Catching up with friends

Well today has definately been my "catch up" day. By that I mean catching up with my friends. Today Gail and I drove to Bowral to see Lou, Tracy, Cass and Annabelle (and meet Carol) and then Haylee came up later to join us. It was great to sit and chat with Cass and the other ladies and just catch up on what has been happening in each others lives.

We really need to organise a social type gathering where we can sit and chat properly rather than over a scrapping table.

Then after getting home I got on the phone to Melbourne to catch up with all the gossip from the Allan's. Well almost an hour later (57 minutes!) and I think we are up to date. Was so great to hear her voice and just sit and chat.

School holidays

Wow the first week of the holidays is over! Doesn't time fly! We have had an okay week. Monday we originally thought we were having Charlee but Cooper was sick so she stayed home with her mummy. So Tasha and I cooked! We made mini cup cakes and choc biscuits.
Apparently blogger thinks this photo should be sideways!!!
Then we told Tasha she could ring Tegan to see if she can come over and play. Tasha and Tegan go to different schools but are still good friends and Tegan comes over most school holidays.

Then our plans for Tues/Wed sort of fell in a heap so we took the kids ten pin bowling instead.
And I got a strike! If you look with a magnifying glass it is written on the screen above my head ~L~ How cool!
Then the kids and I went to see Get Smart on Wednesday. I got them up early so we could go to the early bird deal only $6.60 each. We took our own chips and got drinks from my work afterwards so all in all a reasonably cheap trip!
Then I worked thurs/Fri.

Next week will be a lot duller for the kids as I am working everyday. They are having a sleep over at Nana and John's one night so that should be fun for them.

I have a scrapping day in Moss Vale tomorrow (saturday) with some of the Scrap of Faith girls. Looking forward to a day of fun, laughs, chatting, cuddles (baby Annabelle will be there ~ but adults hugs too!) and maybe even some scrapping.

Fun week!

Monday was the athletics carnival at the kids school and Tony and I went along to watch the kids. Wemissed their first race (100m) but saw them run in their second race (200m). I was so proud of both of them for trying and for entering 2 races. Tasha came 3rd (she thinks) in her 100m race and was picked for the relay team which we got to see and they came in second! Checking out the competition - like father, like daughter ~L~
Then Tuesday I went up to Shellharbour to see the King's. Played putt putt golf with Callum, and had lunch with Callum, Annabelle and Cass.
It was a great relaxing day and as always when spending time with Cass I came home feeling happier and less stressed.
Tuesday night Tasha had a fancy dress night at Girls Brigade. they have a dress up night for the last night of each term and this term it was hippie/flower power. So after raiding Aunty Gail's dress up cupboard here is my little hippie chick!
Not much else happening this week. Work was hectic (as usual).

I am missing my chats with Sandra. It is funny we don't tend to chat on the phone much but through email etc we check up on each other regularly. With her being away training and not having computer access I am finding it hard. I think of something or see something and think "got to tell SJ" but can't. Oh well she will be home soon and things will be back to normal.

My weekend!

This weekend had been another good one! We started of with a home game for soccer! That is always a good start! Here's my boy on the soccer field (don't you just love the grey knees!) Number 2 - when Kyle started playing 7 years ago he always stated he wanted to play for the bears and he wanted to wear number 2 because "That's what Greg does". He has the number 2 shirt again this year!
Then saturday night I went to the 50th birthday of a lady I used to work with. She has had some major hurdles in her life and the speeches were very moving but it was a good night also. There was a singer there with an amazing voice and we got to have a dance so I was happy.
Here is the birthday girl with her 2 daughters.
Then on Sunday Cass and Jane came over for a scrapping/card making afternoon (and Tim Tam eating session). Of course slow thinking me forgot to grab the camera when the girls were here so no pics. Jason also called in from Canberra to show us his new motorbike. Twice in 2 weeks Jason. Good to see you - Hope to catch up again soon!

These are the cards I made when the girls were here and below is a LO I completed after they left. It needs something but still not quite sure what?!?

She's home

Looking very tired and slightly grumpy - but she's home!

Sounds like they had a great time. She loved the tour of the Rocks - listening to all the history etc (particularly the bit about people being hung!). they went to Sydney Aquarium and Wildlife world and the Art gallery as well.

They stayed at the Woolbrokers in the city which apparently is gorgeous!
Early night tonight!

My baby's gone!

My little girl is away from us at the moment. She has an overnight excursion to Sydney! Don't know who came up with the idea of taking year 4 for an overnight stay but I really wasn't ready for this. It's not normally until year 5. I didn't sleep last night - mind you we had that horrid wind last night so that could have bothered me too. I lay there all night listening to the wind.

The kids aren't allowed to take a phone with them so we can't ring to see how she is going but I am sure she is fine. Prayed and prayed for her protection last night!

But the amazing thing is - the house is soooooooooo quiet without her. I didn't realise just how much noise one girl generates but there is no music, no singing, no constant chatter. Its weird! Even Kyle is missing the noise - go figure normally he whinges she is too noisy.

She will be back tomorrow with heaps of stories I am sure!

a weekend of highs and lows

This weekend has been a mixed bag.

Friday night we had Davina and Gails families over here for dinner which happened to be Davina's birthday so we had the whole party theme! Plastic tablecloths, paper plates (with castles and pirates of course) party hats and everyone brought finger food! It was a great night we had heaps of fun and (I think) everyone have a great time. One of Tony's mates Jason who worked with him for years and years was in town so we rang him and he came along and caught up with everyone too. It was soo good to see him and catch up.

Saturday Kyle had soccer in Ulladulla so we all got up early and headed down there. It was sooo cold. Only just over 1/2 the team turned up so they did lose quite dramatically but they gave it a good go and didn't give up. I was very proud of them. Then seeing we were down that way we went to Batemans Bay and had a wander around and got some lunch and sat on the waterfront to eat.

Heading home I started feeling a bit off colour but thought I was just tired and then KC rang and asked if we could have the kids - which I was really excited about. Anyway we got home and I was violently ill. Just threw up the entire contents of my stomach in one foul swoop. So we had to ring Gail and see if she could babysit and I didn't get to spend time with Charlee and Cooper :( I was so violently sick that apparently I have either bruised or cracked a rib and am in so much pain now and can barely move.

Oh well at least I don't have to go to work until Wednesday!

Scrapping shopping

Just got to share this. Check out this blog for some amazing scrapping barginas.

The address is http://scrappybargains.blogspot.com/

The evening

After the craft show we headed back to the motel and checked in (eventually ggrrrrr to useless check in staff!) then sat and had Tim tams and champagne whilst we got ready to go out. Spent too much time sitting and chatting that it was 7:30 before we headed out for dinner so instead of going to Baia and relaxing as I had been looking forward to we just ducked into one of the little places at Darling Harbour and had a quick meal which was very basic -although we did sit and check out all the people wandering by (I just have to say these people wandering around are getting younger and younger - don't know how their mothers let them out the house without supervision - ~L~ or maybe I'm just getting old) before going up to Star City to see the show.

We met Davina, Stephen, Beth and Mark just inside the door (literally) of the theatre and had a chat before Jane and I headed down to our seats (in Row A). Rocky Horror was a great show! I loved it! The cast would walk down off stage regularly (although having the aisle seat I kept getting strange men running their hands through my hair as they walked past!) and it was just a fun show. We even did the Time Warp at the end (well nearly everyone - the guy in front of us stayed sitting the whole time!) and I did that with one of the cast dancing along beside me.

After the show Jane and I headed to Cockle Bay to the Lindt shop for dessert! Yummy, yummy coffee and I had a cherry chocolate cheesecake and Jane had a brownie. mmmmmmmm.

Then we wandered back around cockle bay and through Darling Harbour (and past the remnants of an "incident" - all we saw were flasihing police lights and crime tape!) and back to the hotel.

Then Sunday we had brekky at Darling Harbour and went to Paddy's Markets where ~ wait for it ~ I bought a handbag!!!! Bet you didn't see that coming. lol

All in all a great weekend. Pity Kathy couldn't make it but hopefully next time! Oh and SJ and Cass!

The craft show

Had a great weekend with Jane.

It started at 7am on Saturday! She picked me up and we headed off to Sydney. got stopped at the base of the Kiama bends for ages with an accident stopping traffic both ways. We were just disucssing turning around and going the looooooooonnnnnng way when we started moving. YAY! Got to Sydney and didn't turn into the wrong parking station (long story but a tradition it seems). Then we stopped for coffee and headed off to the craft show!

Where we shopped and shopped and shopped! (Well I did - Jane bought some ribbon!) I didn't spend too much but got heaps for my $$. I found a place that had Basic Grey, We R Memory Keepers and SEI packs for $12. Yep $12. So I bought up heaps. (Actually bought so much paper that my arm was numb that night from carrying my bags and I still have a very sore neck now!). Got some new stamps and thats about it. Stayed within my budget which I was very pleased about.

The highlight of the craft show was definately seeing an album at the Scrapapple stand with the gorgeous Allan family in it! Loved your mini album SJ - it was gorgeous (and everyone was commenting on it!)

Yay It's Friday!

Wow what happened to that week? Blink and it's gone!

First I have to shout out a huge CONGRATS to the gorgeous SJ for getting accepted into the course she has been talking about for ages (although I knew all along they would grab you sweetie).

I have my girls weekend in Sydney this weekend. We are going up for the Craft and Quilt show (we normally plan our annual weekend so we can craft show all day!). then we will probably end up at Cockle Bay for dinner and drinks before heading to Star City to See Rocky Horror and then after that we will find somewhere to dance until some really ridiculous hour of the morning! ~ got to find some way to warm up in these cold nights ~
Looking forward to it so much. Love the chatting and giggling and general girliness of these weekends. DH has it all sussed ~ he bought us our packet of TimTams (which is kind of a tradition - champagne and TimTams in the motel whilst we are getting ready to go out!)

Hope you all have a great weekend

Long Weekend

Well we have had a great long weekend!

Saturday we thought seeing it was such a nice day we would go for one of our family drives. So we got in the car and headed south this time! I kept telling Tony to drive to Melbourne but he wouldn't be in that - spoil sport!.
Anyway ~ driving through Milton we noticed the scarecrow festival was on so we parked and had a look around some of the street stalls when we ran in to Jenny Webb and then we ended up going back to her place and catching up with Mark and Jenny for the entire afternoon! The kids went off and played with her kids (Tasha patted a horse!) and we had a great time catching up. Jenny and Mark used to be our house church leaders way back before we were married and we havent seen them for years and years.

Sunday we went to church and then came home and **geek alert** sat down and watched the entire series 3 of Dr Who!

Then monday (today) I went in and tidied up my scrap room - unpacked my scrap stuff from last weekend and then sat down and made cards for about 4 hours!

All in all a lovely weekend.

Scrapping

I told you I actually did some scrapping last weekend! For some reason my pics are all turning out really grainy but hey at least I can prove I did actually stick some stuff down!


Can you tell my thoughts were on Melbourne! Missing you heaps sweetie. (Even the paper I used on the top LO was first spotted at Melbourne paperific!). For the second one I just HAD to use BG paper - and Gail's favourite range!

The theme for the weekend was Love is..... (Cass and I even found out that love is....retreat and love is......competition ~L~) ANYWAY
I sat down and finally got around to doing my LOVE that I have had sitting around for a while.

Of course I had to include a wedding pic! Love this one - can you tell we were taking the photos seriously!
And my man! I love this song - It is by Bob Carlisle (they guy who sang butterfly kisses ~ another great song) but it is sooooo Tony. It says
"He was a rock, he was the one that she ran to, and when he said the words forever, she knew that it was true. He wasn't a saint, but he was saint enough for her, he was a man, a man of his word".
As stated this is 4 generations. Tony's mum, brother Stuart, stuart's son Shawn and shawn's daughter Makayla. This pic was taken at Simone's wedding.
And Kaycee Luellen. This girl has done it rough but she has dug in and turned into an amazing adult, wife and mother. I am so proud of the person she is today and I don't know if I could cope with everything she has and come out of it as well!!

SWS Retreat

Thought I'd better do the share-sy thing with my pics from the scrapping with soul retreat. Sorry - there is quite a few pics but I couldn't pick which to use.

It all started Friday night we got there about 6:30 ish (after I led myself and the 2 cars following me the wrong way! *insert red face here*) and booked in. I was in a room with Cass and Jo. I hadn't met Jo before but she was just lovely and we got on really well. We were given our name badges for the weekend and I just had to share - these girls don't know my likes and dislikes so how cool was my name badge! Look - it's paisley!
Anyway Friday night was taken up with scrapping and chatting and heading off to bed about midnight.

Saturday was the busy day! I went to a Lusi Austin class in the morning which was so different my normal stuff but I really enjoyed it (and playing with the Lusi Austin Buzz and Bloom stamps was just soooooooo cool!

And we were in Lusi's class when she found out she had won a lucky door prize - is that an excited face!
Then after lunch Haylee and I went in and played assistant to Gail whilst she taught on OTP class on covering tins.
The theme for the weekend was "love is" so saturday night we had a romantic dinner (for 70!) - check out the balloons and mood lighting!!!!

Saturday night Cass and I sat up chatting and offloading. Jo came creeping in about 1:30 trying not to wake us ~L~ so she joined in and we all sat there chatting until about 3am!!

Sunday morning we had a group photo and then the girls from scrap of faith got together for a photo session. Of course as we are all getting ourselves ready Lusi jumped up on the rock and I just had to take this pic!
Then we went down the hill and some of the girls tried to do the can can on a tree branch!!! *note* I say tried!
Then back in for some more scrapping
Then it was time to go - so I ran around getting pap snaps with anyone who would stand still!

And it was all over for another year! I did actually get some scrapping done too so will take some pics and upload those too!

First day

So much news to share!

Have had such a mad week. So much emotion crammed into a short space of time.

Firstly Stuart is doing okay. He is still in St Vincents and still has a long way to go but he is responding to people and that is a good sign.

Second, I have spent the last few days away at a scrapping retreat which has been uplifting and very hard at the same time. It was great to get away with these girls and relax and chat (Cass and I were up till 3am but it was so great to just sit and share) but at the same time it was extremely hard for me to be away from Tony at this time. I must admit I found some times a big struggle and would just disappear, gather my thoughts, sort myself out and then jump back in again. Will post more about the retreat once I get pics sorted.

Third, Wow today was opening day at the surgery. Things went fairly smoothly. Still a lot to be sorted and organised and I must admit I am not feeling too calm about things at the moment but hopefully things will settle in to place soon.

I am so thankful for my friends at the moment. I had my big offload to Cass on the weekend. Jane turned up at work this morning with a box of choccies to welcome the new practice and then tonight I find an email from Sandra just checking in and letting me know she cares - oh and that she is totally insane - she even offered to have my kids so Tony and I could have some "us" time - she must be mad! (although the kids would love it!) ~L~ It's just lovely to know that they think about Tony and I and care about us.

True friends

You know there is a saying that a friend is there for the good times but a true friend stays around for the bad and I must say I have found this to be so true.

The last few days have been horrid. We got a call to say Stuart (Tony's brother) had a heart attack friday night. This was a major heart attack and he was transferred to St George by helicopter in the early hours of Saturday morning. We then got a call at 4.30am sunday morning to say he had deteriorated and they were calling the family in. So Tony, Gail, Davina, Stephen and Philip drove up to the hospital.

He really has had a hard time of it. He had a triple bypass, was ventilated, then had a tamponade or similar, had to have his chest re opened. Was put on a heart/lung machine, put on dialysis and his kidneys failed and was put in a drug induced coma.

He is now in a stable condition and has just been transferred to St Vincents hospital.

Anyway in the midst of all this I found out who my true friends were. They sent messages to let know they were thinking of me and just having that support meant a lot. To Jane, Cass and Sandra thank you so much you have no idea how much I appreciate your friendship.

I ask that you keep Stuart and his family in your thoughts and keep praying for him.

Special mail

I was sitting at the table having my morning cuppa (really - if you want me to be human I MUST have my morning cuppa) and relaxing in the midst of kids running around when DH drops a parcel in front of me.

Inside was a wonderful pack with chipboard and ribbons and tags and heaps of cool scrapping stuff. There was no return address and no note with it but it put such a big smile on my dial. Things have been so busy lately and I haven't felt like I have time to think but this really brightened my day.

So to whoever - THANK YOU so much. It was a lovely surprise but mainly just the thought that someone was thinking of me made me feel extra special and grin like a fool!

Thespian moments

Had one of those busy days today. Spent the first half of the morning at Dr Dayoub's surgery running through things with his wife.

Went from there to the School of Arts to watch Kyle in the Eisteddfod. He was part of a small group from his class that did a short play. There were just three characters and he did really well. I was so proud of him. He spoke loudly without yelling, very clearly, and remembered all his lines! He did such a good job. I think we just have a budding thespian in the family.

Went from there to work at the anaesthetic practice. It was going to be my afternoon off but Sally asked me to work so she could go home - she has the horrid flu virus that is going around. So it's been a busy day. Got home, cooked dinner, sorted the kids out and then SCRAPPED! Yes thats right I actually found some time to sit and scrap. Oh how good did that feel! I really have a struggle finding time to do it and I feel so much better when I do - it's my stress relief.

Starting to feel normal

Yuck I have been so sick over the weekend. Started Thursday night - was up nearly all night being violently ill and got up Friday went to work for about an hour before I was sent home. Went to bed and apart from jumping up to rush to the bathroom stayed there for over 24 hours! Haven't done that in years and years.

Spent Sunday just lazing around with absolutely no energy and no oooommph at all.

I woke up this morning feeling almost normal. Lasted the whole day at work - Came home to find Tony re-arranging our bedroom which we had planned to do on the weekend but because I was sleeping in there we couldn't!

Anyway to cut a long story short - I am still feeling slightly *blech* but much more human

My boy's gone to camp.

Well don't know if camp is the right word but he has gone off for an overnight trip to Canberra. Had to be up at 4am this morning - YUCK.

They are going to Parliament house (when it is in session) and to the electoral commision etc etc. They stay overnight in cabins in groups of 6. 3 classes and 4 teachers! Feel sorry for those poor teachers!

I thought I was coping okay with it but didn't sleep at all last night. I think my mind was trying to stop me thinking (and worrying) about it so I had every other thought in the world running through my head all night.