Some scrapping

Scary - it's another post from me!!!!!

Thought I'd better prove that I do still scrap on the odd occasion. This first LO is for an album I am doing on people who have been an important part of my life or influenced me in a major way.

My stuff lately has been very basic but I like it that way. I do do the fussy thing as well and I LURVE to fussy cut but lately I just haven't had the mojo. If anyone finds my mojo hidden somewhere can they send it home please.

This tin was done on the spur of the moment when I had no scrapping mojo - Gail had a spare tin so I sat down and did this instead! I was really happy with how it turned out.

Mothers Day!

Hope you all had a Happy Mothers Day.

My day started with me getting out the shower and going to head out of my bedroom to be met by Tasha - one hand straight out in front of her - saying "You can't come out here, get back into bed and read a book!".

So I did.

I got back into bed (wet hair and all) and picked up "The power of a praying parent" and started reading. Then Tasha and Kyle came in with my breakfast - they had cooked me toad-in-the-hole which is an egg cooked in a piece of bread with a hole cut out, except instead of a hole they used cookie cutters so my egg was in the shape of a bunny rabbit!!

I got very spoilt. Tasha gave me some new slippers and an itunes voucher (so I have spent this evening downloading music!) and Kyle gave me a new mobile phone.

We went to church this morning and then went up to Georgia to have lunch with Mum and John. All in all a very pleasant and relaxed day. Oh and whilst I was at Mum's Mark rang to say Happy Mothers Day so I got to chat with him as well!

Catch up time

Had a lovely dinner tonight - we had Greg, Simone, Jhorjie and Dominic over for a baked dinner.

It was great to just sit and chat - haven't done that in a while. We did lots of catching up - discussing the guys (it's okay they joined in too ~ lol) and an awful lot of "Do you remembers" and "What was that guy's name" etc.

It was a great evening and we will definately have to do it more often.

Watch out - this girl is armed!

You better step back - be warned this girl can now use power tools!

~L~

I had some things I wanted put up in our bathroom today and rather than waiting and nagging and waiting etc for Tony to do them I thought I'd give it a go. I know it's not very exciting for some but for me - Hey I have now used a power tool!!!

I thought it was exciting anyway! ~L~

Its been a good weekend

This weekend has been a very encouraging one for me.

Saturday morning we helped some friends move house. We have known the Baldwins for some time now and their daugther and Tasha are really good friends. (Well truth be told.... Tony did lots of helping I went and cleaned for 2 hours and then left). But thats because I had to go to - - -

The Scrapping with Soul scrap day. Didn't have much mojo - didn't acheive much - but did do a tin that I was VERY happy with but mainly I got to sit and chat and had a much needed conversation with Cass. I am not a big "sharer" or personal problems as I don't like to burden others with my problems and tend to wait until after things have settled to speak up but I did manage to share with Cass yesterday and I thank her so much for listening. I know all will be fine but I do tend to stress anyway!
Got some pics from New Zealand scrapped - have to sit down now and work out what I want to take to the SWS retreat - CANT WAIT.

Today has been a fairly pleasant - again haven't achieved much but just pottered around the house. Cleaned out one of the kitchen cupboards and went shopping with the girls. (Tegan stayed over here last night as things were still unpacked at her place so Tasha and Tegan had a ball playing "golf" outside. Very dangerous for bystanders!

Do have some photos - will get around to posting them at some stage.

Have been pining for Melbourne a lot lately. Will have to try and find some way to get down there soon. SJ- miss you heaps sweetie.

Blessed

The past few days have been full of reflections over the past year. Life has been extremely busy and hectic lately but I realised that it now 1 year since I bit the bullet and quit my job.

I have been doing a bit of blog surfing and thinking about what has happened in my life. Seeing what is going on in others lives and the change in mine. I have gone from feeling so low and flat to actually starting to like the person I am and feeling truly "happy". I have not felt this content for an awful long time.

Sorry to drivel on but I just wanted to record for myself to look back on the good things in my life.

1) WORK

I have gone from being in a job which whilst it had people I absolutely adored and a boss I throughly enjoyed working for caused so much stress and low self esteem due to one particular staff member. I left here thinking there is no way I would work in this town again (dramatic I know but she always pushed how much influence she had with everyone). Ihave since found this not to be true and have 3 great jobs in friendly offices. These jobs have offered me no end of self-esteem boosting as I have not applied for any of them but had people chase me to work for them. It is nice to hear that I have a good reputation and that people want me! Each time I have had that call saying "Heard you were free and were wondering if you would consider coming to work with us" it gives me such a warm fuzzy boost.

I have some challenges coming up but these are very exciting and I can't wait.

2) HOME LIFE

The kids have settled down well at school and Tony and I are actually listening to each other and supporting each other. Even though our work hours do make any sort of family life difficult we are getting there. We still do communicate via notes or sms during the week sometimes and I hate being at home alone at night but we're getting there. We have our "family outings" and even if it's just a day at a park it's lovely to just sit and chat and spend time together.

3) FRIENDS

I have some great people in my life right now. These people encourage me and are there in good times and bad. I am so blessed to count them as my mates! Sometimes people come into your life just when you need them and I know that these people are here to stay.

Jane - You have been there through thick and thin. You have been there for hugs when that pesky crying woman appears and with champers and choccies on "those" days. You make me laugh and know just when I need a hug (or when I DONT need a hug ~L~)

SJ - You are the other half of me. Tony and I were just discussing how relaxed I am around you and how you are the person I am the most "ME" around. Thank you for the fun and silliness we have when we are together but also for being the support when I need it. Thanks for caring for me and for somehow knowing when I need a MWAH. I love that I am an "honorary Allan" and always welcomed as part of the family. You love me for just being me and that is such a special gift. You have no idea how much I treasure our friendship gorgeous girl.

Cass - We met and clicked straight away. Thank you for sharing your family with me and for just being you. You are always so open and willing to share. I love your generous personality and your smile. I feel at peace with you and feel comfortable and I thank you so much for letting me into your life. I love our days out and even just sitting chatting . You encourage me in so many ways and I thank you for that.

Tracy - We have been friends for so long and even though we don't see each other often I know you are there and when we do catch up it's like we have never parted. You know the good and bad parts of me (even the bits I try and hide from the world) and love me anyway.

I guess this is a rather long winded way of saying LIFE IS GOOD! I am at a point where not only am I happy but I am actually beginning to think that this person called Cath is kind of okay and not the total fool I used to think she was!

A fun day!

Had a great day today.

We invited some of our friends over for a bbq lunch. All though we have been friends with these people for some time and consider them all to be special friends we have not actually had them all together before so they hadn't met each other!

Having said that everyone got on really well. We had Cassandra, Dale, Callum and Annabelle, Gail and Daniel, Jane and Simon and Tracy and Jacob! Add the four of us in there and it was quite a crowd!! Everyone got on well ( I think) and I had a great time catching up.

The kids all played well together which is always nice. The only problem with a group that size is you don't get to spend a lot of one-on-one time but it was still a very pleasant day.

Long Weekend

Well this week is over! Thought it would be a massively busy one but surprisingly it hasn't been too bad.

Worked full time but work was quite pleasant and definately not too rushed.

Looking forward to the weekend. Tasha is marching with Girls Brigade at the local Anzac Day Ceremony tomorrow (well hopefully she isn't feeling well at the moment so hope she will be okay in the morning).

Saturday we have some friends coming over for lunch so I am really looking forward to catching up and having a good chat!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

All music'ed out!

What a busy weekend we had!

First we headed off to the Acer Arena at Homebush to see High School Musical on ICE. The show was really good. The kids were just happy to hear the music - I loved the skating. I have always loved ice skating (saw Torvill and Dean years ago!).

Tony picked us up after the show and we went back to our motel. GORGEOUS. I wasn't expecting much because we had a really cheap package deal but the hotel was beautiful and our room was amazing!

If you ever get the chance to stay at the Courtyard by Marriott at Parramatta I would recommend it. Gorgeous open fire in the lobby - beautiful atmosphere - wonderful staff who all called us by name!!
Our room was actually 2 interconnecting rooms with a small sitting room.

We went to Lone Star for dinner - YUM YUM! and breakfast was a buffet at the restaurant which was included in our accommodation.

Then on the way home we were going to go to Parklea Markets but after drving round and round and round and...... well you get the picture :)...... we gave up on that idea and went to Miranda Fair instead!!!!

A wonderful day

Had a great day today! Tasha, "Lachlan" and myself spent the day with Cass, Callum and Annabelle.

Who is Lachlan?? Good question! We weren't sure either! But Callum seemed to think it was a good name for Kyle - he couldn't remember his name so he just became Lachlan. Why not !?!

We had a nice quiet peaceful day. This kids played together, the mums sat and chatted and Cath and Tasha got lots of Annabelle cuddles.

Thanks to Cass for having us and to Callum for sharing his toys with Tasha and the other kid!

Happy Mail !!!!

Tony came in this morning with a parcel for me. I love getting mail and after noting that this had come from Melbourne I turned it over to see the return address. It said

"Sunshine and happiness package"

and inside was a gorgeous hand made card with a gorgeous message.

Thanks SJ you put such a great big smile on my dial! Love you sweetie

Another weekend gone :(

After a busy week I was looking forward to the weekend and it was lovely!

Saturday we piled in the car again for what seems to be our regular family outing! This time we ended up on the harbour at Kiama. The kids were fascinated watching the fisherman cleaning and gutting their fish and sat and watched for ages. They also got to see a group of 4 sting rays come up to wharf which was pretty cool.

After our day out we came home and I was feeling pretty shattered so went off for a nana nap at 6pm to be woken by Tony at 7.00 to say "Time to get up - we have reservations for 7.30. I'm taking you out for dinner!"

1/2 an hour to wake up, have a shower, dry my hair, pick clothes, put my face on etc etc. (well really 20 mins allowing for travel time) YIKES.
I am proud to say I almost managed it - we were about 10-15 minutes late.

We went out to Pelican Rocks - I have never been there before. The meals were beautiful, service wonderful - the only down side was the cockroach that scuttled across our table mid meal! Thanks to the Combers for having the kids for us for a couple of hours. We had discussed the need for a weekend away just the two of us but dinner out was as far as the money would go.

Sunday was a nice quiet day spent potteirng around the house, trying to declutter. It is slowly starting to work!

My super hero!

Well, bet you didn't know I had a superhero in my house, did you?? ~L~

For girls brigade end of term party they had a dress up night (as usual). This terms theme was super hero - real or imaginary.

Tasha thought long and hard and came up with the super hero that every town needs! For days when the wind catches you by surprise or you had bad bed hair - call the EMERGENCY HAIRDRESSER ~L~

What a great idea. Could do with one of those!

Love these pics of Tasha, especially the close up of her and the brush. the look on her face is so cute!

A great weekend

Had a great time last weekend!

Gail, Haylee and I drove up to Barden Ridge (about 10 minutes from Engadine) for a scrapping day. Met up with the wonderful Cass and had some great chats and great cuddles (and got some cuddles from Annabelle too!). Met Marion for the first time and also caught up with Tracy. We went to Scrapbook HQ for a spot of shopping mid afternoon too.

I finally got my holiday photos started so that was exciting. Scrapping, shopping and chatting - what a great way to spend a day!

The next morning Gail, Haylee and I got our scrapping stuff out of the car and spent a couple of hours scrapping on the two tiny tables in the hotel room. Not ideal space but we all managed.

THEN we went to Miranda Fair!!!! Yep lots of spending!!!!

Heart problems!

Not mine this time!!!!

We took Maggie to the vet on Friday because she has been struggling for breath lately and (almost $500 later) we found out she has dilated cardiomyopathy. Which basically means her heart is enlarged and the lining is thinner.

Anyway the end result is we now have a dog on heart tablets and diuretics!!!!!!! The long term prognosis isn't good. I know she has only been with us for about 6 months but she is part of our family now. We knew when we got her from Mark that she was old and wouldn't last long but you sort of become complacent until something like this jumps up and slaps you in the face.

Dont believe the weatherman!

After hearing the weather report forecast lots of wet weather for this weekend I thought to myself "Good I can get some scrapping done"! But instead we woke up saturday morning to a beautiful sunny day.

So we decided to go out for the day - We drove down to Ulladulla and had lunch on the waterfront at Ulladulla harbour. It was a beautiful day.
Tasha had us ins titches with the seagulls - Can't wait to scrap these photos - have the title all sorted! Tash kept getting upset when the seagulls came too close yelling at them " Back off - I need my personal space"
We went across to Funland (a timezone type place) wher ethe kids had a ball playing laser tag ~ they even got to play twice because the lasers weren't working properly the first time ~ and then they went on the dodgems. Check out the horrid welt on Tasha's neck from the seatbelt in the dodgem car - Kyle has one too but not as bad. Think they would have been better off not wearing the seatbelt!
Anyway - finally got to some scrapping this afternoon and did one of the monthly challenges for Scrap of Faith (just in time - last day of the month!) This was a sketch challenge. The pic is one I took of Tasha when we were in Dunedin.

Life is full of ups and downs

The last few weeks have been so busy and so fluctuating!

Wow have had some terrible lows over the past 3 -4 weeks. Felt like hiding away and not coming out but in the middle of this have had some wonderful moments. It is amazing how good it feels just to get a simple message from a friend saying How are you. Or just checking in - noticed you been quiet. Or even just a simple hello. It always puts a smile on my face to know that I was in someones mind. When I am not doing so well I tend to hibernate so sometimes I need that "Oi you whats happening!"

Work has been very "interesting" this week with one staff member leaving very suddenly which starts a snowball effect.

Am so hoping to get down to Melbourne soon - desperately need a bit of friend time with the Allans but can't see it happening for a while :( - unless that rich uncle turns up ~L~

Got lots of scrapping coming up over the next few months - and finally got the NZ pics printed so I can scrap the holiday stuff now!!!

Been doing the rounds of high schools trying to figure out what to do for Kyle next year - we have to have forms in by the end of this week telling them which schools we want to apply to for next year! What a tough decision.

Had a great easter get together at Davinas Easter Sunday - lots of family, lots of choccy and lots of laughs.

School holidays coming up soon! I am working nearly every day during the holidays but the kids and I have a "heaps cool" weekend planned (according to Tasha) as we have tickets to see High School Musical - on ice. Both kids are looking forward to it so much.

Anyway think thats just about caught up with the news. Hope you are all doing well and remembering to smile every day!

All growed up!

I know, I know..... I have been a bad blogger - no more nudges please!

The last few weeks have been the sort where you just want to bury your head under the doona and not surface!

But...............................

I had to pop up today and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my big man!

Just think 12 years ago today (1.30am to be exact) I was biting off Simone's fingers! Hope you have recovered Mone!

He is turning into a young man before my eyes. Growing up heaps.

Love you mate and am very proud of you. Hope you had a great birthday.

Our Family Day Out

Seeing today was such a beatuiful day Tony decided that we would go and do something. Not sure what but let's get out in the sun! So we all (yes ALL - that included Maggie the dog!) pilled in the car and headed out. Knowing I LOVE waterfalls Tony decided to head to Minnamurra Falls but we didn't quite get there because 1) We had the Dog and the ranger won't let you in and 2) we didn't realise to had to pay to get to them!!!

So instead we went to Carrington Falls and played tag team to get to the falls. First the boys went ~ and they ran down and back! (more energy than sense) whilst Tasha and I waited at the car with Maggie and I got these gorgeous pics of Tasha.
Then the girls went- started jogging but then slowed down to a walk (I am just too un-coordinated to run down uneven steps!) the falls were only small but they dropped a loooonnnnggg way down. Beautiful.
Then we got back in the car and stopped at Robertson Pie shop for their wonderful pies and sausage rolls - and even tried dessert pies! I had never seen a cheesecake pie before!

Then we headed back home via Belmore Falls. Again taking it in turns to get to the falls - This time Tasha and Tony and Kyle and I. I loved Belmore Falls. Could have watched them for ages.

We were planning on goin to Fitzroy Falls too but it was almost 5pm so we headed home - stopping in Kangaroo Valley for some wonderful home made ice cream from the fudge house!

All in all a wonderful day - even better because it was a great family day out!

Fun at the Animal Park

Well after a shocking weekend with a sick Tasha (those fevers just did not want to go away) and then a sick me (I went out in sympathy ~L~) this week was starting on a bit of a downer.

I had been sooooo looking forward to my lunch date that Cass and I planned a few weeks ago but with all the wet weather just was not sure how it would work but after much prayer I got up Tuesday morning to a glorious sunny day!

I met Cass, Callum and Annabelle at the Nowra Animal Park and we had a wonderful time. This pic really isn't the best - was very dark and I tried to lighten it a bit without much success. Callum was so well behaved ( as usual). Very well mannered and wonderful. He was very eager to share his animal feed with me and even went to great lengths to show me and make sure I knew how to feed the goats and horses.

"Look Cathy, I show you. You hold your hand like this. I show you" So cute and he is such a sweetie.

Cass and I got to catch up and have a chat as we wandered around and will definately have to meet up on a regular basis. She is such a sweet person and we just get on really well.

However - we did kind of balk at the snake but eventually get ALL plucked up the courage and had a quick pat.

Then with a wonderful end to the day ~ I got cuddles from Cass, Callum (and Annabelle earlier in the day) ~ as Callum was getting in the car he turned to me and said "We had a great time today Cathy"