That slack feelin!!!

Hi
Today is a real winters day and I have to say I am struggling with that desire to be curled up with a good book and warm and toasty listening to the rain. I think the weekend has caught up to me.

Friday night drinks turned into pizza and my girlfriend, kids, hubby and I dancing around the lounge room like teeny boppers. Amazingly I could walk Saturday but the thumping remained in my head most of the day as red wine turned into shooter alley. But it was fun to let the old hair down and show the kids Mumma can shake her booty. LOL. (even if I have all the creaks and groans to compliment it) at least the music drowned it out. LOL.
Saturday was low key although my girlfriend left 2 of her children for a sleepover so we awoke to 6 kids pretty much making mess in every available space in the house. OMG what a mess!! And with a thumping head I wanted to slink off to a dark place. Never mind I managed to toddle along for the day getting things done.

Saturday night my Brother and SIL rang and asked if we were up for a visit on Sunday. So yesterday I was up early cooking and cleaning before their arrival and then we had a great catch up with them and my Nieces. Poor Zay went to sleep and woke up to find them gone, he searched every room in the house looking for his little play mates, he loves having his sized kidlets around to play with. Thanks Brad, Kim and Girls for the visit. It was great to see you all again!!!

Well that is about all for now, will go and get some more things done while Zay is asleep.
Take care
Trace.

Getting back to norm.

Hi
Wow Thursday already, this week sure has got it's skates on. I have been getting into some sort of order since the kidlets returned to school. Must say I am enjoying some quiet time now and them.

I have been trying to build up my card stash, I am sick of last minute card making so ATM I am trying to get some simple cards to have on hand. I will share some later when the glitter dries. They are nothing too fancy but still a lot nicer than buying a card.

I am hoping to get us out for 1 day this weekend, thinking of packing a picnic and taking a drive to Augusta, see if we can see some whales. Even if it is raining it will still be great to get out of the house and take the kids for a change of scenery.

My amazing nearly 3 year old has decided he is ready to toilet train, since Sunday he has taken himself to the toilet 2 times and done No. 2's, takes his nappy off and goes so I have now had to start giving him the run down on it all so we can get it fine tuned. I was not stressing till summer started but he is ready to now so I will keep guiding him along. Our conversations go like this. Me. " Good boy Zay you are so clever doing poo in the toilet but can you call Mum next time you have finished and I will come and wipe your bottom." Zay: "Oookaaay Mum Mum" so the next time I hear "Mum done poo, Mum done poo" I go and here is poo on the floor and down his leg and on the seat and he is saying "stinks Mum stinks". "Oops Zay next time it is already in your nappy call Mum" "oookaaaay Mum Mum." I have to say that by No.4 I am stuggling to get the enthusiasm up to go down this track but I know he is ready so it's now full steam ahead. He thankfully has no fear of the loo even hangs himself right down in the toilet and then runs to the toilet and mimics Trin throwing up from the other night. Up with the lid and over he goes making all the right noises. OMG he is so funny. LOL. So due to the novelty of him and the toilet I am cleaning it excessively ATM. I need to have this to recall on as my memory is so shocking.

Well best be off to get tea and other things sorted. Hope you are having a better week than I am with the mailman bringing me horrid mail. (bills bills bills) LOL.
Take care
Trace.

More layouts.

Hi
I have a couple more layouts to share.

Family chat is my hubby and his Sister and Mum & Dad when we went to Rivendell Winery for our 5th wedding anniversary. As usual I took pics of everyone else even the kids on that day but no one took a pic of Tim and I. Oh well maybe next time.

This layout of Rainee I did on Saturday night. My photo of the layout was not the best but I tried taking so many shots with the lighting and me shaking in different positions I gave up in the end and this is the best of a bad bunch.

Today has been a very testing day. I decided to Bake. Seeing as school starts again tomorrow I thought some cup cakes and cherry and almonds slice would be nice and then I made a Zucchini slice while I was at it for tea. I also got a big basket of ironing done but the kidlets are fed up of being confined indoors and have really done my head in big time today. 4 kids saying Mum she did this, Mum he did that for most of the arvo has nearly sent me over the edge. I am glad routine is back tomorrow and my weight well I have found an extra 2 kilos in the holidays as usually happens with me in the holidays. boo hoo. Oh well back to the drawing board with the diet.

Have a great night.
Take care









Trace. xxx

Layouts as promised.

Hi
I have finally got some layouts to share. The Hugs 4 Mum layout I did last night. I have been waiting for ages to get inspired to scrap this pic, really love the colours in the layout and pretty happy with how it turned out. I love the photo of Zay and I, it is rare for Tim to grab the camera and take pics but so nice to capture 1 of our special hugs. Love that little man to pieces. Although these days Dad is stealing my thunder a bit, Boy babies love their Mum so much but then the day seems to come when Dad becomes their hero which is great for Dad but sad for Mum, I make the most of our cuddles these days when Dad is at work.
This next layout is of Rainee, I got some special ribbons off Fiona Carter (ribbons galore) so wanted my layout to show off the ribbons and then I doodled my flowers and journalling box and cut the other flowers out. So love thickers alphas, I would use them all the time if I had every font and colour. LOL.

This last layout is of Trin and just her in her own world one day but I had the opportunity with these pics to just record for me and her down the track the times she has struggled so far this year with school and personal issues.

I had trouble taking pics of the layouts today as it is raining and gloomy but after 4 tries all around the house these seem the best. I have another couple to share later on. I feel like scrapping tonight but it is too good on T.V. so maybe tomorrow night. Hope you are having a great Sunday.
Take care
Trace.

Winter has finally landed.

Hi,

Seems like winter has finally found us, lots of heavy, heavy rain the last few days and today we even had some hail, the first time the kidlets have heard it, pity I didn't have the camera handy as we happened to be out the shed at the time, Zay nearly choked me clinging on but it was great to have a hail shower, really cooled things off a lot more after it. Rainee was the only one in the house and she got a bit scared. But it didn't last too long.

I have got my mojo back, I can't believe it, I sat down this arvo and really didnt look like I was going to be able to create anything and then the girls joined me which made it worse for a while until I got them started on something each but I have now completed 3 new layouts and I am really stoked. I really have not felt like scrapping for weeks but I can say I have enjoyed getting back into it. I will have to take pics tomorrow and share some eye candy, my blog needs a brighten up. I know Mardi gave me some great advice on getting my fav links up on my blog but I just haven't got my head into it all just yet. Really not the best tool in the shed when it comes to blogs and links etc. I could do with a new banner too but far out when will I have time. Waiting to get a visit from a fellow expert blogger and then I will get her to help me. LOL.

I made good old fashioned shank soup today and we had that for tea, it was just yummy, great for a winters night and I love how you can get so many great veggies into it and the kids dont know, not to mention the soup mix except the bean, Zay did give me the one he found. LOL. Fresh crusty bread also which was yum.

I stopped at Donnybrook on the way to take Keelan to Collie on Friday and got some fresh fruit and veg. I can't believe how a real apple tastes and how fresh it all was. I would love to live in that town, Trin has not stopped eating fruit since, she is a mega fruit eater that child. I so love how my kidlets love healthy foods. They all have different preferences but on the whole they eat healthy.

Well better get off this computer, thunder has just started here. Have a great Sunday.
Take care
Trace.

I've been tagged.

Here's the deal:

1- post these rules
2- each person tagged must post 8 random {hopefully interesting} facts about themselves.
3- tags should write a blog post of these facts.
4- at the end of the post 8 more bloggers are tagged and named.
5- go to their blogs and leave a comment telling them they are tagged.

Ive been tagged by http://courtonstamps.typepad.com Courtney. Thanks Court.

1. I have been scrapbooking for a year and a half, I got started with Creative memories workshops I used to attend once a month and then attended the Scrapboxx retreat in 2006 at Augusta and that was the start of my "anything goes" type of scrapping.

2. I am a trained Reflexologist but don't really do much since I had my last 3 children. I really dont know what I will return to work as once the children are all at school.

3. My first Husband and I only ever had 1 child in our 8 years of trying but many failed attempts, Tim and I had been back together 4 months when I fell pregnant and then we had 3 children in 3 years. (Tim and I had a 2 year relationship when I was 17,18 but broke up and married other people) guess we were meant to be together all along.

4. I have known my closest Girlfriend for 35 years. We met in kindy and have been best friends ever since.

5. I am very shy, I dont do well in big crowds, very much a one on one kind of gal.

6. I am a scrapbook shopping addict, my scrap room shows it, I had a huge spending spree when I got hooked and probably will battle to use everything I have in this room.

7. I am dreading turning 40 soon, I really dont want that day to come. It is something I am really battling getting my head around.

8. I am a very routine person, I have to stick to a routine with the children or else I would be in 1 big disorganised mess, they have set bath, tea, bed times etc. I just cant function without it. I hate having things dropped on me last minute when I havent had time to fit it into my day.

I now tag Janine, Kim G, Sharon and anyone else with a blog who would like to participate.

Thanks for looking.
Trace.

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY TRINITY CHANDEL.

Hi

Today is my Beautiful Daughter "Trinity Chandel's" 6th Birthday, Happy Birthday Darling, you bring Dad and I so much joy and you are growing into the most gorgeous Girl with such a great nature and sense of humour. We both love you so very much and we are so proud of you.

Thankyou to family and friends who have sent her through parcels she has just glowed this morning with the biggest smile when the door bell rings, knowing she is the star today and that is will be for her. She has been out collecting bugs with her bug catcher and watching them with the magnifying glass, putting makeup on her and Rainee, wearing her new bracelet from her Godparents and Boys, drawing in her books and is going to collect some leaves and flowers to press and we will get batteries from the shop this arvo for her crawling doll.

Zay is finding it a bit hard to understand that all these presents are for 1 person and he is not getting any, he is having a few sookie la la's today about the whole affair. LOL. Yesterday we had a little party with Tim's sister and son and she got an outfit and clickits which she has had fun with also. Very spoilt and she is lovin it. Well it is raining here right now so they have got plenty to amuse themselves with today. Must go and light the fire and get the house nice and cosy. Take care
Trace.

Winter school holidays.

Hi
Just dropping in to update while the kidlets are quiet watching play school and Keelan is occupied with his mate who has been here for a sleep over. Play school is so great for the kids I really promote them to watch it, they do some really interesting things and today was about silk worms. That brings back memories from my school days of when we each got 1 to bring home and watch the cycle of its life. Wow that was a long time ago!! LOL.

These pics of Zay are him rugged up for winter, he is so hard to get a pic of these days as he is never still for long. I have to take about 30 to get a couple of good ones. But since he stayed with Mum he is big on the saying " boots on boots off" he says it every time he walks out the door, he is trying so hard to talk more, he seems to be taking the longest to talk but I suppose we all tend to finish his sentences so we must stop that, he loves his bike, he makes it hurt, ripping around the back yard. Thank goodness my children have half an acre to play on, lately it is the bikes and tramp that have been occupying them which is great as we really dont have any spending money for these holidays so home is where we have to be. They played outside all morning yesterday, the 4 of them, no squables it was lovely, I got to do a clean up and having Keelan looking after Zay meant I could go to town without checking on him all the time.

We have to go shopping later this morning once Keelan's friend has gone home and because they cleaned up their rooms they have a little spending money for a treat. Trin has been drawing heaps of great pictures, the above portrait is me with blue hair. LOL. Then Rainee drew 1 this morning of me with purple hair. I must be a really colourful Mum. LOL. I added a pic of me in my messy scrap room, a la natural, I certainly missed out on being photogenic like my children. LOL. Glad it is Friday, looking forward to having some time with Tim over the weekend and so is Zay, yesterday he heard an Ambulance while they were playing on the tramp and Rainee kindly told him the ambulance was getting Daddy, he came inside crying and so distressed, I had to end up ringing Tim so he could talk to him to know he was okay but he is still on about it this morning, " Daddy ute crash, eeeorrr get Daddy mmmm" so I have told him tomorrow Daddy has no work so he will be with him for 2 days. That has made him stop telling me the same story 10 times over. He seems happy now, he so misses his Daddy. Okay off now. Take care.
Trace.

Taking it easy!!!

Hi,
Holidays are in full swing in this house, so much so that the house looks like a bomb has exploded and with each passing day it is looking worse for wear. I am not going to stress and moan too much although we seem to be pending lots of visits from different friends so I do have to keep my guard up a bit plus I really hate mess so I can only let it go so much. LOL.

Anyway we are in kick back mode, went to the Dr's this morning mainly for review and check ups then shopping then home and un pack then have a quick clean up, lunch and throw Zay into bed then this arvo we went to a park with a Girlfriend and her kids for a few hours. The sunshine was so good for the soul, the ocean was like a mill pond and the kidlets ran and played and kicked ball and just let loose. Then I flew home and put tea on, ran crazy for 30 mins then out the door to W.W. meeting although I didnt stay tonight, lost .5 kilos so that is pretty good considering the tim tam slams have been a big priority for me these past few weeks. LOL. I am an addict of slams, I lurvvvve them and cant stop at 1 and Coles have them for $1.28 this week so guess what I had in my trolley today. NAUGHTY NAUGHTY GIRL!!! But hey you have to look forward to something in your day.

Well that's about it off to watch singing with the stars final. Go Joelene and David!!! (hope that is how she spells it). Take care and have fun with your kidlets.
Trace.

They came, they ate, they danced!!!

Hi

Here are the pics from Trin's party yesterday, they pretty much did come and eat and danced and played and went. Time flies with Birthday parties but the day was not the best outside so the beauty of girls was they loved dancing and doing games to win prizes and eating, then some more dancing and some more eating. LOL. They were a delightful little group and so much fun. Trin wanted cherries and strawberries on her cake and it had to be a chocolate cake so that was pretty much her only request. It looked pretty and I cheated and used betty crocker icing but they all left the cake as they hated the icing so note to self, dont cheat again, make the real Mc'coy or they waste the cake!!! LOL.

This morning Mum and I cleaned up and while I mopped the floor Mum pruned my roses for me. Thanks heaps Mum you are THE BEST!! Then we had a sad goodbye as this is the last time I see her for 9 weeks, poor Mum is so nervous about flying, her and Dad are off to USA next Friday. The 13th can you believe it. That was the only day she didn't want to fly and yet they are booked to go then. I wish them health and happiness on their trip and hope they have the best time. If 2 people deserve this trip it is definitely them.

Rainee is at another Birthday party today, so I hope she is having a good time, she has been very shy and clingy lately so I hope me not being there will coax her out of her shell although that is not working at kindy. I am so looking forward to school holidays starting, it means staying home and not spending money for a while. Yay for that. Just not having to drive to school everyday is a saving. Not to mention hopefully a few sleep in's, if I can get Zay to come to the party on that one.
Have a great weekend. Enjoy.
Take care
Trace.

Quick post

Hi
I am still here, been super busy this week, enjoying catching up with my Mum and my little ones, lots of things going on and Trin's Birthday Party went off today without a hitch, she had a lovely time and the little girls that came spoilt her as the Birthday Girl, even though it is not officially for another 11 Days. I think her dream Birthday now has happened and hopefully she will not be inviting the kids now all year for her next one. LOL. She has truly been inviting these girls to her Birthday since the first day of school. So I hope now she has it out of her system. Star for a day and she has milked it for all it was worth!! LOL.

I will post pics tomorrow and give a run down on other things happening and even get some layouts up, not that I have created this week.

Well off to bed, worn out from partying. Just love how 5 and 6 year old girls love life, they are super.
Take care
Trace.