See, told you

Told you I wouldn't be away as long as last time LOL.

NZ has its own dare site for scrapbooking where they have challenges and I've decided to have a go with this one. You have to do a single page layout with 6 photos or more on it, so here it is. For a while I had only been doing one photo for a page, but now I am starting to get more onto there to tell the whole story. Again I've done a bit of stitching and loved using the scenic route Savannah range for this, and because I haven't done any computer journaling for such a long time, decided to give it a go again, along with the title, overall I am very pleased with it.

And here are some close ups too. Incase you can't read the journaling it reads. We were at the playground at Lawrence with Boo and Ally. What fun you had on the swing, you would yell, "Higher Mum, Higher Mum". You actually fell off at one stage (not too hight though). And you cried, I gave you a cuddle and said "are you all right, did that hurt?" Too which you replied "It only hurt when I hit the ground." date was 18 May 2007

Now if you have come in here, please leave a comment, so I know you have been, I know that lots of you do visit (due to my counter at the bottom :) and some of you emailing me), but just say Hi would be nice. Thanks :)

I'm back

Haven't been far either, just slack really. Haven't done much scrapbooking either, just a couple of quick ones, and I hope to get onto it again this afternoon, not much else to do as it is raining outside.

This layout was done of a layout from scrapoz web site. I used a homemade mask, well it actually was part of a stencil I made and I used the bit I cut out as the mask. Then there was some hand stitching on it too, which believe it or not I did actually enjoy doing. Shock horror I know :)

This one was just a quick one I did of Abby when we went up for tea to the neighbours. Abby asked Biddy if she could borow her glasses that were sitting on the bench LOL. Doesn't she look gorgeous?

Yesterday was a beautiful autumn day, not a breath of wind and I must admit, spent a fair bit of time outside with the pups. They have grown so much and are being fed twice a day now. They get dog roll in the morning and a drink of milk and then the same in the afternoon. The little rats hear me coming now and squeeze under the gate and get out. I'm hoping they will grow a bit quicker so they can't get out, as their kennel is out by my washing line and they have taken to coming over and start pulling my washing out of the basket before i can get it hung up. It is not good.

I'm getting excited about the next scrapcamp which is Thursday 26th July to Sunday the 29th, but at the moment I don't think I can go till the Friday :(. Still a long way off I know, but I just loved the last one so much.

This coming weekend is Queensbirthday weekend and we have friends coming to stay on the Sunday till Monday, which I am so looking forward to as I haven't seen them since we moved down here, which was nearly a year ago (well the 1st of July.) Will be good to catch up with them and their two wee kiddies, and see how much they have grown. More photo opportunities :)
Well that is it for now. Till next time, and hopefully it won't be so long :)

Didn't make it

Well I didn't do any good with the DT. Never mind, I enjoyed entering and found it did push my boundaries alot more than I thought it would. They have their first sketch up which was done by the guest this fortnight (Kim Archer). Here is my take on it, which was done quickly last night.

It is photos from Jake when he did his first cross country at Kakanui, entitles "our own Star". The journaling reads:

Jake. Your first ever crosscountry and it was at Kakanui school. It was brilliant to see. At the obstacles you would stop to help slower people over. Joy even stopped to help a boy put his shoe back on. But when you crsosed the finnesh line there was alot of yelling clapping and a HUGE SMILE on your face. Held at the Maheno Domain 26.10.05

Lionels heading dog had pups about two and a half weeks ago. She had 6 pups four dogs (male dogs) and two bitches (female dogs). My old dog is the father as I wanted another litter by him before he was too old. I've got one out of the last litter and she is going really well, but I prefer dogs so wanted to get one.

Here is Jake with one of them (a dog pup).

And Abby with another one (a bitch pup). I can see layouts happening with these photos :)

We already have homes for them all which is great and there is about four heading back to where we've moved from. Today I've moved them out into a pen and run so that the kids are able to get in there and play with them so the pups get use to being handled. Kids are one of the best things for pups :). As you can see they are getting plenty of attention.

Last Saturday night we had the farm Century awards here in Lawrence, which the prime minister was at handing out the awards. So alot of people were doing alot of hard work preparing for the meal etc. I helped out on the Saturday morning and a bit of the afternoon making special pikelets with salmon etc on top. So if you went and ate these and are now sick, please don't blame me LOL. Was great to get in and help and meet some more locals.

Had the usual this week, playgroup today and Music on Friday which Abby is already looking forward to. Mothers day on Sunday for all you Kiwi ladies reading. I hope you all get treated like a queen for the day, even if it is just the dishes being done, everyone picking up after them selves, instead of being asked to, begged too, or yelled at too. For me there is no presents or cards (although I have a sneaky suspission that the boys are doing something at school).

Well that is it for now. Take Care Bronny :)

I'm entering

I've been debating wether or not to enter all week. Sketches Oz blogspot is looking for two new DT members, a paper and a digital scrapper. I've done three layouts and decided tonight, that I would enter it. What have I got to loose? I've heard everyone say "Oh you get so much out of it, when you have a go," and I kept thinking yea right, but guess what? They were right. I just loved pushing my self harder working to sketches, I think I've found my forte`. I'm not really expecting to do any good, but I've loved having a go. Special thanks to my friends for telling me to go for it :) Was the push I needed.

Been a quiet week here, kids starting school again which has been hard. I've loved having them around, but I have found the house stays tidier longer.

Then Wednesday we had Anzac day. This year I found it good, the kids were older and understood it alot more, and wanted to go to the service. Unfortunately we didn't, normally we are over central and Lionel would take them to the dawn parade at 6.00 but here it is at 10.00 and it was a bitterly cold day, so we didn't go. Next year hopefully.

With a public holiday Wednesday we didn't have playgroup which was sad, as I'm really missing the contact with everyone, but we did have mainly music which was fab. Also on Friday I looked after a friends wee girl and took her to music (her mum had a dental appointment ouch), and then she picked her up about quarter to five. Abby loved having her play. Only problem was she wanted to stay the night, and she wasn't happy she didn't have her sleeping bag. Next weekend she will be, so that was a good bargining tool.

Till next time

Photos this time.

Talking to my friend this morning and she wanted to see photos of my scrapping space. Sorry I haven't cleaned it up. That might be this weeks challenge, then get some photos of it Tidy :) The shelves are some that DH and I altered a little so that I can store my paper easlily. The bright storage unit use to belong to the kids, stored toys etc in it and the cupboard held books. (I put a shelve in it). Their toys got taken out of the draws and now they have my gear it. Works well, particularly with the sewing machine right there :)

Had a friend come around last night, she has just brought a lap top and new printer/scanner and wanted me to get it all going for her. I've had the laptop going for her, so just had to get the printer. Was a nice wee printer too. Didn't take any setting up but more teaching her how to use it and not be scared of it. She is scared of loosing photos, so trying to teach her how to back up, back up back up. Which reminds me....... If you haven't backed up your work for a while, take a moment and do it now. You never know, and while your at it, do two coppies. I always do. I have one copy here and one at mum and dads then if anything happens here, I know they have a copy and if something happens there, I still have mine and can easily make more. I use to be quite pedantic about it all and had three copies. One at either end of the house, so one lot wasn't near the computer if it got pinched or there was a fire at one end. I also keep them in CD holders, not their cases so that I can get all of them out with out dropping any. (I know it is one of my phobias, don't care if I loose any pictures on walls etc, just the photos. Theyre my memories, and albums of course :) )

These photos were taken while we were up at Lake Onslow, thought I would share :)

More layouts,

Only because I am sick of being nagged RAFLMAO. Will get a photo of the ribbon storage too :)
This is a double layout that uses 20 photos. It is actually based on a BH sketch. I'm feeling in need to get a few photos on a layout to tell the story and also to get through some of those photos LOL






This is a layout I did of Abby down at the river that boundaries us and the story of how we go down there regularly.

This layout was actually done for a challenge at SO (Scrapbook outlet), it was a freestyle challenge and you had to use paint, rubber and heat. The flower is a stamp and the "always always always remember" at the bottom left is a sei everyday moments iron-on art, (hence the heat).

The layout was meant to be in by 9.00pm on Sunday. I finneshed it Sunday afternoon then one of our neighbours called in with a box of beer and a bottle of wine. That was alright, then about 8.00 his wife got back from work and thought, "oh well DH isn't home I'll take a couple of wines down to Bronnys", LOL little did she know he was here. Turned out to be a great night :) . So the layout never got uploaded to the gallery, so here it is.

Another not so nice day here today, huge comparison to yesterday really, where it was 25 plus outside and not a breathe of wind, you could see the grass growing. Only thing missing yesterday was little lambs running around jumping and skipping.
My boys are back tomorrow, which will be fantastic. Mum is bringing them and staying for a night before she heads back (about a two hour drive).
A friend came around this afternoon (I'm getting her into scrapping, she had tried CM ). I'm showing her how to print photos etc from the computer. She's just brought a laptop so trying to get that sorted out as well. Getting her paper right and photo storage on CD. The basic things that I want to get her into from the start IYKWIM. Was good to have a good catch up with her as well and let her daughter have a play with Abby. They are so cute together and so alike it isn't funny.
The two girls lay on the floor looking through the albums and made up their own stories (so cute). It was so great seeing them lying there talking to each other and hearing "wow this is cool".

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.