Christmas and beyond...

Hard to believe Christmas was over a month ago and January ends tonight!!! Where does the time go. Seems I am a little out of date on this little old blog. (and the NZ family are gently reminding me). So here goes a whirlwind tour of what we've been up to.

Well that jolly old man in the red suit has been and gone. But we had to get the yearly Santa pic. I really thought both boys would be right into Santa this year - I was wrong. Master Jake wouldn't have a bar of him and I had to do yet another year in the photo! Note the back to poor old Santa, he wouldn't look at him or even get close.

Christmas morning started at 0130 hours. No typo you read right!! How many times can we tell a five year old to go back to bed - we gave up when Jake finally woke at 630. Mental note to Santa - do not even contemplate Santa stockings on the bed next year, they can stay by the tree. Can you imagine trying to send him back to bed if the stocking was there!

Christmas Day Family Photo.

Master Jake got a new bike and he was pretty stoked.

He also got a "baby greeney" blanket from friends in Canada. It was a hit.

Crackers kept the kids amused and they loved the hats. A day full of relaxing and swimming in the pool. Celebrated with friends and it was fantastic.

The boys got water guns from Santa. Master three has a small issue with the pump action and wasn't quite as able to fight. He can really crack a sad when he wants to.

Then it seems I have been very slack with the camera. School holidays are almost over and Harry is making his own fun...

Australia Day has to be one of the best days to live in Geraldton. The city puts on quite a "festival" of activities all day along the foreshore. The Harry and his wee mate loved the mini ferris wheel. Jake stayed on the ground and did the clowns! They then have fireworks at night - which the kids again love. A great day to spend with friends and always a day to remember Dear Dad - hard to believe how many years have passed since he left us. Miss you mate.

Then we have had some rather strange weather. We had a flash storm the other day. In a friends pool, loving the day when her hubby noticed this strange sight. I literally got out of the pool to take a shot then grabbed the kids and ran for cover inside. It was a fierce dust storm with major winds then rain. Caused chaos for a bit and left many without power.

But nothing compared to the poor Queenslanders and the big cyclone they are expecting later in the week!
Not much from my desk of late.... must get back to it. But here is a layout I did just prior to Christmas.
Not long now and we re off to NZ. Little Sis gets married - yeehaa lets party. Boys will be page boys - so cute. Looking forward to getting there. Nervous about the trip over - by myself and a night in Brisbane on the way. But I'm sure the boys will rise to the occasion and all will be fine.

School starts on Wednesday and we have an excited Master five. Sad in a way the holidays are over but looking forward to what this new year brings. I hope it will be a good one for all of you...

Lots of love

Mel xo

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