Merry Christmas

Our tree just after santa arrived! ;)

The babies are here and ready to go...

The tanks have arrived and they are huge! We have two and they hold 31,700 litres and that is (7000 gallons for the o/s people) Mark and Aden spent 2 days prepping the area and moving the tanks. They were stuffed by the end of it. Now we just have to connect the pipes and pray for rain! (Or as Christie thinks.........pray it falls on the tanks so they can fill up!)
Patrick finished his last day of Grade five the other day and he is so pleased he is going to be HEAD OF THE SCHOOL next year! His Nana has bought him a pair of Nike Airforce ones in a funky purple and he was a bit nervous about them (coz Lachlan said they are gay!) he had a choice to go with a boring white or the funky purple. Christie and I talked him into the purple as they suit his personality. Anyway, I let him wear them on the last day of school ( I am SUCH a cool mum letting a Xmas present be used BEFORE Christmas!) and all the kids at school loved them ! (phew). Patrick gave his reindeer poo (ANOTHER MELL IDEA I'VE COPIED) it was such a hit and the best present (I've heard) I think anything with wee poo bum boobs and 10 year old boys (or older for that matter) would be a hit!

3AS had a secret Santa swap and I received this lovely present. I have been wanting an 'A' for ages and when scrap shopping always put it back thinking I would get it next time! very happy with the prezzie just love it. I sent mine and I don't now how secret we should be but I might load it later (just in case she is reading!!!!)
Christie took the boys bowling last week and while they were there, they secretly went and got a Santa photo for me! I was so rapt, as they have been carrying on that they are too old! This is the reason I started scrapping! I wanted to artistically display every years Santa photo! I only have one more page in my album! We usually make a day of it and all have lunch and then I buy something little of them (highly unusual for me as once you have your birthday every conceivable thing gets wrapped for Christmas! must be getting soft......)
last year when they carried on, I said you can stand there with your arms folded and not smile, I DON'T care as long as I get my Santa photo! anyway they (well the two younger ones) did silly things and Aden just smiled (what a good boy) and Christie......well she did what comes naturally when there is a camera around and posed!!!! I am hearing ya girl! NEVER make yourself ugly for the camera! My lovely craft friends and I went out for brekkie on Sunday. As we were all so busy we knew we couldn't fit in a dinner. It was so nice to be able to sit and relax for 5 minutes and catch up as well as eat a super yummy breakfast! I had the eggs Benedict and it was delicious, the other girls all had pancakes and although they all agreed it was fantastic, they all didn't finish......

Don't you just love this t-shirt! Aden bought it for Christie, but I love it and have pinched it!

Blogger is being really disagreeable today and won't let me load any photos so I shall edit this later and load them after. My computer is being really slow so that might be the reason. Good excuse to get off and get the last minute things done!
see ya :)

Grade 5/6 excursion

Yesterday I went on Patrick's excursion to MSAC (Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre) The children has a blast! They spent the whole day there and had a few activities to keep them busy. Huge slides and inflatable walkways and of course the wave pool! I felt a bit useless as they had staff there overseeing all the children so all I could do was sit and watch. Although Patrick loved having me there, I could have done with the time as I have done NO shopping yet and starting to get a little nervous...........
We are clearing the back of the car park for the arrival of our new babies...........our water tanks. Trouble is......it has done nothing but rain since we have started organising them! Once they are in, guaranteed WON'T rain until Feb!

Just posting this picture of my Molly coz she is so cute! and I can!

better stop procrastinating and get moving! see ya :)

Finally Over!

Well it is finally over for another year (thank goodness) I have finished until February 2nd, 2009. Yay holidays! I have not done one bit of shopping! I am a parent helper for Patrick's excursion on Monday to........guess where?...............Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre! I NEED that like a hole in the head! But I haven't been involved as I usually have so I thought what the hell! His teacher was telling him that I was actually running the activities and it was OK for me to wear my white bikini! He freaked out! (As if! I wouldn't be seen dead in a bikini!)

They had a craft day on Friday and he made the above Christmas ornament! The sewing in some places could have been a little tighter, but I love it and it has taken pride of place on the tree!

I am cleaning my scrap area ATM (I am so messy!) it is taking forever as I have soooo much crap. My new Years resolution is to be more organised. (it is the same resolution every year!) anyway back to it! see ya :)

It's been a while...

Since I was last on but I will make up for it now. I haven't been able to scratch myself I have been that busy! anyway grab a cuppa coz this post will be a doosy!
Firstly, we all feel sick because we had to bag up 300 odd bags of lollies for the swim kids and everyone who "helped" shoved one in the mouth and one in the bag! No wonder I have to buy twice as much! I let them go for the first half an hour and then they feel sick and wont eat any more, but the trouble is they don't feel like bagging any more! I had to buy a plastic bag sealing machine because the HORRIBLE man at the confectionery shop wouldn't lend me his for an hour! He was being very disagreeable with everything! He had lent it to me for the past 16 years anyway I WON'T be purchasing my lollies FROM HIM ever again.
We have done all our testing and the certificates are also printed and ready to go. I have received some beautiful presents from people. Yellow champagne (MY FAV!!!) and these sherry filled plumb puddings in a beautifully decorated box...so appreciated! Patrick & I polished off 80% of them before any one else got home! Another fantastic pressie I received from a super talented lady Sue (she gives the best handmade presents & cards! regularly published in Stamping & Papercrafts and another mag I can't think of ATM) Get going on that BLOG Sue !this fabbo chocolate box. The ribbon pulls the choc out of the box! ingenious and simple and I love it! Watch out friends I will be reproducing this!!!!

For my students, I made this little folding lolly bag and filled with favourites choccies. My private lesson students, I made felt bags and filled them with bits'n'pieces.

Patrick has been assigned his KK (Kris Kringle) and wanted to leave little surprises each day on his desk. We punched out gold circles and I had to write from your KK as we didn't want him to 'recognise' Paddy's writing! Patrick has decided he wants to go with the Reindeer Poo as his present! (Malteases' in a jar) Mell from 3AS had done one and it looks brilliant and the boys think It is especially funny! I will show a photo when Patrick makes it!.
Finally put the tree up! It was standing there bare for 3 days as I just didn't have the time to decorate and no-one was home to do it either. Paddy had enough and asked to do it! I think he did a wonderful job! especially untangling the lights! (ugg) Our angels on top of the tree are one Aden made in Prep 1998 I love it and Patrick made the other one in Prep 2003 and I love the face on this one! Can't seem to get a good picture of the tree atm as still working out the camera and all its settings and I can't find the tripod! and there is a flash of lights in one spot! looks hilarious!
On Sunday, we went to our annual POA picnic with Mark's high school friends and it was a beautiful day. The boys played cricket and had a run around, it was really great to catch up with them all. Not too many attended this year and I suggested we go out for dinner next year. Sometimes that Sunday before Christmas it too precious to sit around in a park all day. (?)
Christie returned home from Queensland yesterday, very tired and thoroughly enjoyed herself. She stayed up there a few extra days and visited my parents ( Hi Mum!).

Patrick did his last stroke correction class last night and swam 100 metres WITH his clothes on and then tread water for 10 minutes and then swam 200 metres without a rest! He was exhausted by the end of it. I was too just watching him!
My foot is still killing me! I cannot walk STILL! I am going to have to go back to the Dr's and get it sorted out. So painful!

Well that is it for the moment. Jen, Caz & Lynda sorry for being a crap friend this term! Will contact you soon & we will have a Chrissy dinner!

I WILL rejoin the land of the living NEXT WEEK!

take care

:)

SUPPORT MY FRIENDS...

My lovely friends, Lynda and Carolyn have started a website called the Aussie School Shop. They are hoping to make it an Australia wide website! Here is where you can help! Please tell everyone in your address book and they can hopefully get the word out. Based on an ebay format. You can do a search for whatever you want for example a St. Christopher's Primary school shirt size 10 and hopefully one will be there! Or you can sell any school books, uniforms, craft mags, sports uniforms etc. They have contacted many state & private primary and secondary schools and although still in its infancy, the feedback has been extremely encouraging.

Please have a look here and register or just even have a browse. thanks guys.

I am so happy, I have just received another acceptance from Scrapbook Creations. Really exciting although the LO is of golden child Lachlan (again) I will have to concentrate more on Christie & Aden until I crack an acceptance for them! The LO that was accepted was based on instructions for a blind challenge by winner of 3AS Bots Melleny. Thanks Mell!

Aden bought home his cabinet he made at school yesterday. It is fantastic and so well made, no wonder he received an award for this class! I will upload a photo but he is still asleep and it's in his room. maybe later.

No real news from Christie, except she is having a fantastic time and wants to move to Queensland now coz the weather is so nice!

Off shopping now, I have to get some bits'n'pieces prezzies before Sunday.

see ya :)

Ah yes found out who Bette is!!! She owns the local florist and Mark did a small job for her! Just plumbing Sharon! lol

Aww for me?......you shouldn't have!

I arrived home yesterday to this magnificent display on my doorstep along with a huge box of chocolate macadamias! I was soooo excited! who would be sending moi flowers!!??? raced...well as much as the tendinitis will allow....hobbled to the front door and they are for MARK!!! what THE! thanks Mark from Bette. They are stunning and look a lot bigger than the photo.

This is Sassafras Lass papers. A LO of Christie when she was eight. Seems like forever ago! The journalling is just a few of her likes dislikes and friends and info about her when she was 8.

Another page from my flip book! I am lovin' it!

Short and sweet today I have to go and bag 350 packets of lollies! before Mark gets home because it's one in the bag one in the mouth!

Hey who is Bette?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I feel really unorganised this year compared to most years! I have made a bit of a list for everyone I have to buy for but I cannot think of a thing for my children. I have told them to make a list for Santa (he he) but they don't really seem to be bothered! We put the advent calendar up on Sunday night and I filled it with all the goodies. and we have a few Chrismassy things around, but until I finish working, I can't get IN THE ZONE!
Christie rang me again last night. "Mum, I cleaned the whole apartment and THEY just sat around and WATCHED!" (my stomach hurts from laughing!) AND I've spent so much money already! welcome to my world princess! Anyway she is having a great time with no dramas SO FAR!

This is my Aden when he was two! That kid had the WORST temper and would let you know when he wasn't happy! I remember snapping this photo, he was giving his father a mouthful because he wouldn't let him film his cousins naming ceremony! little toad! Using the MF little boy range.
anyway off to do my banking now see ya :)