Layout and funky fabric.

Hi
I created this layout above of Zay but the photo is not the best, the colours have come out dull as I took it in my scrap room last night but you get the idea. I used my cuttlebug for the first time to add little bits of features to this page, I love the embossed effect it gives for a journal box. I now have it on my scrap table so I use it more often.

Some other great news I purchased the Super Food Ideas bumper Christmas issue a few weeks ago and loved it from start to finish, I was so inspired and all the recipes just seem so yummy without huge amounts of time having to be put into them which is great as I want the kidlets to cook Christmas goodies with me this year. The girls already created their Star wreaths out of the book which I will get a pic of and share. Then I fell in love with the table setting with the funky christmas fabric that was used. I searched town for some of this fabric but the local store has only got in some Christmas fabric that they brought off the ark. It was just gross, so I came home very deflated after the mag had me inspired so much. I then sent an email to Super Food firstly thanking them for such a great issue and then asking then where I could get the fabric as I couldn't narrow it down from the stockists list. They emailed me back with all the details and I have since ordered and received this gorgeous fabric below, so now I just have to get sewing to create our Christmas decor.

I was so excited to receive this gorgeous bundle of fabric, isn't it yummy. But the best news of all, Today I get an email from Natalie at Super Food Ideas to say they had read my email again and decided to include it in Feb issue and asked for my address so they could send my prize. WOO HOO I don't know what is coming yet but how FABBO to take a little time out to Thank people for inspiration and be rewarded with a prize. That is just so rare for me to win something, I am over the moon.

On the not so fun front I have been sick for a fortnight with a chest cold and now my tonsils are infected and then my back went out on Monday so I have been walking like a bent crane for the week, I am just finding I can straighten up today. This mixed with a Prayer and morning tea with Keelan's class on Tuesday and a morning of events that threw everything at me to stop me going but I was going hell or high water and it has been a week I would rather get over and not have again. I just hate being sick and yesterday afternoon I just collapsed on the lounge and had to let Zay do his own thing which he did in fine form, the things I found later, torches left on around the house and then he cut his hair with Tim's clippers, came and gave me a cuddle and left ringlets on my shoulder, oh those beautiful curls. When I questioned him about it he said "Dad cut his hair Mum". Oh boy this child has all the answers. I am feeling the best today that I have felt all week, I just hope this is the end of feeling like utter mud for a long time. I just feel like I could sleep for a week though, the kidlets knowing I was feeling crappy took advantage of being total bickering pains, no nurturing for this Mum, they just pay out on me double time as they know the last thing I feel like doing is carrying out law and order. I am looking forward to a visit from Mum for a few days next week and then she is taking Zay home with her so I can get some Christmas shopping done and the rest of the school events finished without dragging Zay to them all.
Take care
Trace.

Weekends fly by.

Hi
It was nice having Tim home for a full weekend, not that much on the list got achieved like we hoped, we had a merry chase to find the poll booths, then had to go on a milk run to drop off things and pick things up so by the time we got home it was goodbye to Saturday morning. We had BBQ Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, kidlets loved it and apart from cooking it Friday night I got the other 2 nights off, gotta love that. Salads go down well in this house and fruit platters so that is easy peasy.

Sunday was Surf club and Trin had the best time again, she gets worn out but she just has so much fun, Keelan was with us this week and he is doing better each time, I am just happy they participate and enjoy it, I am not so hung up on them being the front runners. We stayed for the sausage sizzle then Keelan and my girlfriends kids went on the big slide for an hour so then Trin and Rainee went back down the beach and swam. Zay is not too keen on the water, I think the salt stings his legs, he has sensitive skin so this time he stuck close to me or Karina's Son, Rory no Forrest Gump issues this week.

We got home and then went crazy getting stuff done, got out in my garden for a bit in the late arvo while Tim was finishing off the car cleaning. The beauty about the kidlets getting older is that we can make the most of the longer summer nights by eating later and getting more things done, the kids love playing outside a lot longer so I make the most of that, last year Zay was needing tea at 6pm and bed at 7.30pm so we all had earlier days and then the girls couldnt get to sleep at 7.30pm so we are now eating an hour or so later and I bath them later also works out heaps better. Well that is about it really nothing too exciting happening which is nice for a change, next week will be a different story with all the school things going on so I will enjoy this little reprieve before it ends.
Take care
Trace.

Do kidlets always show the faultlines in your Family???

Hi
Yesterday I had Keelan home, feeling dizzy and unwell, so I took the girls to school and he looked after Zay for me, when I got home as they knew I was fairly frazzled and under the pump getting Trin motivated for school, they had done the dishes for me and cleaned up the kitchen, what sweeties they are. I then had time to jump on the treadmill and then got stuck into my bathrooms while Zay was being Keelan's little shadow, it was lovely to hear them talking and having Brother time without the sometimes pesky Sisters. I am sure Keelan probably would have been fine for school but sometimes a day home with Mum is just good for the soul, I know I loved pulling sickies and being with Mum.

I went to pick up the Girls in the arvo and Trin's teacher wanted a chat, I just had a sense that things with Trin at school were starting to falter and sure enough she is being a brat, testing her teacher for the wrong kind of attention, of course the question was asked "Is anything different going on at home with Trin ATM as she is acting up at school and for the last fortnight has been not herself". So I then go over everything in my head lately and how much trouble she has been in at home at times mainly for lack of motivation and being asked things 10 times before an answer and yes I am pretty tuckered out trying to get them to bed at all with daylight savings as they will still be having a party at 9pm if they aren't told to go to sleep 20,000 times a night. Hence I have little time and patience to feel I am touching base with her at night before bed, the longer cuddles and kisses and I love you's have become a quick peck, quick cuddle and night GO TO SLEEP. But they have still had their story most nights however it seems no little flinch in routine and lack of love is acceptable to Trin and she is my constant reminder that when important things are loosing priority that she will get it back on track even if it means I am marched to the teacher to be questioned about the monster emerging from Trin.

So this morning I was in no hurry to get any to school, Trin had coughed and dreamt and had a bad night so I had already thought to keep her home and try and get into her head and see what is going on but Keelan woke me with "are you getting up today it's 7.50am and I am going to school" so up I bolt and command orders at everyone and get this house cracking. Keelan made school on time and home we came and the girls packed up their usual goodies and headed outside but come mid morning the signs of the not so good Trin were appearing and she was sent to the naughty chair which she did not do and next thing I hear the stereo blasting and Rainee flies outside with her hands at her ears crying Trin is killing my ears. So I down the volume and look for the culprit who is hiding in her room, march her to the naughty chair and then I start trying to get to bottom of this stuff going on with her. For once the other 2 left me alone and I had the perfect opportunity to get it all sorted out with her and get this Kim her reason is she is missing her Zoe????? So I told her maybe in the Christmas holidays they may be able to see each other. But I know that it is a bucket load of other stuff, end of year tiredness, missing Tim, missing Nana and Grandad and having grumpy Mum as her main carer who is extremely busy, tired and not in a fun place herself ATM. So I guess she is the fault line in our Family and she just shows it all like it is and expresses it the only way she knows how. After our big talk and hug, I sat them all down at the table and got them drawing, Trin is great at drawing and it is a great creative outlet for her but lately she has not even been doing that, so I sharpened pencils and withdrew the urge to hang out washing and just gave my kidlets time and talk and love and reassurance and they are so much better for it all tonight and Trin has had a huge catch up with Nana and Grandad on the phone tonight as she truly loves and misses them and do you know this has been my wake up to get my head out of my rubbish and to start looking at the little people around me more and give them some time on the forefront, I always speak to Mum and the kidlets hardly do so for weeks she has pinned for her Nana and yet a simple phone call could make her feel that connection is still there so as of tonight, every Thursday in this house is Grandparents phone call night and it is purely for the 4 kidlets to speak to Nana and Grandad.

Wow this has been a long post, I really want this to remind me how on track I need to keep things for the Family though. Thanks for reading if you made it this far.
Take care
Trace.

Update on life on the home front.

Hi
The weekend flew by with Tim working on Saturday it really did not feel like much of a weekend to tell you the truth, the kidlets played with each other most of Saturday, they love getting in the backyard and builidng cubbies and boats out of the play kitchen and cubby and climbing equipment, the 3 little ones pretty much had fun most of the day with their little games so that was great. Tim got home late in the arvo and he and Zay went off to do a few things so the Girls made their star christmas wreaths, they turned out so lovely, simple but really nice. I am yet to get a pic of them with their creations and then I will show you. Then they saw my Christmas tree I was working on later and wanted to make one so I traced it and they cut and painted them. Zay also wanted to make one so I cut him out a little cardboard one and he painted it.

I got to finish my Christmas tree project late Saturday night and will share that at the start of December, for once it turned out just as I imagined I wanted it. That would be nearly a first for me. LOL.

This week has been hectic, Monday morning I had the Accountants appt, handing over our stuff to a new one and updating him on it all, Zay was great the whole time I was sorting that out. This morning I had to have Keelan and Trin to the school dentist at 9am, Keelan has a clean bill, Trin on the other hand needs at least 4 fillings, not such a good report with her, she has a bad habit of putting toothpaste on and then wiping it off, she hates the taste of it but in doing that she is not getting enough fluoride on her teeth to harden them up hence the eruptions. She was very compliant but so that is huge considering last year we had to get her knocked out nearly to get a filling done. She seems to be over her fear and more confident about it, so she is back to have whatever she will let them do in a fortnight.

Tomorrow I don't have anything but home booked in so I will be getting stuck into cleaning up and then hope to spend sometime scrapping later on. That is about it for now, busy but boring.
Take care and have a great hump day tomorrow.
Trace.

Beautiful heart.

Hi,
This gorgeous child has the most beautiful heart and soul, I have to share a story that really melted me inside and out. Last night while having tea with the kidlets, Keelan got onto the subject of how he doesn't really belong in our Family, it usually comes up lately when he is getting close to a weekend visit with his Father hence this weekend, anyway it usually starts with him stating he is not a full Brother to the other kidlets etc. No amount of me telling him how he is equal in our household etc works so last night I asked Trin out of the blue " Are these your Brothers or is one your Brother more than the other?" to which she replied "They are both my Brother's equally and I love them both the same and Keelan you should not say you are not my Brother like Zaylan as we don't talk like that in this house, you are both exactly the same to me". Keelan then said a bit taken back" but I am your Step Brother not your real Brother like Zaylan is." But Trin came straight back at him with her little waving the finger attitude " No Keelan stop that is not true we don't think you are any different to us and we love you just the same so don't say that to us, you are our Brother and always will be". Keelan just swelled with pride after that and I just thanked her for being such a gorgeous Sister. What a little Angel, normally it would have ended in tears with Keelan refusing to believe me but I think about it all now and realise that all he has ever needed is for Trinity to say this to him so he doesn't feel different, she spoke from her heart last night and he really took that on board.

Trinity just amazes me all the times you would not think she is paying attention but she is heart and soul, I think I will have to ask her for her opinion a lot more in future when Family discussions arise!!!

I have been busy creating a christmas decoration so when finished I will share, it will take a while as I have to allow each stage to dry. I hope to spend time tomorrow making some other christmas decorations with the kidlets. Tim is working so I will keep them busy creating with me. Sunday will be busy again with surf club and picking up Keelan in the afternoon and that will be our weekend pretty much over.
Take care
Trace.

YAY I scrapped.

Hi
Today I finally allowed myself some day time to scrap and it was great. I have felt really flat lately about giving so much time to everything else around here and not achieving anything for me so I am turning over a new leaf and giving me so time out of my day. I now load the dishwasher in the morning and clean the kitchen, get the kids to school and come home and spend 30 mins on my treadmill, it is really hard as something always happens to try and make me get off but I am fighting the demons and just getting that 30 mins in for me, I hope to increase it as the weeks go by and then I get off and jump into my housework while I am pumped and then hopefully on a good day I will get time to scrap. Today while I was on the treadmill Zay got the bar stool and headed off but I thought I am not getting off I will deal with it later, he got into my handbag and put my cards into his wallet, it could have been worse but while I was wild about knowing he was doing something wrong I pounded it out on the treadmill all that sweating has to be good for me right???

The layout above I did Sunday night, I do like the effect of cutting the photo around the people especially when the layout is about that subject.

This is the layout I completed today, I crocheted these ages ago and finally used them today, it was great to do something totally different and not use any P.P. I love how the lettering stamped up, I have ordered as many colours as I could get in the versafine stamp pads, I love the clear image that the ink gives you. My favourite stamping inks right now. Can't wait to get the other colours to play with more.

This is what Zay did while I scrapped, I gave him the wipes and told him to clean his cars and next time I looked they were all wrapped up like this. LOL. At least he was happy near me and I could scrap without that thought of what is he doing it is all quiet. I put FM on and he likes listening to the music and having a chat now and then. I am really trying to get him to spend quiet time with me as next year I will be studying so I need to have him patterned a little. If you get the right thing he will occupy himself for ages but it usually has to be something really different that captures him, like wrapping each car individually and concentrating on trying to cover them up completely.

So don't be shy, leave a comment about what you think of the layouts, I would love some comments good or bad. Hope you are having a happy Wednesday.
Take care
Trace.

Wow feelin this heat!!

Hi,
The weekend did improve after the skate on the floor, Sunday we took the kids to try out the local surf life saving club and see if they liked it, Rainee got cold feet so we left her out of it and Keelan tried to back out last minute until his mates came up and took him under their wing then he was off and into it. Trin had a wonderful time, she loves anything connected to water so she was in her element. We spent from 9am till 1.20pm at the beach, after surf lifesaving they have a sausage sizzle and drink and then we walked to the jetty with the kids and my girlfriend and her kids and let them have a good swim and we paddled and cooled off.

The sun was roaring hot by the time we went to leave and then we realised how hot it was when Tim put the temp on in the car. We came home and did some cleaning up then all sat back for a relax for a while. The kids just loved it and are so excited about going next week, it has a real family atmosphere with lots of parents helping and Tim and I enjoyed it as much as the kids, Rainee is planning on doing it this week so we will see, the great thing is they all have school friends there doing it also.

I have nicknamed Zay, he is now Forrest Gump, he was great most of Sunday while the kids were in their classes but as soon as it was winding up he went on a running frenzy trying to look for Keelan who he calls "My mate", I started off really confused about what he was doing as I could not understand his mumble in his panic but his little legs took off and next minute he is running out the big jetty and I thought OMG this whale is going to have to sprint after this child or he is gone out the end of the jetty but thankfully he stopped and looked over the side and then turned around and run back past me and started heading in the other direction, not stopping to tell me who he was looking for, so I was fast pacing it back the other way after him, trying to stop him again till I got close enough to yell his Dad was down at the water but then he mumbled something about ""my mates gone" so then I had to tell him he was still in class, he was freaking out that Keelan had left him. Now if I was an onlooker I would have been wetting my pants watching this toddler out run his very unfit Mother going from 1 direction to another before she knew what was happening. So Forrest pretty much kept up his little running business for the rest of the day. LOL.

I did create a LO last night, yippee will share tomorrow as I have promised Rainee some more scrap time tomorrow. Housework will have to wait.
Take care
Trace.

Rainee is out to get me!!!!!

Hi,
This week I have had a shocker, not the best Monday with a migraine on left side of head followed by waking on Tuesday early hours with migraine on right side of head. Hay fever is absolutely shocking so I have had a head that felt like it was a leaking tap. Came good for Wednesday so I went mad trying to catch up on house work and other things.

Thursday went shopping with Rainee and Zay and needed 2 trolleys as I have been trying to empty the cupboards before I re-stocked so I needed Rainee to push 1 of the trolley's, big ask I know but I was just not up for doing 2 shops and with Rainee hassling for the toilet and Zaylan wanting everything he laid his eyes on I was definitely not going back for round 2 so Rainee pushing the other trolley was the only option. All went well until she had meltdown as I gave her the 1 that wanted to steer all over the joint, so after tears and swapping trolley and the old boot camp speech "cmon girl, get it moving, you'll be right" kind of stuff she was back to pushing it. We stopped at the butchers and then it was out the door struggling with a toddler flying out the door and across the crosswalk and me commanding at him when all of a sudden I got the biggest smash into my ankle from Rainee and as I was just walking I skun the back of my heel up the front of her trolley, I reacted quick with "ouch" out loud but in my head I let out the unrepeatable but just had to keep trying to get Zaylan under control and then turned around to see Rainee crying and struggling to push the trolley. Poor thing but I really was in pain and just wanted to get to the car and collapse in a heap. I have a big bruise on my heel and it has been sore for days but I have just had to get on with things regardless as if I don't keep up with things here then no one does.

So Today I am going about the house work and Rainee was walking around earlier with a cup of water and I told her for the millionth time to stay at the bench with the water. I folded and sorted washing then went with arms fully loaded to take them to the girls room when slip and down I came washing and all. Straight down onto tiles and pounded my knee with my full weight into the tiles and hurt my ankle also. So I just sat and cryed and cryed and had major meltdown about how many times I repeat myself and no-one listens. Of course Rainee just watched which was just as well she stayed clear of me and Trin came to my rescue as my nurse giving her Sister what for about the whole scenario.

Tim came in from shopping about 15 mins later and took 1 look at me and asked what had happened. He got me ice and a cuppa so I rested for a while but I can walk thank goodness so I retaliated to my scrap room this arvo and everyone has left me alone pretty much, knowing I am not such a happy camper.

Don't you just wonder some days why you get out of bed??????????????????????????????
Anyway I hope for a better week this week and that the curse of hurting the Mother cat of this house is lifted!!! LOL. I am off to watch Knocked up now with Tim now if it was called knocked about I could totally relate to it. We are taking the kidlets to surf lifesaving tomorrow to see if they like it and if they do they can join. But I will be keeping a safe distance from any activity Rainee is involved in for fear she has not finished punishing her Mother yet. LOL. Hope you are having a great weekend. Hope to have some layouts created tomorrow arvo, it has been a long time between layouts!!
Take care
Trace.

Where does time go??

Hi
So much has been going on lately that I don't feel like my body is connected to my Head anymore. Some days I really need a part of me somewhere and the other somewhere else which is impossible but that is how it all feels.

Last week flew by with me catching up on stuff around here, nothing interesting just stuff as we all have "stuff" to do when a Mum!!

I am getting ace at cooking multiple things, you know the 2nd batch of muffins for school sports coming out the oven as tea is going in and then running off to bath the odd child in between. LOL.
Thursday I shopped and cooked for sports day and Friday morning early we headed off for school sports with 4 packed lunches and rug and pull ups and wipes in case of toilet training accident which there is every day so it is all not going to plan, anyway we get to school find a spot at the start line and get settled. Keelan came 2nd in his race but he was not A division but he ran his heart out and did well and he was so pleased to have us urge him on. Then Trin's class came out and did their events, she came 3rd but they just get a participation sticker for Pre primary but she had so much fun, running as fast as she could and not looking at anyone else. I have a great pic of her while she waited for her event, she was so excited.

I had a great morning and then had to leave at 12.20pm to come home and let my in laws in and get ready for stamp camp. I ended up getting there at about 5pm and unpacked and made my bed and then got stuck into a book I am making for my SIL for her Birthday in December. I pretty much worked on that all weekend in between classes and card making. It was a fun weekend, I had the best time and the company was fantastic, many laughs and great discussions and great to catch up with Melissa again although sitting so far apart meant we didn't get that much nattering in but we made up for it in creations that is for sure, not a lot of time for too much chatting. I came home feeling very refreshed and inspired.

We had a Kirby demo on Sunday 6pm and got the scrap room carpet cleaned, very impressed with that machine but just can't afford anything like that right now. I have a nice clean scrap room again now ready for it to be messed up with the next project. Pretty poor scrapping production happening ATM, I want to get this book finished and then I can get some layouts done.

I had Trin home yesterday as she had a bad night with sore throat but we had uniform trying on for her after school so we now have 2 uniforms for Year 1 next year. I really can't believe she is out in big school but she is looking forward to it and I think she will love learning at a different level. Rainee can't wait to be at school everyday. Zay on the other hand thinks he is lining up for it all too but he will be 1 sad child next year home alone with me full time. I have been accepted into College myself next year so I will start 3 years of study online which I am looking forward to but also scared in some ways, you kind of wonder how the brain will take having to study again. I am sure it will all be fun but I will have to have a time management plan.

The kidlets have been very messy of late with promises to clean up but they don't so I think on the weekend we will be going back to an even more basic toy choice as I don't have time to be forever cleaning up their next mess, I hope with only a few choices they will be not be able to make such a big mess in every room. I don't have any time with them these days for nagging and cleaning so I am sure it should make a difference. They have certainly paid out on me for going away these last few days so I hope tomorrow with just Zay and I home to get lots done but also to fit in some scrapping for me. Well I better get some sleep or I will be next to useless tomorrow.
Have a good hump day.
Trace.

Totally worn out ATM.

Hi

I am feeling my age ATM and probably beyond that. I am one worn out Mumma, my kidlets are paying out on me big time to the max, I think they have realised Dad is hardly home so lets tip this old girl over the edge, between a 3 year old with the attitude of a teenager and a 6 year old who thinks it fun to lie or stretch the truth so much it flicks back and hits her in the butt. An 11 year old who has his moments and thinks at times he is married to me the way he questions things I do and a 5 year old who looks all perfect on the surface until you blow some dust off to reveal the real persona underneath. Oh fun, oh joy.

Tim came home at the right time tonight, the second mishap Zay had in about 2 hours of trying to clean himself up after a number 2 accident but it manages to get wiped everywhere and I mean everywhere, of course 2 sisters running around pretending to throw up does wonders for him to make a show out of it all. The first time I cleaned him up and put him in the bath but of course Rainee would not bath with him even though I had cleaned him up. The second time he went to my ensuite and left a scene of destruction in there which I sent Tim in to deal with as I was in the middle of other things but I still got the cleaning job, it is just great cleaning up your house a million times over in a day.

How is Daylight saving going for everyone else??? They wont settle for a good hour after being put to bed, they just play barbies and yell out Mum and Dad every 5 mins. Then we are late for school as I can't get them moving in the morning, what fun it has been this week. I have decided that for my mental wellbeing I am going to stamp camp on the weekend and then I might just might make it through till the end of term!!! I have been so super organised on the home front in many other ways even cooking some of the best teas we have had for a long time but it is just getting the kidlets to help and stop working against me that I am finding the hardest to get a solution for.

I guess tomorrow is another day if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can make life easier with the kidlets please leave me a comment, I am fresh out of ideas at this stage other then giving a few away. LOL.
Well I better get to bed or I will not have the nice Mummy skills on my side tomorrow.
Take care
Trace.

I am in love..........

Hi,
Meet Marcus Michael, a little Angel sent from God, he is truly a gorgeous little Babe, 5 days old or should I say young and between Trin, Tim and I not too many got a look in on holding him, he has such a beautiful energy about him and he has made us both so clucky, just as well we have no say in going again or we could be in trouble. LOL. I wished I lived closer but I would wear out my welcome visiting this little fellow for snuggles.

Congrats again Brad and Kim on a divine new addition, we so wanted to bring him home. You have an amazing little family with all the different characters your Children have, Dakota sure is going to be an entertainer and hope you get rest Kim. (ha you are a Mother what is rest LOL.) But hope it all goes smooth now you are home.

Wow life is flying by at 110km an hour ATM and I dont think that will change anytime soon, it was great to have Tim around for 2 days but we have been flat out, we partied last night at friends for their Son's Birthday and I caught up with my Girlfriends Mum who I have not seen for years so that was great. We came home, put the kidlets to bed and then before we knew it we had to wake them this morning for our trip to Perth. We then had to be back to pick up Keelan around 5pm and we lost time as we forgot @#&**@# daylight savings so all of a sudden we realised 2.30pm was actually 3.30pm so mad scramble to the car and off we went. Talk about time warping, so we got home with grumpy, loud, screaming kids and Keelan having meltdown as he had a peaceful weekend with his Dad and then he comes home to madness and the last half hour home in the car was madness also.

Tonight they just wont settle to bed and that is not because it is light but I just think the body clocks are out of wack again. We have had a great day and a yummy lunch made by Mum and Dad, a couple of wines and time to chat and admire Marcus and bed will be heaven when this bod finally gets there as I am now catching up on washing and folding as you do when you have been in and out all weekend. Hope the week slows down a little as I need to catch a breathe before I go away next weekend, I have been umming and arring about going with Tim's job change but I think I will end up going to Stamp Camp, my last retreat for a very long time.

Have a great week
Take care
Trace.

Wonderful weekend creations.

Hi
This is a collage of all the wonderful work we did on the weekend. Getting it all out today I am just in awe with how much we learnt and how awesome they have all turned out, Maxine and Audrey have got talent beyond talent. I am so hooked and busting to create right now that I think it will have to be my priority today. LOL. It was great to make things from scratch to have your own unique creation at the end and guaranteed no ones turned out the same. Painting is such a fun thing to do and we really were pushed for time to achieve everything we did but now I have so many skills to apply to my layouts and other canvas ideas, these girls just make something amazing out of nothing really, they have shown me that a big scrap budget is not necessary and how to build a page using your own created embellishments. I now know how to get so much more use out of my cuttlebug and I think anyone without one will be getting one at the first opportunity after seeing just how amazing they really are.

I was not so happy with my SHE layout but that was because I rushed it and was so tired but I was determined to finish it before bed Saturday night or should I say Sunday morning but I was still pleased to finish it.

I love this canvas it will have pride of place in my house for a very long time.

This is a card I created with my leftovers from the layout. It was a competition to use your brilliance card saying and create a card but I did not finish mine on time but that's cool as I love the card. I only have to finish my techniques book now and then it is all done. I am needing to unpack my stuff now and then get creating again.

Mum and I stopped at Kareena's new shop in Margaret River, The Scrappy Cow on Friday and WOW she has a great shop there it was hard to stop spending as every time we turned around we spied another got to have item. If you are ever down this way call in it is worth a look, Kareena has some very inspirational work up also.

I am so exhausted this week I could sleep for a week, I sat down for a coffee this morning and was nodding off. OMG what's with that, I think everything is catching up with me, the Kidlets are missing Tim and not liking his long hours but Tim and I spoke about it last night and we will all adjust but we are all feeling a bit out of whack with it all. My days fly by without Tim around and having tea at night without him feels really alien to us all. The sacrifices we have to make for money hey, they are huge. I guess we will all treasure every second weekend when we have him home for the full weekend.

Well I best be off to do some more sorting out, if you get the chance do yourself a favour and do a workshop with Maxine and Audrey, you will not be disappointed they are just the most gorgeous pair of Ladies and they ooze talent.
Take care
Trace.

YAY I am an Aunty again.

Hi,
We are all doing the happy dance in this house for my Brother Brad and his wife Kim as this morning they became parents for the 3rd time with their first SON!!! Sooo happy for you both, I would love to have seen Brad's face, he has been so patient for this Son. Marcus Michael was 10lb wow he beats any of the other cousins so far for size but healthy and doing well.
Congrats guys can't wait for cuddles on Sunday. Trin was chanting the big Yes when I told her.

I am still trying to get everything sorted out on the home front since I was away for the weekend, it was a great weekend, learnt absolutely heaps from Maxine and Audrey and feel really inspired now to get creating with the techniques. Hurt my hip on Sunday as we were getting organised to leave but it is a lot better Today thank goodness, I did go into a bit of a panic when it happened as Tim's new job is long hours, he leaves home 5.50am and gets back home at 7pm so I was really stressed initially about being out of action but thankfully it's all good today.

We had a huge mind blowing learning experience and it was full on with the classes, lots of painting and using some great products, the talent of Maxine and Audrey is just amazing and they are great first aid givers too. Thankyou for the support on Sunday. All the Ladies were just lovely and they made the weekend by being so much fun.

Well better go and get things organised, time is so short with Tim not home very much, it is going to take me a lot of adjustment to get into the swing of it all.
Take care
Trace.

Finally some layouts

Hi
These layouts are my latest but its a dull old day here today so they have not come up the brightest in the photos but they are lovely and bright IRL.

I had fun playing with these papers and embellishments by Elsie, at first I was not too sure how I was going to put them together but once I started it all fell into place, the bottom 2 are a double layout. I got the crayons out and went to town to match the papers it was so much fun, little girls never grow up I have discovered and the girls just couldn't get their hands on my pack of crayons quick enough when they saw what I was doing. The most truly wonderful thing about scrapbooking is having your little girls come and join you and create, these are the most precious times for me!!

My house has been bleached from top to toe today and my sense of smell is just coming back. LOL. but just to touch door knobs and cupboards and feel them non slip again is just too good, the old obsessive compulsive disorder has been out in full swing today but hey I just can't live without clean. LOL.

I have to get organised this arvo for boxx retreat, so looking forward to it now, just have to decide which ton of stuff is coming and who is staying, always the hard part as I don't even have my pics or layout ideas on the ready, will have to go and get started on that now. Have a great weekend all and I hope to be back with lots of work completed next week and a hubby who survived 4 kidlets in my absence.

Take care
Trace.

oops missed these pics from last post.

Happy 5th Birthday Rainee!!!

Hi
It was Rainee's Birthday yesterday but with so much going on lately I am a day late getting it on my blog. Rainee had a great 2 day Birthday celebration and even asked me this morning if it was her Birthday again Today. We had Mum, Dad and they brought Mikayla with them, Jamie, Rebecca and kids on Sunday, so that made 6 adults and 8 kids for lunch, Jamie and his family arrived Friday night, it was great to catch up with them again and I hope Jamie feels a little better for a break after his trauma lately. He still has lots of bruises and sore spots and a whopper shinner on his eye. Trin was a little upset at first when she saw Jamie and couldnt understand why his eye was so bruised but after some explanation she realised he was still Uncle Jamie and he was Okay.

I am so exhausted from the school holidays, we just had the busiest time really going flat out cleaning up in amongst being here there and everywhere, it was a relief in a way to take 2 to school this morning and get some sort of routine happening again. Tim got short listed for a job interview on Friday and then got the job straight away so spent yesterday having training at the mine site and then today and tomorrow with more training learning about the company and then he goes out to the site to work on the bulldozer to see how he goes but this is looking like it will be the perfect job and he is over the moon already about the feel of the place and the attitude the company has towards staff as well as some great guys he has already met. He walked in buzzing yesterday and the scope for his pay is only up so it finally feels like 3rd time lucky he has got something he will be happy doing.

Well I better go and get some more things done, I have a short week this week with the retreat on Friday so I hope to get back here and update a little more daily and share my 3 layouts done recently.

Take care and enjoy getting back into the swing of things.
Trace.

More on my spring revamp.

Hi
I would love to say I had newly painted walls and new carpets but you just can't have it all so the next best thing for me was to change my linen, I loved sleeping in white when we stayed at the retreat and being in luxury linen is certainly worth every cent but the best part is I got the 1000 thread sheets set from spotlight with $170 off the price and then the throw got reduced as the lady only had this one on the display bed, that was from another shop and then Target had these cushions out half price so I have been very lucky with my revamp to save heaps.

Meet our gorgeous baby that finally came out to bloom, I love orchids they have been a favourite of mine alongside roses for many years. When I was about 11 I had to get my appendix out and the first thing I woke up to was Mum with a Cylinder of Orchids in different colours. I was addicted to their beauty immediately and just adore them really they just scream perfection. The other bud is coming out now so I will share a pic when they are both in bloom.

We picked up Keelan yesterday and now have an adjustment for us all to get used to each other again, he is getting a bit frustrated by the smothering from Trin, Rainee and Zay and it has caused a few flare ups today but hopefully with Jamie, Rebecca and the kids coming tomorrow it will settle it all down. Tim also has another job interview tomorrow so I have everything crossed, the other mob still have him hanging on a string so he is trying to get something else.

Jamie is doing better although he is getting bad headaches which he was told to expect from the head trauma he received and no news yet of them getting the culprits.

I scrapped today, a double layout at that, I can't believe it, I really have not had too much mojo lately but it is back which is great as I have the boxx retreat next week so I really want to get lots done. I have had a lot of misplacing things lately which frustrates the heck out of me spending so much time searching not to mention doing your head in about where you put it. I finally found the couple of missing items today thank goodness I wish that was to be the last of it but I know it wont be, I usually fly in the door from being somewhere giving everyone commands and directions for things and place things away saying to myself "Now just you remember where you are poking this woman" but alas when I go to get it a few days later it's durrrr where did I put that. OMG I lost valuable scrapping time today searching for some new papers. That is just not on. LOL.

I have heaps on over the next week, between visitors, Birthday for Rainee, kidlets going back to school next Tuesday and then I will be flat out trying to get organised for going away to the retreat next weekend. I guess I won't be bored anytime soon. LOL.
Take care
Trace.

Update on Jamie.

Hi
I think we are all still pretty numb from yesterday's chain of events but I had a good talk to Mum this morning after Jamie had returned from the Dr. and his lump on the back of his head is now 5cm instead of 10cm. That is really hard to imagine having an egg that size but Mum was present when the Head Scan was done and that is what it measured. The technician was explaining it all to Mum and said he is so extremely lucky to be alive after the beating he has endured.

Mum said Jamie is pretty sore and stiff today but was also back giving more statements to the police and my Dad was helping out where he could. A security company was coming this afternoon to put a whole new up to date system in and they are going to get a big Dog to be at the shop all the time and when Jamie is working at night by himself the dog will be with him. Dad will build a pen for it during the day to be in.

Rebecca is taking him away for a week or so but they are waiting until they feel he is not so scary for the kids to see him. Being 4, 3 and 1 in age they are too young to understand. They hope to get down here also for Rainee's Birthday next Monday so that will be really wonderful if they make it, I just want to grab him and hug him so hard right now.

Mum and Dad are pretty shaken up but holding it together more worried about Jamie as he is keeping everything inside which is so Jamie, in crisis he goes into major lock down but they have organised Counselling for him too. I just commend everyone concerned up there with how much they are going into action about it all and even the town is in deep shock and they all feel a lot less secure now so it has rocked many people.

I guess the fact that they stated "let's get a knife and finish the ---- off". is really what we are all reeling from as he really did escape with his life.

Mum told me an amazing story Rebecca told her today and it just shows how much our children can be so closely connected with us.
Jamie and Rebecca spoke to each other at 8pm and then she turned off her mobile as she thought the most important phone call of the night had been made.

Ayla their eldest Daughter who is so much like Jamie's double in many ways usually goes to bed and that is where she stays till morning but on Sunday night around 8.30pm when the attack started she woke up, hopped out of bed and came to Rebecca and said "Mum I really need a big cuddle."
So Rebecca gave her one and put her back to bed but then she came back out again not long after and said "Mum I feel I need a really big cuddle again". Rebecca thought this was really weird and so not like her. When she put it all together the next day it was all the time of the attack. Is she connected to her Father or what???

On the home front Tim's job is delayed but if it is for too much longer I think he will be back looking for another one before he starts this one. Mind you it has been a blessing having him around the past few days with all this going on. I really have needed to feel him around and to talk to.

I need to catch up on news of Kim my SIL also and see how her late pregnancy complications are going also, we may just have a new Baby in the Family next week.
Oh it never rains but poors, certainly been a hectic school holidays with everything going on, I pick Keelan up tomorrow so it will be great to see him again. I am missing him like crazy.
Well enjoy your last few days of holidays.
Take care
Trace. P.S. Thankyou for your comments Ladies, it means a lot that you care.

A Day of worry and anger!!!

Hi
I had another positive post planned for today and had my photos ready and all but a phone call this morning has seen my day spent with so such a feeling of mixed emotions that I will save it all for another Day.

It started this morning with my Mum ringing on her mobile saying her and Dad were on their way up to my younger Brother who had his shop broken into last night while he was there and they had beaten him up pretty bad but they would ring once they arrived and let me know what the situation was.

I pretty much went into a daze for the next few hours but buzzed around on overdrive trying to keep myself busy so as not to meltdown whilst having a million scenarios rushing to my head about Jamie's well being.

Lunchtime Mum rang to say he was a mess and lucky to be here as they had really done a job on him and he was very vague so they really didn't know whether he had been knocked out or what but the detectives where their interviewing him then Mum and Dad were driving over an hour to get him to hospital for tests. I could tell from Mum's voice as she talked about him she was shocked and so upset at the sight of him, apparently he has been worked over pretty well by these offenders. His Wife was down South with her family and was leaving the 3 Children there and going back to Jamie A.S.A.P.

Mum rang this arvo from the hospital to say the Head scans were normal and although he was extremely bruised and lots of soft tissue damage from basically head to toe he was allowed home and Mum will keep an eye on him seeing as she is a Nurse.

I spoke to Jamie tonight and it seems his memory is coming back to him more as the day has progressed and he told me that about 8.30pm last night he was still at work which is normal for him he works all hours but he had just finished mopping the floors and had the back door open when he heard a noise and was then met with 3 people inside the shop but before he could react was king hit by 1 to the head and went down to the ground they then got stuck into him with trowels and other things they could get their hands on. He then stayed on the ground while 2 stood over him and the others kicked him everytime they walked over him to get out the door with Alcohol and cigarettes, a car then turned up out the front so they opened the front door of the shop and started taking stuff out that way there was now 5 of them, he now had only 1 keeping him down as the other started loading stuff and they had made it clear to him they had not finished with him and that they would kill him, he tried to get a look at their faces but got kicked each time he tried. The 1 that had been keeping him on the ground moved away for a moment so Jamie seized the moment and got up and bolted to the next door neighbours and they rang the police. He said he knew if he didn't get out of their they were going to kill him as 1 made mention of finding a knife to finish him off.

Jamie is so lucky to be alive, he said that even a small country town was no longer safe and that his security will all have to be updated big time with him working at the shop all hours. Still with his humour he said 5 was a bit too many to take on. So not the best day news wise although he is still with us and thankfully home with nothing ruptured or broken and he obviously escaped at the right time to be here with us today.

I hardly see Jamie these days as we are living so far away from each other but this Christmas when we finally get to see each other again will be so special as I have realised how fragile life really is. I am so happy he escaped with his life but so angry that to the theives his life meant absolutely nothing to them that they could have left 3 little children who adore their Father so much without him and Rebecca without a Husband. I hope the finger prints lead to an arrest and the asault and battery charges get laid to these thugs, what I feel for these mongrels just can't be described.

Take care
Trace.

Our not so quiet school holidays.

Hi
These pics are my new little additions to my kitchen and dining, I really hate having a plastic cover on our lovely dining table but it just gives it that bit more protection from the kids and my craft days. The owl and little lantern now have a home in my shelf in the kitchen so I will have to share the pics of them later with their new little additions. I am really loving giving the decor a revamp and although this vase was not cheap, it will be able to be used forever with any different makeover I choose to put in it.

We have had a really busy weekend, almost that kind of dizzy feeling weekend when you really dont know if you are coming or going and mostly everyone is going in different directions. Friday started with an early start to go and meet Mum and Dad for brunch and pick up Trin. I did some more shopping getting my change of season list down to next to nothing now and will have to put the padlock back on the door and stay home!!!!
We got home around 1.30pm then it was unpack and get some order in the house as I had a girlfriend coming for drinks so she arrived about 5pm and we had nibblies and a big bottle of wine which I know I drank most of then her Hubby wanted to come around so Tim went and got him as he was the sober one and we ended up having a light tea and more drinks for me meanwhile I made plans to pick my Girlfriend up Saturday morning and go and do some more shopping and I promised her no children but then I remembered Trin had a Birthday party at 11am so I took Rainee so Tim only had 2 to look after. We got home around 1.50pm as Tim and Zay were heading out the door to pick up Trin so then Rainee and I unloaded the car and then I started revamping my kitchen shelf.

Since my kitchen was renovated I have struggled to find something nice to display in this shelf unit so I think I am finally happy with my outcome although I could do with just one more little vase. LOL.

Whilst shopping Rainee and I bumped into another Kindy Mum and her Daughter so the Mother asked Rainee if she would like to go to a Birthday party this morning at the park. So my sleep in was cut short as I had to get up and get us both organised for that. It was a lovely morning and they were really lovely Mum's and we have decided to try and get together on a regular basis at that park for the kids to play and us to chat. I also met another lady from Holland and we clicked straight away so we want to get together for coffee as well. I came home feeling like I have met some really lovely Ladies who finally have children my kids age which I have really lacked the company of since moving here.

This arvo has been just as hectic with household chores and finishing our bed revamp and lots of other bits and pieces and Tim's folks calling in amongst that.

Tim starts a new job tomorrow so we are going to be back into the work routine for him again. He will be working longer hours now so that is going to change all things around here I guess but lucky we have school holidays for another week so he has time to adjust to earlier mornings and I will have to get used to being up earlier as the kids wont get breakfast in with Dad now.

Well better go and watch Kath and Kim. Have a great night. Sorry for such a scrambled message and for those who drop by and take the time to leave a comment a big Thankyou to you, it makes my day. Mwahhhh.
Take care
Trace.