Even Buzz has to sleep!

One minute I was chatting to Buzz as he sat in the seat next to me, two pages of my book later I glanced over to see this. So cute I just had to show you. I mean really why would you remove those wings (the boy version of fairy wings), when you can curl up in a ball and sleep on a chair, complete with buzz hat to make you all sweaty!!

Then I don't know if you have had this dilemma but is 5 and 3 old enough for a boogie board? I've been deliberating for a bit but they chose them as their "good boy for spewing in the bucket" present from Dad (Gastro decided to visit a few weekends ago). So last weekend we made the trip to the beach.

As you can see Harry loved it. Until he got knocked off and got a good mouthful of salt water! But we did coax him back in and he is pretty keen to go back.

As for Jake his idea of boogie boarding was to kneel on it where the water had receded and once in a while it made it back to wash over his board. Baby steps. But this strange sea creature had a great smile for me...

note the vest. The best thing I have ever bought. Others had told me they were good but I never really saw their merit. But we went back to the pool about 6 weeks ago and I literally had a limpet on me. Holding me so tight I could hardly breathe. We now go once a week and with his vest, he is off, arms over his head running and jumping into the water, swimming around metres from me and putting his head under. Like a little fish.

Still loves Spiderman! Playing at Harry's school - Strathalbyn Christian College. Harry has officially graduated from Kindergarten! Pre primary next year. We were treated to the most gorgeous end of year concert. Heaps of cute pics of him doing his thing but alas lots of other kids in them so won't be posting them. Needless to say he took his performance very seriously "God you are my God and I will ever worship you.." hand on his heart, looking skyward with adoration. Too cute.

Recently we took a quick trip to Perth. Seems ages since I got to shop (a little) and chill out in that great city. Found a random playground and love these snaps of my boys and their Daddy. As you can see love all round here.

Still managing a few scrap pages lately (though never enough). Loving my Wednesday scrap nights with the girls. So here is the latest from my desk.

We are almost ready for Christmas, just a few last things to tick of the list. Master Harry really thought we would have snow come Christmas Eve to throw at Jakey! Sad we had to inform him not likely over here. We plan to spend the day with some great friends, catching up on Phil's family and hopefully a little beach time too. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.

Love to you all from my family to yours.

Mel xo

We are alive and well....

One could be forgiven for thinking we had fallen off the face of the planet. I am a bad, bad, blogger. Even worse I have been letting my camera gather dust! So with renewed enthusiasm I am planning to remember my camera more. Starting with a few days ago when the boys and I looking for something to do played with the self timer function (Harry was very interested to say the least that I didn't need a remote!). Got a few pics with me in them (also a rarity).

It was also Harry's 5th birthday (where have those years gone!). We celebrated down at the water park with a few mates. Very low key. He wanted a Pterodactyl(sp?) cake. SO this is my attempt.
Then... one of his little friends put a "birthday announcement" on the radio for him. Sadly, we never heard it but he won the cake for the week! So we got a free cake and had "round two" morning tea with a couple of mates, a few weeks later. We sung Happy Birthday again then lit the candles for every kid to blow it out. Fun times.

One of the boys best friends Miss M also turned 5 this week and she had a very grand circus party. Spiderman below has misplaced his mask and replaced it with a clown nose. This was taken in the photo booth.

The pirate has also misplaced his eye patch!

Miss M and two of her boys. Too cute. xo

Also noted going through my recent pics is this rather odd looking creature. Seems this face is more frequent than a smile.
Loving being back to my creative stuff. Still struggling to scrap as much as I would like to but better than nothing here is a few of the latest from my desk....

Anyway, as you can see we are alive and well. Boys have had a gastro bug but seem to be over it now. Looking forward to a few days off at the end of the week. We are heading off to Perth for some R&R, catching up with family and shopping (did I mention shopping). Yay. So hope all is well in your part of the world.

Love Mel xo

Scrap Retreat 2010

Well, we have arrived in Geraldton, found a house, moved in, I've started working a few casual shifts (mainly in Emergency) and Phil has hit the ground running with our Installations Unlimited Business. The boys are settling and Harry has started at kindy. We seem to have basically just slotted back into our old life and it seems kind of surreal to think we actually spent the last almost year in Invercargill, New Zealand.

Just to take five for me - I attended The Scrapbook House Scrap Retreat for a couple of days in October. Bliss - I woke because I had finished sleeping (no kids), I scrapped till I felt like it (no interruptions - no kids), I ate yummy food ( not cooked by me), I did no housework (including dishes), I laughed (some of these girls really are clowns), and generally relaxed. Thanks so much Tania and crew - count me in for next year.

But more than that, I feel a little more like 2009/2010 is recorded. The chaos of this year has left little scrap time and the albums were sadly neglected. So I didn't just chat all day I completed 14 layouts including 2 doubles. Not bad for me.... Then to top it all off I was pretty stoked to get "Queen of the Crop" (most voted for - for those not in the know), for this layout of my Grandad and his first Great Grandaughter - Kate (Sister Sarah's Baby). It was a precious moment - thrilled to get on camera. What a delight to scrap!!

Then here's the rest in no particular order.

Hee hee hee - this was my challenge to me - never scrapped a little pic before. Not sure if I will again - but the important bit is done. The memory is recorded.

Anyway, as usual I have left my GST stuff till the last day. (when will I learn)!!! So must go, the books await. Missing those in NZ, enjoying catching up with those in Gero (and the warmth). Love to you all.

Mel xo

Jake turns 3 ... well kind of!

Hanging out at the park the other day I snapped this shot of my baby. Starting to grow up. He is so mischievous, those shifty eyes always on alert to let you know he is up to something he knows he shouldn't be. Accompanied with a smile to melt any Mum's heart. He talks like there is no tomorrow and has the imagination that never ceases to amaze me. He is full of cuddles and love. He is never clean (partly environmental - mud, partly the child). He is full of energy and most the time I love him for that!

Now I have to laugh, when there is a perfectly good slide why would you ride down the wood (fortunately with the grain) driving a car..... Brrmmm.

Hard to believe but my baby is almost three. However, he thinks he is already three and can be forgiven for thinking so. You see the packers come on Monday and all his pressies have to go on the boat to Aussie. So this week (amongst the chaos) we held his party. Spiderman themed (not exactly my ideal 3 yr old theme - but he is obsessed). He had some wee mates over and the aunties, uncles, Nana and Great Grandparents. So exciting....

Present from Aunty Smidge and Uncle Andrew - a definite hit Buzz has frequented the house for many hours today.

Took the cheats way out on his cake this year, despite best laid plans. But he was none the wiser and I was alot less stressed.

I did (with the enlisted help of Phil) make a Spiderman pinata. Note to self this is dangerous without VERY close supervision, and 3 yr olds can smack you straight in the camera if you are not quick enough.

Now in my day THIS would NEVER have happened. They grabbed their lollies, took off to play and left this....

Just in case some of you have thought I may never return to scrapping (serious lack of work this year!!!). I actually found time to do a page and it felt good. Not to mention I am excited I have booked retreat when I get back to Geraldton. Woohoo, a weekend of creating - no cooking, no cleaning, no kids....bliss.

Anyway, from this end of the world, I must continue to prepare for packers on Monday. Can't believe the time has come. hope all is well in your part of the world.

Love Mel xo

KIDZONE 2010

Now I know it has been a long time between posts. Sadly, no crafty goodness either. Just hanging to get back into some creative stuff. Seems with working much more I just lack the energy on my nights off (nothing to do with the 5 TV Show seasons of Outrageous Fortune (great kiwi drama) Phil & I are trying to catch up on!) But as usual I've still got my trusty camera out recording the boys antics.

This photo is out of order (grrr) but I wasn't deleting to start again. So we went to Kidzone last week. It was fantastic - for the grand total of $13 each there was 165 activites for the kids all included, just pay for lunch. Great value I thought. The range was huge and age groups varied but I reckon if you come to Invers with kids worth coming July School holidays to go. So here Jake is having a go at "Spinning Paintings" - shame we put them in the "drying room" and forgot them (Mum of the Year Award - ooops!)

Back to the pre stuff: There has been heaps of yummy Autumn colours about the place (a month or two ago) and got this pic of the boys with their mates at the park.

We were so excited in this household to have our cousins from Christchurch come down for a flying visit. Harry and Sienna were so funny together - all laughs and hugs as they played so well, the little two tagging along. Just a little bittersweet on my behalf knowing we are leaving the extended family again soon. Here they had set up their own "band". Jake cracks me up - all the kids grabbed instruments and he improvises - Aussie style and moves a tape measure like a piece of tin! (note Jake is wearing his uniform - size 5 spiderman PJ's - can't get him out of them every day since he found them in the too small for Harry pile!)

Look at our clever boy!!!! Went for a walk with some mates and Harry couldn't ride their bikes as they had no training wheels. So he came home and wanted his off. So he's progressed very easily and doing great. Peer pressure - gotta love it sometimes, He's flatly refused up till now to even try.

Hanging in NZ and Dad not working much has had some positives. Dad has had lots of time with the boys and they have just loved it. Swinging at the park.

Back to Kidzone. They had a whole gymnasium set up as a little town. Harry enjoyed playing Nurse. Here he is calling the doctor to report a fracture on the Xray.

Chatting to the patients...

Funky hair - mowhawk, coloured blue with glitter - NICE!!!! But Jake thought he was the man.

The highlight for Jake - dressing up, using the hose. Not so hilarious trying to chase him to give the uniform back.

Quite a few of the rideable stuff was too big for the boys but this was just right for Jake and didn't the smile and concentration show. The seat slides forward and back depending on size. A rather cool little vehicle really.

Then onto the music room. The boys loved playing the keyboards, singing singstar (Wiggles) and rockband (drums/guitar) on the Wii. Not as easy as it looked we found out putting Phil in the hotseat. But funny.

Back in the little city Jake played mechanic. Too cute.

Puddle Jumpers - felt very sorry for the guy in the waders helping the kids out - Freezing temps.

Now just to prove it really is a cold climate - they had snow outside for the kids to make an igloo.

So a big congratulations to the organisers a great day. Heaps more we didn't even get to see.

So the countdown is on 3 weeks and 2 days till the removalists arrive. Aaagh best continue my lists. Then we move into Anne's for a month before arriving in WA Sept 12. Will see where our gear is and if its close may go down to Albany for a few days then back to pick up Phil's van and through to Gero. If its still a while away we will buy a car and head straight up.

Still mixed emotions here. Sad to leave the family but it is hard to adjust to this climate after experiencing Gero climate. Will be nice to get back to family life the right way around for us again too - Phil works most, I work little. Not to mention looking forward to hanging with my girls again, have really missed the farm trips, creative nights, frequent cups of tea and Mum's groups. Can't wait to see all the kids bigger and the new ones I've missed.

So, as the weeks rush by (everyday I feel like Phil says its Friday again) I know it won't be long till I'm back in WA. So see everyone there soon and for those of you back here in Invers - best we make a time to catch up or the time will soon be gone.

Love to you all

Mel xo