busy life ...

this week has seriously flown by, i sort of new it was going to be like this ... just lots going on this week with the kids and our life! Katya had her Grade 2 ballet exam on Tues - i am so so so proud of her, she was so composed and I know they have just practised SO hard.
We finally have had some good rain this week ... very needed. We are having terrible water restrictions, so its such a blessing when we get rain.
Yesterday I know was a fun day, oh yes, I helped Gary buy these really funky cool shoes .. they are blue and silver, very very styley! That was fun, shopping together - although we are pretty bad as we seem to egg each other on, and next thing the budget has been blown to peices - opps! So not something we should do very often!
Sheri and Steve came for dinner, she made tacos - was fun, and yum and good to hang out together. we had alot of laughs.
I worked in the office here today, so good to get on top of things - i do find the day goes VERY fast on thurs tho. Got this beautiful leg of lamb for dinner tonight - yum! It was roast weather, you know raining and windy ... nice comfort food.
Finished a little project that is on the go, don't even have any sneak peaks to show you - will be up next week tho. I am very happy how it turned out - so will post a pic when i get one thru.
Got some really cool new MM products from K - am in love with their new range. am going to go have a play quickly now .... am looking forward to some scrapbooking tomorrow with it.
OK ... i need some sleep.

chocolate ....

so these are the downfall of me ... i adore them! have just passed the recipe on because its too good to keep to yourself. I mean just look at the picture .... how can you resist! AND I have these sitting upstairs in my kitchen .... yum!

Went to the dentist this morning, a new dentist and a bit of a flash dentist, got a little goodie bag on the way out ... makes you feel a bit special when that happens! Got to look after your teeth, like my nana said "you only have one set so look after them very well" and I do!

Katya just completed her Grade 2 ballet exam, took heaps of pics so that will be fun to scrap. She loves dancing and she seemed very happy with it all. I am going to make her chocolate pudding for desert tonight - as a little reward for completing her exam (its a family recipe ... i love traditions that are passed down, mum made it for us, now I'm making it for my kids - cute)

we have colour ....
Our front fence now has some substance ... after being grey for 3 years, on Saturday Gary did an amazing job with the paint sprayer thingy (there was a bit of over spray on the grass and various other objects which were caught in the way - ha! not that bad really -

but could see how you could do some damage if you didn't like your neighbours - lol) it is a big job tho as our fence is so long. I took the girls to a school fete on Sat, they loved it. the big girls had a ride on the cup and saucer - funny. They all got lucky dips - i remember the lucky dips, they were great! I picked up this great Dolls House for such a bargain - $15. it was really dirty - so the girls got out with their scrubbing brushes and gave it a good clean (so so cute watching them) and its come up beautifully!

Sunday saw our fence turn to Nile Clay colour - which i totally love. Its a good deep colour and gives the fence a bit of a kick. its exciting seeing colour happen and our house start to change.

My project for this weekend (after being inspired by some beautiful workspaces in the lastest Creating Keepsakes mag) was to completely organise my desk. It took ages but I did get there and I feel very very happy about it, even posted you a pic (I still have to scrap the "love" letters - they are cute tho) ok better go ... was posting this last night and lost it so wanted to do it quickly before I get organised ... time for a cup of tea! and then off to swimming .....

wow ....

have just had the coolest consultant here helping us choose colours to paint our house .... I love meeting people who have a strong sense of "self" - i love it! He was such an individual and not like anyone I'd met before. I loved his ideas and feel very very excited about what we can do with this place. the photo here doesn't show how cool these colours really are ...
we are painting this weekend, i'm so excited!
off to get girls from school ....
p.s. I love fridays!!!!

tagged ....

have just finished this quick layout after reading Anna's blog ... was just enough time before the girls got home from school - great! i am loving green at the moment ... as you can see! I used mainly Heidi swapp stuff, and making memories stamps ... my two fav products! - don't you love the kiss! cute!
had a productive day in the office .... feel more on top of things after thurs, even tho the day seems to go really fast. Haven't got anything ready for dinner ... that could be a problem as if I haven't got organised before 3 it seems to go downhill quiet fast - i get a bit of a cooking block (whatever that is) so better get to that!
I got new running shoes today, so will take them for a test jog soon ... better find some energy quick! HA!

love shoes ...

have just got home, went for chinese with my lil sis and TJ .... we are trying to catch up more often - we always have such a laugh together, its good soul food!!!
Gorgeous day here today ... am so happy summer is back, i am a bit of a sun bunny really! was lovely swimming this morning, although i felt like it was very hard work (you have days like that) went up to my favourite shop Petrol ... had a lay-by to pay (ended up picking up the top - my self control isn't so good up there) was on a bit of a shoe mission too ... decided last night I needed new shoes for summer ... and found two pairs I am totally in love with! This is one pair .. i am wearing them now, haven't taken them off all day ... aren't they cute!!!!! the other pair are brown and very cool too! shoes make me happy ... funny hey! Shoes can totally make an outfit tho ... love them! Called in to K's house and the girls are there scrapbooking today .... I love catching up for a chat, was fun - always good food to be had.
This Layout won the competition at my local scrapbooking shop .... its so sweet that it has my dad in it!
well, i am tired and am getting up at 5.15am to ride my bike ... so its off to bed for me!
nighty night!

2 years ago ....

i was in very very painful labour with our littlest girl. I was an hour off from having her .... man, I am SO glad its this time two years on, as would not want to be back there again for anything! ouch! Had little gathering with little people, and nemo cake .... ok am going to pat myself on the back here (which I know is totally corny) but i did love the nemo cake! Nice to have a chat with the girls too .... always nice having a catch up with your friends hey! So its just been nap time, and I hear the little birthday girl is awake ... so better go get her up. We are going to the park for a play this arvo!














P.S. here is my challenge #5 (i do have to confess that I did this for a challenge pack for our local scrapbook shop ... but have not had the time with icing the nemo cake to devote to a lo ... i know you'll all understand)

fun fun fun ....

two posts in one day - wahoo! Just had to upload some of these photos - such a fun afternoon!

took a bit to get the rules sorted and to face the right direction, then we were away!

very very humerous! this photo capturing a killer shot by Neil to take that particular game. There was some dirty play by one particular person who we won't choose to name .... you know who you are Mr Adams ..... LOL!


the kids had a ball running around the park too! so ours are in bed early tonight .....

sunday - family day ....

i confess i have woken up tired and sore today ... completely and utterley self inflicted!!! sometimes I am my own worst enemy! I am half tossing up doing another triathlon, for something to shoot for - its good to have things to work towards and achieve. However ..... (big pause) i have not run for like 3 months and decided to run to our friend's house yesterday afternoon (as we were going there to watch the Allblacks play - of course!!!!) WELL ... it ended up being about 7.5kms .... and maybe a little far for my first run back. So today I am stiff and sore ... but no complaining as I did it to myself. Just had to have a nana nap as I woke up tired and wasn't coping the best this morning. How pathetic.
This photos is from the Freedom catalogue, its a sea sculpture - cute hey! I have ripped it off for like 1/4 of the price ... my creation is on the right! Will take another when I have the room upstairs a bit more rearranged with my beachy theme .... (as you can tell I'm running on slow mode right now, so it won't happen today)

Aren't we glad the Allblack won hey! Gary was stoked, as he had two bets riding on the game (boys will be boys) we had dinner last night with a girlfriend I swim with - for her birthday which is the same day as Gi gi's. There was a group of 10 of us ... good fun, great food!

Finished another competition for my local scrapbooking shop yesterday, and picked up the copy which won last month's competition - so will post a pic tomorrow (too lazy to get the camera right now) next challenge pack is flowery, so will have to get my inspiration flowing!

Shortly we are off to play bouche' (sp?) at the local park - 4 couples, should be fun. Its 27 degrees here today so I think our summer is on the way again - i am pretty happy about that too, i love love love summer!

friday ... yay!

another week has passed by ... this one a bit different with us having wed and thurs as holidays - nice! We spent the day at the coast on Wed with some friends who are holidaying up there - great weather, and lots of fun! It was awesome getting out of town for the day and soaking in the sun and surroundings.
Thurs I worked in the office as usual, then went to the park with the kids in the afternoon. Had dance class thurs night (i am learning jazz dance - i have always wanted to do it so have taken the challenge with a girlfriend) i find it an absolute brain overload .... but am getting there.
Went swimming today - nice to be back in the pool. Today has been a pretty cruizy day, took the time to catch up around here for a change - i am always playing catch up so I think fridays might be "catch up" days. Did this page here, inspired by Ali Edwards who recently wrote an article about scrappin every day life. So this is a page about our Saturday life. Each Sat morning runs on the same schedule, cycling, breaky (either hotcakes or omlettes) getting ready for dancing, donuts ..... i love this bedrooom! It is from the freedom catalogue (i have scanned the page) I am going to get Gary to put a shelf up for me in our bedroom and do a bit of a copy.
i also copied another idea from the catalogue (i can't get the pics up so will post them tomorrow)
Am supposed to be watching a DVD with Gary right now, but its "freaking me out" too too scary and its making me feel ill ... so might go scrapbook instead!

*challenge #4*

just quickly posting this as I have the kids in the car ready to go to the park ... wanted to get it posted before we go ....

athletic sports day

yesterday the girls had their school athletic sports day. I always enjoy going and watching them compete, they love you being there and quite honestly i get pretty excited before they run (brings back memories when i was young and racing ...) the weather was fantastic which always makes the day even more fun. Katya was 4th in the long distance race (3 x laps of the oval) and then won her heat of the sprints and 2nd in the semi final.
Ems had a sprint and was 2nd (however all the preschoolers got ribbons so she wasn't really aware of her placing - just over-joyed to have a ribbon - can you tell by the photos?)
Katya had the final today and ran 4th which was fantastic, so off to zones in a couple of weeks I guess - and more 8am running training sessions for us.
I went for a swim today, first time in ages after having this sinus infection (grrrrr - glad that is gone) was so so nice to be in the water and the sunshine. Do feel a bit tired now, so I guess I'll sleep well tonight.
Its a holiday here tomorrow, so friends are coming for dinner and lil sister popping over to colour my hair before dinner too ...
better go get dinner on ....

chilling out ....

having a great day today ... how good are the weekends? we are having a cruizy day, chilling out. So nice just enjoying your own home, your own space.
Had hotcakes for breaky (of course) girls went off to ballet, hubby picked up the new spare bed for downstairs bedroom. I got Gianna to do a bit of hand painting and created the blue piece of art work you can see there with the hand prints on it ... she had such fun doing that.
I made cheese and bacon scrolls for lunch (and decided that our day is really enjoyable when lunch is taken care of in advance - so have made note to self about that for next weekend) had fun family time playing before lunch. Did some browsing of scrapbooking magazines, jotting down notes and ideas in my new creative journal. Have just finished this layout for *challenge 3* of annie's challenge. Had alot of fun doing this ... she is so easy to scrapbook, such a cute, sweet girl - can't believe we are getting ready for her 2nd party .... enjoy the rest of your day.

so thankful

I do love fridays ... i feel relaxed and ready for the weekend to start. I have just had my lunch sitting in front of the tv watching Oprah - i love Oprah, she is such an amazing woman. Well today when i turned on the show was half way thru the story of a young african woman who's family were killed in the genocide in africa. the story was very sad to hear, and i felt instantly instantly thankful and blessed for where i live and what i have in my life. We take so much for greanted - and then you hear of some of these tragedies that people endure in their lives .... well i was just blown away. Oprah re-united this girl and her sister who have made a life for themselves in america with their mother, father and new brother and sister who they thought were dead and have not seen for 12 years. It was such an emotional re-connection i was totally overcome with tears ...... it was powerful.
so a bit deep i know ... but we should NEVER stop being thankful for what we have and the wonderful, special people in our lives. I thank God for all I've been blessed with.
have had a fun morning with Gi, had coffee with the girls after school drop-off then went to Target and stumbled on their wonderful big sale ... got some awesome bargains!!!! love that shop when they have a sale.
enjoy your friday night, i'm going on a date with my dearest one tonight .... wonder where he'll take me? this photo i couldn't upload yesterday ... it was gi gi giving me her playdos (thats what she calls it) too cute

fairy painting ....

today is work day for me ... and i was good (even if i got a bit way-layed chatting to the girls at school - they are just as good chatters as i am so hard to break away - we could just chat all day) i enjoy seeing Sheri too on these days she has the littlest girl, i am still getting used to her not being around. I got a nice surprise call from my other sis too - the poor poor luv has a very terrible virus. I feel so bad for her, so anyone reading keep her in your prayers - this thing attacks your inner ear and just makes you feel so so so bad. Its always the hard part about living away .... wish i could help her out!!!! breaks my heart! If the girls weren't so dependant on me at this stage, i would jump on a plane and go help her ........... love you sis!
I always feel good once i've done some work .... feel a bit more in control of my life. Even tho there is still a heap of things on the go. Have to do Gi gi's birthday invites - i made one up quickly today, looks pretty cute ... very simple. so that will be one of my jobs to do tomorrow.
the big girls were painting fairies this afternoon, they have turned out very very very cute - as you will see. Gi and I were playing with "playdos" as she calls it. She is so funny.
I am still sick, so had a nana nap after lunch again and am off to bed now ... i know tomorrow i am going to feel better!

* challenge 2 *

ok ... this is my contribution to annie's next challenge - i found this quiet hard to do. I had to think alot and move bits and pieces around alot. Obvioulsy i am not a geometric type of chic by nature, definitely made me think outside the square.


am still not feeling 100% - an I'm annoyed with myself now - because instead of doing the right thing and actually taking it easy, i forged on expecting WAY too much of myself. So having a quiet couple of days - even had a nana nap today to try and let my body rest.
Went to a girl friend's for lunch today, she has moved into a new house and I haven't seen her apart from the passing "hello" at school. Her new house is lovely and very "her" i can see why she's so happy.
Now that i have finished this challenge (as I've been totally wanting to get it done) I am going to try and clean up my house a bit. Have lil sister coming for dinner tonight - time for a cup of tea.

~ ballet ~

last night the biggest girl and I went to the ballet for the first time. It was so exciting, as I felt quiet lucky that we could share this special "first" together. She is a wonderful little ballet dancer, and is practising for her Grade 2 exam at the moment. It was organised thru her dancing teacher (who is also a friend) and a group of us took our daughters. The excitement had been building throughout the weekend, and by yesterday afternoon she was very very very beside herself. I was totally blown away by these dancers, they were so amazing - and I felt very in awe of what their bodies could do. K let out a gasp as this beautiful ballerina entered the stage - it was so priceless, I could see her mind working hard - wishing one day she too could dance on stage like her. Later that night she did verbalise it - which i wasn't at all surprised to here.

A much more civilised night than the saturday night before where we went to a friends 40th party. It was fancy dress - hubby made a rubik cube from a box, and I went as catwoman (i wasn't very organised with my costume) it was fun and great to see all the effort everyone went to with their costums.

Today has been a pretty "flat" day today ... i woke up tired - not good, as I've been grumpy and not very productive!!! Have managed to snap out of it now, but am off to bed so it doesn't carry over till tomorrow. I have made sure that won't happen due to the batch of double choc chip cookies i made earlier tonight - CHOCOLATE fixes everything - its one of my mottos!
p.s. my lil sis moved out yesterday, seems quiet without her and I'm actually feeling a bit lonely, she is good company - maybe that was contributing to my being grumpy! I went and visited her and we went for coffee - that was fun!

{challenge}

this morning after reading Anna's blog - i stumbled onto her friend's blog and decided to do her challenge. Its from the Allie Edward's book and was such fun - i will post the link next time. the challenge was to shut your eyes and pick 6 pieces from your scrap paper box, then cut them to size and then cut three photos to size and create a layout. Great way to do something different, will see if the scrapgirls want to give it a try.

* scrap night *
last night the girls came for a crop night. Hubby was a bit scared and wanted to flee the house ..... we put him to good use instead, for at least 5 mins before he dissappeared. A fun way to spend a friday night, I made apple pie, and chocolate balls (with kahlua in them - mum's "snowball recipe" which I have slightly modified) strawberrys and chocolates, snakes and chips also arrived. The wine came out - all the scrap gear came out and it was all on. Such fun, such funny conversation ... its truely hilarious where some of your conversations can end up - we did have some serious "mum" chats too. I must admit, after having a glass of wine I wasn't overly productive. Nearly finished a layout, and started the cover of our new circle journal that is going to start this week.

I probably get way too distracted with everything going on, but i do love the togetherness of scrapping in a group. We all have such different styles too - which is so cool.

Today brings the start of the weekend - oh I love the weekends. Have just made hotcakes, and my tummy is telling me its time to eat .... so cya!

backyard
as promised here are the photos I took yesterday arvo ....
i am working in the office this morning, as you can probably tell not highly motivated .... but as soon as I do this I will find it!!!!


I am feeling heaps better today, so feel like i can take on the world again


.... LOOKOUT!

Wednesday already
i have been meaning to blog much sooner than now - a number of reasons have effected this not happening ... anyway, at least i'm here now. This is our new fridge - isn't it nice! It arrived yesterday. Our old one, which was 2nd hand when we were first married, finally gave up on Friday, so that is pretty exciting stuff. So so nice having a nice new clean one!
I have been feeling a bit under the weather again, too many late night last week and I think I just expect too too much from myself sometimes. So I have had a quiet couple of days trying to get back to good health again - i don't feel too bad, just really tired!
I decided to snap a few photos of the girls yesterday this is one of the better ones. I have to bribe the littlest one with treats as she has such a short attention span. Printed it out on the new printer, it looks great so of course I will be doing a scrapbooking page soon. Thought this was hilarious and had to snap it too. My sister having fun with the littlest niece! She is making dinner tonight - my sister that is!!!! Fish pie from the latest Donna Hay magazine - we love that mag, have cooked so much stuff out of it. Its just so lovely to have someone else cook for a change - I mean I love cooking, but it tastes different when someone else makes it. Have done some scrappin ... but will have to show you in next post. Nothing too exciting to report really, actually I lie - my clever clever hubby has been working very hard landscaping our backyard - it looks incredible (it was seriously so so so messy before hand) I will go take a couple of quick photos before it gets dark - this is total dedication as I have to get up from the computer go outside where its cold and come back - i hope you appreciate this. ok back in a min ...... ok so it might not look spectacular, but we have planting to do and more pavers to lay, so bear in mind its not the finished product - YET. Ok after all that effort, i can't upload the photos - stay tuned, they will be posted soon!