Christmas Miracle

Well it finally happened! We got a tear free Santa photo! Every year we have had at least one child in tears, sometimes 2, this year they waltzed up and sat on the couch next to him without being asked, in fact I think it was a good thing there was not a que or they would have been in someone else's photo. Ethan even sat on Santa's lap without hesitating, now obviously every other time of year that would be a worry but I'm pretty sure Santa has to pass a Working With Children Check.

Anyway hopefully the pic will attach itself I have been having some issues with that lately, fingers crossed here go.

Very Proud

On Wednesday I wagged work to go and see my best friend Relsi receive her MAS Community Hero Award. On Father's Day, Narelle and her family were first in the scene of a rather nasty car accident, another driver had suffered an epileptic seizure and collided with a car containing a father and his two sons. One of the boys was trapped in the car with extensive injuries, Narelle stayed with this boy, comforting him till the MAS arrived and continued to comfort him while they freed him from the car. Even though she down plays her effort it is not something everyone would do (unfortunately) she remained calm and involved when many others would consider only themselves.

I wanted to surprise her at the ceremony and with my Secret Squirrel buddy Steve we managed to pull it off. It was so great to see Narelle receive the recognition she deserved and I am so glad that it has made her pursue her dream of being a paramedic with more gusto. Go for it Sweetie, you would be an asset to any ambo team, Ballarat Uni here we come (well you , not me lol). I truly am proud of you, and blessed to have you as my best friend.

Feels like Christmas to Me

Well I dont know about anyone else but it feels like Christmas to me. First I got my new camera and a video camera and today my new fridge arrived, I'm so excited!!! It only just fits in the spot in the kitchen but it fits so thats all that matters. The freezer itself is nearly as big as my old fridge /freezer combined so I wont know myself with all this space woohoo!!

Christmas Card Photo Shoot

Well the time had come again to attempt to take a nice photo to put on our family Christmas card. Lounge set up, new camera in hand, Santa hats on children, everybody in place, go. 2 photos in Audrey is in tears, whats new really. So we carried on between fights over places, Audrey's hat coming of after EVERY photo and the boys playing tug-of-war with the beads. I wont show you the one I am going to use as it may spoil the surprise but I will put some of the others up so you can get an idea of exactly how many usable shots we got lol.

My New Toy

Im so excited, I picked up my birthday present today. I am now the proud owner of a Pentax k100D digiSLR.

Sam had his drama class concert tonight so I took so shots there and just some general muck around shots, going to have a more serious play tomorrow, but here are some of the ones from today.

Changes

Ok so after all that the original ticker stopped working, so as you can see I have a new one which only has days no hours, minutes, seconds.

Nothing much else to post about a few changes happening I guess. Mum and Dad are in the process of selling the farm. This is the place I grew up, and mum too, so it will be a bit sad to not have it in the family but as dad always says the only constant is change. I also moved cubicles at work not quite so lift changing but I now have a window lol.

The Problem With My Ticker

I added the Christmas ticker last night, no problems, took me a while to find one I liked, but adding it was easy enough. This morning of course I notice that it says 41 days 0 hours, I didn't realise Christmas officially began at 11am lol. The problem of course is that its an American based ticker so, not to freak you out or anything, but here in Australia we have about 17 hours less till Christmas. Hope you are on Santa's nice list.

I've Been Scrapping (I know shock horror)

Well I haven't scrapped properly since the retreat (my husband kindly pointed out I didn't get much done there either). Just haven't had the inspiration I guess, but there have been a couple of CC's lately so I jumped back in, actually I started with a couple of OTP projects but I haven't photographed them yet.This is my first LO for the Scrapping With The Stars Comp over at Scrap Therapy. This LO had to be all black and white except the photo.

This is my second Scrapping With The Stars LO. You had to include something red and heartfelt journaling.
All the above LOs are from the CC at Scrap Therapy the weekend before last.


And finally this is the only LO I managed to produce for the LSBS CC this weekend, but I am pretty happy with my self-portrait.

Birthday Present

Don't you love it when you get to the age where you just pick out your own present and tell everyone to help you pay for it? I will be 31 in 9 days, my mother kindly reminded me this morning, when asking me what I wanted. I drew a blank, now its certainly not that I have everything a girl could want, but I just couldn't think of a price appropriate request. Then wandering into Big W I had a brain wave, the Pentax K100D, now its not a Canon, but I am excited none-the-less, a good starting point. So I put it on layby and when anyone asks what I want I can just request money to put towards it. WooHoo a digi SLR, can't wait.

A Real Tag

I have been really tagged by Steph. I think I am supposed to think of 5 terms to describe myself so here goes.

1. Friendly
2. Loyal
3. Bossy
4. Planner
5. Good Listener

I tag Narelle, Tara, Amanda and Meg

Stolen Tag

I wasn't tagged for this but saw it on Jodez blog and it looked fun.

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet, current car)
George Magna

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (favorite ice cream, favorite cookie)
Cookies n'cream Monte Carlo

3. YOUR FLY “GUY/GIRL” NAME: (first initial first name, first 3 letters last name)
BGUT

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Pink Pussy (lol)

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Cohuna (how appropriate I don't have a middle name so my Soap Star self has only one name)

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters last name, first 2 letters first name)
GutBo

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink and add” the”)
The Purple Zero

8. NASCAR NAME: (first names of your grandfathers)
Clarence Walter

9. STRIPPER NAME: (favorite perfume, favorite candy)
Romance Malteser

10. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s and father’s middle names)
Joyce Albert

I tag Narelle, Steph, Amanda and Lisa

2 Posts in 1 Day

Well now that I have vented about my day I can reminisce about my baby boy. My Ethan turned 4 yesterday at exactly this time (how cool is that?) 11:27pm on October 6th 2003.

He has been soooo excited about his birthday for months he has been asking, well that is not quite right, he has been stating (it was a foregone conclusion as far as he was concerned) that he was getting a big Lightening McQueen. We couldn't get him anything else now could we? So he got the Lightening McQueen, big one, and the joy on his little face was so gorgeous.
I don't know where 4 years has gone. He is such a funny little chap, nothing like his siblings. He just plods along in his own little world most of the time. We had a little party for him which was his first little friend party really, it was really lovely to see him with his little friends, he and Sei were so sweet together and I can see why they are friends. He is growing into a real little boy and although I sometimes find his dreamboat manner frustrating he is a refreshing presence in our family.

I Can Fly

Well not really but I definitely feel like my feet aren't touching the ground at the moment. I am now working 3 days a week (the money is nice lol) and every weekend has at least one thing on, sometimes something on both days. Weddings, birthdays, trips to Melbourne for numerous things, I am tired. I don't want to cancel or flake out on anything because they are all fun or exciting in their own way just as a collection.... phew, a bit much.

I have caught up with friends new and old each weekend. Some times this has been wonderful and sometimes like today, just makes me feel like I am back in high school. Why is it there is always one person from your past that can make you feel that inferior again, I don't need her approval, my life has been far more successful than hers. I sooooo want to be able to let it go, so breathing in.........breathing out, chanting I am better than her, I don't care what she thinks. On a positive and sentimental note, to all those who are my true friends thank you for not making me feel that way, and I certainly hope I don't do that to any of you.

Gee this turned into a downer post sorry, am now going to bathe the children and do some scrapping to catch up with some swaps.

Kids Favourite Things

Why is it the kids favourite things to do and watch have to be the most annoying thing possible for parents. My kids favourite thing to do in the lounge room at the moment is to flip themselves over the arm of the couch onto their little fold out sofas. Now this annoys me for a couple of reasons 1) they are going to ruin the couch 2) one of them gets hurt every time they do it, then they get straight back up and do it again 3) I have asked a thousand times (no I'm not exaggerating for the story) to stop doing it because a) they are ruining the couch and b) they will get hurt and I am blatantly ignored every time. What's a mother to do I ask you?

As for their TV viewing preferences, why do they have to make kids characters with the most annoying voices, has anyone ever sat through and hour of Dora the Explorer without their ears imploding? And don't get me started on the Telly Tubbies and Boohbah, I'm sure they are trying to recruit my kids to some sort of alien cult, what the hell are they meant to be anyway? Ethan's new favourite is Puzzle Place, I've watched it, I don't get it? Its a cheap Australian production with bad graphics and a game with rules even I don't get let alone a 3 year old.

Ok so obviously I needed a vent. I am upping my work days to 3 from next week on maybe that will be a good thing for my mental state, less Dora can only be a good thing.

I'm a Rockin Blogger

Wow thanks Manda, I have been nominated as a Rockin Girl Blogger.

Here's the deal.....

Ok, ladies - proudly display your Rockin' Girl Blogger Image on your blog and nominate 5 gals who you think are great bloggers! Be sure to let them know they have been nominated via email or a comment on their blog.

My nominations are:
Celeste
Helenj
Stenja
Meg
Jodie

What a Fantastic Time

Last weekend I went to my first scrapbook retreat with LSBS it was fantastic. Spent 3 days with the girls and did some fantastic classes, also attempted some scrapping. It was so nice to actually spend "real time" with my cyber friends, I chat to the girls most days online, but to actually be there and be able to hug them and hear the sounds of their voice and laughter was well worth the trip.Lisa Pate

Scrapmanda

Owl

Shann

Helenj

The best part was getting to spend so much time with Narelle, even though we didn't really know each other when I lived in Sunbury through the wonders of technology we have become really close and I now consider her one of my best friends. I enjoyed every minute in her company, she is just a lovely generous, beautiful person, and I am very grateful that she considers me a friend.

Relsi

On Holidays

Well I am officially on holidays, I have taken the week off to get ready for the retreat, well that and to just relax a bit. I have almost finished all my pre-retreat tasks now I just need to figure out how and what to pack. I think its going to be the best time, scrapping, chatting and solidifying friendships.

On the work front we have some major changes coming up. We have a new Premier in Vic and in his first week he announced a change of cabinets, ECIS will no longer fall under DHS, we will be part of the new Dept Education and Early Childhood Development. Nobody is very sure what that means yet, we will be moving over with kindergartens, maternal child health and early childhood services, so basically most of the Office for Children. We don't know where we will be housed, we don't know what funding or resources we will have, we don't know much at all but it will be interesting.

I'm So Excited

Well now I feel like the Cat in the Hat with the cupcakenator but nevermind lol.

This time in 2 weeks I will be on a train headed to Sunbury, what's so exciting about that? I hear you ask, well from there Narelle and I are getting on a plane to go to Sydney for a scrapbooking retreat. Can't wait, its going to be so much fun! I haven't met any of the other girls going in real life but I feel I know most of them pretty well cause I chat to them everyday at LSBS.

So with that in mind I better get a wriggle on with all the prerequisite activities and get packed.

One Thing to Say

16 days till the retreat!!!!!

A Bit Bruised and Sore

Fiona and I went to Swan Hill yesterday to do some screening assessments. All was fine (only 2 of the 4 turned up for their appointments) until we were returning one of the screening kits. We were near the high school waiting to cross a road, but giving way because there was a little red car coming, coming the other way on our road was a silver car, which we are sure slowed, but he mustn't have seen the other car and went. Naturally the red car hit them and they hit the front of us, brand new work car damaged, stuck in Swan Hill, bit stunned and seat belt bruised. Police everywhere, ambulance because the girl in the back of the silver car whacked her head on the window. We thought we did really well at the time we organised a car from the Swan Hill office to drive home in, we got the damaged car towed and we bought heaps of chocolate and lollies to get us home. Turns out that we forgot a few minor things like the getting of the regos of the other cars for example and filling in the log book in the car we drove home in, we just wanted to get back.

So I thought I was ok, bruised across my chest and hips where the seat belt went and my shoulder blade is sore cause I must have hit the door pillar, but emotionally today I have been such a sook. Have come home from work early cause I have a headache, had a Dr fiasco my GP won't see me anymore because it has been so long since I visited I am now considered a new patient and they are not accepting any new patients currently (but they accepted my kids). So I went to ER to get checked over for WorkCover stuff, I reckon I had a shorter wait there than if I had got into the GP. My real breaking point is between work and home I have had 3 near misses and none of them were my fault , my nerves are shot, I don't want to get into the car for days really. Shame I have a meeting tonight and a Parent Teacher interview tomorrow, get back on the horse I guess.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (no spoiler)

Well I was lucky enough to receive a preordered copy of the new Harry Potter for mother's day this year. So I got up early this morning and trotted off to line up at about 8:50am Phil took the kids to McDonalds while I waited in line. The line went from the front of the shop around the corner and past at least 6 more shop fronts (I was about in the middle). At 9am they opened the doors and the first few people appeared with their books. One incredibly annoying woman knew the guys 4 people ahead of me and came back to talk to them with her copy, she opens the back of the book and to all surroundings horror reads out the last line. I ask you what sort of kill joy is this person who has no respect for the reaching the end of a story by living through the adventure itself. Luckily it didn't give away too much but the rest of us were appalled. Anyway so at 9:20am I finally held my copy in my hot little hands and with little regard for my own safety read it while walking to join my family at McDonalds.

Although some annoying tasks (like eating and peeing) have made me put the book down for short periods during the day I have finished it. I loved it as I have loved all the books before, I am sad for the end of my peeks into Harry's life, and a bit lost as to what I am going to enjoy reading now, but it was a great adventure and I loved every minute of it. I think it is a wonderful talent to be able to make your reader laugh and cry, to gasp and sign just through the magic of your words and JK Rowling does it brilliantly, I am going to miss Harry but at least I can still reread all the tales even if it is not quite the same as the first time.

My hint of excitement comes in the form of Kathy Reichs who has a new book coming out next month. Not the same genre or style but I do so love a good book none the less.

Sneakily Tagged

I was casually reading through Bex blog when I discovered that just by reading it I had been tagged, more than once. So I thought I would start with this one.

A-Z's of Me

A - Age: 30
B - Bed size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: Dishes!
D - Dessert you love: Sticky Date Pudding
E - Eggs, favorite kind: Easter, they're chocolate derrr.
F - Favorite actor(S): Hugh Jackman (yummy)
G - Gold or Silver: Gold
H - Height: 175cm
I - Instruments you play: None really played guitar for a while but can't really remember how now
J - Job title: Occupational therapist
K - Kid(s): 3, Sam(6) Ethan(3) Audrey(2)
L - Living arrangements: Renting, residing with DH Phil, 3 kids, 1 dog, 1 cat
M - Mum's name: Jill
N - Nicknames: Bon
O - Overnight hospital stay other than giving birth: Not since I was a kid got dehydrated due to bad case of gastro
P - Phobia: Not real keen on small spaces, tunnels that go under water
Q - Quotes: Everything happens for a reason
R - Right or left handed: Right handed
S - Siblings: 1 younger sister
T - Temper: Yep doesn't stay lost for long though
U - Unique habit: I can bend the top of my thumbs right back
V - Vegetable you hate: Capsicum really upsets my tummy
W - Worst habit:
X - rays you've had: wrist, ankle, cat scan of my head, numerous ultrasounds
Y - Yummy food you make: DH hasn't complained about anything yet
Z - Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Alright I am tagging Meg, Relsi, Amanda, Tara.

LSBS CC (scrapper code for did some LO's)

I haven't added any LO's for a while and seeing as its a LSBS cyber crop this weekend I have done some new ones and thought I would put them here too.

The "Serious Play" one with Ethan is my fave, really simply but quite striking I think.

Slack

Well I have been slack haven't I? Going back to work has sure put a dent in my idle computer time.

I don't really have anything exciting to say, its school holidays and Sam is constantly looking for "something to do". I went to a conference/workshop for work a couple of weekends ago which was really interesting, am currently working 3 days 2 as the OT and 1 on the intake team. Some of the kids just break my heart what they have been through, I just have to focus on what I can do to help make their little lives better, I couldn't work in child protection, I know someone needs to but I would just want to bring them all home, thats why my mum has banned me from visiting the RSPCA, same principle I am a big softy.

Changing subject, I am getting very excited, Harry Potter! A new movie tomorrow and a new (and last) book 10 days after that. We already have our movie tickets and Phil bought the book for me for mother's day so all I have to do is cue up and pick it up at 9:01am on Sat 21st YAY! I really want to read it but part of me doesn't as it is the last and there will be no more Harry adventures, yes I am aware they are meant as children's books but I am not nearly the only adult who is this excited. Have to go I need to reread Half Blood Prince before the 21st.

Wedded Bliss

The first thing I should say is that I probably shouldn't post when I am this tired, but if I don't do it now it will be another couple of days before I get a chance.

Today (well technically yesterday its past midnight) was our 7th wedding anniversary (and 11th all up). Sometimes it feels like last week I met Phil and others its feels like its been all my life. I love being able to feel so comfortable with someone, knowing we belong and being a team with our little family. I also feel proud of the fact that we show our kids what a good relationship is and how it works, so that they will know one when they are in it lol.

Even though I know my parents love my sister and I, and in some strange way love each other they weren't the best example of a loving relationship. I took my inspiration from a family I used to baby sit for and it is my intention before the end of this year to let them know that they provided something priceless to me, in the form of an example of a living, breathing, loving, affectionate and equal partnership.

I always find the divorce rate disturbing but even more so when it happens close to home, and especially to a couple you would never expect. Friends of my parents have just split, although it sounds like it hasn't been working for quite some time. I guess sometimes you really do just grow apart.

No growing apart happening here though, we are well and truly in the finish-each-others -sentences-know-what-each-other-is-thinking stage. Of course we have changed in 11 years but fortunately we seem to be heading in the same direction and are holding hands the whole way there.

Tagged

I got tagged by Narelle, so here goes.....

Name three things that scare you ......... confined spaces, spiders, something happening to my kids

The daggiest thing in your music collection.... New Kids On The Block

Your three favourite clothing items........ jeans, mary janes, hmmm jeans

Your partners most annoying habit.....he snores, and he has interactive dreams, which involve talking, leaping out of bed, stealing my pillow all manner of annoying things.

What stresses you out.... being late, hate it, hate it, hate it

Your favourite household chore…I really don't have a favourite but I love it when my house is clean and tidy

If you had fifty bucks to spend at Target which section would you head straight for….. Kids clothes

In my next life I would like to come back as….cat, eat, sleep in the sun, what else do you have to do

Your least favourite celebrity… something about Catherine Zeta Jones bugs the crap out of me

I tag my sister, Bex and Stenja

WooHoo

Wow 2 posts in one day huh! But I just had to come and say I won my first ever prize at a CC (cyber crop for the uninitiated). I won for my Digital LO, very exciting, thought I would show it off here too.

Sunshine

Well I have been a bit slack lately haven't it? I have actually been scrapping a fair bit which has been good, finally finished my 12 LO's for the Little Book of Big Memories comp at LSBS. Also did a CC at LSBS and a couple for the Make Believe Masters at Scrap Therapy. These are a few of my faves.

Was lucky enough to get (free) tickets to see Opera Australia's The Pirates of Penzance. Its been ages since I have been to a live stage show, it was great. Loved how effective the simple stage sets were. Going in hand with that I have definitely decided I am a clean and simple scrapper, I just can't make busy or freestyle work on my LO's, so I am just going to go with what works for me. I will always make an effort to challenge myself but I am comfortable in my style.

Not that I suffer from depression or anything usually, but I am feeling very content at the moment. I know I need to lose some weight and get serious about that (having gym membership in itself won't help me lose it, I will actually need to go lol) but overall things are going well, for the first time we are not struggling financially (and things are looking better all the time) the kids are getting more independent and I am finally happy with the thought of not having anymore. I guess in simple terms there is lots of sunshine in my life at the moment.

Things I have done.

I saw this on Virginia's blog and decided to give it a go. Those in red are the ones I've done. If you want to put it on your blog too, copy and paste and do the same, change the colour to black, then change the colour of the ones you've done to a different colour.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 8 states/Territories
41. Taken care of someone who was **** faced
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River (any river will do)
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds (45.5 kilograms)
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

There are some I wish to do and some I will definitely never do lol. But there are some fair chunks of red in there.

Not much happenin'

Well now all the birthdays are over life seems very quiet. I know never happy am I?

I am actually having a rare Wednesday at home, had to swap my work days and Sam has an after school play date so I don't have to go anywhere, bliss. Have spent some time on here and actually got caught up with some scrapping for my LBOBM and some swaps I am holding up. On the scrapping front I have been very lax in not bragging on here (could be because I bragged everywhere else and didn't need to publish here lol) I am going to be published in Scrapbook Creations, so excited, my first time. Will be in Issue 46, so a little while to wait as issue 42 just came out, has given me a big confidence boost in my creative ability.

Getting very excited about the LSBS retreat that is coming up in August too. Can't wait to meet the girls and spend the whole weekend uninterrupted scrapping. I bet now I get a major scrap block that weekend, but at least I will have lots of other addicts to chat to. Right girls?

Where Does the Time Go? Mark 2

Well my boy turned 6 yesterday. I won't go into his birth story cause its long and arduous, let's just say it was 38 hours and quite stressful lol. Its funny how my kids seem to continue on in the same fashion as they come into the world. Sam is sometimes slow to start (did I mention he was 12 days overdue) but then he gets a burst on, its not always coordinated or graceful but he gets to the goal no worry lol.

He is so thirsty for knowledge, he loves to read and amazes me with how quickly he picks words up. He says maths and art are his favourite subjects and he doesn't really like sport and writing (sounds very much like me). He seems to be a real mix of both families appearance-wise, whereas Ethan is a little Phil and Audrey is a little me, Sam sits somewhere in the middle. He is a great big brother and is very protective of the other two, he loves to give them cuddles and most nights Ethan sleeps in Sam's bed for at least part of the night. He keeps talking about when he is 16, I can't even fathom that thought just yet 6 is spinning me out lol.

My good friend Narelle has tagged me! So here is my list

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I was an exchange student to Kansas where I lived 20 minutes from the geographical centre of the USA.

2. I like being on committees, its my way of making a little difference

3. I have hyper-extensive thumbs so I can't click my fingers properly

4. I was named after some hippy singer chick from the 70's

5. I suck at netball but I'm pretty good at tennis

6. I am the eldest of 2 girls married to the youngest of 2 boys

7. I can't watch the bombers play on TV cause I get too fired up for the home setting, I either have to be there or just find out the result later.

I tag.... Celeste, Missty, Meg, Jodie, Wayne,

Ok so I don't have 7 yet will think about it some more.

Where Does the Time Go?

Well my little baby girl turned 2 on Thursday, I have no idea where those 2 years went. She was born at about 3:30am and I was in the shower the night before thinking this is what I was doing 2 years ago too, only I was on all 4's lol. Her birth was an interesting experience, the boys labours had been rather drawn out and I wasn't all that sure how things were progressing, whereas with Audrey I knew where she was the whole time (not that the midwives believed me). I told them I just needed my waters to break and she would be out, but regardless of this warning one left to have her tea break. Then when I told the only remaining midwife I needed to push she went to answer the phone. So I pushed my waters broke and Audrey's head was born. Phil left to get the midwife off the phone, I pushed again and she was born, the only person in attendance was my sister and she was standing at my head.

But that was over 2 years ago now, mind you she is still the same head first in without worrying what anyone else is doing or thinking lol. I love having a girl (I love my boys too obviously, but even though I married one I still don't understand males lol), I love how she is so interested in everything, how she speaks so clearly about what she wants, and how she snugs up and gives big sloppy kisses. Yes we have some terrible 2 tantrums but that comes with the territory (and she does them more for her father than me lol).

The only sadness I feel at this time is there is no more baby and will not be anymore babies. The maternal part of me needs to let go and enjoy the next stage of motherhood, I can't just keep having babies because I can, can I?

What a week!

Where do I start on griping about my week? I guess with last weekend, I was sick, I had a tummy bug and a constant headache grrr. On Monday I had to go to Melbourne on the 6:36am train for training for work, I thought at 5:30am I was feeling better so decided to go, shame that wore off at about 6:40 when I was on the train with no option to turn back. Spent the whole day trying to stay awake and taking pain killers constantly. Spent Tuesday morning in bed then started to come good int he afternoon thanks to Claratyne and Nueophen. Wednesday I had to travel an hour to see a client who lives in a caravan on a farming block of land int he middle of nowhere. Knowing this I checked with the girls at work exactly how to get there and set off. Turns out they didn't live in the same out of the way place that they used to and I had to follow the ex-next-door-neighbours directions to the new out of the way place which turns out wasn't right. So I have to use the pay phone near the pub in this "town" (it only has a pub and service station), every time I tried to call, for various reasons I would run out of credit before getting to speak to anyone. So I dash over to the pub to get more change for the phone it takes a dollar then jams and won't accept anymore, so I accept defeat at this point and head back to the office. With all the cuffuffel of trying to figure that out I am then an hour late for my dinner out that night. Thursday was alright just boring as I had to do grocery shopping, Ethan went to kinder and Sam has drama after school so absolutely knackered by the time dinner is supposed to be on the table. Today I decided to see if my head ache would stay away without the neurophen , answer "no". Kids are at each other constantly, ran around the library laughing at the top of their lungs instead of sitting quietly like they had been asked 6 times, grrr again. So now we are home and I have just finished decoding the message on my answering machine from MIL about going to a school fete. Hubby was meant to tell me about it on Wednesday but because I was "flustered" he decided it could wait, I informed him that now I was flustered on Friday because I am meant to be taking 3 non behaving children to a school fete with an hours notice. He is coming home from work early to come with us, isn't he sweet?

Sorry about the long negative post but I need to unload this week and move forward.

Fire and Friends

Had the chance to catch up with Narelle (Relsi) and family tonight as the State Fire Brigade Championships were in town this weekend. Was very nice to see her and kids again and meet Steve (who looked very professional in his uniform). The boys were very excited to see and meet the firemen. Of course as scrappers we had to take photos.