Brrrr, cold here today

Here is a layout to make me feel warm LOL. and the photo wasn't taken that long ago either. Just a quick one I whipped up the other day. Must get some photos of the ones I have done to share with you all.

What a horrible day it is today. We've had four seasons in one day. We've had snow, we've had hail and we've had lovely sunshine. LOL. But generally it's been a great day for sitting inside by the fire LOL. Must admit I did go and see a friend for a cuppa, I mean DH was doing book work, so I thought it was only fair to take Abby out of it so she didn't get into anything she shouldn't LOL.

What a busy week we've had. Last Friday we had a friend down from Oamaru and his partner then Saturday my SIL and her two kids came down and stayed for a night, then Monday we went up to a fishing hut we own (well my family own) and had a ball. Caught two fish, small. After wards mum and dad took Abby with them for two nights, then yesterday we met them in Dunedin and after a day in town mum and dad took the boys. So it is very quiet here at the moment LOL, but I am sooooo looking forward to them coming back as the house feels so empty, specially after having visitors and having so much on then it's like just us and Abby rattling around :)

At the moment I am trying to sort out my ribbon stash and it isn't going very well at all. Didn't realise that I had so much. Must get back to it. Just thought that I should pop in and update seen it has been about a fortnight.

Take care, and remember the only person you are destined to becomei s the person you decide to be.

Huge congrats .........

A huge congratulations to the top 10 in the scrapbook outlet scrapervivor competition. They are
Sharee Mortenson
Trina McClune
Vicky Gibson
Natasha Kirk
Lis Cassey
Ilka Adam
Kelly Rotherham
Janine Worthington
Tammy Milburn
Monique Darge

Pop over and check it out by clicking here.
There is also the layouts, the BTP (Beyond the page) projects that have taken these 10 ladies to this point here Also all the fantastic work done by the ladies that missed out (I'm just glad I wasn't judging the top 10, such a hard job.) Go and have a look and I'm sure you will be blown away.

Now the more mundane stuff LOL, or maybe not. For those of you that are after a bag to cart all your papers to crops and retreats, I have just become the proud owner of the Crop-in-style P3. I've seen them advertised in american mags for $129 but I visited the Warehouse Wednesday and they had them. They didn't have a price tag so I took it up to the counter thinking it would be at least $100. They said they were discounted to $29.93. I couldn't believe it, so I got one for a friend of mine who is just starting (converting from CM LOL) and thought if she didn't want it it would be mine. She loved it so I rang and they had another one out the back. I got it today and it is divine. Looking forward to using it at the next retreat. How long to wait????
Tomorrow is our last day of shearing for a few months YAYYYYYY. Can you tell I am excited? So looking forward to it. We are taking the wee BBQ I brought at the warehouse up and Jake is cooking lunch LOL. He said he will so long as there is onions, gotta love him.
Hopefully the weather is fine Sunday and we are able to go down to the river for a fish as a reward, and of course I can get some photos LOL.
I'm off to tidy up my scrapwork station now, long over due :)

Hot hot hot

Well it certainly is hot today. 29 out side and 28 in with all my doors open and not a breathe of wind outside. I am actually loving it. Been busy this week with shearing and Wednesday we had playgroup and a farewell for a wee girl there who starts school on Tuesday. Then today we had mainly music in Lawrence which was fantastic, about 30 odd kids there so a good turn out. I am meant to be baking at the moment as there is local dog trials on tomorrow but I have to go and get the kids off the bus in about 10 minutes so will start when I get back. I should of done it yesterday but put it off because I wanted a whole afternoon doing it (I prefer to bake in the morning though) and yesterday I wouldn't of been able to start till 3.00, so planned on today, but that turned to custard after getting back from Lawrence and DH came in and said that our cattle had crossed the river and we had to go down to get them in. Thirty minute job turned into over an hour grrrr. So here I am waiting to the last minute. Our tins will have to wait till sometime next week.

Monday we have a holiday as it is our Anniversary day so there is no school, which I am looking forward to. Mum is coming over Saturday night as dad is away on a hunt in Fiordland, so hopefully we can go and do something. Might even tell her to bring her scrapping supplies so we can have a go at scrapping.

Better run.

Till next time.

Some layouts from scrapcamp to share

Here is some layouts that I managed to accomplilsh at scrap camp. You'll have to excuse the quality as my scanner isn't working and I had to photograph them and as you can see I haven't mastered that yet LOL.

Yesssss

What a fantastic weekend we had. For those that don't know it was the Bannockburn scrap retreat. It was the best weekend since..... I don't know when LOL. Most of us arrived Friday afternoon/evening, I know we all had a ball. Before the retreat I had only met Lara so it was quite scarey meeting 14 ladies that I hadn't met before, but I had absolutely nothing to worry about as they were all fab. And of course we all had scrapping in common. I managed to get about 9 layouts done (I think it was) for the weekend, unfortunately my scanner isn't working so I am unable to upload any, will try and get photos maybe. There was about 94 layouts done in total.

On the Saturday night we went to the cafe about (200 meters away) and had tea. It really was more than a cafe though, we ate our gourmet pizzas and nibbles in the vineyard. Absolutely spectacular, luckily the weather was nice.

Already I am looking forward to the next one :) How many sleeps LOL.

Here is the mess that we all got into LOL. There was lots of lovely layout accomplished and minni books, and lets not forget the make and takes :)

A big thanks to Lara and Nik for organising this, and Debs for the house and also a huge thanks to Andrea (scrapbook outlet) and Meg (scrapbook essentials) for sponsoring this wonderful retreat.

I'm still living

It has been a busy 3 weeks or so since I have last written in here. My MIL and SIL have been and gone and it went very well and they seemed to enjoy their time here. We had some other friends from Maheno down for a day visit (Hello Annette and Chris *waving madley*, don't be afraid to leave a note even if it is just a Hi.). Today some other friends have just left and they are heading home to Whyndham after being to the races in Dunedin to watch their horse run this afternoon. (Their horse didn't do any good, through a shoe and was aparently running around in circles LOL, their words not mine ). And then this afternoon we went to the Rodeo in Lawrence, which was fabulous, even if the kids did have more fun running around the bank playing with their friends.

So we have been busy. Even been in the woolshed shearing for about 5 days. Something I am utterely fed up with, a big money saver though specially with us shearing every 8 months instead of the yearly programe. (here they charge about $3.50 each for shearing a ewe, so for 100o sheep it is about $3500. So it is a big savings, especially if we are able to do it our selves. Now we have a break for about 2 months (unless DH has a brain explosion and wants to shear some lambs, which by the way, I have been flat out trying to talk him out of.)

This week is another busy one coming up. I have a hair cut on Tuesday which is so over due and then Thursday AJ is going to Mum and dads as she has been harping to go and stay on her own since before christmas. So on Friday I am having some me time in Dunedin. Bit of a scarey thought really as I am so use to having one or three kids with me, so I will be able to go in and look at clothes without the kids saying, "can we go now" "can we go and look at toys" etc etc. Not that I am buying anything. Going to look at make up though. Its been about 7 years since I last splashed out and brought some, and that was mascara before I went into hospital to have number one child. I have made a decission, in that I am going to start to look after me. I am busy running around after the kids and DH and I can't do that unless I look after number one first. (I remember Dr Phil saying all this when I had my feet up when I was pregnant with number one, so it has sunken in. Just taken a few more years than it should of LOL.) Even if it is just make up, it is something I've grown out of using and I am sure it will help me feel like I am treating my self IYKWIM? If I had nails I would love a mannicure as well, but they are broken down to about the cuticles. Maybe next time :).

Well I hope everyone is taking good care of them selves and having a little "me time".

PS only 4 more weeks till scrap retreat :)

Fantastic weekend, last weekend

Wow, what a fantastic weekend last weekend. Well it was really Sunday. We had the arts and craft expo in Lawrence and I was on scrapbooking all day. We had quite a few people in and looking and comparing CM and our way. Managed to convert a few people and "gently steer" others in the right direction LOL. Had a few of my BTP projects there too that I had to borrow back off Mum and Dad. Found a lot more people around here that scrapbook and a few that are wanting to branch out from the CM. One lady even wants us to go to Dunedin for a day scrapbook shopping, how awesome would that be LOL. And too top the day off I met the amazing Lara Moss, her hubby and gorgeous wee son Ethan. I still haven't worked out how Ethan can eat a chocolate Ice cream and only get it on his face (if it were my kids they would have it all down their fronts, up their arms LOL). Lara, it was an absolute privilege to meet you. I cant wait for the scrap retreat. I've warned DH about the one in September too.
For the day I managed to get three layouts done, nothing spectacular but it gave people a chance to ask questions and plenty did which was brilliant.
This week has just been a blurr really. My Nana is down from the North Island (my mums mother). They called in on Sunday and stayed Sunday night and Monday night so it was awesome to get to spend some time with them and for the kids to get to know their North Island Nana. She heads home on Thursday out of Queenstown air port so I am going to head over Wednesday for a good bye and mum wants the boys to stay (so who is too argue with that aye!!!!). They are going for a look around Arrowtown and Queenstown before she flyies out.
Then for the rest of the week we were shearing. We brought some ewes and they had a few months of wool on so of course Lionel wanted to take it off LOL. We only finneshed this morning and then this afternoon we have been weaning drenching and vaccinating the hoggets. So I am about knackered tonight. Be nice having MIL and SIL here, good excuse for not doing too much :) They arrive on Monday about 10.00 and head back on Tuesday. Will be good to catch up with them and for MIL to see what we have done since she was last here. last time she was here we had the fire in the wall and now all the alterations are done (except for the decking).
Well I am off to bed now.
Remember
The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. :)

Wow back again.

Can't believe that I have been away for so long. I hope everyone had a fab Christmas and new year. Ours was very quiet with only Mum and Dad coming for Christmas. Was a fab day though, they gave the boys fishing rods and we went down the back fishing after lunch and after lots and lots of harping. Jake caught two and Olly caught one. Not big but certainly takeable LOL. Olly keeps telling us that he only got one but "IT WAS THE BIGGEST." LOL .

Our alterations are nearly finneshed. Just got tidying up to do around the windows on the outside with rough casting. The inside is all done, fire, hot water cylender, paper, carpet, curtains (Oh I am so thankful to the big red shed for them.) I got enough to do the big lounge and the new doors with curtain rails (three big sliding doors) two large windows for under $500. Luckily got in there when they had 40% off. Boy they look good too :) Now all we have to do is get the decking up. Luckily we brought alot of that with us and got the piles before new year for 50% off. Oh I love these bargins.

On the down side, the 22nd December I got tonsilitus really bad, had a chest infection, ear infection and all my glands were well and truely up. Put on 10 days antibiotics and thought I was right. Then yesterday I wasn't right again, so went back to the dr. More antibiotics. Hopefully this will sort it out. Apparently I might have to have them taken out eww, not looking forward to that if it happens so lets just hope the antibiotics help.

Just tried uploading photos and it won't let me so hopefully next time I can get some on. Till next time

What do you know?

Well it is quite funny really. We moved down here four months ago, no family members around, didn't know a sole. We have made so many wonderful and very close friends already. But what is really strange, is that we have just discovered that me and one of my best friends here are related. I counldn't believe it. She had talked to her mother in law about me but had never mentioned my last name. One day she asked and Ally told her and she said "Oh I think we are related to them." Knock me over with a feather. I got my family tree out and sure enough, there they were, bold as brass LOL. Allys MIL gave me a book that she had done on the family tree and it has filled so many blanks in, lots of photos I didn't have and I have lots she didn't have. Of course it is only one branch but I think it is really unusual how we came back to where DH NZ roots started from. I've been doing the family tree for some time now and those of you that have done some know how time consuming it all can be. It is quite a funny feeling looking back and seeing family from 1785 and they didn't have birthdates back then. Just Christening dates.

When you see Abby and Rebecca (Allys daughter who is 6 months older than Abby) together it is uncanny. They are so alike it isn't funny, looks, mannerisms everything. Rebecca was also a twin and Alley had a miss-carriage at three months and they were going to do a D and C and did a scan first and realised that there was still a baby in there. Ally said to me, "the thought of three of them running around would be a tad scarey" certainly isn't wrong there LOL. Those of you who have a three year old going on 13 will understand that one LOL (Trina :) )

Enought of that. Yesterday there was a garden tour around here (6 gardens I think). I was going to go on it but someone asked me to help make pikelets and me being me said sure. There was only meant to be 70 odd people for afternoon tea. Starting at 1.00 we thought we would be wound up by 4 at the latest. 3.00 we were run off our feet and we got a phone call to say that there was 130 sold tickets and probably another 20 odd that were organising it. We made 10 batches of pikelets and there was much other food as well. Finally got to have a drink and put our feet up about 5.30 (and it wasn't a coffee either LOL). Was a great day and everyone seemed to enjoy it. met lots of new people which was really good. Finally got home about 7.00 and luckily Lionel had the kids fed and in the bath. They had a BBQ for tea, felt sorry for them though, as I never had any salads made up, or lettuce in the fridge. The kids loved it though. Well will leave you too it. All you NI who are away at scrap camp, I hope you had a fab time and I am so jealous of you all. Can't wait to see what you have been busy at. I hope there was a cricut there ;)

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

Photo update.

I do appologise for not being on here more often. No real excuse either LOL. A fortnight ago, Mum and Dad came down and Dad brought his fly rod and we went for a little fish on the river (it boundaries our place by about 4ks). Well Dad was over the moon as he caught a 3 1/4lb on his first cast. Jake was in his element wanting to gut it and see what was in it. (Jake is right into that sort of thing, anything with blood and guts.) Unfortunately it was the only one caught but it was a perfect entree' for tea. Only down fall to it all is we have had Jake harping on and on about wanting to go down and try and catch another one LOL. We did go down the next day which wasn't as nice and had a picnic down there while Dad tried to get another one. Managed to get this adorable photo of Lionel and Jake. (one time Jake wasn't right behind grandad saying "can you see one yet Grandad, Granddddaaaadd.")




Also managed to get this lovely one of my mother and Abby. I had to laugh though on the Saturday the kids had their clothes off for a bit and played in the water walking across the other side and back. Well Olly got to the other side and stood on this little island thing and yelled out "there is something in the water and it's got fingers." We tried to reason with him telling him that it was just grass, because there was no way he was going to get back into the water. "No it's not, its brown." Yea brown grass, its dead. At this time Jake came back and said In a matter of fact voice, "its alright Olly, its just a drowned person." as if it happens every day. Olly jumped back "ewwww" It took a fair bit of convincing saying it wasn't and it was fairly hard to keep a straight face. Poor Gran had trouble controlling her self. Oh you have to love their imagination.
Well here is another photo of our dear daughter who is turning the big 3 years old tomorrow. Boy the time has flown, our sweet innocent wee girl, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth aye.

What a week

What a week we have had. It didn't start very well at all. I had a phone call from one of the ladies at school. She had found out that her son had been bullying Jake. I couldn't believe it. What a gut wrenching thing to be told, all I could think of "was you poor little bugger." It happened at the last school too, by one boy and he turned out to be bullying just about all the kids there. Some of the stuff that he was doing (well there was actually more than the one boy in the end, he got his cousins and a brother in on it as well). The mother was so horrified and was so appologetic about it all. On further investigation we found out that it had been happening at school and on the bus. The bus driver and teacher knew about it and had taken action against it (well they called it action, made him stay in at playtime and lunch time that day). What I felt was so terrible was that no one had taken the time to contact either us or the other parents involved. If the parent of the bully hadn't found out accidentally then we would be none the wiser. I told the principal this and he said to me that they don't contact the parents with everything that goes on. As a parent would you want to know if your kid was being bullied, or if your kid was the bully? I know I sure would, and I know I am furious for not being told (as is the boys parents). If this kids parents hadn't been on to it, where could this have headed too.
This boys parents have been absolutely brilliant about it all, and couldn't do enough for us. The boy isn't allowed to go to school camp in a fortnight or participate in school activities for the next month or so. She even brought the boy around and made him come in on his own to appologise to Jake and to us as parents and told us to say what ever we felt appropriate, so long as we gave him a big telling off. The poor kid, I felt so sorry for him. He walked in shaking in his boots, I led him through and here is Lionel (All 6ft 4 inches of him) standing by the dining room table, must have been a daunting sight for this 10 year old. We let him appologise (and he really did appologise and appeared to be really remorseful) then it was out turn. Lionel backed off a bit from what he was going to say because he was a lot smaller than we envissaged. I told him what I thought and how dissapointed we were in the fact that we had only been here a little over three months, didn't know anyone, and it was a big enough move as it was, and the most courtiest thing he could of done was look after the boys and take them under his wing and show them the ropes not do what they were doing (some of it is too disgusting to even write in here). Well this all happened on Monday and I tell you what. We have a completely new boy, what a change. I don't know why we didn't pick it up, the signs were there (looking back). The worst thing was he even had told us (well not in so many words), but the hints were there. We are quite annoyed that we never picked up on it and are just so thankful that this boys parents have been so supportive of us and been "on to it" so to speak. They have taken action, they have made him face his responsibilities, made him face up to what he has done and really made him realise how it affects everyone. I just hope that it has been a big lesson for everyone.
Well on a lighter note, you should see my lounge. Oh it is devine. Had the carpet man in on Thursday and sorted out carpet, ordering wall paper on Tuesday, picking up curtains on Tuesday and their tracks (got them from the Warehouse on special, whooooo I love specials LOL 40% off). Fire is going in this week and the new hot water cylender (The old one is 43 years old LOL) and we are changing places with it so it can get hooked up to the fire and the old cupboard is being used as a storage cupboard for scrapbooking stuff Yayyyy. Then (hopefully) the week after the new doors are going in cieling styple coated, then wall paper and carpet, then all we have to do is the two deckings LOL. Sound easy? Phew sounds exhausting lol. Will keep you informed

Remember'. Don't argue with an idiot. People watching might not be able to tell the difference

It is snowing.

I can't believe it. This morning we woke to the sight of snow. Oh those poor wee lambies. There was probably about two or three inches and it has come and gone a bit during the day. The worst part is DH is away in the car (yes we only have one car) and I have to go and pick the boys up on the motorbike. Not a pleasing thought I tell you. At the moment I am actually procrastinating. I should be stripping wall paper, it has to be done by Thursday and it isn't going well at all. There is four layers, the top two aren't too bad, well probably top three really but the bottom layer is a real nightmare. I am using warm soapy water so hopefully I will get there.

Finally managed to get a photo onto here. This is Jake standing on the inside of the whole fire set up. Actually standing on the inside of the yunca. Now this is all gone and the door to the right. I will endevour to get more photos and get them up here.
Till later here is a question for you to ponder. Why does your nose run and your feet smell? Or what if your scared half to death twice?

What a mess our place is in

You should see our house (actually I am pleased no one can, although I am trying for the fourth time to upload photos to show you. Grrr). The builder arrived last Wednesday after ringing Tuesday night about 9.00. Luckily we'd been to central the day before and picked up Jake and left the other two so only had one child here. By the end of the first day the whole wall was out, both fires gone and a bloody mess left behind LOL. the next day things didn't look like they had changed at all, but the plumbing was sorted and Friday we had more lights in a cleanish house, although there is some nooks and crannies that has soot hidden but the wall paper is coming out carpet up and a couple of external doors in yet so there is going to be a bigger mess yet, oh how am I going to cope LOL. We called in and saw the people that are making our doors and have changed them a bit. Originally the plans that they had drawn up had three sections of sliding doors with the door only being 860 wide. I wanted bigger ones for the front any way. So we went and saw them. Now we are having stacking doors along the front that will have a 1.7m opening (just huge). These will look great when they are in and the decking done. Along the back though, we are only having a normal sliding door that opens half of is which equates to about 1.2m. Still a nice big opening though. Specially when it is all done LOL.

We now have all the kids home and they think our new space is brilliant, although the hole in the floor has become to tempting for Abby who thinks it would be a great hiding place LOL. Managed to talk her out of going down there. With the builder here and him having some great ideas that Lionel agrees with, the project will probably drag out a little more to (which I am delighted about by the way). Be nice to have something finneshed properly for a change. Looking forward to getting it all done though. :)

We have the concrete pad done for the new fire and the builder has leveled the floor with a small concrete pad where the old fires were. The wall paper is off the dining room wall and the ceiling is gibstopped once for the stipple coating (still needing another coat though) and now I have to get the paper off the lounge wall before Tuesday when the builder is back to gibstop, tile the hearth (yummo). Then he comes back to do the fire and Hot water cylender and the ceiling will be done after the doors are in incase there is problems. (which should be about two or three weeks, if we are lucky).

Well enough of my household plans.

I hope everyone has had a great school holidays, hard to believe that they are nearly over with already. Won't next week be a quite one in comparison?

Sorry Blogger won't let me upload photos, hopefully next time

Remember :- even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

Sick kids

Oh how typical, school holidays strike and what happens "sick kids". It is a really bad one going around here at the moment. Tuesday the senior class usually has 22 kids and there was only 4 in class. Jake managed to pick it up last Thursday and didn't eat for 5 days. He is better now but just lacking energy. Monday his teacher said not to send him back this term as so many have and they just haven't the energy and they get it back again. So atm Jake has gone back to Central with my mother. She came over on Wednesday to baby sit the kids while DH and I went and saw Georgie and Caroline Ever-Swindell at a function. It was a great night actually and they spoke extremely well and are so down to earth like you wouldn't believe. And I forgot my camera how disasterous was that, to be honnest I think DH hid it on me LOL.
Any way Oliver and Abby now have it and are just lying around and sleeping. Luckily they aren't as bad as Jake was, they are eating a little, but it is a worry for the little ones.
Went to Dunedin yesterday as we had to go and pick up our new fire. Even managed to get some scrapbook shopping in LOL. Just happens that the shop is not far from Mc D's so I talked DH into going there with the kids just while I popped down for a wee look LOL. Managed to look a little and buy a lot though. :) Didn't do much else while there, just groceries and the fire. Now all we need is our builder to get his a into g and get here. Sometimes I wonder if he will be here by Christmas, was meant to be about three or four weeks ago, then it was a fortnight, now we are still waiting.
Not much else happening around here at the moment, been tailing and our hoggets (one year old sheep) have just started lambing. And of course been on the farm tiding up and doing fencing agghhhhh.
Well till next time remember
Characters live to be noticed. People with character notice how they live.

I am still living LOL

Yes I am still alive. :) I do appologise for not being on here more regular. My computer screen broke down and it has just been fixed, and we have been busy too.
Well Oliver has turned the big 5 and is at school. It is really strange only having one at home, feels like we are rattling around sometimes. Abby is quite lost at times as well, other times she is loving it IYKWIM. Olly had a birthday party the weekend before his birthday and he had alot of his wee friends around. I decided that we would have it in the morning instead of the afternoon. Lionel was quite pleased about that as he thought everyone would be gone by lunch and we could do some work in the afternoon. WRONG. Most people ended up staying till about 6.00 that night, but it was a excelent day LOL. Olly thought it was just wonderful and because his birthday was on the Wednesday we could do it all again. Not a bad idea, but he was just thinking of all the presents and the lollies, fizz etc LOL.
Been busy outside here, started staining the fences and I spent two hours doing very little. I'm not sure on the colour but decided that it will have to do as I am not spending another two hours going over the little bit I have just done. Its the thought of about a week plus on the fences left to do (that is if I don't water blast them, which I think they really need, but I am steadily talking my self out of it).
We also tried putting the house on fire about 4 weeks ago. Well we didn't try really, but boy we were lucky. Some how a fire started in the wall cavity of the open fire and when we came back there was this big burnt hole in the wall above the fire. A builder came and looked at it and couldn't believe that the whole house didn't go. Something that I would absolutely dread, imagine loosing all those scrap albums, the scrap supplies (Ohhhhh I would of cried over all that). I wouldn't of been worried about anything else, as it could all be replaced, although I was told by a dear friend (No names mentioned LOL) that I would have to take my camera so that I could get a photo of the house burning LOL. Would of made a great layout LOL.
We have about 900 ewes lambed and hope to start tailing next week, weather permitting. The next lot are due to start lambing on the 20th September then the last mob starts about the 7th october, so this year it is quite spread out, which has worked out really well as there won't be as much pressure on us for the tailing and if the weather is bad there is less lambs affected by it IYKWIM.
Well that is about it from this end of the country for the time being. I will be back soon, and remember "time may be a great healer but it's a lousy beautician."

New friends

Allo allo. Well another great week has just passed us by.
Olly has been at school two mornings this week on school visits and he is just loving it. On Tuesday I stayed with him (he is only there for an hour and a half) and I made a retreat to the staff room and had a cuppa. Oliver decided that he should be staying for morning tea, so we made a pact. If he went on the school bus he could take his lunch box and have morning tea there. (for some reason he didn't want to go on the bus). This really pleased him and and I can tell you that those three nights before he went back to school were extemely long. He would harp and harp wanting to go every hour of everyday. LOL. We went out to the bus and Jake was schooling him up on what to say etc when the teacher asked him if he was here. It was so cute listening to it all. The bus pulled up and he was out of the car and and into the bus that quick. Any way I turned up at school about quarter to eleven and Olly did a runner LOL. He shot into his class room and came running out with his new book bag and he was so excited as he had a reading book LOL. Apparently he even read it to everyone in the class. That night when Gran rang he was telling her about this book but couldn't find it so what did Olly do "I will read it to you Gran, but I don't have it so I will just read it cause I can remember it". Will have to scrap that one ;).
On Thursday we had Jakes cross country. It was only about quarter of an hour away which was great. After about half an hour of being there the weather turned and it got quite wet. Luckily we could go after the kids raced and with Jake only being 6, his race was second so we were out of there pretty quick smart. Poor kids though, they were wet through to their skin. Wee Abby just looked like a drowned rat, I didn't get a photo of her like that though unfortunately (I didn't want to get the camera wet)LOL. I did get a photo of Jake with his new wee friend though, and unfortunately blogger won't let me upload it at the moment. I will when it lets me.
We are still busy shearing and I have to admit, my muscles are feeling a whole lot better. (Donna, I hope your legs are feeling better).We are just doing the two runs though, so that takes the pressure off completely. Scanning on Tuesday afternoon so that will be another busy busy afternoon for us (starting about 3.30) and have 1200 odd to do, lets hope they run well.
Well take care and hopefully I am able to upload photos next time.

I have been scrapping :)

Yes I have been scrapping. Can you believe it? I know a few of you will be surprised. (you can pick yourself up off the floor now Sharee).

Had another busy week here. Still mucking around getting rooms sorted out. Been working on the sleep out. There is still stuff left by the previous owners who are coming to get it all soon (hopefully). The carpets are an absolute disgrace and I am going to rip them out. It looks like there has been moths in there and they have laid their eggs and they have hatched into lava. They have been eating the carpet ewwwwwwwww. So my plan is to rip them paint the floor (it is concrete and has underfloor heating) and get a nice rug. Good plan?

Started shearing yesterday and boy it is hard getting back into it. It is the first time that we have done full wool for probably 7 years. This morning by legs felt it I tell you. Felt like a wound up rubber band and if I bent over the muscles would break LOL. But by the end of it I will be fine. So two days down and 7 more to go, ahhhh. Luckily we are just doing two runs (four hours) a day so that we can get animals fed and other things done on the farm, also doing it that way the kids don't get sick of it, well that is the plan.

Tomorrow we have playgroup, then on Thursday Jake has his first cross country down here. Must remember to take my camera, it has had very little use.

I will get a copy of my layout up for next time after I have scanned it.
Well take care everyone. Till next time

First day at Playgroup.

Today was our first day at playgroup in the big smoke of Waitahuna and we all had a ball. Bit daunting going in there not knowing a single sole though, but came out feeling like I have been there all my life. Forgot to take my camera so must grab it next time and get a few photos. The day wasn't much so the kids spent most of their time inside at the tables and in the kids kitchen. At our last playgroup it was held at the school but here there is a building on the domain that is all thiers and it is wonderful. Everthing can be left set up and there is this fenced in piece outside with a sandpit and all these outside bikes. Even sat at the window and watched a rabbit come up to the building then hop away when 15 little faces went up to the window to watch it LOL. Must have been scared to death poor thing.
Tomorrow Olly starts his school visits for school. He is really looking forward to that. Jake is a bit annoyed about it as he wanted to go on the bus, but because Olly doesn't want to then we are going by car (all of about 7 or 8 ks LOL). Olly starts off with an hour each day for two days a week then builds it up by half an hour each week, so when he is five he is doing the whole day. It is a great concept and one I think I will enjoy more when he is going for the whole day LOL.
Haven't been doing much else around the house the last couple of days. Did manage to spend Monday baking while Lionel was back at our old place getting the last of our gear (that is another story). Did banana choc chip muffins, my big batch of biscuits (that does over 100 biscuits) double batch of ginger nuts, double batch afghans, and double batch of belgium square. The muffins have gone already though :(. And before you ask I only had one minni one RAFLMAO.
Now the story about Lionel going back. Well officially you have 30 days to get all your gear out which for us is another 10 days, but last week Lionel rang the dutchman and said that the truck couldn't come this week and it would be next week (just out of courtisy) and he said that is fine, take as long as you need (something he has always said from the start). We got a phone call from Lionels brother on Saturday to say that he was throwing all our trailers ect on a big scrap pile, so Lionel rang, he said everything was fine. So up on Monday Lionel goes to load the big transport truck and makes sure everthing goes on (like the old Mazda for the kids, trailers etc). He gets there and there is this pile of fencing stuff that he has pulled out and alot of our gear on it. He'd trown our motorbike trailer and crate out, three big half moon sheds, pig shed (all insulated), two large coppers and numerous other things on this pile that are unsalvageable. Stuff that could probably add up to alot of money. They managed to save the trailer, the crate is a bit worse for wear but we are going to have to get it straightened. Aparently he even had our no tramp woolpress on that costs about $8000 to replace. Gulp. So as you can imagine there were a few words said and the Dutchmans reply was "I from Holand, I not understand." Didn't go down well I tell you, but we got a bit of stuff back and alot that we couldn't salvage if we wanted. It is good to know that we don't have to go back for anything now. When we go back it is to see our friends.
Well I will leave you with that and hopefully I will be back soon. Take care and be careful :)

Back, I'm back online and the connection has stayed connected for more than 5 minutes :)

Well I have just sent emails out to all my belove'd friends and online friends. We were going to be canceling our internet as I have had so much trouble with it staying connected. But tonight it hasn't been too bad so I will probably be still in the cyber world :)
Things are going so well here and we are just absolutely loving it. My parents came down today (they have just been up north while we shifted and got back two days ago) since they have been here we have pulled out all the trees in the garden (the house would get no sun because of them) hope to get photos up next time I am on. Sorry won't be any of my gorgeous kitchen though, sorry to dissapoint some of you RAFLMAO. Kids are loving it too. Jake starts his new school on Monday which he is looking forward too and Olly will probably start school visits the week after. That will be good for Jake too.
Well till next time take care and make the most of your internet :) I know what you mean Donna, it isn't until you hear how bad someone elses connection is that you appreciate your own. I use to moan about my broadband sometimes when it slowed down, now I realise how lucky I was. Just have to win Lotto and get the wireless :)

Back on line

Well finally I am back into the cyber world. Sorry it has taken so long (for those of you complaining RAFLMAO, and you know who you are). We are getting organised slowly. I am really pleased that there is two lounges here as everything has been dumped into one and I am slowly working my way through it. To make it worse the people that had this place before hand still use the sleep out so I can't get the double bed and all the guff that belongs out there away. Hopefully it won't take long and I can get it all done. We are heading back up to the old farm to do a final clear out, probably monday. The last truckload will be out of there. That will be exciting. Nice thought not having to head back up to clean or get more gear and we can concentrate on this house and farm, getting it the way we want it.
As you can imagine I have done no scrapbooking at all. I hope to change that very soon, after seeing so many of my online friends work has really got the creative juices flowing and wanting to come out.
To make things worse I can't get broadband here and the thought of spending $700 on wireless does absolutely nothing for me IYKWIM so I have to put up with dial up so things are very slow here.
I am off to sort out more boxes. Till next time take care.