Monster week

Hi
I have been flat out getting Kidlets new winter clothes this week, I find the boys are so easy to get clothes for and they will wear whatever I choose for them but the girls well that is a whole other epic episode. lol. So we have had try on's and me in the shops trying to keep Zay happy as first shopping day he wasnt so that made it even harder but yesterday I had Zay and Rainee and we had a great morning. My little shopping Diva is just so great, like shopping with your best girlfriend really. She pushes Zay and I have the basket and arms loaded. A Family of 6 sure guarantees you have huge amounts of your week tied to the laundry and ironing. I have folded and put the last of the new stuff in the drawers this arvo and I am so over bloody clothes lol. Then today I have also put in a huge de bugging, feralising generally major overhauling of the house really. Who needs a gym workout. I am now looking forward to cooking tea with a class of wine. I figure I have earnt a couple today.

D.H. will be happy to see the house back in ship shape, he doesnt do messy at all, he just stresses right out. But hey I am 1 person at war to keep a house clean that 6 people live in and I do the best I can. Anyway enough of the boring mundane duties of life.

Keelan has camp next week so he is looking forward to it. He wanted me to get him a dressing gown seeing as the girls had 1 and he wants to take it to camp. OMG I can see him getting hassled big time and I was trying to think of ways to warn him about taking it but picked him up today and he says his mate has a navy blue dressing gown also and they both have new P.J's so they are taking them to camp and are snugging up in them as the dorms are wooden. lol. I love how he is his own person and that their is still some Mum's out their raising their kidlets like we were raised. Mind you if you saw these dressing gowns you would really want to live in them in winter they are so snug, soft and yummy. I will take a pic of them as the girls wanted me to get a shot of them the other night but time didnt permit. lol.

Well off to have that wine and get tea on the go.
Take care
Trace.

Update again!!!

Hi

I just did a great post and bad bad bad blogger put it into draft and I can't get it out. I will try this 1 more time. grrr.

I have this L.O. to share, my girlfriend Lainey gave me some wishmade products when she came to visit and I made all this up with them. How cute is my Niece and God daughter. I wish I had such gorgeous photos of my kidlets in hospital but I had a dodgy camera and was not able to get anything this good of my babes. Wishmade products are fun and funky!!!

Had a quiet weekend really, Keelan is officially a green belt, he did so well in the grading. They just amaze me all these patterns they learn and remember, he already knows the new pattern and he only learnt it on Monday night, but I really like this next pattern and so does he. It looks really cool. The rest of the weekend was really quiet and relaxing, got to play in scrap room on Sunday for a while and Rainee joined me, boy I think I am messy but she makes me look really neat. lol.
Went to my W.W. meeting tonight, I have lost .7 this week or 700 grams, total so far is 7.3kg's ticking away at it slowly this is week 7 starting now. I am going to get more serious this week and start exercising a lot more. See what result I get next week with a more disciplined approach.

Will leave it at that in case blogger loses this on me too. Off to have a cup of tea ahhh. Take care Trace.

P.S. Thankyou to the Ladies who leave me comments, I really appreciate knowing you have stopped by. I have been making a big effort to leave comments on other blogs I visit. It is fun getting comments.
Oh and the new Stampin Up catalogue came today. OMG I want it all, I will have my order next week for the new catalogues for my Customers so I will send them out as soon as I get them. They have such delicious stuff. My wish list starts at the front and finishes at the back. I was in heaven with my morning coffee reading it all and going to drawl over it again now. lol.

Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary Tim

Hi
I picked the kidlets up from School this arvo and while I was getting them out the car a florist van pulled in and presented me with these awesome flowers, I do love a thoughtful romantic husband!! Thankyou so much Tim and I am so glad we got a second chance to have happiness with each other and 3 wonderful children together and thankyou for accepting Keelan into your heart as your own. You are an awesome Husband and Dad and we love you so very much. I am so lucky to have my Hubby as my best friend and we have so much in common, I know we will be blessed to have many many years to come together.


Well off to get ready for Keelan's tae kwon do grading and we will have take away chinese for tea tomorrow night to celebrate. We just can't bring ourselves to get a babysitter to have the kidlets so we will celebrate at home with them. Take care
Trace.

Happy Birthday Babe!!

Hi
Today is my D.H.'s Birthday, we have fussed over him since he came home tonight seeing as time was too limited this morning. After school the Kids and I went shopping for a cake and lots of lollies to put on it, I just couldn't get my act together to bake one today, then off to the butcher for his request of Crumbed cutlets. So we came home decorated the cake, the kids did a brilliant job, I iced, Keelan did the freckles, Zay did the smarties, Trin cut and placed the snakes and Rainee cut and placed the marshmallows, it looked fantastic, I must admit on the way home I had visions of a cake smothered with lollies but they surpassed any effort I would have done on my own. Then it was quick clean up and make card from the kids and into the bath and showers so they were in their P.J.'s by 5.15pm all sitting on a stool with an opened beer for him when he walked in the door. He was thrilled. They all greeted him like royalty and then he opened his present. Thanks Rainee for telling him what his main pressie was before he opened it!!!! lol. So we have had a wonderful tea and cake and all feel like wombats now, I am so not doing cake for another month!!! I hope he enjoyed it, Tomorrow is our 5th wedding anniversary ( we are both 2nd timers) but our years together are ticking by. We will celebrate that with tea Saturday night as Keelan is grading for Tae kwon do tomorrow night. Rainee has been creating cards with me these last 2 days with a stamp set she got for Christmas which has greetings for Easter, Birthday, Valentines and Christmas, so Tim and I had a laugh when he got his cards from her, on each side was a different greeting, be my valentine, have a happy easter, Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas, bless her heart she didnt have them mixed up either each side was for that certain celebration. lol. Tim and I cracked up over him being her Valentine, we better save them for when she is 19 and ask if she still feels the same. lol. Well better be off,
Take care
Trace.

Boy time flies.

Hi
Today has flown by and I have shopped enough this week I think!! Monday Zay and I did the grocery shop, trying to leave it to fortnightly ATM. This morning we dropped the 2 older ones off at School then headed to town with the 2 little ones to Birthday shop and grab some other bits and pieces. Came home and unpacked that, got some great colours of embroidery strands, more sore fingers coming up. lol. Then the rest of the day disappeared in some haze, D.H. came home to dinner cooked and ready for him just to mash and dish up and I was out the door to my meeting at W.W. Lost another 1.5kgs this week so thats 6.6kg in total I have lost. I am just getting back all my energy and starting to feel like weight some has been lifted off me yee ha.

Big day planned tomorrow, I am getting into this clutter that has once again built up in the house. I need to sort shoes and clothes out of the girls room, good sammies here we come. I need to do my scrap room over again and sort Zays room out, so I guess I have the rest of the week planned. Garbage bags and bums up for me!!! Invested in a laminator today, Keelan has been making book markers so we played with that tonight, pretty darn cool little inventions they are. I can see some mini albums coming up that I will put through it. That way the kids can play with them without wrecking it. Well better go and get some sleep.

Take care
Trace.

Rivendell Winery

Hi
Today we went to Rivendell Winery in Yallingup for lunch for Tim's Birthday which is on Thursday this week and for our 5th Wedding Anniversary which is this coming Friday, all celebrations we had early with Tim's folks and his Sister. We started off with wine tasting and found we all loved a lot but all agreed the Chardonay was a winner with us all and then we had the yummiest lunch OMG, it was all to die for and the setting was just wonderful, the Kidlets had a ball, they have gorgeous gardens, (shame it is so dry down here ATM) with little nooks and cranies everywhere, the kids found a little cubby in a tree and then Kings and Queen outdoor table and chairs all made from wood. When we first pulled up I thought "oh no this place doesnt look much, bad choice Trace" but then when we tryed the wines and had the food, this place was divine. I got some nice photos but we are going to go back, we didnt have Keelan, he is with his Dad this weekend but we will take him and it is relaxing and enjoyable with Kidlets as they have the garden to explore. I took some great pics but the ones with me in are not the best just had fun playing with the girls and taking them myself, Rainee was in fits as I kept missing bits of us till I got it right. It was a hot one too, went to Simmo's for ice cream afterwards but all decided we were too full so got takeaway tub. I certainly welcomed a great day today as yesterday was horrible for me, had some gastro virus I came down with on Thursday night and of course I would get it on the busiest day. Trini had walk a thon which I couldnt go to for risk of needing toilet in hurry and had that achy, fevery body happening. She was so kind to point out that I was the only Mother missing. Keelan had assembly with his class yesterday so I had to go and watch that at 2.30pm, Trins teacher was probably wondering why I got to that and not the walkathon. Then flew home and changed cars and up to Collie with Keelan to deliver him to his Dad's for the weekend. Tim was unable to get off work and take him but the pains held out till I got home thankfully. Had visions of taking bush with tissues and leaving 4 little kids in the car and that would not have been good!! Had my usual nerve shattering experience with Zay on the way home, they were perfect going up but coming home sucks!!! For them and Me. Did my usual not so calm mental woman snap and then all was pretty quiet for the last 45 mins home. Thank Goodness, fell in the door told Tim I needed panadol and bed and off I went for an hour and then got up and had something to eat. So I prayed I would be better for Today and thankfully I was. Tomorrow is going to be pretty full on here, clean 2 cars and get gardens up to scratch and then pick Keelan up late arvo. Just as well today was a great break. On that note will be off and pics below of our day out. Tim's Mum had no idea his Dad was doing the rabbit ears behind her head and we all laughed and she laughed with us not realising what was going on, so funny!! Take care, Trace. xx

Finished all retreat class items.

Hi

I have finished all my l.o.'s from the retreat now. Top left is the tin from Erica's class, I just have to make the cards for inside it at some point, not sure when.

Top right is my second l.o. from Zina's fun with felt. I have loved playing with the felt and colour pencils and doodling, I have always been a doodler, especially when on the phone so I may have to put some bazzill and pen near the phone for future creating lol.

Middle left is another l.o. from Erica's class, I love this one, well really I love them all, so different from what I would create so it is great to do such different stuff. I just love the photo on the buddies l.o. as well, sorry my pictures are not looking the best, lighting tonight is not the best but I dont want to use the flash.

Middle right is a month in review, I chose Feb as lots was happening then admittedly lots of Go Karting but also some big things for the Girls. I also like this idea of a month in review, great way to highlight each months events so I am thinking of doing this every month and having an album just for each monthly layout. I think if I do this I can then get my albums sorted out into sole l.o's of each child and then months in review with family stuff in it. Lets see if I can make it happen!! lol.

Bottom left is Heart & soul l.o. which was great using stamps and making a stunning but simple l.o. I think a black and white photo would have been even better but I still really love this pic of Rainee.

So that is all my l.o.'s from the retreat. Now I will have to keep the inspiration happening and keep it up. I am surprised I didnt stress too much about having unfinished l.o.'s, I wont allow myself to create a l.o. if I havent got 1 finished. That is so I dont have them unfinished everywhere as I tend to do with crochet, I have blankets unfinished everywhere, so I have made a rule not to be like that with scrapping and now I really stick to that rule so on the weekend when I couldnt finish things for different reasons I was having to have a chill pill (not literally) and let it go. Tonight I have finished them so now my slate is clean to start something new. Well that was a bit of trivia.

On the family front all are well, Trin is still having friend issues at School, seems she can't bond with any 1 particular friend so she is playing or sitting solo and then like the odd magpie they are all coming up and picking at her. Every night before she goes to bed the woes start about it all. I really dont know what to suggest to her anymore. Kids are cruel and I know she can be sometimes too but I just wish this was not everyday. If anyone has any suggestions I am open to them. Better be off now and finish up for the night.

Take care

Trace.

P.S. Thankyou Kim G and Mardi for dropping by and leaving a comment, it was great to hear from you both and I am trying to get links up on my sidebar for all the blogs I visit but I still can't work that one out, if anyone has the answer could you please share it with me, that would be great. Okay bye for now.

Another layout from Sunday

Hi

Here is another l.o. I did on Sunday, I managed to do a l.o. of each of the Kids over the course of the weekend so that was great. Today I have unpacked my Scrapping bags and half of Maria's shop OMG, I have enough supplies till next year and all the inspiration I need to get it happening. I have also managed to re paint my letters for 1 of Erica's l.o.'s so I will get onto finishing that so I can post it tomorrow, will be taping programs tonight and getting my scrapping finished now I can enter my room again.

I skipped W.Watchers last night, been into the choccies since I came home from Retreat so we all went for a walk after tea last night and I have to get myself back onto the program and stop being naughty!!! spank spank. I am starting to feel normal again lol. but seriously it has taken me till now to catch up after the weekend and I didnt party late either. Must be getting to the big "40" that is starting to slow me down. lol. Can't believe I am admitting 40 this year!!! so sad!! Well better go and get kidlets from School, that time already. Sorry the picture above is not the best if you saw my scrap room you would understand why, must spring clean tomorrow!!! promise.

Take care

Trace.

2 posts today.

Hello again, decided it has been along time since I put some pretty pics up so here it is, top left l.o. I did in Zina's class, it was fun playing with felt and she was a great teacher, my flowers left a lot to be desired, I can do hearts and shapes but flowers well it is not something I am good at. Mum had them pumping out perfectly till I asked her to show me and then she couldnt make them work for a while, so felt flowers and me just dont mix!!! lol. top right l.o. I did on Sunday with Magnolia paper. It is so funky just love these papers and any lady who saw it was running off to the shop for some. bottom left are my black and white ATC's for the Feb Scrapbook Designs swap. bottom right is another l.o. of Keelan on his 10th Birthday. I have not finished another l.o. we did in Zina's class and the 3 l.o.'s we did with Erica still need final touches. I am going to get back into scrapping at night, been too much good stuff on T.V. lately but if I dont scrap at night I will not get anything done as while I am in here ATM, Rainee and Zaylan are undoing all the cleaning up I did this morning. I really thought having 2 home for 3 days this year would have given me more free time but I just have to be out watching them all the time, the minute I turn my back they are undoing it all and its not like we have a toy shortage or they dont have any activities to do, they are 5 minute wonders. So time to be off and supervising again before I have to clean everything from scratch again. I just wanted to add that Erica and Zina are great teachers and had wonderful workshops, I would have liked to do all the other workshops also but it would have blown my budget but Nic, Ali and Roz were all lovely and so much fun as well, Maria has the best Design Team out!!

Take care

Trace.

Great Retreat!!

Hi
Back from the Boxx Retreat and trying to get over being so tired. It was 2 days of full on fun and learning. I think the girls who did most of the classes must be totally exhausted!! Mum and I did 2 big ones and we came away exhausted. The design team is just great, they have abundant energy and gave completely of themselves all weekend, then Maria well I just dont know how she can do it, nearly 70 Ladies and design team to organise plus the shop, I just take my hat off to her. It totally rocked and I have come away with new ideas and have seen how Erica Glover's work looks in real life and it is beyond amazing and the same for Ali Stafford, she just does the best Boys pages and has a style that is so totally unique to her it is just amazing, I would have loved to have looked through these girls albums, I think Erica and Ali are in a league of their own by far just pure class. Made me realise that you dont need hundreds of dollars of products to produce some outstanding work.

Came home to lots of housework, washing well I cant believe how much I have had to do, really makes me question whether I will go on another retreat as I come home so tired and then I am straight back into Motherly duties, not really impressed with D.H. at the moment. Walking into tired, sunburnt, hungry kids was not fun. But that is about as much as I want to get started on this topic. I will get some of the l.o's I was able to do while away posted later, my scrap room has just had everything dumped in it and I have to find a home for it all now.
Take care
Trace.

The eve of the Retreat!!

Hi
Been like a chook with its head cut off today, scrubbing, cleaning and trying to get organised for the Boxx retreat tomorrow but had two not so helpful helpers in tow all day which has slowed down my progress considerably. lol. I always plan to take minimal stuff and to be organised but to no avail. Mum and I got our tags organised months ago, they were finished in January but then I found out we needed 70 so we are 8 short. Oh well too late to make more!! Then the mask OMG I think Ladies will look at that and wonder how I come to be at the retreat. My mojo is still missing and it is taking me so long to get things done. I hope this weekend will see my block disappear.

So all going well and if I can get my act together we will be out of here about 1pm tomorrow and on the road to Augusta, thank goodness it is only a stones throw away. Tim has been out and about delivering today and he said car loads of Women are heading to Augusta. WooHoo can't wait. Well better go and see what equipment I have got to pack.

Best wishes to my Gorgeous Brother Brad, GET WELL SOON, we are all praying for you and hope you make a speedy recovery. Too scared to ring in case you do the passing out act again. Remember that little talk we had a few weeks ago, if you dont take time to smell the roses soon I will personally drive up with a bunch and stick them under your nose. You know what I mean, slow that pace down!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REST REST REST!!!!!
Have a great weekend and stay cool.
Take care
Trace.

A bit more weight bites the dust.

Hi
Had weigh in tonight, I lost .3kgs so total loss so far is 5.1kgs I have not been very good ATM so I am happy to have lost a little something. I need to get my head back into it though far too much cheating and I have the retreat this weekend. I will have to be careful. One thing I have found is if I do overindulge I pay for it by being so uncomfortable afterwards, so my stomach is shrinking it is just my head that has to do the same. My body is willing to accept smaller meals my brain is the piggy and says "Oh Trace, you have been good and your body really needs a choccie fix so how about it, reward yourself" grrrrr Time to get the exercise happening too then I can allow for little lapses. Oh and has anyone tried the new Sweet Chilli thin chips, bad move if you do, they will take over your life. Keelan and I did the gobbledog on them the other day so I say no now, cause a couple is not enough. LOL. HOT HOT HOT today, poor kidlets at school, little Trini is always worn out after days like this with no air con in her class, we all give her so much love and sympathy when the tears and drama queen starts happening, nips it in the butt real quick. She is soooo like her Mother (poor child) we just dont do stinking hot summer!!! Okay off to bed was going to be an early night but as usual doesnt happen, been at it all day today shopping OMG what happened to $1 items everything over $2 these days and cleaning up major on the house front not that it lasts too long. My messy kidlets oh well. I will have to invent something in years to come when they have their own places that allows me to get airborne and hover when I enter their homes in years to come otherwise in old age I will forever be in a cast from falling over their shit. lol. leave it at that I think.
Take care
Trace.

Girls love Macros!!!!!

Hi

Here are some pics of Rainee yesterday after a shopping "spree" at Macros. What a dag she is, hair extensions, bunny ears, makeup, and sunnies all decked out. It is a real buzz to peel over the goods in Macros but I have to have a bit of savings as the girls want it all. Lainey, Trinity, Rainee and I spent a good hour and half fossicking in there and our trolley was needing hungry boards by the time we finished but great fun. lol. The other pic is My Boy Keelan at Go karts last weekend. He was awesome last weekend. The greatest Son all round a Mother could ever ask or wish for.

Okay so I have had the best soul refreshing weekend with the most awesome girlfriend. We have talked ourselves silly, indulged in good food and Champers and had a wonderful night away at a lovely peaceful resort. Thanks Lainey for giving me a well needed break, amazing how 1 night can just refresh you to come back and be on top with the Family again. Must also remember my D.H. here too as he was looking after our kidlets so I got a break and my D.S. of course such a mature and wonderful 10 year old son as Tim said he stepped up to the mark in my absence and helped Tim in all areas.

Last night we went to Speedway with the Kidlets and had a great time. The little ones are finally at an age where we can go out and all get enjoyment. Zay was not keen on the eyes full of dirt in the last race but all in all they really behaved great and it was just wonderful to be out of the house in the fresh air kicking back enjoying the racing. We thought about going to the drags tonight but we are all really buggered so going to veg today with DVD's and to tell you the truth after being on minimal house duties these last couple of days my laundry is swelling with dirty clothes and I think it will take me all day to catch up. I have 4 and a half days till Scrapboxx retreat so I am really looking forward to that as well. After having such a wound back quiet Christmas period we are making up for it now with something on every weekend for a while. Better go and spend some time with D.H.

Thanks Lainey for a great weekend, already got some ideas for a break up the track. lol. Girlfriends are so good for the soul. I just felt like I needed to be Tracey again and I certainly got a fix of that so its all good now I feel like a new Mum!!!

Take care

Trace.