April and Easter

Hi all.. I know it has been a while but things have been very busy around here. Here are a couple of cute pics from the beginning of the month.

Declan wanted to sleep with Brodie one night.. First time ever.. aren't they cute..lol

And what happens when a 2 1/2 yr old gets his hands on a bottle of clag glue...

This!! .. and a patio painted with glue...lol. Lucky it was only clag so washed out..pmsl He is such a ratbag!

Over Easter Dad came down and we went camping at Cooee Bay with Mick, Jodie and the kids.. We ended up staying in the Poinciana Caravan Park and got a great little spot near all the facilities and no neighbours..

We got there Friday morning and Jodie and I took the kids for a swim in the pool while the boys got started on setting up camp. Only prob is it was freezing.. of course being Easter and a camping trip planned it had been overcast for a few days. There was no way I was getting in..lol But the kids had a paddle in the shallower bits.. Nutters!

We then went and spent a living fortune on some seafood. My goodness they hike the price up for Easter! But we had a lovely lunch and plenty to cook for dinner..lol.

I was lucky enough that Debbie from the Boxx..came through from Brissie and stopped in and saw us with Ash and the kids on Friday Arvo... It was fantastic to see her again.

We absolutely cacked ourselves when Dad set his tent up.. He had brought himself a u beaut stretcher.. only problem was.. it didn't fit into the bed properly..pmsl.. Couldn't help myself taking this pic while he had an afternoon nap!!

Note both his head and feet are sticking out the main tent..lol.. Luckily the fly covered him for the rain..pmsl

On Saturday Mick, Greg, Jodes and the Boys went off to the beach.. again.. it was too cold so they didn't last long.. Meantime I took Dad to the Doctor's as he wasn't feeling real well.. We then all went off to the local shopping centre.. where the boys were very excited to see the Easter Bunny handing out Eggs..lol..

Of course afternoon naps were in order then wee took the kids fishing down the Causeway.. They loved it. Connor was very proud of himself catching the first little fish and had the hugest grin. Mind you I think Jodie's expression almost beats his when she caught one..lol.. I think Declan had more fun playing with the baby prawns in the bait bag..lol.. Which is typical of Declan.. Poppy had given Brodie a little rod and tackle box.. he was very impressed.. and wouldn't let that box go. He loved sitting with Poppy fishing but hasn't quite got the concept that you can't catch a fish if you don't leave the hook in the water..lol. Jack also caught a little fish.. Nothing to keep for dinner.. lol.. but the kids absolutely loved it.

On Easter Sunday at about 6 am, I woke to see 3 little boys standing at the the tent door trying to see what the Easter Bunny had left ..lol.. They were under strict instructions that they weren't allowed out until everyone woke up.. Jack and Kyle are not as early risers as our ratbags so Jodie woke them up.. lol.. she felt sorry for my boys looking longingly out the tent. pmsl

The boys then checked out the eggs and gifts the Easter Bunny had left them. Our boys got a Dinosaur plastic mug with an Easter egg in it .. plus some little eggs. Then they went on an egg hunt to find all the little eggs the Bunny had dropped.. they were very impressed with their haul.

Gil, Annette and the kids came out later and despite the rain we had a lovely day chatting, eating and a few wines...lol. Luckily it dried up that afternoon so we could all go to the Causeway fishing again. No luck with the fish this time but it was a lovely afternoon.. I had great fun taking photos and playing with my camera.

Of course it then had to rain properly on Monday morning as we tried to pack up camp.. so everything and everyone got soaked.. Was def ready for a hot shower and an afternoon nap when we got home.

Tuesday the boys went bowling for Michael G's Birthday and had an absolute ball.. of course Connor has now put in his order for a Bowling party for his birthday. Dad spent the morning with Annette, Gil, Elaine and Mick. He seemed to be feeling better than he had in ages.. then of course I already updated you on his trip to hospital on Wednesday. and the following few days..

He was transported back to Mackay on the weekend and had some tests and scans done on Monday.. It seems that he had a stroke a few weeks earlier when he lost his peripheral vision. A minor one thankfully but it is still bleeding so of course it leaves him at high risk of another. They think the temp was caused from his Bile duct not working properly. He is back home with Shane and Sue now and we went to see him last weekend.. He is so not well.. It is horrible to see such an independent stubborn old mule reduced to relying on others and barely being able to walk properly. Cancer is such a cruel disease.

We don't think he will make it back down here again so the plan is to head up there every few weeks to see him. The good thing about going up last weekend was that my brother Brett came down from Cairns. It was good to catch up with him again and the boys love seeing their uncles.

We also had news recently that a good friend of ours from Toowoomba is also battling Cancer. And the Weekend Dad was in hospital he was put in as well for emergency surgery. Thankfully he is doing a lot better now. But it was touch and go for a while. And he was diagnosed less than 2 mths ago.. It was so scary..

Anyway I have prob bored you enough.. This weekend we actually have a weekend at home.. so it will be good to catch up on some work.. and some sleep. Greg has finally finished his Uni Assignment so he is looking forward to some early nights.

Look after yourselves and your family.. Hope you all have a great long weekend! xxx

Update

Hi all..

Just thought I would put up an update on my Dad. Dad came down to stay with us over Easter and we had a lovely time, (except the rain..lol) camping at Cooee Bay. Will put up some pics etc soon.

Anyway.. On Wed Dad got some sort of an infection. We called the ambulance about 6pm when we realised just how bad he was.. he was basically incoherent and the ambo's clocked his temp at 40.1. which is huge for a cancer patient. Typical dad.. he slept a lot during the day but I thought he was just recovering from he weekend and the visiting he did on Tues. Even when we called the ambos I had to threaten him to allow them to take him to hospital. Stubborn old mule.

Anyway his blood levels are very low and he has a bad infection. Luckily the antibiotics etc seem to have him nearly back to normal. He is still in Rocky hospital but they will be flying him up to Mackay as soon as the RFDS is available. At least he will have all his friends up there to visit him.

Greg has taken the boys up to see him but I haven't been able to see him since I left the hospital on Wed night. I have Tonsillitis! I knew I felt sick sitting at the hospital but what a bad time for it!! Especially as I had me tonsils out as a kid and the damn things have grown back!! Anyway I have been stuck in bed and I really don't ant to take the chance of passing any more bugs onto him. Hopefully I will be better soon and we will get up to Mackay to see him next weekend. The doctor here has told us it is prob a matter of weeks now. It really sux!.. And I just don't know how to explain it to my boys. They know Poppy is really sick but I just don't know whether to prepare them for him not being around or tell them when it happens.. I don't know..

Anyway I hope you and all your families are well. Will be back to put up Easter pics etc when I feel a bit better..

Donna x

My latest Creations

Hi everyone.

Well it has been same old, same old around here. Brodie has a bit of a flu but he seems to be improving..

Connor is reading very well now and I am happy to say has been very good at school.

Meanwhile I am now getting the same comments from Declan's Kindy teachers as I used to get for Connor.. He's very smart but he loves to push the boundaries..Here we go again!! lol.. I don't know if I can go through all that again.. They must take after their father..lol

Greg is flat out studying and working as usual and I am as busy as ever with Playgroup etc..

Dad is coming down to see us over Easter and the school holidays.. He is not doing real well. He can no longer drive and has now moved in with my brother. His memory is going and I really don't know what to expect when I see him.. even though it has only been a month or so. It might be time we explain to the boys that Poppy is very sick. That is a conversation I am so not looking forward to.

Anyway.. I have finally got myself organised to upload the layouts etc I have done recently.. so here goes.

This is the tag I made for the retreat.. we had to make over 50 of them to hand to everyone.. If it hadn't been for my lovely friend Tanya I don't think I would've got them all done in time.. I am so lucky to have such great friends up here.

We had to make a name tag as well.. and this is what I came up with.. I love my little owl he is soo cute.

On retreat they gave us a few bits and pieces and set us challenges.. this is one that I did. I am really happy with all the challenges I did considering I didn't have photos so had to add them later. Love this pic of my little niece Sienna.. It suits perfectly.

This one we were given the front sheet of a pack of paper.. hence all the different patterns.. And we were given a number.. I converted my 0 to a bracket. Thanks Kathleen for that idea..lol. I love it. And I love this pic Rach took of my two Nieces at Christmas.

I also did another challenge lo.. but I haven't added the pic yet.. so will have to upload that one soon.

I also did two of the gorgeous Mardi's classes while I was on retreat..


Completely different to my usual style.. but I love the ideas she gave us.. So gonna try and use more material on my lo's. This pic was taken when Declan first met Marnie... Greg's Mum..


I love these pic's of Pa.. Greg's Dad.. on the tramp with the boys.. and they love playing with him. We did this layout as well in Mardi's first class.. She is such a talented lady.


In Mardi's second class we used shrinky dinks..yep.. remember the plastic pics you used to get in cereal packets.. then nag your mum to let you put them in the oven.. So they would shrink and thicken.. well it back..lol.. You can't see them very well but I had great fun making flowers and buttons. So much fun I had to do the actual layouts at home.. I spent all class playing..lol..

These pics are some of the few of me and the boys. Taken at Rydges Resort in Yeppoon when we went for Greg's Xmas party in 2007.


This was the second layout we did in that class.. I used photos I had taken of Greg and the boys when Connor needed some at Prep.. Took about 40 photos and there is a funny face in all of them.. that's my boys!!

I just wanted to say again a huge thanks to Mardi for sharing her talent with us. She is such a sweet, lovely lady.. and I am so glad I finally got the chance to meet her.

Ok .. I have made a couple of Birthday cards for some friends.. they are very simple..

Over the last 6 weeks I have also been doing a course with Sheree in the Boxx. I only have one lo left to do but here are the rest.. I do love them.. Again.. another very gorgeous talented lady I met at Retreat!



These were pics we took when a heap of us Boxx girls met up in Brissie at Southbank.. And got to spend time with my crazy Boxx friend DG.. Leeann is an absolute laugh with a heart of Gold.. And yep that is me at the top of the tree..lol..


Here is Poppy and Declan.. such a cute pic.. and a very special memory.

I did this lo to tell Connor how proud of him I was. Donating his pocket money at his own suggestion to the Vic Bushfire victims. The Journalling is attached to the d! and it pulls out from under the pic.

I love this pic of Greg and the boys I took at Tannum Sands.. It looks a bit dark on here.. but the look on Greg and Brodes faces is just gorgeous. And the boys love Daddy walking them through the water on his feet.

And last but not least of Sheree's classes.. This Declan's first go in the Jolly Jumper. The arrow at the top slides across and the journalling is attached to the red spotted paper at the bottom.

This is a double page spread I did for Tanya for her Birthday. I organised a few of our friends to do layouts for her. It was great fun going through all the photos, picking through all the memories of our friendship so far.

Last Saturday I went to Scrap 'nScrap to do one of Nicole's classes.. I do absolutely love the way this turned out. I may be repeating myself but I am soo lucky to have such talented, beautiful ladies to learn off. I intend to put this one upon my scrap room wall.. A once in lifetime photo..

Thank you again Nicole for giving me the perfect home for it.

Ok.. so have I bored you enough yet...

That's all for now.. hopefully I will get time to do some more scrappin soon.. but right now I have to go and remove 40 odd marshmallow bunnies I made for the boys to take to school etc tomorrow.. and need to make some more too..lol..

Hope you are all well.. and if I don't talk to you before then have a very safe and happy Easter.. and please be careful on the roads!.

Donna xxxx

The last couple of weeks..

Ok.. it has been a very hectic couple of weeks.. as usual..lol. I got back from retreat late Monday ( thanks to my flight being delayed!!) and I think I could've slept for a week!! lol.. Had the usual Playgroup, chasing kids and catching up on the housework to do..

But heaps had happened while I was gone too.. My gorgeous friends Tanya and Belinda had both had their birthdays.. so on Friday we had a girlies lunch to celebrate..

Jodie and Ella, Zoe, Tanya, Belinda and Amanda at the front. We went to the Gracemere Tavern and it was really nice..

Then on Saturday we had to go to Connor's Soccer game.. Now he had had his first game while I was away.. so disappointed I missed it. And of course I had the camera so we didn't get any decent photos.. Greg said that Connor played really well and really enjoyed it. They lost 6-3 I believe but they also scored three of the other teams goals...lol..

Anyway so of course I took heaps of pics this weekend. Connor is enjoying it so much more than Football. None of that painful tackling! lol..

Then we had Joe, Zoe and the boys over for a sleepover.. I was so tired on Sunday that Greg took Connor to a birthday party for one of his schoolmates while Zoe and I had a bit of a slack morning..

Every time I think I am catching up on sleep I have a bad night and am back to square one again.. Brodie has been waking up nearly every night and climbing into our bed.. Not sure if it is habit or this nasty cough that has been sticking around.. but We are so tired at the moment we don't even wake up an more to take him back to his own bed. But you really don't seem to get as good a night sleep with a munchkin kicking you in the back.. fancy that..lol..

This week has also been a maaaad week.. On Monday I did my usual reading with the kids at school.. Tuesday I spent the day at Declan's Kindy. It was great fun seeing how he interacts with his teachers and the other kids.. and seeing how fantastic his teachers are. I am really pleased we sent him there.. Mind you I am getting the 'he's a very bright kid.. and he certainly knows how to push the boundaries' comment just as I used to get with Connor.. oh help me!!

Wednesday we had 'Playgroup in the Park' for playgroup week. I didn't have any kids with me which was quite fun actually.. lol.. Once I got it all set up I could relax a bit and have a chat. Mind you I was still exhausted when I got home!

Normal playgroup on Thursday.. More new mums and a busy morning as usual. Soccer Training and then shopping for playgroup and Kindy afterwards..

Friday they had Grandparents day at school.. I must admit I stayed home.. I was too tired to go out with Declan and Brodie again.. So I babysat Jamie so it was easier for Zoe to go.. I think Connor understood. It can be so difficult to take a 2 year old to church.

This morning I went to Scrap'nScrap and did one of the gorgeous Nicole's classes. I was so lucky that Jodie and Zoe took my boys after soccer so I could. And Connor scored his first goal.. he was soo proud of himself! Greg is in Mackay helping Dad to clear his house and move in with my brother Shane.. He has finally realised that he can no longer live alone. He gets so tired etc so quickly.. and I feel so much better he is not driving half an hour to get to town any more. Anyway I loove my lo. It just beautiful.. she is one talented chickie.. I will upload it when I do all the others soon.

Well that has been my news.. Greg's is not so good.

He was heading out to Emerald on Wed to work when an unmarked police car decided to do a u-turn across the highway near Dingo.. straight in front of him. Luckily both he and George were not hurt.. and the cop in the passenger side only had minor injuries.. It could've been soo much worse. The funny thing was the guy the cops had just finished giving a ticket to raced back to give Greg his card in case he needed help proving it wasn't his fault. lol.. But the Driver took the blame so there is no worries there.. And my Brother wasn't too impressed either.. He is in traffic in Mackay and the unmarked car was due to be sent up to them in a week or two.. oops..lol..

But my poor Pajero.. In 2 months... she was going to be mine.. We were going to pay out the lease and Greg would get a work vehicle and I was finally going to have more room for the kids.. 2 months.. Now .. we are not so sure.. Look at the poor baby!

He hit the other car with his front right side.

This is the left hand side..

I am soo glad it wasn't worse.. as in no one was injured.. but my poor Paj!! As one of Greg's employees said to him.. with the amount of time he spends on the road it was prob not a matter of if he had an accident but when.. So glad we g0t out of it so lightly. I hate that he is on the road so much. Have always dreaded that phone call!

Anyway.. I have finally updated the blog.. and I think I am now going to collapse in bed and finish the last of the Twilight series with a cup of tea. Brodie is already asleep in my bed..lol.. Don't have the energy to kick him out. Besides might save him waking me up later.

Tomorrow I intend to have a cruisey day with the kids.. after I clean up the pigsty that is my house..lol.. and Hopefully take pics of all the lo's etc I have done so I can upload them.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.. and be safe on the roads.. Watch out for those unmarked cop cars chucking uies..lol..

xxx

Boxx Retreat!!!!

Well I went!! I actually got to the Boxx retreat.. I was sooooooo excited!!! I left home on the Wednesday and flew to Brissie to stay with the gorgeous Debbie and her family.. We talked.. and talked.. and talked..lol.. and no not just me.. It was great to sit down and have a coffee and chat in person..

Then very early on Thursday morning we were off to the airport again to fly off with Tam, Peta and Jodes to Perth.. Unfortunately we couldn't all sit together on the plane but Deb and I shared.. a loooong flight.. I was so glad the girls had talked me into getting the Twilight Books.. I finished the first one before I got to Perth.. It felt soo good to read a book again..lol.. Meanwhile Tam and Peta were slightly excited to be able to watch the Twilight movie on the plane..pmsl.. When we got to Perth we finally got to meet Maria and a heap of the girls at the airport. It was like meeting old friends.. and I was officially the shortest there..pmsl.. and believe me there were some shorties there too.. oh well!! rofl.

Anyway, Jodes, Tatum, Tam, Peta, Bee, Deb and I went to our Motel and then got to go and have dinner with some more of the gorgeous Boxx girls..

Janet was soo cute.. when she got there she had a little slip of paper that she had drawn what our hair looked like so she could try and tell us apart..lol.. Of course mine was the big curly one..lol..

Elise came in late that night and the lucky thing got to share a bed with me.. Lucky I bought new pj's..lol..

Next morning the bus picked up Tammy from the airport and then us and off we headed for Augusta.. I couldn't believe when we got there.. (about 4 hours later) and they had put up a sign for the Boxx girls..

How cool is this!!!!

I got to share a unit with Anna and Debbie.. I couldn't have picked two better roomies! Mwah love you both!!!!

We got settled into our rooms and set off to see everyone.... There were 45 scrappers..4 of the Design team and Maria and her gorgeous girls.. I didn't know who to hug first..lol.

That night we had a theme night and as it was Friday the 13th we all went Freaky Friday..lol..

Aren't we gorgeous...pmsl..

Me and my two beautiful Roomies!!!! Anna and Deb

She got me!! ..pmsl.. I tried so hard to look like I was screaming but I couldn't stop laughing at Jodes..!

Bee the Goth Chick.. rofl.. She looked soo cool..

This was Tammy's outfit..rofl.. I was sitting next to her in the scrap room and every time I turned to talk to her I got a fright..pmsl.. Couldn't tell if she was looking at me or not!!!

Anyway.. we did actually do some scrapping while we were there.. Can you believe I actually completed 5 lo's! Two I did in the talented Mardi's class and 3 were challenges.. All weekend I scrapped, chatted, drank wine, ate great food and had the best company.. what more could a girl want..lol.. I still haven't taken pics of my lo's.. so I will do that tomorrow and upload a heap to show you.. Anyway on the Sunday we had to pack up.. it was soo sad.. and head back to Perth.. then on Monday I had to fly home to Rocky.. By this time I had finished the second book in the Twilight series..lol.. If you haven't read them then have a go.. they're great!

Here are some more pics.. I wish I could have put up all the pics I loved.. but I don't think anyone wants to see hundred or so pics..!

Maria hard at work as usual!!! She was wonderful over the weekend.. and her beautiful girls were so fantastic at helping her out.. She is obviously a great Mum!!

Missy P (Tam) does love me.. honest.. rofl!!

Tatum, Tam, Elise, Jodes, Mardi, Me and Bee!

Elise and Anna

Love this pic of Maria and I..

The view from our unit.. It was gorgeous.. and the view from the scrap room was spectacular!

All the Boxx girls!!!! A wonderful bunch of friends!!!


The bus home.. not good..!

All I can say is I am soooo glad I went.. I haven't laughed that much in ages..

and to all you Boxx girls.. Shhh f''kn shhhhh pmsl

MWAH!!!

Mark and Amanda's 30th Birthday Party

Well last night we went to Mark and Amanda's 30th Birthday party and we all had to dress up as a star.. The boys were so excited .. Declan went as Speed Racer.. Brodie as Captain Feathersword and Connor as Jack Sparrow.. I could not believe that Brodie kept his hat on all night.

I decided to go as Cleopatra if she had lived long enough to get old and fat..pmsl.. and as Greg hates dressing up I managed to convince him to go as Agent K from Men in Black.. Was a bit peeved when I found that the costume shop had given me the wrong wig.. it was more of a go go wig than Cleopatra.. Oh well..

Mark and Amanda were Shrek and Princess Fiona.. Amanda decided not to go the ogre as whenever Patric looked at Mark in his costume he screamed..lol.. Nichlas was Spiderman and little Patrick came as Harry Potter as a baby..scar and all..lol.. unfortunately I didn't get a pic of him.

Joe and Zoe were Batman and Bat Girl..Ella was a fairy, Lachlan was superman and Jamie was Spiderman. Joe looked very spunky in his costume especially with the thongs on his feet..lol.. But gotta love Zoe's boots.. Nearly knee high with about a 4 inch heel.. I tried em on.. pity my calves are not quite made for them..lol..

Tanya came as Dr Cuddy and Paul as Dr House.. Tanya made these gorgeous outfits for the boys so they could come as patients.. they looked soo cute!!!

Rach came as a Movie Star going to the Oscars, Adrian was another Men in Black.. Tom came as a Vampire and Bonnie as a Princess..

Doesn't everyone look fab.. There were a heap of other great costumes there too.. We all had a great time.. except I managed to fall over on a step when I first got there.. no I hadn't had a drink yet..lol.. and i now have a twisted ankle.. So hoping it stops hurting soon.. Luckily it is not too bad.

The kids had a great time riding bikes around and pulling each other around in a big red cart.. The twins were so cute trying to follow everyone when they started dancing the Nutbush.. old aren't we..lol..

And of course Lachlan, Connor and Declan had a great time tryin to pull Batman's Pants down..lol.. Typical..pmsl..

I so hope Mark and Amanda had as much fun as we did..

There is a cyclone heading down the coast at the moment so it has been getting a bit windy and we have got a little bit of rain. Mackay got a heap of rain today so hopefully there will be no flooding up there.. So hope it doesn't cross the coast..

And I am off on Wednesday.. Can you believe it!! It is finally time for me to head to Perth on Retreat.. I am getting soooooo excited.. Sure I will have heaps of pics to bore you with when I get back..

Anyway it is late.. Think I will crash.. Still have to figure out what photos to take to retreat to scrap but might have to do that tomorrow.

cya all soon!!! x