Happy Birthday to............

My Niece Piper who turns 1 on Wednesday. Today was her little birthday party where all the cousins and family got to celebrate this precious Princesses birthday...how cute are the cupcakes my sister whipped up?!

The first official cake taste.....

....And she loves it!!!
....She really loves it!! LOL
Miss Mikaela has been asking me to sew her a skirt recently and I thought I'd turn my first attempt at skirt making to one designed to be worn for less than a month LOL...just in case it all went terribly wrong. AS it worked out, a few things went awry, but in the end it worked out OK. It is a bit shorter than intended due to some ruffle issues, but some leggings manage to fix that. She has some white ones that will work for Christmas. Over all it is a tutorial I will try again. I had to adapt it to fit Miss M as it was designed for a 4-5 year old, but she is pretty tiny herself. Note the tattoo from Kid's Church today :) ....It says 'Love Wins'.

Another tutorial I am going to attempt to try tonight is this one for some Christmas gifts...they are terribly cute and look easy enough for the novice sewer.

Yesterday I attended an all day crop with Shannon, Amanda and Lisa who I met through the Little Scrapbook shop. We had such a good time, even if I did spend a whole lot of time staring at my craft mat or just looking busy :) I did a couple of layouts that just need journaling or a touch or 2 and also made some tins for the many teachers in our lives. I admire and appreciate these people who impart so much into my kid's lives and dedicate their lives to educating and shaping young people. What a gift...(and responsibility) they have! We have had awesome teachers this year, especially the suppport teachers for Jarred as he enters into Highschool next year. I'll post some pics of the tins tomorrow when they are all done and filled up :)

Catching up........

This week or so since Schoolies has already passed by in a blur as I rush about catching up with numerous tasks that need doing. I still haven't managed to sit at my scrap desk and I am getting a bit tetchy :( Hopefully tomorrow........


Last night was Miss Mikaela's dance concert and she was terribly cute and rather good if I do say so myself LOL. All the kids were amazing and our dance teacher, Julie, did a fab job of organising it all. The concert's theme (and theme for the kid's whole year) was 'Living a Choreographed Life'. It is a Christian dance school and Julie incorporates scripture, prayer and life lessons into her dance teaching...great stuff for our daughters!
Here are some of the many pics I took last night. The first couple are at home before the big event and the rest are using my zoomy-zoom lens from way back in my seat LOL. Yes, I am sure zoomy-zoom is a widely accepted photography term...or soon will be ;)

Today was the dance company's break-up party which was held at a local park. I was able to take the boys along too and get some happy snaps...lovely.

Master Ethan in green....

Ethan helping Connor (nice change hehe)......

The Divine Miss M being less than divine....

Mister J.....hoping he is camoflagued from all the little girls running about I think.....

And finally an actual, real life layout! This kit is one from great new store 'Scrapniques' which has lovely little kits for great prices. Had to have this primary coloured beauty for this pic of Connor. This layout was scrapped a few weeks ago.

(gone to be publsihed!)

Hellllooooooo :)

Hi there...remember me? I barely remember me, so I forgive you if you don't! Life has been insane! Driving back and forth from the Gold Coast, staying in a beachfront apartment that I don't have time to even enjoy, Christmas shopping squeezed into the hour a day I have 'free' and the other every day life stuff that just keeps on happening. Thankfully Schoolies ends tomorrow and I can have my life back! If you see me complain about how hectic my life is in a few weeks, just remind me of this last fortnight will you?! It has been a great couple of weeks working with Red frogs really, and the money is so welcome....it makes for a very merry Christmas this year and comes as a real blessing.
I have not scrapped a single, solitary thing for weeks! Can not wait for the LSBS Christmas Cybercrop this weekend to kick off my mojo and get me going again. I have really missed it. I need to stick and paste and cut and paint!
I received an email this week from For Keeps magazine picking up an easter layout I submitted a while back! That will mean that I have had acceptances from all 3 mags and will have layouts in all 3 magazines around April! Very excited about that. Rich is a bit bemused about the whole thing as usual and wants to know if this scrapbooking lark might ever actually make us money instead of just using it ;) ...hehe....silly man. He truly does love my layouts and how happy I am when I am creating; he just likes to get in a little dig every now and then. Men! He'll never really get it will he?
Better go...off to drive down the coast again. 2 more nights, 2 more nights, 2 more nights..............

Friday again...

.....already! Beow are the photos of the kid's debut as team mascots for the Qld Roar last weekend. How cute are they in their one-size-fits nobody T-shirts and little soccer shorts! Mine are the 3 on the end below......with thr Wellington team member. They were less than happy about not being able to walk in with the Roar players, but I was stoked to see them all together as I could manage to get better pictures. I was a fair way back in the stand and used my kit zoom lens for these shots. Not too bad considering the distance and lighting.

Here is Ethan walking on with his player...Mikaela is there to the left too...

Have to laugh at this shot...Ethan was not concentrating too well at the end and managed to get left on the field. This is the photo of him after he realised the other mascots had left without him LOL.
Heading into a busy couple of weeks so this may be my last post for a bit. Our catering company is catering for the Schoolies chaplains and volunteers at the Gold Coast for the next 2 weeks solid. We have about 500 people a night to feed before they head out to volunteer each night. Huge job but so rewarding and important. The red frog crew do amazing work. I'd appreciate your prayers for a safe and smooth week. So often little things get in the way to make things difficult, so prayers for my family and their well-being will be welcome too!

Bad, bad blogger :(

I have been a very bad blogger. With Rich gone and a mad, manic week I just haven't had time for anything extra this week...including my blog. The highlight of my week was my birthday on Wednesday :) My family had a little party for me on Tuesday night at my sister's place and she made me the most delicious strawberry and caramel filled cupcakes! Oh my...my sister is the queen of the cupcake.

My parents gave me some money for my birthday and my sister Tracey gave me the fab big red Women's Weekly cook book...so cool. I am such a geek. My other sister Rachel's pressie is apparently winging it's way from the US which is just a tad suspenseful! I'm hoping it's a Hummer ;) My lovely MIL gave me money to buy some lovely new earrings which i managed to pick up in a jewellery sale for half price...love that! Nice little gold hoops.

This layout is my challenge for tonight's Cybercrop over at Little Scrapbook Shop. It is an 'All about me' CC and this was a self portrait challenge. I have great difficulty scrapping myself, as many of us do, so this was a great stretch for me. Pop into LSBS and check out the cybercrop and inparticular my handy 'how to use an upside down washing basket as a tripod' article...very helpful stuff.

Jarred says I look tired in this photo....well yeah. I am tired. I also just moved another year into my thirties this week and it's all catching up with me. Boys!

I am right now staying awake with a Latte by my side as I am picking up Rich from the airport at midnight or so...yay! Apparently he has a bit of 24 carat love coming my way for my birthday...woohoo :) Nothing says Happy Birthday like some gold hehe. There may even be a couple of *ahem* 'Chloe' handbags in his haul. Lovely. I can't wait to see him. I also have a little gift for him too...I lost my voice :) He will think it's Christmas LOL. I am just a bit run down I think.

The kids have gone off to Grandmas for the night as it was such a late flight so they will have to wait until morning to see him. They were less than happy about it but they will be fine. They are all super excited today too as they have been asked to be mascot members for the Qld Roar soccor game on Sunday nght and run out onto the field with the team...so cool. Can't wait to take some photos of them in their little mascot gear hehe.

Got Milk?

For my sisters who are on MSN chat right now...here's a milky one :) Hehe

Hello Ween........

....That is what Connor is calling today...HELLO WEEN LOL. It is really very cute. He has only cottoned on to this whole halloween concept through some shows on Nick Jr today. He thinks it is all about costumes and lollies...fair enough assumption for a 3 year old. He is not particularly happy that he won't be knocking on stranger's doors for treats but he has embraced the costume part with great gusto :)

A couple of layouts to share...the one with the bugs....

One for the LSBS Think Pink challenge comp....Love the Sassafrass Lass stuff I won from the Aussie Dares comp a few months ago....

Some of the lovely sewing things I am collecting...new buttons (which will benefit my scrapping too of course, only $6 a bag from BIG W)...some jumbo ricrac....
And my lovey fabrics.Michael Miller 50's inspired pices and some others....more on the way too Hehe...