and no puter to plug it into and back to DH's. I'm taking it to Jons tomorrow morning when I drop the boys off so hopefully it isn't serious. Even though it sounded serious. Fingers crossed.
DH went to the dentist today. He broke half a tooth away and I made him go LOL. He isn't a fan of the dentist and gets really uptight and jittery LOL (Don't tell him I said that :) ). So we had to go through the rigmerole of picking a dentist in Balclutha. We got the three names out of the yellow pages and then went about picking one. Decision's decision's. In the end we got one and we picked him because he looked more professional LOL (He had a fax number in his add). Well Lionel said he was great (not a comment Lionel puts in the same sentence as dentist LOL) and what was better was he put in two pins and built the tooth up, did x-rays, injections and took half an hour, and charged $60. Couldn't believe it, thought it would of been over $100 anyway. Well that is it for now. Hopefully I'll be back to my computer soon so will keep this updated more easily :)

Been a tragic week

2008-05-24T14:21:00.002+12:00

It has truely been a tragic week down here. People from around the road were in a horrific road accident. The husband and eldest sons best friend lost their lives, and the youngest son was left fighting for his life because of the lap belt in the back seat. The community have been absolutely amazing. I went around to a friends place yesterday (the sister in law of the gentleman killed) and the cards/ flowers/ food was absoulety amazing. The fridge was over flowing and the feezer, tins were filled. It was a heart warming site in such a horrific situation. There was one funeral on Thursday and the other on Friday and Lionel said there was at least 800 people at the funeral. It has really brought home to roost the time I spend with my family is precious and not to take any situation or time with them for granted.

On a much lighter note. For those that know Olly, know that he loves boxes, containers, anything with pockets, and he is always trying to fill these with anything he can find, usually stones, cut up bits of paper or anything he can get his hands on. Well anyway, he came up to me on Monday/Tuesday and said "Mum, my shoes are getting too small for me." So I went and had a look at them and what do I find???? In them there are three pairs of socks.... I took them out and told him to try them on " Ah that is much better mum. Thanks." And runs away LOL. Every day he comes home from school with hundreads of acorns (last time he told me he had 271) and they become sheep on his toy farm.

Abby also came up to me this past week, with her make up kit. She is holding the blusher brush and says to me "Is this thin Lizzy? Like the people on TV put on their legs?" Like I thought thin Lizzy's hadn't been on TV for about 5 years LOL. Took a bit of explaining that one LOL.

Well that is it for this week. I've got a heap of washing to do, we've had 2 inches of rain and Jake had rugby this morning in rather wet conditions LOL . So till next time

Did you see 20/20 On Thursday?

2008-05-18T10:55:00.003+12:00

Well there was a friend/neighbour from around the road on it. His name is Ralph and has Cerebal Paulsy (sp). It was a fantastic show (alright, I might be a bit biast LOL). Lionel went down to the firestation for a couple of hours to watch it with a few of Ralphs mates. Well he went down at 8.30 and didn't arrive home until the early hours of Friday morning LOL. Lets just say he was a bit slow on it Friday :), and there was no sympathy from here. But it was a great skit, even though it was only 10 or 15 minutes long, and they'd done so much filming for it. I think it would make a great country calender.

Friday night we had a ladies night out and went to Waihola for a meal. Usually it is the playgroup ladies that go and any one else that wants too. It is a great way to get to know newer people with out kids around, and it is a great social outing. There was 9 of us and we had a lovely meal (I did feel guilty about giving the kids and DH heated up mince, home made wedges and peas for tea). It wasn't a late night but certainly an enjoyable one.

Yesterday the boys had rugby, in different directions again, and I went with Olly and Lionel with Jake. Jake came home with the fairplay award so he was wrapped with that. They get a certificate and a moro bar. (I got to see the certificate).

Well here is a layout that I did yesterday, entitled Our river Queen. Sorry the photo isn't very good.

And this is a closer up of itand here is a cloer view of the clock face that I made, on the bottom right hand side of the photo.

Forgot to add this layout

2008-05-11T21:03:00.005+12:00

This layout is for No 8 Wired the New Zealand website. This weeks challenge (challenge number 45) was to do a layout based on the sketch that was put up on their site. And this is the resulting layout that I did, entitled, New years Day 2008. We were up at Kelvin Heights for New years eve and new years day. Very quick one this time and using up lots of Nanas/mums old buttons :)

Happy mothers day

2008-05-11T20:48:00.002+12:00

I hope all you mothers out there got spoilt today. Jake made me this awesome layout below. He went away, punched cut to his hearts content then added "To Mum from Jake. Happy mothers day. I love you."

I didn't know he had done it, he snuck away and made it and then managed to hide it in his bedroom. It is the most treasured scrapbook page I own. And to be honnest it has really brought home to me why I scrapbook. To preserve these precious memories for generations to come. And Jenny, I think you are on to something with your guess :) But my lips are sealed LOL

Been a delay

2008-05-10T20:16:00.002+12:00

Just to let you all know that the parcel hasn't arrived yet. Andrea has ended up in hospital and has been in Intensive Care and only just out into the general ward today, so she has been one sick lady. Hopefully she is on the mend and gaining strength back and will be back with us very soon.

Just to let you know (well actually Jenny, its specially for you). I have some Little yellow bike papers coming. They look absolutely divine. Some Sassafras lass papers, and I also have another toy coming, which I am not going to tell you what it is. I love keeping people in suspense. When it all arrives, I will post a photo of it all for you :).

Well this week has been a busy one. Jake and Lionel started Karate on Monday and absolutely loved it. Olly didn't want to because he thought that you had to fight, but he is going this week. Then on Wednesday, my Street wise course started, it is like a self defence but it is aimed at ladies and gentlemen. The tutor said that more and more males are being targeted and this course will help you defend yourself. So look out. Then Wednesday night after my street wise Lionel is doing mixed martial arts, which is a lot more physical than Karate, it is fighting on the ground as well as standing. Apparently if you learn Karate and they get you on the ground then you can be in a bit of trouble so this will be good for him and later on maybe the boys too. For the whole family to go it costs us $50 for the whole term and we can do all four courses, (Karate, MMA or mixed martial arts, Street wise and Thai chi) for that cost if we want too. I couldn't believe that when he told me. Next term I wouldn't mind looking at Karate too but at the moment the one will do LOL.

Today we had Rugby in Balclutha. Well Jake did and Olly was in Lawrence (but they were meant to be in Tapanui, so the two Lawrence teams played each other LOL). This time I was with Jake and Lionel with Olly. Jake played really well I thought. He is actually tackling now instead of running beside the players and he is running through them with determination now. So I was really wrapped as you can imagine. They lost 8 6 I think it was. And Olly tells me he got 6 tries in their win against the Blue Lawrence team (Olly is in the yellow team).

I'll be back when my parcel arrives ;)

Holidays are nearly over

2008-05-04T16:57:00.005+12:00

Only one more sleep and the boys will be back at school. Sad really. They have flown by so quickly. Didn't get half the stuff done I had planned. I'd been meaning to go and catch up with a few people and haven't visited anyone. So to make up for it, I'm off to visit two people tomorrow. One is new in the district so I'll take something up to her and introduce myself.

On the scrapbooking front I've been doing a few BTP (beyond the pages).

Scrapbook outlet have had a few competitions running and with yesterday being international scrapbooking day things were busy on there as well as most scrapbooking sites, to celebrate the occasion. I didn't get much done at all for it, but some of the competitions run until Friday night, so I've still got time (I think ). I have won a prize on SBO but am not sure what it is, it is arriving hopefully Tuesday. I will share with you later :)

These two are for a altered note book challenge. You could alter one or you could make one from scratch. These two are altered and when I get a new toy (Hopefully Tuesday) I will be doing ones from scratch. (I will post a picture of my new toy when I get it, after I've had a play) .

The first one is a altered 3B1. I've always got note books around me and the kids always try and say they are theres, so this way there is no doubting it ;)And this one is a cheap spiral bound one from The Warehouse (I think they were 3 for $1.00). It will be handy to keep in my handbag. I always seem to be looking for a piece of paper to write notes on so will be great).

No guessing what these are for. Again it is a competition on SBO. The card was made using my cuttlebug and a heart die with a embossing folder and then inked to give definition, and also the back ground has been put through a embossing folder too. (I love my cuttlebug and folders and of course the dies). For those that don't know, dies cut and folders emboss, giving it the raised and recessed pattern which you can then ink or leave as is.

Mum doesn't like anything for mothers day, so I just altered this eclipse tin and made butterflies to go on it.Then I made this small tag album with quotes on it to fit inside. So that is it from me. Till next time

Closer up

2008-04-28T09:39:00.003+12:00

Just some closer up pictures of the letter "B" that you can't see very well from the photo. Some of the pattened paper is cut out and lifted with foam to give it dimension and also glitter and beads have been added.Also this layout that I did for scrapbook outlet challenge. We had to (well didn't have too, could choose too) a layout on music, Layout with fabric and a layout scraplifted from some one else of the outlet. I didn't get a round to doing the fabric layout and I wasn't happy with the music layout so here is the scraplift layout. Scraplifted off Delys Cramm. I do appologise for the photo as it is terrible, but I photographed at night (to get it in, in time for the competition) and I had to take it at this angle so that there was no harsh flash light on it.

Just some off the wall are I have been doing

2008-04-24T15:36:00.003+12:00

Iv'e been busy doing some wall art. Chris Millar made these and had one in her gallery over at scrapbook outlet . Thanks for the inspiration Chris :). One is for Abbys room as she has been wanting something to go on her wall (it is going to take a bit to compete with her big trucks wall paper LOL) We are going to re-wall paper it in time LOL.
You will have to excuse the photography as it is a bit hard to photograph them in their frames and do them justice. The frames are from the Warehouse (two for $20).
This one is for Abbys room. She is funny, she sits there and tries to work out which papers belong together (for the double sided papers). And yes, the one butterfly is meant to be on a angle. :)
This one I did before I had the butterfly punch and I have put it on the wall in our lounge (Lionel loves it :) )

This letter I did at my very first scrap camp with Nic and finally I have a frame for it :)Thats it for now. Hopefully I get some more layouts done soon to share with you all :)

Snowing here today

2008-04-18T13:58:00.005+12:00

I can't believe it. 18th of April and we had snow this morning. The kids were so excited seeing it snow. They thought that there might have been a day off school so they could build snowmen LOL. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for us it dissapeared with in 5 minutes of landing. It is just too early for that really. It is still cold though and we have a fire on tuked up inside after being to music this morning. (Glad DH had bills to do and had the fire going so it was nice and warm indeed.) Me and a friend went out for lunch also as it was her daughters 5th birthday the other day and she was sick so we never got to go to Dunedin. I made this cool wall hanging for her birthday. It is one of those deep photo frames (can't remember the proper name of them). I put a photo of the birthday girl and Abby and called it best friends. Also had a flower etc in it. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo so I can't share it with you.

Now some layouts to share.

The following layout is for scrapbook outlet . It is based on Trinas sketch for this week (12.4.08). It is a great sketch and I enjoyed doing this one, using the grungeboard (arrows) and Felt for the first time ever (title). Also used my new star punch that I won through Fiskars. I love it, nearly as much as my new fingertip knife :)

This layout I did for Laras challenge on scrapbook outlet . To do a "harvest" layout. It was due a while ago and I never got it uploaded in time, so here it is for you to look at.
And this one just because. Photo was taken a while ago. The photo actually lifts up and there is journaling underneath it.Well I'm off to put some more coal on the fire. Take care

A quick layout I did

2008-04-15T21:24:00.002+12:00

This is just a quick layout I did for the number 8 wired NZ dares competition this week. There was a add that you had to base your layout on and this is my interpretation of the add.

Last night we went to a Karate evening down at the local hall. There is a gentleman who teaches Karake, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Tai Chi, and also a self defence course. We'd talked about getting Jake into Karate for quite a while now and we were going to have to take him through to Milton (20 to 30 minutes away) and we got a newsletter to say about this. So last night they had a informal get together and he showed us what each one entails and we could see for our selves what we wanted to do. So for the last 27 hours I've had two boys doing their interpretation of Karate/mma/Tai chi/selfdefence. Trust me, it isn't pretty LOL. Any way we came home and now I think there is going to be four of us doing something LOL (Only four because AJ is too young LOL). It is very resasonable and run during the school terms so it certainly fits in with us. To make it even better we just go to the bottom of the hill (all of 5 minutes drive). So we will just take it term by term and see how it goes. Personally I'd like to see the boys to Karate for two years and then onto the MMA, but time will tell.

Till next time :)

2008-04-11T22:02:00.002+12:00

Forgot to mention. I had my computer in at the computer Dr last week. What a difference it has made. I now have a external hard drive (don't know how I lived with out it) (160gb). All virus are gone, all spy ware has gone. I didn't realise how bad Nortons was, I've now got a better one and best of all it is "free". I had 200 odd spy ware on my computer plus all the virus's. And I thought it was going to be clean. My computer doctor lives down the hill so it was very handy and he is very reasonable. Not only that but my computer is now 100 times faster, so look out :)

Quck update

2008-04-11T20:31:00.002+12:00

Just some photos to share of Olly in action at the rugby last weekend. Tomorrow they have their first round of the draw. Only problem is

Jake is playing in Balclutha and Olly is playing in Herriot. About an hour apart and playing at the same time :) Luckily we now have two vehicles so we can go in opposite directions LOL.

I had Abby in the car with me after being at Mainly music and after 1o weeks they get to keep their chart with stickers on to take home and put on the fridge. Anyway I was driving along and Abby was trying to tell me about something on her chart. I said I can't look I'm driving. To which Abby replied, "Oh thats all right mum, you look at this and I will tell you when there is a corner coming up." Thats a bit scary.

Lionel had a appointment at school yesterday, with the lady who was observing Jake. he said it was great and got this 4 page write up on it all. And they have discussed things and she is coming back one day a week until it is all sorted, even if it takes 3 years. So that was great to hear.

There is a big scrapbooking retreat happening in Queenstown at the end of June. Click HERE for more details. It is going to be a fantastic weekend with lots being organised behind the scene. All the money raised is going to a Nominated charity. So if your interested follow the link there, or through scrapbook outlet .

I had a fantastic parcel arrive on my door this week. It was from fiskars (a prize I won) and in it there was the fantastic squeeze punch (star shape Large), scissors and the new fingertip knife. To be honnest I wasn't sure on the knife when I first saw it, as it looked a bit different. Well I guess it is different. It attaches to the underside of your finger and you hold it like a pen, but it is attatched to your finger instead. The accuracy of it is amazing. It is my new favourite tool.

Well that is about it for this post. Hope everyone is behaving ;). And be careful.

Oh yea

2008-04-05T21:55:00.003+13:00

Forgot to mention. The layout in the post below this entitled " through the generations" that I made at scrap camp for nz dares website. Well with it I was selected as being their guest designer. Unfortuanately with the computer problems I was having, I didn't find out until the night before it needed to be in. I managed to get a layout done and really enjoyed doing it. The hardest thing was finding a photo of a favourite child hood memory. Once I'd done that it was fairly easy. But anyway, here is the layout that was a result of the panic.

Thankyou to everyone

2008-04-05T21:24:00.002+13:00

Who either left a comment emailed me or rang me with regards to the school bullying. We have finally made some ground. The principal was telling us that we were over reacting and the bus driver was too. But after a day observing we got a phone call from him with a big appology saying that he didn't realise the problem was as big as it was. They have called a lady in to observe (which probably won't do much after a huge bollacking from the principal and the other teachers.) But she will come back with a report that she will bring to us and ask us about and then take to the principal and other teacher. So it is promissing. and I have to admit that Jake is enjoying school now. It has brought huge changes. We are now taking them to school (about 8 ks) and we leave now at 10 to nine instead of the usual 7.30 (they use to be at school at 7.45) and we are home by 3.10 instead of after 4. That has made a huge difference and the kids love it. But in doing this we have had to buy a new car. The Falcon has over 200,000 ks on the clock and if something happened to it we couldn't get the kids as you have to go across the main road. So we have brought a 2000 Mazda 626 with 62,000 ks on the clock. It goes really well actually and the kids love it because it has a CD and tape deck LOL.

Any way moving on. Today we had the opening 7 aside tournament (rugby). Only Olly was playing and boy he did well. He scored 6 tries and came away with the fair play award. They were going to give him POD but they said that the fair play award only happens at tournaments and they thought that it was more honnorable. The coach came up and said to Olly that they couldn't believe he hadn't played before. He said " you might be a All Black one day" to which Olly replied deadly serious, " No, I AM going to be a All Black." The coach said " well don't forget me when your playing for them." Olly said " Na, I won't" LOL, don't ya love the confidence of it all.

What else has happened????? We have been busy shearing agaiiiiiin. It does get fairly tedious. Monday Abby and I are off to Dunedin with a friend whos daughter is turning 5 the following Monday. They are going to the movies and chipmunks. Only 3 adults and 3 kids are going so it should be a ball. Other than that there hasn't been much going on. So till next time.

I'm back

2008-03-11T20:46:00.008+13:00

Well scool camp has ended and so too has my scrapping weekend :(

School camp was really hard for Lionel. Jake was picked on the whole time by the kids (even with Lionel there) and made to feel left out through the whole time away. Lionel said if it hadn't been for Olly going then he would of brought Jake home as he felt so sorry for him. And Lionel couldn't do much or say much to the other kids. The teacher sorted a couple of the kids out, but it was so hard. Its been really hard for us to deal with, it actually feels like someone has ripped my heart out and jumped all over it. Weve been trying to think of ways to help, he never says anything about it, probably because he can't really put a name on it. And of course its not really one little thing, it is all the little bits adding to make it large IYKWIM, and of course Jake being the quiet shy type hasn't helped much. The teacher tells us he is happy most of the time and wants to play on his own (I wonder why). Weve been busy trying to work out ways to help him. So if you have any ideas do let me know please. Of course this before scrapcamp made it quite hard for me being away. In fact I nearly didn't go, and probably shouldn't have considering the way I was feeling. But I did and really enjoyed it when I wasn't thinking about everything Jake has been through.

SCRAPCAMP
Well for scrapcamp I had the privelege of sitting beside Andrea and Janine, (thankyou ladies). These ladies are awesome, and what a great location the camp was. There was 21 of us scrapbookers and room for lots lots more. There were lots of prizes donated by fiskars, up2scrap (the New Zealand scrapbooking magazine) and make and takes donated to the retreat weekend by Andrea at scrapbookoutlet and Meg at scrapbook essentials . There was also alot of work put in by Lara and Nik . All your work was very much appreciated. Over the weekend we had quite a few challenges. I came away with 11 layouts and two minni albums and one card. This one entitled "is this how ladies behave?" was for my no paper challenge.

One that we did was write down on a piece of pp a product and the other was a a technique (I wrote down paint and distressing). We all put our bits of paper in and later on pulled one out and we had to use that technique on a layout. I pulled out paint and eyelets. This layout is the resulting page.We also had to scraplift a layout from someone else at the retreat. I chose a layout done by Lara This challenge was an interesting one. We had to pick a photo and papers and start scrapping. After 7 minutes it was passed on to the next person, and then again after 7 minutes until it was finneshed. And this is what I ended up with. A little piece of everyone at the retreat. Aint it gorgeous?And this one, we were gived two pieces of pp, journaling page and three buttons and had to produce a layout, we could include anything else we wanted but had to include some of everything we were given. The resulting layout "Loved"This one was done for Leannes challenge on NewZealand dares . A layout that had 200 words on it "throught the generations" Then there is this one of Jake on the mechanical bull at the Local rodeo

And this one just because :)

Three more sleeps

2008-03-04T21:15:00.002+13:00

Oh I sound like a little kid waiting for Santa to come down the chimney don't I? But there is only three more sleeps till scrap camp in Queenstown. And yep, I'm having sleepless nights.

School sports was cancelled on Monday due to the fact that we had 90mm (360points) of rain over the weekend. So the school decided to go to camp a day earlier so that. Originally they were going on Monday but with the area school sports it was postponed for a day. This wasn't a bad thing, unless you were unorganised like I was. Sunday I got asked for a roast mutton (cooked) so I had to rush around like a headless chook, specially after the phone call to say "we are going tomorrow". Any way it got cooked (I think LOL) and Jake was off to camp on Monday and Lionel went up in the afternoon after getting lambs away and going to a clearing sale. We did buy a mountain bike at the clearing sale for Jake. He had been riding Lionels (he likes the gears) and it was a tad big (23 inches, after all Lionel is 6ft 2 inches). So we picked a avanti up for 50 with helmet, lock (this will be another hit for Jake). So with camp he hasn't seen it yet. Look forward to the look on his face when he does though :).

Last night I went to print some photos off, but the mouse on my puter wasn't working. I kept telling my self, don't pannic. So this morning I rang the computer expert down the road. (my computer needs abigger memory put in too). He said not a problem, but it will have to be Monday, (he is up in Northland) WHAT, this couldn't be happening. So I pulled the mouse to bits checked everything, wobbled everything, trying to think, I know what I am doing. (yea right). Plugged it back in, and hey presto it works. I have absolutely no idea what I did, but since then I've been printing photos off, etc.

This moring I did some baking, for Olly to go to camp tomorrow and to feed the hungry hoards when they return, and some for scrapcamp :)

I also took some photos of me for my dear friend. I've tried emailing them but for some reason it won't accept the photos (darn computers). So here it is. I've been growing my hair since last July, probably can't really tell from this photo.

Well next time I come back I should have scrapcamp layouts to share :).

Till then, remember

"Perfection is over rated."

Yehaaa

2008-02-28T21:01:00.002+13:00

I can't believe it. I have just won a RAK (Random act of Kindness) off the Fiskars website. I'm so excited. When it arrives I will be posting a photo of it here to share with all you lovely people. Wahooo, :)

Well on a different note, here is some photos as promise, of the Teddy bears picnic. This is of Abby and one of her wee friends :)

This one is a photo I just love. Isn't he just a wee honey. He belongs to a friend of mine.

Ollys appointment went really well. Got a good report and still doesn't have to wear a eye patch, so that is great news. In the afternoon we had swimming sports for Olly. The poor kids, the pool was so cold for them, they had a egg and spoon race and were shivering so much they could hardley keep the "egg" on the spoon.

Well that is it for now. Hubby is off to see Nigel Latta (he is the guy on the "into the darklands" that profiles murders on TV.) The local plunket has him down for the evening and apparently he is a fantastic speaker. Will be interesting to see what Lionel has to say. So I might get some photos printed off for scrapcamp. (Only one more week, I'm starting to have sleepless nights :) )

Busy schedule coming up

2008-02-25T21:24:00.003+13:00

What a busy couple of weeks we have coming up here. Only 10 days to scrapcamp yahoo. But before then we have Ollys eyes checked on Wednesday in Dunedin, at quarter to 9 in the morning then he has swimming sports in the afternoon, Friday Jake has swimming sports. Monday athletics, Tuesday to Friday (well it is going to be Thursday for our kids) there is school camp for Jake and Olly goes for a night on Wednesday night then there is also the usual activities in between. Today I took Abby in for her 4 year injections. She did so well, didn't cry at all. The nurse said that it will sting a little and after the last one, Abby said to her "it was a little bit more than a sting." The nurse didn't know what to say LOL.

Last week we had a teddy bears picnic at a reserve up the road. The kids had a great time. One of the ladies had hidden 10 teddies and when a child found one they got a lolly pop. When the older ones got theirs they would help a younger one. I will get some photos reduced and share them at a later date.

I've done two layouts. The first is just because I wanted to scrap them and had to do something before scrapcamp. It is down at the river. I couldn't find cardstock the colour I wanted so I painted a piece of white and left bits showing through for a bit of a rough look.

The second is for scrapbook outlet sketch that Trina put up for this week. It actually contains 7 photos if you look closely.

Some photos to share

2008-02-17T12:07:00.003+13:00

I've been down sizeing a couple of photos to share, (But in reality I'm putting off doing housework :) ).

Today it is a bit cool (actually have the fire on). We had 23 ml (92 points) of rain on Friday Saturday and it has all soaked in. There is some pretty happy farmers around here at the moment.

Friday and Saturday night we had a friend come and stay from North Otago, who we hadn't seen since we left. He was going to the shears in Gore to get in some practice for the Golden shears in Masterton in a fortnight. He is in the New Zealand team that is competing there so has to get in as much practice as he can. Lionel went down with him for the day and caught up with alot of old mates. I actually think he would of liked to had his gear with him and have another shear, not that he would tell you that.

Now the photos. The first one is Jake riding the Mechanical bull at the local Rodeo last weekend. He did very well with it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

These ones I took when I was on the trek up the Maungatuas last weekend. The first one is looking back towards Outram and from where we had come from.This one is along the top. Some of us continued to the repeater station and I stuck to the back so I could get some photos.This is my latest layout. It is for a challenge at scrapbookoutlet . The February challenge was to do a no person challenge. Then I added my own personal challenge to it by using bright colours (they are alot brighter in real life). But I am pleased with how it came out. Tells the story of our hens and the eggs :).

Yayyyyy its been raining.

2008-02-12T12:41:00.000+13:00

We really needed it to keep our winter crops going and now we have just had 52 points (13mm). Very much needed and now my hubby has a real spring in his step.

I had a really busy weekend. On Saturday we had the local Rodeo which was great, specially as a cousin of mine and her family came down for it, it was just unfortunate that I had one of those weekends. After the Rodeo I took Molly (my horse) over to a friend of mines as we were away on a Trek on Sunday and it was going to save alot of time if both horses were at her place and I met her at the bottom of the hill. Then after that I had a catering job for the local Playgroup. We were catering for a wedding at the local hall. I didn't get home till 1am then I was up at just after 6.00 to make sure I had everything organised for the Trek. I met Jan and Molly at the bottom of the hill at 1/4 to 7 and we were off. We were on a trek through the Mangatuas (not sure on the spelling there sorry), which is just out of Outram, near Dunedin. It was a great trek and Molly was very well behaved. She wasn't as excited as last time and took it all in her stride. Luckily the day wasn't very hot, as there was a few steeper climbs. Met some lovely ladies and it was great as we all had alot in common. Afterwards we had a bbq and a few drinks and dispersed when it started raining. As you can imagine I was in bed fairly early that night to catch up on some needed sleep.

The Hens have slowed down a little in their egg laying (5) but Lionel tells me in a week they will be back up to 10 and 11 a day. When he was a kid they use to have 500 hens so he probably knows what he is talking about (I'll give him the benefit of the doubt this time :) ). I haven't taken any photos yet Lara, oh and I call myself a scrapbooker, must get my act together. I have some ideas just got to get onto it :)

Till next time, chin up :)

10 eggs

2008-02-07T21:18:00.000+13:00

Yep. Our tally of eggs for the day is 10. We have some happy children running around and I would say we were lucky to get them all inside in one piece with out there being scrambled eggs. At least if that happened I could take photos and get a cool scrapbooking page I guess :).
Been a hot day here again today (32 oC). And we have been in the woolshed all day belly crutching lambs. Not the ideal place to be on a hot day, but at least our woolshed isn't hot (its made of bricks), so is alot cooler than most tin sheds. I'm off to sort out some more photos for scrapcamp. Getting closer all the time :)

Valentines cards

2008-02-06T22:09:00.001+13:00

Well I have been doing a couple of wee challenges. These are only card challenges (I've been saving the sketch challenges for scrapcamp).

The first one is for scrap camp and it is a valentines card challenge.

The second one is also a valentines card challenge for New Zealand dares , but this one had to include a photo on it. So I used a photo of Lionels and my hands when we got married ( soppy I know). As some of you know I am not really a Valentines girl and neither is Lionel, but this year is different :). The second card I think I will use for our wedding anniversary as we are married 10 years this year and we don't usually do anything for that either. I am really pleased with this card actually. Came out better than I imagined. :)

Today is Waitangi day so the kids didn't have school, which was awesome. So we went to Roxburgh and brought some hens. We packed a picnic lunch, bacon and egg pie and a settlers pie and we ate it at the park there. It was fantastic and what I loved about it all was there was 8 families all doing the same thing. They all had a packed lunch (some even had a thermos) and the kids were all playing at the park. It was an awesome sight actually.

We went and picked up 23 hens (15 for us and 8 for a friend). Brought them home and they are happy as wee sand boys. Haven't got a egg yet, but no doubt there will be three excited kids running out to check so they can have eggs on toast for breakfast.

Will be back for an update tomorow on the hens :) Till then

Been blog hoppin

2008-02-02T17:32:00.000+13:00

Wow it is amazing what you find on the internet when you have a hour to spare (LOL). I've been on and visited Trina's blog as I haven't been on line for awhile so thought it was about time to catch up.

While I was there I started blog hopping and came across Fiskars web log . What another great place for inspiration. These guys have sketches here to for inspiration and gorgeous layouts. Pop over and have a look. There is also a blinky to the left, you can just click on there too :)

Where does the time go..................................

2008-02-02T15:32:00.001+13:00

Wow February all ready. And school starts in two days :(. Not looking forward to that at all really. It will be nice to be in a routine again, its just there will be no sleep ins and there will be only three of us at home. This time next year there will only be me and DH. Where does the time go..................

Over Christmas I had three photos published in the Otago daily times. One was of Abby and one was of Olly and the other was a freinds of mine child. It is so nice seeing them in print.

Christmas was brilliant this year. It is one year where I felt we got exactly the right presents, some years I think "wow, shouldn't of got that, or should of got something else" There wasn't too much and there wasn't not enough, so we did well :) The morning was beautiful then about 1.00 it poured down and we got 2 1/2 inches for the afternoon. This year there was only 8, us Mum and Dad and a x-brother-in-law of ours. So it was very quiet and relaxed.

New Year we went up to Kelvin Heights at Queenstown with some friends of ours and it was supurb. Awesome night and we sat outside on the deck till 3.30am.

My eldest has now turned 8......Oh that just doesn't seem right....I can still remember the day he was born like it was yesterday.....doesn't seem like 8 years.

Olly has been back to the specialist about his eyes and we got a great report. Haven't worked out how really as he was meant to be wearing a patch for the last 3 months for 2 hours a day and we have only succeded in probably 20 times all up. But now they say we don't have to wear one till we go back at the end of February.

We have also been to see the butterflies in Dunedin. They were just supurb. Mum has just turned 60 and she wanted to take the kids to celebrate. It is a 3 story room with a swinging bridge etc and there is just thousands of butterflies. The temp is about 27 and humidity is about 75%. It was just amazing with butterflies flying around the waterfall and landing on us. Some were as big as the kids hands and amazing colours on them. If you are in Dunedin put this on your must see list.

I've also not long done my first horse Trek. Part of it went through our place and then onto Lawrence so I rode on it for about 2 hours. It was just awesome. me and a friend are going on one next weekend too. She wanted to do it but didn't want to go alone and she has a double horse float. So what could I do, I just had to go.

Now on the scrapbooking page, I haven't really done much LOL. There are these two that I did from sketches from scrapbook outlet. The first one is based on the thrid sketch and is of Olly competing in the under 7s athletics where he got first for everything except DiscusThe second is of Abby at Christmas based on the Sencond sketch. I have done a couple of others that I must photograpy. I'll put that on my to-do list.

Well that will do for now. Till next time, take care

New web site :)

2007-12-22T14:18:00.000+13:00

Well my dear friend has her website up and running with awesome jewelery on it. You can see it all here If you have a design in mind she can make it for you or if you see a piece that you like but want it in differnt stones/material she is your lady. Her craftsmanship and eye for design and colour is exquisit. Pop over and have a look.

Well here is a photo of Jake doing his opening speech for the school concert. Doesn't he look so confident. I appologise for the photo (I was about 6 rows back and then I had to crop the photo.)

Well not long now till the jolly big man in a red suit appears. I bet everyone elses kids are as excited as mine. Every morning "How many more sleeps?" they know but just want reasurance they haven't missed a day LOL. Hopefully the weather isn't going to be too harsh on us, I'm wanting to go to the river so the kids can go fishing and take a bbq down.

At the moment my mother is up north with her family. Nana H always has a christmas get together before christmas for all the family and friends and basically anyone who wants to go, so this year mum decided to go up and only told Nana. So all the family was hugely surprised as my cousin was over from Soul with her husband two kids (and pregnant with twins), another cousin was over from Australia, so they are all having a good catch up tomorrow before she flies home.

Another cousin of mine is laid up in hospital at the moment. She had a baby by c-section on Thursday and yesterday colapsed (luckily while there was a nurse with her). She was not breathing and her heart had stopped. She is now in the hospital part hooked up to a oxygen and a drip with blood thining agents in it. She had a clot in her abdomin and it moved into her lungs. I was talking to her this morning and by the sound of it will be in there until after the new year anyway. What is worse is she isn't even allowed to hold wee Tom as she isn't allowed to bend her arms legs etc incase it causes more blood clots. So he is in the maternity hospital and she is in the public hospital. I'm looking at going down to see her tomorrow.

If I'm not back before Christmas (or your not back before Christmas). Have a safe and merry Christmas and New Year, and drive safely, watch out there are idiots on our roads :)

Yayy holidays are nearly here

2007-12-19T21:26:00.001+13:00

Yayy nearly school holidays. Only one more day at school for the boys. I am so looking forward to the holidays its not funny. It has been a fabulous year for the boys at school. I was so proud of them at the school concert. Jake opened the concert and had a speech that he had been practicing for about 6 weeks. They get a year 3 too and all the others said no they couldn't do it. Jake put his hand up and said he would. Well for those of you who know Jake know he is the shyest little boy. If he talks too someone his head goes down and he talks to his feet. Well not Monday night. He stood up there in front of a full hall, looked to the back of the room (with out a mike) and belted out his speech. It was loud and clear and everyone heard him. I tell you we were the proudest parent in the room (and grandparents).

Well not long till christmas now. Too be honnest I have put my head in the sand a bit over it this year. I have only just posted christmas cards. For me that is terrible, usually have them out by 14 November. So you can see that head was well and truely dug in the sand!!!!!!

We are drenching lambs at the moment and they are doing really well with the recent drop of rain and a lot of heat. I was out mustering last week and we had some NZ falcons doing their bit in the sky and they were just beautiful. I actually sat and watched them for about 10 minutes until DH came over the radio "What are you doing?" He had never seen them before so then he sat where he was watching them too. I think they have taken up residence somewhere as they have been around a bit and a neighbour said he hadn't seen any here before. So when I get time I go on my horse for a ride and make it a mission to find them :)

Last weekend we had one of DH's brother come down. To be honnest it really threw us. We hadn't heard from him since we shifted (after he did a bit of S**t stirring). He was bringing the guy down who brought our place but DH put his foot down and said he wasn't welcome on our place after the way we were treated (He wouldn't let us get all our gear) and the amount of money he cost us in gear he demolished (about $10,000 worth). So it wasn't unreasonable at all. Not sure what they thought of the place but to be honnest we don't really care. We love it here and too us it is our little piece of paradise.

The weather has been so hot here lately 30 odd degrees and we have done a fair bit of swimming. Both at the pool and down at the river. It is supurb.

Till next time take care

What a beautiful day

2007-11-20T13:28:00.000+13:00

It is truely the most beautiful day here today. Not a breath of wind and not a cloud in the sky. I still have Jake at home sick, he is certainly better but doesn't have much energy. I'm being a bit causious too as the teacher was telling me this bug has put one of the kids in Jakes room into hospital. That was a bit of a reality check. I feel guilty when Jake goes and plays with a toy or something. Keep thinking he should be at school, then he will go and lie down on the couch and you think, good thing he is at home LOL.

Lionel is working down near the river today so we took a packed lunch down and had a picnic beside a wee contributory creek and the kids had a wee play in there after eating. It was so nice, the only noise was the kids catching fish (rocks) on their fishing lines (a stick). It was so nice to see them playing with whats around them and enjoying each others company. Abby even brought a goldfish home in a cup with water (a red coloured stone) and it is sitting on the bench as wee speak, although the water slopped out on the way home and we had to put tap water in when we got here LOL. Now they are out side hunting out birds nests (just the blackbirds ). Will certainly keep them occupied for a while. Well I'm off for my last (hopefully) physio appointment now and pick Olly up from school a little earlier. Till next time take care. :)

Oh before I forget, I have a friend who makes jewelery and it is just divine, she caters for formal, informal and just plain casual wear and will make things to order. There is necklaces, bracelets, earings and even other things like jewelery boxes. I have some differnt articles and they always draw a compliment. She is getting a website made up that displays some of her stuff so when that is available I will let you all know.

I love the mouse :)

2007-11-19T11:10:00.000+13:00

We have a sneaky wee mouse looking around the blogs at the moment and you never know where she is going to turn up. Her (well I think it is a she) name is A-nony-mouse and she has originated from scrapbook outlet . So if your here Hello * waving madley*.

Now scrapbook outlet has a awesome competition going as I have mentioned in previous posts. They set challenges and for each challenge you get a raffle ticket and they have some awesome prizes. Pop over and have a look at the gallery. IT is awesome some very tallented ladies on their board and they have lots of encouragement for eveyone and there is lots of inspiration. Their online shop is great too, some cool products and lots coming in all the time.

This layout I did for A-nony-mouses challenge on scrapping a toy :). Tigger was given to Jake when he was born by my cousin Rachel and he just loves him. Can you tell? :) This layout is based on a Erica Hildebrand sketch click here . Her link is also to the left. She does some awesome sketches and if you require a certain one she will do what she can to make you one.

This transparent card was done for Andreas quick challenge on making a card that you can see through or has transparency on it.
This layout is just because. A good friend of mine and her daughter.

And this layout is a old photo of Abby and Olly :)

The competition has been great it has got me scrapping again which I am loving. At the moment it isn't that easy with two sick boys at home. Yep two of them. Olly has been off school since Thursday with vomiting and Friday Abby and I had it as well then Jake came down with it on Saturday night. Hopefully they are on the mend now. Fingers crossed.

You will never guess what I just got......

2007-11-09T20:33:00.000+13:00

Well before I tell you .... Woooo I love suspense lol. Yesterday we had school sports but it was so cold that the school decided to send just the ones that were competing in the school relay, which was a fabulous idea as Jakes nose has been running all week. So he was to stay back at school and help Miss Goss look after all the others that weren't going. Any way with all the mayhem that was going on Jake decided that it would be far to cold for Abby to go so behind my back he packed Abby a lunch and sorted out a schoolbag and other stuff for her to take. On the way to school Jake said Abby is going to stay at school. Well you try arguing with Jake, I kept saying she couldnt' stay as she was only just four. Got to school and he went running in and to cut a long story short Abby stayed at school for the whole day and had a ball. Trouble was this morning she wanted to go back.

Sports went well. Oliver did extremely well, well above our expectations. He got first in long jump, sprints, hurdles, long distance, shotput, high jump and the only one he didn't get first in was discus where he got second equal. Couldn't believe it and it wasn't by a little bit either. The long distance was 65 meters. We might have a athlete on our hands, although he is still adament he is going to be a Allblack and he isn't going to have kids because he is going to be playing rugby LOL. I will get photos in next time.

Today has been a fantastic day. Firstly in the mail today my new MP3 player turned up, and I love it. But I do need more music to choose from LOL. And secondly and more importantly I have a cuttlebug. I can't believe it. Got it from the warehouse and paid $90 for it. For those of you in the know, know that they are $130. Somebody obviously stuffed up and there was no way I was turning that down. I've called it a early christmas present, and I'm not wrapping it up till christmas either. Might wrap the box up but that will be it LOL.

The weather is still bitterly cold here so DH has been doing lots around the house, finneshing touches on the deck, front fence all done and we have just finneshed fencing off the haybarn and made a paddock for the horses. Oh that reminds me. I had physio yesterday and it has made a huge difference. No pins and needles in my fingers but the shoulder is still not too good. Head back on Tuesday for more.

Well I hope everyone has had as good a day as I have. :)

Take care

My baby girl is 4

2007-11-07T20:49:00.001+13:00

I have to admit it, every other birthday all my kids have had just seems like another day and nothing seems to change. Well this one really blew me away because all of a sudden my baby girl seemed grown up. She seemed taller, she seemed more mature she seemed more......older. And I mean that never happens over one night and I can't for the life of me work out why.

Abbys cake was a pretty simple one. Abby wanted a chocolate one with mashmallows on the top. Not sure why chocolate as I have never made a chocolate one in my life. It is usually Banana, or banana choc chip, or fruit but never Chocolate. Must admit the kids loved it and it was so easy to make.

Mum and dad came down for the day which was going to be great because the boys were meant to have athletics in Lawrence but the weather wasn't good so it was postponed until tomorrow, so they missed out on that. But we had a great day and Abby just thought it was wonderful. Mum and Dad gave her a lovely we pink skirt and some make up which she thought was great.

We met my parents in Lawrence and Abby went with mum and dad while I went to the Dr. Abby said to Dad. "Grandad, I've got something cool to show you." and then led him into a shop and walked to the back. She put her hands on her hips and said "oh no, its not here, where is it. GRAN where is it gone?" The lady came back and asked what was wrong. Abby wanted to know where the pink fishing rod had gone. Aparently about 10 months ago she was in there with Gran and had showed her and gran said to show grandad next time and he might get it for her. Gran and Grandad had a very upset child on our hands and to make things worse, it was sold the day before.

At the moment there is a competition running at scrapbookoutlet . It is run like a raffle and for each thing you complete you get a ticket and at the end they draw ticket numbers and have some awesome prizes. The first one is a 6 month subscription to their packs and the second is a cuttlebug (which I would just looovve), and the third is a voucher for their store. Pop over and have a look, there is lots of stuff to whett every appetite. The second competition was to make three tags and two had to be altered. Well here is mine. The first is a button altered

The second is a envelope that was made on the cricut machine (thanks Lara) and altered and last but by no means least is a tag off Jakes pair of jeans that I brought him altered.

Well the weather hasn't been too good here the last few days. Monday we had snow falling (brrr).

I've finally been to the dr about my shoulder. I had to really, it wasn't improving and I just couldn't sleep properly. Shouldn't of bothered though, cause now I have to go to physio. She thinks the shoulder could be freezing up and one muscle needs work apparently and she also thinks that I have carpel tunnells and thinks I will need a cortisone (SP) injection. Like there is no way that is going to happen. Then she noticed me limping and checked my achilies and there is big swelling there too. I think it would be easier if they made me into dog tucker LOL . So I have physio tomorrow and hopefully she is able to straighten out my problems (well the obvious ones anyway ).

Well that is it for this session. Take care

I am Baaacccckkk

2007-10-31T15:04:00.000+13:00

It has been so long and I appologise for that. Lots has been happening, well probably nothing exciting but the usual for this time of year. I can't believe it is only about 56 days till Christmas. And I have done any christmas shopping :(. Usually I have 90% of it done by the July August but I don't know where the time has gone. Never mind we will get there.

Today we finneshed our tailing, and what a relief it is to have them all out of the way. It is kind of like a milestone. Once that is done we can get on with the next project, or farm job (which is getting some paddocks sown in some young grass).

The last four days have been absolute scourchers and absolutely no wind. Yesterday it was 25.5 at lunch time and getting warmer.

On Sunday we had our 25 year celebration for the playgroup which was held at the playgroup and what a great time it was. We had a BBQ lunch and that was followed by a afternoon tea and a cutting of the cake. That was the first nice day for about a week so it came at the right time.

The horses are both going really well, although I haven't ridden mine for about 10 days because I have done something to my shoulder and I have very little strength in it and seem to always have pins and needles down my arm and three fingers. If it isn't right by Friday I might have to go to the doctor. Mind you that is a last resort. The kids have been riding Honey lots and Jake even saddles her up, with a little bit of help and he just goes, had her cantering last week for the first time and thought he was made. Still hasn't got the posting right, but that should come with time. Olly rides her on his own, although Honey gets away with a bit more with Olly, where as Jake doesn't let her. Abby has been riding on her own too and thinks she is Christmas, just grins from ear to ear :) Here is a photo of Jake.

Friday there is pet day at school and Jake is taking Garry and Billy (two mice) and Olly is taking Fluffy (guinea pig). Luckily we don't have a horse float or they would want to take Honey and it is just a little too far to ride down. (Phew).

Yesterday I took the boys to school and just as we were about to leave Jake announces that he cant find his school bag. We looked everywhere (it was packed with his lunch books etc ). We checked the horse pen, lamb pen, the kids old car, garage, bedroom everywhere. I was so frustrated, like how hard could it be to find a kids school bag. Obviously harder than I thought. Then I remembered he borrowed a pair of scissors form my scrapping desk. Here was the bag, under the desk with the chair pushed in behind it. I know I have trouble finding things at the desk at times but I never thought it was so bad I couldn't find the kids school bag there. And the area had been cleaned up the other night when I made some cards. It is a first for me. And all Jake was worried about was, what he was going to eat for lunch LOL.

Well I'm off to pick the kids up from the bus. I willlll beeee baaack :) Take care

Can you believe it another family member?

2007-10-06T21:14:00.000+13:00

Well we have. It is a horse for the kids and her name is Little Honey. What a shock, two horses in three weeks. :) Little Honey is actually on loan to us for as long as we want her. She is 25 years old and about 11.2 hands high. She just adores kids and I admit the kids just love her to bits. We went and got her yesterday when we picked Jake up from my parents. Then at lunch time I rang the local farrier to get her feet trimmed and he came out this afternoon. He did a great job and while he was here I got him to do Mollys as well. Poor Abby got a little upset as she thought he was going to do something horrible to "My Little Honey." LOL
The kids all had a ride on her this morning and Jake and Olly have ridden on their own. There was no way we were helping there. Abby wanted to as well but we had to draw a line somewhere. Honey has done alot of work with kids and even was a horse with the riding for the disabled for a few years, so she certainly has the patience.
I will get photos of her being ridden as this certainly isn't a very nice view :)

What else has been happening? Not sure if I mentioned it or not but our deck is finneshed and it looks fab. Pulled one front fence out to do a new one (the old one was rusted and looked diabolical (sp). There is two posts in and the holes dug for the other six. Hopefully weather permitting we will be getting onto it again soon.
Well that is it for now. No sbing pages to share, sorry. Hopefully next time

We have a new family member........

2007-09-21T20:26:00.000+12:00

and I am so excited about it. Her name is Molly, and believe it or not she gets called Mole for short :). It isn't actually as bad as it sounds because Molly is a horse. I brought her on Sunday. Funny really as we have been down to Invercargil to have a look (nearly two hours away) and we ended up getting her about 5 minutes away. She is an adorable Standardbred and is 15 years old and at an estimate 15 hands high. I have been on her everyday (except for today as we were away). It is great to be getting my confidence back and being back in the saddle again. Here is some photos :)

Haven't done much on the scrapping front (I wonder why). But have done two layouts. The first layout is based on sketches at sketchs Oz blogspot web site It is of all my children in the bath. Aren't they gorgeous.

The second one is based on a sketch from scrapwitch and is of Jake with Mrs Fluitsma at his last school. They just adored each other and Mrs Fluitsma even wrote a good bye letter for Jake and gave us three fruit trees (one for each kid) in rememberance of her. She is one special lady.

So I will leave you all with this short note. I am off for a bath to soothe my aching muscles. Muscles I had forgotten about. So take care

My Baby boy is 6

2007-09-07T20:30:00.000+12:00

I can't believe where the time has gone, it has just flown by. We didn't do anything exciting really for it. Mum and Dad called in after being to the 10 tennors in Dunedin the night before and they stayed for tea then left. Olly had a great day, and was quite excited about the fact that because it was his birthday he didn't have any home work LOL. So what did he do, he helped Jake with his LOL.

We have started lambing now and it has gone fairly easy, would be better if we had more grass around, but it is the year by all accounts. One mob we went around last week had four sets of quads in which is rather annoying as most ewes can't cope with three lambs let alone four. They were all doing OK so we left them there and for a bit when Lionel needed a lamb for a ewe he went there. There is four pets at the moment, which isn't too bad for us. I was reading in a diary from two years ago we had 15 WHAT WERE WE THINKING? So four isn't too bad.

The last couple of days both boys have been off school sick. Olly has improved greatly but Jake can't seem to shake it yet. Yesterday we lit out big heap of wood that came out of the section 12 months ago after we arrived here. It went up really quick and we got rid of alot of extra wood around, was great.

Today I was at music with Abby and Lionel had a clean up in the section and dug the trench along the front of the house and we put gravel along the bottom, drainflow along the top and covered it all up. We also rang a place for a price for the wood to do the decking along the front. It is going to be 5.4 meters out and 11 meters long, so hopefully we will hear back early next week and have the timber her and started by the week after. Will be so nice to be able to sit outside for tea and enjoy these beautiful days and evenings we are having. Get it done then I might have to start pushing for the back one, or is that asking too much?????

Some of you know that I have been looking at getting a horse again. Well it isn't going to good, no luck for me yet. I have one sorted for the kids. A neighbour of mum and dads has a older pony there that only gets used when the kids go to mum and dads and she said we can have her, so the kids are excited about that. Abby is worried where she is going to sleep as Honey won't fit inside. LOL.

I am keeping an eye out for me though and hopefully something will come up.

My Calligraphy course has one more week to go. It has been so much fun and with a great bunch of ladies. Will be sad not to be going out. Kids will miss it too as they say Dad lets them do things mum doesn't when I'm not there LOL.

I had a laugh the other day in Clutha. I was filling in time in a couple of shops and Abby would talk to the ladies at the counter. Any way she was busy telling everyone "Do you know what my dads favourite colour is?" " It is piiiiinnnnk, my dad just loooooves piiiinnnnkkkk." LOL. That really made Lionel happy LOL. Well kids do say the most funniest things at times. Like last week, Jake went to get some icecream out of the freezer for a treat. " Dad, I hate to blow on your parade but, we don't have any icecream left." Now where on earth did that come from LOL.

Well till next time take care

Bit cool here today

2007-08-22T14:53:00.000+12:00

Have finally done a little bit of scrapping, with the shearing, vaccinating, drenching and dipping out of the way, I have time for me. Must admit I am loving it too :). This layout was done, based on a sketch from Pencillines . Sketch number 8 of Ngaire's. Have changed it a bit to suit as I didn't want the photo as big. Also did it for a challenge on scrapbook outlet . But I didn't read the instructions right and it was meant to have a black and white photo and colour one as well. Never mind, a good excuse to do another layout as this ends the end of August :) I do love this photo of AJ even if it is from behind, and it looks alot better in B and W. Shows the details more ;)

This layout was done for scrapbook outlet as well. It was a challenge from Donna to use chipboard, which I don't need any excuse to use any way. I have painted, stamped and glossed it. Yummo Well today we had playgroup which went really well, about 12 kids there, tonight I have my caligraphy course, which I just love. Tomorrow I take the new motorbike to town for its big check and have a hair cut then as well. Well I am actually just having a trim and thin out. I decided before dads birthday that I was going to grow it then I thought it would look nicer short for his party so cut it and thought I would grow it long. After scrapcamp with the longer wig on I am definately giving it a try, but for those of you who know me, know that by christmas it will probably be cut short again LOL. My old friend Jane who is a hairdresser use to laugh. One week I would have it cut short then the next, growing it long. Will see how long this lasts for LOL.

Well that is about it from me. Take care and keep smiling. :)

Woops forgot a layout

2007-08-14T21:28:00.000+12:00

Forgot to add this layout in the other day. It was done at scrapcamp. See the little arrows? Aren't they just the cutest. Nik had her cuttlebug at scrapcamp and had a new arrow cutter. Aren't they just so adorable (I so want a cuttlebug). Wish Hubby would read this, he might get a hint LOL. What a gorgeous day here today. We have been vaccinating and dipping ewes yesterday and today and I was out mustering a couple of paddocks on foot just after lunch today. It was just so beautiful and peaceful. I stopped and listen and all I could hear was tui's and the running water at the creek as it went over a little waterfall, just simply divine, and not a breathe of wind. It was just to gorgeous to put into words, then I had to start climbing a hill, and all I could hear was me breathing in and out LOL.

Tomorrow we have playgroup and and I am on duty, and I haven't had time to bake. Usually I make sure I do plenty of baking and take along a selection of Custard squares etc. Might have to be scones tomorrow LOL. Then tomorrow afternoon I am off to stock up on my groceries then tomorrow night I am off to my course. I have started a caligraphy course in Milton (about half an hour away). It is one of those adult learning things and runs for 6 weeks. been to one. All I can do is i,t and l and only in lower case lol. I loved it though, and there is some lovely ladies there. I am the youngest by about 25 years :) so feel a bit out of place, but we all enjoy it so that is the main thing. All the others are card makers so I might have to take along some scrapbooking pages :).

Well till next time take care :)

A long week

2007-08-10T20:05:00.000+12:00

Not sure if I said in my last post or not but our darling baby boy who is 5 nearly 6 (the one who has glasses). Well he lost them when I was away at scrap camp, and he had no idea where they were. My mother had spend all day Saturday and some of sunday looking for them and then when I returned from scrapcamp, I spent about two hours monday and everyday there after looking for them. I had been told that they were in the dog paddock (where the dogs are tied up). We looked and looked, looked with torches in the dark (thinking they would shine up), to no avail. I'd given up and rang the specialist in Dunedin (we were meant to go down on the Friday for a check up). She said I won't order any, they will turn up, but come down even if you don't have them.

Any way, Olly found them on Wednesday, which was a huge relief. Where were they? Sitting down where he had taken them off and put them. If I was't so relieved I would of cried LOL. So on Thursday this dear child toddled off to school, with his glasses happy as larry. Thursday night he gets home. "Um, Mum? I've lost my glasses again." What was this child thinking....... We had a specialist appointment in Dunedin the next day. So off to school we go. The teachers were out looking for them (there was a 10 minute gap where he lost them after school). We searched till 5.00 and no luck. We head home, dejected. The teacher said she would send the class out before school for a quick search. But that turned out fruitless. So off to the specialist appointment and for a new pair of glasses. We ordered new ones and they turned up the next Wednesday. An hour after they arrived we get a phone call from the teacher. "Guess what? We just found Ollys glasses...They were put neatly aside under the trees so they wouldn't get stood on while he was playing rugby" Agggggg. So now we have two pairs of glasses LOl. (and one is put away).

We are still trying to get the shearing done. Had some rain this week which put us back a bit and then on Thursday we had a friend call in who was over from Australia, It was so cool to be able to catch up with him as we hadn't seen him for a few years.

Today we had Jakes first game of school rugby. It was so cool to watch him play, although there was a big age gap from 11 to 6 and those that played tended to pass it amongst them selves, which was a bit sad, but Jake loved it. They put him on the back of the scrum, and he made a brilliant tackle that stopped a try, so he was wrapped with that.

Other than this, not much else has been happening.

On the scrapping front, I am in the process of making three different minni albums, a tag album, a flag album and a star album. Mainly because I've said yes to doing a class with some of the playgroup ladies. They have't done any scrapping and wanted me to do something for them, so finally I gave in. Kind of looking forward to it really and thought I should have some other things, other than pages. Everything I make I tend to give away IYKWIM. So it will be nice to have some of my made stuff around again. When they are completed I will post a picture to share.

Before I go, we (me and Abby) were heading down our lane the other day and we were singing. We make up silly songs, to tunes, like "Baa baa, black sheep, have you any wool, no sir, no sir, none at all. None for you, none for me, none for the little boy living in the tree." Get the gyst. Any way I sang humpty dumpty normally and later on when we were fencing Abby says "Mum can you sing that song again?" I asked which one. "you know the Honkey Donkey song." I had no idea what she was on about, then it clicked " Oh you mean humpty dumpty." "Yeeeeeaaa". LOL Can you tell I don't sing nursery rhyms much LOL.

I'm Baaaack

2007-08-02T09:44:00.000+12:00

I do appologise for not being on here earlier. Some of you may know that I have changed email address's and It wouldn't let me sign in. Big problems but now I finally have it sorted (I hope)

Well I have just come back from an absolutely awesome weekend in Bannockburn at a scrapbookers retreat. It started on Thursday night but unfortunately I couldn't go then because of taking the boys to school bus and only having one vehicle. I couldn't really let Lionel take them and Abby on the motorbike if it was snowing or raining or a realy hard frost, trust me, it was tempting thought :). So in the end I dropped the boys off at school and left for Central. Car packed up with all my scrapping gear.
In the end there was 8 of us there for Friday to Sunday and there was only me and one other lady who wasn't there on the Thursday night. We were also priviledged to have Andrea from Scrapbook outlet come and join us Saturday afternoon and she stayed the night too. Was great to have finally meet her, talked on the phone a few times but was great to put a face to a name.

Andrea (scrapbook outlet) and Meg (Scrapbook essentials) also had a shop there each which was brilliant. They had a good variety of gear .

There was also lots of projects and prizes that were kindly donated by Andrea and Meg. Andrea even donated a Nic Howard book which was part of a challenge. Lara had a list of pages that we had to do and each one was worth so many points. Those that finneshed or had the most points went into a draw for it. There was three of us that completed them all and Tanya was the lucky winner of the draw.
I'm already looking forward to the next scrap retreat. Just a pitty it is so far away. :(

Here are some of my completed projects for the weekend. This was a layout that included me in it. Unfortunately I've miss placed a book that I have with other things I had written down about me. When I find it I will include them on the layout as well.

This was a project donated by Andrea at Scrapbook outlet and Lara took us through the steps of altering it. It started of as plain chipboard and our project was to alter it. We also made transparency pages to go in it. It was a great wee project.

We also had as part of the list a 6x4 photo to scrap on a page (no other photos). I didn't have a 6x4 so I was allowed to use this photo. (aint he a cutie?) We also had to make a card out of left overs from another layout (Not associated with the challenge). This is the layout I did from the last retreat.

Then Tanya gave us all a challenge to scraplift a layout she had done.

and here is everyones take on the challenge. Tanyas layout is the top right hand corner. We also had to make a card that used no usual adhesives (and you couldn't use stickers to hold the paper on). I've used sewing and brads on this.This project was called "Andreas- stripping in the dark" . LOL We all got a piece of scenic route Scrap Strip2, a sheet of Black Bling, ribbon, flower and a paisley. We could do what we wanted with it and I chose to make a minni album of us all down at the river. I never had any photos so that is one of my projects this week. On the inside front cover I have the paisley that I am going to use for a date etc, but when I made it I had no idea.Here is everyones take on the project, Isn't it amazing all the different layouts that come from the same products :).This is a pillow box that Tanya did for a project for us. The goodies were supplied by Meg at Scrapbook essentials for this one.Another challenge was to do a laout where the words or journaling was the focus of the page and if you had photos on it they had to support it. I used no pp for this and my new Autumn leaves stamps (Thanks Andrea :) )This is one where we weren't to use any cardstock. I love these papers.Just one I did for me :) Again using my new stamps. And another one just for me.Another layout from the challenge. You had to scraplift someone elses layout from the retreat (this was before Tanya had done hers). This is a scraplift from Lyn's layout.

Well that is it for this time. Take care

What a week

2007-06-24T19:59:00.000+12:00

Talk about a four seasons week. On Friday night we had about 10 inches of snow, can you believe it. It was simply amazing. Lionel had other words for it LOL. (which I'm not going to print here :) ) The funny thing about it all is that last Sunday (a week today) we were sitting outside on the grass and outdoor furniture having a bbq lunch. It certainly wasn't shorts or bare feet weather, but it was a beautiful sunny day, no wind etc then five days later we have all this snow. It was beautiful though, and by sunday was all gone. We had 25ml rain over night and it all just dissapeared. So now we have no snow but lots of water :) I'll try and upload photo's. Thats if Blogger will let me.
Here is Abbys bike which was left outside over night LOL.
And the outdoor furniture that we were having a bbq lunch on 5 days ago.
And our Olly. Believe it or not he is trying to ride his push bike, and he is about to go over the motorgate LOL. (Or cattlestop which ever you use LOL). He ended up getting frustrated and put it away LOL.
We were meant to be scanning on Sunday, but we rang our scanner man and told him it might pay not to come. He is now coming on Tuesday, it will be we but at least there won't be snow around (Hopefully).

We finally heard back from the insurance company and they looked at the bike and decided that there was no way they were going to fix it. Which is kind of good as the bike shop said that it would never be the same again with all the damage done to it. (whoops). We have a loan one at the moment and they are bringing a new one hopefully this week. Well that is it for this week.
Take care

Mr Gorgeous

2007-06-11T19:49:00.000+12:00

Doesn't Olly look like a little honey in his new glasses. They actually arrived today and we left them until he came home so he could have the glory of opening them. He has been so good with them too, puts them on carefully and properly and wanting to wear them all the time. Which we were told he probably wouldn't do, just to take it easy for a fortnight then put the pressure on him to wear them all the time. I didn't realise how bad his eyes were but when he put them on he said everyone else looks shiny. Then tonight on going to the loo he came out all excited. He could see the light cord hanging down. In the dark previously he couldn't see it. (might explain the little puddles by the toilet sometimes, and I thought it was just a boys thing LOL).

On the weather front, what a cold few days we have had here. Had snow (as you can see from the pictures). We ended up with just under three inches on Friday night. It had been sleeting before then but nothing settling as such. But it wasn't just snowing it was cold too, but the kids had a ball. Here is a photo of Jake making a snow man. He loved it. The good thing was we never went through many clothes, I just kept recycling them by the fire :). I love this close up of Jake. I think I have a use for it on a page for the June challenge at scrapbook outlet. :)Lionel actually had a little misshap on the motor bike on Saturday. He shifted some ewes into a sheltered paddock (as we had warnings the weather was going to turn to custard). And Lionel being Lionel decided that they weren't going to get enought to eat so decided to take a couple of small bales of hay down to them on the motor bike instead of taking the tractor down with the baleage wagon on (first good decission). He said it didn't feel slipery at all and went down this little flat on the top of a hill and he felt the bike slip a little. He tried to guide it around but she kept heading down hill. DH bailed at the last minute (second good decission), when he knew there was no way he could stop her and before he got caught up in it all. Here is the result, with Jake admiring it and asking the 1001 questions that he needed to know for the morning news LOL.To be honnest it looks better here than it does in real life. DH was so annoyed but I kept saying, at least no one was hurt, bikes can be replaced. We took it into town today and dropped it off for the assessors to look at it and to borrow a bike. The shop thinks they will just write it off but you never know. The worst thing is she was worth a fair bit of money and to replace it will cost a bit (Insurance companies don't seem to pay out what they are worth IYKWIM). But we should know tomorrow how it all goes, fingers crossed.

So till next time, take care

Brrrr

2007-06-07T13:53:00.000+12:00

What a day. It is cold here today (3 degrees outside) and it has been trying to snow. We decided to go to Clutha to get groceries (was going tomorrow, but just incase we get snow). Yesterday was so nice, we were outside in t-shirts so it is a big turnaround, although the weather people did predict it. They are saying snow down to 100 meters. Glad we aren't lambing ;). The kids will be excited if it does snow though, they are wanting to make snow men :)

Jake was home sick from school yesterday after lunch and he slept for about 2 hours on the floor, but today he is fine, so hopefully it was just a quick bug and something the others won't catch.

I haven't mentioned it before but our wee boy is getting glasses. We went to Dunedin Hospital last Friday and had him checked out. We could go with out if we wanted but they suggested to get them as one eye is weaker than the other and if he continues like that the bad eye will deteriorate and eventually nearly cease to work at all. Then if that happens and something happens to his good eye he will be in big trouble later on in life. The wee man is so looking forward to getting them as he is special being the only one in the family with them (which has made Jake Jealouse and he wants some). Now there is three at school with glasses including his teacher. Hopefully they will turn up tomorrow, just have to work out how to get him to wear them and not break them too many times.

Now scrapping news. This layout was done off a Trina McClune Trina McClune sketch for scrapbook outlet. We had to use lace in it somewhere or a journaling block. I also hand stitched a sheep.

Well that is it for today. I hope everyone is warm and tucked up inside, and Mardi I hope it is really warm where you are :)

Take care

Forgot to mention about another site called morethanjustscrapbooking. It has just started up and looks fantastic. Pop over and have a look.

Queensbirthday weekend.

2007-06-04T20:05:00.000+12:00

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. I know we did. We had some friends come down from Oamaru who we haven't seen since we moved down here (11 months ago). It was so good catching up with them and seeing the kids get on so well after all that time. I was worried about that as you don't really know what the kids remember. There was absolutely no reason to be concerned. Last night Jake, Olly and Olivia slept in one room and it was about 9.30 and Jake and Olivia were still chatting away. They arrived on Sunday before lunch and left today (Monday), then we went to the rugby in Lawrence but didn't stay for the whole game as the kids were winging the whole time (probably not a good idea going when they had little sleep last night). But it was such a beautiful day here (slightly cold this morning about 3 outside) so was a shame not to go and support it really.

I was meaning to get this uploaded before the weekend but just ran out of time, so here it is. It is based on a sketch from pencil lines , actually sketch number 34. And there is a few close ups to see the more intricate detail. If your a scrapper and never tried a sketch, pop over have a look and look at all the inspiration, you will be pleasantly surprised. Any way here is the sketch entitiled "Is this what you mean by sugar hit?" I get a giggle everytime I see this photo, it's not like they have coke all the time, they hardley ever have fizz or anything other than water and milk, but we were shearing up at the woolshed and had been for about three weeks, so this kept them amused at smoko times.

See, told you

2007-05-28T10:52:00.000+12:00

Told you I wouldn't be away as long as last time LOL.

NZ has its own dare site for scrapbooking where they have challenges and I've decided to have a go with this one. You have to do a single page layout with 6 photos or more on it, so here it is. For a while I had only been doing one photo for a page, but now I am starting to get more onto there to tell the whole story. Again I've done a bit of stitching and loved using the scenic route Savannah range for this, and because I haven't done any computer journaling for such a long time, decided to give it a go again, along with the title, overall I am very pleased with it.

And here are some close ups too. Incase you can't read the journaling it reads. We were at the playground at Lawrence with Boo and Ally. What fun you had on the swing, you would yell, "Higher Mum, Higher Mum". You actually fell off at one stage (not too hight though). And you cried, I gave you a cuddle and said "are you all right, did that hurt?" Too which you replied "It only hurt when I hit the ground." date was 18 May 2007

Now if you have come in here, please leave a comment, so I know you have been, I know that lots of you do visit (due to my counter at the bottom :) and some of you emailing me), but just say Hi would be nice. Thanks :)

I'm back

2007-05-27T13:57:00.000+12:00

Haven't been far either, just slack really. Haven't done much scrapbooking either, just a couple of quick ones, and I hope to get onto it again this afternoon, not much else to do as it is raining outside.

This layout was done of a layout from scrapoz web site. I used a homemade mask, well it actually was part of a stencil I made and I used the bit I cut out as the mask. Then there was some hand stitching on it too, which believe it or not I did actually enjoy doing. Shock horror I know :)

This one was just a quick one I did of Abby when we went up for tea to the neighbours. Abby asked Biddy if she could borow her glasses that were sitting on the bench LOL. Doesn't she look gorgeous?

Yesterday was a beautiful autumn day, not a breath of wind and I must admit, spent a fair bit of time outside with the pups. They have grown so much and are being fed twice a day now. They get dog roll in the morning and a drink of milk and then the same in the afternoon. The little rats hear me coming now and squeeze under the gate and get out. I'm hoping they will grow a bit quicker so they can't get out, as their kennel is out by my washing line and they have taken to coming over and start pulling my washing out of the basket before i can get it hung up. It is not good.

I'm getting excited about the next scrapcamp which is Thursday 26th July to Sunday the 29th, but at the moment I don't think I can go till the Friday :(. Still a long way off I know, but I just loved the last one so much.

This coming weekend is Queensbirthday weekend and we have friends coming to stay on the Sunday till Monday, which I am so looking forward to as I haven't seen them since we moved down here, which was nearly a year ago (well the 1st of July.) Will be good to catch up with them and their two wee kiddies, and see how much they have grown. More photo opportunities :)
Well that is it for now. Till next time, and hopefully it won't be so long :)

Didn't make it

2007-05-09T19:49:00.000+12:00

Well I didn't do any good with the DT. Never mind, I enjoyed entering and found it did push my boundaries alot more than I thought it would. They have their first sketch up which was done by the guest this fortnight (Kim Archer). Here is my take on it, which was done quickly last night.

It is photos from Jake when he did his first cross country at Kakanui, entitles "our own Star". The journaling reads:

Jake. Your first ever crosscountry and it was at Kakanui school. It was brilliant to see. At the obstacles you would stop to help slower people over. Joy even stopped to help a boy put his shoe back on. But when you crsosed the finnesh line there was alot of yelling clapping and a HUGE SMILE on your face. Held at the Maheno Domain 26.10.05

Lionels heading dog had pups about two and a half weeks ago. She had 6 pups four dogs (male dogs) and two bitches (female dogs). My old dog is the father as I wanted another litter by him before he was too old. I've got one out of the last litter and she is going really well, but I prefer dogs so wanted to get one.

Here is Jake with one of them (a dog pup).

And Abby with another one (a bitch pup). I can see layouts happening with these photos :)

We already have homes for them all which is great and there is about four heading back to where we've moved from. Today I've moved them out into a pen and run so that the kids are able to get in there and play with them so the pups get use to being handled. Kids are one of the best things for pups :). As you can see they are getting plenty of attention.

Last Saturday night we had the farm Century awards here in Lawrence, which the prime minister was at handing out the awards. So alot of people were doing alot of hard work preparing for the meal etc. I helped out on the Saturday morning and a bit of the afternoon making special pikelets with salmon etc on top. So if you went and ate these and are now sick, please don't blame me LOL. Was great to get in and help and meet some more locals.

Had the usual this week, playgroup today and Music on Friday which Abby is already looking forward to. Mothers day on Sunday for all you Kiwi ladies reading. I hope you all get treated like a queen for the day, even if it is just the dishes being done, everyone picking up after them selves, instead of being asked to, begged too, or yelled at too. For me there is no presents or cards (although I have a sneaky suspission that the boys are doing something at school).

Well that is it for now. Take Care Bronny :)

I'm entering

2007-04-28T21:03:00.000+12:00

I've been debating wether or not to enter all week. Sketches Oz blogspot is looking for two new DT members, a paper and a digital scrapper. I've done three layouts and decided tonight, that I would enter it. What have I got to loose? I've heard everyone say "Oh you get so much out of it, when you have a go," and I kept thinking yea right, but guess what? They were right. I just loved pushing my self harder working to sketches, I think I've found my forte`. I'm not really expecting to do any good, but I've loved having a go. Special thanks to my friends for telling me to go for it :) Was the push I needed.

Been a quiet week here, kids starting school again which has been hard. I've loved having them around, but I have found the house stays tidier longer.

Then Wednesday we had Anzac day. This year I found it good, the kids were older and understood it alot more, and wanted to go to the service. Unfortunately we didn't, normally we are over central and Lionel would take them to the dawn parade at 6.00 but here it is at 10.00 and it was a bitterly cold day, so we didn't go. Next year hopefully.

With a public holiday Wednesday we didn't have playgroup which was sad, as I'm really missing the contact with everyone, but we did have mainly music which was fab. Also on Friday I looked after a friends wee girl and took her to music (her mum had a dental appointment ouch), and then she picked her up about quarter to five. Abby loved having her play. Only problem was she wanted to stay the night, and she wasn't happy she didn't have her sleeping bag. Next weekend she will be, so that was a good bargining tool.

Till next time

Photos this time.

2007-04-21T11:28:00.000+12:00

Talking to my friend this morning and she wanted to see photos of my scrapping space. Sorry I haven't cleaned it up. That might be this weeks challenge, then get some photos of it Tidy :) The shelves are some that DH and I altered a little so that I can store my paper easlily. The bright storage unit use to belong to the kids, stored toys etc in it and the cupboard held books. (I put a shelve in it). Their toys got taken out of the draws and now they have my gear it. Works well, particularly with the sewing machine right there :)

Had a friend come around last night, she has just brought a lap top and new printer/scanner and wanted me to get it all going for her. I've had the laptop going for her, so just had to get the printer. Was a nice wee printer too. Didn't take any setting up but more teaching her how to use it and not be scared of it. She is scared of loosing photos, so trying to teach her how to back up, back up back up. Which reminds me....... If you haven't backed up your work for a while, take a moment and do it now. You never know, and while your at it, do two coppies. I always do. I have one copy here and one at mum and dads then if anything happens here, I know they have a copy and if something happens there, I still have mine and can easily make more. I use to be quite pedantic about it all and had three copies. One at either end of the house, so one lot wasn't near the computer if it got pinched or there was a fire at one end. I also keep them in CD holders, not their cases so that I can get all of them out with out dropping any. (I know it is one of my phobias, don't care if I loose any pictures on walls etc, just the photos. Theyre my memories, and albums of course :) )

These photos were taken while we were up at Lake Onslow, thought I would share :)

More layouts,

2007-04-17T13:58:00.000+12:00

Only because I am sick of being nagged RAFLMAO. Will get a photo of the ribbon storage too :)
This is a double layout that uses 20 photos. It is actually based on a BH sketch. I'm feeling in need to get a few photos on a layout to tell the story and also to get through some of those photos LOL

This is a layout I did of Abby down at the river that boundaries us and the story of how we go down there regularly.

This layout was actually done for a challenge at SO (Scrapbook outlet), it was a freestyle challenge and you had to use paint, rubber and heat. The flower is a stamp and the "always always always remember" at the bottom left is a sei everyday moments iron-on art, (hence the heat).

The layout was meant to be in by 9.00pm on Sunday. I finneshed it Sunday afternoon then one of our neighbours called in with a box of beer and a bottle of wine. That was alright, then about 8.00 his wife got back from work and thought, "oh well DH isn't home I'll take a couple of wines down to Bronnys", LOL little did she know he was here. Turned out to be a great night :) . So the layout never got uploaded to the gallery, so here it is.

Another not so nice day here today, huge comparison to yesterday really, where it was 25 plus outside and not a breathe of wind, you could see the grass growing. Only thing missing yesterday was little lambs running around jumping and skipping.
My boys are back tomorrow, which will be fantastic. Mum is bringing them and staying for a night before she heads back (about a two hour drive).
A friend came around this afternoon (I'm getting her into scrapping, she had tried CM ). I'm showing her how to print photos etc from the computer. She's just brought a laptop so trying to get that sorted out as well. Getting her paper right and photo storage on CD. The basic things that I want to get her into from the start IYKWIM. Was good to have a good catch up with her as well and let her daughter have a play with Abby. They are so cute together and so alike it isn't funny.
The two girls lay on the floor looking through the albums and made up their own stories (so cute). It was so great seeing them lying there talking to each other and hearing "wow this is cool".

Brrrr, cold here today

2007-04-13T21:05:00.000+12:00

Here is a layout to make me feel warm LOL. and the photo wasn't taken that long ago either. Just a quick one I whipped up the other day. Must get some photos of the ones I have done to share with you all.

What a horrible day it is today. We've had four seasons in one day. We've had snow, we've had hail and we've had lovely sunshine. LOL. But generally it's been a great day for sitting inside by the fire LOL. Must admit I did go and see a friend for a cuppa, I mean DH was doing book work, so I thought it was only fair to take Abby out of it so she didn't get into anything she shouldn't LOL.

What a busy week we've had. Last Friday we had a friend down from Oamaru and his partner then Saturday my SIL and her two kids came down and stayed for a night, then Monday we went up to a fishing hut we own (well my family own) and had a ball. Caught two fish, small. After wards mum and dad took Abby with them for two nights, then yesterday we met them in Dunedin and after a day in town mum and dad took the boys. So it is very quiet here at the moment LOL, but I am sooooo looking forward to them coming back as the house feels so empty, specially after having visitors and having so much on then it's like just us and Abby rattling around :)

At the moment I am trying to sort out my ribbon stash and it isn't going very well at all. Didn't realise that I had so much. Must get back to it. Just thought that I should pop in and update seen it has been about a fortnight.

Take care, and remember the only person you are destined to becomei s the person you decide to be.

Huge congrats .........

2007-03-30T20:41:00.000+12:00

A huge congratulations to the top 10 in the scrapbook outlet scrapervivor competition. They are
Sharee Mortenson
Trina McClune
Vicky Gibson
Natasha Kirk
Lis Cassey
Ilka Adam
Kelly Rotherham
Janine Worthington
Tammy Milburn
Monique Darge

Pop over and check it out by clicking here.
There is also the layouts, the BTP (Beyond the page) projects that have taken these 10 ladies to this point here Also all the fantastic work done by the ladies that missed out (I'm just glad I wasn't judging the top 10, such a hard job.) Go and have a look and I'm sure you will be blown away.

Now the more mundane stuff LOL, or maybe not. For those of you that are after a bag to cart all your papers to crops and retreats, I have just become the proud owner of the Crop-in-style P3. I've seen them advertised in american mags for $129 but I visited the Warehouse Wednesday and they had them. They didn't have a price tag so I took it up to the counter thinking it would be at least $100. They said they were discounted to $29.93. I couldn't believe it, so I got one for a friend of mine who is just starting (converting from CM LOL) and thought if she didn't want it it would be mine. She loved it so I rang and they had another one out the back. I got it today and it is divine. Looking forward to using it at the next retreat. How long to wait????
Tomorrow is our last day of shearing for a few months YAYYYYYY. Can you tell I am excited? So looking forward to it. We are taking the wee BBQ I brought at the warehouse up and Jake is cooking lunch LOL. He said he will so long as there is onions, gotta love him.
Hopefully the weather is fine Sunday and we are able to go down to the river for a fish as a reward, and of course I can get some photos LOL.
I'm off to tidy up my scrapwork station now, long over due :)

Hot hot hot

2007-03-23T14:31:00.000+12:00

Well it certainly is hot today. 29 out side and 28 in with all my doors open and not a breathe of wind outside. I am actually loving it. Been busy this week with shearing and Wednesday we had playgroup and a farewell for a wee girl there who starts school on Tuesday. Then today we had mainly music in Lawrence which was fantastic, about 30 odd kids there so a good turn out. I am meant to be baking at the moment as there is local dog trials on tomorrow but I have to go and get the kids off the bus in about 10 minutes so will start when I get back. I should of done it yesterday but put it off because I wanted a whole afternoon doing it (I prefer to bake in the morning though) and yesterday I wouldn't of been able to start till 3.00, so planned on today, but that turned to custard after getting back from Lawrence and DH came in and said that our cattle had crossed the river and we had to go down to get them in. Thirty minute job turned into over an hour grrrr. So here I am waiting to the last minute. Our tins will have to wait till sometime next week.

Monday we have a holiday as it is our Anniversary day so there is no school, which I am looking forward to. Mum is coming over Saturday night as dad is away on a hunt in Fiordland, so hopefully we can go and do something. Might even tell her to bring her scrapping supplies so we can have a go at scrapping.

Better run.

Till next time.

Some layouts from scrapcamp to share

2007-03-19T13:53:00.000+12:00

Here is some layouts that I managed to accomplilsh at scrap camp. You'll have to excuse the quality as my scanner isn't working and I had to photograph them and as you can see I haven't mastered that yet LOL.

Yesssss

2007-03-15T14:27:00.000+13:00

What a fantastic weekend we had. For those that don't know it was the Bannockburn scrap retreat. It was the best weekend since..... I don't know when LOL. Most of us arrived Friday afternoon/evening, I know we all had a ball. Before the retreat I had only met Lara so it was quite scarey meeting 14 ladies that I hadn't met before, but I had absolutely nothing to worry about as they were all fab. And of course we all had scrapping in common. I managed to get about 9 layouts done (I think it was) for the weekend, unfortunately my scanner isn't working so I am unable to upload any, will try and get photos maybe. There was about 94 layouts done in total.

On the Saturday night we went to the cafe about (200 meters away) and had tea. It really was more than a cafe though, we ate our gourmet pizzas and nibbles in the vineyard. Absolutely spectacular, luckily the weather was nice.

Already I am looking forward to the next one :) How many sleeps LOL.

Here is the mess that we all got into LOL. There was lots of lovely layout accomplished and minni books, and lets not forget the make and takes :)

A big thanks to Lara and Nik for organising this, and Debs for the house and also a huge thanks to Andrea (scrapbook outlet) and Meg (scrapbook essentials) for sponsoring this wonderful retreat.

I'm still living

2007-02-10T20:43:00.000+13:00

It has been a busy 3 weeks or so since I have last written in here. My MIL and SIL have been and gone and it went very well and they seemed to enjoy their time here. We had some other friends from Maheno down for a day visit (Hello Annette and Chris *waving madley*, don't be afraid to leave a note even if it is just a Hi.). Today some other friends have just left and they are heading home to Whyndham after being to the races in Dunedin to watch their horse run this afternoon. (Their horse didn't do any good, through a shoe and was aparently running around in circles LOL, their words not mine ). And then this afternoon we went to the Rodeo in Lawrence, which was fabulous, even if the kids did have more fun running around the bank playing with their friends.

So we have been busy. Even been in the woolshed shearing for about 5 days. Something I am utterely fed up with, a big money saver though specially with us shearing every 8 months instead of the yearly programe. (here they charge about $3.50 each for shearing a ewe, so for 100o sheep it is about $3500. So it is a big savings, especially if we are able to do it our selves. Now we have a break for about 2 months (unless DH has a brain explosion and wants to shear some lambs, which by the way, I have been flat out trying to talk him out of.)

This week is another busy one coming up. I have a hair cut on Tuesday which is so over due and then Thursday AJ is going to Mum and dads as she has been harping to go and stay on her own since before christmas. So on Friday I am having some me time in Dunedin. Bit of a scarey thought really as I am so use to having one or three kids with me, so I will be able to go in and look at clothes without the kids saying, "can we go now" "can we go and look at toys" etc etc. Not that I am buying anything. Going to look at make up though. Its been about 7 years since I last splashed out and brought some, and that was mascara before I went into hospital to have number one child. I have made a decission, in that I am going to start to look after me. I am busy running around after the kids and DH and I can't do that unless I look after number one first. (I remember Dr Phil saying all this when I had my feet up when I was pregnant with number one, so it has sunken in. Just taken a few more years than it should of LOL.) Even if it is just make up, it is something I've grown out of using and I am sure it will help me feel like I am treating my self IYKWIM? If I had nails I would love a mannicure as well, but they are broken down to about the cuticles. Maybe next time :).

Well I hope everyone is taking good care of them selves and having a little "me time".

PS only 4 more weeks till scrap retreat :)

Fantastic weekend, last weekend

2007-01-20T20:53:00.000+13:00

Wow, what a fantastic weekend last weekend. Well it was really Sunday. We had the arts and craft expo in Lawrence and I was on scrapbooking all day. We had quite a few people in and looking and comparing CM and our way. Managed to convert a few people and "gently steer" others in the right direction LOL. Had a few of my BTP projects there too that I had to borrow back off Mum and Dad. Found a lot more people around here that scrapbook and a few that are wanting to branch out from the CM. One lady even wants us to go to Dunedin for a day scrapbook shopping, how awesome would that be LOL. And too top the day off I met the amazing Lara Moss, her hubby and gorgeous wee son Ethan. I still haven't worked out how Ethan can eat a chocolate Ice cream and only get it on his face (if it were my kids they would have it all down their fronts, up their arms LOL). Lara, it was an absolute privilege to meet you. I cant wait for the scrap retreat. I've warned DH about the one in September too.
For the day I managed to get three layouts done, nothing spectacular but it gave people a chance to ask questions and plenty did which was brilliant.
This week has just been a blurr really. My Nana is down from the North Island (my mums mother). They called in on Sunday and stayed Sunday night and Monday night so it was awesome to get to spend some time with them and for the kids to get to know their North Island Nana. She heads home on Thursday out of Queenstown air port so I am going to head over Wednesday for a good bye and mum wants the boys to stay (so who is too argue with that aye!!!!). They are going for a look around Arrowtown and Queenstown before she flyies out.
Then for the rest of the week we were shearing. We brought some ewes and they had a few months of wool on so of course Lionel wanted to take it off LOL. We only finneshed this morning and then this afternoon we have been weaning drenching and vaccinating the hoggets. So I am about knackered tonight. Be nice having MIL and SIL here, good excuse for not doing too much :) They arrive on Monday about 10.00 and head back on Tuesday. Will be good to catch up with them and for MIL to see what we have done since she was last here. last time she was here we had the fire in the wall and now all the alterations are done (except for the decking).
Well I am off to bed now.
Remember
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. :)

Wow back again.

2007-01-04T20:59:00.000+13:00

Can't believe that I have been away for so long. I hope everyone had a fab Christmas and new year. Ours was very quiet with only Mum and Dad coming for Christmas. Was a fab day though, they gave the boys fishing rods and we went down the back fishing after lunch and after lots and lots of harping. Jake caught two and Olly caught one. Not big but certainly takeable LOL. Olly keeps telling us that he only got one but "IT WAS THE BIGGEST." LOL .

Our alterations are nearly finneshed. Just got tidying up to do around the windows on the outside with rough casting. The inside is all done, fire, hot water cylender, paper, carpet, curtains (Oh I am so thankful to the big red shed for them.) I got enough to do the big lounge and the new doors with curtain rails (three big sliding doors) two large windows for under $500. Luckily got in there when they had 40% off. Boy they look good too :) Now all we have to do is get the decking up. Luckily we brought alot of that with us and got the piles before new year for 50% off. Oh I love these bargins.

On the down side, the 22nd December I got tonsilitus really bad, had a chest infection, ear infection and all my glands were well and truely up. Put on 10 days antibiotics and thought I was right. Then yesterday I wasn't right again, so went back to the dr. More antibiotics. Hopefully this will sort it out. Apparently I might have to have them taken out eww, not looking forward to that if it happens so lets just hope the antibiotics help.

Just tried uploading photos and it won't let me so hopefully next time I can get some on. Till next time

What do you know?

2006-11-12T14:29:00.000+13:00

Well it is quite funny really. We moved down here four months ago, no family members around, didn't know a sole. We have made so many wonderful and very close friends already. But what is really strange, is that we have just discovered that me and one of my best friends here are related. I counldn't believe it. She had talked to her mother in law about me but had never mentioned my last name. One day she asked and Ally told her and she said "Oh I think we are related to them." Knock me over with a feather. I got my family tree out and sure enough, there they were, bold as brass LOL. Allys MIL gave me a book that she had done on the family tree and it has filled so many blanks in, lots of photos I didn't have and I have lots she didn't have. Of course it is only one branch but I think it is really unusual how we came back to where DH NZ roots started from. I've been doing the family tree for some time now and those of you that have done some know how time consuming it all can be. It is quite a funny feeling looking back and seeing family from 1785 and they didn't have birthdates back then. Just Christening dates.

When you see Abby and Rebecca (Allys daughter who is 6 months older than Abby) together it is uncanny. They are so alike it isn't funny, looks, mannerisms everything. Rebecca was also a twin and Alley had a miss-carriage at three months and they were going to do a D and C and did a scan first and realised that there was still a baby in there. Ally said to me, "the thought of three of them running around would be a tad scarey" certainly isn't wrong there LOL. Those of you who have a three year old going on 13 will understand that one LOL (Trina :) )

Enought of that. Yesterday there was a garden tour around here (6 gardens I think). I was going to go on it but someone asked me to help make pikelets and me being me said sure. There was only meant to be 70 odd people for afternoon tea. Starting at 1.00 we thought we would be wound up by 4 at the latest. 3.00 we were run off our feet and we got a phone call to say that there was 130 sold tickets and probably another 20 odd that were organising it. We made 10 batches of pikelets and there was much other food as well. Finally got to have a drink and put our feet up about 5.30 (and it wasn't a coffee either LOL). Was a great day and everyone seemed to enjoy it. met lots of new people which was really good. Finally got home about 7.00 and luckily Lionel had the kids fed and in the bath. They had a BBQ for tea, felt sorry for them though, as I never had any salads made up, or lettuce in the fridge. The kids loved it though. Well will leave you too it. All you NI who are away at scrap camp, I hope you had a fab time and I am so jealous of you all. Can't wait to see what you have been busy at. I hope there was a cricut there ;)

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

Photo update.

2006-11-05T20:02:00.000+13:00

I do appologise for not being on here more often. No real excuse either LOL. A fortnight ago, Mum and Dad came down and Dad brought his fly rod and we went for a little fish on the river (it boundaries our place by about 4ks). Well Dad was over the moon as he caught a 3 1/4lb on his first cast. Jake was in his element wanting to gut it and see what was in it. (Jake is right into that sort of thing, anything with blood and guts.) Unfortunately it was the only one caught but it was a perfect entree' for tea. Only down fall to it all is we have had Jake harping on and on about wanting to go down and try and catch another one LOL. We did go down the next day which wasn't as nice and had a picnic down there while Dad tried to get another one. Managed to get this adorable photo of Lionel and Jake. (one time Jake wasn't right behind grandad saying "can you see one yet Grandad, Granddddaaaadd.")

Also managed to get this lovely one of my mother and Abby. I had to laugh though on the Saturday the kids had their clothes off for a bit and played in the water walking across the other side and back. Well Olly got to the other side and stood on this little island thing and yelled out "there is something in the water and it's got fingers." We tried to reason with him telling him that it was just grass, because there was no way he was going to get back into the water. "No it's not, its brown." Yea brown grass, its dead. At this time Jake came back and said In a matter of fact voice, "its alright Olly, its just a drowned person." as if it happens every day. Olly jumped back "ewwww" It took a fair bit of convincing saying it wasn't and it was fairly hard to keep a straight face. Poor Gran had trouble controlling her self. Oh you have to love their imagination.
Well here is another photo of our dear daughter who is turning the big 3 years old tomorrow. Boy the time has flown, our sweet innocent wee girl, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth aye.

What a week

2006-10-21T21:30:00.000+13:00

What a week we have had. It didn't start very well at all. I had a phone call from one of the ladies at school. She had found out that her son had been bullying Jake. I couldn't believe it. What a gut wrenching thing to be told, all I could think of "was you poor little bugger." It happened at the last school too, by one boy and he turned out to be bullying just about all the kids there. Some of the stuff that he was doing (well there was actually more than the one boy in the end, he got his cousins and a brother in on it as well). The mother was so horrified and was so appologetic about it all. On further investigation we found out that it had been happening at school and on the bus. The bus driver and teacher knew about it and had taken action against it (well they called it action, made him stay in at playtime and lunch time that day). What I felt was so terrible was that no one had taken the time to contact either us or the other parents involved. If the parent of the bully hadn't found out accidentally then we would be none the wiser. I told the principal this and he said to me that they don't contact the parents with everything that goes on. As a parent would you want to know if your kid was being bullied, or if your kid was the bully? I know I sure would, and I know I am furious for not being told (as is the boys parents). If this kids parents hadn't been on to it, where could this have headed too.
This boys parents have been absolutely brilliant about it all, and couldn't do enough for us. The boy isn't allowed to go to school camp in a fortnight or participate in school activities for the next month or so. She even brought the boy around and made him come in on his own to appologise to Jake and to us as parents and told us to say what ever we felt appropriate, so long as we gave him a big telling off. The poor kid, I felt so sorry for him. He walked in shaking in his boots, I led him through and here is Lionel (All 6ft 4 inches of him) standing by the dining room table, must have been a daunting sight for this 10 year old. We let him appologise (and he really did appologise and appeared to be really remorseful) then it was out turn. Lionel backed off a bit from what he was going to say because he was a lot smaller than we envissaged. I told him what I thought and how dissapointed we were in the fact that we had only been here a little over three months, didn't know anyone, and it was a big enough move as it was, and the most courtiest thing he could of done was look after the boys and take them under his wing and show them the ropes not do what they were doing (some of it is too disgusting to even write in here). Well this all happened on Monday and I tell you what. We have a completely new boy, what a change. I don't know why we didn't pick it up, the signs were there (looking back). The worst thing was he even had told us (well not in so many words), but the hints were there. We are quite annoyed that we never picked up on it and are just so thankful that this boys parents have been so supportive of us and been "on to it" so to speak. They have taken action, they have made him face his responsibilities, made him face up to what he has done and really made him realise how it affects everyone. I just hope that it has been a big lesson for everyone.
Well on a lighter note, you should see my lounge. Oh it is devine. Had the carpet man in on Thursday and sorted out carpet, ordering wall paper on Tuesday, picking up curtains on Tuesday and their tracks (got them from the Warehouse on special, whooooo I love specials LOL 40% off). Fire is going in this week and the new hot water cylender (The old one is 43 years old LOL) and we are changing places with it so it can get hooked up to the fire and the old cupboard is being used as a storage cupboard for scrapbooking stuff Yayyyy. Then (hopefully) the week after the new doors are going in cieling styple coated, then wall paper and carpet, then all we have to do is the two deckings LOL. Sound easy? Phew sounds exhausting lol. Will keep you informed

Remember'. Don't argue with an idiot. People watching might not be able to tell the difference

It is snowing.

2006-10-10T14:25:00.000+13:00

I can't believe it. This morning we woke to the sight of snow. Oh those poor wee lambies. There was probably about two or three inches and it has come and gone a bit during the day. The worst part is DH is away in the car (yes we only have one car) and I have to go and pick the boys up on the motorbike. Not a pleasing thought I tell you. At the moment I am actually procrastinating. I should be stripping wall paper, it has to be done by Thursday and it isn't going well at all. There is four layers, the top two aren't too bad, well probably top three really but the bottom layer is a real nightmare. I am using warm soapy water so hopefully I will get there.

Finally managed to get a photo onto here. This is Jake standing on the inside of the whole fire set up. Actually standing on the inside of the yunca. Now this is all gone and the door to the right. I will endevour to get more photos and get them up here.
Till later here is a question for you to ponder. Why does your nose run and your feet smell? Or what if your scared half to death twice?

What a mess our place is in

2006-10-01T20:31:00.001+13:00

You should see our house (actually I am pleased no one can, although I am trying for the fourth time to upload photos to show you. Grrr). The builder arrived last Wednesday after ringing Tuesday night about 9.00. Luckily we'd been to central the day before and picked up Jake and left the other two so only had one child here. By the end of the first day the whole wall was out, both fires gone and a bloody mess left behind LOL. the next day things didn't look like they had changed at all, but the plumbing was sorted and Friday we had more lights in a cleanish house, although there is some nooks and crannies that has soot hidden but the wall paper is coming out carpet up and a couple of external doors in yet so there is going to be a bigger mess yet, oh how am I going to cope LOL. We called in and saw the people that are making our doors and have changed them a bit. Originally the plans that they had drawn up had three sections of sliding doors with the door only being 860 wide. I wanted bigger ones for the front any way. So we went and saw them. Now we are having stacking doors along the front that will have a 1.7m opening (just huge). These will look great when they are in and the decking done. Along the back though, we are only having a normal sliding door that opens half of is which equates to about 1.2m. Still a nice big opening though. Specially when it is all done LOL.

We now have all the kids home and they think our new space is brilliant, although the hole in the floor has become to tempting for Abby who thinks it would be a great hiding place LOL. Managed to talk her out of going down there. With the builder here and him having some great ideas that Lionel agrees with, the project will probably drag out a little more to (which I am delighted about by the way). Be nice to have something finneshed properly for a change. Looking forward to getting it all done though. :)

We have the concrete pad done for the new fire and the builder has leveled the floor with a small concrete pad where the old fires were. The wall paper is off the dining room wall and the ceiling is gibstopped once for the stipple coating (still needing another coat though) and now I have to get the paper off the lounge wall before Tuesday when the builder is back to gibstop, tile the hearth (yummo). Then he comes back to do the fire and Hot water cylender and the ceiling will be done after the doors are in incase there is problems. (which should be about two or three weeks, if we are lucky).

Well enough of my household plans.

I hope everyone has had a great school holidays, hard to believe that they are nearly over with already. Won't next week be a quite one in comparison?

Sorry Blogger won't let me upload photos, hopefully next time

Remember :- even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

Sick kids

2006-09-22T19:59:00.000+12:00

Oh how typical, school holidays strike and what happens "sick kids". It is a really bad one going around here at the moment. Tuesday the senior class usually has 22 kids and there was only 4 in class. Jake managed to pick it up last Thursday and didn't eat for 5 days. He is better now but just lacking energy. Monday his teacher said not to send him back this term as so many have and they just haven't the energy and they get it back again. So atm Jake has gone back to Central with my mother. She came over on Wednesday to baby sit the kids while DH and I went and saw Georgie and Caroline Ever-Swindell at a function. It was a great night actually and they spoke extremely well and are so down to earth like you wouldn't believe. And I forgot my camera how disasterous was that, to be honnest I think DH hid it on me LOL.
Any way Oliver and Abby now have it and are just lying around and sleeping. Luckily they aren't as bad as Jake was, they are eating a little, but it is a worry for the little ones.
Went to Dunedin yesterday as we had to go and pick up our new fire. Even managed to get some scrapbook shopping in LOL. Just happens that the shop is not far from Mc D's so I talked DH into going there with the kids just while I popped down for a wee look LOL. Managed to look a little and buy a lot though. :) Didn't do much else while there, just groceries and the fire. Now all we need is our builder to get his a into g and get here. Sometimes I wonder if he will be here by Christmas, was meant to be about three or four weeks ago, then it was a fortnight, now we are still waiting.
Not much else happening around here at the moment, been tailing and our hoggets (one year old sheep) have just started lambing. And of course been on the farm tiding up and doing fencing agghhhhh.
Well till next time remember
Characters live to be noticed. People with character notice how they live.

I am still living LOL

2006-09-08T21:02:00.000+12:00

Yes I am still alive. :) I do appologise for not being on here more regular. My computer screen broke down and it has just been fixed, and we have been busy too.
Well Oliver has turned the big 5 and is at school. It is really strange only having one at home, feels like we are rattling around sometimes. Abby is quite lost at times as well, other times she is loving it IYKWIM. Olly had a birthday party the weekend before his birthday and he had alot of his wee friends around. I decided that we would have it in the morning instead of the afternoon. Lionel was quite pleased about that as he thought everyone would be gone by lunch and we could do some work in the afternoon. WRONG. Most people ended up staying till about 6.00 that night, but it was a excelent day LOL. Olly thought it was just wonderful and because his birthday was on the Wednesday we could do it all again. Not a bad idea, but he was just thinking of all the presents and the lollies, fizz etc LOL.
Been busy outside here, started staining the fences and I spent two hours doing very little. I'm not sure on the colour but decided that it will have to do as I am not spending another two hours going over the little bit I have just done. Its the thought of about a week plus on the fences left to do (that is if I don't water blast them, which I think they really need, but I am steadily talking my self out of it).
We also tried putting the house on fire about 4 weeks ago. Well we didn't try really, but boy we were lucky. Some how a fire started in the wall cavity of the open fire and when we came back there was this big burnt hole in the wall above the fire. A builder came and looked at it and couldn't believe that the whole house didn't go. Something that I would absolutely dread, imagine loosing all those scrap albums, the scrap supplies (Ohhhhh I would of cried over all that). I wouldn't of been worried about anything else, as it could all be replaced, although I was told by a dear friend (No names mentioned LOL) that I would have to take my camera so that I could get a photo of the house burning LOL. Would of made a great layout LOL.
We have about 900 ewes lambed and hope to start tailing next week, weather permitting. The next lot are due to start lambing on the 20th September then the last mob starts about the 7th october, so this year it is quite spread out, which has worked out really well as there won't be as much pressure on us for the tailing and if the weather is bad there is less lambs affected by it IYKWIM.
Well that is about it from this end of the country for the time being. I will be back soon, and remember "time may be a great healer but it's a lousy beautician."

New friends

2006-07-29T21:24:00.000+12:00

Allo allo. Well another great week has just passed us by.
Olly has been at school two mornings this week on school visits and he is just loving it. On Tuesday I stayed with him (he is only there for an hour and a half) and I made a retreat to the staff room and had a cuppa. Oliver decided that he should be staying for morning tea, so we made a pact. If he went on the school bus he could take his lunch box and have morning tea there. (for some reason he didn't want to go on the bus). This really pleased him and and I can tell you that those three nights before he went back to school were extemely long. He would harp and harp wanting to go every hour of everyday. LOL. We went out to the bus and Jake was schooling him up on what to say etc when the teacher asked him if he was here. It was so cute listening to it all. The bus pulled up and he was out of the car and and into the bus that quick. Any way I turned up at school about quarter to eleven and Olly did a runner LOL. He shot into his class room and came running out with his new book bag and he was so excited as he had a reading book LOL. Apparently he even read it to everyone in the class. That night when Gran rang he was telling her about this book but couldn't find it so what did Olly do "I will read it to you Gran, but I don't have it so I will just read it cause I can remember it". Will have to scrap that one ;).
On Thursday we had Jakes cross country. It was only about quarter of an hour away which was great. After about half an hour of being there the weather turned and it got quite wet. Luckily we could go after the kids raced and with Jake only being 6, his race was second so we were out of there pretty quick smart. Poor kids though, they were wet through to their skin. Wee Abby just looked like a drowned rat, I didn't get a photo of her like that though unfortunately (I didn't want to get the camera wet)LOL. I did get a photo of Jake with his new wee friend though, and unfortunately blogger won't let me upload it at the moment. I will when it lets me.
We are still busy shearing and I have to admit, my muscles are feeling a whole lot better. (Donna, I hope your legs are feeling better).We are just doing the two runs though, so that takes the pressure off completely. Scanning on Tuesday afternoon so that will be another busy busy afternoon for us (starting about 3.30) and have 1200 odd to do, lets hope they run well.
Well take care and hopefully I am able to upload photos next time.

I have been scrapping :)

2006-07-25T20:00:00.000+12:00

Yes I have been scrapping. Can you believe it? I know a few of you will be surprised. (you can pick yourself up off the floor now Sharee).

Had another busy week here. Still mucking around getting rooms sorted out. Been working on the sleep out. There is still stuff left by the previous owners who are coming to get it all soon (hopefully). The carpets are an absolute disgrace and I am going to rip them out. It looks like there has been moths in there and they have laid their eggs and they have hatched into lava. They have been eating the carpet ewwwwwwwww. So my plan is to rip them paint the floor (it is concrete and has underfloor heating) and get a nice rug. Good plan?

Started shearing yesterday and boy it is hard getting back into it. It is the first time that we have done full wool for probably 7 years. This morning by legs felt it I tell you. Felt like a wound up rubber band and if I bent over the muscles would break LOL. But by the end of it I will be fine. So two days down and 7 more to go, ahhhh. Luckily we are just doing two runs (four hours) a day so that we can get animals fed and other things done on the farm, also doing it that way the kids don't get sick of it, well that is the plan.

Tomorrow we have playgroup, then on Thursday Jake has his first cross country down here. Must remember to take my camera, it has had very little use.

I will get a copy of my layout up for next time after I have scanned it.
Well take care everyone. Till next time

First day at Playgroup.

2006-07-19T20:22:00.000+12:00

Today was our first day at playgroup in the big smoke of Waitahuna and we all had a ball. Bit daunting going in there not knowing a single sole though, but came out feeling like I have been there all my life. Forgot to take my camera so must grab it next time and get a few photos. The day wasn't much so the kids spent most of their time inside at the tables and in the kids kitchen. At our last playgroup it was held at the school but here there is a building on the domain that is all thiers and it is wonderful. Everthing can be left set up and there is this fenced in piece outside with a sandpit and all these outside bikes. Even sat at the window and watched a rabbit come up to the building then hop away when 15 little faces went up to the window to watch it LOL. Must have been scared to death poor thing.
Tomorrow Olly starts his school visits for school. He is really looking forward to that. Jake is a bit annoyed about it as he wanted to go on the bus, but because Olly doesn't want to then we are going by car (all of about 7 or 8 ks LOL). Olly starts off with an hour each day for two days a week then builds it up by half an hour each week, so when he is five he is doing the whole day. It is a great concept and one I think I will enjoy more when he is going for the whole day LOL.
Haven't been doing much else around the house the last couple of days. Did manage to spend Monday baking while Lionel was back at our old place getting the last of our gear (that is another story). Did banana choc chip muffins, my big batch of biscuits (that does over 100 biscuits) double batch of ginger nuts, double batch afghans, and double batch of belgium square. The muffins have gone already though :(. And before you ask I only had one minni one RAFLMAO.
Now the story about Lionel going back. Well officially you have 30 days to get all your gear out which for us is another 10 days, but last week Lionel rang the dutchman and said that the truck couldn't come this week and it would be next week (just out of courtisy) and he said that is fine, take as long as you need (something he has always said from the start). We got a phone call from Lionels brother on Saturday to say that he was throwing all our trailers ect on a big scrap pile, so Lionel rang, he said everything was fine. So up on Monday Lionel goes to load the big transport truck and makes sure everthing goes on (like the old Mazda for the kids, trailers etc). He gets there and there is this pile of fencing stuff that he has pulled out and alot of our gear on it. He'd trown our motorbike trailer and crate out, three big half moon sheds, pig shed (all insulated), two large coppers and numerous other things on this pile that are unsalvageable. Stuff that could probably add up to alot of money. They managed to save the trailer, the crate is a bit worse for wear but we are going to have to get it straightened. Aparently he even had our no tramp woolpress on that costs about $8000 to replace. Gulp. So as you can imagine there were a few words said and the Dutchmans reply was "I from Holand, I not understand." Didn't go down well I tell you, but we got a bit of stuff back and alot that we couldn't salvage if we wanted. It is good to know that we don't have to go back for anything now. When we go back it is to see our friends.
Well I will leave you with that and hopefully I will be back soon. Take care and be careful :)

Back, I'm back online and the connection has stayed connected for more than 5 minutes :)

2006-07-15T20:47:00.000+12:00

Well I have just sent emails out to all my belove'd friends and online friends. We were going to be canceling our internet as I have had so much trouble with it staying connected. But tonight it hasn't been too bad so I will probably be still in the cyber world :)
Things are going so well here and we are just absolutely loving it. My parents came down today (they have just been up north while we shifted and got back two days ago) since they have been here we have pulled out all the trees in the garden (the house would get no sun because of them) hope to get photos up next time I am on. Sorry won't be any of my gorgeous kitchen though, sorry to dissapoint some of you RAFLMAO. Kids are loving it too. Jake starts his new school on Monday which he is looking forward too and Olly will probably start school visits the week after. That will be good for Jake too.
Well till next time take care and make the most of your internet :) I know what you mean Donna, it isn't until you hear how bad someone elses connection is that you appreciate your own. I use to moan about my broadband sometimes when it slowed down, now I realise how lucky I was. Just have to win Lotto and get the wireless :)

Back on line

2006-07-08T21:39:00.000+12:00

Well finally I am back into the cyber world. Sorry it has taken so long (for those of you complaining RAFLMAO, and you know who you are). We are getting organised slowly. I am really pleased that there is two lounges here as everything has been dumped into one and I am slowly working my way through it. To make it worse the people that had this place before hand still use the sleep out so I can't get the double bed and all the guff that belongs out there away. Hopefully it won't take long and I can get it all done. We are heading back up to the old farm to do a final clear out, probably monday. The last truckload will be out of there. That will be exciting. Nice thought not having to head back up to clean or get more gear and we can concentrate on this house and farm, getting it the way we want it.
As you can imagine I have done no scrapbooking at all. I hope to change that very soon, after seeing so many of my online friends work has really got the creative juices flowing and wanting to come out.
To make things worse I can't get broadband here and the thought of spending $700 on wireless does absolutely nothing for me IYKWIM so I have to put up with dial up so things are very slow here.
I am off to sort out more boxes. Till next time take care.

Good bye Old home

2006-06-27T22:21:00.000+12:00

We are nearly away. Have most of the packing done. Notice I said most of and not all. We did a big load down today and are taking freezers etc tomorrow. The computer is coming to pieces tonight so I thought I should shoot on here and update everyone before I loose contact with all of you. Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes, it truely was the best birthday ever LOL.
Lara it would be absolutely brilliant to meet you, I have sent a email. :) That is one thing I love about our scrapbooking community, everyone is so wonderfully friendly and I actually feel like I know you all personally even though I haven't met one of you. That is something that I will have to rectify one way or another IYKWIM. Maybe a scrapcamp or two somewhere :).
Till I am back on line. Take care everyone and keep scrapping :)