Happy Birthday Mum.

Happy Birthday Mum, hope you have a great Day. Sorry we can't be there to celebrate it with you.

Seeing as it is Mum's Birthday and Mother's Day in a few Days I would just like to have a bit of a heartfelt chat about Mum. This Special Lady has been the backbone of my life, my ALL is owed to her, never a day goes by without her being in my thoughts and heart no matter how far apart we have lived at times, she has always had an ultimate goal in her life since having Children and that was to love them all equally and give them the best life she could possibly provide for us no matter how much that meant she went without, she is the most generous, heartfelt loving person you would ever hope to meet and welcomes anyone who ever comes to her doorstep and they sure leave her presence all the better for it. I think God had a special role for Mum and that was to be a Nurse, which she has excelled at being wherever she has worked, a nurturer and healer by nature she certainly applies that in her daily life.

To me personally she has been the Sister I never had and my best friend forever, we just have such a close bond that has been with us forever and she has always allowed me to make my mistakes and stood by me, she is the best cook, Nana and Mum I could have ever wished for, I am eternally grateful to God for allowing me to be her Daughter. Mum has devoted herself to her Children since they were born, always supporting the schools we attended, jumping on committees when they needed someone, fundraising for schools, covering books, cooking and making crafts for the school fetes, helping her sick Parents, working Part time and yet she seemed to be there whenever we needed her, I don't know how she did it but she did and to me she excelled at being our Mum and being Dad's wife for 42 years. Living so far away really gets to me at times, I would dearly love to see her daily but she is now having time to enjoy her Card making and patchwork and she has well and truly waited a long time for life to be about her and it means we have a great time together when we do get together.

I hope she feels special today as she sure deserves to it. Love you with all my Heart and Soul Mum.
Take care
Trace.

Weekend retreat layouts.

Hi
Finally getting a chance to put some of my retreat creations up here, the top one I went to camp with this idea in my head and was really happy with how it turned out, great fun putting the house together which I might add I have had since the retreat in October last year I went to, so happy to finally get to use it.

this is a layout that will always remind me in years to come what my kiddos loved to do when it rains, a memory I dont want to forget.

You will remember these pics of the frog, Rainee's little prince charming, LOL. Love it.

This layout has a butterfly which was one of our projects, we had 2 and some made mobiles and hangings but I wanted to add it to this layout, love the colours in this layout and doing all the flowers was fun too.
I have more but will add them next post. This week has been flying by fast, Monday caught up on things, Tuesday morning went to craft for 2 hours, Zay loves the Nana's that look after him, they are just "pure sweetness" and love the interaction with the kids so much, he gets extremely spoilt and I get some scrapping done although I am still working on Mother's Day projects, Today I have been cleaning up and tryed to clean my scrap room but I truly give up, I have way too much stuff and lack of space so I need to get on a mission to be using it up before I even look at anything else. (yeh right). Had Teacher, Parent interview for Keelan after school, Trin's is tomorrow and came home and cooked Cheese and Corn Muffins to go with our Lamb and Barley Soup that I have cooked today for tea and then a friend picked me up for a card making class tonight that I am going to go to every fortnight, great group of friendly Ladies and now I can build up my stash of cards.

Things are changing around here, you know how you feel those shifts take place every so often like when the last one toilet trains and you are not having to change nappies and they get more independent and need a little less of your time, all the kiddos seem to be at a point where I can do more things I enjoy and they are capable of helping Tim when I am not here, I am sad their small years seem to have passed so quick but at the same time I am embracing the feeling of the weight on my back being halved and the chance for me to get out and interact with Adults again, it is a wonderful feeling to sometimes step out of the Family dynamics and just be You for a little while, makes me a better Mum also on the flip side.
So that's it for now, hope you are having a productive week.
Take care
Trace.

Top Time!!

Hi,
Back from Stamp Camp and had the best time ever, created the most layouts at Camp I have ever created, 7 layouts I was on a role and they just kept flowing, they were so fun to do, I painted, glued, stamped and played with many different techniques. So much fun, lots of cuttlebug fun. I will share layouts later when I get pics of them. We did a Kaiser wooden book on Friday night which I still have to finish, I need to decide which way I will go with it, then we had 5 cards which were classes plus a couple of collections projects, owl and 2 butterflies. Then I did another 2 cards yesterday before it was time to leave.

The food was just so yummy, scrummy out of this world, great to meet new faces and catch up with others we have not seen since November and spend the weekend with Mum, so I am feeling over the moon from the whole experience.

Nothing like camp to bring back the mojo, what is great about this camp is getting to experience so many different ladies talents, card makers, mixed media artists, scrappers, everybody comes together with their showcase of talent.

On the home front, Daddy weekend went well, they had a great time, Keelan's team won their first soccer match 7-1, he apparently helped set up 2 of the goals and played fantastic for his first game. He then spent the weekend with his Dad so that left Tim with 3 kiddos, Trin had dancing as usual Saturday and they visited a couple of friends and played at the park and had many bike rides with Dad, Tim now appreciates why the pantry door has a squeek due to being opened on such a regular basis to feed these hungry little bellies, he was running out of options by late yesterday. LOL. I came home to tea cooking, a clean house and all my usual Sunday chores had been done, how wonderful was that!! Well I better go and get some more done, take care,
Trace.

Phew, all peace and quiet restored.

Hi, some random pics of our last few days, whilst cleaning up a heap of compost on Thursday Tim found heaps of frogs and the kiddos were happy to model a few of them, eeewwww. My garden is still producing some lovely roses which I love.

These are the kiddos in the bubble at the park we went to on Friday arvo, they had so much fun we basically came home fed and showered them and put them to bed, all houses should be built with a park. LOL. Zay was just completely zonked, we battled to get tea into him. It shows how much we need parks, the cars in Donnybrook were from far and wide, word has spread about this mega playground and apart from big lack of Toilets they have a great park that is such an enjoyable free thing to take the kiddos to. So the story goes a Gentlemen that passed away donated his money to build this park, what a huge act of kindness to give to the children of your community. It is apparently always busy so lucky it is mega size. We saw Uncle Dick marching in the Anzac Parade on TV, he was proudly marching in Perth parade which he has done for many years, this year he caught the train into Perth which was great for him, so great to see Perth have such great crowds at the ANZAC services. Keelan had a great time talking to Uncle Dick and admiring his medals while we were in Perth, if we lived closer we would have been in the crowd for him as he is thinking this may be his last march at 82 years old. Pretty commendable effort.

This is what happens when you tell Dad your tooth is wobbly and nearly out although the need for tissues may indicate otherwise. Trin has lost her first top tooth and Rainee her second bottom tooth. They look funny without them and the fairy had to do a double pickup that night. LOL.

This is a closer look at Trin's frog who is now set free out in the garden somewhere.
It is nice to have some quiet restored to the house and now I have to loose the few kilos I found over the holidays so getting stuck into more house cleaning etc will be my priority this week, although I did the basics last week I still have plenty I left so I had time for other things. Yesterday was pure hell at times here with the rain and bored kiddos, it seems they will take a little time to adjust to winter weather this year as they so love being outside.
The girls and I cooked Banana cake, muffins, coconut delight and golden syrup pudding yesterday afternoon so they have some goodies for lunches and after school, they are getting to be great help with the baking side of cooking now which is great.

I am really looking forward to going to Camp this weekend, Tim is off Friday and Saturday to have the kiddos and I have a feeling the wheels on the car are going to be speeding out this drive not a minute after my departure time. I am soooooo looking forward to ME time phew it has been a while I think November last year was the last time I went and got inspired and created non stop. I have been working on a Mother's Day gift for my MIL and that is a process that is still ongoing as I am painting and crackling etc. I have gone from liking it to hating it to liking it again so the finished product will be interesting. Tim is great to use for my critic as he picks the exact same faults up with things as his Mum so I can pretty much fix what he finds fault in. Then I have to start on Mum's this week to give to her on the weekend. She is spending Mother's Day at the V8 Supercars so we are going to MIL's for lunch. WTG Mum look after Craig Lowndes for me. Heheheheehe.
Take care and have a great week. Trace.

The beauty of Autumn.

Hi
These were taken on Tuesday, the amazing sky was so beautiful with it's heavy rain clouds brewing and yet the sun still trying to come out and shine. The boys just had to get on their wet weather gear and get out in the rain and puddles, Zay was like a Weetbix kid, jumping and yelling in the puddles, how much fun does he make getting down and dirty look. LOL.

One of the joys of childhood.

God's beauty shining down on us, how can you just not take the time to enjoy our beautiful land and world.

Tim is on holidays with us and although we seem to be busy in different parts of the house and shed it is still nice to have company for lunch and tea breaks. The kiddos are like his second skin so I have had many hours to think and procrastinate, as that is all my scrapping amounts to ATM, I am need my MOJO home right now and that inspiration I once had to return. SIGH.

Keelan is having a sleep over tonight at a mates and I had arvo tea with a friend this afternoon, she made yummy scones and we had the works with them, such a great way to spend the arvo. Keelan and I shopped this morning and then I came home and made Pea and Ham soup so the smell has teased everyones noses all day, it was yummo tonight with Ham and Cheese Fococcia rolls to accompany it. My kind of Wonderful that's for sure.
These holidays are flying by which is not good but I have lots in the next few weeks to look forward to.
Tomorrow is still hanging in the air, Tim has offered me a day to myself or go with him and kiddos to a great new big playground in the South West and onto his Folks for arvo tea, the jury is still out on that one. LOL. Yesterday we all had flu shots, Zay had fever and aches last night from 12am to 2am so I spent time up with him getting his fever down and getting him settled again, ready for bed now and its only 8.30pm, must be cuppa time!!
Take care, Trace.

Home, happy, healthy, revived.

Hi
We are home from a great week in Perth, well apart from a few things that tried to spoil our week we still had a great time, it was so nice to spend time with Mum and Dad and catch up with Family. Monday we had a great trip there, the kiddos were so well behaved so it made the trip a dream. When we arrived Mum had a house full of kids already, my younger Brother's 3 kids and my other Brothers eldest so the kids got to see their cousin's straight off plus one of Mum's friends called in. We had a BBQ tea that night and my Brother, (Brad) and his family came over and they left Mikayla for a few days so we had 5 kiddos in a 3 by 1, beds and bodies everywhere. LOL. We went out for the day Tuesday with the kiddos, Dad had the day off so we went to the Beach first then walked from one end to the other of the park while they played on everything, we had fish and chips for lunch and stayed there most of the day, it was hazy from smoke but pleasant all the same. We took them home completely worn out as they walked and played the whole day.

Here is Rainee, Trin and Dad checking out the tug boats bringing in a tanker.
Wednesday the boys went with Dad to the workshop and Mum and I took the girls to pick up parts for Dad and to visit a certain scrapbook shop that I have been busting to get to for a long time but in the end we did a scrapbook shop crawl, we went to 3 shops and each was so different and unique. That was great but the girls nearly made me broke in the first shop, they each had $10 to spend and got their own basket and off they went, I also had my own basket and forgot to check out theirs before I put it on the counter and they did way more damage then $10 but they were so in love with their choices, so they got spoilt. I was amazed at how particular Trin's choice of stuff was, she put heaps of thought into what she wanted to do with everything she bought. Rainee did too although she will tend to waste a bit more than necessary. It was a top Girly day and so good to have that time with Mum.

Thursday we went to my SIL, Kim's and had a mega feast and I helped Kim create a card and layout and showed her how to use some of her fiskars stuff, the kiddos got to play and create also.

Friday was pretty quiet, I had to catch up on washing and Mum and Dad had to go out for a luncheon so the kiddos and I hung home for the day.

Saturday we got ready and went shopping for the morning and that was awesome, what a great shopping complex they have in Success(hope it is spelt that way) then we went to the 2pm circus session, it was fantastic, the kids sat mesmerized the whole time especially Zay. It was freezing that day and we didn't have great big thick jackets like we needed but we headed to Freo after and checked out the boat show and the luxury boats, wow they were amazing. Had tea at Cicerello's and stopped and listened to the drags on the way home, the size of the kiddos eyes was priceless, we would have frozen ourselves stiff had we of gone. Once home the kiddos were showered and they were off to bed exhausted.

Sunday was wind down day really, catching up on washing and Brad, Kim and kids called in to say goodbye, Keelan went to the movies with his Dad in the morning and then they took Uncle Dick and went by train to the footy. Even though Keelan is a Docker supporter they still wanted to catch a game of footy and Uncle Dick is a mega West Coast supporter. Then home late yesterday and unpacked and shopped.

This is the weather today, I have taken a heap more shots but will share tomorrow as this is already mega.

Tim is having a few days off from tomorrow so we have lots planned for the rest of the week. It was such a good break being away, we certainly all needed it and the kiddos were so happy to see Dad last night, we had all missed him not being with us.
Take care, Trace.

Boys!!

Hi
Here is a layout I did of Keelan a while ago now but it took me forever just to add the finishing touches, finally it is done. It was great to revive the square punch and give it some use, have some more ideas for it also, just need to time to get it created.

Here is my handsome red belt before training the other night, he was reluctant to have pics taken as he didn't want to be late so the faces aren't the best he was pulling, these being the better of them all plus it was just going dark.

This little guy wants to fill Dad's shirts out really fast, he wants to drive a big Bulldozer like Daddy. What a classic, he nearly disappeared when he put it on. LOL.

So the holidays have started for us as of yesterday and the kiddos are doing the usual get up early when there is no school grrrrrrrrr. Keelan went to the movies with some mates yesterday and that was a dilemma and a half just to get that sorted out between 4 pre teens trying to organise the movies, the phone was ringing constantly with them toing and froing between each other about details, then Keelan had a call from another mate asking him to go to his place for a play and then when he told me I suggested he ring and invite this boy to go also so that meant more phone calls and then we get another call to say one of the boys doesn't really like the boy Keelan asked to go and that he was going to call that Boy and tell him it was postponed to another time so he didn't turn up while they were there, this made Keelan get angry so I told him to ring his mate and tell him if the other kid called to ignore him and come at the right time and Keelan would sit with him elsewhere. So in the end they all went and Keelan said they all had a great time and the boy he invited had them all in fits of laughter as he has the funniest of laughs. These boys will be in the same soccer team so they really have to get over this kind of angst. Keelan and his other 2 mates were cool with this boy coming, it was just 1 who was being cruel about it and he did ring this kid but he didn't have the guts in the end to tell him otherwise when it came to the crunch so the laugh ended up being on him, I was just proud of Keelan and the other boys for putting their mates feelings first and not just swaying with this other kids opinion. Anyway they had a blast and it was all good, oh boy I really didn't think boys would go through this stuff and it is all just beginning, wish I was 10 years younger in all this, I will still be sorting out teenagers when I am an old lady. LOL. Hope you kept up with all that but it truly was that chaotic and in the midst of the phone and problems I was flat out washing and cleaning, it was doing my head in. LOL

Trying desperately to get rid of this cold as Perth family have told me to stay away if I am still sick but Trin is starting to get it now. We have been shopping this morning while Trin was at dancing getting Tim all sorted with food for the week. The weather by day has been absolutely glorious, I so heart Autumn, it is definitely my season and sleeping at night with a doona as it is cooler is just bliss, just hate getting up in the mornings, I don't know why it has become so hard to get out of bed. LOL.
Well have a great weekend and if I dont get back before I go away next week have a great first week of holidays.
Take care
Trace.

Heidi grace rocks.

Hi
I have been working on these layouts on Tuesday mornings at Craft group, I have been the last 2 weeks and it is amazing what I have been getting done, these pics are from Easter 2 years ago, can't believe the size of the kiddos then, boy they grow like mushrooms, I took heaps of photos for that easter egg hunt and I dont want to just scrap the best so I have basically scrapped them all, for me the pics show the kiddos how much they have grown and how much fun they had, they really do tell the story themselves, I am using Heidi Grace Urban acres range for it, as it is fun and whimsy like Easter time is to Kiddos. I did my Demo in Feb at Spotlight and basically spent all my pay back on buying the range that was there. Have you tried Heidi Grace rub ons?? They are fantastic and I was amazed that they rub onto layers like above with no trouble at all, I am hooked.

click on pics to enlarge them.

I still have several more pages to complete this story so will be doing some more over the next few days to get completed, the beauty about buying a story and having double sided paper is that I have plenty of choice for the pages. Excuse the really poor photo quality of the layouts, I wanted natural light to show the true colours but as usual its a dull old day everytime I take pics of layouts, might have to go back to my old way of photographing them.

Best news is my kiddos finish school today, YAHOO, sleep in tomorrow and with the start of a cold lingering, you know the one with the old dry scratchy throat type, yucko, I have been to the chemist and I am armed with Echinacea etc to kill it quick. Tomorrow I may have more layouts to share so stay tuned. LOL.
Take care, Trace.

Now a Red Belt.

Picture quality poor due to no lighting at Rec centre.

Hi
This was some of the pics from Keelan's grading yesterday, he is now a red belt, gets presented with it tonight during class, this is a big stage now, he will grade 3 more times in red belt for a black stripe and then it's black belt. His technique is such a pleasure to watch, this would have to be Keelan's sport, he is still a little timid with sparing and he had to spar (fight) against the boy in the red belt next to him who is so tall and pretty fierce when he fights although he was not so agressive with Keelan yesterday, (Keelan really doesnt like sparing with him). Keelan did end in tears towards the end as he got kicked in the shin on an injury he received at school 4 weeks ago and it is still healing, he came home with a massive bruise and lump on his shin and it is taking a long time to heal. Even with shin pads on yesterday it dropped him when he got kicked there. Other than that he did really well and had a great time. Tim got his petrol remote buggy going for him when we got home and they had fun racing it up and down the street. Keelan said its the best weekend he has had with his Dad (biological Dad) for about 3 years so that is great for him, he has really been needing this one on one time with him.

I seem to have worked all weekend around here, getting in the garden again late yesterday, I do look forward to next week getting a break away. I am going to scrap this arvo if I can get Zay occupied with something to do, we both feel pretty exhausted after the weekend so it will be nice to sit for a change. LOL.
4 more early get ups. YAY. LOL. I don't like school holidays much do I.
Take care, Trace.

2 posts today!!

Hi,
We have had our usual busy Saturday but it was nice to have Tim around for the day instead of him being at work, this afternoon I got out the garden with Rainee cutting off dead rose buds and having a little tidy up, I love Autumn so much, the air feels great and refreshing and I just yearn to be outside playing in the garden, planting and cutting back just feels right now. Zay came and helped later on with his little tools, shovel, rake and little barrow, he is just so funny, this child makes my heart sing and sing and sing, he just yearns to learn and be involved, loves chatter and feeling important, he dug and raked and pulled weeds out for me, even had the teen look when he bent over with his undies showing, classic. LOL.

Here he is after he bit the dirt, silly Mum was instructing him on how to pose a certain shot and he just plain did a face dive head first into the dirt, I just cracked up you know the real good old belly laugh, it was so funny the look on his face and the disgust he felt over me roaring with laughter at his misfortune, Oh Zay you are the light in my darkest day you little ray of sunshine. We did clean him up after I could contain myself and he went on gardening with Tim and I. Thanks Baby for making my day.

We have some amazing plants to choose from these days, the sun was on this new plant we put in last week and showed the great colours it throws, wish I had the macro lens on though.

I also want to wish Keelan the very best for his Grading tomorrow, his red belt is what he is going for and his Dad is staying the weekend with him to be there tomorrow, they are tucked up out the caravan tonight watching a DVD and they have been off and about today together plus Dockers won so they are pretty happy campers tonight, sorry Brad about the eagles. I have downloaded free colour in pages for the girls tomorrow while grading is on and we have to be there by 9am so no sleep in tomorrow. What a wonderful sound it has been having the rain, just love how it refreshes everything and seeing as we have had no summer rains this year everything certainly needs to have that green tinge come back.

So looking forward to school holidays coming up, got lots planned for a change, especially time with my Mum and Dad and the kiddos, can't wait for that and catching up with My Brother, Kim and Family and hopefully a few friends I have not seen for ages. Trin has had a bad week at school so we now have to get this worked out once and for all, I may have to move her to another school if we don't get a solution in place for her.
Take care, Trace. xxx

Happy Christening Day tomorrow.

Hi
This is just a special wish for Marcus Michael to have the most wonderful Christening Day and celebration tomorrow, so sorry we can't be there for you Angel but we so look forward to cuddles and catch ups in a weeks time.

May God bless you and may Angels watch over you.

All our love mwah.

Trace. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Garden is getting there.

Hi
Our weekend was pretty busy as usual, the kiddos and I watched Trin dance on Saturday, she is coming along nicely since she has only been going a few weeks, she tries so hard to remember her steps and I am proud of her for her efforts.

Saturday when Tim came home we got out and started pulling out more plants from the front garden bed to make way for new and changes, it ended up being about 4 hours out the front garden cleaning up lots.

Sunday was the wind up for Surf club, the kids had a great time again then we came home and got kiddos showered then went to Bunnings to get new plants, Tim picked these pots up for me Saturday arvo that I had been and picked out. We came home armed with new plants, shovels, pruners etc, and Tim got planting, I helped as best I could but my back went out on me at Surf club so I was not too good by then. Anyway we got it done and you always feel so great after gardening I reckon. Keelan helped a lot with it also and then he went with a friend to the pool for a few hours later in the arvo and the kiddos had fun riding the bike out on the street with a couple of girls from down the road, they loved it, reminded me of when I was a little girl of course we could ride around a lot more then as people seemed more responsible in there cars and there wasn't so many.

This is a new pot I got for the front door and replanted my fern into it so it should spread and take off now, the pot doesnt look it here but it is huge so the birds nest can fill out now.

This is my other new pot which is also huge and is the middle feature for the front garden, it now needs new bricks around the outside so hopefully on the weekend we can get them and put a limestone border around it and get rid of the bits n pieces rock border currently there, once that is done we will mulch it and it should I hope look a thousand times better than before and now. All the new Azaleas are planted, along with some of the older ones I left there and we got 5 verigated flax plants for around the pot which in the sun look really effective and pretty. Then at the back of the garden along the walkway to the front door we left a fern and that long stemed plant and put 3 more ferns with them. The peppy trees are loosing leaves by the bucket load ATM so that tends to make the garden look messy but once it is complete I will take some better pics in the sun to show the end result.

We have had so much fun changing this garden around and it has changed the front of the house so much, I even put my little garden seat out by the front door, it is a nice place to sit and watch the kiddos on their bikes or read a book if I get that pleasure. It should be a pretty garden in winter when the Azaleas all flower too.

Today Zay and I went to a craft group, he went to the creche and I scrapped for 2 hours it was wonderful although I got a cup of water spilt on my layout and not mine I might add so it has water damage and I have to fix up a couple of minor things on it but it will be ongoing as it is the easter hunt from a couple of years ago and I have heaps of not so great photos but I want to scrap them all the same.
Well better be off and busy with more catch up. Take care
Trace.

One fast week.

Well this was a fast week seeing as Easter took some of it. LOL. I think I will outline each day:

Wednesday the kiddos were back at school so it was into cleaning and catching up in the house, I had a window cleaner Man come and while he was here I was equally as busy inside, he did a great job both inside and outside of the windows, I love clean windows but unfortunately once the next wind blows they will start to get dirty again. sigh. Never mind it was worth it.
Got the kiddos from school, went to Bunnings to get a mini axe for Keelan to do edges with and then Trin and I got caught in the plant section, we came home with 10 new plants and as the arvo felt so Autumn I got the kiddos outside and Keelan started chopping out some palms I didn't want in the front garden and Rainee, Zay and I planted the new plants and then I started ripping out and cutting back, in between I was running Keelan to Tae kwon do and picking him up an hour later and Tim came home as I was sweeping the carport and got him inspired to help so we are in the middle of a garden overhaul at the front, I will take photos on the weekend when we get it finished. More plants needed and more pulling out needed. Plus I need a new garden feature, stay tuned..............................

Thursday I had to do some jobs around town and with Zay at daycare and no more study to worry about I took the opportunity to meet my Girlfriend at noon for lunch by the beach, what a glorious day it was down at the ocean. We had a great catch up and with so many tourists around we felt like one ourselves, having time to just chat and enjoy our afternoon. Oh and carrot cake to die for.............. No wonder I am a chubba............LOL.

Today was morning tea with the Mum's in Rainee's class so we had coffee at the Dome, then home to get some cleaning done, Keelan helped me make Lasagne this arvo for tea and that was yummo, took me half the time with him helping so that was fantastic. I am spending lots of quality time with Keelan ATM as he is still sorting out lots of personal stuff with his Dad so he needs a lot of my support, we are slowly getting all the cards on the table but my heart breaks for him when he is the innocent party going through stuff he really shouldn't have to be and in such an important school year for him it just makes it all the harder. He is growing up and starting to get stronger in his decision making and I am really proud of him for that. This is a bit cryptic I know but I need to respect his privacy with this stuff.

Tomorrow is Dancing open day so I am anxious to see what my little Trin can do, Sunday is the last day of Surf club so the kiddos have their break up party to look forward too. Sunday arvo could be busy too but I think by then we will be looking for home.

I really want to get my scrap room sorted this week and get creating again, now I have a lot of natural light coming in the room due to the big garden hack back so it will be nice to get some time in here during the day.
Have a great weekend, take care
Trace.

Fun, full on, crazy Easter.

These pics are all I have to show for Easter, how poor is that, this is Saturday for Tim's Birthday celebration with his Family. They are really wacky shots some of them but shows how much fun they were having, you would think with another 3 adults in the house someone might offer to take a photo of us all but no it never happens. Next time I will have to request it.

Sunday was our 6th Anniversary and I had these lovelies delivered to the door on Saturday from my D.H. Lots of my favourites in there especially the orchids.
Mum and Dad arrived Sunday morning, the kiddos were so unbelievably contained with their Easter goodies, they woke up about 7am and played in their rooms and lined up each little bundle and that is how I found them at 8am, untouched and not 1 eaten. They still have heaps left in their baskets and have been very moderate in their indulging. I didn't take 1 photo of Easter with Mum and Dad, grrrr I was not switched on, I think Good Friday I wore myself out cleaning up a storm, we all literally worked all day, the kiddos had their rooms to tend to which pretty much took Rainee all day with all the whinging and whining thrown in more than any action and we just got into other jobs inside and out that we never manage to get done. It was lovely to enjoy it all clean and gleaning for the next few days. Easter Sunday arvo we went to the park with arvo tea, cricket bat, soccer ball and bread for the ducks and spent a few hours enjoying the glorious afternoon and having a game of cricket which Dad just had us all in fits of laughter with, I seriously needed some of those batting techniques photographed, darn it. Trin just loved the ducks and spent most of her time just watching them.

We came home had a mini session and nibblies and then later tea. Monday we went into town after morning tea for a wander around window shopping, there is something great about spending money but on the flip side it is also great to not spend any, we saw these adorable Golly wogs and I thought great I might get the girls one each, "Mum how much is that golly wog near you?" Mum said "OMG try $90" geez they are still in the shop. Might have to hunt my own pattern out and make them myself. We headed home then and had lunch and mid arvo Mum and Dad headed off, we then got busy again with things.

Today has been low key, no visitors just ironing to catch up on and the kiddos have had fun playing in their tree cubbies they have made. Keelan has 3 assignments due this week so I have been helping him with them on and off and the others should be exhausted, lots of tree climbing and bike riding. Tim was back at work today and tomorrow is back to school for the kiddos.

I have made a big decision to pull out of my Uni course, it has been hard but I know I am missing so many other things I love to do and a lot with the kiddos due to having to spend any precious time I can studying and this is for the next 3-4 years. I am sad but also realistic about it and I am looking forward to being able to get back into my creating side of life with layouts etc. I am sure other things will present when the time is right and I will give myself the chance to get over some hectic years I have put in recently and just enjoy this time.
Well I think that is pretty much it for now, have a great short week and take care
Trace.

Happy Birthday Tim.

Hi
Happy Birthday to my one and only, hope you have had the best day possible and enjoy your lovely goodies from the Family.

We have had Tim's folks and Sister here today for lunch and all the goodies that go with it, nibblies, BBQ and salads and mini pavs with cream, strawberries, passionfruit and chocolate shavings on top and Chocolate Birthday cake I made this morning. Shared with nice wine and finished with Cappo so it was a very delicious Birthday that is for sure.

Mum and Dad are coming tomorrow to stay for a night so we will be indulging once again in great culinary delights and having our share of Chocolate I am sure. So lucky I have been doing lots and lots of spring cleaning (I even have the sore arms to prove it) just to burn off some of these calories I will be having over Easter weekend.

Tomorrow is also our 6th Wedding Anniversary and I got a lovely arrangement of flowers delivered to the door Today which are so lovely. Ahhhhh HE LOVES ME. LOL.

Well I don't know if anyone drops by anymore, between study and housework and kiddos life keeps me busy in many other areas these days but if you do, I wish you and your Family the very Happiest of Easters and stay safe and sound. Oh and hang the calories eat all the chocolate you can get your hands on. LOL.
Take care
Trace. xxxxxxxxxxxxx