My Big boy is 9 years old

Well our big boy is 9 years old today. Can't believe it. still remember the day he was born, like yesterday. LOL Scary.

Well we decided yesterday to get him a kitten, as the cat we had dissapeared about 6 months ago, and he was Jakes mate. We rang the Vets and the SPCA yesterday at lunch time. The SPCA had 11 kittens in and they were all fixed up and the vets had 2 tabbys. We decided to go to the SPCA for choice and for ease really. Well we got there at 1.00 today and told Jake what he was getting. But we got inside and all their kittens were gone. They said they had a rush on. So we had Jake all hyped up and couldn't go home with out a kitten. We went to the pet shop down the road and they had one kitten. A white one. All throughout my life I've had white cats so I was thrilled to see her. As a child I had 4 white ones and when Lionel and myself married we got a white cat as well. Usually with white cats they are either deaf or blind and luckily we have only ever had one that was deaf. I'm unsure of this one though, definately not blind so I guess time will tell.

So anyway once Jake spotted the kitten that was it. We weren't leaving without her. They put her in a cat box and we came home (1 hours traveling). Jake took her out of the box and she curled up on his knee and slept all the way home. Was gorgeous.

But before we got the kitten we went to Moana Pool and what a ball we all had. Abby is doing so much more now that it is hard to believe, shes turning into a little fish, and the boys have grown in confidence too. Mum met us down there and we went to lunch at KFT, a real treat for the kids, as we dont' do takeaways. Then the kitten. Here she is, isn't she gorgeous? Jakes decided to call her Furby, (short for fur Ball). That might change though. Here is a photo of all the kids, Jakes giggling as Furby is licking his hand and of course his toungue is so rough. :)
Till next time :)

Wow, two updates in two days. Shock horror :). Well thought I'd update on a few quick layouts I managed to complete today. Must admit, it was nice to sit down with some "me time" and have a wee play. Because I photographed them tonight, they don't look as good here as in real life.

The first layout I did based on "triple the sketch" sketch. "connect four". A very quick one but it got me back into the swing of things.

The second "farm favourites". I've used a transparency and painted behind it to give it a bit of oomph. It is a older photo but one I've had printed off for a while and needed to get it done.The third one "growing up" again looks alot better in real life. There is glitter on there that you can't really see from the photo.

Treasure-everyday moments is about Abby helping me grocery shop before she started school. I just love the fancy pants papers I used on it. :)

Happy New Year to you all.

Wow 2009 already, its hard to believe really isn't it. Christmas was fantastic this year. Kids have said it but I truely believe this year has been the best. I've felt like we got the right presents, sometimes I've felt, ohhh we shouldn't of got that or thats not quite right, but this year its been perfect. Food was great (as usual) even though I never got around to making one of the puddings. Not all my jobs were done before hand that I wanted but it doesn't really matter (I never got the windows washed or Christmas cards sent this year). I think my biggest mistake was with Abby starting school I kept saying, "I've got plenty of time." then all of a sudden it was like "Christmas is tomorrow".

Boxing day the kids went to Central with my parents as they had swimming lessons with Graeme Laing between Christmas and New Year. They were well and truely worth it. After their initial assesment Graeme worked out times for each child as they all had two lessons a day. All the kids were in the afternoon, starting at one and last one was out at 5.00. All of them improved so much, Abby will now put her head under water and breath properly doing the freestyle with the aid of a flutter board out of her depth, where as before hand she had to have a ring and touch the bottom. Olly can now swim a width- instead of floating like a stone and Jake is easily swimming the width breathing properly and has style. We will definately be going again next year. Abby waiting for her turnJake Clowning around

All the crew before lessons started :)

New year was very quiet for us, we didn't even see it in, for like the first time in how many years, even when I was 9 months pregnant I saw it in LOL. But with the kids just getting back from Central, they were wanting to play with their goodies, so it was great watching them. In a few weeks we will head away to the river and camp a few nights. With our farm boundaring it, it certainly makes it easier and if we forget something can just pop home to get it, and feed animals etc.
Well I'm off to sort out my scrap area.

Till next time