in the Naki

just

2012-01-24T19:03:00.000+13:00

saying goodbye is hard

2012-01-15T00:43:00.000+13:00

this week I had to say goodbye to my dad.
my dad had been really ill for the last 6mths but no one could find anything wrong with him.
but as well my dad had never been the same since my mum passed away 3.5yrs ago. he was living with a broken heart + that was hard to watch.
last friday we told him he had a option to have a op (that he would not survive) or it was ok to go to mum.
once he knew that we were ok that he could go ............ he was so happy because he was going to see my mum. how could I argue with that, how could I be sad about that...........watching my dad celebrate that he was gong to see his beloved mary.
finally the duo of mary + ron has ended. I tell a lie i am sad....... very sad cause its like living mums death all over again a little bit....... he was the connection to her.......partner in crime.......dance partner.......... card partner..........they were one hell of a duo!!
i never imagined that I would be without my parents at the age of 40......... lucky i still have my little family to lean on. dad was 80..........he had a full life + no time was robbed from him.......only mum leaving early!!
rest in peace dad

handmade xmas

2012-01-06T17:46:00.000+13:00

this year........oopps I mean last year I wanted to get into making alot of my decos. Since I have a cupboard filled with supplies everything was at my finger tips!!

I had spied a few lovley ideas on blogs, pinterest + mags.

First I went with the pompoms.........how fun are these babies!! Got me a few circles + a star from spotlight.

This is how it ended up.

this bad boy was pinned to my cork board at front door

Ruby was busting to have a turn with the glue gun + pompoms .......so she made this little wreath for us + as well a friend really admired it so Ruby made another one for her.

button trees

not such a new idea but after making these nearly 4 years ago + stealing buttons off them throughout the years I finally sat down + completed them before xmas

No more stealing buttons!!

checkout our newest pet........old pull-along........he was a mere 50c

then there was the netted garland. I got this idea from Your Home + Garden mag.

they used just white netting but I spied some lovely red polka dotted netting + just had to have!!

I would of liked the garland to be longer but I ran out of time + found a fun spot to drape it over.

and lastly.......yes another wreath.....but they are so easy + fun!

now I saw this fab idea via this blog

I didnt have a lovely collection of vintage decos like her........bit hard to source here.

so I just brought some fun decos from spotlight. I think it turned out ok!!

Sadly I didnt have time to add a ribbon to hang as i made it xmas eve when I should of being cooking!!

But I laid it up against the computer screen + it did the trick.

I just added it to the cork board for photography purpose!

already looking forward to this years handmade decos!!

ringing it in with the rain.............

2012-01-04T23:46:00.000+13:00

Yep the rain did come down on New Years Eve but no spirits were left damp!!
We had a fantastic holiday house in New Plymouth for 5 nights.............that means 5 nights + 5 mornings of not milking the cows!! It was bliss...........even if rained for 4 days!
Such a fun time away with kevs family + a few friends popping in!!

it was about ice creams

brothers

false eyelashes for new years eve!

hair cuts for the boys

new years eve smiles with my sil

scooter gang.........lead by miss B

me + miss B on new years eve

summer nights

2011-12-29T15:18:00.000+13:00

ahh well at last the summer nights are here!....... warm nights filled with late night games of badminton, drinks on the deck + night sessions in the garage! how one loves summer!!

then the rain fell out the sky onto my little parade of happiness!! damn that rain for falling just before new years!! please hurry along Ive got important outdoor things to do + a few celebrations drinks to be had
with friends + family on new years eve!!

wow where did xmas go?.......the build up was big as ever!! I over did myself + had to put myself to bed early on xmas day!! was a fantastic day.........great food + great people to share the day with!!
I didn't over do myself this year with photos.

finn playing mr cool!!

my reindeer ruby........ever so helpful........bless her!!

omg does this boy start with a capital T or what?....... not for Taidhg but for trouble!!

see no over doing!! one never knows what do with 50 million photos from oneday!!

I am playing a bit of catch up here + going backwards!!
Once again I pushed my creative brain hard to make pressies for the teachers!! Big effort as I have struggled creatively since my mum has passed + thats over 3.5yrs now.........death eh how it effects us!! Anyway I can celebrate now as my creative brain is back!! It feels sooooooooo good + I forgot how relaxing it makes me feel to make things with my hands!! might even start scrapbooking again!!

So I have a little collection of retro pillowcases going on here + lets not forget the sheets + table cloths!!
And the doilies........omg the doilies!!

I have been inspired by this very clever lady for awhile now dottieangel
so I pulled everything out + set too.
I also have a reason for making these creations. A week before school finished one of our lovely teachers lost her 19yr old son. he just died!! its terribly sad + my heart broke for them + as well our school has had a shitty year with illness + loss. So I just wanted to bring some warmth + a smile back to their hearts.

I made this for our head teacher

finn had two teachers this year

and for Taidhgs teacher.........sadly I took a crap pic of this (in a hurry)....... this was a lovely irl.

Rubys teachers got a jar of food........he's a man!!
Teachers also got these..........my fav thing to make at xmas..........xmas bark with some apricot slice thrown in!!

so here's to a fantastic new year + lots of good things happening for 2012!!
see you on the other side!! :)

7

2011-12-07T09:28:00.000+13:00

On Monday Mr Taidhg turned 7!!
We had a quiet Do on Sunday......just two friends this year. I asked Taggie what cake he would like for his mini party...........'chocolate cake please'.........yay easy for me!! Then we covered it in lollies.........can you tell I was going for easy!!

Jelly + lemonade drinks........these are so much fun + you suck the jelly up through a straw. I got this idea from a Donna Hey birthday mag. I did these for our Halloween party this year too.

Then for his birthday on Monday I made him frog cupcakes instead of a cake. Easy again!!

Another great birthday!! Taidhg had a ball + his best present was his roller blades!!

Now I can pull out all the xmas decos!!

the shadow box!

2011-12-02T12:59:00.000+13:00

I brought a shadow box from spolight like 4 years ago. Its shaped like a little house. Always planned to do something with it.........but it just sat + sat for a long time. Then finally this year after attending a awesome vintage fair in Palmerston North back in March I had brought Ruby some miniture cats......a wee family infact + some other vintage miniture animals. That girl is animal crazy!!

I got it out + painted it white a few mths back......yes quiet a few mths back!!
Then after visiting the lovely Rachel Tucker at her home back in September she gave me some Fancy Pants papers + some bits + bods. Finally while at the beach during Labour weekend + watching the rugby world cup final with my kids I got stuck into it!!

This was the end result.

I have one happy girl!! Aren't those Fancy Pants papers + embellishments cute!

clearing out the cobwebs!!

2011-11-29T20:27:00.000+13:00

yes well some time has pasted since I last posted here!!
No boring catch ups.......even I have slacked off in the photo department.......and that makes me feel sad when I look up my photos on the comp + see i'm lacking photos!! What if I missed a really important moment.........not like getting award at school just a everyday moment that meant something!!.....ok now is a good time to start eh!!

Have being busy getting crafty of late.........not in the paper way but other ways.......oh hang on I did add paper too a shadow box does that count?? Done a truck load of thrifting.........love it!! Also done a lot of cleaning out the cupboards........feels good!!

I'm really enjoying pinterest at the moment + getting some wonderful ideas!!
Like this idea to make the old doormat a bit interesting. The version I saw on pinterest was for a inside mat but I knew I could do it for a outdoor mat. So a few weeks ago I brought all the supplies + had a go.

So first you need a plain doormat...........cheap + cheerful!!
Some masking tape.
Some white spray paint.

I kept my plan pretty basic.

Apply the tape on the mat into the pattern you want. I went for a chevron look. And easy to apply!

Next get out your spray can + have some fun!!

Once dry take off your tape. And whala you got yourself a cheerful fun happening chevron frontdoor mat!!

and this is what it looks like at my front door. Unfortunately some egg creating creatures decided to jump the fence + nest on my front door + left some unwanted deposits!!

Now how much fun was that.........and it was all done in under a hour!!
Got 2 more doors that need mats........soo I gonna get some coloured spray for the next 2!!

she sipped her tea + laughed with her friends..........

2011-05-17T11:20:00.000+12:00

we had a such a FAB time on Sunday celebrating Rubys birthday!!

the girls arrived in their prettiest dresses.

They played games of pass the parcel, freeze, musical cushions + the chocolate game (which was not very lady like eating chocolate with a fork + knife)!!

And the brothers had to play too!!

The table was dressed + ready for a lovely afternoon tea party!

Delicious food was laid out........and we served the girls + boys with little tongs.

it was so much fun!!

they drunk juice or lemonade which was served from the teapots!

and then finally the cake!!

the cake had being my biggest stresser as I wanted it sooooo perfect + Ruby asked for this cake

months ago + I so wanted it to turn out!!

And it did!!

I was also very lucky to have kev's mum on hand to help me out + she put the cake

together while I'll was putting on my party dress!!

ok so it looks like a simple white cake right??

but wait there is a little surprise inside!!

every girl loves a rainbow right?

all the girls loved it + got a lovely surprise when I cut into it!

now I think the boys want one too for their birthday!!

but you know it was super easy + once I found the colouring to make those bright colours

I was happy. its just takes a long time as you have to cook six different little cakes!!

so happy birthday our little scooby doo.........we love you lots + lots.

I know you had the best time + loved it all but there was just one person missing + that was

Poppins + how she would of loved this tea party!!

she ran away with her imagination to a lovely tea party........

2011-05-14T12:32:00.001+12:00

this week has being all about preparing for a tea party for a certain girl who will be turning 9 on Sunday.

we have shopped this week for tea cups, saucers + plates......along with vintage tablecloths, mushrooms, pretty napkins + birds.....and more........

its going to be so much fun!!

I got to play with some of my new jenni b stamps when putting Rubys invites together

and and and..........I misted for the first time!!

I'm addicted!!

right its time to start some baking so we can have some delicious food to eat!!

what have you done lately?

2011-05-04T22:48:00.001+12:00

well this is just a few things i have done lately!!

the last weekend of March saw me travelling to Palmie North + spending a fab weekend with some excellent girls, some great vintage shopping + lets just say some very very late nights + lets not forget the great dancing!!

me, Rachel T + Kate

Jo + Kelly

then the New Plymouth Weetbix Tri........another hot day!

someone turned 40 on the last day of March!!

hanging out at the beach + making most of the hot autumn weather in April

attending rugby league comps......where I got jandel marks it was so hot!

The following weekend I attended a FAB weekend in Taupo the Autumn Escape. I took NO photos

and I'm sure i wasn't in any!!.........lol........another great weekend!!

After being in Taupo I headed over to Ohope to join kev, kids + some friends from the Naki.

A great few days away here. Kev took his standup paddle board + the kids got into it!!

For the rest of the hols I had the kids booked into some holiday programmes!

kids did some real cool activities + sadly I think that was the last ones forever!!

Thats Taggie up there!!

Easter!

we must of had the fastest easter egg hunt ever in NZ!!

then we had the most amazing Easter brunch with friends!

must add Ruby set the table for our Easter feast!

I made some Easter Bunny cupcakes

Cheats way of course!! Sorry there is a link to those ears but I just can't find it atm!

and now we are back to a routine with school back on.

and lastly the tiger who came to tea at the weekend!!

the end!!

p.s thinking of those affected by all this bad weather atm here in NZ + last week in the US!!

all night long!!

2011-03-21T12:03:00.005+13:00

recently we partied all night long to celebrate kevs coming of age 40!! I say coming of age as he doesn't turn 40 till the last day of this month!!

It was a awesome party.............a garden/farm party!! No dress ups............but just some good wholesome kiwi fun in the garden under a huge tent with fairy lights, candles, roast lamb on the spit + with some hay bales added to the mix!! And the weather was perfect!!......but being autumn the nights are cooler + we had to wrap up a bit warmer.............it was really the perfect autumn garden party!! OK kev would not call it a garden party but I do!! ;)

I was a bit slack on the photo taking .............. but you know I was playing host + all!! But I do believe there are some goodies floating out there........er um esp of some people having pole climbing comps at the end of the night!!

We were able to leave the tent up for a few extra nights + have a lovely family barbie the next night before kevs brother went back to Aussie.

The last few weeks have being crazy aound here with the farm, school actitives, builders + weekends away! Speaking of weekends away a few weeks back we went to support our friend in the Taupo Ironman. Wow amazing!! The fitness level of some ppl are just mind blowing + I'm not talking about the ppl that are the pros..........but just the everyday ppl like you + me. I was very inspired but not enough to do one!! I just don't have the mental stamina!!

Also have to mention the amazing fundraising ppl around the country that I know personally have done for CHCH. You girls are awesome!! But as well I love reading in our local paper here in the Naki The Daily News the amazing things ppl are doing to help CHCH out too!!.......the huge amounts of money being raised. WOW makes me so proud to be part of some of these awesome things happening. I can't imagine what CHCH is going through + to have more aftershocks last night........... CHCH is never far from my mind!!

summer is coming to a end...........I feel sad about this as we have had the most amazing summer this year doing so many things as a family!

On the creating side I have made a few cards of late.

simple + cute

2011-02-16T09:00:00.008+13:00

Ok so I was planning on having this wonderful surprise valentines afternoon tea for the kids on Monday..........but then I remembered its golf straight after school + then hip hop + we don't get home until after 6pm..........so that wasn't going to work!! So I aimed for Tuesday but I had totally down scaled it!! So I went for simple + cute!!........we don't really celebrate this day ourselves Kev or I.........but I thought it would be fun for the kids. And Ruby had made us a sweet card!

So here's simple + cute.

I made the little signs + stuck them to the lollipops + then suck them into the muffins (Nigella muffins......which are sooooo good). Underneath I placed jellybabies + Hersheys chocolate kisses. There was more in the bottom but I wasn't as quick as the kids.......they found them + had already sampled some!!

and my little Valentines!!

saying goodbye is hard

2011-02-05T20:37:00.010+13:00

on Thursday our lovely little cat Twiggy passed away. He had being with us for 13.5yrs.

I miss him heaps already.........the kids are real sad ..........but Ruby is broken hearted. They were the best of friends. Man its hard to see your kids hearts break like that. She loved him to pieces + I have being warning her for a year that his time was coming to a end as he was pretty old + it was going to be hard to say goodbye to him. Its amazing how animals become the extra member of the family without you even realising it. He was always there.........so faithful...........I would whistle out the window + he would come running...........he would follow us across the farm when we went for walks...........he always came to the washing line with me.........he was always waiting at the door when we came home..........he always sat with the kids while they watched tv + me + kev later at night.............and just quietly he would sit at the dining table with his little face just peeping over the top while we ate dinner..........waiting!!

We know he's already chasing the rabbits + resting in the sun in the long grass!!

We will miss you our little Twigga puss!

come he said ...............

2011-01-06T16:42:00.002+13:00

and I followed!

well hello 2011

2011-01-02T17:16:00.005+13:00

where did I go?.........time just got a hold of me + it went!!

Xmas was great......I had my family from Wellington staying till yesterday!!

New Years was spent with friends.......doing the usual.......sparking up the barbie, having a few bevies + letting the kids run wild!!......it was all good!!

so here I am at 2011.......I'm excited for it!!.......the calendar is filling up!!.......love it!!

i'm hoping to create more.........can we just celebrate for a moment that I have completely completely (can't stress it enough) cleaned up my space!! you can walk into it now + not have to climb over boxes + boxes, furniture + just crap!! I can throw my arms out wide + spin + not hit anything!! I feel so good + I can leave the door open!! Thank you kev for kicking the 'tidy up' into gear!! That man is a superstar!!

I hope for better health

its a year to celebrate...........kev + I are turning 80!!........i'm so excited to celebrate this number with him!! And yeah we are so planning a party!!

I can't wait to see what 2011 brings our kids.........the growing, developing, new experiences + challenges that lie ahead for them!! Its gonna be crazy fun!!

the well is dry!!

2010-12-07T17:07:00.007+13:00

yes the sun is shining + shining..............and yes what a fantastic start to our summer!!

Don't get me wrong I love summer but we soooooooooooo need rain + lots of it!! I know the townies don't want rain + complain if we get a spit + their washing might get wet!!..........but hey guys we have already run out of water + had a truck load delivered 2 weeks ago!! Today we rang up to order some more water + we were told there is a 2 week waiting list + they are not taking any more orders!! I was shocked to hear this in our free country!! I feel desperate knowing we can't order water but lucky we can hook up to the farm well...........but that too is low!!...........so what happens to the ppl that have no extra supply!!??

So I have trained my kids up to only flush when they do #2's, use wipes to clean their hands + this will probably expand to their faces too, no more showers - back to bathing, I'll probably have to buy in some drinking water + I'll only be washing clothes that are really dirty!! OK i know this sounds extreme but we have to be real about this as there is alot of talk that we will have this fantastic weather for the next few mths!! And of course it will effect our business, which will then effect the local businesses in town..............and so goes on the ripple effect!!

So please do a little rain dance for the farmers + so I know i can have a short dripple of a shower each morning!!

hey while we live on a small supple of water we still know how to celebrate someone turning 6 in our house at the weekend!!

on Saturday Taggie + his friends hungout on the waterslide + ate party food + shared a spidey birthday cake (made by Kev)!!............. real easy party!! Then on Sunday it was his birthday........... we started the day out as Spiderman opening his gifts!!

then later on we went out for dinner + a play at the park!! I must say it was such a easy birthday!!

ok gotta run..........late for a xmas do!!

in our thoughts

2010-11-25T07:41:00.003+13:00

All week I have hung on hoping they would get the 29 men out of the Pike River mine........and to turn on the TV yesterday afternoon + discover another explosion had taken place was so sad.
I sat with a huge lump in my throat + a sad heart for those affected by this tradegy.
RIP all 29 miners.........aroha + prayers to their loved ones.

i'm doing this!

2010-11-10T14:42:00.004+13:00

CAN'T WAIT!!

Kim is such a lovely + talented lady + as well she has a talented team!! Its going to be fun!!

its not too late to join in if you are in the festive + handmade mood!!

http://www.kimarcher.com.au

just a little bang!!

2010-11-08T11:17:00.006+13:00

we don't normally do Guy Fawkes due to the farm animals. I would love to go all out + have a huge bombfire + lots of great fireworks..........wrapped up warmly sipping on some mulled wine.......that does sound very autumn + english like!!

But last night we had a little play at the inlaws!! Kids loved the sparklers + then Kev let off a few things that fizzed pretty colours into the air + then some things that went crazy on the ground!!

It was just a little box of firecrackers my mil brought to share with the kids!! No animals were harmed during our moments of fun!!

new but old chair + the rest!!

2010-11-04T11:04:00.009+13:00

after having a wonderful fabulous day with my lovely friend sitting in her vintage store drinking coffee + eating chesscake I spotted 2 amazing chairs!! I fell in love with them + knew they were meant to be mine!! Paisley has the most amazing shop + very interesting shop!! one week you can go in + there is a 1 person walkway to get through the shop + then on your next visit furniture is moved + a darling table has being set up with a retro table cloth - circles made up different shades of green, a retro tea set (which I would love to buy but its not for sale) + retro glasses. This was set up for me + another friend........it was wonderful + we sat + chatted while customers came in looking!! Sadly i didn't have my camera on me + I always carry my small camera around with me.............next when we do it again!!

So getting back to these chairs!! I took them home + went about pulling furniture around the room to get the right look. I can't show you the whole room yet as its not finished + I'm taking a sofa bed out - which really lives in the scrapbooking/office/ guest room. That room is another story + you can just barely get in that room. Its become the dumping ground!! And we have friends coming to stay this mth from the UK + my family are coming at xmas.........so I need to get my AintoG!!

the chair!!

I couldn't get over the condition of them.........they are in such lovely shape. kev reckoned the previous owners must of hardly sat on them. I'm going to stain the arms + legs black eventually. I had to buy the cushions as well!!

And my birdcage!! Its new but made to look old.

I've had the filing draws for quite a long time but they were just sitting in my scrap area doing nothing. So I paired them up with that little sidetable that I got when Tim my brother passed away 9yrs ago. I'm thinking I'm gonna spraypaint that black too! Now just got to get the perfect side board to go on other wall + get all my art work up that I have stored under my bed!! We have lived in this house for nearly 11yrs + these 2 wall in this room have no pictures or art work on them........not sure if I was scared how to do it or wanting it to be perfect!!??

A few weeks ago I decided to pull out our mircowave that hasn't being going for nearly 2yrs. We had decided not to replace it as I'm not a hugh fan on mircowaves + we hardly ever used it........mainly to melt butter or reheat things!! We never brought it.........it was a wedding gift!!
So I decided to make it a little area to place all my cookbooks in (as they were all lying in a shelf in the island + it always looked messy + did my head in!!)

Before

now

I need to get the rest of that sticker off!! I love the filing cabinets + they are great for my handwritten recipes + ones I have ripped out of mags. And as this area is deep I have hidden behind the books more recipes books!!

And finally my extra egg holder. I've got one of those wooden boxes that looks like a mini hen house but its over flowing with eggs + I needed something else to hold those extra eggs. A kids red sandpit bucket just doesn't look good on the bench!! So I found in another vintage store locally a few mths back this lovely little enamel bowl. The eggs look perfect in there now + keeps the bench tidy!! I was told that Nest has put out a new range that looks like this..........bet theirs is not as cheap as mine is!!

I just love the thrill of thrift shopping + the amazing treasures that can be found!!

to Trick or Treat or Treat to Trick?

2010-10-31T22:46:00.019+13:00

Halloween.......how I love it!! And why do it I love...........cause I get to go silly + decorate my house + dress my kids up + make fun invites!! So we had held another party at our house last night. They partied hard from 6pm to 8.30pm..........they ran around like crazy, they got wet from bobbing apples + sticky in the face from the jelly eating comp! We fed + watered them + filled them up with sugar + then sent them home!! All 24 of them...........9 couldn't make it!! I didn't mind!!.........lol

The Joker.

Do you love his green hair? How important was it to have

green hair............very important!!! His eyes lit up when I

mentioned that I needed to add food colouring to his

hair to give him the complete look! It got a bit

messy!!

Shopping bags make the best ghost!!

Welcoming party sits on canvas I made for last years party.

Jelly eating comp!!

Ghost on arrival at front door.

Ruby apple bobbing. And she went as a

Cheerleader this year! How easy was her

outfit!!

Had fun making up wee displays. Not alot of choice in NZ

for Halloween.......but we made it work!!

Girls just wanna have fun!!

My massive web............this was fun!!

Waiting for lolly scramble!! Nothing like sending kids home

filled with sugar!!

The spooky hallway!!

Do you notice there is 1 thing missing?

I have a child missing!

I got no photos of him in his outfit.

But little does he know I will be making him

put his outfit in again so I can get a wonderful photo of

him in his Mad Hatter get up.

There was a bit of confusion for his outfit. He told

me he wanted to go as the Mad Hatter but not the Mad Hatter from

Alice + Wonderland.............der.......the Mad Hatter from Batman!!

But hey he looked cool as the Mad Hatter!!

I hope you enjoyed the party as much as we did!!??

can we go on an adventure?

2010-10-05T22:43:00.016+13:00

the sun was high, the togs were discarded, the mood was right, the bags were packed + the food was prepared!!

The trio set off on their adventure to the back of the farm.........armed with goodies + the camera of course!! So I take no responsibility for what you are about to see on this adventure.

It starts with one girl taking on the whole world!!

And one boy who dared to share this adventure with 2 girls!! And I'm guessing his sister told him to pose like that!!

Of course there always has to be two fair maidens!!

But sometimes one can be a bit feisty ............and claim her brother ditched + left them behind!!.........lol.......love a bit of drama to the story!!

They passed The One Pine Tree on the track.

And discovered......... a hidden creek.

So last weeks puddles!!

Often you meet travellers at the cross road.

Sometimes you might discover roaming animals.............can you see them?

And these's always a couple of characters along the way passing the time chewing some grass by the barn!!

And after a long walk from the big hill at the back of the farm the adventurers arrive home safely...........needing fresh supplies!!

lunchtime meeetings

2010-09-27T21:56:00.005+13:00

to discuss what we will do these holidays..............resulted in the 'Idea Jar'!!

Have to admit I saw this on a blog last week so I must give credit but I can't remember who the blog belonged too (um yes hanging out on a lot of blogs lately......fun!)........ but I do know it was a Aussie blog!! So yes loved the idea + decided this would be great for my kids!!

So the kids wrote down all the things they would like to do in the hoildays.............but there is a but!! They had to pick things they could do around home...........I do believe there is a 'Adventure Jar'......... which includes day trips etc. but for now we are just doing the 'Idea Jar'!!

So now the jar is filled with their little ideas...........for example ......... chalk drawings, do some baking, play a board game of your choice + playstation for 20mins............my suggestion on the time limits for certain things!!

Ruby can't wait to pick a idea out + Finn is hoping for his idea 'play rugby'!! It will be interesting to see how this little idea pans out!!

So today our farm was filled with sunshine + everyone went out to play, skip, run, yell + yelp!!! And I got loads of washing done!! What a difference when that sun shines + warms your face!! It made me so happy today!!

One thing I love about school holidays.........is the late nights I can have!! Last night I watched a French film till 12.30 + then read my book set in Italy till 1.30..........infact finished it! So I felt rather travelled before closing my eyes!! Oneday I will go back!

I'm having a few people over tomorrow so I hope the sun shines down on us!!

celebrating 10!

2010-09-23T15:18:00.008+12:00

Finn turned 10 on the 19th! 10 years......wow where did that go!!

It was a big weekend. Bowling on the Saturday, sleepover with 3 others, dvd, outside in the rain playing ball games + then tunnel crawling in the mud!! It was lots of fun + man can those 10yr old boys eat!!

love this pic of Taidhg..............he had such a good time bowling + was on the adults team + bet me!!

And the cake!! Finn wanted a rugby field. How easy was that!! I was feeling rather overwhelmed with tiredness by mid morning Sunday (told boys to be quiet at 1am + then they were awake at 6.45am) that I forgot to take a pic of cake without candles...........doesn't look as good with candles in. Tasted yum too!!

I made Finn 'Bart Simpson' themed invites. It was like a postcard...........pic on front + info on the back. Simple!!

just a little 'yay' its taken me all week to post this post!! Thank goodness its the last day of term tomorrow.............so looking forward to the hols!!

ps. can you believe it yesterday I was putting the wheelie bin out in the snow + collecting mail!!

I had a great time all by myself!! Snow in my hair + on my face!!

spontaneous

2010-09-13T18:22:00.007+12:00

after a few weeks of kids vomiting I was getting a bit of cabin fever!! Which resulted in a bit of a grumpy mummy!! So I felt a bit bad for being the 'grouch' all weekend long + surprised the kids with a afternoon tea party after school. I made little name cards + wrote letters to each of them.

I got the bubbles + moustaches from Elise's blog........a pdf file she shared back when they celebrated thanksgiving. I used the bubbles on Taidhg's birthday invites back in Dec + have used them again on Finn's invites recently.

um yeah notice the lack of home baking......... didn't I mention the word 'spontaneous'

it was fun afternoon...........letters, donuts, moustaches + a teapot filled with juice!!

I saw 500 Hundred Days of Summer last night..............wow wow wow..........I love it!!.........yeah did I love it!!

and then there was silence!!

2010-09-07T19:31:00.002+12:00

we are having way too much fun!!! :)

It's Friday isn't?

2010-07-22T18:40:00.006+12:00

So tonight I look forward to blobbing on my sofa eating my chocolate bar by myself once the kiddos are tucked up in bed!!

long week this week.............my kids are dragging their butts out of bed everyday!! Its hard to get up at 7am every morning after having 3 weeks of sleepins!! Today felt like Friday all day!! So why I aren't I making homemade pizza or burgers??

Got some pics developed today............so hoping to get a scrap on as the I just got this mths Jenni B kit..........her kits are magic!!

new camera

2010-07-09T13:06:00.011+12:00

I love my canon a lot but sometimes I get sick of lugging it around with me like a baby bag...........so for about year I have wanted a smaller camera so I could carry in my handbag......less bulk is good sometimes!!...............so as we left fiji on Monday I checked some cameras out in the duty free section (since we didn't buy anything on the way to fiji??).......and i picked up this wee baby

Olympus Australia Digital Cameras Digital SLR Digital Lenses xD Cards - FE-4030 details

I got it in pink!! The features are fantastic............I guess what sold for me was the extra features likes fish eye, pin hole, pop art + drawing. I have only had a little play with it so far + here a few pics I took today with it so far.

this is the pin hole feature..........giving you the vintage look

the fish eye feature............not a great pic as the chooks kept moving

The draw feature............this is pretty cool too!!

and finally the pop art feature...........chooks featuring again!! Very bright!!!

I can't wait to get some better photos + print them out..............I don't have photoshop + I'm so not techno..........so these new features are great for me!!

help its freezing here today...............wishing I was here right now...........................

BULA!!

2010-07-05T21:42:00.011+12:00

I have just had the most amazing 10 days away in Fiji with my family...........it was heaven on earth............I didn't want to come home........I felt very sad leaving the Island yesterday + saying goodbye to all my new friends...............and then today to fly into a cold Auckland + a even colder Taranaki.

We went to Plantation Island...............its amazing............everyone is so friendly + there is so much to do. I just can't say enough about it!! I want to go back NOW!!

lots of lazy days!

lots of swimming in 1 of the 3 pools on offer!!

lots of hanging with goofballs!!

lots of flower wearing!

lots of silly photos with my girl!

a few cocktails each night!!

and to end the perfect days.............amazing sunsets!!

you can understand why I want to go back!!??

its just one big joke!!

2010-06-23T22:23:00.006+12:00

and how much do we enjoy it?!!............we love that we have a bit of a joker in our family now.

He's cheeky, friendly, nosey + loveable...............and he's a horse.

joker arrived last week.

and this little girl is in love with him!

he's rather cheeky + loves to play

I see a great friendship developing here

I love it when i go to the hen house he follows me to check out what I'm doing + tries to eat the eggs in my hand!! Always looking for a treat.

I'm going on a little adventure on Friday + I believe the weather is looking up!!

while it was pouring with rain...............

2010-06-07T11:41:00.008+12:00

last mth ..........Ruby turned 8. Where has that time gone?? I asked her not to turn 8 as she is growing up too fast!! How lucky are we to have her..............her sense of humour, her laughter, her gentle ways + of course her loudness, her ability to know that someone is sad + knows just what to say, her friendships with her brothers + her sensible ways + her so goofy ways are just some parts of her that make her something special.

Her birthday was the 15th May + off we went to chipmunks with a group of friends + then home again for some party food + then some dvds + a sleepover!!

Kev made her birthday cake.........a guitar cake..........which i have to say was pretty impressive!!

I just used sponge + made some cream chesse icing (YUM)!!

I made the invites.............making them simple like a postcard. Sorry poor photo as I took it at night.

And look what I finally got!!..............CHOOKS!! 5 in total so far!! Only 2 are laying atm but thats Ok as we are getting 2 to 3 eggs a day. They are just so funny to watch + I love it when they run!!! They look so urgent + in a hurry!! Its always about food + boy are they nosey!! Sorry pics aren't flash due my hands still shaking alot.

So with my health I went to the speacilist last week + found out I have Grave's Disease. It affects my eyes + legs. Its normally in your family or brought on by stress..............mine was stress. It can lay dormant for awhile before you know you have it. Then you have a complete burnout + that was me. I laid on the sofa for a week + couldn't move!! Also Grave's disease results in a overactive thyroid.

I'm getting better each day slowly.............my heart rate is still over 90, my body still shakes, I still feel nervous + anxious about everything.............thats just some of the symtoms I still have but the ones that are gone now are ........... I don't feel like I'm over heating, I can sleep through the night now + my hair is not dry + brittle anymore. I'm still taking my natural meds + feel so normal compared to 6 weeks ago..........its going to take awhile till I'm back to my normal health..........something like 18mths to 2yrs!!

So here we are in June.............that fab mth that is!! Its the beginning of winter, time to eat lots of yummy soups, light the fire, have sleepins on Sundays, winter sport on Saturdays, frost + blue skies that go on forever, a mountain at my doorstep covered in snow, no cows to milk, my birthday, a tropical hoilday, play lots of board games with the kids, go on one of our discovery winter trips somewhere in the Naki + get crafty (did I say that)!!!

So i hope you are having a fab June so far?

I know I said..............

2010-05-09T10:19:00.005+12:00

I wouldn't be back for awhile but I seem to have some extra engery this morning.........maybe it was the lovely cards I got for mothers day this morning!!!

Thanks for the get well wishes...........its a slow process but we will get there in the end but to add to the mix I also have something wrong with my liver............having test soon..........fingers crossed its nothing major!!!

With a overactive thyroid it makes you very very tired ...............so I have very little engery for anything + thats just 1 of the many symptoms I have. So when the kids go to school I seem to spend alot of time on the sofa..............I'm so over it but thats how low my engery is!! But then there are times I have to get moving + yesterday was one of those days as it was Saturday morning sport. And now that I have 3 kids playing sport we are split 3 ways. With rugby we have to travel + hockey is at the turf sametime + in Stratford each week. It looks I'm doing the home games. And yesterday I got to watch Taidhg play rugby............it was his second game. I just love watching the little kids.............running the wrong way + playing in the wrong team are just some of the entertaining moments in the game. Taidhg scored 2 tries..............and hey lets not forget the 2 drop kicks he did in the game...............the result of playing with a big brother at home in the backyard!!!

Don't they just love playing with their mouthguards all the time!!

And notice we shaved all Taidhgs hair off.................bloody nits.............but fingers crossed we are over them...........we had a lady come to our house + denit us all!!...........well not Kev!! I didn't know that ppl even did that as a job!!!

And Ruby has decided to be the goalie this season for her hockey team.

and so today its Mothers Day. I have never been big on celebrating this day with brought gifts.........instead I love the handmade cards I get every year from kids. Growing up Mothers Day was not big in our house either but my mum did like a phone call to wish her a happy mothers day. Its not that we believe in it but why do we have to have a public day to remind us about our mums + say all those nice things that should be said in our everyday.

Two years ago I spent my last mothers day with my mum as she was dying + tomorrow is her second ann.

So instead of feeling sad I'm planning on taking Ruby out for arvo tea tomorrow + celebrating her - my mum + Rubys Poppins. Rubys misses her alot + I think its important to remember to celebrate what a wonderful person she was. And thank her quietly.

So to all mums that read my blog today I wish you all a wonderful mothers day with your family.

ps I do believe that as a mother on mothers day we shouldn't do anything!! ;)

apparently I'm being taking to Iron Man 2 this arvo!!

down + out!

2010-05-06T10:05:00.003+12:00

so many things have happened since my last post!! And I can't be bothered filling it in!!
I'm still here + very busy but my health has not been good for nearly 2mths........we found out I have a over active thyriod. So hopefully when I start to feel good I will be back on here!!

Relax!!

2010-04-02T11:40:00.009+13:00

oh yes thats what I'm gonna be doing for the next 2 weeks!!.........yay for school holidays!!

What a busy term at school esp this last week............tryathlons, a birthday, a visit to hospital + Easter visitors.

But my what fantastic weather we have had.............its like a mini summer.........love it!! Still in shorts + T's!!.........and visits to the beach...........autumn is my fav season by far. And i see our Chestnut tree is shedding its harvest already!!..........missed the blackberries this year.

On Wednesday Finn + Ruby entered the weetbix tryathlon for the first time. It was stinky hot day...........+ should i add in there it was Kev's birthday!!
Ruby was in a team event + she ran. Finn was on his own + did the bike + run.
For some reason my kids weren't keen on swimming in the sea..........I didn't get that considering they swim at the beach all the time!!???

Afterwards we headed to the beach to relieve ourselves from the heat.

Then we ended up here!

At the hospital with a cut foot!..........the outcome was good..........just a nasty cut + no stitches needed! But the kids enjoyed the visit to the hospital...........checking out the xray room + having rides in a wheelchair!!

Right I'm off to enjoy my Easter + I hope you have a good one too!!

Welcome Home..............

2010-03-15T18:07:00.010+13:00

by Dave Dobbyn thats what Kev sang to his friend on Saturday as we farewelled him.

So powerful + appropriate for Dave as his Aussie army mates brought him home on Friday.

A wonderful service for a great guy..........lots of laughs + tears on Saturday as many wonderful tributes were made to Dave.

We will miss you dearly Dave............a little bit of us goes with you.

I was so super proud of Kev to sing this song...........huge courage + a lot of love.

today we are bunking school to do this...........

2010-03-10T12:00:00.002+13:00

school was meant to finish at 12.30 but they cancelled the meeting + so its meant to be normal hours............but we made plans............and we are still going to do our plans + go to the beach this arvo!! The weather is crazy perfect + it won't be long until we will be lighting fires + adding the layers of extra clothes!!.............so making the most of it!!

off to splash in the waves!!

Today was a day to celebrate

2010-02-28T22:36:00.004+13:00

12yrs ago I said YES to this fab guy!!

we got married down the road from our house in these gardens Te Popo. It was a fantastic summers day. Kev sung + played the guitar to me as I walked to him. (isn't he magic!!) My parents both gave me away.

I wore a pink wedding dress! Same shade + I had small flowers like this dress sewn on my empire line.
We had the best band!! As well as having such amazing talent they made their own instruments plz!! Such clever clever ppl. Kev had a wee jammin session with them too!!

It was a magical wedding. And I'm so glad I got to marry such a amazing man!!

So today we celebrated with my favourite breakfast ( i got to choose as I was making them).....pancakes!!

and then we all hung out for the day at home. Kev did have to milk so we couldn't go far. And then we wined + dined ourselves with the kids.........yes we took our beloved kids to dinner with us!! Infact they make the day even more special !!........did I just say that!!........lol

But hey I haven't shared my exciting news.............on WEdnesday night we went to the More FM winery tour .........which was awesome.........but afterwards we went into town + hung out at a small bar + some of the band members from the concert arrived + then Che Fu rocked in!! They had a big jammin session with only about 40 of us!! Ok with out sounding too corny it was really cool!! He just ad libbed + was singing about the ppl in the bar etc..........it was very cool. Well worth getting home at 2.30am!!.............btw I didn't suffer as I was the driver + lets just say Kev is still recovering!!

But on a sad note we received some very sad news when we got home from dinner that one of Kev's school mates passed away suddenly in Aussie. RIP Dave...........in our thoughts + prayers.

Right looks like I've done another midnightner!!............not good being Monday tomorrow + a busy week!! Lots to do + lots planned..........might even find some time to create!!

Lately..........

2010-02-15T16:40:00.008+13:00

we had a trip away..........it was wonderful to reconnect with great people.
of course a stop at the beach was needed..........it was so hot!!

and then some of us have felt like this of late...........not fun!

source
Our lights have being on into the small hours ..................wish I could say it was one hell of a party..........but more like 4 nights of hell!!

source
I have spent lots of time in my lovely big bath .

source
and today is a new week!

source

a little break away.

2010-01-28T11:14:00.009+13:00

so we popped up to a beach just nth of our place for 3 nights away. Stayed in a great bach. This beach is very popular. It has a camp site for tenters + caravans + avenues of baches.......its like a mini seaside town filled with adults + kids..........and I mean kids ............everywhere..........on bikes..........at the playground..........the river or the beach. And you know what its fantastic for the kids............they just come + go all day long + you know they are safe. And of course there were plenty of kids from school for our kids to hook up with!! And my kids loved the shop esp..........when do my country kids get to walk to the dairy + buy their ice creams!!??.........never!!.........and bike around till its dark!!

just to give you an idea what its like. This is not even quarter of the camp. We had a 3 storey place + looked over everyones bach!! And yeah shocker photo!!.....lol

So we spent a lot of time at the river rather than the beach. Kayaked, boggie boarded, made sand castles, buried each other, swam + the best bit .............. we fished!! I have a new addiction!! I loved it!! Mr T the fluke first time fishing ever caught a fish in 10 mins.

But wait there is more.............the stringrays go up + down the river!! One swam right past me on the rivers edge. Scarey to think about that dude that got stabbed at Kev's local windsurfing spot in Waitara last Monday. So anyway I was sitting on the edge of river enjoying myself + then something BIG snagged my line.............it pulled + pulled + I tried to windup + then snap...........it broke my line + took my bait + sinker.................it was a stingray!!

my boy in pink!! love it how he doesn't care!!

so today is the last day of the hols!! I can't say I feel sad this year that my kids are going to back to school. The summer so far has being crap + we have hardly being to the beach. I can't remember a summer so bad!

we have done lots of things, had friends over, got a few swims in at the local pool + stayed a few nights at the beach...........but my kids are ready for school + a routine. Poor old Taidhg has asked since new year when does school start again (thats only cause he got a week + a bit in bf the hols).

So we are ready. Uniforms all shiney + bright, new books brought + omg I must say how expensive they were $173 if you please + I even had recycled somethings from last year + got specials!! And books are covered!

I'm secretly excited as I'm going to get a bit of me time back.

the only thing I'm not looking forward to is the early starts..........I have being very spoilt these hols with lie ins each day + getting to read books late into the night..........I mean late as in 1 or 2am sessions!!..........should i mention a coffee made for me + brought to my bed each morn.......what a man eh!!

while the sun shines.........

2010-01-07T22:45:00.008+13:00

we play on the waterslide + then lay on the hot concrete.

Remembering doing this as a kid?

we swim at our local country pool.

Flipper magic!! Ruby loves these flippers + apparently they make your swimming smoother!!Ruby brought them herself from the school gala for 50cents!! She's got the thrift thing going on like her mama!!

We practise rollerskating + we are getting better!!

and *sigh* I LOVE her skates..........I remember the freedom they gave me when I was a kid. I would spent hours practising........esp since i lived on a hill in the Hutt Valley + had to work out the safe way down without breaking anything!! Trees were handy to grab onto!!

I didn't have beautiful skates like Ruby's...........mine were tie on. But they serviced me well + I skated in them so much I wore the stoppers down!

The other night we went to NP to see "Where the wild thing are".

It was me that was busting to see it as i have always loved that book since I trained as a kindy teacher. And of course when I teaching I was always buying books for those future babies!!

So I didn't love it...........but then I didn't hate it! And damn it I cried at the end!!

The kids were funny...........I thought Ruby would like it but she wriggled + complained that she was hungry + tired all the way through it (and we just had dinner).

Finn wiggled his loose tooth the whole way through it + showed no emotion....... I mean nothing......lol..........and lets not forget he decided to stick his hand in the drink holder just before the end + got it stuck!! Ruby suggested that we would have to replace his arm for a stick like Douglas off the movie!!

Taidhg took me by surprise + watched the whole movie totally enthralled by it......on the edge of his seat kind of stuff. I thought he would of being the pain in the butt but no + then he totally surprised me by bursting into tears at the end. He was heartbroken that Max left Carol behind. Thats when I started to cry + Ruby was crying too!!

Kev just shook his head.

Next movie on the list is "The Fantastic Mr Fox". Hopefully no tears in that one!!??

And yes the sorting + decluttering still goes on...........one bag of broken + crappy toys thrown out!!

over + out till after the weekend.......getting glammed up for a wedding + running away + staying in a penthouse suite!! (and yes NO kids)

So Kev asked.........

2010-01-04T19:25:00.012+13:00

whats your new years resolution?

I replied - I don't do resolutions!!

1. I never stick to them

2. I make unreachable ones

3. I just let myself down again

4. most are about my weight (boring)!!

but hey I do GOALS.

so you ask yourself whats the difference?

resolutions to me is something that you are trying resolve or fix.

goals are aims that you would like to reach.......and the word seems more user friendly!

so my GOALS for 2010 are (in no particular order)

keep my fitness up

try windsurfing
complete decorating our house

complete blanket I started last winter for our bed

good choices

write letters again

get re-inspired in the kitchen

make a journal

organise myself better

get creative again

well I have started one today.............................organise myself better

I sorted out 9 bags of clothes today + made a new space in the craftroom.

so did you make goals or a resolution or maybe nothing??

all photos sourced from weheartit

I do I do.........

2009-12-30T13:00:00.003+13:00

this amazing talented woman sang out on Sunday night to us.........that is Gin Wigmore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps85tH5cK_E

with another great kiwi singer Dave Dobbyn. Loved this concert.........just as good or maybe even better than Fleetwood Mac the week before.

Now gotta get my tickets for the wine tour!

so where did xmas go? it was a great day in the sun + fun to be with kev's family. I took hardly any pics........typical me!

but this one says it all + what a clever santa getting her the perfect gift!!

and now this mama wants some too!! And btw thats not kev in the background thats my fil........its scarey they look so much alike!!

I hope you all had a lovely xmas + heres to (insert clink clink of glasses) new year + great things to come!!

home alone!

2009-12-10T17:42:00.012+13:00

this guy........yes my baby turned 5 on the 5th of this mth.

and he went to school on Monday.

so I am home alone!!..........a mum of no preschoolers!!
so how do I feel?

a little sad that baby is a school boy + how quickly he has grown + changed + ready to learn more. I miss him hanging out with me in the morning before kindy + in the arvo.

But I DONT MISS driving into town for kindy.

He did this on Tuesday............and written all over his face was "I'm a big now riding the bus to school"

so he will get a week + a half before the summer hols........just a taste of whats to come!

And to my surprise my week has being rather busy.

Today I helped Ruby's class make these. I first saw them on here but had to adapt them to what we had here locally. fun!

mine

and Ruby's

and did you see the lastest ezine out at SBO ? a great read + some awesome inspo.
I was lucky again to have Andrea ask me..............here's my creations using the BG nook + pantry range with a bit of Cosmo nutmeg thrown in there.........I found they worked well together.

this is my fav LO out of the 4.

I wasn't so keen on this one but I have grown to like it..........working in such straight lines + that boxed look isn't really me.

my version from Trina's sketch.

and 42 pumpkins

hopefully I'll be back a sooner than later but i have had some health issues to deal with but things are looking good now + I feel normal again!!

and i have got lots of xmas decorating to do..............I so love love love this time of year!!
and hey I have signed up to do this too........can't wait!!

the time is flying by!!!

2009-11-18T12:05:00.011+13:00

and look at that its over a mth since i last blogged!!

I've being crazy busy here + there is still more of it to come.

we had a wonderful break at labour weekend + stayed in a fantastic beach house in Oakura (which is 15km sth of New Plymouth).........and Kev had a great weekend windsurfing + paddle boarding + he even won a $800 custom made wetsuit!!

And then it was heads down + getting ready for our first halloween party!! I spent hrs on the invites.......infact I spent far too much time on the invites .............next time I will start early + not pour my heart + soul into them.

It was the best party. 17 kids came + they all had a blast. We played bob the apples.

eat jelly of the plate .......no hands!!

toasted marshmellows (which i got NO photos as I was getting the eats ready!) + to end the night we had a big lolly scramble. I also took NO photos of Finn, Ruby + Taidhg dressed up!! I plan to get them to have another dress up session + pose. Finn went as Micheal Jackson, Ruby a Zombie ballerina + Taidhg started off as Ben 10 but he wanted his face painted like a lion.......so he became a Lioning Ben 10!! And i was the only adult that dressed up + I went a Desperate Housewife!! For our first halloween party it was a hit + we will be doing it again next year!!

We finally planted out vegetable garden last week.............you always plant later than labour weekend in Stratty as there is always a late frost...........and do you know what........we had a small sneaky frost hit us + it killed our baby toms, cumbers + courgettes.......bummer!! But the corn + carrots are apparently already poking through the soil. Got to plant out the beans + peas yet.

not alot of scrapping has being happening but got some things to share in a few weeks using the lovely nook + pantry BG!! But I did make this cute little card for a friends BD last week.

its seems to be the season for BD's atm around here..........kids have got 5 parties happening + my baby turns 5 on the 5th of Dec.............eeck where did that time go!!

and and and I just had to share this photo............I just love it!!............come fly with me!

OK gotta run my most fav movie is on..................Dan in Real Life..............its soooooooooo funny + I just LOVE the music + I wish we had a house by the lake like that!!.............well i guess a tent by the sea is good enough atm eh!!..............lol

NITS!!

2009-10-12T11:02:00.006+13:00

are so damn expensive........would you know!!

we are on our third round of these little buggers for Ruby + first for Taidhg (thats what you get for letting your boy wear his hair longer)!!

Finn ended his hols on a high note.............he came 4th in his golf tournament yesterday..........pretty cool huh!! But poor old Ruby ended up coming head to head with a cow yesterday.

check her out. photo from yesterday (same one on FB) but today it looks worse!!

she did make me laugh this morning with her comment "i've lost all my prettyness"!! But when i dropped her off at school this morning she loved all of the attention of course!!

I was happy yesterday too as I completed 5 loads of washing!! whites, darks, towels, woollens + a clothes wash!! It felt good to catch up!!

well my next few weeks are going to be filled crazy craft making.........how painful ;). School has got its Mission/pets day + you know when they make those sand saucer things + vegetable ppl...........but when they move further up the school their craft making extends.
So guess who put their hand up but as well gave ideas..........and as well we are having a very exciting party here in the next weeks + I've got to make all the goodies for that too!!

leaving with you the last 2 LO's I did for the SBO GOK challenge.

Almost blue!

2009-10-06T16:25:00.003+13:00

the sky was almost most filled with nothing but blueness (such a word)..................it was welcomed with open arms at our house + the kids were quickly put outdoors!!..........lol........well it didn't quite happen like that but I did suggest it + they agreed!!

We saw the mountain for the first time in what seems like weeks.......... and it had snow down to the bottom but when i took this photo just before a lot of the snow has melted over the day!

Yep just a tad cool in the Naki atm!!

I don't really like talking about the weather but man!!........its just effected us so much these holidays + done my head in like nothing + all the mums I saw at the supermarket feel all the same. I know there is a light at the end of this tunnel!!........lol

So yeah day 9 + all is looking well. T at daycare .........giving F + R a breather. Haircuts done!!

Food supply brought in!! Body + lungs being excercised on almost blue day!! Mother enjoying quiet coffee!! :) ...........and planning on read my reserved book from the library - Tony Parsons - 'Starting Over'.

Day 7

2009-10-04T19:54:00.003+13:00

today we woke up early to go to New Plymouth to cheer this guy on!

Kev competed in the New Plymouth 1/2 marathon + did it in 1hr + 23mins!! Only trained for 4 weeks!! I'm so green jelly how naturally fit he is + wished I had this ability. He puts my 10 weeks of going to the gym to shame!!............but hey baby steps for the very unfit!! :)

day 4.

2009-10-01T23:11:00.003+13:00

all is going well so far apart from the rain but I know I'm not alone in this wet patch!! We have done hoilday programme, friends sleepover + going to friends.

Today was filled with lots of tenting making (inside), stories read in the tents, breaking tents + making your sister squeal or should I say scream!! Jumping on the old couch + doing handstands on the new couch!! Running outside when the rain stopped for 5mins, making art + a spot of telly. Did i mention I only had 2 kids ...........easy!!

Tomorrow ...........not sure what that will bring but I'm thinking some baking needs to be done as I have some very turned bananas!! A spot of tiding + sorting + lets not forget the washing.........ick mines piling up due to this flippen rain!

But I'm looking forward to the weekend as Kev is having it off + its looking busy too + YAY to daylight savings!!

So for the second time I played the GOK comp over at SBO. They have had some great challenges going on over there. Wish I could of got some more done but the last 2 weeks of term were crazy here.

So I quickly squeezed one out last night just before week 4's challenge closed.

I combined 2 of the challenges - 'white' space + a $5 LO. How simple was that for me!!........but it still took me like 2hrs.

So Turf Dogging...........its windsurfing on land. Its like a HUGE skateboard + Kev can lock in his sails he uses for actual windsurfing into the board. Its great for those days he can't get to the beach ........... but the wind has to be right.

so hoping for a spot of sunshine tomorrow!

NINE!

2009-09-20T15:23:00.006+12:00

yesterday we celebrated Finn turning 9!

Yesterday we had a fun time with Finn + his 3 buddies. We took them to Chipmunks..........great place for them to run, shout, yehaa + burn some of that 9yr old energy!! Then we headed down town to "LoneStar" + I can't rave enough what a fantastic place to take kids to eat..........its another place that can handle loud talk, giggling + goofing around. And lets not forget the price ppl...........$10 for a meal, desert + a drink for each kid!! And great food for the adults too!! Then we headed back to Stratty for some birthday cake, hallway soccer, guitar playing + a bit of All Black watching.............then home!!

I was the one that did the driving around of the boys. They cracked me up with their theories of the world + life in general. Also it was good to see Finn with his friends + just be himself. Finn's not a very open book + i'm learning to respect this.............its hard as I'm so the opposite. Also listening to him talk made it even more real that he's his own person with his own thoughts, opinions + feelings. I did know this but yesterday just confirmed it a little bit more + that he's not my little boy anymore. Ohhh its hard letting them go!!

And hey here we are the proud parents of a wonderful 9yr old!!

So I'm looking forward to school finishing on Friday + less running around! Its being a super crazy term with spring happening on the farm, kids after school activities + me at the gym........I'm one tired mama!! And let me add my tail bone still hurts..............esp when I sneeze!!.........LOL

so yeah rollon Friday + bring some good holiday fun!! Lots of hanging out + going to some school holiday fun programmes + I think the kids have got their eye on some movies that are coming out too. Also daylight savings is coming.......yeah!!

and check this out............... This was for SBO's comp challenge 2...........had to use a label.
I love how this came out! I used one of the KR's kits. Love those kits!

I'm avoiding this..............

2009-08-30T17:38:00.006+12:00

to go + do this................

but I will leave you with this...........

Rach

when cool becomes uncool.........

2009-08-11T15:27:00.005+12:00

so when did I become uncool too my nearly 9yr old!!?

I guess when I pose for photos like this in a public place + then make a LO out of it!!

I have used the super YUMMY June kit from Kenner Road for this LO.

So spring is here on the farm with lots of little mouths wanting to be fed their milk........infact I just saw from my window my new babies for this season go by on the back of the tractor to their new home down the track from me.......so tomorrow I will be back to gumboot + leggings wear!!

but WOW to this amazing weather but what a tease..........please not let it end..........as I have enjoyed building up my vit.D intake!!...............I'm over cold mornings + the dust created from the fire!! And I'm over being sick...........just me no one else in the house............bring on true spring weather in another 3 weeks!!

rach

I wish I could dazzle you.........

2009-06-26T22:55:00.002+12:00

but its been a funny old mth + life has just happened!
I know its mid winter but June is one of my fav mths
1. kev's not milking
2. we get a long weekend
3. we get to yell at our in kids public.......but nothing but pure encouragement as they play their winter sport.
4. its nearly the school hols
5. and of course the most important.........its my birthday!!

so with a sad heart I ask if you have any spare prayers or positive thoughts that you send them via a family from our school + kindy who lost their beauitful 6yr old son, Andre in a crash this week.
And maybe one for me to help heal my broken tail bone.............it truly is becoming a right royal pain in the butt!!

Rach

NZ is not a small country but a large village.............Peter Jackson

2009-05-31T22:41:00.017+12:00

(OK WARNING.....................HUGE blog entry + very photo heavy............you have been warned!)
this is how I feel.(referring to peter j's quote) I have done a lot of travelling since mid April + caught up with lots of friends + family. It was good, there was lots of laughing, crying, OMG's + talking.............yes lots of talking!! I spent one weekend in Akld with some amazing friends from school........that weekend was the best + I did a lot healing about my mum while I was with these girls (they probably don't even know it)..........but I guess these wonderful woman were part of me during my high school + teacher college years + we did a lot of growing during these years. So they knew my mum.........I felt like was going home when I caught up with them.

And it took me about a week to recover from that HUGH weekend.............not that I went on a bender but I had some crazy roomies who partied hard!!.........................

So then a few weeks later we travelled to Taupo to the Autumn Retreat. What a fantastic weekend.

I had a great time catching up with some wonderful woman again. I had a great roomie Trina (who I sat with also) + 2 other wonderful gals Rachel T + Kate M.

So yeah no point me repeating what you have already read around other blogs!!

Great weekend, fab location, lovely rooms, very well run retreat + I can't rave enough about Kim's Archers classes I LOVED the one class I did of hers + I even made history for the first time..........I completed all 3 LO's we did in her class!!! Yet to scan these fantastic babies!!

Ok so yeah no photos so far.............thats cause I didn't take my camera to Akld............too big to take dancing + then when we went to Taupo I gave the camera to Kev to get some shots of the kids while they had a wee holiday in Taupo too!!.............but nah he took none!

Lucky I have super cool friends who take the most delicious photos of me!!...........+ can't wait to show me!!..............LOL............yeah like the Rotoura photos ...........eh Rachel!!!

Oh yeah I needed another week to recover from that weekend too.............more due to the air con in these places............dried every wet cell in my body out!!

So then on the 15th of May my baby girl turned 7. How dare she!...........she never asked me if she could grow up this fast. Talk about excited!!

She scored herself a very nice electric guitar!! (this what she wanted) Check this girl out!!

and OK showing off here ................as I thought I was the best birthday present buyer ever. I found her at a local vintage shop this most gorgeous lamp for her room............1. she has wanted a lamp forever so she can read in bed + 2. OMG ...........wait for it.............it's base had a mother horse + her foal!!! Now for a little girl that LOVES horses as much as mine she died + went to a horsie heaven!!

This photo needs to be shared so you get the idea!!

We ran out of time on her birthday to do the candles + cake.......we got super busy!!.........so bad?..............no not really she is clever + knew that her birthday would go on longer!!

Our road was closed that day due to a car rally. This happens to us about twice a year.

We had planned to have her party this day too but her friend got in her first + got her invites out .............but it was OK we had the next weekend + YES wow her birthday would extend for another week!! And speaking of invites I made Ruby's again...........I thought I would go simple + even use the help of a crafters workshop small template............LOL...........hmmm yeah right.
But hey I loved them, Ruby loved them + her friends loved them too.

And look I even used ChatterBox pp that I have had since Taidhg was a baby!! Love using up older supplies............like it almost gives you the right to buy some new ones!!

On the 17th Finn + Ruby made their first communion. That has being a busy time with having to go to lessons after church for 12 weeks. As well as the stress to find a white outfit for Ruby!!.........we did it!! I was super proud of them + wished that mum could of being there.

And on the 19th we went to Wgtn. On the 20th it was year since my mum had passed.
yeah wow a whole year!! So we spent the day with my family + took my mum's ashes up to the local cemetery + had her ashes buried with her parents. It was special + it was nice to be with my dad + my mum's sisters + brother.

We stayed on + spent some time with dad. And I had promised the kids a ride on the train. OK they have done it before but hey a train ride is a train ride when you don't get to have one in the Naki. So trains here we come + headed into town (unfortunately Finn was sick + couldn't come). I planned to walk the kids up Lambton quay + back to the station.

Waiting.

It was strange to stand with my kids + share this part of my life............that seemed so huge back then. Catching the train into town to go to T.Coll or go out with the girls.

I loved seeing how excited they were + lots of questions. When you do something like this everyday its boring + more than anything the waiting for the train + the ride was like a time waster for me.............but this time was different. I loved the conversations + how exciting to see a station named the same as our babysitter Ava!!

I didn't realise how much I have taken it for granted that my kids haven't really been to the city!! We have been to Wgtn so many times with them but we never seem to leave the Hutt Valley.
So to see their wee faces look up in awe at the cranes in the sky made me realise!!............bad mama bad mama!! We don't get cranes in Stratford!!

We found a yummy cafe + I'm so thankful for kids that like the cafe cultural like their ma + pa!!

Then we walked Lambton Quay............this did make me giggle as Taidhg was a nitemare walking amongst the suits + of course why should he stick to the left when there is a huge sidewalk to follow!! Would love to be 4 again somedays.............I think making my own rules up sounds like fun + tough to the adults that don't it!!

The only shops we went into were shoes shops + music. Um ok shoes shops were quickly ruled out as Mr T decided that it would be a fantatis idea to try on a pair if red heels!!

But how they loved the music shop.

It was the first time since Mum got sick that I really enjoyed Wgtn again. Also helped seeing these gorgeous girls. We laughed + talked so much that the guy behind the bar asked Kev if he was OK with us 4!!

Taidhg wanted to take some photos of us with Poppa before we left to come home.

its a beauty!!

Home again + then the party + was even over it before it has started!!

OK here is the cake it was meant to look like a rabbit but somehow its ears make it look like a cat. Shocking photo too.............forget that winter nights aren't the best!

so yeah here I am..............planning on going no where + just chilling. Anyway its freezing who wants to go out in this weather!! kev drove around the mountain today to go windsurfing around the coast ...............total madness I tell ya!!.............and he struck sleet on one of the top roads..................infact it snowed in Stratford while we were away in Wgtn!!

Thanks goodness for woodburners + warm hubbies!!

oh I did complete a LO today...........will share soon.

nite

rach

ps a HIGH 5 to you if you stuck around this long!

autumn..........you gotta love it!

2009-04-02T13:45:00.011+13:00

this is why I love this season so much...........

1. you get to see one of your kids live a dream

2. they play the part right + wear their recent purchase from a local op shop! (tassled waistcoat)
btw I have unleashed a beast in Ruby when it comes to op shopping now!!

3. having our own pumpkin patch + there is still more..........

4. nothing but blue sky's

5. playing + having a picnic in the park on Sunday arvo.

6. celebrating Kev's birthday on the last day of March.

8. and lastly cooler days + nights to be creative. And these were for the lastest Ezine for SBO .
I was kindly asked by Andrea to create some LO's using the new range of BG Marrakech.

I had some fun!!

and just a reminder a new dare will be up on the dare site tomorrow night. It's a goodie + we would love you join in + play. :)

Also congrats to Rachel + Kate for making the creative team for the Autumn Retreat.

OK I need to link you gals up!!

take care

Rach

always late to the party!

2009-03-27T16:32:00.003+13:00

go check this out..............
http://scrapbookoutletnz.co.nz/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2720+ go have some fun!!

super busy here cooking up a storm of food for kev to take to dad's this weekend + the kindy gala.........I'm over cooking now!! Lucky for home made hamburgers tonight!!........+ a glass of wine + Project Runway!!!
and roll on the school hols.........I'm so super excited for them this time round as I'm doing something super special with some pretty awesome gals!!...........and as well we are all super tired + struggling with the dark mornings!!

and I've also been knitting, knitting + then some more.
teaching myself to cast on + knitting some tea cloths.............just gotta to learn how to cast off now!!

rach

socks are in order.........

2009-03-11T15:08:00.004+13:00

for a day like today.

yep its cold + I so don't like it!! I have to wear more clothing!!

where is our warm march?

and already a snotty nose has appeared in our house + had 2 days of lying on the sofa!

I've been busy.

I have even pulled out my sewing machine.

And as I sat down to sew I realised it must be almost 18mths since I had used it on a LO. I think I did a over kill with sewing on the LO's back then!!

But this time I was sewing with material to make scrafs. Well it was meant to be 1 but the orders are coming in from 3 small people who thought mummy looked "cool" in her new scarf!!

And now we are adding felt!

I sew ......(hehehe......ok dumb pun but thats so me) enjoyed watching 'dancing with the stars' last night hand sewing some felt to the bottom of Ruby's scarf.

Ruby wanted a horse added to her scarf but I just couldn't get my head around a horse made out of felt that would probably turn out looking like a donkey!!

But I knew my girl loved her furry friends + remembered seeing some super cute bunnies on the Velvet Red blog class painted but Elise (oh yeah I did mention I was doing that?.........very cool btw).

So we had a go at drawing our own + made up some patterns to use on the felt.

Ruby is so awesome at drawing animals...............her horses beat mine hands down anyday!!

Still got some stitching to finish off. I love how these bunnies turned out + I think I will use them on something else.

rach

7, 8 + 9!

2009-03-07T11:07:00.011+13:00

ok its only taken me a week to recover from scrapcamp!!

lots of laughs + late nights of talking + early starts!! All part of it though!

Thanks Lianne + Yo for inviting me to teach at camp. I really enjoyed teaching + had awesome students.

Meet some crazy naughty fun gals............my kind of ppl plz!! Infact we had a aweswome table + I loved them all. Thanks girls for all the laughs + making my weekend fun!

here's the LO's I did for the classes.

and finally here are the 7, 8 + 9 everyday shots for Vicky's challenge. I really enjoyed this challenge + it got me thinking about another challenge I'd like to do for myself. I do remember reading some where on Nic Howards blog ages ago, as in last year ages ago. A friend of hers was doing a challenge where you went around your home town + took pics. And then as I travelled through Hamilton I saw these cool stone features + it resparked this idea that I must do this for me + the kids. And even make them join in the challenge too as I have a spare camera.

so here's my last few everyday shots from last week.

Friday the 27th - Day 7

Driving to Rotorua we look up + see this. Not a great shot but thats what you get when you take a pic through the windscreen.

+ both Finn + Ruby say "hey thats like in the Cars movie". For those that know NZ well (not mentioning any names for the geo challenged ppl in NZ) but this pic was taken soon after we drove past the Whakamaru Hydro Village, slightly south of Mangakino.

5 mins later.............crazies in the car! And 5 mins before that they all looked like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths!!

Day 8 - 28th Feb.

11 years of happiness to the best dude ever!!

while mummy sleeps on a camp bed the family lives it up at the Novotal.

Looks like there was lots of fun to be had while mummy was across the lake.

photos taken by kev

Day 9 - 1st of March

last day of camp + getting ready to say goodbye to new friends.

julia the queen of LO's that weekend..........that gal was a power machine.

rach who just knows how to work the felt. she does a mean felt flower. I just loved that make + take.

me........when did my hair get that big!!

kate who just knew what to always say.........too funny!

Barb the local who had great taste in music + loved a good laugh too!

and then we travelled onto Auckland to see my sil who broke her back the week before.

thats what happens when the little ppl play with big 18 handed horses!!
she will be ok + is at home resting up.
great to see ya Steph.
then we spent the night catching up with friends in Puke who just happened to have a guitar in their hand when we arrived. They just wanted cheat entertainment!!
Thanks guys!!

so here I am a whole week later still recovering!! But I must admit our kids are such great travellers............but Finn must always travel in the back!! That way he can't annoy anyone!!
We do really love him but he's just the nit picker in everyway!!

And finally if you haven't checked out the lastest dare go + check it out.
its all about colour + we have a special guest dter this time round. I'll let you go there + discover who it is.

here's my take on the dare. darn scanner chopped a bit off top + bottom!

hope you are all having a great weekend. Long one for those that live in the Naki.

I'm off to try my hand at scarf making using the sewing machine!! if they turn out great I will share!!

rach

day 4, 5 + 6.

2009-02-26T20:05:00.012+13:00

ok just got a tad busy at my place but still remembering to take some pics each day.

day 4.

this was spent in New Plymouth with my very funny new friend.

Love making new friends.

Love ppl that can make me laugh + laugh.

Love connecting with someone + realising that you both think along the same lines.

so we shopped at spotlight - me buttons + her backing for curtains.

we looked in at the Plastic Box shop............yes how I LOVE little boxes to squirrel away things in.

I purchased some rather super cute girly cubbie holes for Ruby's room.

we drunk coffee + treated ourselves to a lovely lunch.

we laughed + laughed.

day 5

housework was calling, kindy run + swimming lessons.

kev is doing a gig in March ..........love listening to him

I wear my mum aprons while I cook + I love to hear Ruby say 'oh mummy I remember Poppins wearing that apron'. I worry they will forget but this small reminder makes me realise they don't.

nothing could be more sweeter than a chocolate coated boy in the bath at the end of the day!

day 6

a normal day of kindy + school + NO after school activities today. YAY!

Preparing + packing for our weekend away.

today's everyday shots were taken from the same spot...............by my washing line after dinner tonite.

yesterday I spied a lovely wild flower growing in the long grass by the fence line. This weed reminds me of Kev, Brave Heart + our days in Scotland. Looked so pretty against the long grass.

one of my views I look out to while I hang out the washing

quite often I have a wee friend that follows me to the washing line. Twiggy.

I will have to play catchup when I get back from my long weekend away.
looking forward to catching up with friends + teaching my classes.
will share those when I get back too.

be good while I'm gone!

rach

ps just have to share that Kev cracks me up.............when we get that notification that someone has added him to facebook. I ask 'who is that?' 'I don't know' he replies 'never heard of them'............he is hopless!!

ok just sneaking in..........day 3.

2009-02-23T23:53:00.007+13:00

hmmm where did Monday go!

ick I hit that alarm clock hard at 6.25..........snooze is bad ...........especially when you hit it twice + then you suddenly realise help is that 7.00 I'm seeing through my half shut eyes!!

yep sure is!!

ok looks like the kids will miss the bus (kids get picked up at gate 8.05)..............lucky for kindy run!

F + R are dropped at school.

then it's mr T's turn.

he wants me to stay for 9am mat time.............I think he likes it cause I know all the songs + actions.

yes I do all the songs + actions.

my boy is smiling + I can go home + perform household duties!!

ok what household duties was I talking about??

oh yeah those nasty pots I didn't wash up the night before.

does reading the paper count as a household duty??

so kindy is over.

just me + the boy are home till the school bus pulls in at 3.40pm

I get some time in the scraproom.

so this is where I remember to take some pics.

my late lunch.............peanut butter + banana on toast!! YUM!

feeding + watering the kids after school.

the homework.

swimming was late today................7.30pm.

Finn was in the big pool + Taidhg had a new instructor.

Taidhg refused to go into the pool + wouldn't tell me why.

On the way home I heard a wee voice from the very depths of the car (Taidhg has moved his car seat to the back back) 'I didn't like that lady'.

lucky we aren't doing Monday night swimming lessons again.

home + bed.

and sleep for me now.................hmmm i didn't sneak in on day 3!

the weekend is going something like this....

2009-02-22T15:01:00.013+13:00

I have joined in on this idea............check it out. I really enjoy reading Vicky's blog + love the photos she takes of everyday life.............so join in lots of fun + so simple!

Saturday started with rain + a funeral of friends mum who died suddenly during the week.

it was harder than I thought.

my discarded shoes after the funeral.

now I just have to share these are most fav shoes in all the world + *sigh* they so beautifully coloured.........purple!!!

Finished this book!! Different for me but really enjoyed it.

even though it rained for part of yesterday it was so hot + someone who is pushing the boundaries everyway thought this was a good way to cool off!! ..........I love this boys sense of humour!

20 minutes later................

jam tarts made with nana from her cook book.

big brother burning rubber on sisters bike!!

and this my LO for the lastest dare...................new beginnings.

I went with some older photos of Ruby when she just learnt to walk at 10mths.

I used the Jan kit from Kennerroad kits + I was inspired how Lisa Garay used the clouds + buttons on one of her LO's.

and here was my version of Lianne's dare - 'what you learnt last year'.

mine was learning to let things go........don't sweat the small things in life...............don't make mountains out of mole hills.

and how happy was I when I discovered my fav TV show had begun...........well the week before (no one told me...........lol)...........Project Runway!!

rach

L.O.V.E + thoughts.

2009-02-14T17:11:00.004+13:00

so I woke to a big smile + a whisper of "happy valentines day mummy" from my beautiful thoughtful girl.

and a love note made for me + kev got one too! And she made my bed while I was in the shower!!

and this arvo we made some love goodness for them to take over to Nana + B's to share tonight.........while we are out celebrating our wedding ann.................bit early but kev + I won't be together on the 28th ..............I'm in Rotorua + well he's minding the kids somewhere!!

goodness for the G.parents!

So this week our thoughts have being with all the ppl involved in the fires in Aussie. We have talked alot about the fires + how sad + scary it must be for them all. I know that the kids have said lots of prayers for them at school. I have even found myself with tears in my eyes as I read the paper or watched TV. I can't imagine or begin to imagine what they have gone through + what they still have to go through to make their lives as normal as it can get.

I got some of the new BG this week + look forward to creating some goodness with it.

Also I got a fab kit last mth + have a half done LO on my desk. Just need to create some more time for the scrapping.

And speaking of fab kits I got the most fantastic little kit from Nie this week. I just LOVE it!!

rach

Right now..........

2009-02-06T14:01:00.008+13:00

it's Waitangi Day + I love a good public holiday but sadly Kev doesn't get the whole day off.......his girls still need to be tended too!! Fingers crossed the worker will loose his cast soon + kev have some milkings off!!

So we are back to school + a routine at last!!

Yes its a good thing but I miss the lets go with the flow thing all day long!!

I haven't done much in the creative department except push some pp around + try to match some pics............nothing is happening + I'm feeling frustrated.........I plan to do some this arvo once I sort Ruby's room out + put in her new desk (but a old desk - my great bargin off Trade Me).

But this is what our first week looked like back at school + kindy.

Monday

a visit to the dental clinic

Tuesday

showing us the new skills learnt at golf lessons

Wednesday

chaos in the house!!..............and some thrift buying for Ruby's room!! See that large picture there that will soon be a notice board for her room!

and someone having a sneak into the pantry!! (which happens often!!)

Thursday

dinner at the beach with friends.

Friday

A sleepin!! Wasn't I lucky!!

and for the rest of the weekend - the beach tomorrow + a birthday party on Sunday!

I hope everyone has a FAB long weekend in NZ + for those not in NZ enjoy your weekend too!!

Rach

p.s the first DARE of the year goes up today!

this is what summer is all about!

2009-01-22T15:58:00.003+13:00

and this is where we are off too now!!
only 1 more day + week of the summer lefts............feeling very sad about it as its coming to a end too fast for me!!

working on classes for scrap camp in Feb. Look forward to it!

spending far too much time on facebook of late but hey I can as its the hols!

went camping at the beach last weekend...........had a blast + survived a storm in our HUGE tent!
made some new friends that were friends of friends. Sat into the wee hrs having drinks while our kids were all tucked up in their sleeping bags!! I LOVE camping...........fingers crossed we will be off again soon.

last of the hay goes in tonight! YAY!

right swimming + cupcakes afterwards!

rach

Rehash!

2009-01-11T21:35:00.008+13:00

Yep I pulled apart + redid a older LO. Never done this before but I was never happy with the LO from the beginning. It was one of me as a baby.

Before

After Love all that sassa!!

In December I was asked by one of the girls on the Label Tulip DT if they could use my LO to lift. Nice wee surprise. I remember clearly having these photos taken by Susan Kepple (who lived at the top of my hill) on my mum's camera!! And I sooooooooooooo loved those shorts + top...............hehehe soooooooo 80's eh! I must of thought I flippen "awesome" that day!! ;)

Just a few LO's I completed in the last few days of 2008!

Had that photo sitting on my desk for a few mths now...........good to scrap it, as I love this photo.

and look another one of me (+dad)..............this time 1979 xmas day. I got a red Cruiser + how I LOVED this bike!

Ok so did you all get a shock to see that I still create!!????

I didn't do a lot towards the end of last year as I was so busy with the kids + their after school activites + I basically hit a brick wall about mum!

oh that does remind me I need to share that LO I did of mum + Ruby..................next time.

So what does 2009 hold for you? I stopped making resolutions along time ago as I always break them................so I'm just going to keep things simple + enjoy it!

I'm off to help out at a Cryptic dinner tonight...........should be fun!!

oh i have had a few ppl ask what was wrong with Finn. He had a Bronchial Virus + couldn't breath. Fun!

laters

rach

catch up

2008-12-28T23:46:00.012+13:00

and this is a bit of what we have being doing

I made these for the teachers at school...........survival cans!

and before I forget the wee tree on the side "4 you" I got that idea from Ngaire Bartlams gallery off Tarisota.

ringing santa!

singing xmas carols

celebrating that school is out! (love this pic)

finally decorating the tree............only a little tree this year!

visiting santa!

leaving a note for santa on xmas eve (thx Ruby)

opening pressies on xmas morn

and finally a day at the beach on boxing day!

and what you don't see is the vomitting bug that 4 of us have had.

the xmas deco's we made.

my head cold.

the missing of mum.

and spending half of xmas day in hospital with Finn.

well its very late + I have completed my carmel slice for my wee trip away tomorrow.

I hope you all had a fab xmas (even with all that illness we still had a lovely time away) + no doubt I will be back in Jan sometime.

rach

speak up................

2008-12-13T21:49:00.002+13:00

well I would if I could but I have got laryngitis!!
I speak in a whisper to the kids + they reply in a whisper - this is good!!
Kev likes it too!!

Ok so its Sat night + I'm doing a solo as kev seems to have this amazing social life atm..........while I stay home.........lol...........well half true but while he goes + watches ppl show of their body building skills tonight (eck so don't get that sport/hobby)..............I get to stay home + rent Kung Fu Panda for the kids + for me a bottle of wine, a box of scorched almonds + the movie Juno!!
yeah I know slow to watch these movies but atm I like being slow............everyone is always in a rush to do everything yesterday!!

so xmas is slow coming to my house this year. It makes me sad as I made a huge effort last year. So far I have put out one decoration on the sideboard. We brought our xmas tree on Wednesday night + it's still out on the deck!!!! I know why I feel like this + I'm trying to get it together for the kids.....................so tomorrow we are having a craft day - well it will start with all 4 of us + then Finn will get sick of it + then Taidhg will leave + then my girl will hang with me a bit + then I'll be on my own. I popped into Spotlight today + got some goodies to make some button trees I saw on this blog - too easy but look fantastic www.frecklednest.blogspot.com .
Man to buy simple crafts bits + bobs is expensive in NZ.
The kids also made a boxed xmas tree out of the computer boxes. We painted that a week ago + that needs some lovin with some lovely homemade deco's.
Oh yeah then there is the teachers pressies..............got that idea sorted just need to make it!

and yeah sorry no pics as my battery needed charging from my camera.
but hey check out the lastest dare . It might leave you feeling all warm + fuzzy!! And such a cool prize from a very cool cute site from NZ too, run by a talented scrapper Neilla + Bee.
check them out www.randomkitsandpieces.blogspot.com

ok juno awaits.

rach

2008-12-05T23:15:00.002+13:00

When your busy what's the first thing to go...................blogging time!!
Nov was filled with parties, family visiting from afar, a baptism, a show + xmas shopping.
And today my baby turned 4!!

back soon with something to look at. (just got got a new comp............i'm fast + smooth now)!!

rach

No.........I haven't been on holiday but how I wish!!

2008-11-05T15:09:00.011+13:00

Just busy with the everydays + my blog just got forgotten for a wee bit....................but WOW where did that month of October go!!??

We have had pets/mission day at school + lots of tray displaying, windchimes made out of spoons + forks, strange containers to hold a floral arrangement, card making, buzzy bee hangers + plate windows. A crazy week + 2 very tired school kids, along with 1 tired mumma that week!!

Got a last visit in with Sue the T-Rex before she goes off to the big smoke in Auckland.

Ruby is getting ready for her end of year dance show + Finn joined the chess club at school.

Taidhg started morning kindy..................so I'm childless till 12.30 everyday!! Strange feeling!!

We have planted out our vege garden - enough to feed the neighbourhood + also Ruby + I planted some Swan plants (or as Ruby calls them Swamp plants) + we hope that it will bring some Monarch butterflies to our garden.

Kev had his annual windsurfing comp at Labour Weekend................Labour Weekend when was that again??

Time is flying people!!

But we did something very FUN last Friday, which was our annual "Trick or Treat" around the neighbourhood farms. I so LOVE Halloween + really enjoy it as much as the kids do.

So after school we made ghost cookies as wee thanks for the treats + made some felt + pipe cleaner spiders. I wish everyday could be like this after school.........getting crafty!!

Our ghost cookies made by Ruby + Taidhg.

Spider making .............check out that frustrated look on Ruby's face!!

so love this one of Mr T + his friendly spider.

The Trick or Treaters.....................Finn was Tony Hawk a professional skateboarder, Ruby a friendly devil + Taidhg a dog.
And Finn was happy but just decided that he didn't need to smile..............a boy thing I guess!!

and I just LOVE this one of Ruby + Rosie. Rosie sometimes babysits the kids + sadly next year she is moving to Wgtn to study but I just love how she made a effort to dressup for the kids.

Doesn't she do creepy well!!

And I still scrap. YES I do people!!

I made this 4oth card for a friend using some of Elles number tags a few weeks back.

A LO about the windwand in New Plymouth. We have such a fantastic walkway here in New Plymouth + along the way you come across this gaint windwand, designed by Len Lye. Those 2 tiny ppl in the photo you can just see are Finn + Taidhg.

and I'll leave you with this close up on my lastest LO I did for Ruby of her + my mum back in March. I need to get a better pic of the LO - the ones I took are awful + don't do the LO or photo any justice.

and for once I'm looking forward to the elections. Have been sitting up for once + watching + listening to what's been said.

I've also followed the US elections a bit too and its great to be part of history + seeing the first black american president voted in.

wow when did I get so grown up!!

oh also if you haven't checked out the lastest dare.................do!! Totally one for the birds!! Working on mine + such a fantastic prize donated by Tarisota.

Its nice to be back people :)

A new week!!

2008-09-30T22:36:00.011+13:00

You know sometimes you have a bad day + just look forward to the end of it because of the way it makes you feel?? Well mine lasted a week!!..............so here's to a new week!!

why so bad?

1. Taidhg started vomiting after Finn's BD

2. Worker was nearly killed in a car accident............or maybe he just wanted to see how many times his car can flip (think 8 is enough?) + then with a act of flying through the windscreen!!

Oh btw he was only drink driving + wasn't wearing a seatbelt...............on the young + dumb!!

3. Prepared myself for bad news re worker!!

4. Worker walks away with minor injuries.

5. Should advise worker to buy a power ball this weekend!!

6. Taidhg gets worse + lost lots of weight.

7. Taidhg nearly gets admitted to hospital

8. Taidhg improves

9. Test results come back saying he had contracted campylobacter - probably from feeding the calves!

10. Ruby drving me mad as her chicken pox are only itchy but her attitude is bad!!

11. Since worker can't work we have employed his brother to relief milk (oh that was a good thing).....................but read #12.

12. Workers brother rolls car on the same road as big brother driving 120km on Sat arvo. Can't milk that night or morning. Hmm history repeating itself!!

13. Sends a friend to help who must be related to dumber + dumb!!

12. our life is turning into a circus

14. at least we can laugh!!

15. new week - school hols................having fun with the kids. Finn + Taidhg are brewing the pox!!

16. spending some time in my room!!

And the LO of Finn doing his 'peace out' pose.

LOVE that Dream St orange pp.........YUM!!

and for the lastest Dare . I had printed out a lot of index pics for a project I had planned to do last year.............never happened so when Trina suggested her dare + I knew these pics would be used.

This LO makes me happy!!

Both LO's are created from Label Tulip kits.

here's to that good week!!

rach

Once upon a time.............

2008-09-24T14:07:00.005+12:00

a chicken

came to visit Ruby on a Saturday morning + brought her friends "spots" too!!

they liked hanging around + causing her to itch + itch.............now they want to know if they can play with Finn + Taidhg!!

oh what FUN we will have!!

rach

Birthday Kissses

2008-09-19T09:39:00.002+12:00

for Finn!

One happy 8yr old skater boy!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUDE!!

we love ya!

PEACE OUT!

Rach

keeping it fresh!

2008-09-15T21:14:00.004+12:00

so I took a risk + changed the blog!

I call it a risk as I'm such a techno dork + KNOW nothing about being flash on the comp - I use basic editing for my pics...............photoshop scares me + changing my blog did too!!

The only thing I lost was my counter...............but does that really matter eh!! So I think I did alright!!............lol

But WOW how much has blogger improved with lots of easy new features...............(didn't go there yet........just looked). :)

So I also want to share with you this amazing new kit site.............filled amazing goodness...........some new + some *sigh* .........(be still heart) vintage goodness. Stuff that is so hard to find here!! Yeah ppl its a cool kit from the US!!! Its being put together by this amazing BIG hearted woman Kerry Lynn. She is just oozing with creative ideas + as well she has a awesome team behind her.............one springs to mind esp Gigi. Now she is another beautiful soul. She was/is a amazing friend when mum was sick + died + blew me away with another beauitful gal from the good old US, along with a super kind hearted + cute Aussie!! OK I'm digressing badly!!

So if you have a spare 5 mins on your hands GO + check out KL's fab new site + I just LOVE the name Kenner Road. It was the Road she grew up on. So on KL's blog she is giving away a RAK - something from her new site + all you have to do is tell the story behind the street, road or avenue you grew up on.

My story

I grew up on Mission St, Lower Hutt, Wellington for 23 yrs until my parents sold it.

I loved that house with all my heart........not because of what it looked like but the memories I made there. The friends I made in the street..............all the ball games we played on the road, tag, hide + seek, all the bush walks (treks) up in the hills, bike rides, eeling at night in the creeks + games at the local park down the road.

My house was always filled with home baking as my Grandma lived with us. And it was only in my early adult years I really appreciated how lucky I was to have a Grandparent live with us.

Sunday roast were always a have for my Pop (dad's dad)...............(so disliked this on a hot stinkin summers day)!!

I also grew up with having lots of my cousins around me - lots of fun sunday potluck dinners + games played into the dark of the summer nights. Also having lots of friends around to play.

You would never know that there was trouble behind closed doors. My parents did a wonderful job at keeping my childhood filled with happy + wonderful times while they struggled with a teenage son who developed a drinking problem at a early age + broke the law. But my other brother Tim + I were best of friends. I miss him dearly.

OK its time I stopped as the tears are flowing!!

I so need to scrap this now!!

Oh when my parents sold the house I was gutted...........it broke my heart to leave there............see I LOVED that house, that street, that neighbourhood!!

Thanks KL for this!!

And all the best on new creative adventure!

And look a new LO of my water baby Ruby when she was 18mths, back in 2003. Its funny to look at these pics + see how much our property has changed. The clothes line has moved + there is a garage there now + the grass is gone + in its place is concrete. And I used purple!!!.........but it was perfect for these pics!!

in Finn's word

Peace Out!!

watch out for the Peace Out LO!! :)
and it was 8 years today that Finn was due - the opening of the Sydney Olympics. I waited all day + nothing happened!! And the next day.......instead I got my bundle 4 days later. So Friday we will celebrate a 8th birthday + how we wish Poppins could be here to sing Happy Birthday with us + bring her delish home baking!!

1st + 3rd

2008-09-09T16:23:00.009+12:00

thats how we placed in the cross country today!

Finn 1st

Ruby 3rd

Proud Mamma here! Ruby huge improvement from last years last to 3rd + Finn from 4th to 1st. I know I shouldn't expect a lot from the kids but as Kev is a talented runner + I was once at primary + high school level I expect my kids to naturally be good runners!!

So the lastest dare on No.8 wired is mine - scrap the weird + strange!

The photo in my LO is what inspired this dare.

I got a few mths back a few packs of Fancy Pants + I'm finally having a chance to have a play.

I just LOVE these pics of Taidhg. He makes a rather cute frog!!

and *sigh* how I am loving the spring weather.............esp when that sun shines!! It just makes my heart sing after all that depressing rain over winter!!

I decided a few weeks back to start my own random sunday shots.............here's some from our recent sunday - fathers day!

Kev + his new toy..............yes a windsurfer on wheels!! He is busting his gut to get on the sea but the wind has being crap!! So a land job will have to do!!

Mr T!! Love this pic!!

chillin!!

hey the trip to see Sue was awesome!! I believe its heading to AKL after it leaves the Naki in nov.

as Finn always says "peace out"

rach

off to meet Sue tomorrow........

2008-08-27T21:30:00.011+12:00

the T-Rex!!!

she's come all the way from The Field Museum in Chicago to the Naki!!

we are lucky enough to have in New Plymouth a mini Te Papa but ours is called Puke Ariki. Its fantastic to think that the smaller provinces don't miss out + our kids get to experience shows like Sue the T-Rex. So I'm taking a car load of kids from Finn's class. Really looking forward to it myself! OK I will be honest she's NOT the real Sue but they made up a model (to scale) of her so she could travel the world!! Still cool, huh!

Well those that know me well know I'm knee deep in calves + milk atm!! I really enjoy feeding the calves + taking time out from my normal routine to be pushed around by hungry calves twice a day..........lol!! I have my helper most days by my side or running around the calf shed - Mr T!! So here you go Mrs Chez esp for you!!

on the way to the calf shed. Look at my merry workers!!

and look at that pure joy as the calf sucks on his hand!!.........lol

calves feeding!!

and *gasp* she's scraps!!

this LO is for the recent dare. We had to scrap something related to sports or just being physical + include 5 circles in honour of the olympics!

I was in a Fancy Pants mood. Not to sure about this LO but hey its some history recorded for the Scooby!!

and i also made this card about 5 weeks ago for a online comp that is still running but I pulled out as I'm having a hard time creating + to be honest wasn't just my thing.

You had to make a card + use green, a empty product pack + make a envie out of newspaper.

oh btw NZ dares now has a flickr group. Plz come + join us! We still have the blog but we thought it would be a great way to share your work! And a new dare will be going up on Friday - from me!! http://http://www.flickr.com/groups/840213@N20/

also this Friday we are having a cyber crop at SBO. There's going to be a challenge between the old DT + the new DT. Should be FUN! Also watch out for the next ezine - coming to your inboxes soon!!

and i just want to say thanks to all your kind thoughts about my first visit from my dad. It was very sad but I was so happy to have him here + I know that even though his heart was hurting like hell he enjoyed our company + having someone around to put a smile on his beautiful face.

now just a HUGE high 5 for our gal Steph!!! - Kev's sister!! She won a HUGE Wella hairdressing comp at the weekend in AKL + the prize was a trip to London!! WTG Steph love ya!!

over + out

rach

Guest.........

2008-07-31T23:59:00.004+12:00

I have a household of guest at the moment.

One is pretty special.............my dad!

a few things too share.

my dare for the 50th dare!

I love my winter Friday nights with my kids...............just hanging out in front of the fire doing FUN things together!

and this LO is Finn + Taidhg's fav atm!!..................hmm wonder why??

and man am I OVER rain!!

buckets + buckets of flippen rain!!

no calves yet!!

hey Tracy thx for your wee card - I LOVED it!! :)

rach

out of hair like a bald man!!

2008-07-10T13:09:00.002+12:00

we are off for a week!!
hot pools, a bit of scrapping with friends, catching up with sil, lots of eating + drinking out!!
can't wait!

just a few pages I did at a crop last week.
got some older pics printed of Ruby + Finn back in 2003.
first one looks flat due to the scan.

and one of Finn.

birthday!

2008-06-29T20:38:00.008+12:00

yep it was my birthday yesterday!! 37!

it was a bitter sweet day for me.

it was a nice day but I missed my mum so much + my dad forgot about it.

but he is such a bad space atm that I just have to let that disappointment slid.

kev + the kids were super sweet to me + we just had a fun day of hanging out together - one of my most favourite things to do! :)

And Ruby, my ever thoughtful sweet girl (how did I deserve such a special person) wanted me to buy a gift for myself, she said + we could just pretend it was from Poppins. She must of known I was a bit sad! So we brought 3 small gifts so her + the boys could give me one each .

And this from Kev...................I have wanted one of these forever + look the last of my YUMMY carrot birthday cake - made for me esp by my wonderful mil! :)

The lastest NZ dare. Go over + check it out. There is the most AMAZING prize!!

And I used the June kit from SOML . This is such a FUN kit + also Sara (the owner) is just such a sweetie.

have a great week ahead!!

only one more week till holidays!! YAY!!

rach

having some FUN!

2008-06-25T09:20:00.003+12:00

I did this LO recently for a challenge that Michelle Tan set for us.

It had to be about you + why you are fabulous. Well I thought bugger it + went over board + had lots of fun creating this little number + 'yes' I was generous why I'm fab!! With a little help from Kev on a certain word that he felt should be added in there why I'm fab!!

And you know what it felt good doing this as I hardly ever do LO's about me - its always about the kids.

Lots + lots of goodies from Sweet Spuds kits . I just love those rubons from Hambly - so FUN!

The dance concert went well. But Ruby had a crampy tummy before she went + I asked her if she was nervous. She said no at the time. Then when the show started I noticed that Ruby was not on stage + next minute she was standing next to us!! Her tummy was still sore + she said her dance teacher said it was OK to find us but she just had to do her dance as her partner would of being partnerless!! By the time it came to her dance her tummy was feeling much better. I put it down to nervous + on reflection I don't think she even knew what being nervous was like.

Great show! But I'm glad there is no more running back + forward for extra practise!! Just swimming + hockey practises for the next few weeks.

challenging myself.......

2008-06-18T17:14:00.003+12:00

to try out some different challenges as there are so many FAB challenge blogs out there.

one I've being checking out for a while now is the design experiment blog.

They have some great challenges + last week I started working on their challenge #13 ............. I missed the deadline as I was fiddling too much with the LO + also I made a booboo on it...........not that you would notice now!!

Challenge #13 was about words..........what is your fav word/s + why? Do you say it a thousand times a day?

my word/s was "you're joking". I know i say this often as for one I have a husband that plays lots of jokes on me, its how I react when the kids come to tell me one of the others has done something wrong or how I might react to something serious or sad!!

no reason or rhyme why i say it really............I just do!!

using some goodies from a sweet spud kit. this kit was full of yumminess - the colours were so electric!! loved it!!

well the inlaws came back from China yesterday + now they are winging their way to CHCH for the rugby this weekend. Ruby has her dance concert this Saturday.............so we are busy driving back + forth to extra practises but tonight we didn't go as I had a very sad little who came crying off the bus.

She was a missing Poppins (my kids called my mum poppins - her name was Mary) she told me. She said she was sitting on the bus + was thinking of her, she just got really sad + it hurt her heart. So we had big cuddles + talked about the things that we loved + missed about her. Then i remembered in the lastest CK mag i brought yesterday - May's issue there was a section about 'remembering' loved ones. There was a LO done done by a woman called - Lisa Swift about her daughter missing her Noona. I really loved this approach as i feel its so important to recognize their feelings too. So I asked Ruby to list what she loved about Poppins. So in the weekend we will work on a LO together. I will share once we have completed it.

oh yay hump day!!

and only 2 more sleeps till FGIF!

9 more sleeps till my brother comes to stay!

10 more sleeps till my birthday!

and on BTW.............go figure this..............we ran out of water!! In June!!!!.............thats just plain madness!! We have had little rain + we do really need it!!

also the driveway is laid + its great....................no more mud + dust!!

rach

playing the rules!

2008-06-14T12:13:00.006+12:00

yesterday I played the rules again on SIS with Miss Lee - my little aussie friend!!

Rules given to me were

1. use a red embellie

2. stamp something

3. use 3 brads

OK I cheated + used 4 brads but I had too to get the look right!! :)

I wanted to create a LO for the kids + hope that they would remember those small simple things we do with them + that make up the memories of your childhood.

We spent a lot of time this summer at the pool down the road. Its nothing flash - just your typical 50's or 60's concrete school pool. But we have lots of fun in it!! So often after those swims we would come home + sit on the deck + we would have some afternoon tea together!! Even though I didn't journal I asked the kids if you they remembered what was happening in the photos + they said what I wrote above. And then they asked if they could go swimming tomorrow + have afternoon tea on the deck!!................lol

And checkout that new ChatterBox pp - the striped blue pp + pink pp!! Their new pps have the most gorgeous colours.

All these goodies are from the May kit from Label Tulip

Last weekend we went out on a little day trip. We use to do this a lot + I love discovering whats basically in your backyard so to speak! So off we drove for about an hour South from here + then turned inland + drove along some very high + narrow roads (which I don't really like as I hate heights)...........but I coped!! The views were amazing as we could see the bottom of the North Island + the top of the South Island. So we finally arrived at Lake Rotorangi - the Patea Dam.
We had a wonderful time exploring, throwing rocks into the lake + explaining to the kids that the Dam was not a hydro slide!!!............eekk I was having awful visions..............once again to do with heights!! ............lol.

It was a great day out + it was ended with a ice cream brought on the way home!! As you do!! :)

kids + me

and as we left there were some stock horses just on the side of the road + we just had to stop + have a pat................esp for my horse loving girl!! :) And this pic is for Aunty Steph too!! :)

They were super friendly + they all wanted to be patted.

Also if you wondering why Ruby is in a blanket + Finn + Taidhg's faces look all painted out we were having a super hero morning before we left. Ruby is UnderDog, Finn Spiderman + well um Mr T I was still working that one out as he drew his own face!!............but hey the little dude was happy + thats the main thing, eh!!

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!
I'm planning to scrap as I've got lots of challenges I want to do + got some new photos developed!

rach

YAY for long weekends!!

2008-06-02T13:06:00.006+12:00

that allow you to blob out all weekend!!
just what we all needed!!
we are over driving long distants with our kids for a wee while. Done every month until now since Jan. but on a positve Finn has a great knowledge of what towns are inbetween the Naki + Wellington now!

so some scrappingness finally!!
I did the old Kill 2 birds with 1 stone for this LO + used it for 2 challenges.
SBO are running some challenges till the end of the week in honour of the Queen's BD + I knew I wanted do a challenge where you had to add some shape to your LO........esp since we have all these gorgeous products from the likes of MM + Jenni Bowlin - just to name a few.
Had planned to do it up on Friday night but there are too many great shows on Friday night + my line up is - Top Model (which I missed due to kev watching a movie), Million Pound Property + then my fav Project Runway!! And how fantastic was PR!!
then on Sat morn (as Finn was the only 1 playing sport + Ruby was off to play with a friend, so then I only had 1 child) I hopped on to SIS + played 'the Rules' - where you are sent 3 rules + you have to do it in an hour! So I made the LO work for both challenges + I have being wanting to use this collection from SIS forever............like it only came out June last year!!

My 3 rules sent to me were 1. ink 2. use tape (under photo) 3. use a butterfly

and a close up of the butterflies I made out of hambly. Stamped the image onto hambly using stax on, cut out image + made sure the stamp side of the butterfly was placed down on paper. Easy + fun!

I made this 'Get Well' card for Andrea a few weeks back using some goodies from Sweet Spuds March kit

the inside

and since I've being blobbling I've had a good session on the computer + rediscovered the Cosmo blog. Those girls like a good laugh + do a spy a 'maybe' DT call pencilled in!!??
Also just to share these are some of the places I like to visit (i'm sure some of you have got them in your favourites already - never hurts to be reminded, eh!)
Christine Middlecamp. I first discovered her work on SIS last year + then linked myself up to her blog. I love visiting this woman for one her talent is amazing but she inspires me with her bavery + I love how she loves to share her ideas with us. And she is now doing bi-weekly tutorials. Her first one is awesome. If you haven't seen her work before go + check her out. Amazing!! You won't be disappointed!!

Another talented woman I discoverd last year - once again via SIS is Sarah Bowen. I may not scrap like her but I really really admire her style. Her blog is filled with interesting bits + bods + she has the BEST BEST playlist I've come across. Quite often I will have her blog open for a few hrs so I can enjoy this womans wonderful taste in music!!

And lastly a well known gal from 2peas Jennifer Pebbles. I just love how she loves life, her love for junk (be still beating heart), her photos (she takes such fun doggy shots + of her hubby) + finally the fun in her LO's. She looks like she would be so much fun to hang out with!! Also have you checked out her etsy shop!! Such a cool idea!!

Also just to let you know that Elle has a new super site + she has got some awesome deals going down for the whole month of June!! Love her stuff!

and YAY to concrete!!
and why am I so excited about concrete you ask??
well we built this house 8 yrs ago + we have never had a concrete driveway - its either being a grass one or lately a grravel one + with that comes dirt + dust!! Muddy + dirty in the winter + really really dusty in the summer!!
So this morning Mr Concrete layer (not Chris's hubby..........lol) comes in + starts boxing up the driveway. This makes me happy!! Its a big driveway too + the kids are going to LOVE having concrete to ride their bikes, skateboards + shoot some hoops!! But I also have some visions of yukky crashes!!

I'm off to enjoy the rest of the day blobbing!!

Thank you!

2008-05-31T22:15:00.004+12:00

to everyone that has acknowledged mum's passing + left messages for me.
and i just want to especially thank those that have sent me personal messages, cards + flowers.
Also to the ppl that I hardly know who have reached out to ask me how they can help.
I hope oneday I can return the kindness you have offered me during this time.
I've being blowen away by some very speical people who were there at the beginning when I found out mum had cancer, who have sent me constant emails, PM's, phoning + thinking of you cards. And some even cried with me. I felt you hold my hands + wipe my tears at times.
I feel truly truly blessed to know + have these girls in my life!!
You know who you are + THANK YOU!!

I know they say time is a healer + I do believe it is.
I could say I've being dealt a raw deal in the last few years to lose my brother tragically 7 yrs ago + now mum. But that's not how i see it.
I feel blessed + hououred that I was my mother's daughter.
A woman who had a lot of pride + lived through the loss of 2 of her children but still stayed strong.
A woman who had HUGE faith - I mean huge. Something that I just don't understand + even questioned her about it at different times in her life.
A LOVE for my dad that was amazing + took them through some trying times.
A woman who loved us kids fiercely + always forgave.
A 'Poppins' who loved her grandchildren with fun + silliness.
A loyal friend who cherised her friendships deeply.
A woman who was repested highly in her community + always gave her time.
A woman that will be deeply missed.

At peace.

2008-05-21T09:38:00.004+12:00

My mum is now at peace.

she passed away yesterday afternoon at home with dad, my brother, her sisters + her brother.

thanks from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has dropped me a email, a card, left a message on here, called or sent me PM's during mum's illness.

you will never know how much your kindness has meant to me during this sad time.

truly appreciated.

just want to share this lovely saying that someone sent me this morning.

"the passing of your mum is our earthly loss and a heavenly gain"

this is so true as my mum had the most amazing faith + I truly believe that is why she was so peaceful as she came to the end of her life.

fly free mum + I miss you so much.

love me

Turing 6!!

2008-05-15T16:41:00.005+12:00

Big day in our house today as Ruby is celebrating her 6th birthday!!

She has being so excited for days + playing how many sleeps!!

So my baby girl is 6 - where did that year go!!??

Happy Birthday Ruby!!

may the sun shine down on you

may you find lots of rainbows at the end of your dreams

may you always have that special caring nature

may you always be a loyal friend

may you always make our hearts shine

always be you

happy happy you

love you always our scooby do!!

she was thrilled to find a pink CD palyer in her pressies this morinng!!

that made her heart sing, along with the Hannah Montana CD from my parents.

already jamming to it in her bedroom (which by the way made her miss the bus this morning)!! ;)

I have being away spending some special times with my mum without the kids.

she is very peaceful now + has no pain due to the meds. She has the hospice in everyday.

What amazing ppl they are + ever so helpful.

I was so glad I drove down on mothers day to spend time with her. We talked alot inbetween her falling asleep alot. I massaged her hands + feet. We basically just hung out + it was special time for us.

Her time is coming to a end but we don't know when + I value each time I get to see her or talk to her on the phone. Most of her days are spent all day in bed but she is comfortable + without pain - which is what we want.

today is slightly tinged with sadness as i know that she would be here for Ruby's birthday + helping me get all the party food ready etc.

how precious + special are our mums.

hopefully soon I might have some scrappyness to share.

mojo is coming back I know it!! :)

ok I've got a birthday dinner to cook now requested by Ruby!! :)

Bugs in da house!!!

2008-04-26T12:35:00.003+12:00

and its not FUN!!

For 2 weeks now we have had a awful bug that basically has both ends going!! And guess who got it while down in Wellington - ME!! I was sooooooooo sick + I couldn't even visit my mum for most of the time we were down there!! The kids are over it but they decided that kev + I needed a share of it too!! Now i just feel like I have morning sickness - YUK!!..........but we are NOT expecting thanks!!!.........lol

So onto more excting things re scrapbooking!!

The lastest dare went up last night + it was my turn to throw out a dare to yous people!!

Its all about NUMBERS!! Go + check it out + join in + have some fun.

Also check out the awesome sponorship we got for this dare - Elle from Elles Studio

Elle has fantastic products in her etsy store. I have used 2 of her products on my LO - the numbers + the journalling tag.

Thanks Elle for the wonderful prizes!!

Mr T + his counting!

Also just wanted to share this fantastic blog for some inspo for something different + for those that like to take scrapbooking out of the circle + use everyday things. And this blog is run by a teen from the US !! I've being wanting to join in but timing is not right atm!! There are also some awesome GDters on there too!!

right there is some scrappin on me table calling me!! :)

its Friday!!

2008-04-11T09:05:00.006+12:00

how did that happen so quick!?

so have you checked out the latest dare? Its one very cool ad inspo ...............so come along + play. We have got some awesome sponsorship happening this year too!!

I sneaked in my LO for the childhood memory at the last minute the other day. Me, when i was 18 fresh out of high school, with 7 friends + 3 tents at Waihi Beach...........what a blast + what great happy memories they were!!

Used papers + lettering from SiS Kristina Contes collection + hummingbird, lace + umbrella are all from Qtea kits + tags from Elles studios.

And this LO I did using the March kit from SBO. Such fantastic colours in this kit. And perfect colours for my blackberries. At the moment we have got blackberries growing wild all over the farm + up + down the road side. We haven't had a lot over the last few years as we normally get the hedge cutters in + they wipe them out but Kev changed what time of the year we mow the hedges around here.............so now we have lovely blackberries again!!

Blackberries take me back to my childhood, where I would climb the fire breaks on the Eastern hills in the Hutt Valley + collect ice cream containers of them + so would my mouth too!!.........lol. Funny thing is I don't like blackberry jam but love it just as a fruit. So when walking home from the cowshed one night after milking last mth I was inspired to run inside + get my camera to bring that memory alive again for me. Really got me thinking too about lots of childhood memories not people memories but ones of smells, sounds + sights that trigger those memories.

So the winter sports are about to start here..............no sleepins on cool Saturday mornings for us. We have got 2 this year playing a sport. Finn - rugby (his 3rd season) + Ruby - hockey (first season). I was surprised at Ruby wanting to play hockey as I've had nothing to do with. I was a netball player until my adult life. But maybe its coming through from her nana, who a Taranaki rep player at one stage in her life. She's dead keen + I questioned her if any of her friends were going to play + none are so I was really proud of her that she wasn't playing cause her little friends were. That girls knows what she wants I tell ya!!

Just a little update on my mum. She came out of hospital yesterday (we all thought she would be home in 2 days but almost 2 weeks later) after deciding that she wasn't going to sit in there for another 2 weeks with a tube going down her nose + as she said to me last night nothing has worked so far, so why sit through this again!! And she said that once she made her mind up she felt so much better + she ate something!! So thats so good. She will have a district nurse in twice a day + also there will be hospice care.

Just some thoughts I have being wanting to get down about how i feel about cancer.

Cancer is so selfish. It invites itself into our lifes uninvited. It drains the ones we love, as well as the ones who care. It doesn't care if you are young or old. It takes over + robs us all. The pain is not gentle, its is crippling + murdering. It affects 1 in 3 + thats not fair. There is no cure + death is the end. So please take care + remember those who are affected cause oneday it could be you or me.

Well lots to do today!

Have a great weekend all. rach

she must be..................

2008-04-04T08:08:00.006+13:00

finally completed my 'She' quote by Kobi Yamada for the dares.............but only 2 weeks late!!.............lol.

Just couldn't make it work until now!! Love how it turned out using some of the March SBO kit + bits from previous kits + also the cameo + wings from Qtea kits.

So now just need to pack up this baby + send it on its merry way!!

Also remember to check out the lastest dare - scrap a childhood memory. Really enjoying seeing the other girls LO's.

Today I get to catch up with the lovely Kelly Rotherham + go to one of her crops in Palmie tonight. Kev is off running a forest marathon in Levin so I thought why not jump at this chance to get to catch up with those fun palmie girls!! So looking forward to it + this time only 2hrs drive!! Back tomorrow!

I hope you all have a fab weekend + just had to share this fun photo of Taidhg + Maggie having a tug of war!! Not sure who really who won as Maggie had enough + Taidhg walked away frustrated!! They were so funny to watch!!

rach

a new addition!

2008-04-01T15:59:00.006+13:00

and her name is Maggie Coco. But we will just call her Maggie. We had a few giggles picking her name while driving down to Welly in the car. Ruby loved Molly, Finn loved Coco + Taidhg loved Fluffy!! I was suggesting silly names like Bart, Homer, Moe, Crash .............but in the end Ruby came up with Maggie + we took a vote + it was 3 against 2 but we decided to be fair + add in Finn's choice of Coco in there too!!

So kev finally gave in + said we could have a dog but there had to be one condition that it had to be a Border Collie + pure at that too!!

So we found one at the end of last week on Trade Me. And even better she was in Wanganui + even better we were able to pick her up on our back from Welly yesterday.

She has one blue + one brown eye + her sight is fine. Her mother is like that too!

She is 11 weeks old.

So I guess I will be featuring a few doggie LO's now along with Donna!! :)

Thanks everyone for the warm thoughts in regards to my mum. Sadly when we got to Wgtn she she had to be taken back to hospital in a Ambo...........much to the kids delight!! So I spent the rest of the day with mum + dad at hospital + then mum got tranferred from the Hutt hospital into Wellington later that night. Bit of a bummer for dad as its very tiring on him. So Monday morning I basically hooned around doing a few jobs for dad + getting mum her BD pressie - a cardi........there are so many fantastic styles of them out for this winter + I just got her a light woollen one for sitting around in.

But good news in regards to mum's visit back into hospital.................she only has a infection from her wound. So she was hoping to be out today or tomorrow + hopefully now she can recover quickly form her op + start to regain a bit more quality to her life.

And lastly YEHAA for the rain!!

rach

p.s Hi Steph!!

P.s.s have you all seen that Miss Chris Millar has cranked her blog back up...........welcome back Chris so please you're back in the blogging world!

time just keeps on ticking by!!

2008-03-28T23:25:00.011+13:00

wow where did Easter go??

and what a fantastic weekend it was.

surrounded by friends + family all weekend!

I loved it!!

but you know what the best bit was .........................seeing Jack johnson playing at the Bowl here in the Naki! What a venue............its gotta be the best place to have a concert in EVER!!!

that man is just heaven. Beautiful vocie + lyrics + what a night ..........the stars were out + there was a slight chill in the air. And to boot just sitting on the grass + hanging with friends chatting.

But what even made it better is that I know how much kev can sound like jack................so I get to have a free concert every night in my backyard if I want!! ;)

the kids got to have there Easter hunt on Sunday morning but do you know what some cheeky birds did?...............they stole + ate 3 of the eggs!! I blamed kev at first + then I discovered the half eaten egg further down the garden!!.............lol

my little hunters!!

so not a lot of scrapping getting done from me lately but here is some of my lastest work using the SBO kit.

Love how this one of Ruby turned out.

She blew me away how awesome she is on that boogie board..........she could ride those waves well. And she sure looked the part with her boogie board parked on her hip as she walked up the beach.

Fantastic colours in this kit.............really enjoying it. Working on a canvas atm............will share that after the weekend.

and then I made some cards for the Easter challenge over at SBO..................using up some of that older stash to make way for the new!!

these were simple + fun!

we are off to Wellington on Sunday for my mum's birthday. We are only going for the night.

We are going to be going to Wellington quite a bit now.

We found out at the beginning of Jan my mum has cancer of the pancreas. A huge shock to us all. Things moved along very quickly for mum in the beginning as in getting into the hospital + seen by the cancer doc's in Wgtn hospital............but then things slowed down + we waited + waited to hear when she was able to have her op. Well finally 2 weeks ago she got to have her op but sadly the operation was not a success. The cancer had spread around her veins + made it impossible for the doc's to remove. At this stage we are taking each day as it comes. She came out of hospital on Easter Sunday. The life line for pancreas cancer patients are not long. So my life is turned upside hugely. my mum will be 67 on Sunday.

my mum + Ruby last time we were down in Wgtn at the beginning of March.

have a fun weekend everyone!

rach

just sharing a few!

2008-03-02T20:10:00.007+13:00

its all pretty quiet on the home front here!!

Kev had the weekend off + it rained LOTS................which is good as I turned the tap on Sat morning there was NO water!!

SBO had a cyber crop on Friday ...........sadly I didn't join in much as I had to finish my LO for my challenge...........and btw you still join in on the challenge as you have until Friday.

My challenge was to take a photo of something you might use everyday. I went with the letterbox!!

My letterbox does not sit prettly on a fence or set into some lovely brick work but it sits against the bank that runs below our house right on the roadside...........and btw for those that don't know it I live rural hence the native bush look!! And my posite comes in a van + he just drives right up to it!! But if you send me really BIG BIG parcels he delivers them to my door!! :)

Used lots of my FAV scenic route.

Here's another LO I did using the Feb kit from SBO. That boy was a bit unsure about getting into the smaller pool down at the old school pool. *sigh* love those Fancy Pants stamps!!

Thank you for the congrats on our 10 year mark!!

We were meant to go out for dinner + a movie but sadly Finn was ill + we had to cancel the babysitter right at the last minute. As well we did have a trip planned to go to Hokatika (sp) to the "Wild Food Fest" ( this coming weekend) but our friends we were going with are having their very wanted + longed awaited third baby!! So maybe a trip to Queenstown in June might make up for it all!!! ;)

But hey this week its dinner + movies + we want to go see "Bucket List" or "No Country for Old Men". I know they are both so different but has anyone seen either?

And finally have you seen the lastest Ezine from SBO ?

if you haven't go check it out..............very impressive with the pages flippin + such rockin + inspiring work in there.

Sadly nothing from me as I've got a few non related scrapbooking things going on in my life atm to deal with.

and just to end with this crazy quote I found at a cafe in New Plymouth yesterday(which btw Donna you would LOVE).

Those of you that drink lots of coffee might relate to this!!

"You haven't had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while its running"

Jeff Bezos

have a great week!!

rach

I DO!!

2008-02-28T15:23:00.003+13:00

I said this 10 years ago!

Happy 10 yrs to us!!

CHA madness!!

2008-02-11T23:24:00.000+13:00

as scrapbookers we all love it + probably wish we could all be there - looking, touching + smelling all that new YUMMINESS!!
So we are all seeing sneak peeks around the place.
Andrea has being putting up some pics of the new lines that she will be getting in. Love the Fancy Pants..........it has got the cutest felt monkey!! Go checkout it out here.
And as well check out this fantastic blog from some girls in the US that are there + sharing it with us all.
The Fiskars girls here are going to be on FIRE with all the new FISKARS products!! Skull + bones on scissors!!
Also Miss Howard is sporting a hangover.........ooppps I mean some super delish LO's using the new BG lines!! Loving them Nic!!

right busy day tomorrow
gotta get me some sleep!!

rach

next round

2008-02-08T09:26:00.000+13:00

so I moved onto the next round for the Scrapinstyle Fashionista call.

the talent is amazing crazy + I'm feeling completely honoured + a little bit stunned to find myself in this group of 42 woman, who just aren't amazing in their work but who are supportive + a super caring bunch. Good luck girls!!

And a BIG whoop whoop to Michelle Tan who also made to the next round!!

go the kiwis!!

so this was my LO I submitted in the last round. You basically had to say why you wanted to be a Fashionista.

so now I have got my thinking cap on really hard for the next challenge!

So yeah we are having the most amazing summer this year.........like to the point we are almost our of water again!! And if we don't get anymore rain we will have to dry the cows off..........thats not good as normally we milk right through to mid May. Prayers, thoughts + finger + toe crossing is really good atm for us to get some rain please!! And not just us............there are far worse off places than us in NZ atm!! Feel super sorry for the dry stock farmers down South!

I hope all you townies are being good with your use of water?? Fixing those leaks, running water when needed, having super low pressure showers to the point its almost like a dribble + you feel like you are back flating (yep thats us atm) + only using your washing machine when you have a full load.

Even though its a pain in the bum having to limit our water use (yes atm we are only flushing when we really need to) its doing our kids the world of good - we talk about ppl in Africa (or like the Lion on the Telecom ads says Afreeca) + even other countries that have no water supplies that have to walk up to 2hrs to get water + then back again.............and sometimes children the same age as Finn (7yrs) have to do this job. Finn's comment to this was "and I wouldn't be allowed to spill a drop as its too precious"!! He didn't like the idea that you would have to carry it on your head as well in a big container. Love these converstations with the kids.

WOW! So who noticed the Easter Buns for sale in the supermarket like 3 weeks ago?? I've being buying them every week as Finn loves them. But it just seems crazy to be sold only like 4 weeks after xmas. Easter is way early this year!!

So a couple of weeks ago we spent the afternoon at one of the beaches in New Plymouth at the rock pools. We have amazing rocks pools here + they run for miles!! And I took this awesome photo of a kina (sea urchin) that kev found (he put it back). Have you tasted them? I have + yuck!! Its like eating a mouthful of salt..........but then again I'm not a huge seafood eater!!

I've been meaning to upload some of Ruby's LO's. In the last half of last year Ruby finally realised she could scrap with photos. She has being scrapbooking since she was 3.5yrs but she only did collage style with pattern paper + embellishments. I always asked her did she want to use a photo...........always got a no. So this is about the 3rd LO she has done so far.........pretty cute eh?? I just love she just does it + doesn't over think + knows how she wants it!! Will admit in this LO the scallops were already pre cut for a class that I taught at SENZ last year. I love how she put the swirls on her letters like that!!

And finally have you checked out the SBO blog of late?? I see Vicky has put up a fantastic challenge for you.

And what about the NZ Dares..........checked them out of late?? I'll be adding mine later today!!

Well I got a fantastic kit yesterday that needs some dealing done to it!!

Enjoy the weekend! :)

rach

so the routine begins!!

2008-02-04T16:45:00.000+13:00

and ecck the alarm went off at 7.00am!!
feed kids.
kids got uniforms on + T dressed.
cleaned teeth.
I made their lunches.
they packed their bags with their lunch boxes + put their beautifully covered school books in their book bags. (can i just mention how much i dislike cover seal - a man must of invented that, surely!!).
me showered.
faces washed + hair done.
sandles on.
into car.
drive to school.
take T to the dental clinic.
home for coffee. (oh so important).
hung washing out.
vaccumed part of house.

yeah so the rountine has begun!!
it feels good!

tomorrow the kids will catch the bus.

so here is my lastest LO using the jan kit for SBO
always feel good to play a bit of catch with older photos.........I so work out of order.........LOVE that!!
me + my boys back in 2005. Love this photo!!...........also the photo is blurry irl.

and here's a LO that I did while I had a few days in Wgtn by myself visiting my parents.I have used one of the collections from SIS
+ I have to say its my fav collection!! A simple LO for me but I LOVE!

We had a fab day at the beach a week or so before xmas + I took this photo of Kev while I was lying on the beach + he didn't know I took this pic...........hehehe

so back to routine

time to start dinner!!

hope everyone who had kids going back to school today had a good first day back + all the best for those starting on Thursday! :)

rach

good intentions........

2008-01-29T23:34:00.000+13:00

I promise........ I did have them for the New Year!!

anyway here I am!!

welcome back to my blog!

so yeah lots going on in my life atm...............some good + some not so good!!

just want to give a little shout to all the awesome girls out there for all their love + caring!!

it means so much to me atm!!

so THANKS!!

so as we know its the last week of the summer hols!! As much as I find them long I always start to get a bit sad when I know they are coming to a end!! I'm going to miss my kids when they go to school next + i know 1 little guy is certainly going to miss his big brother + sister!!

so this week is filled with lots of swimming + having playdates + sleepovers!!

Kev + Finn spent the night on the mountian last night with some friends! what a adventure!! Ruby volunteered to sleep with me................arrgghhhh what a bad idea!! Do you realise how much kids move around in their sleeps + at one stage she was kicking + scratching at me like a dog...........but in staying that she has being playing alot of dog games..........so maybe she was playing them out in her dreams..........but not in my bed please!!

So OK last week I go food shopping + nearly die when I see the price of the cheese!! $14 for a kg!! Far out wasn't it only like $9 last year!! And then today I read in the paper its $16. in some places.......well holy flying cows thats just pure madness!! I truly considered for a minute I might make my own cheese.......that minute was short lived I tell ya!! I guess for some families cheese will be off the menu!! It also makes me realise how lucky I am to be able to afford food for my family!

and now some goodies to share!

these 2 LO's are from the lastest SBO kit - designed by Donna + Trina. Really enjoying this kit!

One of me + Miss Ruby. Trying to take more photos of myself + then the kids + I together!!

I just LOVE those Fancy pants stamps!! (to note they weren't part of the kit)

and my lastest LO using the kit. And another little challenge for myself to take more photos of my kids with their grandparents.

My dad + Taidhg.

until my next post!! ( no smart comments plz) :)

rach

catch up!!

2007-11-05T14:18:00.000+13:00

yep well SENZ was great!!
it was fantastic to catch up with the girls from SBO.................lots of laughs + good times!!
I really enjoyed teaching + had a lovely bunch of girls each time!!

So it was that time again last week to go a Trick a Treating!!
So I rang around a few of the neighbouring farms to see if the kids could come a knocking!
And even Mr T joined in (he just can't miss out on anything).

This year Finn + Ruby dressed up in their own outfits (don't ask me what Finn was)..........and check out in the background a certain short stuff witch!!

and while they were out playing Trick a Treating I just couldn't miss out.

so just got a few LO 's to share that I have done lately.

this one i used the yummy collection from SIS - designed by Kristina Contes

and this one for my lastest DT work over at SBO

using some Love Elise, SEI pp (that range is just YUM with its browns + oranges) + MM buttons! Another LO for the Hawaii album!

and if you're keen for a good comp pop on over to SBO

to see our BIG Gala Bash!! Lots of great challenges running for all of Nov + what great prizes!

1st prize - a 6mth sub to our kits

2nd prize - a cuttlebug (and if you already have one you can have dies or embossing cards instead)

3rd prize - $60 voucher

so hurry on over there join in on the party + read up on the comp details + challenges.

We would LOVE to see you there!!

and oh here's my challenge LO. You have to complete a LO that had anything to do with food at xmas time. And you have till this Friday to complete it!! Vicky has already got her challenge up too + hers ends on Friday!!

here's to a good positive week!! :)

rach

everyone loves a sneak peek!!

2007-10-09T21:46:00.000+13:00

so finally here are 2 sneaks of my mini album classes at SENZ!!

and yep holy cow its this Friday!!

so if you're lovin my sneaky + know you're going to be in CHCH............and haven't signed up for it.................get your sneakers on + sprint over to SBO + sign your life away!!

so on Thursday I will be winging my way down to CHCH. Yes you just heard me yell 'yehaa'!!

Can't wait to catch up with everyone + plz come + say 'hi' to me if I haven't meet you.

so yeah roll on.........

and hey look out for this weeks DARE its mine!!

nothing like to get you in the mood!!

and I hear there is a fantastic prize!!

so get your scrap on!!

OK so its over + out for me 10 4 big buddie!! ..............yeah so we have being playing walkie talkies here + this mama things she is pretty cool at the truckie talk!!..................hehehehe

rach

hhmmm oh my!!

2007-10-02T23:12:00.000+13:00

a whole month has passed!!
and yes Steph I can hear ya "update your blog"!!

and Nic.........see I have updated!!

Ok so lets start with a little sneak peek for my class at SENZ.

Its quite pretty for me, even with some pink in there too!!

So if you are thinking of signing up...............run over to SBO + sign your life away...........cause we are going to have some FUN!!

so now I'm working on sneaks for the BG mini's!! Now thats going to be FUN + some more!! :)

So my big boy turned 7 2 weeks ago!! YES 7 ............wow where has that time gone??

anway he got himself a new bike, along with a few other goodies..........check him out checking it out before the school bus came!!

and then the first Sat of the hols we had a bunch of rowdy boys + Ruby for a party. YAY for the beautiful hot Spring day we had!!

and checkout in the background the Hurricane..................waiting to do his damage...............LOLwe also had my parents here for the BD for a week + then I had a op on my teeth (nasty) + tomorrow I have the last lot of work done...................I so dislike the dentist......its fear for me!!

and just wanted to share some work.........which I guess most have seen but these are for my sil.....who we don't get to see very often + miss a lot more than she knows!!!

my LO of Ruby in the lastest Up2. I love this photo + how i used the HS bling to emphasize her jumping!

and my magnet board. I had so much fun making this! Oh i put black paper in there so i wouldn't get a glare off the metal middle.

and this one is for Steph just so she can she what FUN she is missing out here with the Hurricane!!

Nothing like mixing up a bit of SR + Elsie Love together to get this creation!!

and I just one more. I love how this came out + if you're at SENZ you will see this for sure, along with a few of my other goodies!!

and who's that Frog??

why its the Hurricane himself!!.............but how can you not love that little face!

well thats me ppl.

so yeah I don't come on here for weeks + then it like I have pure diarrhoea............lolso on that happy note I leave you for my beauty sleep!!

god knows I need it!!

sheep!!

2007-08-13T17:01:00.000+12:00

did i say it was my dream to marry a farmer??

and then wish to have a pet sheep???

HELP...............what was I thinking!!

so I do live the dream + I do have a pet sheep........2 in fact!!

Pepper + Sonny!!!

and lets just say they think they are human + think that they should spend their days playing in our garden!!

so today I quickly duck out to get some firewood + Pepper who is quite crafty for a sheep!!............pushes me out of the way as I walk through the gate + makes a mad dash into the garden!!............lucky I was smarter + ran (YES I ran) around the other side of the garage + chased her back into the paddock!!!

I think she thinks she is like 'Shaun the Sheep'..............anyone seen that wee TV programme???

And with Spring just around the corner........YAY!!!!.................it looks like we will have 3 new lambs to care for 'Mission Day' that will be coming up soon at school.

so yeah besides the sheep dramas in my life we are getting busy with the cows calving + I will be feeding calves this week!!

Kids are busy training for cross country 0r cross crunchy as Ruby calls it!!!.........atm.

The days are slowly getting longer + wow before we know it will be daylights savings!!! YES its fantastic we have had it extended here in NZ but oh boy do I feel for Kev...........as he will be crawling out of bed at 4.00 instead on 5.00 every morning!! But then again he's a huge fan of daylights saving!! And he's getting a new toy - which I know he's hanging out to play with!! Once I find a pic of it I will share.......................its a new + very popular water toy that he spied in Maui!!!

Busy with scrapping + trying to play catch up with some projects.

one of my lastest was for the DARES . I had fun doing this one. Go over + checkout the other girls...............there are some beaut ones!!!

and a LO for my DT work over at SBO

I got to play with some new CA + Tink ink this mth with a few other bits + bods.

Loved how this came out. kev planted those sunflowers + the kids loved watching them grow.

So hopefully we will plant some more this summer!

and have been trying to load up a pic of the lastest kit Vicky + I designed. (but can't get it up for some reason.......so go checkout SBO for a lookise) So can't wait for this kit...............its filled with so much yumminess!! And holy flying cows wait till you see the stamp that the very clever Miss Vicky designed!! I think we get this kit sometime this week to play with............yippee can't wait!!

Also have been busy planning my classes for SENZ. I see SBO have got them for sale on the site + I heard that some have almost sold out. Sorry not many sneak peeks due the product not here yet but you girls won't be disappointed as I have seen most of the teams other creations in irl + they are all so super talented but just not that such awesome ppl + lots of FUN!! And we like FUN don't we!!!????

oh yeah I keep forgetting I got this from the lovely Gigi about a mth ago but as we can all see how hopeless I am at blogging I never got it up + after seeing others in my list have also got one I have decided that anyone that leaves me a comment or even checkouts my blog deserves one!!

well its nice to be back in blogging land..............but I must leave to tend my batches of anzac biccies I have got cooking in the oven!!

rach