NOW

I have been doing lots of PROCRASTINATING, thinking, soul searching......pondering really!!!
It is time to go BACK to work in about 12 days and it is breaking my heart. I walked out crying and I think i will go back in crying. Lets face it I NEED to go back, I am a WANT type of girl, i want expensive camera equipment, nice clothes, holidays and scrapbook stuff....and hey the adult conversation is GREAT!!!! My school is fantastic, some of my closest and dearest friends work there, and I will get to work with K again after 7 years and that makes me happy too. BUT I just LOVE being a mum, I love picking Max up from preschool, i love snuggles with Flynn. I have been enjoying spending time with my gorgeous dad and am thankful for all that he does. I HATE thinking about child care and the dramas it brings. I love spending time at home, I have loved my routine over the last 6 months. I still have LOTS on my to do list. I am not ready to give up feeding even though everyone tells me it is time. I have NO appropriate clothing as all of a sudden Summer stuff is in the stores in JULY!!!!!
I guess it is just for 2 days and that means next year I will be able to extend my part time further, meaning i can enjoy the simple pleasure of picking Max up from school and enjoying my cutie-pies 2nd year. I need to let go, i need to relax. It will be hard to get back into the swing of things and the control freak inside may just not cope.....but hey even if i was a billionaire I would still work half a day at BPS as i DO love it so xxxxx

june scrapbooking

I didn't meet my quota of a layout a day but I am happy with some of the layouts I got done.

News and a class

I am happy to be teaching scrapbooking again at Scissors Paper Smock. I loved scrapbook teaching back in the day, life just became to crazy with a young child and teaching a demanding class at school. My class is on Wednesday, July 21 at 10.30. Yes I know I need night classes, I just need to wait until Flynn settles down as he is still feeding and is now rejecting the bottle.
Here is part of the layout......

I am a passionate scrapbook teacher, I love sharing ideas and talking about scrapbooking, I could do it all day!!!!!!

It is using a 2 Crafty tree and speaking of 2 Crafty......I am so happy to have been selected to be on the design team. Pop over to the 2Crafty blog and look at the other lovely girls I am going to be working with!!!!!! I can't wait to I get my hands on some of the fantastic chipboard!!!!!!

I want my routine back

oh gee how I missed my routine for those last 2 weeks of term. I had such a great thing going and then my poor Maxy ended up in hospital with a broken elbow and everything changed, and once term 3 starts the routine will change too. I feel like I am playing catch up.............i just don't want my leave to end, i love staying home and being a mum.
I am really going to miss walking through that preschool gate on a Monday and Tuesday afternoon.
why do all good things come to an end???

I need to promise myself to still take time.
I need to remember that I am going back now so I can stretch out this part time leave for many years and not have to rush back to pay bills.

June twenty-ten

We all went to the circus.

Started demonstrating Tupperware.

Sex and the City girls day out.

Natasha's wedding & Hayley's 1st birthday

Max diagnosed with Asthma

Attended a Saturday Mathematics Conference.

A day out in the city with Flynn at the craft show

Max broke his elbow, 2 days in Liverpool hospital

Scrap retreat at Long Point

Anzac Village pre school Movie night TOY STORY 3

Toy Story

I was on a HIGH after getting home from Toy Story tonight.
I guess I have been excited about this movie since I heard about its release 14 months ago. I could not wait to go with Max and see the new adventures that the gang got up to.
We went to see it at Dumaresq Street Campbelltown as a fundraiser for Max's preschool. The cinema was filled with preschool age children. We went along with 15 friends, so we took up a whole row. It was one mad rush from getting home, getting ready, fighting traffic, trying to get food in a rush for 15 people and then lining up to get in. Then Max ended up sitting 8 seats away from me, it was weird, as I just wanted to share it with him and found myself peeping over at him to view his reactions at parts of the movie. He was so excited, so happy to be with his friends and so happy to see the next installment of the movie, sadly i got no photos of him, we were at the front of the cinema and everything was one made rush. He yelled out at the start "come on, what's taking so long". The looks on his face throughout the movie were priceless, from excited to sad, he lived every moment with his heroes.
The movies was FANTASTIC.
I cried.I cried because it was about growing up and moving on. An end of an era really.
I was sad with the way it ended, i wanted to see Buzz and Woody stand there and say "to infinity and beyond" at the end like they did in the 1st and 2nd movies. I guess I just did not want their adventures with Andy to end, I wanted him to keep the toys and give them to HIS kids!!!!
I can't wait for it to come out on DVD and see it over and over and over again like we watch the first 2.

To infinity, and beyond!

Max loves his Toy Story lego...... I had to capture this swap as it made me LOL!!!!!!
Toy Story would have to be one of the BEST children's movies EVER! It is so clever and well written, truly one I can sit and watch and still get a giggle out of.....can't wait for Toy Story 3

All right, that's enough! Look, we're all - *very* impressed with Andy's new toy.
Toy?
T-O-Y, t-oy.
Excuse me, I think the word you're searching for is "space ranger". (Buzz)
The word I'm searching for, I can't say, because there's preschool toys present. (Woody)

Don't talk to me about importance! Because of *you*, the future of this entire universe is in jeopardy! (Buzz)


What if Andy gets another dinosaur? A mean one? I just don't think I can take that kind of rejection! (Rex)

How come *you* don't have a laser, Woody? It's not a laser. It's... [sighs in frustration] It's a little light bulb that blinks. What's wrong with him? Laser envy.

I've set my laser from stun to kill. (Buzz)
Oh, great. If anyone attacks we can blink em' to death. (Woody)

Son of a building block! It's Woody! (Mr Potato Head)

bedsheets! ..........Who invited that kid? (Mr Potato Head)

2 Crafty

Where is June going .... I will be finishing up at the retreat at Long Point this time next week. It seems like only yesterday we started organising the weekend.

2 Crafty is one of the sponsors of the Retreat. Vanessa is supplying some gorgeous chip-board as prizes. Vanessa designs and makes all of the yummy chipboard that you see here. Can't wait for retreat.

Mini Paparazzi

Hey Rell, I am meeting the challenge of one page a day in June. Here is layout number 15. Remember this day - what a crack up.

Scissors Paper Smock Kits

Oh I love kits that let me get some layouts whipped up quickly as I have not been doing much whipping these days. So for June I have set myself a challenge of a layout a DAY!!!!!!

SO here is the SPS kit and layouts 1,2 and 3 for my challenge.


I love this 2 Crafty Chipboard. Makes for a great layout to add your favourite conversations.


And wait there is MORE......Scissors Paper Smock now have a website.

I will also be teaching in July at the store....I will post some sneak peaks soon !!!!!

May twenty-ten

Mothers day. A sleep in, a gorgeous bag made by Max at pre school, slippers and money to buy my iphone car jack.

Loftus Pies YUM. Slow Cooker Dinners YUM

Preschool photos. BPS photos.

Preschool Committee Dinner.

Cooper's Baptism.

Lucas' 4th Birthday, Kirsten 34th birthday & Ben's 9th Birthday.

Julie's Tupperware party and a nice dinner with her and Peta.

A high school catchup at Taren Point.

Play center catch ups with mums group (Monkey Mania) and Elleni and Kerry (Clown Town).

Cleaned Pantry, cups and glasses cupboards.

Jars of....quilt

Max's quilt is finished and I LOVE it.

It measures about 120 x 150 cm. It is SO bright and I love looking at all the bugs. I am more excited about it than Max.

If you pop by leave me a comment.....I would love to hear from you.

Girls in my Circle

When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend.
And then I started to become a woman
And found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
You could have many best friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mum.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say, “Let's cry together.”
Another, “Let's fight together.”'
Another, “Let's walk away together.”
One friend will meet your spiritual needs,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another, the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself, those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, but for many, it's wrapped up in several:

One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from uni years,
A couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.

I am happy that there are a lot of women who have made a difference in my life xxxxxxx

Project Life

Wow it's May and I have not updated you on how I am going on Project life 2010.
Firstly I can't believe that I have taken a photo EVERYDAY this year, without forgetting. This is my first week that I have really needed to LOOK for photos to take. Most days things come up and there is a story i want to share. The other night Max was playing with Carl his 'iphone friend' (a great ap for kids) and I needed to get a shot, it was so hard as we were in near darkness.....so I guess I am happy that I am also working hard to strengthen my photography skills at night as I hate using the flash.

Another project I took on was to take a photo of Flynn EVERYDAY as well. Sadly I let this go in early April, I still take a shot most days and I am hoping to have 300 days so I can fit them all in a gorgeous slip in album I have.

Here are some of my pages from project life, I am only up to date to March 1 so I need to get a move on as it tends to get out of control easily lol

This is the first page......I am yet to complete my title page, I will post when I do

thanks for stopping by......let me know what you think and if you are doing PL let me know where you are up to!!!!

April twenty-ten

Another very late night on the 1st....crawled into bed at 3am on the 2nd after some wine time and girly laughs.

Easter - too many hot cross buns, a yummy good Friday fish lunch, a trip up the river, an Easter egg hunt, boat rides, tubing, Tayla broke her finger and a Chinese dinner with family.

A lovely school catch up celebrating Gina's 40th, great food, company and MOET. Loves my BPS girl pals.

School holidays...no preschool. A mixture of rest and a few days out at the park, shopping and a Ben 10 concert.

Darren's 34th birthday dinner and BBQ. He made it to his cake on Friday night, but was asleep just on dinner on the Saturday night.

Minimal scrapbooking, some cleaning and STILL dealing with pool issues.

A fun night with the girls at my place hosting a jewellery and Tupperware party.
Anzac Day- March in the city.

I started to look at schools to enrol Max in, looked into a new Family Day care for Flynn.

Really WARM autumn weather, lots of trips to the park.

Anzac Day 2010

My Dad makes me so proud to be an Aussie. He is such a great man, I love everything about him. This year was his first Anzac day without Doreen and everyday is a little hard for him. I get upset watching him get upset....I just want to make all the pain go away but it never will.

For years I have said I will go and watch him march 'next year'. Well I was sick of those years going by and as he did not march last year due to Doreen's health I decided now it is every year we will share this event.

We found a good spot on the side of the road. the plan was to text dad and let him know where we were and what side of the road we were on. However.....dad lost his phone, we think it fell out of his suit pocket on the train. So he never got our instructions to march on the right-hand-side and we could not hear him call out "I've lost my phone"

Sadly Max fell asleep and missed Pop. We were going to venture down to try and have a drink with dad but it was busy and we thought it best to leave him with his mates. Little did we know he had lost his phone and it would have been better to walk down and see him to ease his mind.

We walked around Darling Harbour and had a nice lunch at the Meat and Wine Co. We did some clothes shopping for Max and Darren, looked around the Cenotaph and then went to the station. Just as we were about to walk down to the platform...out of the corner of my eye I could see my dad entering the station...I was shocked to see him and he seemed a little upset as he told us the story of his phone and that he was waiting for us to have a drink......I was sooo upset, we should have stuck to our original plan but as he was not answering his phone i just thought he could not hear it. i was sad he never stayed and relaxed with his mates at the pub.

Max and I read the book "My grandad marches on Anzac day" a tradition here on Anzac day. We thank all those that fought for this wonderful country...LEST WE FORGET.

A week in my life - April 19 to 25

Ali Edwards inspires me, she is what defines scrapbooking for me.

I thought is would be a great week to document MY LIFE because in exactly 3 months my weeks will look different as I will return to work for 2 days a week. I love life right now, the routine and staying at home, i don't like how it is moving fast and the days are whizzing by. I love being a mum, a wife, a daughter, a friend. Laughter, talking, photos, my computer/iphone, exercises, kids, happiness and TV are part of my happy life. Daily chores and paying the bills are part of my life too....I just don't associate the word happy with them.

I am not going to post much here, I am off to spend time on the actual project.....but here are some of my favourite shots i took over the past week, surprisingly i took over 300 photos of the week.

A promise photos WHEN i complete the album!!!!! i will also revisit this in 3 months when I am back at work to look at my week then.

Check out this fantastic album.......I love Pip's work

he

loves his action figures and will sit and role play with them.

loves TV.

is a BATMAN fan and Astro Boy is his friend.

has all of a sudden become scared to fall asleep in his own bed.

he has a short fuse at times and gets angry when he hurts himself.

he gets in trouble for growling at me.

invites kids over "to our place" if he likes them.

loves the colour green. He draws and writes all the time in green at Preschool

loves to eat tinned spagetti, cucumbers, vinegar and balsamic rice crackers and ice cream.

has a memory of places, he will say "mum, Linda came here". "that's Tayla's soccer field".

has classic one liners like after not seeing Charlie from Preschool (he is at school now) for at least

4 months and suddenly seeing him you said "oh my gosh Charlie you are ALIVE".

asks good questions "Mum why is your hair growing black?" (well I did need my hair coloured)

this time a year ago

yes (often) I am good at dates, remembering little things, sometimes very insignificant but still useful. April 2009 has many memorable dates i will always remember
01 - Egg Collection
06- Embryo transfer
17- the phone call ....YES....POSITIVE...ALL LOOKS GOOD
22 - ultra sound confirmed...we saw you for the first time xxxx

And here you are a year on...Flynn Frederick, so loved, so chubby and so happy. I pinch myself everyday knowing how lucky i as not to have to go through IVF again and again, my only wish was that my eggs survived and I could have made someone else as happy as you make me.







Sadly there are NO photos from that day...but I remember the phone call before 11 and Rel taking my washing off the line (gee that girl can FOLD well).

frustrated

I was chatting with a scrapping friend today (well 2 actually) and we had a whine about no TIME to scrap. I could NEVER give this craft up but I am frustrated that I have sooooo many stories from my two gorgeous boys, my hubby and even my dad and friends to tell, I just need to stop procrastinating and get it DONE. I love this simple layout as it shows what scrapbooking means to me......some paper, a punch a good photo and a story to tell.

I have sat and edited photos this week (HOURS of time), tried to tackle my taxes (grrrr), cleaned the house, updated my boys journals, hosted a party for Daz, looked after 2 young children and still I feel I am not getting done the things on my list. I want to finish Max's quilt, write Flynn's thank you cards before he can write them himself, clean my HORRIBLE wardrobe and oh the list GROWS. I think I am toooo busy living life to document it

WHY is it we are half way through April and I feel like it should still be January 15???? How do people go to bed before 9pm and COPE???lol maybe they don't scrap heheheheehe.

OK now that moan is OFF my chest I am off to catch up on some of my "project life/photo a day"