I should post...

about Christmas before I forget!

We had a great day - didn't start too early, 6.30am which is about normal time for my girls. There was great excitement from Bethany over her Santa presents "just what i wanted" was the exclamation. Funnily enough it WASNT what she was wanting lol. But the desired Barbie ipod toy thing wasn't mentioned all day and hasnt been since! She gave me the biggest hug when she opened her Polly Pocket Jumbo Jet. She played with it a lot on the day and yesterday, but not much since. But I know over time she'll use it heaps, she just loves Pollys. In fact, she scored more today - they got a gift card from Myer from their cousin and she chose more Pollys. I'm happy with that choice though. Mia didn't score, there was nothing there that Mia would really use that was a good price. They both scored some cute denim overalls today too.

Back to Christmas...

Mia was also very happy with her baby and she has given lots of cuddles to her. My little Mummy lol. They also both LOVE their trampoline and we are very happy with it. It's so safe I have no worries about them being on it. It's given my pelvic floor muscles a workout :o LOL TMI sorry.

MIL bought them a plastic cubby house which again was well received. B got a beauty case full of goodies from Mum etc and Mia got a 3 wheel baby pram. Again both loved. My bro did a good choice with all his presents too - other than both the girls things were battery operated! We did well with batteries though, a few remain battery less lol.

A good day was had, minimal stress but tiring at the end. Girls were really well behaved, have slept well since etc.

B is at mum's tonight, has been gone 4 hours or so already, feels like ages.

I am going in to the shop tomorrow to scrap, just some time out for me before jamie gets busy again.

Thats it for now...

TTFN

Introducing...

Bottletop Bill and his best friend Corky :) Well not really lol, but B made these with sausages the other night at tea time and I said it looked like Corky, so then she made Bottletop Bill. But in this photo he has lost his head LOL. She played with them all night and i took them from her room before they went off and disappeared!

Some more pics to share...

I made this bottle holder for some Irish Cream that I made. Some for us and some for a gift :)

Getting ready for our last dance lesson last Saturday, I tried to get some pics. This is what happened. Hehe

And look what just landed on my doorstep. I have been getting Sissey kits for 6 months now and I am very impressed. I think they are great value for money, mind you i've never sat down and tried to figure out what the value is. They are a lovely mix of products and I am especially impressed with the December kit. I already have a project in mind for the papers :) Can't upload the pic of the pp but they are lush and I am off to hunt down more :)

TTFN

Stuff...

so much going on as usual. Not just Christmas...

CANCER
Horrid word isn't it, and so much of it around. My bestie lives in the USA, we met in 1993 and we last saw each other in 1997, she came over for our wedding :) Her DH has rectal cancer and in an hours time is having surgery. He has been through radiation and strong chemo, which have had a great result and today they are removing what is left of the tumour. Read here for their story. It's been really hard being so far away, knowing S is struggling with all that it involves and still having to function, while watching her man go through that. I would have done anything to be there IRL for her :( Made me realise again just how hard it is to be so far away and not share the day to day stuff.

Also, a good friends Mum has just had a not great diagnosis with a brain tumour. I won't say more her cause their story isn't on the www so not my place to put it there! But they know our prayers are with them.

CHRISTMAS
is coming lol. We wrapped all the girls presents yesterday and I am proud of myself cause I don't feel like i went overboard. The trampoline is in the state! Yay, and it should arrive in Lton today and Jamie will pick it up this week.

I finished his mini album yesterday, with my new Bind It All. Man thats a nifty machine! I love it, so easy. I laminated all the pages and some were a bit wonky! Oh well lol, its done. I just need to finish the trees for the table and then make cards for the girls and Jamie. Other than that its really just Christmas cooking to do.

STUFF
Girls are great - both have had viruses in the last few days but just temps. Jamie has only Burnie Carols this Sunday and thats work done. We have a busy week with getting friends moved house, and church leaders BBQ on Saturday night which will be funner than the last BBQ where it poured! At least with this one we can go inside.

Thats it for today, I have pics to share but we are taking the girls to the Gorge for a swim this morning so need to get moving.

TTFN

Some pics...

Sand Art Brownies - made for playgroup hamper and was impressive LOL


Playdough, 4 made this morning and lots more to go!


A Santa album. I got inspired when Dee posted hers the other night. I have a peace one half done and a tree one to do. These are super easy and look great!


These next two are some roses on my bench. :) they came from my front garden and they are lovely. Very proud of them but can't claim any credit cause I barely do anything for them, they just grow themselves lol.

Inspired by...

Trying to fill the EB void I've been blog hopping a bit more. I don't normally visit blogs of the more well known scrappers, but I have been cruising around a bit to see what's out there. But there is one particular blog that has been inspiring me and that is Mel Goodsell. Not only is Mel a talented lady but she is lovely, well is in emails lol. She offered to buy me some hooks that I saw in a pic on her blog, - I emailed her to find out where she got them as they were something I was trying to find for my girls. She offered to go and buy them for me, it didn't happen as the shop were sold out, but that is just lovely to offer that to a complete stranger. And she lives in the same state, so she must be good!!! Mel is doing 25 days of Christmas craft, and i've got a few ideas from her.

I must take some pics today of all the things I've done for Christmas presents, I'm in the middle of making about 12 batches of playdough :o Nice easy pressie for kids though.

Better run...

TTFN

Howdy...

well, whats going on. Seems like a super busy weekend. I'd just love a day to sit, and be by myself.

I have a shocking head and back atm, had a massage last night, left covered in bruising from cupping and sore! To be expected cause it was crap prior! Don't know why its been so bad. Horrid. Anyway, had an amazing nights sleep after i got warm. Had to wear winter pj's and and socks and 2 heat packs cause I couldn't warm up. The cupping does that to me. Don't think I woke all night, Jamie slept downstairs when he came home and the girls slept in from a late night. I think thats partly why i feel so bad today too, want more lol.

I read something that really clicked with me on friday. It was talking about personal life goals, and assessing all activities as how they fit in to achieving your life goals. It made so much sense to me in terms of my computer time. Really even blogging doesn't directly help me achieve my life goals, but I am feeling like blogging a lot at the moment, to get my thoughts out and perhaps bring some order.

Christmas crazies... can't believe its mid december nearly. And I thought I was organised lol but in reality I'm not! Because the main present is still in Melbourne. So tomorrows first job is to arrange for the Springfree tramp to make its way across water. Plus decide on the other few pressies.

Tomorrow is the Christmas Party at playcentre for Bethany, will be fun. Jamie is coming and so is Grandma. Should be fun. They have been practicing and cooking but we haven't been told what!

We had lunch up at Grindelwald today - the food was bad, but we had fun on Tasmania's largest jumping pillow! It is really fun, you jump VERY high when there are a few people on it.

Best run, BBQ church tonight although the weather is looking bad. We aren't taking a BBQ, just sangers for the girlies, and some fruit and stuff and we will eat when we get home. Couldn't face packing it all up with no help - but thats another VENT grrr. LOL

TTFN

To die for...

I love peppermint. Love love love mint aero's. Dove peppermint is OK too. But I just made this today... and just sampled a piece! I am being very domesticated and making Christmas gifts and this was part of it. The recipe is from here - yes I know, I know, i've left there. But one can still lurk in non-member areas! And credit where credit is due and all that :p

Peppermint Christmas Rolls

Ingredients
1 packet chocolate ripple biscuits
1 family block of mint crisp chocolate or 3 peppermint crisp bars. (i'm also going to try one using cherry ripes, i think it would work well)
1/2 cup glace cherries (i also substitute marshmallows, as kids dont like the cherries
1/2 can condensed milk
2oz melted butter
Coconut

Method
1. Crush biscuits, cut chocolate into small pieces, chop cherries, melt butter.
2. Mix all ingredients together.
3. Form into 2 large or 4 small logs.
4. Coat in coconut and wrap individually in foil (just like you would roll pastry around sausage rolls). Place in the fridge.
5. Cut into small pieces when you are ready to serve.

You can double the quantities so as to use a whole tin of milk and 1 pkt of cherries so they don't go to waste.

I used marshmallows - the mini ones and didn't chop them. I doubled the recipe as who can be fagged measuring half a tin of condensed milk. Anyhoo, very very easy and very very yummy. Word of warning - does look like poo when you roll it out :O as described by Bethany lol.

TTFN

Personal Challenges Part 2

Seems perhaps I am not the only one going through some internal challenges!

At life group this am, one of the girls bought up something to challenge us all with. It is farrrrrrrrr to personal to share here right now, but another thing to work on.

I bought a book yesterday called Smart Organising. I think its going to be of great benefit to me. Some parts of it have already really connected with me and so I believe it could change the dynamics of this house. Just have to apply it lol.

Here's a big change for me - I no longer exist on EB. Not quite true, my past is still there but not my future. Why? a few have asked me... and its really a combination of a lot of things. Its not somewhere I want to fritter away my life, and its very easy to do there. Esp when there is some controversy going on. The friends have made through there are now friends away from there. I have felt for a while i needed to leave, tried to decrease time by logging out but that didn't really help either. Like any addiction you need to replace it with something else, not sure what that is yet lol.

Anyhoo TTFN

Personal Challenges

I've been feeling challenged in a lot of areas of late. One significant one being the state of my house. It's been building for a while (the feeling not the house lol) and its getting to the point of can't ignore any longer.

I grew up in a house where there was very little order, a lot of clutter etc. Funny cause my Grandma was a lady of order, washing on Mondays, ironing on Tuesdays etc. Mum was never like that. Still isn't. So I grew up with a very unstructured view to looking after the house. In actual fact, I probably didn't have a view on housekeeping lol. The first house we lived in was Jamie's Mums and it was quite small, easy to keep clean but I've never been one for the spring cleaning etc. our house now is overflowing with STUFF, too much STUFF plus people but not too many of them :p And our house isnt that big lol. About to be bigger thankfully and storage will be so much better.

Anyhootle, I learnt to put away after myself in the kitchen but its an ongoing battle. I guess with the girls, I get distracted and stuff gets half done or I'm too tired and don't tidy up properly. Plus Jamie is a hoarder and very untidy - there is LITTLE hope for our girls lol. So I've been feeling challenged on how to get things under control.

Mia is a funny girl. It's just her and I home today, B is at daycare. For the last 30min or so she's been pushing Eddie around in the pram with a handbag, now she has my next years diary too! She certainly knows what she wants. After her sleep, she plonked herself on her fold out couch and pointed at the TV, wanting Hi Five. And when it ended, cried cause I wouldn't put it on again :p

Better go and finish unpacking the half unpacked dishwasher hehe.

TTFN

Once again...

far too long. And it's not because I don't think about blogging, I do, I just don't actually sit here and do it. So there is a lot to say.

Last post included Bethany's trip to hospital. Her cut has healed very very well. I think it will be barely visible. We have had it reviewed and the plastics reg was very happy with it :)

Bethany is doing well. She would so benefit from going to school next year but that is not meant to be :( She has had her dancing concert which was very cute, no pics to post :( It was a long arvo, hot in the theatre with 2 girls sitting on my knee :s Jamie's Mum and Byron came to watch which was great as Mum was away and so was Jamie. I have put her name down for ballet next year, will see about that. It just seems to fit better as we can't do Saturdays at the same school next year, so we might try something more formal. I can't believe she is nearly 4. Where has that time gone? She really is a delight, but is quite cheeky and defiant at times. She's very excited about Christmas. I think she will love her presents.

Mia is also doing well. She's a lovely little thing, but knows what she does and doesn't want and can turn the tears on quickly. She is slowly starting to talk, but still a lot of grunting goes on. Rather successfully though I might add, she can get her point across. It will be nice when she can talk properly, or at least enough to not grunt anymore.

Me - well... i'm feeling quite tired, run down and considerably stressed. I don't have a lot of patience at the moment. Finding it hard when Jamie is away for days. Its the hardest its ever been really. Just so constant now with B not sleeping in the day and a lot of nights she takes a while to go to sleep. Add in all the rest of it and I want a holiday. I'd be taking myself on one too but I sleep so badly when I go away. It's not that I don't want to be here, its just so tiring at times. My back and neck have been sooooooo sore. I've had 2 massages recently with no real relief. I dont' know why it's so bad. I have another on Saturday so hoping that will help. Drugs in the mean time ;)

I've started working at a scrap shop, actually its called The Scrap Shop. Its fun so far lol. Very relaxed and nice, gives me something for me to do. I'm saving the $$ for our QLD holiday that I plan to book on Christmas day! Have to think about when in the next 3 weeks then I guess! I wonder if we should go before Mia's birthday, that would save some $$. But seems too soon to be happening before March 20.

Our extension plans are well underway. We have the plans and are now looking for quotes. Had one builder in today and he was really nice. Very odd how he even came to be quoting. I had written some numbers down out of the phone book. I didn't write his name and number down, but accidently wrote his number down next to someone elses name. So rang him, looking for someone else. He was very very nice and I felt this overwhelming urge that i needed to call him back. So time will tell. Scary to think about all that has to happen between now and starting to actually build the thing.

Well thats it for now

TTFN

Cuts, grazes and sniffing the laundry powder...

what a week it has been!

Sunday night B was running down to her bed and tripped, cutting her head open on the heater that was in the hallway. It was deep, nearly 1 inch long and bled A LOT. Mum came round to stay with M who was asleep (and stayed that way LOL). While we went to the ED. Thankfully we got to see the Plastics Reg who did a great job of stitching her up. He did internal dissolving stitches which is great. She was ever so brave, other than the slight (:p) fuss she made when having the needles for the local and the sedation up her nose. OK so not a slight fuss, a major major fuss with all sorts of people looking into the room with great consternation. One would have thought we were removing each toe nail piece at a time. Once the sedation got working, she was much happier and quite funny! She also got to use a special space mask blowing lovely happy gas into her. She was with the fairies for a while which was great as she has no recollection of the actual stitching. When he did the local the bleeding started and it was even more that time. I know heads bleed but seriously there was pools of the stuff. Thankfully it didn't worry B that much. J was another story on that front lol. Before we left home i had to tell him to lay on the floor in case he fainted!!!

So that was Sunday night. Home with very little pain but a drunk girl hehe. Monday she fell over and grazed her knee quite badly and then later that night she sniffed laundry powder up her nose.... arrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhh

We were about over it by then lol. All's well though. Her head looks great and just waiting for a follow up.

My news... I start a new job this week and i think i am going to teach myself how to face paint! Thought it might be a interesting thing to learn and lets face it I have plenty of willing faces to practise on!

TTFN

So proud of my girl...

Bethany that is :) We went to Mum's this morning. She had some friends there, one of who is a retired school teacher who taught kinder/prep age literacy. She was talking about teaching B to read and write and some suggestions. Bethany then started writing the alphabet. When she had done it she took it round to show V who then started asking her about each letter "what is a for?" etc. They get to X.

V: what is x for?
B: x is for xylophone

Awwwwwwwww me so proud :p what a clever chickie!!! Of course I know why she knows that and its not anything to do with me! We have a book called "K is for Kissing a Cool Kangaroo", a rhyming book that goes through all the letters of the alphabet. And of course "x is for xylophone, now don't ask me why!" I think V was impressed too! Don't know how far i want to go with teaching her too much, don't want her to be bored when she actually gets to school lol.

TTFN

You know its been a long time...

when you have to sign in again lol. Ahhh thems the breaks me thinks!

So a lot to update really.

The wonderful Miss Dee graced us with her presence last weekend. It was great! She fitted in to our family very well! Girls loved having her here as much as I did. She came for the KSK retreat, but we only went Friday night lol. That was enough really. Was cool to scrap with a friend. Cat et al came up, so B and Tabby renewed their acquaintance again - very loudly! Funny chooks they were! So we had tea out with them Sat night after visiting KP and then they came here Sunday am for lunch. We showed Dee the exciting sights of Launceston, the Gorge, Seaport etc. Visited both LSS's which was interesting to say the least! But more on that down the track I guess! All in all was great having Dee here - pretty cool she would come all this way to see us! MWAH

TSC - busy busy busy. J has had a crazy weekend with all sorts of jobs on all over the state! The rest of the month has been quiet so good really. New truck is here and has been out on jobs. And it now fits at the warehouse - oh what a dilemma that was lol. Only with J!

Girls - good. Our FDC has been in London for 3 weeks. Back Monday and I am counting the days. Was doing well until this week but very much need a break to do some stuff.

Hmmmm what else... there must be more...

I guess some pics. Last week I did 5 LOs :O one of them is not finished (just the journalling) haven't pic'd it yet. And went to post one and can't find it lol. OH well wasn't that exciting, was only about me. Oh and there is another i did last week but that is going elsewhere hehe.







Miss Mia got her face in Scrapbook Creations this month!!! Courtesy of Dee! Looks great love it!

thats all - determined to have an early night

TTFN

Slacker...

yes I know. Its just there's not a lot to say! Life is ticking along. Dee is coming this weekend! Yay. So big clean up effort on downstairs. Been tidying my scrap stuff and working on DH for a clip it up, but he's not keen lol. Says i have no where to put it! That's becuase i have so much crap that could hang on the dang thing!

Couple of mentions

Dee - thanks for the LO of Miss Mia in Oct SC. Its great!

Sharon - wow fancy tomorrow being your babies birthday. That has gone quick although probably not for you!

BBL

TTFN

Well...

theres 36 hours i can never get back. What a strange turn of events. I was blindsided, although i did have an inkling the other night, like a sense of warning. Disgusting though. But onwards and upwards - better things for all.

Scrapping...

I scrapped yesterday! YAY me. Want to do some more for some nice pics i have.

But here it is. I love these papers but find them hard to use. The September Sissey kit also had them in it with some Cherry Arte and some lush embellies.

It's been a while...

so should spend some time updating.

The dummy situation
We are now a dummy free house! It's all gone quite well, a few tears here and there and she still asks for it now and then but laughs when she realises what a duffa she is cause she just doesn't have it anymore! Going to sleep has been a bit of an issue but is resolving now. No night time wake ups asking for it, so my big girl has done really well. No sticker chart atm for night wakings either, so all going well on that front.

Mia
well Miss Mia is a funny child, I think she's going through some separation anxiety atm, but it is only intermittent. Last two days at FDC have begun in tears. She's particularly like it with Jamie, he has been away a lot though. Lots of bedtime tears, and even some night waking which is so unlike her. 4 eye teeth making their presence felt too i think. Still no permanent walking, but is doing more and getting better. Speech - still nothing huge. Attempting but no more real words.

Some photos
I took the girls down to the river on Saturday night to get some pics. We were about 10min late for the sun, but still managed to get some good pics. I am happy with the composition but the colours are out. I need to figure out PS - doing a PSE course on Sunday so that might help.

Blogger playing up so will edit to add later

Health and wellbeing in our house
Well 2 out of 4 are well! Mia has a snotty nose (yes so whats new) and I have another cold. Feeling a bit yukko so might have a snooze this arvy seeing the house is clean and kidlets aren't here! I do want to scrap though - got a few pics that need to be glued to a page :p I am really feeling the need to scrap, but its frustrating me to have to pack up all the time.

Oh big news! WE have engaged the draftsman (lady actualyy :p) to do the plans!!!! How exciting. I am in a dilemma though. Theoretically I should scrap the dream for a scrap room so we can have a walk in robe. I really do think a WIR would make a lot of difference but then I really want my own space. See techinically i could scrap downstairs. Once the playroom is done, a lot of downstairs will be empty and there will even be the old laundry. But that won't be easy for a lot more years just to duck down there and do stuff. I want it close by. And my new space will be right near the playroom so that is convenient. Arggggggggh too hard, but i will talk to the designer and see if we can fit both. Even if we just have a wider than normal wardrobe for a bit of extra space in there. It's so exciting, to think we might even get the deck done soon - be so nice to have it before christmas! Doubt it though. Cutting it too fine with council approval. But i'd love to have christmas lunch out there, but even if it was before B's bday Jan 22 that would be cool for a BBQ.

TTFN

She's asleep...

yay. Sometime before 9.30, so that's pretty good. I think most nights she didn't actually have it in the night, so I hope we have a good one. 10pm though and I should be in bed. I say it every night. Doesn't happen and no good reason why...

I feel so bad...

we have finally dumped the dummy. It had to happen I mean the child is 3yr 9mth nearly. She happily dumped them in the bin this morning and was going to suck her thumb. All is fine until she gets in to bed tonight. The screaming and yelling started and last about 30min. Then she settles and I tell her she can play. That was about 7.30 - well its now 9.05 and she's still awake. THE POOR KID DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO GO TO SLEEP WITHOUT ONE. I feel so bad for letting it go on this long. It should have gone a long time ago. Dunno when she is going to crash. I hope it is soon cause I am whacked and need to go to bed myself. Poor girl, she loved that dummy. I feel guilty cause she really could have kept it, it did no harm. More of a social thing I guess - not to have it. Mia is dependant on Eddie, but we won't take him from her will we.

A LO I did today. I did this and a really plain boring double with the pics from Mia's hives.

Sharing some pics

Well i've been a lucky girl and now have a copy of PS CS3 yay - and thanks :p!!!

So a bit of fiddling and I've also fluked a couple of nice pics of my girls. And with some crash courses in actions from Kaysie and Clair (mwah) this is what they look like!
Bethany - so glad to finally have a good pic of her. That lack is partly my fault and partly hers lol.



Princess Mia - and she is a princess lol. Not in terms of attitude, but she's is our princess.


Jamie is away for days on end atm, hence I am so behind with everything. I so have to get more disciplined with my time. I know I'd feel better for it. Anyhoo...

Things I should post about
- Mia's speech
- Bethany and dance comps, dance lessons
- being fat

There's really a lot to post about but I've been sitting here since about 6.30 :O so better tidy up at least!

TTFN

My next post shouldn't be this...

but unfortunately it is not a nice one. I got an email today from my besty Shelly. She lives in the USA. Unfortunately we don't have as much contact these days - and I'm a slacker. Her DH has cancer :o :( I feel so helpless being so far away, just want to give her a big hug. I feel deep inside that he'll be fine, lots of treatment to get through but WOW. What a lot to deal with.

Shell, if you get a chance to read this - just know that you are in my thoughts. You are always there - even if i don't email much these days. I just wish I could be there with you, to give you a hug, to just be with you. Be strong, yes it will be hard but each day will come and go and you are one step closer to the end of treatment and being cured. Love ya babe.

Have a look...

well the surprise is all over! No time for a detailed account right now, other than it was a great success! Here are some brief clips of the surprise, taken by Janice on her still camera. Capture the moments perfectly. WARNING - there is a lot of giggling!

Clip One