Back!

Well here 'tis.. I have been offline for over a week and it has been killing me.. The idiots at Telstra had struck again.. I won't go into a rant but lets just say that I downloaded a Telstra broadband update which crashed the system and a new modem, 5 phone calls, many hrs of speaking to some total idiots and over a week later I am finally back online! so what's been happening..

Connor has started footy training.. I was hoping he might do a year or two of soccer first but I was outvoted and last week he had his first training session.. He loved it!.. unfortunately we weren't the most well behaved boy out there! One of our friends little boy is also in his team and of course they started to muck around.. which led to pushing and shoving which got way out of hand.. It got to the point I went in to give him a talking to. Now I would normally not interfere in a sporting session but someone had to pull him up. Hopefully next week will be better as he has the President of the club training them. I warned him that he had better behave. So cross fingers all will go well. They don't play their first actual game until April so hopefully he will have learnt some discipline and skills by then..lol.. Daddy took him out to buy him his first footy boots yesterday.. We had to have them because 'they make you run faster and jump higher Mummy!'

I have been kept busy with a few dilemmas at playgroup..will go into that further at a later date as well as trying to do a little scrapping and as my friends would say 'she did it again'. Decided it would be good to make some dress up tails for the boys as they are starting to really enjoy playing dress ups. Well me being me.. we need to have the ears as well don't we.. so I have been spending some time making tails and things and figuring them out. It is not that hard but can be a bit difficult trying to get them done when the boys pop in every 5 seconds to see if they are done yet. Have now finished a Dragon tail and a Dalmatian tail and working on the ears. Will put up some photos when I get a set or to finished and get the boys to model them for me.

Brodie is growing up soo quickly.. He is really trying to talk now and tries to copy a lot of the things we say. Of course once he gets it right he doesn't say it again. Of course. He is loving his swimming lessons but Mummy wasn't impressed to find a photo of the two of us in the latest swimming newsletter. Scary as it is too admit it is not the most horrible photo of me yet.. but me in togs ..not pretty! They took a few photos of us doing lessons one day so I am hoping to get a copy of them as normally any swimming lesson photos I get are of Greg and the boys..even though he only gets in there about once a term.. typical hey!

Declan is doing really well at swimming too.. and is very proud of himself cause he can easily count to 10 and even 12 on most days.. He is loving books at the moment and is constantly nagging at someone to read to him.. at home, daycare and playgroup. He still loves his froggies too and we managed to find some tadpoles at Connor's school last week so we caught them and he took them to daycare.. We also caught some for Connor's class but his teacher is not as impressed as the kids are..lol.. I think she has a major frog issue.. Sound like someone else Clare! lol.. Anyway she is being very brave and has let the kids keep them..for now. Let's just hope they are actually frogs though and not Toads.. Ugh!!

We had Greg's parents visit last weekend.. The kids loved seeing them again and had a great time.. Unfortunately we sent Marnie home with the dreaded gastro that we had suffered from the weekend before... Luckily Pa didn't get it as well and no one here got it back again.. And Greg and I even got to go to the movies on Sunday night.. It was nice to have a bit of adult time together for a change. So for that ..thanks again Marnie and Pa...

Oh and more good news.. My washing machine died on Monday.. Ooh I hate washing but boy do you miss the machine when you don't have one. I can do up to and above 10 loads a week so it has been hard.. Luckily our wonderful friends Mark and Amanda let me come over yesterday and do about 4 loads at their place.. It was fun, I got to relax with out kids.. little Nicholas is soo quiet after my boys you hardly know he is around!... and Amanda and I got to have a great gossip and organise some playgroup stuff. Hopefully The repair man will be here on Monday and he will be able to fix it. Otherwise Imay have to annoy the guys again.. Thanks to you both I really appreciate having such wonderful friends here!

Anyway I have prob bored you enough.. Will put up some piccies of some lo's and the boys etc in the next few weeks. Hope you are all well.

Layouts..

I have also actually been getting a little scrappin done.. Trying really hard to do the Weekly challanges each week. ALso had my first day to myself on Wednesday which was marvelous.. and been squeezign a little time on the weekend as the three boys have been having a ball helping Daddy finish the fences! Well here a couple more I have done..

This is the lo I did fo the first time we got to cuddle cousin Katie after she came out of hospital.. Not sure I like this but it is done.. Had this idea for this gorgeous page but I didn't quite get it down on paper..

Baby Amimals.. Page 1

Baby Amimals Page 2

This was last weeks weekly challange on the Boxx where we had o use a journalling stamp as our background.. I had to finally do Declan's obsession with his stuffed animals and plastic animals.. also put in the way he pronounces some of the animals and the names of his favourites. .

This weeks WC.. a lo on school days.. so of course I had to do Connor's first day at Prep.. The white sheet tucked behind the folder is a letter I have written to him telling him what he did etc on his first day and some of our hopes for him..

I realised I hadn't uploaded this lo from a few weeks ago.. his is photos of the family reunion we had in Dalby last year of Greg's family. It was also Grandma's birthday.. The small group photo is actually a booklet with all the family photos of the families that made it.

Well I am hoping ot start on another lo tonight so cross fingers the boys will go to bed easily, Greg intends to watch the cricket, which is a good excuse for me to get into my room and scrap!!

Have a good week everyone!

Photos...

Well got my new camera so have been having a great time taking some photos... Here are just a few..

Connor started Prep last week and is absolutely loving it.. Seems to be fitting in well and loves his new teacher..

Connor on his first day at Prep..
Tried to get a picture of all three of them but Brodie kept doing a runner!

The Fitzroy in flood.. These were taken last Sunday and that viewing platform is submerged now!

Playing with the Macro!! Love it!

On Australia day we had a few friends over for a BBQ..

Brodie is telling Mark how upset he is that Daddy dared to go to the shed without him.. Love this photo.

Nicholas having a chat with Murphy.. too cute!

I don't often get the chance to take pictures of gorgeous girls.. This is Bonnie.. Isn't she adorable.. Another favourite photo!

Declan wasn't all that impressed with the cricket..lol But Brodie made a great wicket keeper!

and batsman...

But he looved those wickets!

Connor loved it!

Sorry to inundate you with photos.. but I have such a hard time choosing.. I only took about 400 in the first weekend with my new camera!!

Update..

Well it has been a while so I thought I had better let you know what has been happening up here.. Besides the fact that it is stinking hot and humid..lol

Well The landscaper has finally started work on the gardens but it has been a real mess.. Everyone of the machines he has hired has done damage.. We have had excavators and bobcats that have crushed our drainage pipes, {not really their fault}.... Knocked down my clothes line, {Now I got a new bigger one..yippee.. } plus there has been leaks in the watering system.. phone lines cut and the lawn is a mess.. I will be soo glad when it is all done.. and I think so will he.. None of it is his fault but he has done a good job of making sure it is all fixed etc as well as he can.. I think he will be glad to see the end of us!!..

I have actually done some scrappin too in the last couple of weeks.. I did this LO for Char's Weekly challengeon the Boxx ... last week.. We had to get inspiration from an ad in a mag.. so here is the ad and lo.. .

I have also done another lo which I will hopefully upload later and an OTP.. Off the page project.. That too I will hopefully upload later .. I am so glad I am making more time to scrap ..It has meant some late nights but I am really starting to enjoy it again .. Just wish my creative juices would start flowing.. Definately missing my scrapping buddies to bounce ideas off.. Mind you they are prob enjoying the peace..lol..

Still get to annoy Trine though.. Now she has opened 'Scrapping with you' been having a blast finding stuff for her to order for me.. Girls check it out.. She loves a challenge.. If she hasn't got it on the site yet.. she'll try and find it for ya.. Believe me .. you can't be as annoying as I am.. lol. Plus she has some really good deals on the site.. She really does! Does the plug make up for all the annoyance Trine..pmsl!

I even got in and made Mum a necklace and earrings set for her birthday.. but of course forgot to take a photo so I can't show you.. Not unless she takes a pic for me.. hint hint!

I am hoping that next week I will get my day to scrap.. Connor starts Prep on Tuesday.. Can't believe he is finally off to school.. and with the other two in daycare I might actually get things done..

On a sad note my camera died a few weeks ago.. I have been getting jittery with withdrawals.. but yippee.. my new Panasonic DMC- FZ8 arrived today.. and because I could get it on Suncorp Rewards. it didn't even cost me.. well except all those Credit card bills..lol.. Anyway I will have to find time to play with it.. It has more features that you can poke a stick at.. It will even tell you the kids and pets ages when you take a pic f you load their birthday into it.. My God I don't know if I'll figure it all out.. but I will have fun trying.. Of course I missed heaps of good photo opps.. but I managed to catch some on video so hopefully when I find the time to download all the hours of video I have I may be able to print some stills..

hmm .. well the boys are doing well.. driving me nuts but thriving.. Brodie is trying to run now..but he goes too fast for his little legs so he keeps falling over...lol.. He really is a cutie.. and Declan is really starting to get an attitude.. Which he is gonna have to learn will not work around here.. Greg has been busy.. as usual.. Was off to Longreach for the night yesterday.. so the boys really missed him.. mind you they love picking him up from the airport .. so that was a bit of excitement for this arvo..

Anyway it is late.. I am tired and I have prob bored you to death so on that note I will say goodnight.. and I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend! HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!!!!!

Scrappin

Only a little post I promise!! I have actually managed to scrap this year.. Last Sunday I neglected the family and locked myself away to complete the Scrapboxx Weekly Challenge set by the lovely Ali.. It was to scrap an improtant event from 2007 so I have finally done a page for Brodie and did his Baptism.. I tried to keep it simple and the journalling is hidden behind the main photo and the photo of the cake. It was also special as I used different gifts given to me from some of my gorgeous Boxx friends. Some of Linda's scrap paper, which she had embossed so beautifully, some flowers from Jenni and the celebrate was part of my Secret Santa gift from Tess. I thought it was appropriate that a Lo that was about being welcomed into a community was made by a community!

Brodie's Baptism - Page 1

Brodie's Baptism - Page 2

I am going to attempt to complete the Weekly Challenge every week.. Now lets hope I can!

Promise that is it for today.. Chat soon!

Me again..

Ok so besides New Years eve what has been happening.. Well Connor and I have finished all our shopping for prep next year.. He is getting excited now. We were able to do it all yesterday as daycare has started again. Yippee!! Declan is now in 2 days a week and Brodie started yesterday! He will be going every Wed, so after Connor starts Prep I will actually get about 5 hrs a week to myself.. Oh Heaven!!.. Brodie had a great day at Daycare.. He didn't even look twice when I left and the girls tell me he got a little upset about an hour later when it clicked I wasn't there.. but a bottle made it all better. then when I went to get him he just gave me a big grin and kept on pushing the toy mower around. I had to grab him to get a cuddle and get him out of there! Nice to be missed hey! ..lol.. He had such fun.. he painted and played and they say he settled in with the other kids really well. Here he is on his first day.

He loves his new orange hat!

Declan has also moved up a class but he is very happy because some of his friends and one of his carers has moved up with him. He had such fun on Tuesday that he couldn't wait to go back on Wednesday.. It is great to see them enjoying it so much.

Finally!

Well I have finally gotten around to updating my Blog.. We have had a few busy weeks and life is just starting to get back into a routine. We've had quite a few visitors pop in on their way up and down the coast an it has been great catching up with people we haven't seen for ages!

So where do I start, New Years Eve.. We had a great little party here on New Years Eve. A few friends, Poppy and us and a lot of cocktails.. Oh and did I mention we made it a bad taste night. When you see the photos you'll realise just how bad taste it was..lol. We had a great night night and Brodie was the only one who didn't make it to midnight.. Yes even Connor and Declan were not going to sleep!! We even got some fireworks..One of our neighbours put on a little display.. The kids loved it! Now for those photos!

What a shocker!!

Those boys are mad!!

Like Father like son!!

It's not that big Poppy!

Aren't they gorgeous!

Pucker up spunky!!

I hope you all had a great New Years Eve Too .. and Happy New Year!!