Dignity has left this house.

Hi
Picture this on an overcast Saturday morning: Husband is outside spraying weeds, I am keeping kidlets inside. 11 year old is having one of those days that you dare look sideways at him as he is likely to leap from the other side of the room and tackle you to the ground or best case scenario storm off to his room and slam door with such force the whole house shakes.

3 year old is being an absolute pain in the behind, terrorising anyone and anything that crosses his path.

near 5 year old and 6 year old Daughters are in a state of stupor, giggly and egging each other on to see who can do the most stupid of things and annoy anyone in a close radius as much as possible and then just errupt into giggle fit no: 2010 for the morning.

I am on another planet just really wanting to go to bed with the flu but soldering on getting some sort of order around here wishing for the thousandth time back up would finish spraying and come in and help reign some order back in here as both of us combined ATM would only amount up to 1 good parent on a well day.

Nature calls so I off to the toilet, before long the anticipated knock at the door arrives and the "Mum a lady at the door wants to see you", but before I could answer she runs off calling Dad so I presume he is there and sigh relief and then take my time in the peace and tranquility of this quiet little corner of the house. I wash my hands and open the door to hear keys jingling and the girls standing at the door talking to the ladies and trying to open the door. (So glad all the lectures of talking to strangers has been all absorbed and taken on board yeh right!) so knowing who the Ladies were I thought if I stay here a bit longer and they can't open the door they might just leave.

Well you better rethink that option, the girls are showing them all sorts of stuff and dancing and entertaining these dear old ladies who want to bash my ear about religion and are concreted to the front step until they do so. So I have had enough hiding in the ensuite and bravely make my way to the door and start hearing about their big chat and no amount of I am Catholic Thankyou but we have our own views and values etc etc would stop this old darling from leaving before she had it all off her chest. Meanwhile the girls are in a stupor and I am feeling the last twang of my patience cord starting to give way. I fight with keys to open the door and accept the papers and send them finally on their way, shut the door and head to grab those girls and give lecture no. 5000493939 about talking to strangers when I find D.H. standing in the kitchen in his jocks waiting for them to leave so he could get to our bedroom for some pants and a pair of my pants on the breakfast bar that Rainee grabbed for him to put on so he could talk to the lady.

I asked him what was going on and he said "Oh you should have heard it, the girls told the ladies Mummies in the toilet and Daddies got no pants on so he can't come to the door." he said they just kept saying to the ladies, Daddies in the kitchen with no pants on he can't come and talk to you and Tim kept yelling "I have my jocks on". ROFL.

What did they think, no wonder I could not get rid of them, they probably felt from the whole picture they were seeing this house really needed some of the good Lords intervention and fast. EXPRESS MAIL with 4 kidlets running around in a frenzy and Dad in the kitchen with no pants and Mum in the toilet, missing in action.
Tim took his pants off in the laundry as he had been spraying and was on his way to get some clean ones then the girls opened the door and hence the above scene erupted. I can see this is going to be one of those days, it is such a calming thought to realise we have raised such thoughtful children that when told Mum and Dad are not feeling very well, ( cough another lung up) that they have the good sense to start bouncing off the walls and up the anti as much as they can. We can both sleep well tonight knowing we are succeeding in raising very considerate kind children. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.

Hope your Saturday is going great and if you find our Dignity out there please return it to us.
Take care
Trace.

Bits n Bobs of randomness.

Hi
Yay School holidays has hit, we are all so happy about 2 weeks off from the old school routine.
We are still battling with the flu bug which is so annoying. It has really knocked us for a total six and every day you get up thinking you will be fine but you just aren't and by lunch time you start the down hill slide back into the pits. So I guess we will stay positive that we will get up tomorrow and be a bit closer to beating this thing off.

On a much brighter note we went to school assembly this arvo as Keelan received his first merit certificate for the year. His portfolio has also come home and he has a lot of pleasing results in that. Trinity and Rainee also have worked hard as their portfolios show.

We decided to take the kidlets out to tea tonight to celebrate school holidays and also this is probably the only time we will be together as a whole family during the holidays. Trin and Keelan are going to Mum and Dad's on Sunday and then Keelan will spend 10 days with his Dad also so we went to our favourite restaurant and had a great meal and a great time. They are really so great to take out now compared to Father's Day last year when we tried to take them all there for tea. It was stressful keeping them occupied and sitting still. But tonight they coloured in and Zay was a bit of a wanderer but he only played with some pebbles in a plantar box a couple of steps from us so he was no worries at all and they were really hungry so they enjoyed their meal.

Zay has been without the Dummy now since Monday night, he is still missing it but slowly it is getting easier to settle him. He says to me "Dum Dum goes in mm mouth." (mm is me) he just doesn't say me its mm. Funny little sayings they have.
I have to share this funny story, I was in my scrap room before we went out to tea, Tim was getting dressed and Rainee and Zay were in our room talking to him and Zay was being cheeky and sticking his tongue out which is he most favourite expression ATM. Tim told him he would cut his tongue off if he poked it out again and Zay was protesting. Tim said to him "you don't see Mum sticking her tongue out do you?"
Rainee pipes up and says " She only pokes her tongue out when she has pepper on the side of it!" How random was that comment. I nearly choked trying to laugh and cough with the flu, a 4 year old just says the most out there stuff. LOL.

Oh and something else rather random have you seen the new dress code for waitresses? Jeans that are very short waisted so you have to cover your butt crack with your hand when you bend down to retrieve something off the floor, no wonder all the young good looking guys snapped their necks off when they heard glasses or plates fall on the floor, the clean up act is something to witness, I am suprised the guys didnt knock their drinks over most of the night or maybe as the night wore on they may start to get clumsy but I witnessed it twice from 2 different sized waitresses so it is obviously the shortage we have ATM on denim material that can be blamed for the short fall. LOL. (I am showing my age I think).

Things have been a bit tense on the home front this week between the flu and a certain weekly wage that is missing from the Family budget, Tim's new job lead is proving to be a bit of a leaky boat so to speak so I think he will have to try some other avenue's next week. He has not been a very happy vegemite to say the least but I hope and pray that next week might bring some better news into our life. I thought farming life had its hurdles but I think I would walk back on the farm tomorrow after having to deal with my Husband and employment, very hard for a man who has been self employed for over 26years to find himself having to answer to a Boss. I have been waiting for him to go through a really hard time and miss the farm and his Friends who have grown up around him and this week has seen the reality of it all hit Tim so we are trying to get him through this rough patch and I truly hope for him he will find something he loves doing and working with some great guys to help him settle here.
Well I think that is all the catch up for now. Sleeeep in tomorrow, no hastling kidlets to hurry up, no clock watching and planning what happens when, just freedom. woo hoo. Take care
Trace.

Pics of our blissful weekend away.

Hi
These are some photos of the weekend. We loved the place that much we asked Mum and Dad to come and bring the kidlets to see us on Sunday to show them this wonderful tranquil property. The decor in this place was so serene and you could feel such a calm energy in the place. The bedroom was huge and waking up in this calm surround each day was pure heaven. The kidlets loved it, I think it reminded them of space and freedom like they felt on the farm. They want to live there. Which is how we all felt, the bathroom and our bedroom was huge, the size that all houses should have really, we would all wake up a lot better for it each morning. LOL. So we vegged and Tim watched DVD's, I watched some, read books and basically did whatever I felt like doing, freedom to think about just us 2 was strange but really nice to remember who Tim and Trace are not so much Mum and Dad as we are on a daily basis. But being the sooks we are we still had to find a reason to see the kidlets but the worst part was them leaving when the tears started from 1 child to the next, I am sure it soon stopped when we were out of sight but since coming home they can't seem to have enough hugs and snugs. LOL.

The maggie was a regular visitor looking for a free feed, he was really comfortable coming up close and even took Trin's Tim Tam from her hand. I raised a Maggie years ago and they are really amazing birds but they form such a close bond to you they are just like a child. Elka was just the most gorgeous Maggie but unfortunately I went camping with her to a tick infested place which both her and I returned home with these nasty little attachments and for her it was fatal. This little maggie on the weekend came and sat on a chair right next to me and sussed us out big time, I had a lot of elka's memories come flooding back.

I took scrapping but finished off my swap cards for the Boxx retreat coming up so I was glad to get that done, I had a lot of hand cutting to do so my D.H. helped me with the cutting so I could come home with them finished, that was really nice having him help me do something I love so much.

The flu is slowly moving through everyone, weather is still very wet so I don't think these bugs will be moving on too quick, holidays will be good but to give everyone the pick up they need. The last 7 weeks have certainly gone by so fast. The older 2 kidlets are off to Mum's for the school holidays and they are going to the show with Mum and Dad so that is exciting for them. Keelan and Trin are really looking forward to having Mum and Dad time and Keelan is going to help Dad at the workshop which he will love, as a toddler he used to spend a lot of time with Dad and with the tweens really starting to kick in ATM he could do with a mentor to give him some TLC and special time, he really does get short listed with quality time around here, the younger 2 are very competitive for my attention. I just hope they have great weather and the best time that they deserve.

Our love and prayers are with my SIL, Kim with some late pregnancy problems, we so hope it all improves for you very soon Kim and that you can hang on at least another week. Well better be off to bed myself.
Take care
Trace.

Home to the house of ills!!!

Hi
We had a great weekend, the place was amazing it would make a truly awesome house and we feel really recharged from our relaxing massage and facial but and that is the big word BUT, Tim is sick, I am sick, Mum and Dad are sick, Trin is sick and the other 3 are fighting the last of it off although Keelan is not sure if his is hayfever or the flu. Poor Mum has struggled through with the aches and pains and fever and cough, I hope she will get some time to recover now at home.

Zay bit a hole in his dummy last night so that is it he is not getting anymore so the withdrawals for him are major, he has it really bad, just crying dumma dumma over and over again. It was bad last night so I sat with him until he went to sleep but today he is really out of sorts so I am just trying to get him through this and he is not well so that is making it a lot worse.

I will check back tomorrow with pics and hopefully a bit brighter household but I have to go now as the dummy addict is here in a really crabby mood making this post impossible. LOL.
Take care
Trace.

Chrissy card class

Hi
We had our 1st Christmas card making class yesterday, we want to get started early as the way time is going and from previous years experience you tend to run out of time for the little extras. I ordered a few Christmas scrap packs from Stampin up to get us started and I like the colours for our warm Christmas climate we have in Australia. I also really love this stamp set which is in our mini spring catalogue which runs till the end of November "Wishing you" is a really sweet delightful set, I am so happy with this set. I have to get thinking about special little gift ideas now as for 2 weeks we will cover cards and then we are going to do some little Christmas boxes and things we can put homemade goodies in like Rocky road and shortbread etc. Just little somethings for neighbours and friends etc. It has put us all in the gear to put TLC and not so much expense into our Christmas gifts this year which I just love receiving something from the heart it makes the gift a lot more special.

Wouldn't you know it with Mum arriving today to have the kidlets for us for the weekend Rainee and Zay are fighting terrible coughs, fevers and colds. Rainee is getting better but Zay is probably at the start of it, he had a raging temp last night so I had to watch him with that and today he is whingy and clingy and unsettled which is part and parcel of a sick child. Not great timing as usual and they have been so well I just hope Mum and Dad don't get it.

OMG last night as the kidlets were having sweets I was sitting with them having a laugh about funny sayings that my Nana's and Mum have quoted to me over the years and as Rainee was cracking up laughing she suddenly started a coughing fit then next minute blood just started running out of her nose and mouth and I mean running, Keelan ran for the tissues and in fright nearly emptied the box reeling them off and throwing them at us, Trin sat frozen in time as did Zay and I, it was scary to see blood just empty out of her like that and when she opened her mouth it was pouring out there as much as her nose. We got her flat on her back on the lounge and the poor thing was freakin out, crying and choking on blood. After a little while it clotted and stopped and she has been right as rain since, Keelan jumped into action running literally to help with the situation, Tim just kept on packing the dishwasher, Trin kept eating her ice cream and Zay kept rubbing her arm all concerned. My boys are definitely more sympathetic than Trin. LOL. Keelan felt sick when it all calmed down, I thought his nurse action was too good to be true. He does tend to have a weak tummy. So that was our excitement for the night, who would have thought making kidlets laugh and have fun should come with a health warning. LOL.

This is really about the slowest week I have endured for a long time, waiting to see Mum and Dad as well as bursting with excitement to go away for the weekend is making it drag no matter how busy I am keeping myself, in another hour Mum will be here and then you can bet the time will start flying around the clock. LOL.
Well best be off and get some more things done as they say "no rest for the wicked" gee I must be so so wicked. LOL.
Take care
Trace.

Anticipation!!!!

Hi
Anticipation would best describe how we are all feeling in this household ATM. This wonderful Mum of mine (above pic with Rainee) is arriving on the bus tomorrow and we all can't wait to see her and have lots of laughs and fun for a few days. A great way to have clean dinner plates every night and best behaviour is pending a visit from Nana, works wonders. LOL. I hope she feels like cooking as we would all love some of her cupcakes and other baked goodies, not that my waistline needs it but the kidlets certainly would love it. On the farm I baked lots but since moving I avoid it which is not good for the kidlets as they are finding other stuff to fill up on when nothing beats a baked slice or cakes.

I forgot to mention that Tim handed in his notice at his current job a week or so ago and finishes up on Thursday. He came home soaking wet a couple of Friday's back and so down about work and the attitude his boss has towards him so we had a talk and then he went back and gave his notice. They are giving him the cold shoulder now and are trying to dock his last pay left right and centre over any nit picky thing they can find. I asked Mum and Dad to come down and give Tim and I the chance to go away together this weekend so he could have a break and start his new job with a fresh attitude and much needed break. We leave Friday lunch time to go to a luxury retreat not too far away in case we are needed at home for any reason and we come home Monday so 3 nights away together will be just divine. I am being spoilt with retreats this year but hey I am not knocking them back, all those years of little babies and being home bound sure makes these retreats just the best to rekindle the soul and body as we are having a Sheer indulgence massage treatment together on Saturday to slide us into bliss and relax mode. Tim is just hanging for this break, he has looked after the kidlets while I have had a few weekends away so I know he truly deserves this.

The kidlets are really looking forward to catching up with Nana and Grandad (who will join them on Friday night or Saturday morning,) the boys just love Dad and can't wait to see him as well.

I will share pics of my scrap room but I am waiting for Tim to build me a little cupboard to go next to my scrap table so once I have that in place and it straightened out just a bit more I will definitely share.

Well better go and get ready for our Christmas card making workshop today. I will share pics of them later.
Have a great day
Take care
Trace.

Huge cleanup and Sunshine!!!

Hi
We have had a really busy weekend so far but a hugely satisfying one for sure. Saturday morning Rainee and I went shopping and that was very dangerous, my little shopper just gets me in relax mode and before we know it we walk out the door with more than I bargained for, first it was Dymocks now books and I well just ask my Family it is as bad as my obsession with Scrapping supplies and my Children love books to heaven and back, it is a mandatory requirement in this house that no bed time is robbed of a story unless the reason is accepted by the kidlets!!!! So then each shop we entered gained something out of my pocket but that was cool as Rainee and I really needed to have a little splurge and lets face it I came home energised to tackle the biggest messiest problem that I have in this house and that is my scrap room, you could very easily of late removed the s from scrap and classed it as just that statement,(crap) while I had Tim around to help with muscle power I pulled it all out and dusted, cleansed it competely then we shifted things out ,in and the outcome is fan-bloody-tastic. I am over the moon and all the way back again with my results, the kidlets and Tim keep entering and doing the happy dance and now I can have my little darlings in here playing blocks or barbies or cars, whatever takes their desire while I scrap but the main thing is they can be close as the floor space is immense. I am a lucky Lady to have such a great scrap room and I love clean. So I might just have to start spending a few late nights back in here or better still getting the house work done super woman style then sitting my butt down in here and enjoying some time out, (wonder if I will have to be naughty to qualify mmmm) LOL.

Other things happening around here Keelan is away this weekend and back tomorrow, as much as I love and miss him it is wonderful to have a little pre teen time out. LOL. He has been tetchy of late with the weather so miserable so it is nice to have a 6,5 and 3 year old age group to contend with who so love their Father home on weekends and have been giving me a little space, I say little as that is as much as it is but still have had time to think without the thousand questions which is nice to enjoy once in a while. So the pics above are from this morning, Tim was mowing and yard cleaning in the glorious sunshine and the kidlets well they were being kidlets really, rolling on the fresh mown lawn and climbing trees and riding their bikes so I tried out my new macro lens and I love the shots I have been able to take with it, very happy indeed with my new lens. For so long I have envied all the Ladies with close up photos on blogs which are screaming out clarity and just pure perfect photos so I hope I can achieve a little of that now. Those pics of the Azaleas with all the colours are what we look out our bedroom and see, it has been a beautiful array of colour even though the rain has beaten them up a fair bit but I am a colour junkie, I get such a high out of looking at flowers and colours and I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful half acre to live on which has pockets of colour all around it.

I have been thinking really deep lately about things in life that I celebrate and love everytime I think about it, whether it be my Children, Hubby, Family, Friends, Home anything that just makes that happy feeling well up inside and thank God that I have so much that I am thankful for. I seriously don't want to dwell on what I don't have because I have abundance in my life and whoever I cross paths with I want them to walk away feeling happier for having crossed my path today or any day. It is so easy to whine and whinge and get ourselves down these days with so much pressure and worry but seriously if we can stay on top of it all and let it wash off our backs it doesnt win. So many people these days forget to smile, have joy and laugh. I aim each day to make this part of my Families life to experience this each and every day and make it all count. It is amazing how much a silly moment from a Mum and Wife can replace a frown or a dark mood with a smile. I know my Mum is the most intuitive and funniest Lady I know and she can brighten even your darkest hour. I am letting God and life know that I appreciate everything I get dealt with, good and bad and will strive everyday to make a difference to anyone I can as our loved ones and friends deserve nothing less from us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay deep over sorry this is so long, pat yourself on the back and have a big smile if you got to the end of this, hope you have a great week and I hope you cross many paths of friends and loved ones that make you smile.
Take care
Trace.

Willd, wet weather.

Hi
Finally getting some time to update but it has taken me this long to get organised enough with washing etc since being away plus spending time with the kidlets which I am making a real priority these days, I grab those cuddles when I can and just some vegging time with them after school as they are growing so quick and I know I will look back and regret not making special time for them if I don't.

The top layout I did weeks ago, it seems like ages now since I have scrapped, I think I am in recharge mode ATM because I just dont put my scrapping on top of the list like I used to and it is not like I don't have any ideas or pics to scrap but I just feel like I am needing time elsewhere. The layout of Zay was great fun and went together really well, I love pen work on layouts I think it adds that personal signature to a layout. I have always been a doodler over school books, Mum's note pads while on the phone and now my own it is really a relaxing past time to doodle. LOL.

The weekend went well but we all came home really tired. I am so happy to have Mum and Dad home safe and sound, they seem to have had a great trip and one they have really needed for a long time, we heard lots about USA and all their travels when they got home on Sunday and tried to cram so much into a few short hours that we all felt pretty much spent on the way home. Except Keelan and I had a mini paper plane making and flying comp in the car on the way home, poor Rainee kept getting the failure planes dive bombing her head at least it gave us something to do on the way home in the car and I was the Champ. LOL.

Keelan passed his next belt and is now a purple belt, I am so proud of him, a few weeks back he wanted to give it away but I am so glad we have talked him into sticking with it, I think it is such a great thing for him to do and he is really changing physically from it now, getting fitter and more toned.

Yesterday Keelan and I had his interview for his College application and tour of the College, it is a really impressive college with a really relaxed feel to it, I think he will thrive there. He has been accepted we have only got to sign a final letter next week and it is a done deal. A huge relief to know he is going to be going to this College, it is next to his Primary school so I can deliver all the kidlets in 1 hit and I think it has inspired him to get motivated and try harder for the rest of this year and next year.

The other photo above of the puddle is pretty much what the weather is looking like here today, thunder, wind and lots of heavy rain. It has been like that all week so far and I think it is sticking around for the rest of the week, I am so ready to spring clean but the weather is really not inspiring me to get cracking one bit. All my gorgeous flower blooms in the garden are out and getting blown off today, I just hope when the weather finally does get nice that they will flower again, I so love the look of spring.

Well better go and get on with some jobs.
Take care
Trace.

Yay some layouts.

Hi
Finally getting around to take a pic of these layouts that I did weeks ago, the above 1 of My love 4 life is the latest one I did using the Paper pesto kit, the photos are not the best as it is raining here again today and you really can not pick up the detail of my dots around all the pics and lettering. Maybe if you click on it and enlarge it you may see it. The journalling tag is all about Tim and I getting a second chance at love together and how grateful I am for that. Mushy gushy stuff. LOL.

This layout of Trin is using some of my fabbo bits out of the Tarisota kit, it was fun playing around with this kit, just love the papers and colours and still have so much left over for lots more the rubons and all are yummy.

This layout of Rainee I did on my girly weekend away. I really had fun cutting out the flowers and adding my own doodles to them. It looks really pale due to flash and poor lighting but IRL it is really pretty.

We have a busy weekend coming up, Keelan has another Tae kwon do grading on Saturday and Mum and Dad fly in early Sunday morning so we will spend the day with them before we have to come home. Weekends away are great but it really takes a lot for me to get my head around these days, organising the Dog to be fed while away and packing the clothes and car for everyone, I know I will be buggered when we get the Fri night and then I have to make beds and get kidlets sorted. I guess that is why we really appreciate home these days or having day trips are much better options, I also have to pack our tea this time as it is so expensive for us all to have take away so we will be having a picnic in the car as we drive along, reminds me of when I was a kid and it tastes so much better also.

Well better go and get tea organised. Have a great weekend all and catch you next week.
Take care
Trace.

Happy 11th Birthday Master Wonderful

Hi
HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY KEELAN, you are an amazing Son, I love everything about you and hope you have a great day today. This Child really is a great Kid, he is so well adjusted for the upheaval he has had in his life and although I know he wishes deep down his Father and I were still married (what child wouldn't) he has excepted Tim into his life like an equal Father and has always made sure he makes 2 sets of Father's Day presents all through school all which is his own choice. A teacher told me when he was in year 1 that he had an amazing view of his family and 1 that she had not seen before where he placed his Mother, Father and Step Father all on the exact same level, each to be as important as the other. That makes for a pretty loveable kid hands down!!!

After a Beautiful spring day here yesterday it is raining and cold again. I was really hoping that spring had sprung so to speak and we would have some great warm weather, I am over winter really and looking forward to some really high energy days when the sun is shining and the sky is clear.
Better go and get my class stuff sorted for today, an hour and a half till the ladies arrive and I have no idea what we will do today. Now that is organised NOT.
Take care
Trace.

So spoilt and so blessed.

Hi,
Well I had the best 40th a girl could ask for the company of the best friends a girl could ever wished for who tried so hard to deliver everything I desired on my Birthday, thanks so much Lainey and Karina you are absolute darlings and I love you heaps. I was so touched to get cards, presents, emails and comments from so many wonderful ladies, thanks heaps for making my day special.

I got very spoilt from Hubby and the kidlets, I got my dream present, a new Canon 400d rebel digital camera, I have been playing with that this arvo and can't wait to see how the pics compare to my panasonic. My Mum and Dad sent me a dozen red roses which gave me tears as they are still in USA so I had spoken to them twice on the phone that morning but somehow the roses made them feel here with me. I also had a parcel to open from them which was 2 American indian dolls that are collectors from USA they are so yummy. I best take pics of them and post that tomorrow. Karina knows how Miss Maud's princess cake is my ultimate indulgent Birthday cake so she tried so hard to have it for me, even drove to the next town to pick it up from a cake maker that tried to make it the same, what a darling she is and then Lainey who drove all 4 hours to be here and spent the day helping me with the kidlets and spoilt me rotten with a basket of scrappy stuff and a gift voucher from House. Love you Lainey you are so loved by my Kidlets and I, you are an awesome girlfriend. mmwwwawww.
So thanks again Ladies for you wishes and giving me such a special day.
Take care
Trace.