UPDATE

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04.08.07

Challenge #3 over at Memory Bugs is out!

Colour Challenge!

"Black and white photos express reality better. A dog's reality that is."

Thats right, this challenge is all about colour! I want to see a layout that has a colour photo, coupled with all things colourful. No black or white allowed here this week and any topic allowed!

So enter over at Memory Bugs for a chance to win a $10 gift voucher! Due August 14th. So that's 2 weeks people, well, almost anyway!

Now, I don't usually do this, but I was sitting here reading Mel's blog and decided to blog hop. Sooo glad I did! I found some really cool blogs with some amazing photography and crafty stuff! I just wish I had more hours in the day sometimes.

I went to sewing class today and I decided to do a bit more of the curtains for the baby's room. They are coming along quite nicely and are rather cute! When I have finished the room, I will be sure to upload a photo! I also saw the cutest cane baskets at the Reject Shop the other day - they were lined with pink gingham. I think I will go back and get some. *Edited to add - curtains are finished and look fab!*

After sewing class I went to watch Kate at her assembly as her class was performing an item. She was so cute! You see, after the abnormally warm weather yesterday she wanted to wear a skirt. Yep, sure. But today is freezing and raining so of course she still wanted to wear her skirt, just with her jeans underneath. I also went to Target yesterday and picked her up the cutest top, but in a 7, and of course it was too big but she didnt want me to return it, she wanted it, so a white singlet underneath did the trick! LOL! She is turning into a real fashion diva! It is totally cute and since I have always been a bit of a tomboy I never really bought her cutsie stuff. But I have to admit, I am liking the fact that she is a girlie-girl!

I also came across instructions on how to make a pillowcase top - which I am totally going to do because I think Kate will love it! And I also think she will love one of these skirts too!


Oh and I sooo want to make a shoulder bag like this one! Very cool, huh?


We made a start on Kate's room yesterday. You see, her room has a bright red feature wall which looks really feral so we have patched it up, thanks to the 40 or so nails that were in it, and tomorrow I will undercoat it. Then I am thinking, left over pink from the babys room sounds nice! LOL! She wants one purple wall and the rest pink. I am not so much into that cool feature painting, but we shall see....


Also, we have to take Webster to the vet tomorrow, he has a sore on his side and it looks infected. We have a great vet that we go to and he is so cheap! As he says, if they are cheap, people will look after their pets by taking them to the vet when they need to. True. So me and the kids are doing that first thing in the morning as Steve is going fishing. *Edited to add that Webby is ok! He just caught himself on something and cut himself, so an injection, tablets and cream and $63 later he will be a-ok! See, I told you they were cheap!*


Our new couch came yesterday. Mmmmmm, it is so scrumptious! Steve, the wonderful man, stayed up till all hours putting the coffee table and tv unit together. It is really nice and tomorrow I will take a pic and upload. Which reminds me, I would love to make some cushions for it!

Here it is (well, the 3 seater anyway, I am sure you can imagine what the 2 seater would look like!)


I got newborn neice cuddles today! My sister, BIL and baby Sarah came over for a visit. Sarah is still so tiny! She is 2 weeks old now and has just reached 3 kgs which isn't quite 7lbs. Tiny, huh? She has the cutest little feet! I should have whipped out my camera but I didnt want to disturb the sleeping princess!


Well, thats about it for now. I am still bloghopping so if I come across anything else I love, I will be sure to let you know! LOL! ;) Also, I want to say a big thanks for everyone who stops by and has a bit of a read! :D

04.08.07

Challenge #3 over at Memory Bugs is out!


Colour Challenge!





"Black and white photos express reality better. A dog's reality that is."


Thats right, this challenge is all about colour! I want to see a layout that has a colour photo, coupled with all things colourful. No black or white allowed here this week and any topic allowed!


So enter over at Memory Bugs for a chance to win a $10 gift voucher! Due August 14th. So that's 2 weeks people, well, almost anyway!


Now, I don't usually do this, but I was sitting here reading Mel's blog and decided to blog hop. Sooo glad I did! I found some really cool blogs with some amazing photography and crafty stuff! I just wish I had more hours in the day sometimes.


I went to sewing class today and I decided to do a bit more of the curtains for the baby's room. They are coming along quite nicely and are rather cute! When I have finished the room, I will be sure to upload a photo! I also saw the cutest cane baskets at the Reject Shop the other day - they were lined with pink gingham. I think I will go back and get some. *Edited to add - curtains are finished and look fab!*


After sewing class I went to watch Kate at her assembly as her class was performing an item. She was so cute! You see, after the abnormally warm weather yesterday she wanted to wear a skirt. Yep, sure. But today is freezing and raining so of course she still wanted to wear her skirt, just with her jeans underneath. I also went to Target yesterday and picked her up the cutest top, but in a 7, and of course it was too big but she didnt want me to return it, she wanted it, so a white singlet underneath did the trick! LOL! She is turning into a real fashion diva! It is totally cute and since I have always been a bit of a tomboy I never really bought her cutsie stuff. But I have to admit, I am liking the fact that she is a girlie-girl!


I also came across instructions on how to make a pillowcase top - which I am totally going to do because I think Kate will love it! And I also think she will love one of these skirts too!


Oh and I sooo want to make a shoulder bag like this one! Very cool, huh?


We made a start on Kate's room yesterday. You see, her room has a bright red feature wall which looks really feral so we have patched it up, thanks to the 40 or so nails that were in it, and tomorrow I will undercoat it. Then I am thinking, left over pink from the babys room sounds nice! LOL! She wants one purple wall and the rest pink. I am not so much into that cool feature painting, but we shall see....


Also, we have to take Webster to the vet tomorrow, he has a sore on his side and it looks infected. We have a great vet that we go to and he is so cheap! As he says, if they are cheap, people will look after their pets by taking them to the vet when they need to. True. So me and the kids are doing that first thing in the morning as Steve is going fishing.


Our new couch came yesterday. Mmmmmm, it is so scrumptious! Steve, the wonderful man, stayed up till all hours putting the coffee table and tv unit together. It is really nice and tomorrow I will take a pic and upload. Which reminds me, I would love to make some cushions for it!


I got newborn neice cuddles today! My sister, BIL and baby Sarah came over for a visit. Sarah is still so tiny! She is 2 weeks old now and has just reached 3 kgs which isn't quite 7lbs. Tiny, huh? She has the cutest little feet! I should have whipped out my camera but I didnt want to disturb the sleeping princess!


Well, thats about it for now. I am still bloghopping so if I come across anything else I love, I will be sure to let you know! LOL! ;) Also, I want to say a big thanks for everyone who stops by and has a bit of a read! :D

01.08.07

Well, this past week or so has absolutely flown! I am trying to remember the details but I think between sick kids, Harry Potter, cleaning and a new idea/computer program, I can't recall all the details!

So, yes, my poor babies have been sick with flues and it hasnt been fun. Kate even had to have her ear flushed. Quite icky really. But they are on the mend, which is great!

I finished Harry Potter on saturday. I know heaps of people just loved this book, but honestly, I felt a little, well, disappointed. I don't know if it is because it is the alst book in the series and I felt alot was left unexplained, or if it was the ending, or if it was some characters that died I think they should have lived. Not sure really. But my overall impression at the end of the book was disappointment. Oh well. I am going to start from book 1 again as I am sure I have missed lots of vital information though.

So I have been wanting for a while to dabble in hybrid scrapbooking. I mean like really hybrid scrapbooking. So I have been playing around in Illustrator and wow, that is one cool program! You can do some really cool stuff in it! I have been thinking I might start with making some digi papers firstly, some boy papers and some wedding ones as I think there are more girls papers than anything! If I like them, I might sell my soul and peddle my wares but I have to see what I come up with first! I have no idea how to make elements yet or anything, but I am sure I can find some tutes on the net, afterall, you can find almost anything on the net! LOL!

So on saturday we decided to head out to Toys R Us and buy us some kites. Lucky we ended up buying the $3.00 Bratz one for Kate as the expensive on we picked up had a piece missing. Grrr. *note to self - exchange kite* The kids enjoyed it and so did we, to be honest. But we couldn't stay out long as Kate started coughing in the crisp air so we cam home again. Hopefully it will be windy this weekend so we can go and play with the kites again.

So we have a family room in our house. It is furnitureless as we never had a family room before so we didnt have enough furniture. On the weekend we decided to go shopping and we got a new leather lounge, tv unit and coffee table. Very exciting stuff and even better that it gets delivered this friday! We have decided to put the old stuff in the family room so the new stuff doesnt get wrecked! As well, painting on the baby's room is going well. I am happy that I ended up getting a lighter pink because even still it sure is bright! It will tone done once the furniture goes in though probably. It still needs another coat but then it is done. Quite exciting! I am still getting there on the curtains, just have to hem them now but I was too tired yesterday to finish them off and had a nap instead.

I was very excited to find my name pulled out of a draw for one of Mel's pin cushions! How exciting! I can't wait to get it! The funny thing was, I was looking at them on her blog and I thought, you know, I should make myself something like that! And now, I dont have to! Very cool! Thanks Mel and Bella!!! :)

I have been trying to scrap but I am just not liking the results. Grrrrr. I am undecided if I will enter the FK Awards of Excellence, we shall see. I loved my Masters entry, but I cant pull anything else together that I love. Oh well. I still have this month to do 5 layouts which shouldnt be too hard *cough*.

Anyway, I am procrastinating here, I really have to get to the shop to buy some dinner, I might head over to Spotlight and maybe even go and see my sister and baby Sarah. Dunno. I could stay and clean, but nahhh that doesn't interest me in the slightest. I really dont feel 100% though, I woke up with a headache and felt pretty crappy at work last night, just burning eyes and dull headache, but I am sure it is just all tiredness. Ok, must go, got stuff to do. Not that I can be bothered.

Hmmm, not an overly exciting post, but thanks for dropping by!!! And if you do drop by and get this far, leave me a wave as I would love to know who drops in from time to time! Thanks! :)

22.07.07

We have a new baby in the family! No, not mine! :P My sister had a little baby girl, Sarah Jacqueline, on thursday 19.07.07. She is so tiny! She was born at 18.16 weighing 2.7kgs and was 48cm long. She is so cute and my sister seems to be going well, she had to have an emergency c-section. Instead of flowers I made some muslin wraps and tied some helium balloons to them, I also did a birth announcement for the Daily Telegraph.

Well, I am 26 weeks now. It is going quite fast. I am feeling heavy though. The baby is lying low in my uterus and so it often hurts. It's all good, as I would rather that than having little feet in my ribs. All in good time I guess as the baby is still not head down.

So I got the new Harry Potter book yesterday. I have started reading it but I am a little tired so I haven't really gotten into it much. Besides, today we did some yard work and did a trip to the tip. The previous owners just left so much junk lying around the yard! If we ever buy another house, I am going to stipulate that nothing be left behind! Talk about a pain in the butt! We have found all sorts of unusual things that had just been thrown under overgrown shrubs. And also, grass clippings do NOT break down if they are left in your yard! Grrr! But, it is a work in progress.

Speaking of work, we got some paint the other day to paint the babys room. Pink, of course! LOL! Steve had to fill a few holes and dents but it is ready to be painted now. It is very exciting, purely because we can paint! With no one's permission! Exciting stuff.

I scrapped the other day too! I started this layout before I stopped scrapping, so back in january. It's nothing special, but I just loved these photos of Luke. It's about how he just doesn't stay still, even if I ask him nicely! But, this is him, all the time, not just when I want to take photos!

I am feeling much better now, I am still blowing my nose like nothing else, but I feel better and that is great. Luke is sick now and Steve thinks he may be getting sick again. Once again, Kate has escaped it. I am sure she is the one bringing the bugs home!

Well, nothing much else is happening here. I have to go to the shop to do some shopping now. Boring stuff, but it does need to get done. So, thanks for dropping by and take care! :)

17.07.07

Monsters In The Closet Challenge!

Ok, so this is the next challenge over at Memory Bugs!

The details:

At one stage or another we have been frightened by something. Whether it be a phobia, or a childhood phobia (like monsters) or something that has just freaked us out (I get freaked out by maggots!). This weeks challenge is to get that memory down! This layout doesn't have to be about you though, maybe you have a funny memory of your sister jumping on a chair because she saw a mouse, or maybe your child gets scared every night from the dark. Whatever the scare, get it down on a layout! It might be funny to look back on in 10 years time and have a good laugh!

Now, I do have a childhood fear. I used to hate flushing the toilet at night or if I was home alone. I would always think that it gave my location away if someone was to jump out and grab me. I would bolt from the bathroom to the loungeroom where I was deemed 'safe'. I am not sure if anyone in my family noticed that I did this. LOL! Funny thing is, not that I find it particularly funny - I still do it!

So have a crack at this challenge and post it over at Memory Bugs to be in the running for a $10 gift voucher! :D

So, what gives? I am posting at night? Well, I am unwell so I am having the night off work. It would seem that Steve was a sharing caring kinda guy and gave me his cold. Of course it is a virus, so there is no fighting it, but darn I wish it would go away! I think Luke is also coming down with it. I heard him sneezing earlier. I hope not. I feel terrible. I wouldn't wish this on anyone!

Last thursday I decided it would be nice to buy some hot chips and take them to the park and have a picnic. The kids really enjoyed laying at the park, even if there were some young girls there who hadn't had their brain food that morning. You see, they had taken their dog, a poodle, to the park and it was getting frightened by the kids and they had the nerve to ask some kids parent not to play near the dog as it was frightened. Umm hello?! I just said, if the dog is frightened it shouldnt be there. Not long after that they went home. Oops, I hope it wasn't anything I said! LOL! Anyway, this happy snap was taken with more ass than class as the kids were actually spinning around and around on this thing when I took this photo. It was making me dizzy just watching them! But, kids being kids, they love this ride out of all the equipment there.

So, I did the sadest thing ever on sunday - I went to the movies - by myself! LOL! I quite enjoyed going by myself actually (even if I did feel a bit looserish! LOL!) I went and saw Harry Potter. I have to say, this movie was by far better than Goblet of Fire. I am so looking forward to getting my hands on that book on saturday! It will be sad to see the end of Harry, but something else will come by and fill the void I guess. Hopefully anyway.

I did end up taking the kids to Lollipops on monday and we were there for like 3 1/2 hours! The kids really enjoyed themselves, even if our mini hot dogs had no bun, just 4 cocktail franks, seriously, whats the go with that?! LOL! But it was fun and even though I wasn't feeling well, I tried to make it fun for the kids by going on the teacup ride and pushing them on the flying fox and throwing balls at them in the ball pit. Fun stuff.

And today - the beginning of term 3 for Kate. And we had a fight after school which involved me buying Luke a MilkyWay while Kate missed out. I don't know what it is with her attitude at the moment but I gave to like 4 chances to say she would a MilkyWay but she refused as she wanted something else. I thought, I am too sick to be fighting but there is no way I am giving in. So I didn't. Too bad, so sad. And Kate went without. Maybe next time she will be grateful for what she is offered.

And with that, I am going to go to bed and hope this virus goes away.

Take care! :)

12.07.07

I really didn't mean to leave it a week between posts. I really have to be more vigilant and update more often as I tend to forget the things I did 7 days ago! LOL! No it is not pregnancy brain, it is just normal Beth brain!

I went and picked Kate up sunday from my Grandma and Pops, so Kate's great-grandparents. They loved having her, I think it keeps them young at heart when they visit or are visted by their great-grandkids! ;) Although Grandma told me she did have one run-in with Kate. Over food. Nothing new there. Kate apparently was going to 'tell my mummy on you' so Grandma said, there's the phone, but surprisingly, I didn't get a phonecall! LOL! ;) I told Grandma she did the right thing. You see, I am such a horrible mum, I absolutely refuse to make different meals for the kids. If they are hungry later on they can have a piece of bread. Kate has a habit of not liking everything thats put on her plate. I know darn well she eats it, but she likes to tell me she doesn't like it. Drives me crazy!

So anyway, I picked up Kate and I asked her to tell me a few things she liked or did and this is the answers I got:

1. I liked drawing

2. I like playing with my toys

3. It was good

4. I liked it

5. I talked to Grandma

6. I sat next to Grandma when I had breakfast and lunch and dinner

7. I liked buying stuff (she only had $5!!! LOL!!)

So I have my sisters baby shower on this weekend. I tried shopping twice in the last couple of weeks for it, and all I ended up buying was stuff for my baby! I came home on the weekend with a cot quilt, 2 sheet sets, a little shirt and a couple of Wondersuits. I also laybyed a few things like a baby bath and some other little things. Then I had to go out again and buy something for Fliss. I did eventually. I am hopeless. All those little pink things are just too cute!!!

I finished my Masters entry and it went postal on tuesday! I am actually really pleased with my projects this year. Last year I was a little ho-hum on my layouts, but this year, I think they are the strong point of my entry. Now that I am 'back in the groove' my house has gone to ruins! LOL! It is going to take me all day to clean it top to bottom! Having Kate home does not help either. She likes to spread things from a*hole to breakfast time.

<----It was Steve's birthday yesterday. 31 years old. Here he is opening his present. He got an in flatable life jacket and a Quicksilver jacket. I spent way too much money on him, but I have a slight tendancy to forget about his birthday and it always a last minute rush. I even baked him a cake and he got to have whatever he wanted for dinner - he chose his Grandma's omlette recepie. They are yummy, but kind of like a cross between a pancake and an omlette. LOL! He loves them though!

So yesterday we promised the kids we would take them to Lollipops Playland. No worries. We get there at midday. I struggle to find a car park and end up parking illegally. We walk inside and I am greeted by the loudest room ever, worse than the Nickelback concert I swear! Anyway, I look at the equipment and fair dinkum, the kids are almost at a standstill! There are that many kids in there it is not funny! There is no way I am letting my kids go in there! If there was an emergency and we had to be evacutaed, they would be trampled to death or lost! It wasn't worth it. So I made a deal with Kate and Luke, we will go back on monday as it is a pupil free day and we will go to McDonalds instead and then shopping for daddy's present. They accepted. Afterall, they did get to have McDonalds midweek! LOL!

So on the way home we went to the cheap shop and bought some craft supplies. The kids have been kept busy ever since! There is nothing quite like some coloured paper and glue! ;) LOL!

Well, I better get going, I have promised Kate I will watch her 'Cat Circus' which in other words is just me watching her play with the cat! LOL! But it has kept her amused and occupied while she has been practicing her routine, and I have been able to write this post!

Thanks for stopping by and take care! :)

05.07.07

Run, don't walk, over to Memory Bugs and check out my new challenge section. Woohoo! LOL! I was so excited to be asked to set these fortnightly challenges as I love setting challenges! These are not your normal challenges though. I find challenges that restrict what product and colours you use hard to do. So, I went in a different direction. If you upload the layouts to the gallery you can be in the running to win a $10 voucher. I will also post the challenges here because I think they are fantastic! (if I do say so myself! LOL!)

The Not Quite Perfect Photo Challenge!

Yep, we all have these! LOTS of these! The blurry ones, the ones where not everyone is looking the same direction, the ones where the composition is just off balance. But these are some of our most favourite photos because of the people in them, or the story they tell. Scrapbooking doesn't
have to have perfect photos all the time. So go on, scrap that photo. You've got nothing to lose, except the precious memory behind it! Any topic.

So, for some strange reason I woke up on monday and decided that I just had to enter Masters. I know. I have spoken about this alot. I thought the due date was July 31st. No. It is the 13th. So I have set myself a challenge to get this done! I have almost finished my mini album. About to start on my storage idea which is expanding on my original BTP idea. I have my layouts in my head so hopefully they wont take long. So, well, I am scrapping. Wow. I even set up my scrapping table yesterday as I need it to take photos of my storage idea. DH came home and just shook his head! LOL! The house is going to shambles though and I am resisting the urge to go and clean it! LOL!

So we went out on the boat the other day. Steve bought this boat just before we moved and this was the first time we went out on it. He has spent many an hour doing modifications to it. You see, he bought the hull new which mean it was just that, the hull. No lights, no nothing. So he has put in a couple of little floors to make it easier for him to fish off. He has connected all his lights up and wired it all up. He has carpeted the seats, which I tell you, make for a much more comfortable ride! LOL! He really has put his little heart and soul into this thing for the last 6 weeks. It looks really well done too. It better as he is not getting another boat for a very long time.

<----Luke came with us. He likes the boat although he doesnt like the sound of the motor, but he like going fast. Speaking of Luke, we have had a really nice week so far. I do miss Kate terribly as she is at Grandma and Pops, but it has been nice with just me and Luke and not having to do the 9am and 3pm school rush! We have been doing stuff. Nothing much really. Just stuff. Painting, playdoh. Stuff. Although I wish I didn't get up in the morning with him watching Saving Private Ryan. That movie has now been confiscated. He is really into guns but he is 3 and does not need to be watching these things. Hmmm. Right now I am looking at him and he is using his leg as a gun trying to shoot me. Sigh. Butter wouldn't melt in that mouth now, would it?

Well, I am off work tonight as Steve has gone away for work. I like work. But I also really like having a night off every now and then. Especially since I have scrapping to do! ;)

Well, the weather is wild here today. I am not planning on going out in it at all! I am not even hanging out the washing for fear it will be blown off the line! Such wild, wild weather lately.

Ok, I better go, my kitchen table is calling my name to go and scrap and I will con Luke into painting with me! Thanks for stopping by! :)

02.07.07

Wow, another week has passed us by and I feel like I have got nothing done! This year is zooming past and unfortunately there is nothing I can do about it. I feel a bit sad in a way. You see, after Luke we had decided that we weren't going to have anymore children, so when I fell pregnant I thought to myself that I will really savour these moments. You know, really enjoy what my body is going through and what it is creating. Well, the first 3 months was a washout with tiredness and morning sickness. Then the house move. Now, settling in (yes I still have boxes to unpack LOL). I feel like it has flown by and I haven't had a spare moment to stop and really take it all in. Sure, I lie in bed feeling the baby (who I have dubbed Amy because that is the frontrunner in names!) move and kick, and even Steve feels it, but I haven;t actually sat down and thought about it much.


Here goes I guess...


I am really scared about having a baby around the house. There will be almost 4 years between the new bubs and Luke. I am going back to work quite early after I have the baby (night work luxury, also so I can keep this house! LOL!) and I worry Steve wont get all the sleep he needs but I guess we will both be suffering from lack of sleep so I can feel comforted by that.


I am scared about the impending labour. The baby has to come out sooner or later in one way or another. But I really dont feel like going through pain again. Kate was posterior so I have experienced a very long and painful labour with the assistance of pethidine and with Luke, he was pretty quick with gas for only a couple of the worst contractions. So as far as I am concerned, I have had my fair share of pain and I really dont want to go through it all again.


But it is like that incontenance pad ad, isn't it?


Yes I've paid the price but look how much I've gained.


*Note to self - continue regular keegal exercises*


I guess it is normal to get scared. I do have another 4 months of pondering the scary side of things.


I also have 4 months left to look at the positive side of things. I cannot wait to meet my new little angel. I wonder if she will look the same as the other two, who looked really alike at birth, and still do! I wonder if she will be a great little sleeper like the other two. I wonder if she will be a happy and contented baby like Kate and Luke both were. I guess I am just wondering if she will be another perfect little addition to our family.


I am excited. But I just feel overwhelmed by it all every now and then.


Other baby news - I have picked out a colour for the baby's room. I have bought some material to make some curtains aswell. Also so muslin to make some wraps. I might do the wraps today actually. Also today, I have to go to Bunnings to pick out a colour to paint Kate's room. I have already got Luke's colour picked. Hopefully I will get the paint sometime this week so I can get started on that.


Speaking of painting, I have decided afterall to pull my finger out of my behind and enter Scrapbooking Memories Masters again this year. SO I have already started some of my projects and well, I am quite taken by paint at the moment so I am sure it will feature heavily in my projects. Now just to get some nice photos of the family!


Kate has gone away to my grandparents house for the week. She loves going there as she loves being doted on! They live in the Blue Mountains so they might even get some snow. While I am sure it is pretty and all, I think it is all just a little too cold for me! LOL!


<--- And here is a picture of my lovely two taken the other night while I was at work. So this is what they get up to while I am not here! LOL! Gosh they are dags, aren't they?!


Steve and I have been together for 9 years tomorrow. Wow, that sounds like such a long time, but it has gone so fast! We have a good relationship, we barely fight and we usually end up agreeing to the same things. We take each other for granted alot of the time, but at the end of the day, we are there for each other. I don't think I showed him my layout I did of him at Kiwiscraps, it was soppy and made me want to cry (but of course I will blame the pregnancy hormones LOL!) and it said, if I die and I don't make it into heaven, thats ok, as I have already experienced heaven on earth. I really believe that. Ok. Enough soppy stuff. LOL!


Well, I better go, as I have to bo and buy some fruit and vegies and buy a birthday present for Steve's brother and a baby shower present for my sister who is due 12 weeks before me!


Thanks for stopping by!!!!! :)

24.06.07

I'm ba-ack!

Well, a whole month has passed and I don't have terribly much to write!

We moved, of course. The house is more wonderful than I ever thought we would have! It is so spacious and feels so UN-cluttered! You see, where we lived previously, it didn't matter how clean it was, it always looked cluttered and messy!

I have the best invention in the world here aswell - a dishwasher! OMG! If you dont have one - get one! LOL! It makes life so much easier and I find cleaning up is not so much of a chore as I don't have to worry about the dirty dishes in the sink!

Sorry for the lack of photos - I have yet to take any! I know, what a bad scrapper I am! LOL!

All my scrapping stuff is still packed in boxes. Thats ok though, I am still not in the mood to scrap. I am enjoying sewing and I have made Kate a cushion cover, although I have to unpick some and redo as the material pulled. Oh well! Here is a photo of my first cushion cover I made though.

Gosh, it has been so long since I posted, I am beginning to forget some of the things we have done in the last month!

Kate recieved her Silver Award at school. She loves school! A couple of times we have used the 'kiss and drop zone' and I tell you, it is heartbreaking! Even DH said he didn't like using it. She liked it though. She felt grown up to be able to sit in the front seat of the car and open the car door herself. Needless to say, we have been on time since then as we both hated using it!

Luke is, well, Luke. He is really into guns and shooting things. He lies on top of the mailbox and snipes cars and people that go past with his pretend gun. He makes guns out of everything! He will find two sticks lying on the ground and somehow he will turn them into guns?!

I am 22 weeks pregnant now, or 5 months. I have a bump! It is exciting! The baby is quite active and I love feeling her move around! That's right, I forgot to tell you all that I had an ultrasound and the baby is a girl! I will be going through the Birthing Centre at the hospital this time as I am very low risk. Which means though, no assisted deliveries. Damn, I was going to waltz in there and ask for an epidural. In this day and age, childbirth should be painless, right? Oh well. I guess a little bit of pain is worth what you get at the end of it!

I have been reading a bit lately too. I read Angela's Ashes. Quite an interesting book and I love the way it was written. So conversational and easy flowing. After that I read Bad Ground, the book on the Beaconsfield Mine rescue. That was interesting, and a bit heart wrenching and I admit, I cried, hmmm, actually I cried reading both books. Gosh I am a sook at the moment! LOL! I go through phases with books, I will read like 3 or 4 in one go and then I wont read for 4 months. I guess it is the same with most hobbies. It is good to have a break every now and then.

Well, I guess I better get going. I want to re-paint my nails. This rainy weather is perfect for it! I love rain. Bring it on I say (just not in the form of storms!).

Thanks for stopping by! :)

21.05.07

7 more sleeps until we move into our own home! I am so excited! Although I am not so excited about the packing! I packed up all my scrap stuff yesterday. That was slightly therapeudic actually. I am glad I am taking a break from scrapping. I got to the part where I had to pack my albums, from the last 2 years, the others are in my wardrobe yet to be packed, and Steve came out and he is like 'are you packing them or looking at them?'. Quite obviously I was looking at them. I realised how much I loved those pages. They weren't daggy. They didnt have 'old' stuff on them. They told a story. That was the most important thing. The pages I barely looked at were the ones with no journalling. For a long time I have believed that journalling was the most important thing on a layout and yesterday reinforced the fact. I have finally realised that scrapping isnt about how many layouts I can get into a magazine or how many prizes I can win in challenges, its about my memories, my childrens memories, my families memories. That alone is priceless.

So I am 17 weeks pregnant now. Yesterday morning I felt the baby move. It was more like it had hiccups because the movement was very rythmic and consistant. It was precious. I had been a little worried in the last couple of weeks as I have not popped out at all and had not been able to feel the movements. I think it is because I have lost weight (somehow I have lost another kilo aswell in the last week?!) so it is just filling up the space that used to be tubby! That being said, my clothes are too tight to wear now. So today I am off to the shop to buy some tracksuit pants or something like that. We are lucky we can wear them to work! Yeah, we all look like dags, but at least we are comfortable dags! ;)

Mother's Day was really nice. I got a little sleep in, although I apparently yelled at the kids to go away and let me sleep when they tried to bring me breakfast in bed. Steve said it looked like I had stabbed them in the heart, the poor sweethearts! The problem is, he does not understand how totalled I get working nights - its ok for him to go to bed at 9pm and wake up at 7am, but going to bed at 3am and getting up at 7.30am is a little bit harder! Anyway, Kate bought me a sweet necklace from the Mother's Day stall, and made me a gorgeous card at school. Kate has worn the necklace far more than I have! LOL! We went for lunch out at Hungry Jacks at McGraths Hill, with an alterior motive of Steve's to drag us to 2 boat shops. (Dont worry, he is going to a scrapbooking shop on father's day!) Then we went over to the river at Windsor to let the kids have a bit of a fish. Of course that didnt last long with my two. Oh no. They preferred to splash about in the water instead.

Yes, Steve has bought a new boat. I was not entirely happy when he sprung this on me, but it is bigger and alot more stable than the one he has now, so I guess for safety reasons, it is better we get it.

Luke sits on Steve's lap while Steve plays his computer games. They play Battlefield or something or other. Anyway, it is Allied troops vs German troops. We were driving the other day when Luke says, in his 3 year old slendour, "Why Germans have guns?" Ummmm just what exactly do you say to that?! I told him that they dont actually have guns, but they did a long time ago in the war. Do you think he understood? I dont. LOL!

Lukes new favourite word at the moment is "why". Everything is "why mummy?" Gotta love it or it will just send you mental, although I have gotten to the point at times where I say "it just is!"

I got my camera back from Fuji - the repairs cost $130 - $10 part, $110 labour and $10 GST. Its all good though. My baby is back! And I tried to use the forced flash yesterday, and do you think for the life of me I could work out how to turn it on?! Nup. So after we move and I find the maunal - I am sure it is in a box here somewhere - I will read it and actually learn how to use my camera! LOL!

Kate had a whole week off school last week. The poor darling was not well at all - she had this cough and she sounded like she was going to cough up a lung. Took her to the doctor and of course it is just a virus. Luke is unwell also. He has more of a congested headcold though. Once again, just a virus. I have been craving orange juice so I think it is helping me fight off the sickness! I have also been craving hot dogs (go figure! LOL!)

Anyway, thats about it from me, I better get going as I have heaps of packing to do, although we are getting there slowly. I have organised the gas and electricity already so thats good. We can move our phone number as it is in the same exchange so that is great! I have to pick up a redirection notice from the post office and get that filled out so it is up and running on time. I have booked the carpet cleaners and I have booked my ultrasound. I think I have done everything I was supposed to do! LOL! I should book in for a quote to have a builtin robe installed in the master bedroom. I will do that today I think.

Take care and thanks for stopping by!!! :D

07.05.07

So. Firstly, I have been tagged by Moira, Jolene, Debbie and Sue. Thanks guys!

The rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I hate coffee. I eat everything, except anything with coffee in it or coffee flavoured.

2. I was a racewalker when I was growing up, I was good at it, held regional records and got medals at nationals and all, but never really tried my hardest and I was always slack at training. (I hope mum and dad dont read this!)

3. I have travelled to every state except NT and TAS for athletics, even to NZ (not that it is an Australian state! LOL!)

4. I am studying Civil Engineering at uni by correspondence. When I finish I want to become a maths teacher.

5. I love mail, even if it is bills and I get dissapointed if we get no mail. I think junk mail is the best thing ever invented! I love it!

6. My children were born at the same hospital that I was.

7. I read newspapers backwards.

Now I am going to tag, ummm, well, I think everybody has been tagged by now! Oh, except Lusi, Steph Lim, Mel Moor, Kylie, Sandi, Lauren and Cass.

So I am now 15w and 1d pregnant. Considering I found out really early, it seems to be flying! Only 24w and 6d to go! EEK! So the baby is about 10cm long and weighs about 70 grams. I am supposed to be able to feel it move and stuff, but not yet, everytime I lie down I tend to fall asleep so I havent been able to stay nice and still and awake long enough. LOL! I still have a little bit of sickness, like this morning I went to do my hair and teeth and I had to sit on the loo as I got really dizzy and lightheaded and felt like I was going to be sick. Ugh.

Luke has decided that he no longer needs the pram to walk Kate to school in the morning. Oh no. He uses his tiny skateboard instead! It takes about twice as long but he is so cute so it is hard to say no. *Note to self - get photos of him riding his skateboard.*

Speaking of photos, my camera has been sent to Fuji for some repairs. Nothing was wrong with it so dont let me scare you off Fuji's, but when it has fallen to the tiles from the kitchen table, assisted by the cat, things break. Like the flap that holds the batteries in. Lucky I have my old camera, even if it does have the worst shutter lag ever. I forgot how much I DIDNT miss that! It's all good. Insurance will cover it if it costs too much.

So I made a cushion last week. It is a country cushion for my couch. I was very pleased with my efforts! I have decided to make my house a little countrified because of the timber floors etc. I bought some magazines and was saying to Steve, oh I want to do this and oh I like this etc. He just says 'you aren't going to do too many of these are you?'. HMPH! It's my house and I want to make it look pretty!!!! So now I am making Kate a cushion which says 'Strictly girls only' then she wants a blanket. She doesnt want much, hey? I wanted to do a table runner first before I embarked on anything big like a blanket!

Other than that, I am supposed to be making some bookmarks for the Mother's Day stall at Kate's school. Just something simple, but nice enough. I will get onto that today. I also got some facewashers and some bars of soap and wrapped them in tissue paper for the stalls also.

Speaking of Kate's school, I have decided to move her to the school close to our new house, not until the beginning of next year though. It is as close as this one is to us now, so a 5 minute walk, which is good. Plus I have heard some really good stuff about it, so I am feeling quite positive about the move.

KiwiScraps last weekend was THE BEST!!! I dont normally do classes as I am never happy walking away with a layout just like every one else. This was totally different. I learnt stuff. I think I finished 1 layout out of my 7 classes. The tutors were awesome! Rhonna Farrer is like that sister out of that US sitcom that used to be on channel 7 at about 11am, Faith and Hope, well she is exactly like the younger sister! She was so cool! Tia Bennett was so cute and her accent was just even cuter! For days I was talking in my head with her accent! Emily was very cool and laid back and so friendly! Nic Howard was very cool, and gave me some spare New Zealand chocolate to take home to Steve. New Zealander's think they have the best chocolate in the world! LOL! Oh and my ring tone on my mobile is a sheep baaing - you can imagine my embarrassment when it rang in Nic's class!!! OMG! LOL! So I learnt sooo much and I am so eager to scrap!!! I just havent found the time yet (and Steve wants me to pack it all up for the move!) The best part of the weekend was being roommates with Lusi and Mel. I was really comfortable with these two. Like an old pair of socks! LOL! You guys rock! Oh and so did that kebab! Mmmmmmm!!! Yep, one of the best weekends to date!

Well, thats about it from me. I have bookmarks to make and packing to do. Only 3 more weeks till settlement! How exciting!!!

Take care and thanks for stopping by! :)

18.04.07

Grab yourself a cuppa, this is a long update! LOL! No photos either as my mouse on my computer needs new batteries.

Ok, so March 31st saw us take our trip down to Jamberoo. All the hotels were booked out so we drove down there and back in the one day. All the way down Kate kept singing (and got Luke in on it too) 'Jamberoo where you can troll the action'. So cute! ROFL!

How much fun was Jamberoo?!?!? We all had a ball! It was great as we didnt have to wait any longer than about 5 minutes for any one ride. Now, I always knew Luke was a little bit of a daredevil, but I guess I just didnt realise how much.

GGGRRRR The photo wont upload! <-----He went on this ride all by himself. Twice. He beat Steve and Justin the first time, but second time things went a bit strange and he was facing the wrong way at one stage! ROFL! He still loved it though!

Both the kids LOVED the luge!!! It was fun, except when you get stuck behind slowpokes who are scared! The pools were a little cold, but do you think that stopped my two? No siree! They were in the thick of things all day long! We really did have a wonderful family day out and lets just say we slept well that night!

Just before Easter we tried for a home loan. The amounts of money they are willing to give you is rediculous! There was no way we could repay what they were willing to offer us and because we didnt want to have the bank foreclose on the loan we went for a sensible amount! We got it! We found out the day before Good Friday so it made it one awesome friday!

Easter was kind of fun. ROFL! It started with the bunny leaving some eggs (Hello Kitty for Kate and Cars for Luke) and some powder footprints in the loungeroom, followed by an egg hunt in the front yard! The kids were sugar hyped for days! It was not fun looking at houses with hypo children, let me tell you! I used the video camera as I really want to capture the voices and the fun and excitement and sometimes photos lack this. Lucky DH grabbed the camera though so I will have something to scrap! ;)

Then Kate went to my grandparents house for a couple of days. I was devastated when I returned. You see, about a month or so ago I bought a canary. I always wanted one growing up. So I bought myself one. When I got home, Meggs (our cat) had knocked the cage over and eaten the bird. The feathers in the house speak for themselves. The cat was close to extinction, but I forgave its 'natural instinct'. He is sporting a spiffy new collar with a bell now though, he hates it and is always trying to get it off! Serves him right!

Then on the weekend, after being mucked around a little over an offer we put in for a house, we were scouring the internet again looking at the same old houses. A couple of weeks ago when we first started searching we saw a house that was nice but it was listed at $380k, so we didnt bother persuing it as it was a little our of our range at $350k. Well, on saturday we saw it listed as $365k so we thought, why not lets have a look, you never know what they will take as an offer. So we went and had a look. We really liked it. We decided to put an offer in. The agent said $355k so thats was our offer. We got a phone call later that day. The house was ours!!!!! We couldnt believe it!!!

It has 4 bedrooms (for the growing family ;)) plus a double garage (obviously LOL) and it has a family room, a lovely wooden kitchen with black granite benchtops, plus a ensuite, it has a study/computer area that is my new scrap area (YAY!) and it has parquetry floors even in the bedrooms, it has these wonderful french door which open onto the backyard, and 3 aircons (lucky DH like it cold! LOL!) The best part is, NOTHING, not a thing needs to be done to it! Sweet! Although it is one of the 'blander' houses on the street so it needs the gardens done I think.

Now. I know it has a square window. It annoys me to no end. DH has decided to grow a big jacaranda tree in the front yard to hide it! Now my biggest decision is whether to move Kate's school? It is only the next suburb away. Not sure. Still deciding.

I am 12 weeks and 3 days pregnant today. I had an ultrasound last week, the nuchal translucency one. All is well and it was so cute to see the little peanut! I am keeping well. I am still sick, not as much and not all day (which is a blessing)! I even did a 8 1/2 hour shift standing up on friday and didnt complain once (although I felt like it! LOL! ;)) The tiredness still remains, but working nights will do that to you anyway I guess.

Yesterday we went tp Plumpton Park to feed the ducks. We had a ball and the kids ran about and laughed and yelled and had fun. The ducks did not want out bread. The fish did though so at least it wasnt wasted! ;) I was going to take the video camera and I wish I did as Luke was saying the funniest things! There was this duck there and he points at it and calls out "mum, its a chicken duck" and sure enough it looked like a chicken! ROFL! But I did take my camera so hopefully I have some good shots of them.

So, we have been very busy these last couple of weeks. I still have not scrapped and am happy about that (you see I am building my mojo up till I self combust! LMAO!)

I received the new SM today, it has the Masters 2007 details in it. Guess what? NO BTP! Yes I am spewing but I am still going to do my project as I love the idea of what I am going to do. I guess I can share that now huh? I bought an old wooden ladder off ebay. I cut it so I had 5 rungs (it was like 8ft long and wouldnt fit in my car anyway! ROFL!) and I bought 4 canvases. I am going to make a frame with it so that I have a canvas between each rung. It is going to look wonderful once it is all stained and the canvases are done. I am going to wait until my belly pops a bit more for the photos so all 5 of us will be in it. ;) So it will be a long time coming but essentially, that is it.

Well, thats about it from me today. I know, one heck of a long post, but if I dont get it down I will forget it all!!! I better go as I have to have a shower and get ready for work and eat dinner all in about 35 minutes. Easy peasy, but getting the kids in from the front yard may prove a little harder! LOL! They love playing in the front yard but we get a few cars up and down the street and I am constantly looking out the window and door at them to make sure they are ok.

Ok, enough! LOL! Thanks for stopping by and take care! :)

09.04.07

So, Kylie, you want an update huh?
You will just have to wait until I drag my lazy arse big belly out to the other computer!
:P
x

30.03.07

Soooo friday already?! This week has flown!

Yesterday I went to KMart to buy Luke Toy Story 2, you see I bought number 1 but for the life of us, we cannot find the disc?! I think Luke has taken it and hidden it as it is his favourite movie at the moment. So while I was there I picked up Ice Age 1 & 2 and Over the Hedge. They were having a sale so I got all of them for $55. Sweet.

And then Luke did the unimaginable, unthinkable...

He fell asleep as we were going through the checkout.
He hasn't done that EVER in his 3 short years!
He must have been so tired as he hasn't been sleeping well lately.
He didnt even stir when I out him in the car or when I put him into bed.
So we had a 2 1/2 hour nap.
Sweet.

Today I went to the school to watch the assembly as Kate's class was presenting it.
She has been practising her line all week.
"Thankyou for a beautiful item 3H."
She was superb! She didn't waver or anything!

Then on the way home I walked past the high school and they were having their cross country carnival.

Random Memory #173
I was Red House Captain when I was in primary school.
The other captain was a boy I previously played soccer with when I was younger, Alex.
I was good at Cross Country and remember one year our school won a big shield at the District Carnival and I and other person, Todd, had to collect it as we had won our races.
As we were walking back I thought he had a hold of the shield so I let go of it and we almost dropped it. LOL.

I know. Interesting.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

26.03.07

I don't really know why we make plans as they never turn out! I bought tickets for Jamberoo months and months ago and we kept saying 'we have to go, we have to go' and well we havent as yet. We decided last week that we would go yesterday, sunday, but of course it was cold and windy so we didnt end up going. We plan to go this sunday though.

We plan to go down to Kiama on saturday and stay in a motel and play at the beach etc. Then get up early on sunday and go to Jamberoo. Lets hope it stays fine this coming weekend.

So instead we did stuff around the house on saturday. Just tidying etc. Then up I went to vote. You see Steve is a Kiwi and is not a citizen so he loves voting day, as he doesn't have to vote. Then I went to get some takeaway for lunch - Red Rooster - yummmm. I also went to the real estate as I have found a house that has everything we want - I just hope it doesn't get sold before we get our loan. Fingers crossed. Then we went for a drive and we ended up at Cronulla. I was sick, Red Rooster isnt so good coming back up and getting stuck in your nasal cavity... Then we just played on the beach and in the rock pools. Luke, in typical Luke fashion, got wet from head to toe, yes, fully clothed too. And Kate had fun collecting shells. I didn't take my camera or anything and I am kind of glad I didn't. I just loved playing with the kids instead of watching them through a lens! Then to home where I fell asleep in the car to keep myself from being sick.

ARGH! How long does this sickness last?!?!?!

Not to mention the sleepiness!!! Saturday night I slept for 9 hours. Then went back to bed at 8.30am till 10am. Then I had another hour nap in the afternoon and still went to bed at 10.30pm. All I do is sleep and it is driving me crazy!!! Nothing is getting done! I am over it too. I am over everything right now.

I just feel like being a big ol whinging sook.

Right now. Right now I am sitting here still in my PJ's even though it is 12.20. I have been going for a shower for the last 2 hours, I just havent made it there yet, I decided to strip and remake the beds instead and clean Luke's room. Also the postie dropped off the latest For Keeps and I thought I would have a quick flick and lo and behold one of my layouts was in it, one of ET entries. They also have the details for the new ET comp in there. Due August 31st so 5 months to get 5 layouts done. Should be doable. Right now Kate is at school. Luke is here playing on his magnetic drawing thing. Oh wait, he has just dissapeared. He was getting food. That boy had eaten all his packed lunch by 10am. You see he was supposed to go to family day care today but the carer is having family issues so I kept him home. Right now the iron is on as I was waiting for it to heat up to iron my clothes to go to the shop. I want to buy Luke one of those rails for his bed so he doesn't keep falling out. I also might get out the kids winter clothes layby. Yeah I might do that too. I have to think about what to cook for dinner without making myself feel sick. Not so doable. I might get a sandwich - cream cheese spread. Mmmm. Bit of a favourite at the moment. And a glass of milk with chocolate nesquick. Yep. Sounds good right now. Also thinking of going to the library and picking up a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. We shall see how Luke performs first I think. Right now I am ignoring the washing up that needs to be done and wishing I had a dishwasher. Have to wait till we move first.

Right now I am going to stop babbling random thoughts and go and get that sandwich.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

22.03.07

I just want to say a massive big huge THANKYOU to everyone for all your comments! You have no idea how my heart smiled when I checked my inbox and I had more well wishes than advertisements for viagra! Blissful! Thankyou all so much!

So since I am not scrapping, I have no layouts to share.

So I thought there are more things to scrapping than just photos.

A while ago I purchased The Journaler's Handbook by Tracey White (although I am sure journalers should have 2 L's but anyway...) and I just love it. It has heaps of journalling prompts. So I thought I could post a couple and answer them aswell. If I dont get these things written down I will never remember them in a few years to come! So PLEASE join in too!!!

You know what, lets start at the Teen section. Because I need to remember these things and my memory is fading fast... LOL!

1. What was your first job? McDonalds Woodcroft.

2. Tell the story about how you got your first job. All my friends at school had Maccas jobs so I thought I would go to my local and apply. I didn't expect to get the job. When I got the phone call I said 'are you sure?' and he said I can ring someone else and give them the job if you like? LOL! No of course not!

3. How much money did you make at your first job? As a 14 year old I earnt $4.81 an hour (I think).

4. Tell the story of your first day. Did you come home exhausted or excited? I remember leaning the 7 (I think) steps of customer service. Greet the customer. Take the order. Suggestive sell or sell up. Take the order. Take payment. Thank the customer. Yes I know its only 6 but I cant remember all that well! LOL! I learnt that while walking around the carpark picking up cigarette butts. Such a lovely job.

5. List your job responsibilities. Take orders and get the stuff pretty much. Whatever a frontline maccas chick does really.

6. What is your favourite/least favourite thing about your first job? I loved working in the drive thru (yes *I* know it is through but apparently McDonalds Australia doesn't!) where you took the orders and the money. That was fun. Least favourite would have to be 8 hour dining room shifts. Mopping floors for 8 hours. What could be better than that?! NOT!

7. How did you spend your pay? On food. I got fat. I was 48 kgs. I went to ohhhh about 80 kgs in a year. I really should have saved some of that money. I remember getting $50 out so I could buy a towel from CHS State Athletics but it was stolen out of my bag. I was devastated so my parents replaced it. Other than that, food.

8. Did the job interfere with your schoolwork/sport or social life? I gave up athletics about 9 months after starting at work. I didn't have time and if I couldn't work certain days I wouldn't get rostered on much. The only thing I ever regret is giving up athletics. It didn't interfere with schoolwork though thank goodness.

9. How many hours a week did you work? Depended but I am sure I used to get a 3 or 4 hour shift during the week and a 5 hour and maybe an 8 hour shift on weekends.

Well, thats about it from me tonight - yes - it is nighttime! No I am not at work, Steve had to go away for work so I had the night off. Right now I am watching Saving Babies and trying not to cry! So heartbreaking! Then I am watching SVU and then I am off to bed. I will murder someone if I wake up at 4 in the morning and cannot get back to sleep! Thats the problem with nightshift! But I do love spending the day with Luke and dropping off and picking up Kate!

Although Luke is not always an angel. Like yesterday I was dragging my sorry butt out of bed only to have him tell me the TV wasn't working. I wonder why when you spray water into it?!?! Steve pulled it apart and had a fan going on it to dry it out and it seems to have done the trick! It is back to normal. For the moment anyway, and thats all that matters!

Well, thats probably about it from me tonight. Have a good one and thanks for stopping by!!! :D