A budding scrapbooker...

Most kids play with their food.
But how many ask to borrow the camera so they can take a picture?
And then wonder out loud what papers will she use to scrap it....

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like. (Mark Twain)

I got elfed

Check this out - the new wave in christmas cards huh??
Elf Yourself

A meme

… seen on Hannah's blog

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments … what is it?
1. Produce: a pineapple
2. Bakery: raspberry jam fingers
3. Meat: salmon
4. Frozen: WW cookies and cream icecream
5. Dry goods: egg noodles

Let’s say we’re heading out for a weekend getaway. You’re only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what’s in your bag?
1. yoga pants
2. t-shirt
3. clean knickers

If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?
1. If you know what I mean
2. Ditto/Mwah - (these are in texts alot)
3. I love you
4. 1...2...3
5. I am so tired!!!

So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn’t get to do, you’d probably be in a pretty irritable/bad mood?
1. Brush my teeth - gotta do that or I cant talk, lol
2. Tea table talk!!
3. Spend time in my scraproom

What are 3 things that you have in your room that have been with you for the longest amount of time?
1. The floral hat a friend made me when I turned 15
2. The white teddy mum gave me when I turned 16
3. My plunket book - its in my bedside table lol

If you were only allowed to listen to 5 of your CDs for the rest of your life, never adding anything else, which 5 could you listen to & be content with?
1. John Denver - Favourites
2. 80's on your radio
3. Pat Benetar - Best Shots
4. Bon Jovi - Cross Roads
5. Grease Soundtrack

You’re driving down the road, and suddenly you’re hit with this sense of road rage. What 3 factors probably contributed to it?
1. Dazed and confused elderly driver in front
2. DH in the passenger seat being a backseat driver
3. That toad that just pulled in front of me with no warning!!

You just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We’re talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Reading a book
2. Spending time online (there goes the 3 hours - lol)
3. Scrapbooking
4. Deep cleaning a room
5. Shopping

We’re going to the zoo. But it looks like it could start storming, so it’ll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. Monkeys
2. Giraffes
3. Kiwis

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show of your choice. You can pick between 5, so what are you deciding between?
1. Extreme Makeover Home Edition
2. NCIS
3. Boston Legal
4. Sea Patrol
5. The View

You’re hungry for ice cream. I’ll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavours can I pile on for ya?
1. Pinky
2. Caramel chunks
3. Banana choc chip

Somebody stole your purse … in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what’s in there?
1. Wallet
2. Cellphone
3. Address Book
4. WW meeting book
5. Camera

You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let’s pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. Writer
2. Geologist
3. Talk Show Host
4. Air Force Pilot

If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things that you should or should not do, what would they be?
1. Keep having fun - you will grow up soon enough
2. Keep it fun - don't take risks and ask yourself WWJD
3. Stay in school!!!
4. That boy in that band is bad news! ;o)

Hybrid...

I made this up using a Rhonna Farrer free love digital kit that was available free from 2 peas.
Usually I might add something to a photo then print it out and scrap traditionally. But I quite liked the way this all sat together.
Its my entry into my 2nd NZ Dare. I often look and think man the talent that is there... its a Dare for me to post that I have done a Dare - LOL!

The words - which you cant read (sorry) are from the song that played as our first dance when we were married. It was sung by John McCall a country singer in Australia. He was one of my Dad's good friends so it was extra special.

Our song…

I want to share your life
every minute every day of your life
and I want you to know
that whatever you do
and where ever you go
Remember…

Someone loves you honey
no matter what
just be my girl baby
someone loves you honey
more than anything in the world

I’m so glad I’m the one
that you came to when you needed someone

that’s what my loves is for
it’s a shoulder to lean on
a boat in the storm
Remember…

Someone loves you honey
no matter what
just be my girl baby
someone loves you honey
more than anything in the world

Back...

I must have a had a wee dose of seeing into the future in my last post! 2 posts in one day and then nothing for 2 weeks..... hmmm - seriously we have had tummy bugs and accidents just doing the rounds here - and I am so over bugs. Lets start with Josef getting stuck in a window - we still don't know what he was thinking when he decided to climb out the window at school! But he slipped and got 'hung'. He was quite banged up when I got to school and after a quick consult with my doctor it was decided he was suffering a mild case of shock. What a dreadful experience, poor Josef was so shaken he slept 24 hours and it took over a week for him to bounce back.
Then we started taking turns with the gastro bug that has taken Southland by storm. Leo suffered the most, he was off work 5 days and he only went back because the telecom faults were pouring in and he works alone so wasn't a risk. Then Jessica, then Josef and then me. Ashleigh and Steven even joined in the fun!! Poor wee Brooke got it last week and ended up spending a few hours at A&E with a 41 degree temperature and a totally freaked out mother.
Last weekend I was moving a shelf in my scrap room and my back decided to let me know it existed - amazing how much we take the spine for granted. My lower back has been giving me so much grief lately. Its almost humorous to go to work and have my elderly clients demanding I sit!!!
Last Thursday I picked Jess up from school and she was in tears because she had a piece of grit in her eye and the teacher had given her an ice pack???? I rinsed her eye as soon as we got home and sure enough a piece of grit sailed out but by this time Jess had rubbed her eye so much it had scratched. Friday she was home with an infection in her eye!
Today I went up to the craft show for a wee looksie with Ashleigh and Brooke and before we left I noticed a small rash on Brooke's neck. Ash had assumed she was reacting to the wool washs he used to wash Brooke's sleeping bag. Ashleigh text me this afternoon to say she had been to Oma's and Oma took one look at Brooke and announced Brooke had the measles. So I went to look and yep sure enough Brooke has the measles!!! That poor baby has such a rough time of it lately. Those spots came out so fast!!!

But we have had some bright spots! Josef had his New Entrants Day at Boys High on Friday and he loved it!! He was so pleased to see Jeremy from his soccer team. Nathan another soccer team member but a year older made Josef feel good as well. Josef was shown around the school by PJ - PJ is deaf as well and is doing really well at school - this was a total confidence boost for us as we have had some people vocally knocking Boys High as a bad choice for Josef. When you have only have 2 schools to choose from you will get pros and cons for them but ultimately Josef is the one who has to go there.

And finally yesterday we had a most wonderful day spent with Ashleigh and Steven and a lot of family and friends as we celebrated my baby girls engagement. Yes I am having some trouble cutting the aprons strings, even though she is a mother herself, she is my baby now and forever!
The sun came out and we had a fabulous BBQ tea. It was such a great evening. I was so impressed with the goodwill and love that just flowed to Ash and Steven. The make such a lovely couple and they both work so hard to make things work out. They have come such a long way from the troubled teenagers to grow into mature, loving adults.
It really goes to show that sometimes just sticking by your kid when they go off the rails and quietly mending damage in the background can really pay off. The layout is my entry for the monthly challenge at Scrapbook Essentials. Brooke looked so adorable in the wee red jacket Oma had knitted her it seemed a perfect photo op!

The Winds of Fate (Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850-1919)

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the selfsame winds that blow.
'Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
Which tells us the way to go

Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,
As we voyage along through life;
'Tis the set of a soul
That decides it's goal,
And not the calm or the strife.

Two Posts in One Day

Hmm - I must be ultra motivated or coming down with something...

Anyway I just wanted to share the awesome night I had on Saturday out at Sue's farm. It started out a Halloween party for the kids, we had some cool games. Like the Mummy Wrap - teams of 2 had to race to wrap each other in toilet paper. The eyeball and spoon race. The Pinata. Apple Bobbing. Lots and lots of fun!!
Rachel, Sue and I wen the whole deal and even made up Halloween treats for the table.
Then we sat down to a BBQ tea. Gotta love Southern BBQ's - yep it rained, lol - okay it was only a wee spit but still it felt right - LOL.
Sue and I got cracking and stuffed a guy for the bonfire. I swear I haven't laughed so hard in ages with all the adult humor that was flying while we sewed this 'guy' up.
We haven't purchased fireworks for a long time, so much money just to burn!!! But with the 3 families all sharing the cost we had a cracker of an evening around th bonfire. Our Guy took all of 5 minutes to burn up (big sigh - he was a good man - LOL) The children especially loved the sparklers. We all had a go at writing our names in the air with the sparkly effect.
Enjoy these photos - there are several layouts itching to be done now!

Q. Why don't witches like to ride their brooms when they're angry?
A. They're afraid of flying off the handle!
Q. How do witches keep their hair in place while flying?
A. With scare spray.
Q. What kind of mistakes do spooks make?
A. Boo boos.
Q: Why do mummies have trouble keeping friends?
A: They're so wrapped up in themselves
Q: What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With a Vampire?
A: Frostbite.

How Thrilling!!

My name was pulled out of the hat for this layout and it won this prize!!! Love the winner's cassette Neen makes up for the blog...So I put this together over the weekend for the latest song -yep "Thriller" LOL.Thanks so much Neen, I love these challenges so keep them coming :o)

"Fangs" for the memories