Challenge 5 from Terri on Scrapbook City....
Sweet or Savoury?
Hmmm....let me think???? Anyone who knows me, knows that this is a no-brainer
SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I lurve sweet foods and have the hips, tummy and butt to prove it!
I love chocolate, lollies, cakes, icecream, apple pie, custard, biscuits, .........anything sweet. I don't mind savoury foods but sweet will always win!
Keep smiling, I'm off to hunt down sweet stuff!!
Trish
xx
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
What's in my handbag at the moment?
Challenge 4 from Terri on Scrapbook City:
OK my handbag...probably has a lifeboat, a fire extinguisher...OK, maybe not really but the things in my handbag always amaze me LOL!
Here's what is in my handbag right now....
Purse - my pink, impractical purse - that's another story...must record that on here one day!
Impulse deoderant - been wearing it for years and no cute guy has popped out of nowhere and given me flowers so I think that ad is a lie!
Small zip wallet that contains most of my 'rewards' style cards (or as Steve calls them...my beggers guide to brisbane cards LOL!)
Dextrose tablets - for Matthew when he has a hypo!
Dental floss - strange I know but I hate having stuf caught in my back teeth.
Hand cream
Lipstick
4 pens, actually make that 5 pens
1 pencil
2 pencil erasers - yep I dunno on this one...strange!
A shopping list
Layby receipt - Santa sent it to me to look after ;)
Brush
Mini Tape measure keyring
Small torch keyring
approx 10 hair bands
Tissues - all clean!! I haven't yet graduated to storing them in my bra like someone I know LOL!
Red Rooster wipe unopened - strange thing is I can't remember the last time I had Red Rooster?!?!
Fuel voucher for coles
Lip gloss
Random bits of paper and receipts - just a few?!?!?
Another dental floss *blush* told you I hate stuff in my teeth!!
I think that is it....
when I go out I also stuff in
Matthew's blood sugar tester
Insulin pens
camera
Mobile phone
Various little bits and pieces that Sarah wants to take with us
Wipes
and then sometimes Steve will ask me to hold his wallet, keys and/or mobile in there too.
Suprisingly it's not a very big bag but it is like the black hole!!
Keep smiling,
Trish xx
OK my handbag...probably has a lifeboat, a fire extinguisher...OK, maybe not really but the things in my handbag always amaze me LOL!
Here's what is in my handbag right now....
Purse - my pink, impractical purse - that's another story...must record that on here one day!
Impulse deoderant - been wearing it for years and no cute guy has popped out of nowhere and given me flowers so I think that ad is a lie!
Small zip wallet that contains most of my 'rewards' style cards (or as Steve calls them...my beggers guide to brisbane cards LOL!)
Dextrose tablets - for Matthew when he has a hypo!
Dental floss - strange I know but I hate having stuf caught in my back teeth.
Hand cream
Lipstick
4 pens, actually make that 5 pens
1 pencil
2 pencil erasers - yep I dunno on this one...strange!
A shopping list
Layby receipt - Santa sent it to me to look after ;)
Brush
Mini Tape measure keyring
Small torch keyring
approx 10 hair bands
Tissues - all clean!! I haven't yet graduated to storing them in my bra like someone I know LOL!
Red Rooster wipe unopened - strange thing is I can't remember the last time I had Red Rooster?!?!
Fuel voucher for coles
Lip gloss
Random bits of paper and receipts - just a few?!?!?
Another dental floss *blush* told you I hate stuff in my teeth!!
I think that is it....
when I go out I also stuff in
Matthew's blood sugar tester
Insulin pens
camera
Mobile phone
Various little bits and pieces that Sarah wants to take with us
Wipes
and then sometimes Steve will ask me to hold his wallet, keys and/or mobile in there too.
Suprisingly it's not a very big bag but it is like the black hole!!
Keep smiling,
Trish xx
When I was a Little Girl I couldn't wait to grow up so I could...
.... Challenge #3 from Terri on Scrapbook City - When I was a Little Girl I couldn't wait to grow up so I could...
* Drink wine - I remember my first taste of red wine at a cellar door tasting when I was young and I loved it! A lush from an early age???
* Be a teacher - working on it...*sigh*
* Have children - I used to dream of having a child/children and snuggling up to them on the lounge and as luck would have it my kids love snuggling on the lounge :D
* Be kissed - My mum used to tape Days of Our Lives everyday and I used to watch it and dream of one day being as sophisticated as the women on DOOL and finding the perfect man to kiss...now I look at that show and think how tragic they all are!! LOL!
* Drive - couldn't wait to grow up to drive and be able to take off when I wanted to.
* Be as happy as I was in my childhood...and you know what - so far so good!!!
* Drink wine - I remember my first taste of red wine at a cellar door tasting when I was young and I loved it! A lush from an early age???
* Be a teacher - working on it...*sigh*
* Have children - I used to dream of having a child/children and snuggling up to them on the lounge and as luck would have it my kids love snuggling on the lounge :D
* Be kissed - My mum used to tape Days of Our Lives everyday and I used to watch it and dream of one day being as sophisticated as the women on DOOL and finding the perfect man to kiss...now I look at that show and think how tragic they all are!! LOL!
* Drive - couldn't wait to grow up to drive and be able to take off when I wanted to.
* Be as happy as I was in my childhood...and you know what - so far so good!!!
August...Is it really August?!?!!!
What the heck happened to the rest of 2008???
* Steve still stay at home Dad...we're still all loving it! He's started playing ....shhh....lawn bowls!! shhh...stop laughing!!! He seems to really be enjoying it. Of course being Mr Competitive, he's frustrated that he hasn't perfected it yet but I'm sure he'll get there. He has also commented that he has never seen so many hearing aides in the one place and that he has to use his outside voice when he's inside!! Quite a lot of young people play though, so I don't think it is all oldies!!
* Kids bathroom renovation - Emily came downstairs one morning a couple of months ago and asked Steve why the shower was falling apart. We had no idea but when Steve looked at it, a tile was coming loose. So he got out what he need to fix that one little tile and when he pulled it off, it peeled away a little too easily....as did about 25 other tiles so we made the decision to bite the bullet and renovate it. Steve decided to take on the challenge of renovating it for under $1000. I didn't think he had a hope of sticking to that budget but I should have known better.....so it's done, just needs to be painted. I love it, kids love it and the bank balance loves it too...total was just over $1000 - he was a little extravagent with the tapware and I didn't even notice them oops...LOL! Will have to take a pic of it all.
* We've all been struck down with the dreaded flu that most of Brisbane currently has. I'm still trying to shake it off and have had it now for about 5 weeks!!! Over it!!! Spent nearly all of last week sleeping all day...not good! I'm hoping we've almost got rid of it. Matthew has been home from school this week, hopefully he's on the mend. By the way have you seen this??
Oh too funny, "got a man with a hurty knee" and "haven't you ever heard of Lemsip?" Hahaha!...I love it! Not that it's like this in our house when the man of the house isn't feeling so well...*roll eyes* LOL! Matthew seems to be suffering from "Boy Cold"...a slightly gentler version of the Man Flu...yes he's dying LOL!
* Uni has been crazy - I opted to do 2 of my subjects in an intensive 6 week period. Nearly finished them but OMG 13 weeks of work in 5 weeks...not fun!!! But at least it means 2 subjects down for the semester!
* Talking of uni - Brad finished his degree and graduated recently! Congratulations Brad (have I mentioned I hate you?!!!) Serously though, we're all so proud of you. I know how hard it is to balance everything and you did so well balancing it all, so a huge congratulations to you!
* Sarah turned 3 in May. 3?!!! 3!!!!!! Yes I am having issues! I can't believe she is 3 and goes to school year after next. She's a clever little thing and very very funny. She copies everything that Emily does which Em both loves and hates! Right now Sarah loves: TV - Dora the Explorer, Wonderpets, Fairies, Lazy Town, Playschool. She loves Kindy and hates the days she has to stay home. Loves books and will often grab a book and 'read' it. She talks to herself ALL OF THE TIME! Actually she just talks all of the time!!! At Kindy, at sleep time, they have to put her to the side of the room, by herself as she doesn't sleep but talks to herself the entire time! She loves to eat all day long but doesn't eat a lot as such, she nibbles all day long. She often sings to herself and cracks us up when she starts singing regular radio songs - some not so appropriate for a 3 year old "I kissed a girl and I liked it" for example!!! She is a shit-stirrer though and constantly stirs the older 2. She loves shoes...seriously LOVES shoes - mine, hers, Emily's, doesn't matter...she loves them. At the beginning of Winter I bought Emily some long brown boots. A few weeks later she was at the shops with Mum and she tells her "Mama, these shoes are hurting my feet, I think they are too small." Derr...we'd had an arguement about them being too small before she left the house, but she insisted that she loved them and they were fine!! So Mum goes to buy her some shoes...any guesses what type of shoes she just had to have? Yep Long brown boots!! They do look pretty cute on, she loves them - THANKS Mum!! :)
Here's a pic of her going to Bella's birthday party back in July. She was so excited to be going to a birthday party by herself without the other kids!
* Emily - is growing up WAAAAAY too quickly! She turned 6 last week. I can't believe how fast it has gone. I also can't believe that this child is the same person as the one who was here 2 years ago! I could have given that little girl away....we fought CONSTANTLY, she didn't do anything she was told, argued with everyone, didn't seem to care who she upset...but she has grown into the most amazingly loving, kind hearted young lady and I canot even begin to say how proud I am of her. She still has that determined streak in her that I admire so much but she doesn't argue all of the time. She still stands up for what she believes in and won't be walked over but generally tries to keep the peace and is just so, so sweet and kind. Obviously she just needed to find out who she was and realise how important she was but she is seriously a different child these days! She's also 6 going on 16!!! Very concerned about looking pretty/cool/trendy etc. She still adores Luke (her boyfriend...remember the one she "married" ion Preschool?). She doesn't get to see him as often but when they do see each other they have so much fun and it's like no time has passed at all.
She loves - ART! Oh and art and anything remotely artistic and all things arty! Yep...loves art! LOL! Paint, glitter, cutting stuff up, glue, drawing, crayons, anything creative and she is in her element! She reminds me so much of Tammie as a young kid. Tammie was always cutting stuff up, creating something, (aka making a mess!!!), we'd all be watching TV and Tam would have disappeared and would be out in the garage making something. Emily is exactly the same. She is always leaving little notes and pictures around the place for us. Unfortunately she has limited things that she can write so we often find "Mum/Dad, I {heart} u" around the place. lots of drawings of flowers, suns, butterflies and always colourful. Back in July at school her class had an art gallery and they spent weeks creating lots of different types of artwork to display in the gallery (pencil drawings, colourful paintings, paper bag puppets, wet chalk drawings, black and white drawings, photography, charcoal drawings....heaps of things!!) It was fabulous and Emily loved being a part of it. She has started gymnastics and seems to love it or as she would say "this is SO me!!" With the Olympics recently on, I think she has set herself some serious goals, I'm not sure if she realises how many years those athletes have trained to be able to do all of that! With her determination, I am sure she'll be doing it in no time!
Here's a photo of her taken earlier this year that I just love....
and another couple of photos taken on the day of the school Walkathon a few weeks ago. They had to have crazy hair/socks/hat for the day, so she had crazy hair and crazy socks!
And of course, as I said earlier...someone likes to copy her big sister so Sarah also went to Kindy with Crazy hair!!!
* Matthew - turns 8 in about 2 weeks. Now that is seriously scary! 8!! We were talking the other day about the Olympics and he pointed out that he will be 12 when the next Olympics is on.....then of course he had to point out that he'll be 16 at the Olympics after that!!! 16!!!!! The bizarre thing is, the Sydney Olympics were on when he was a newborn and they don't seem that long ago. When you look at it that way...is he going to be 16 before I know it??
He's still completely football obsessed! He's just finished his first season of Aussie Rules (Aspley U8 Pies) and absolutely LOVED it! He did really well and amazed everyone with the way he could bounce that silly shaped ball while running (hours and hours and hours of practice in the back yard probably helped!!). Every time he got the ball, a few of the parents would yell out "Bounce it Browny". He idolises Jonothan Brown and on the field he walks like him, tucks his shirt in like him, has his socks pulled up like him, goes through the same motions before he kicks the ball etc etc. Steve was the coach (he did such a great job too!!) It was funny at the start of the season Matthew had no idea what to call him "Do I call you Coach, Dad, Steve or what?"
Matthew really listened to everything Steve told him...in fact sometimes too literally! Steve told him after one game that his kicking was great but he should start looking to handball more. He explained that sometimes a better option is handballing so he should start handballing more in the game. Matthew took it all in, nodded and said that he would definitely try next game. Next game Matthew did nothing but handball. Steve had to explain afterwards that he had done a great job but the idea was to mix it up a little and try handballing AND kicking and part of being a great footballer was knowing when to do what! He laughed at himself though and found a good mix in the next game. Sadly the season has finished now but he's looking forward to next year and playing Under 9's. He's madly trying to convince Steve to coach again. Actually all of the boys and parents are too. Matthew told him a few days ago that it was really cool having Dad as the coach so I think he may have convinced him to coach again next year. I hope he does because he did such a great job and the boys all improved so much over the season. It seems most will be back and are hoping to all be together again. The parents are all really lovely too so I hope so.
Matthew made some great friendships with the boys in his team. I think it was really refreshing for him to be around boys who shared his passion. The kids at school play rugby league and soccer and don't particularly like or play aussie rules which disappoints Matty greatly. He had one of the boys, Bailey, over for a sleep over a few weeks ago and they had a ball. VERY little sleep mind you. Steve fell asleep on the lounge and woke up around 11.30pm and could hear them still chatting, giggling (and I think playing Playstation) then Matthew said Bailey woke him at 5am because they hadn't finished their game the night before. LOL!
As well as footy he also currently loves - High School Musical (movie), Hannah Montana (TV), Miniclip and Club Penguin on the computer, Aussie Nibble/Aussie Bites, Harry Potter and Specky McGee books - he reads every night when he goes to bed. He reads until he gets tired and turns his lamp off when he has had enough. He's currently reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and is nearly finished...just in time for his birthday ;) He also loves "inventing" things...he's recently invented a sport and spent every night for a few weeks designing the sport and rules etc, he has invented a pretend country (along with a flag, a map of what it looks like - named all of the states and everything), and he's always thinking of things that he could invent or proposing 'what if' questions. Yes he's a funny little man at times! LOL!
Here's a few pics of Matthew and his team mates:
First game of the season.
Last game of the season.
At a night game in full club jersey's.
Secrets between mates (photo a little dark, will have to lighten it)
Matthew in action.
Actually funny story here...this team had a girl on the team (you can see her in the photo. When the boys got there they saw there was a girl and started laughing at the girl on the other team. I turned to Matthew and said "I wouldn't laugh if I was you, if she's in the team she's probably pretty good" All the boys laughed at me and I could tell they were thinking "as if!" Well...... girl power at it's best!!! She killed them! She was amazing and at the end of the 1st quarter they were all coming off saying "Did you see how good she is" She ended up winning her teams best player for the season award. And our boys learnt a good lesson too! LOL!
* As far as scrapping goes....I haven't done much at all this year :( :( I keep trying to find the time but then feel guilty that I should be studying so don't scrap. I was going to enter Scrapbooking Memories Masters but didn't get one of the items finished in time. Here are the 3 I did get done:
- Single layout had to be in a shape other than traditional square/rectangle so I chose to do mine in the shape of a crown: "Mum to a Princess"
- Double layout - had to be about your hopes and dreams and I chose to take mine from a slightly different angle. I based it around this beautiful song:
"Cherish Now"
The journalling reads: "Dear Matthew, Emily and Sarah, I heard this song recently and it has made me think and I realised that so many of my dreams at the moment focus on you all being a bit older and not so needy of me. I've been dreaming of the days when I'll be able to have a hot cup of coffee or talk uninterrupted on the phone, when I've finished my degree, when we'll have the house paid off and therefore have more money, when you'll all be old enough to travel with, to do your own seatbelts up, stay home without a babysitter while we go out, drive your own cars wherever you want to go. but then I realised what I already know deep down - that time will come all too soon and I'll miss these days. So I'm going to Cherish now and stop dreaming life away. Love Mum."
- BTP - Keepsake gift for someone special - Sarah is forever collecting little bits and pieces and carrying them around in her pockets or in a handbag so I made this little tin for her "Sarah's Treasures"
Some of the other scrapping I have done this year:
These were done for the Scrapbook Savvy Cybercrop a few months ago:
Harry Potter: Book Week last year, Matthew went as Harry Potter.
Sarah at 2.
A layout about our fears: My greatest fear is something happening to my children.
Well, I might leave it there!
Keep smiling,
Trish xx
* Steve still stay at home Dad...we're still all loving it! He's started playing ....shhh....lawn bowls!! shhh...stop laughing!!! He seems to really be enjoying it. Of course being Mr Competitive, he's frustrated that he hasn't perfected it yet but I'm sure he'll get there. He has also commented that he has never seen so many hearing aides in the one place and that he has to use his outside voice when he's inside!! Quite a lot of young people play though, so I don't think it is all oldies!!
* Kids bathroom renovation - Emily came downstairs one morning a couple of months ago and asked Steve why the shower was falling apart. We had no idea but when Steve looked at it, a tile was coming loose. So he got out what he need to fix that one little tile and when he pulled it off, it peeled away a little too easily....as did about 25 other tiles so we made the decision to bite the bullet and renovate it. Steve decided to take on the challenge of renovating it for under $1000. I didn't think he had a hope of sticking to that budget but I should have known better.....so it's done, just needs to be painted. I love it, kids love it and the bank balance loves it too...total was just over $1000 - he was a little extravagent with the tapware and I didn't even notice them oops...LOL! Will have to take a pic of it all.
* We've all been struck down with the dreaded flu that most of Brisbane currently has. I'm still trying to shake it off and have had it now for about 5 weeks!!! Over it!!! Spent nearly all of last week sleeping all day...not good! I'm hoping we've almost got rid of it. Matthew has been home from school this week, hopefully he's on the mend. By the way have you seen this??
Oh too funny, "got a man with a hurty knee" and "haven't you ever heard of Lemsip?" Hahaha!...I love it! Not that it's like this in our house when the man of the house isn't feeling so well...*roll eyes* LOL! Matthew seems to be suffering from "Boy Cold"...a slightly gentler version of the Man Flu...yes he's dying LOL!
* Uni has been crazy - I opted to do 2 of my subjects in an intensive 6 week period. Nearly finished them but OMG 13 weeks of work in 5 weeks...not fun!!! But at least it means 2 subjects down for the semester!
* Talking of uni - Brad finished his degree and graduated recently! Congratulations Brad (have I mentioned I hate you?!!!) Serously though, we're all so proud of you. I know how hard it is to balance everything and you did so well balancing it all, so a huge congratulations to you!
* Sarah turned 3 in May. 3?!!! 3!!!!!! Yes I am having issues! I can't believe she is 3 and goes to school year after next. She's a clever little thing and very very funny. She copies everything that Emily does which Em both loves and hates! Right now Sarah loves: TV - Dora the Explorer, Wonderpets, Fairies, Lazy Town, Playschool. She loves Kindy and hates the days she has to stay home. Loves books and will often grab a book and 'read' it. She talks to herself ALL OF THE TIME! Actually she just talks all of the time!!! At Kindy, at sleep time, they have to put her to the side of the room, by herself as she doesn't sleep but talks to herself the entire time! She loves to eat all day long but doesn't eat a lot as such, she nibbles all day long. She often sings to herself and cracks us up when she starts singing regular radio songs - some not so appropriate for a 3 year old "I kissed a girl and I liked it" for example!!! She is a shit-stirrer though and constantly stirs the older 2. She loves shoes...seriously LOVES shoes - mine, hers, Emily's, doesn't matter...she loves them. At the beginning of Winter I bought Emily some long brown boots. A few weeks later she was at the shops with Mum and she tells her "Mama, these shoes are hurting my feet, I think they are too small." Derr...we'd had an arguement about them being too small before she left the house, but she insisted that she loved them and they were fine!! So Mum goes to buy her some shoes...any guesses what type of shoes she just had to have? Yep Long brown boots!! They do look pretty cute on, she loves them - THANKS Mum!! :)
Here's a pic of her going to Bella's birthday party back in July. She was so excited to be going to a birthday party by herself without the other kids!
* Emily - is growing up WAAAAAY too quickly! She turned 6 last week. I can't believe how fast it has gone. I also can't believe that this child is the same person as the one who was here 2 years ago! I could have given that little girl away....we fought CONSTANTLY, she didn't do anything she was told, argued with everyone, didn't seem to care who she upset...but she has grown into the most amazingly loving, kind hearted young lady and I canot even begin to say how proud I am of her. She still has that determined streak in her that I admire so much but she doesn't argue all of the time. She still stands up for what she believes in and won't be walked over but generally tries to keep the peace and is just so, so sweet and kind. Obviously she just needed to find out who she was and realise how important she was but she is seriously a different child these days! She's also 6 going on 16!!! Very concerned about looking pretty/cool/trendy etc. She still adores Luke (her boyfriend...remember the one she "married" ion Preschool?). She doesn't get to see him as often but when they do see each other they have so much fun and it's like no time has passed at all.
She loves - ART! Oh and art and anything remotely artistic and all things arty! Yep...loves art! LOL! Paint, glitter, cutting stuff up, glue, drawing, crayons, anything creative and she is in her element! She reminds me so much of Tammie as a young kid. Tammie was always cutting stuff up, creating something, (aka making a mess!!!), we'd all be watching TV and Tam would have disappeared and would be out in the garage making something. Emily is exactly the same. She is always leaving little notes and pictures around the place for us. Unfortunately she has limited things that she can write so we often find "Mum/Dad, I {heart} u" around the place. lots of drawings of flowers, suns, butterflies and always colourful. Back in July at school her class had an art gallery and they spent weeks creating lots of different types of artwork to display in the gallery (pencil drawings, colourful paintings, paper bag puppets, wet chalk drawings, black and white drawings, photography, charcoal drawings....heaps of things!!) It was fabulous and Emily loved being a part of it. She has started gymnastics and seems to love it or as she would say "this is SO me!!" With the Olympics recently on, I think she has set herself some serious goals, I'm not sure if she realises how many years those athletes have trained to be able to do all of that! With her determination, I am sure she'll be doing it in no time!
Here's a photo of her taken earlier this year that I just love....
and another couple of photos taken on the day of the school Walkathon a few weeks ago. They had to have crazy hair/socks/hat for the day, so she had crazy hair and crazy socks!
And of course, as I said earlier...someone likes to copy her big sister so Sarah also went to Kindy with Crazy hair!!!
* Matthew - turns 8 in about 2 weeks. Now that is seriously scary! 8!! We were talking the other day about the Olympics and he pointed out that he will be 12 when the next Olympics is on.....then of course he had to point out that he'll be 16 at the Olympics after that!!! 16!!!!! The bizarre thing is, the Sydney Olympics were on when he was a newborn and they don't seem that long ago. When you look at it that way...is he going to be 16 before I know it??
He's still completely football obsessed! He's just finished his first season of Aussie Rules (Aspley U8 Pies) and absolutely LOVED it! He did really well and amazed everyone with the way he could bounce that silly shaped ball while running (hours and hours and hours of practice in the back yard probably helped!!). Every time he got the ball, a few of the parents would yell out "Bounce it Browny". He idolises Jonothan Brown and on the field he walks like him, tucks his shirt in like him, has his socks pulled up like him, goes through the same motions before he kicks the ball etc etc. Steve was the coach (he did such a great job too!!) It was funny at the start of the season Matthew had no idea what to call him "Do I call you Coach, Dad, Steve or what?"
Matthew really listened to everything Steve told him...in fact sometimes too literally! Steve told him after one game that his kicking was great but he should start looking to handball more. He explained that sometimes a better option is handballing so he should start handballing more in the game. Matthew took it all in, nodded and said that he would definitely try next game. Next game Matthew did nothing but handball. Steve had to explain afterwards that he had done a great job but the idea was to mix it up a little and try handballing AND kicking and part of being a great footballer was knowing when to do what! He laughed at himself though and found a good mix in the next game. Sadly the season has finished now but he's looking forward to next year and playing Under 9's. He's madly trying to convince Steve to coach again. Actually all of the boys and parents are too. Matthew told him a few days ago that it was really cool having Dad as the coach so I think he may have convinced him to coach again next year. I hope he does because he did such a great job and the boys all improved so much over the season. It seems most will be back and are hoping to all be together again. The parents are all really lovely too so I hope so.
Matthew made some great friendships with the boys in his team. I think it was really refreshing for him to be around boys who shared his passion. The kids at school play rugby league and soccer and don't particularly like or play aussie rules which disappoints Matty greatly. He had one of the boys, Bailey, over for a sleep over a few weeks ago and they had a ball. VERY little sleep mind you. Steve fell asleep on the lounge and woke up around 11.30pm and could hear them still chatting, giggling (and I think playing Playstation) then Matthew said Bailey woke him at 5am because they hadn't finished their game the night before. LOL!
As well as footy he also currently loves - High School Musical (movie), Hannah Montana (TV), Miniclip and Club Penguin on the computer, Aussie Nibble/Aussie Bites, Harry Potter and Specky McGee books - he reads every night when he goes to bed. He reads until he gets tired and turns his lamp off when he has had enough. He's currently reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and is nearly finished...just in time for his birthday ;) He also loves "inventing" things...he's recently invented a sport and spent every night for a few weeks designing the sport and rules etc, he has invented a pretend country (along with a flag, a map of what it looks like - named all of the states and everything), and he's always thinking of things that he could invent or proposing 'what if' questions. Yes he's a funny little man at times! LOL!
Here's a few pics of Matthew and his team mates:
First game of the season.
Last game of the season.
At a night game in full club jersey's.
Secrets between mates (photo a little dark, will have to lighten it)
Matthew in action.Actually funny story here...this team had a girl on the team (you can see her in the photo. When the boys got there they saw there was a girl and started laughing at the girl on the other team. I turned to Matthew and said "I wouldn't laugh if I was you, if she's in the team she's probably pretty good" All the boys laughed at me and I could tell they were thinking "as if!" Well...... girl power at it's best!!! She killed them! She was amazing and at the end of the 1st quarter they were all coming off saying "Did you see how good she is" She ended up winning her teams best player for the season award. And our boys learnt a good lesson too! LOL!
* As far as scrapping goes....I haven't done much at all this year :( :( I keep trying to find the time but then feel guilty that I should be studying so don't scrap. I was going to enter Scrapbooking Memories Masters but didn't get one of the items finished in time. Here are the 3 I did get done:
- Single layout had to be in a shape other than traditional square/rectangle so I chose to do mine in the shape of a crown: "Mum to a Princess"
- Double layout - had to be about your hopes and dreams and I chose to take mine from a slightly different angle. I based it around this beautiful song:
"Cherish Now"
The journalling reads: "Dear Matthew, Emily and Sarah, I heard this song recently and it has made me think and I realised that so many of my dreams at the moment focus on you all being a bit older and not so needy of me. I've been dreaming of the days when I'll be able to have a hot cup of coffee or talk uninterrupted on the phone, when I've finished my degree, when we'll have the house paid off and therefore have more money, when you'll all be old enough to travel with, to do your own seatbelts up, stay home without a babysitter while we go out, drive your own cars wherever you want to go. but then I realised what I already know deep down - that time will come all too soon and I'll miss these days. So I'm going to Cherish now and stop dreaming life away. Love Mum."
- BTP - Keepsake gift for someone special - Sarah is forever collecting little bits and pieces and carrying them around in her pockets or in a handbag so I made this little tin for her "Sarah's Treasures"
Some of the other scrapping I have done this year:
These were done for the Scrapbook Savvy Cybercrop a few months ago:
Harry Potter: Book Week last year, Matthew went as Harry Potter.
Sarah at 2.
A layout about our fears: My greatest fear is something happening to my children.
Well, I might leave it there!
Keep smiling,
Trish xx
Monday, March 31, 2008
WHOAH! Time flies!
Nov 18th?!?! Oh my goodness, 4 months since I have blogged..whoah! Obviously a lot has happened in that time, a LOT! - end of school year, holidays, lots of scrapping, Christmas, New Year, Emily started Prep, Matthew started Year 3, I'm back to uni, Steve's become a home Dad (and we're all loving it! and he's doing a great job too but shhh! don't tell him I said that ;) LOL!) then Easter ...so....where do I start?!!
Well Terri from Scrapbook City has been running blog challenges and they're up to week 5 so I thought I'd get the blog ball rolling with the challenges. I'm back to uni again and lots to do so if I get a chance I'll upload some photos, layouts and put down what's been happening before my sieve of a brain forgets :)
OK so the challenges:
Challenge 1 - My Favourite Things
Well I recently did a layout for the Scrapbook Savvy cyber crop about my favourite things so maybe I'll cheat and upload that......
Journalling reads:
I love.....BRIBIE ISLAND retire there one day?, CHOCOLATE any type, COFFEE all kinds but at the moment I love Caramel Lattes, PINK the colour and the singer, MUSIC most types, SCRAPBOOKING and all of the yummy products, HOT SHOWERS, EASTER and our annual family picnic, MY HOUSE and all of the renovations we have done, HOGS BREATH STEAK "LiteCut" with Calamari, cooked Medium, with vegies and curly tail fries, MY CAR Gold Ford Falcon Forte, ME TIME especially late at night when no-one else is around, CHRISTMAS the lead up, Christmas Day with family, the look on the kids faces, FRESH SHEETS, BEING HAPPY and being surrounded by happiness BUT there is NOTHING in the world that I LOVE more than my FAMILY.
OK so that was pretty easy...next!!
Challenge 2 - What Makes You Laugh
What Makes me laugh? Hmm... well definitely Stephen...all of the time. We share a bizarre sense of humour and often I know what he is going to say, what joke he will crack and sometimes if we are around other people, I get what he means and laugh but others just look at us like "Huh?" LOL! Sue always says that Steve and I live on love but I think we live on laughter (and love of course!)
The kids make me laugh...Living in this house they couldn't help but have a good (warped) sense of humour. Steve and I are always doing silly things with them, acting like idiots, there is a lot of laughs and giggles in this house and they are very funny kids! They all know when they are being funny and love trying to make us laugh.
Movies - one in particular comes to mind - Hercules Returns, still cracks me up. If you haven't ever seen it, do yourself a favour and find a video/DVD shop that has it and give yourself a good giggle. Stupid stupid humour but...well just my kind of humour...you'll probably hate it LOL!
Other people laughing...I love those emails that people send through that have a pic of a baby and this incredibly annoying laughter...makes me laugh though...I love laughing and laughter!
OK so yet another entry that I never posted. Yes it is months later and has been sitting in draft form, so I am going to post it and then go chase up the other blog topics...they are probably up to prompt 200 by now :)
Keep smiling
Trish xx
Well Terri from Scrapbook City has been running blog challenges and they're up to week 5 so I thought I'd get the blog ball rolling with the challenges. I'm back to uni again and lots to do so if I get a chance I'll upload some photos, layouts and put down what's been happening before my sieve of a brain forgets :)
OK so the challenges:
Challenge 1 - My Favourite Things
Well I recently did a layout for the Scrapbook Savvy cyber crop about my favourite things so maybe I'll cheat and upload that......
Journalling reads:
I love.....BRIBIE ISLAND retire there one day?, CHOCOLATE any type, COFFEE all kinds but at the moment I love Caramel Lattes, PINK the colour and the singer, MUSIC most types, SCRAPBOOKING and all of the yummy products, HOT SHOWERS, EASTER and our annual family picnic, MY HOUSE and all of the renovations we have done, HOGS BREATH STEAK "LiteCut" with Calamari, cooked Medium, with vegies and curly tail fries, MY CAR Gold Ford Falcon Forte, ME TIME especially late at night when no-one else is around, CHRISTMAS the lead up, Christmas Day with family, the look on the kids faces, FRESH SHEETS, BEING HAPPY and being surrounded by happiness BUT there is NOTHING in the world that I LOVE more than my FAMILY.
OK so that was pretty easy...next!!
Challenge 2 - What Makes You Laugh
What Makes me laugh? Hmm... well definitely Stephen...all of the time. We share a bizarre sense of humour and often I know what he is going to say, what joke he will crack and sometimes if we are around other people, I get what he means and laugh but others just look at us like "Huh?" LOL! Sue always says that Steve and I live on love but I think we live on laughter (and love of course!)
The kids make me laugh...Living in this house they couldn't help but have a good (warped) sense of humour. Steve and I are always doing silly things with them, acting like idiots, there is a lot of laughs and giggles in this house and they are very funny kids! They all know when they are being funny and love trying to make us laugh.
Movies - one in particular comes to mind - Hercules Returns, still cracks me up. If you haven't ever seen it, do yourself a favour and find a video/DVD shop that has it and give yourself a good giggle. Stupid stupid humour but...well just my kind of humour...you'll probably hate it LOL!
Other people laughing...I love those emails that people send through that have a pic of a baby and this incredibly annoying laughter...makes me laugh though...I love laughing and laughter!
OK so yet another entry that I never posted. Yes it is months later and has been sitting in draft form, so I am going to post it and then go chase up the other blog topics...they are probably up to prompt 200 by now :)
Keep smiling
Trish xx
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Happy New Year...2008...bring it on (but only in an organised way thankyou!
Saw this on someone's blog this morning and thought it would be fun to recap 2007 with:
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? Held a snake at Alma Park zoo as part of a TV commercial.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Gee, I don't remember....ummm.....Oh yes I do...this year was going to be the year of "High Maintenance" LOL! Just so you don't think I have tickets on myself, in 2006 Matthew had a girl in his class who's Mum is stunning, so we nicknamed her "Hottie" because Steve could never remember her name. Anyway, we were chatting about her one day and I commented that she always looked amazing but I'd never seen her in the same outfit (ie always new clothes) and that I wondered how she could be so perfectly made up and hair etc to drop her daughter to school. I mentioned that I thought she would be a very high maintenance wife (which I am now about 99% sure is the case) I went on to explain that she seems to spend a heck of a lot on clothes and manicures and hair and makeup and kids clothes etc etc. Anyway, Stephen commented that if I looked like that, I could be as high maintenance as I wanted to be LOL! Anyway, I can't be high maintenance, it's not me. I do plan to get my hair done more regularly and start looking after myself better this year but I don't think I'll ever look like "Hottie" and you know what, I don't really want to. I've got to know her better and she's actually annoying, so concerned about appearance and what people think and that's not me. I am more interested in people remembering me as someone friendly and happy than the lady who always looks good and obviously spends a lot of money on herself. So no I didn't really keep 2006/7's NY resolution! LOL!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Tarsh, Glen and Ena welcomed Owen to their family. Gayle and Tim had their daughter, Isla, making Russ and Penny grandparents and Ange and Steve an Aunt and Uncle. Congratulations to them!!!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother passed away 28th August 2007. I think about her all of the time. I know Mum is missing her so much. Nothing like a Mum to talk to. I love you Mum xx
5. What countries did you visit?
*sigh* one day!!
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Less procrastination, more energy, more drive and determination to get through my uni work, more organisation.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
28th August - Marnie passed away. 30th November - Emily's pre-school graduation. I looked at her that night and it took my breath away that she is really going to school, that I have 2 school aged kids and only 1 baby left at home, that she is so mature and confident and individual and kind and sweet and beautiful and I am so proud of her. I mean I always know these things but seeing her graduating and then on 'stage' singing with her class and being one of the older, bigger kids, I just realised what an incredible young lady she is!
OK Say there were about 30 questions and this was as far as I got, I'm going to post this now (months and months later *roll eyes*)
Keep smiling,
Trish
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before? Held a snake at Alma Park zoo as part of a TV commercial.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Gee, I don't remember....ummm.....Oh yes I do...this year was going to be the year of "High Maintenance" LOL! Just so you don't think I have tickets on myself, in 2006 Matthew had a girl in his class who's Mum is stunning, so we nicknamed her "Hottie" because Steve could never remember her name. Anyway, we were chatting about her one day and I commented that she always looked amazing but I'd never seen her in the same outfit (ie always new clothes) and that I wondered how she could be so perfectly made up and hair etc to drop her daughter to school. I mentioned that I thought she would be a very high maintenance wife (which I am now about 99% sure is the case) I went on to explain that she seems to spend a heck of a lot on clothes and manicures and hair and makeup and kids clothes etc etc. Anyway, Stephen commented that if I looked like that, I could be as high maintenance as I wanted to be LOL! Anyway, I can't be high maintenance, it's not me. I do plan to get my hair done more regularly and start looking after myself better this year but I don't think I'll ever look like "Hottie" and you know what, I don't really want to. I've got to know her better and she's actually annoying, so concerned about appearance and what people think and that's not me. I am more interested in people remembering me as someone friendly and happy than the lady who always looks good and obviously spends a lot of money on herself. So no I didn't really keep 2006/7's NY resolution! LOL!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Tarsh, Glen and Ena welcomed Owen to their family. Gayle and Tim had their daughter, Isla, making Russ and Penny grandparents and Ange and Steve an Aunt and Uncle. Congratulations to them!!!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother passed away 28th August 2007. I think about her all of the time. I know Mum is missing her so much. Nothing like a Mum to talk to. I love you Mum xx
5. What countries did you visit?
*sigh* one day!!
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Less procrastination, more energy, more drive and determination to get through my uni work, more organisation.
7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
28th August - Marnie passed away. 30th November - Emily's pre-school graduation. I looked at her that night and it took my breath away that she is really going to school, that I have 2 school aged kids and only 1 baby left at home, that she is so mature and confident and individual and kind and sweet and beautiful and I am so proud of her. I mean I always know these things but seeing her graduating and then on 'stage' singing with her class and being one of the older, bigger kids, I just realised what an incredible young lady she is!
OK Say there were about 30 questions and this was as far as I got, I'm going to post this now (months and months later *roll eyes*)
Keep smiling,
Trish
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Random Memories
Just wanted to record a few random memories of things the kids are saying at the moment (so I don't forget them!)
Sarah
* Her teachers are Biss Nikki, Biss Shelf (Miss Rochelle!)
* I love you five!
Emily
* Talking about how babies come out. I kept trying to explain without 'exact' details but she kept asking over and over again "but where do they actually come out?" So I told her. She looked at me puzzled and asked, "does it hurt?" I told her "a little but then you hold your little baby and it is all better" She looked at me with her little face scrunched up on one side and said "I am SO not ever having babies" LOL!
Sarah and Emily
Playing together ALL THE TIME! Sarah is going to miss Emily so much next year when she goes to school. They play "Babies" where usually Emily is the Mum and Sarah is the baby (occasionally they swap). It's so nice hearing them play and I realise I must be an OK Mum by the way they act and talk to their baby (lots of "darling, sweetheart, kisses, hugs and I love yous). They also play Kindy where Sarah is the Kindy Kid and Emily is the teacher (gee some of the kids in her class get in trouble a lot though LOL!) They play in the cubby a lot and have races in the Cozy Coupe car and the motorbike. They are such good friends!
Matthew
* "Oh that is lame"
* Steve, Matthew and I were watching TV this week and ANOTHER election ad came on. He stood up and looked at us and went off.....
"I am so sick of all of htese ads and I am sick of them picking on John Howard. He is trying his best. They keep blaming him for climate change but if people looked after water and turned lights off and looked after our planet then we wouldn't have to worry about climate change. But people do bad things and then blame John Howard. And work choices, well people need to work hard and then their bosses would want them to work and they wouldn't have to worry about work choices and not having a job. But nope, they blame John Howard. And how does Kevin Rudd think he'll do a better job? He might do a better job, but he might not. Why don't they try to fix things and not just come on TV and say how bad the other person is. That's not nice and bet they don't like it when people are mean about them so why be mean about each other......"
He continued on his soapbox for a bit longer while Steve and I just looked at each other and stifled our laughter! He was so passionate and 7!!! I don't think I even knew who the PM was at 7 let alone have an opinion on who to vote for. And for the record, it hasn't come from us. He watches the 5pm news most nights. When Kevin Rudd first became Labor leader, Matthew really liked him and kept suggesting I vote for him but he's been weighing up the argument and I think he's leaning towards John Howard now.
I've just called him in and asked him and for those still undecided about who to vote for, this is Matthew's opinion:
"Well I'd want to vote for both of them for different reasons. John Howard is being pushed around and people are being mean and that's not fair so I'd vote for him for that reason and because he's been doing OK. But I'd vote for Kevin Rudd because I don't want Peter Costello to be our Prime Minister so I'd choose him"
Hmmm....OK so I'm still undecided so I'll consult Matthew again....
I've told him you can only pick one so who would you pick? Amswer: Kevin Rudd because I really don't like Peter Costello!
LOL! I wonder if we'll see him in the future as a political correspondant or maybe in parliament himself?!?!
Anyway, in my usual style the little post I had intended to make has morphed into a huge story LOL!
Keep smiling (only 1 week until the election ads are finished LOL!)
Trish
Sarah
* Her teachers are Biss Nikki, Biss Shelf (Miss Rochelle!)
* I love you five!
Emily
* Talking about how babies come out. I kept trying to explain without 'exact' details but she kept asking over and over again "but where do they actually come out?" So I told her. She looked at me puzzled and asked, "does it hurt?" I told her "a little but then you hold your little baby and it is all better" She looked at me with her little face scrunched up on one side and said "I am SO not ever having babies" LOL!
Sarah and Emily
Playing together ALL THE TIME! Sarah is going to miss Emily so much next year when she goes to school. They play "Babies" where usually Emily is the Mum and Sarah is the baby (occasionally they swap). It's so nice hearing them play and I realise I must be an OK Mum by the way they act and talk to their baby (lots of "darling, sweetheart, kisses, hugs and I love yous). They also play Kindy where Sarah is the Kindy Kid and Emily is the teacher (gee some of the kids in her class get in trouble a lot though LOL!) They play in the cubby a lot and have races in the Cozy Coupe car and the motorbike. They are such good friends!
Matthew
* "Oh that is lame"
* Steve, Matthew and I were watching TV this week and ANOTHER election ad came on. He stood up and looked at us and went off.....
"I am so sick of all of htese ads and I am sick of them picking on John Howard. He is trying his best. They keep blaming him for climate change but if people looked after water and turned lights off and looked after our planet then we wouldn't have to worry about climate change. But people do bad things and then blame John Howard. And work choices, well people need to work hard and then their bosses would want them to work and they wouldn't have to worry about work choices and not having a job. But nope, they blame John Howard. And how does Kevin Rudd think he'll do a better job? He might do a better job, but he might not. Why don't they try to fix things and not just come on TV and say how bad the other person is. That's not nice and bet they don't like it when people are mean about them so why be mean about each other......"
He continued on his soapbox for a bit longer while Steve and I just looked at each other and stifled our laughter! He was so passionate and 7!!! I don't think I even knew who the PM was at 7 let alone have an opinion on who to vote for. And for the record, it hasn't come from us. He watches the 5pm news most nights. When Kevin Rudd first became Labor leader, Matthew really liked him and kept suggesting I vote for him but he's been weighing up the argument and I think he's leaning towards John Howard now.
I've just called him in and asked him and for those still undecided about who to vote for, this is Matthew's opinion:
"Well I'd want to vote for both of them for different reasons. John Howard is being pushed around and people are being mean and that's not fair so I'd vote for him for that reason and because he's been doing OK. But I'd vote for Kevin Rudd because I don't want Peter Costello to be our Prime Minister so I'd choose him"
Hmmm....OK so I'm still undecided so I'll consult Matthew again....
I've told him you can only pick one so who would you pick? Amswer: Kevin Rudd because I really don't like Peter Costello!
LOL! I wonder if we'll see him in the future as a political correspondant or maybe in parliament himself?!?!
Anyway, in my usual style the little post I had intended to make has morphed into a huge story LOL!
Keep smiling (only 1 week until the election ads are finished LOL!)
Trish
Monday, November 12, 2007
Lots going on.....
Scrapbook City had their first Awards night on Saturday night. It's the weirdest feeling being so excited about meeting people for the first time that you already know so well. They have moved into a new shop which looks absolutely amazing!!! Leisa and Kerri put on a great night! They should be so proud of what they have created with Scrapbook City, although I am still working on getting them to open a northside branch ;)
So here we all are:
How gorgeous are we!!! LOL! Thanks Katie for the photo!! :D
I got to catch up with Sue (toby) again who deservedly won the Heritage section. My goodness I love her stuff!
I got to meet Kathy for the first time and you know sometimes you meet someone and think, now that is my kind of person, well Kathy is definitely my kind of person. She is happy and nice and friendly and funny and talks heaps LOL! After all of our games on the Scrapbook City forum, I was really looking forward to meeting her. I also wanted to make sure that she knew I am insane and my comments are always made with a smile! That's the hard thing about forums and internet communication, you lose the other parts of communication that help communicate meaning so sometimes I have to wonder if people think I am weird! LOL! Luckily Kathy has understood what I have meant in my posts although she probably still thinks I am weird! LOL!
Got to see Linda again. Linda is just the sweetest and happiest person and another person that is just a pleasure to be around. Although apparently she wasn't so impressed by my Magic Vending Machine Gift of 1 month's free baby sitting by Brittney Spears. LOL! Go figure!?!?
Jen is exactly like I had pictured her to be - another fun lady!! I was so thrilled that she won the Pet Layout Award. She had created the most gorgeous layout of her little buddy, (Mr Birdles) who had sadly passed away the day she did the layout. Everyone had tears in their eyes when she gave her speech.
Everyone is just so darn nice! Niss, Sue, Katie, Debbie, Ronnie, it was so good to put faces to names and get to kow them a bit better.
It was such a lovely night and I was so excited (and hugely shocked!) to win 2 categories - Freestyle (won a MM tote!!!!) and Monthly Competition Categories (won a K&Co Album pack) and we got little trophies too which are pretty cool! These are the layouts:
{my} BOY - for the Scrapbook City Monthly Competition Winners Category. This kit was divine!!!
Journalling reads:
"I can still remember when you were born and the midwife announced that we had a son. I was thrilled but I remember thinking…A Boy?? But I don’t know what to do with a boy?” I was thinking of all the typical boy things…climbing, falling, getting dirty, bruises, pulling things apart, swallowing random objects, playing with cars and trucks, mud, funny bodily functions, loud, sweaty, smelly, playing ‘Superman’, trips to the emergency room, calls to poison information, walking on the roof, finding obscure places to put things, smelly, snips and snails and puppy dog tails….All very stereotypical I suppose, but that is what I was expecting with a son.
BUT you are NOT a ‘typical’ boy! We never childproofed with you, you’ve never swallowed anything weird, you don’t like or play with cars, trucks, superheroes or other “boy” toys. You never pull things apart, climb places you shouldn’t, you’ve had very few bruises and cuts. You are careful, safe, a worrier and we often joke you’ll have an ulcer by age 10! You may not be a stereotypical “boy” but you are MY boy and I love you just the way you are. {heart} Mum xo."
And Scrapbooking Memories have accepted it for publication too which is pretty darn exciting!!
And "this girl has SPUNK" for the Scrapbook City Freestyle Artist Category.
This is not a category I would have ever thought I would have won LOL! I am usually so straight and linear and tidy in my scrapping. Everything gets measured and is straight but I enjoyed creating this laout soooo much. I made myslef do it quickly and just stick it down ie no time to move stuff and doubt what I was doing. I decided that if something ended up looking silly or in the wrong place then I would just keep adding stuff until it looked OK! LOL! Might have to use this technique more often, it certainly got the page done quicker than normal!
Here are all of the winners for the night:
Category 1: Scrapbook City Photography on a layout Award = "Flamingos" - Trackster
Category 2: Most Compelling Journalling Award = "Life's Journey" – Brendy
Category 3: Scrapbook City BTP Award = "Altered Watering Can" – Terri
Category 4: Scrapbook City Digital Layout Award "Mum & Dad Satisfied" - Scrappy_nat
Category 5: Scrapbook City Colour Artist = "Agnes" - Lauren Rhodes
Category 6: Scrapbook City Freestyle Artist = "This Girl has got Spunk" - Tish
Category 7: Scrapbook City Outstanding BOM Layout = "I am what I am" - Trudi
Category 8: Scrapbook City Outstanding Boy Layout = "Rockstar" - Niss
Category 9: Scrapbook City Outstanding Girl Layout = "Beautiful" - Loulou
Category 10: Scrapbook City Outstanding Baby Layout = "3445 grams" - Madscrapbooker
Category 11: Scrapbook City Outstanding Family Layout = "Suddenly" – Kezzie
Category 12: Scrapbook City Outstanding Non-Person Layout = "Lit Chic" - Gigi
Category 13: Scrapbook City Outstanding Pet Layout = "My Little Buddy" - Jen
Category 14: Scrapbook City Outstanding Heritage Layout = "Shirley & Elve" – toby
Category 15: Scrapbook City Outstanding Holiday Layout = "Distant Dreams" - Ronnie
Category 16: Scrapbook City Outstanding Double Page Layout = "Christmas Pressies" - Ronnie
Category 17: Scrapbook City Outstanding Card = "Thinking of Scallops" - KathyJ
Category 18: Scrapbook City Outstanding Photography (not on layout) = "Dragonfly on a Waterlily" - Laraine McIntosh
Category 19: City Cybercrop Champion = "Beauty" - Tracy Firth
Category 20: Monthly Competition Winner = "My Boy" - Trish
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. Amazing job by everyone!
After the Awards Night Tam and I went and had a quiet drink at the Monier Hotel. It was SOOOOOO nice to sit and chat without kids. We love our kids but I can't remember the last time we could chat without worrying about fights, food, kids getting in to things they shouldn't, wiping bottoms, drinks etc etc while trying to hold a conversation! The joke used to always be "you shit me but I love ya" (meant in an endearing way of course. I started saying it when she was "an annoying teen of 13" and I was an "oh so mature 17 year old"!! LOL!) Tam, you don't shit me at all anymore, I just love ya to bits!! It was so nice to spend the time together and have Sunday morning together too!
Here are a few more layouts I have done lately:
Willing To Try was also for the SBC Monthly Kit Competition (did I mention I loved this kit!!!)
Journalling reads:
Emily, I love the fact that you give things a go. Whether it be different food (for example prawns) or trying something new. This day I remembered being at preschool and being too scared to go down the firemans pole. It took me until my last day to really try, yet here you are, just started preschool ad you gave it a try. I'm so proud of you and how you will "give it a go".
Scrapbooking Memories have also accepted this one for publication which I was pretty excited about too.
Emily is thrilled that she's going to be in the "mazagine" again but now that she is going to be in there and Matthew too she wants me to tell the "mazagine" that they need to put Sarah in there too or Sarah will be sad. How sweet is she!!!
This was also for the Kit Comp. The journalling is pretty honest and a little heavy. I really struggled with Emily from when she was 2 years old until earlier this year. We've had a bumpy few years but now we get along so well and things are fabulous between us. I have wanted to do a layout on this for ages so I am glad I finally have. Here's the journalling if you want to read it:
Verse from a Barbara Streisand song "Clear Sailing" (which I did a modern ballet solo to for many years) is in top left hand corner -
"Now I look into your eyes
The colour of a quiet sea
Cast my love upon the tide
Watch it return to me
Now I'm feeling fine
I can tell the storm has passed
For the last time
It's gonna be clear sailing
From now on. "
Emily, the verse from this song says exactly how I feel now. To be honest, it’s been a long bumpy road for you & I. It began when you were about 2. At the time, I put it all down to the “terrible 2’s” & you trying to assert your independence & be your own person.
At first you would just be defiant & stubborn & throw tantrums & I’d do the best I knew how to do to work through it. But it got worse & to be honest with you, I didn’t know how to handle it. I started to wonder if there was something wrong with me as a mum. Dad didn’t have the same troubles, no matter what he asked you to do; you did without question, so I started to think that it must be me. You would fly off the handle so easily, you would defy every little thing I asked. It didn’t matter how I tried to handle the situation…I tried being extremely nice, praising you when you were good, I tried smacking you, putting you on the ‘thinking step’ (actually you virtually lived on that step for a long time), I tried ignoring your behaviour, I broke down in tears in front of you many times, I yelled, I ranted, I raved, I took deep breathes & calmly tried to reason with you…no matter what, nothing worked. Your kindy teachers were always telling me what a gorgeous young girl you were & how well behaved you were so then I knew it wasn’t you, & started blaming myself more & more. I started to think that maybe you & I would never get along. It broke my heart. When I was pregnant & found out that you were a girl, I was so exited. I was elated - I always dreamed of having a daughter. But this wasn’t how I had imagined it to be. Part of me was so happy that you had so much spark & independence & that you knew how to stand up for yourself. But it really started to get to me, I got more & more depressed, kept blaming myself for whatever it was that should have been between us & just wasn’t. I absolutely hate to admit it now, but I didn’t enjoy being with you at all. The thing is, I know that you weren’t enjoying being with me either & I don’t blame you, I wasn’t fun to be with.
In July 2006, Dad realised that I needed to get away & sort myself out & organised for me to go away for a week by myself. During my week away, I thought so much about where I was at & so much about you & what was going wrong. I started to really think about why & this is what I believe contributed to the situation…
Matthew had been diagnosed with Diabetes in April 2004 when you were just 18 months old. I cannot begin to explain how that rocked my world. I did my absolute best to keep it all together, stay positive, to learn as much about it as I could. Then Sarah was born in May 2005. Poppy got really sick. There was a lot going on! I think back now & realise how it must have felt for you. Sarah was being breastfed so was always with me. Matthew was still adjusting to life with Diabetes, as was I, & I was trying my hardest to make everything positive for him. You didn’t need me in the same way as the others did. I mean I know you needed me but you didn’t need me physically like they did. Sarah needed me to feed her, change her, do everything for her. Matthew needed me to test him, give him injections, correct hypos etc etc. I now realise that I was barely coping & because you didn’t need me physically, I wasn’t doing as much physically with you. I think you were trying to tell me that you were there too & that you needed me too. You couldn’t say it in words so you used tantrums, fights & bad behaviour. I think in your eyes bad attention from me was better than the limited attention that you thought you were getting. Don’t get me wrong, I was still there for you & I kept telling you how much I loved you. I never stopped loving you! Never ever think that! I adore you, I always have & I always will, through both the good & the bad times.
Anyway, my week away didn’t immediately solve the problem. We had a lot to work through. I had a lot to work through. My biggest realization during that week was that I was angry about Diabetes coming in to our lives. I hate it & I have hated it ever since the doctor first mentioned the word. I hate that it has brought needles & testing into our lives, I hate that it makes us clock watch all of the time. I hate that it has made Matthew have to accept more responsibility than he should have to at his age. I hate that it has made you take on extra responsibility that you should never have had to either. I hate what it did to me. I hate that it turned me into such an angry person. I was trying to stay positive to convince myself & all of us that we could deal with this in our family when all I wanted to do was scream that I hated it. & so, nearly 3 years after it came into our lives, I finally cried & cried about it & admitted how much I hated it. I also realised how much anger I had stored up. But my most devastating realisation was what it had done to you & I.
I came back from my week away intent on making things between us right. I knew that it would probably get worse before it got better (& it did!) I knew that I had to crack down on your behaviour, to gain your respect & make you realise that I was the boss. I also knew that I had to make you realise how much I love you & what an important part of our family you are. & then earlier this year, we were talking & I said “I love you so much, you are such an important part of our family”. You stopped, looked at me & said “you love me like you love Matthew & Sarah, don’t you.” It was almost like you needed confirmation, that you were starting to believe it but needed the reassurance that it was true. “Yes sweetheart I love you just as much as I love Matthew & Sarah. I love all of you exactly the same – up to the moon, around the stars & back again”. & it’s true, I do! We’re good friends, just like I had always dreamed!
I suppose I could have left all of this unsaid. I am sure you won’t remember any of it so I could have left it out of your life story but I have chosen to tell you for quite a few reasons. Firstly, I want you to know all of this for when you have your own children. Maybe you will go through something similar, maybe you won’t, but if you do, I want you to know that its not always clear sailing & sometimes you have to work hard for what you love. Secondly, I want you to always know how important you are to me. I love you so much Milly. You put a smile on my face & I am so glad to be your mum. I am so proud of the person you are & I don’t think you will ever fully realise how much I appreciate the relationship we have now. So as I said, the verse to this song seems so appropriate. I look into your big blue eyes, give you my love & feel it returned to me. Now I feel fine, I can tell the storm has passed. It’s going to be clear sailing from now on.
{heart} Mum xoxo
This was for Challenge 1 in the last SBC Cybercrop. Based on a sketch but I didn't upload in time. I lay down with Steve and woke up at 7am the next morning! Getting old huh!!!
Journalling:
Sarah you are or 3rd child - my last baby! I am trying to enjoy every minute, and with you, that's not hard to do. Love Mum"
You can't really tell in the photo but there are little dots made with Dimensional Magic all around the outside of the layout and around the circle.
This one was done for Friday Night Games at Embellished a few weeks ago. The challenge was it had to be themed around "The Simple Things". I won it that week and got a $20 voucher which was brilliant!!!
Journalling is under the flowers and reads:
"There are 1000's of $'s worth of toys here but you got so much enjoyment out of a box - Hours of fun making it a car, a house, lots of things. Pleasure from the simplicity of a box. Sarah, 2007."
Well that's about it I think. This sure is one super-post though!
Keep smiling,
Trish
So here we all are:
How gorgeous are we!!! LOL! Thanks Katie for the photo!! :D
I got to catch up with Sue (toby) again who deservedly won the Heritage section. My goodness I love her stuff!
I got to meet Kathy for the first time and you know sometimes you meet someone and think, now that is my kind of person, well Kathy is definitely my kind of person. She is happy and nice and friendly and funny and talks heaps LOL! After all of our games on the Scrapbook City forum, I was really looking forward to meeting her. I also wanted to make sure that she knew I am insane and my comments are always made with a smile! That's the hard thing about forums and internet communication, you lose the other parts of communication that help communicate meaning so sometimes I have to wonder if people think I am weird! LOL! Luckily Kathy has understood what I have meant in my posts although she probably still thinks I am weird! LOL!
Got to see Linda again. Linda is just the sweetest and happiest person and another person that is just a pleasure to be around. Although apparently she wasn't so impressed by my Magic Vending Machine Gift of 1 month's free baby sitting by Brittney Spears. LOL! Go figure!?!?
Jen is exactly like I had pictured her to be - another fun lady!! I was so thrilled that she won the Pet Layout Award. She had created the most gorgeous layout of her little buddy, (Mr Birdles) who had sadly passed away the day she did the layout. Everyone had tears in their eyes when she gave her speech.
Everyone is just so darn nice! Niss, Sue, Katie, Debbie, Ronnie, it was so good to put faces to names and get to kow them a bit better.
It was such a lovely night and I was so excited (and hugely shocked!) to win 2 categories - Freestyle (won a MM tote!!!!) and Monthly Competition Categories (won a K&Co Album pack) and we got little trophies too which are pretty cool! These are the layouts:
{my} BOY - for the Scrapbook City Monthly Competition Winners Category. This kit was divine!!!
Journalling reads:
"I can still remember when you were born and the midwife announced that we had a son. I was thrilled but I remember thinking…A Boy?? But I don’t know what to do with a boy?” I was thinking of all the typical boy things…climbing, falling, getting dirty, bruises, pulling things apart, swallowing random objects, playing with cars and trucks, mud, funny bodily functions, loud, sweaty, smelly, playing ‘Superman’, trips to the emergency room, calls to poison information, walking on the roof, finding obscure places to put things, smelly, snips and snails and puppy dog tails….All very stereotypical I suppose, but that is what I was expecting with a son.
BUT you are NOT a ‘typical’ boy! We never childproofed with you, you’ve never swallowed anything weird, you don’t like or play with cars, trucks, superheroes or other “boy” toys. You never pull things apart, climb places you shouldn’t, you’ve had very few bruises and cuts. You are careful, safe, a worrier and we often joke you’ll have an ulcer by age 10! You may not be a stereotypical “boy” but you are MY boy and I love you just the way you are. {heart} Mum xo."
And Scrapbooking Memories have accepted it for publication too which is pretty darn exciting!!
And "this girl has SPUNK" for the Scrapbook City Freestyle Artist Category.
This is not a category I would have ever thought I would have won LOL! I am usually so straight and linear and tidy in my scrapping. Everything gets measured and is straight but I enjoyed creating this laout soooo much. I made myslef do it quickly and just stick it down ie no time to move stuff and doubt what I was doing. I decided that if something ended up looking silly or in the wrong place then I would just keep adding stuff until it looked OK! LOL! Might have to use this technique more often, it certainly got the page done quicker than normal!
Here are all of the winners for the night:
Category 1: Scrapbook City Photography on a layout Award = "Flamingos" - Trackster
Category 2: Most Compelling Journalling Award = "Life's Journey" – Brendy
Category 3: Scrapbook City BTP Award = "Altered Watering Can" – Terri
Category 4: Scrapbook City Digital Layout Award "Mum & Dad Satisfied" - Scrappy_nat
Category 5: Scrapbook City Colour Artist = "Agnes" - Lauren Rhodes
Category 6: Scrapbook City Freestyle Artist = "This Girl has got Spunk" - Tish
Category 7: Scrapbook City Outstanding BOM Layout = "I am what I am" - Trudi
Category 8: Scrapbook City Outstanding Boy Layout = "Rockstar" - Niss
Category 9: Scrapbook City Outstanding Girl Layout = "Beautiful" - Loulou
Category 10: Scrapbook City Outstanding Baby Layout = "3445 grams" - Madscrapbooker
Category 11: Scrapbook City Outstanding Family Layout = "Suddenly" – Kezzie
Category 12: Scrapbook City Outstanding Non-Person Layout = "Lit Chic" - Gigi
Category 13: Scrapbook City Outstanding Pet Layout = "My Little Buddy" - Jen
Category 14: Scrapbook City Outstanding Heritage Layout = "Shirley & Elve" – toby
Category 15: Scrapbook City Outstanding Holiday Layout = "Distant Dreams" - Ronnie
Category 16: Scrapbook City Outstanding Double Page Layout = "Christmas Pressies" - Ronnie
Category 17: Scrapbook City Outstanding Card = "Thinking of Scallops" - KathyJ
Category 18: Scrapbook City Outstanding Photography (not on layout) = "Dragonfly on a Waterlily" - Laraine McIntosh
Category 19: City Cybercrop Champion = "Beauty" - Tracy Firth
Category 20: Monthly Competition Winner = "My Boy" - Trish
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. Amazing job by everyone!
After the Awards Night Tam and I went and had a quiet drink at the Monier Hotel. It was SOOOOOO nice to sit and chat without kids. We love our kids but I can't remember the last time we could chat without worrying about fights, food, kids getting in to things they shouldn't, wiping bottoms, drinks etc etc while trying to hold a conversation! The joke used to always be "you shit me but I love ya" (meant in an endearing way of course. I started saying it when she was "an annoying teen of 13" and I was an "oh so mature 17 year old"!! LOL!) Tam, you don't shit me at all anymore, I just love ya to bits!! It was so nice to spend the time together and have Sunday morning together too!
Here are a few more layouts I have done lately:
Willing To Try was also for the SBC Monthly Kit Competition (did I mention I loved this kit!!!)
Journalling reads:
Emily, I love the fact that you give things a go. Whether it be different food (for example prawns) or trying something new. This day I remembered being at preschool and being too scared to go down the firemans pole. It took me until my last day to really try, yet here you are, just started preschool ad you gave it a try. I'm so proud of you and how you will "give it a go".
Scrapbooking Memories have also accepted this one for publication which I was pretty excited about too.
Emily is thrilled that she's going to be in the "mazagine" again but now that she is going to be in there and Matthew too she wants me to tell the "mazagine" that they need to put Sarah in there too or Sarah will be sad. How sweet is she!!!
This was also for the Kit Comp. The journalling is pretty honest and a little heavy. I really struggled with Emily from when she was 2 years old until earlier this year. We've had a bumpy few years but now we get along so well and things are fabulous between us. I have wanted to do a layout on this for ages so I am glad I finally have. Here's the journalling if you want to read it:
Verse from a Barbara Streisand song "Clear Sailing" (which I did a modern ballet solo to for many years) is in top left hand corner -
"Now I look into your eyes
The colour of a quiet sea
Cast my love upon the tide
Watch it return to me
Now I'm feeling fine
I can tell the storm has passed
For the last time
It's gonna be clear sailing
From now on. "
Emily, the verse from this song says exactly how I feel now. To be honest, it’s been a long bumpy road for you & I. It began when you were about 2. At the time, I put it all down to the “terrible 2’s” & you trying to assert your independence & be your own person.
At first you would just be defiant & stubborn & throw tantrums & I’d do the best I knew how to do to work through it. But it got worse & to be honest with you, I didn’t know how to handle it. I started to wonder if there was something wrong with me as a mum. Dad didn’t have the same troubles, no matter what he asked you to do; you did without question, so I started to think that it must be me. You would fly off the handle so easily, you would defy every little thing I asked. It didn’t matter how I tried to handle the situation…I tried being extremely nice, praising you when you were good, I tried smacking you, putting you on the ‘thinking step’ (actually you virtually lived on that step for a long time), I tried ignoring your behaviour, I broke down in tears in front of you many times, I yelled, I ranted, I raved, I took deep breathes & calmly tried to reason with you…no matter what, nothing worked. Your kindy teachers were always telling me what a gorgeous young girl you were & how well behaved you were so then I knew it wasn’t you, & started blaming myself more & more. I started to think that maybe you & I would never get along. It broke my heart. When I was pregnant & found out that you were a girl, I was so exited. I was elated - I always dreamed of having a daughter. But this wasn’t how I had imagined it to be. Part of me was so happy that you had so much spark & independence & that you knew how to stand up for yourself. But it really started to get to me, I got more & more depressed, kept blaming myself for whatever it was that should have been between us & just wasn’t. I absolutely hate to admit it now, but I didn’t enjoy being with you at all. The thing is, I know that you weren’t enjoying being with me either & I don’t blame you, I wasn’t fun to be with.
In July 2006, Dad realised that I needed to get away & sort myself out & organised for me to go away for a week by myself. During my week away, I thought so much about where I was at & so much about you & what was going wrong. I started to really think about why & this is what I believe contributed to the situation…
Matthew had been diagnosed with Diabetes in April 2004 when you were just 18 months old. I cannot begin to explain how that rocked my world. I did my absolute best to keep it all together, stay positive, to learn as much about it as I could. Then Sarah was born in May 2005. Poppy got really sick. There was a lot going on! I think back now & realise how it must have felt for you. Sarah was being breastfed so was always with me. Matthew was still adjusting to life with Diabetes, as was I, & I was trying my hardest to make everything positive for him. You didn’t need me in the same way as the others did. I mean I know you needed me but you didn’t need me physically like they did. Sarah needed me to feed her, change her, do everything for her. Matthew needed me to test him, give him injections, correct hypos etc etc. I now realise that I was barely coping & because you didn’t need me physically, I wasn’t doing as much physically with you. I think you were trying to tell me that you were there too & that you needed me too. You couldn’t say it in words so you used tantrums, fights & bad behaviour. I think in your eyes bad attention from me was better than the limited attention that you thought you were getting. Don’t get me wrong, I was still there for you & I kept telling you how much I loved you. I never stopped loving you! Never ever think that! I adore you, I always have & I always will, through both the good & the bad times.
Anyway, my week away didn’t immediately solve the problem. We had a lot to work through. I had a lot to work through. My biggest realization during that week was that I was angry about Diabetes coming in to our lives. I hate it & I have hated it ever since the doctor first mentioned the word. I hate that it has brought needles & testing into our lives, I hate that it makes us clock watch all of the time. I hate that it has made Matthew have to accept more responsibility than he should have to at his age. I hate that it has made you take on extra responsibility that you should never have had to either. I hate what it did to me. I hate that it turned me into such an angry person. I was trying to stay positive to convince myself & all of us that we could deal with this in our family when all I wanted to do was scream that I hated it. & so, nearly 3 years after it came into our lives, I finally cried & cried about it & admitted how much I hated it. I also realised how much anger I had stored up. But my most devastating realisation was what it had done to you & I.
I came back from my week away intent on making things between us right. I knew that it would probably get worse before it got better (& it did!) I knew that I had to crack down on your behaviour, to gain your respect & make you realise that I was the boss. I also knew that I had to make you realise how much I love you & what an important part of our family you are. & then earlier this year, we were talking & I said “I love you so much, you are such an important part of our family”. You stopped, looked at me & said “you love me like you love Matthew & Sarah, don’t you.” It was almost like you needed confirmation, that you were starting to believe it but needed the reassurance that it was true. “Yes sweetheart I love you just as much as I love Matthew & Sarah. I love all of you exactly the same – up to the moon, around the stars & back again”. & it’s true, I do! We’re good friends, just like I had always dreamed!
I suppose I could have left all of this unsaid. I am sure you won’t remember any of it so I could have left it out of your life story but I have chosen to tell you for quite a few reasons. Firstly, I want you to know all of this for when you have your own children. Maybe you will go through something similar, maybe you won’t, but if you do, I want you to know that its not always clear sailing & sometimes you have to work hard for what you love. Secondly, I want you to always know how important you are to me. I love you so much Milly. You put a smile on my face & I am so glad to be your mum. I am so proud of the person you are & I don’t think you will ever fully realise how much I appreciate the relationship we have now. So as I said, the verse to this song seems so appropriate. I look into your big blue eyes, give you my love & feel it returned to me. Now I feel fine, I can tell the storm has passed. It’s going to be clear sailing from now on.
{heart} Mum xoxo
This was for Challenge 1 in the last SBC Cybercrop. Based on a sketch but I didn't upload in time. I lay down with Steve and woke up at 7am the next morning! Getting old huh!!!
Journalling:
Sarah you are or 3rd child - my last baby! I am trying to enjoy every minute, and with you, that's not hard to do. Love Mum"
You can't really tell in the photo but there are little dots made with Dimensional Magic all around the outside of the layout and around the circle.
This one was done for Friday Night Games at Embellished a few weeks ago. The challenge was it had to be themed around "The Simple Things". I won it that week and got a $20 voucher which was brilliant!!!
Journalling is under the flowers and reads:
"There are 1000's of $'s worth of toys here but you got so much enjoyment out of a box - Hours of fun making it a car, a house, lots of things. Pleasure from the simplicity of a box. Sarah, 2007."
Well that's about it I think. This sure is one super-post though!
Keep smiling,
Trish
Marnie
I just realised that I never posted this, it was in my drafts folder waiting me to finish it and add some photos.
From 28th August 2007: "Funny how even though sometimes you know things are coming they still take you by complete surprise. Michael phoned me a little while ago to tell me that Marnie (my grandmother) has passed away. I don't even know what to think. Most of me is glad that she is finally with Poppa again, that her pains are gone, that she isn't just living out the days. I know that she is where she wants to be and I feel at peace with that. But part of me is so, so sad that she is actually gone. It's the end of a generation, our matriarch has gone.
She was such a massive part of our lives growing up. We spent so much time with her. Shopping trips to Super-Kmart. We'd have sleep overs and she play motels with us and we put our orders in for room service and she delivered them to our bedrooms on a tray and we'd giggle at how funny it was. There are so many memories and all of them are good. She was fun! She taught me to do crosswords and find-a-word puzzles (I never got cryptic crosswords though but she persisted in trying to teach me LOL!) She had great advice - "There's a time for everything" and even when I was about to have Matthew "well it's gotta get out somehow" LOL! Christmas Day was always spent at her and Poppa's house and were always so much fun. Then we'd head back on Boxing Day to sit under the house, the cricket would be on the TV, Poppa would be manning the bar with us kids sitting on the other side of the bar chatting and we'd be fascinated by the little lady in the bottle (or whatever it was).
I was her first grandchild and apparently I was spoilt rotten for quite some time (It was nearly 3 years before I got any cousins, then 4 of them crashed my party in the one year ;) haha!!) I used to always joke and say, "I'm your favourite, it's OK you can say it" and she'd always laugh and say "No, but I've loved you the longest" :) She thought Steve was wonderful and used to tell me all the time "you 2 have just got it you know, I can see it, you're each other's best friend, and you've just got it" I'm so glad she got to meet Matthew, Emily and Sarah. I can remember I called in to her place when I left hospital after Matthew was born and she was so excited. She kept saing to Poppa "Oh look Dick, this is our great-grandson, you know we started this" He just sat in his chair and nodded, the kind of nod that I knew he was just as tickled about it as she was!
I took Matthew around to her place one day when Matthew was only a few weeks old and I had little denim overalls on him. She told me off. She said "what's this? Little babies should be in bonnets and booties not this kind of thing, there's a time for everything and his time will come for wearing these kind of clothes, don't wish his life away." Mum was with me and tried to defend me saying that babies don't wear those type of clothes anymore and that he didn't suit them anyway. She stood by what she thought. So a week or so later, I took him around again but this time he was in a knitted bonnet, knitted booties and a knitted gown. She took one look, laughed out loudly, looked at me and said "Oh very funny, now get those ridiculous things off him"
I know she is in a better place, back where she belongs, in the arms of her "boyfriend" (yep after 50-something years of marriage she still referred to Poppa as her boyfriend..and yes they still held hands and cuddled like highschool sweathearts too).
This picture was taken on our Easter picnic in 2006 and shows the 4 generations of girls in our family:
Me (gotta love the hat hair!), Emily, Mum holding Sarah and Marnie.
And this photo was taken at Ethan's Christening in 2005:
Mum, Marnie, Me (pregnant with Sarah) and Emily.
Marnie, you were a wonderful grandmother and I am so grateful we had you in our lives for as long as we did. You provided such a wonderful example of what marriage is and always showed us how important family is. You gave lots of good advice that we all listened too and cherish dearly.
And I loved you the longest too :)
Trish {kiss kiss oowah oowah}
From 28th August 2007: "Funny how even though sometimes you know things are coming they still take you by complete surprise. Michael phoned me a little while ago to tell me that Marnie (my grandmother) has passed away. I don't even know what to think. Most of me is glad that she is finally with Poppa again, that her pains are gone, that she isn't just living out the days. I know that she is where she wants to be and I feel at peace with that. But part of me is so, so sad that she is actually gone. It's the end of a generation, our matriarch has gone.
She was such a massive part of our lives growing up. We spent so much time with her. Shopping trips to Super-Kmart. We'd have sleep overs and she play motels with us and we put our orders in for room service and she delivered them to our bedrooms on a tray and we'd giggle at how funny it was. There are so many memories and all of them are good. She was fun! She taught me to do crosswords and find-a-word puzzles (I never got cryptic crosswords though but she persisted in trying to teach me LOL!) She had great advice - "There's a time for everything" and even when I was about to have Matthew "well it's gotta get out somehow" LOL! Christmas Day was always spent at her and Poppa's house and were always so much fun. Then we'd head back on Boxing Day to sit under the house, the cricket would be on the TV, Poppa would be manning the bar with us kids sitting on the other side of the bar chatting and we'd be fascinated by the little lady in the bottle (or whatever it was).
I was her first grandchild and apparently I was spoilt rotten for quite some time (It was nearly 3 years before I got any cousins, then 4 of them crashed my party in the one year ;) haha!!) I used to always joke and say, "I'm your favourite, it's OK you can say it" and she'd always laugh and say "No, but I've loved you the longest" :) She thought Steve was wonderful and used to tell me all the time "you 2 have just got it you know, I can see it, you're each other's best friend, and you've just got it" I'm so glad she got to meet Matthew, Emily and Sarah. I can remember I called in to her place when I left hospital after Matthew was born and she was so excited. She kept saing to Poppa "Oh look Dick, this is our great-grandson, you know we started this" He just sat in his chair and nodded, the kind of nod that I knew he was just as tickled about it as she was!
I took Matthew around to her place one day when Matthew was only a few weeks old and I had little denim overalls on him. She told me off. She said "what's this? Little babies should be in bonnets and booties not this kind of thing, there's a time for everything and his time will come for wearing these kind of clothes, don't wish his life away." Mum was with me and tried to defend me saying that babies don't wear those type of clothes anymore and that he didn't suit them anyway. She stood by what she thought. So a week or so later, I took him around again but this time he was in a knitted bonnet, knitted booties and a knitted gown. She took one look, laughed out loudly, looked at me and said "Oh very funny, now get those ridiculous things off him"
I know she is in a better place, back where she belongs, in the arms of her "boyfriend" (yep after 50-something years of marriage she still referred to Poppa as her boyfriend..and yes they still held hands and cuddled like highschool sweathearts too).
This picture was taken on our Easter picnic in 2006 and shows the 4 generations of girls in our family:
Me (gotta love the hat hair!), Emily, Mum holding Sarah and Marnie.
And this photo was taken at Ethan's Christening in 2005:
Mum, Marnie, Me (pregnant with Sarah) and Emily.
Marnie, you were a wonderful grandmother and I am so grateful we had you in our lives for as long as we did. You provided such a wonderful example of what marriage is and always showed us how important family is. You gave lots of good advice that we all listened too and cherish dearly.
And I loved you the longest too :)
Trish {kiss kiss oowah oowah}
Friday, September 28, 2007
Whats in a name?
Saw this on Rachel Grieg's blog and thought it was a bit of fun:
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car).
Tracy Falcon Rock on dude!!!
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie).
Chocolate TimTam - Scary huh?!?!
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name).
T-Lat - The t-lat is in da house!!?!? Hmmmmm.....???
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal).
Pink Elephant - Yep the very elusive pink elephant! PMSL!
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born).
Yolanda Brisbane - I knew one day I would find a good use for my middle name!! Maybe Yolanda Brisvegas sounds better?!?!
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 3 letters of your first).
LatTri - thats pretty crappy....
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink).
The Blue Diet Coke - getting better...although would you really shriek in distress, help me Blue Diet Coke?!?! What about the Blue Southern Comfort?!!?
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers).
Dick Colin or Colin Dick - Hmmm...probably better suited to the next question...
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy).
Summer Rain Chocolate - Oooh, how exotic!!
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ).
Christine Maurice - If I ever have to go into witness protection I can guarantee I won't be using THAT!!
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter).
McArdle Miami - and now we're crossing to McArdle Miami for our weather?!?!
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Spring Iris - moonlighting as The Pink Elephant??
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”).
Orange Panties - exactly what kind of cartoon????
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree).
Coffee Fig - only tree I can think of!!
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”).[/quote]
The Scrapbooking Rain Tour - Yep that'll drag the crowds in!!!
Looks like I better stick with my real name!!
Keep smiling!
Trish
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car).
Tracy Falcon Rock on dude!!!
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie).
Chocolate TimTam - Scary huh?!?!
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name).
T-Lat - The t-lat is in da house!!?!? Hmmmmm.....???
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal).
Pink Elephant - Yep the very elusive pink elephant! PMSL!
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born).
Yolanda Brisbane - I knew one day I would find a good use for my middle name!! Maybe Yolanda Brisvegas sounds better?!?!
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 3 letters of your first).
LatTri - thats pretty crappy....
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink).
The Blue Diet Coke - getting better...although would you really shriek in distress, help me Blue Diet Coke?!?! What about the Blue Southern Comfort?!!?
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers).
Dick Colin or Colin Dick - Hmmm...probably better suited to the next question...
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy).
Summer Rain Chocolate - Oooh, how exotic!!
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ).
Christine Maurice - If I ever have to go into witness protection I can guarantee I won't be using THAT!!
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter).
McArdle Miami - and now we're crossing to McArdle Miami for our weather?!?!
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Spring Iris - moonlighting as The Pink Elephant??
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”).
Orange Panties - exactly what kind of cartoon????
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree).
Coffee Fig - only tree I can think of!!
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”).[/quote]
The Scrapbooking Rain Tour - Yep that'll drag the crowds in!!!
Looks like I better stick with my real name!!
Keep smiling!
Trish
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Really, really quick post
Some fabulous news regarding my friend, Kate....its not cancer after all...God love that 1%!!!!! LOL! She has autoimmune pancreatitis. Now I still have to look that up to see what it actually is. She still had some pretty intense surgery too and I'm guessing the diagnosis is still not the best news to get but it's not cancer and THAT is fantastic!!! Thanks big guy upstairs!! ;)
Quick layout share: Havne't scrapped in AGES and just felt the need on the weekend so I did, should have been studying but I just needed to chill out a bit!
Anyway, not sure if I like the "This Look" one but love the pic and story behind it. Love the circle one though if you don't mind me saying so! LOL!
Celebrated another trip around the sun....33 times now! Isn't that a very cool number! I think so but I may just be trying to look at my aging in a positive light LOL!!
I'm cheating here and copying my post from my happy birthday wishes from the girls at Scrapbook City.......
I had a great day. Had all my family over here which was nice, had Thai for dinner (which my kids and DH don't eat so big treat for me, the things that excite me these days LOL!)
Kids all chose their pressies for me which was sweet and quite funny. When the kids had asked what I wanted I said I really needed a new wallet, also told Steve and explained that I really needed one with more room for cards. Anyway, he took the kids shopping and Emily found one that she insisted I would love. Steve tried to talk her into something else but she told him "It's my present to Mummy and I pick this one" So I now have a bright pink wallet with 3 butterfly, flower and heart charms hanging off it with 3 card slots.
Then Sarah sent Steve on a wild goose chase. For Emily's birthday about a month ago Steve built her a cubby. So what did Sarah want to get Mummy? Yep a cubby!! "A little cubby!" So from her I have the cutest little carry along doll house "cubby".
And then Matthew....he knows his mother well...he got me the biggest box of Maltesers I have ever seen because "Mum loves chocolate and if we get a really big box we can have some too"
DH got me a new mobile phone and one of the new Basic Grey magnetic mats. Can't wait to use it!!
I had a great day, found a few more grey hairs but life's good!!
Anyway, gotta fly, assignment due this arvo....argh!!!!!!!!
Keep stressing, I mean, keep smiling!
Trish
Quick layout share: Havne't scrapped in AGES and just felt the need on the weekend so I did, should have been studying but I just needed to chill out a bit!
Anyway, not sure if I like the "This Look" one but love the pic and story behind it. Love the circle one though if you don't mind me saying so! LOL!
Celebrated another trip around the sun....33 times now! Isn't that a very cool number! I think so but I may just be trying to look at my aging in a positive light LOL!!
I'm cheating here and copying my post from my happy birthday wishes from the girls at Scrapbook City.......
I had a great day. Had all my family over here which was nice, had Thai for dinner (which my kids and DH don't eat so big treat for me, the things that excite me these days LOL!)
Kids all chose their pressies for me which was sweet and quite funny. When the kids had asked what I wanted I said I really needed a new wallet, also told Steve and explained that I really needed one with more room for cards. Anyway, he took the kids shopping and Emily found one that she insisted I would love. Steve tried to talk her into something else but she told him "It's my present to Mummy and I pick this one" So I now have a bright pink wallet with 3 butterfly, flower and heart charms hanging off it with 3 card slots.
Then Sarah sent Steve on a wild goose chase. For Emily's birthday about a month ago Steve built her a cubby. So what did Sarah want to get Mummy? Yep a cubby!! "A little cubby!" So from her I have the cutest little carry along doll house "cubby".
And then Matthew....he knows his mother well...he got me the biggest box of Maltesers I have ever seen because "Mum loves chocolate and if we get a really big box we can have some too"
DH got me a new mobile phone and one of the new Basic Grey magnetic mats. Can't wait to use it!!
I had a great day, found a few more grey hairs but life's good!!
Anyway, gotta fly, assignment due this arvo....argh!!!!!!!!
Keep stressing, I mean, keep smiling!
Trish
Saturday, September 15, 2007
So I don't forget....
I'm currently doing some research about Conductive Hearing Loss for an assignment and also heard something about our neighbours son today that has reminded me of something that I wanted to record so I didn't forget....
When Sarah was a few months old I started to notice that she wasn't reacting to the noise that Matthew and Emily would make when playing, fighting etc. Often she would be asleep in the lounge room and one or both of them would come into the lounge room laughing and yelling and making a lot of noise and she'd sleep through it, without stirring at all. OK so she is a deep sleeper I thought. But then I started to notice that when she was awake and they came running in she wouldn't react either. So I started "testing" her. I mentioned it to Mum too and she started "testing" her with me. We'd stand behind her and call her name, clap our hands, make noise etc to see how she reacted. Sometimes she'd hear, other times she wouldn't.
Her hearing test from birth had come back normal but still I was starting to get a little worried. Then one day, she was asleep in the lounge room and the front door slammed shut. It scared her and she woke screaming. Still I wasn't completely comforted as I have a friend whose mother is quite deaf and can hear certain sounds, slamming doors being one of them. But then someone came to the front door and when this stranger spoke, Sarah woke and reacted and had obviously heard them.
Suddently it dawned on me. Her hearing was fine!!! What she wasn't hearing was always Matthew and Emily and their noise. She had obviously trained herself to block out their noises. I mean let's face it if she hadn't she would never have slept would she?!?! :D
I can't tell you though the panic I felt. I did think "what if she is deaf? What will life be like for her if she can't hear" I worried about it .. a LOT! I prayed that her hearing was OK and thankfully it was/is.
Then today, Steve was next door talking with our neighbours and learnt that their 40-something year old son started losing his hearing at 8 years of age and was deaf from 12 years of age. About a year ago he had a cochlear implant and for the first time was able to speak to his parents on the telephone. How amazing is that!!! Ken was telling Steve that the first time he phoned and spoke to his mum on the phone, she broke down in tears. Technology truly is amazing!!!
On a really sad note though, I heard some bad news today about a friend of mine from high school, one that I have only recently got back in contact with (thanks to Facebook!) anyway, this friend has recently found out that she more than likely has Cancer (apparently 99% sure). The prognosis is not the best apparently as it is in her pancreas and surrounding area. She is going into hospital on Wednesday for surgery.
Please talk to the big man upstairs and ask him to help her out. She's only 32 for goodness sake. She has a LOT to live for and a LOT left to do. This girl made me laugh every single day in Grade 12, (geez we had some laughs) She and her boyfriend and family doesn't deserve this kind of news. Well no-one does but...well you know what I mean. So pray, pray, pray that technology IS amazing and that in a year from now she'll be looking back on this as simply a distant bad dream!
And on that note......
try to keep smiling :)
Trish
When Sarah was a few months old I started to notice that she wasn't reacting to the noise that Matthew and Emily would make when playing, fighting etc. Often she would be asleep in the lounge room and one or both of them would come into the lounge room laughing and yelling and making a lot of noise and she'd sleep through it, without stirring at all. OK so she is a deep sleeper I thought. But then I started to notice that when she was awake and they came running in she wouldn't react either. So I started "testing" her. I mentioned it to Mum too and she started "testing" her with me. We'd stand behind her and call her name, clap our hands, make noise etc to see how she reacted. Sometimes she'd hear, other times she wouldn't.
Her hearing test from birth had come back normal but still I was starting to get a little worried. Then one day, she was asleep in the lounge room and the front door slammed shut. It scared her and she woke screaming. Still I wasn't completely comforted as I have a friend whose mother is quite deaf and can hear certain sounds, slamming doors being one of them. But then someone came to the front door and when this stranger spoke, Sarah woke and reacted and had obviously heard them.
Suddently it dawned on me. Her hearing was fine!!! What she wasn't hearing was always Matthew and Emily and their noise. She had obviously trained herself to block out their noises. I mean let's face it if she hadn't she would never have slept would she?!?! :D
I can't tell you though the panic I felt. I did think "what if she is deaf? What will life be like for her if she can't hear" I worried about it .. a LOT! I prayed that her hearing was OK and thankfully it was/is.
Then today, Steve was next door talking with our neighbours and learnt that their 40-something year old son started losing his hearing at 8 years of age and was deaf from 12 years of age. About a year ago he had a cochlear implant and for the first time was able to speak to his parents on the telephone. How amazing is that!!! Ken was telling Steve that the first time he phoned and spoke to his mum on the phone, she broke down in tears. Technology truly is amazing!!!
On a really sad note though, I heard some bad news today about a friend of mine from high school, one that I have only recently got back in contact with (thanks to Facebook!) anyway, this friend has recently found out that she more than likely has Cancer (apparently 99% sure). The prognosis is not the best apparently as it is in her pancreas and surrounding area. She is going into hospital on Wednesday for surgery.
Please talk to the big man upstairs and ask him to help her out. She's only 32 for goodness sake. She has a LOT to live for and a LOT left to do. This girl made me laugh every single day in Grade 12, (geez we had some laughs) She and her boyfriend and family doesn't deserve this kind of news. Well no-one does but...well you know what I mean. So pray, pray, pray that technology IS amazing and that in a year from now she'll be looking back on this as simply a distant bad dream!
And on that note......
try to keep smiling :)
Trish
Friday, September 14, 2007
Happy Birthday Kelley!
I'm in the middle of frantically trying to finish an assignment that is due in today but I wanted to wish Kelley a HUGE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope you have the best day, you deserve it.
If there is anyone out there reading this, make sure you pop over to her blog (link in sidebar----->) and leave her a big Happy Birthday comment.
Love ya heaps, Hugs,
Trish
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope you have the best day, you deserve it.
If there is anyone out there reading this, make sure you pop over to her blog (link in sidebar----->) and leave her a big Happy Birthday comment.
Love ya heaps, Hugs,
Trish
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Hope is in a Cure
This link was forwarded to me today through the CWD - Parents of Children with Diabetes support list. I thought it was a fabulous video that shows the positives as well as some of the not-so-positives!! Oh and for the record, Matthew doesn't have a pump, maybe one day but not yet, and I have never injected into his arm...owww!!!! OUCH! :D
Hope is in a cure and we gotta believe that it will happen.
Keep Smiling and always hoping!
Trish
Hope is in a cure and we gotta believe that it will happen.
Keep Smiling and always hoping!
Trish
Friday, August 24, 2007
I rock and I share LOL!
Thanks Tam.....I think???! I rock?!?! Hmmm...I'm trying to be a better blogger. Tammie, I think we need to remind each other to blog OK?!!I'm not going to tag 5 people because 1) no-one reads my blog anyway; b) anyone who does has already been tagged and c) I don't think I read 5 blogs!! LOL!
Anyway, not much happening, meant to be working on 2 assignments so better get in to it. Matthew has a class prayer/celebration thing today and he doing a reading, so the girls and I are going up to join in.
Nothing much else to say at the moment but I think it is because I am feeling guilty that I should be studying. I haven't done any scrapping for AAAAAGGGGGGEEEEESSSS, but I'll leave with the last lot of layouts I have done and not uploaded here. Most were done while I was away for my week end of June.
Snuggle: This was done for a cybercop. Challenge was to create your own patterned paper and to use a technique you have either never tried or only tried once. mine was using a mask, love them just never think to use them. All "patterned paper" on this page was made with staps or white dots/doodles etc. Sarah and Uncle Mikey on her birthday.
So Loved: This was done at a Scrapbook City crop as part of a 1,2,3 follow me. I (and everyone there) chose a photo and the background cardstock and then moved on to someone else's spot and had to add things (first pp, then title, then embellishment, then something else). So this page is a joint creation by the girls at the crop. I finished it off with some dots.
More Birthday Hugs: Based on a skecth by Alicia Barry. Love these papers, so pretty!
Breathless: I am so happy with this layout, I just love these photos of Emily (except for her little tushie hanging out the top of her pants?!?!! Gotta love the strategically placed HS flower!!!), love these papers too. Thinking about adding the title breathless somewhere though. Journalling reads: "There are days that your beauty takes my breath away. Today, watching you lying at the beach busy daydreaming, I was completely breathless."
Another Dad's Girl: Originally this was for the final round of Reality Scrap but I didn't get it done and only needed at least 1 of the 3 layouts done (I managed 2). It was meant to have 3 photos but I was forcing it trying to use 3 and figured that it was more important to have it the way I wanted it rather than forcing it to fit. Not sure if you can read the journalling but it basically explains how I was concerned how Steve would be with another princess because Emily is SUCH a daddy's girl.
Doing The Show: Matthew used to always be the Wiggles when he was younger and was always "doing the show" so this layout is about that! Emily also liked to join in, love how she is holding the guitar LOL!
SpongeBob: This was started ages ago for a Round Robin challenge on Scrapbook City where we had to scraplift the layout uploaded before us. I had to scraplift one of Gigi's layouts. i love her layout and don't think I really did it justice but I'm just glad to have this story recorded!
Cheese: Done for Scrapbook City cyber crop a while ago, can't remember the rules but I followed them LOL! Sarah's Cheese face, everytime the camera comes out..."Cheeeese"
Flutter: Love this layout, love this photo and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. I always say to Emily that when she gives me cuddles, she makes my heart flutter so I wanted to do a layout to remember this.
Jasmine: My gorgeous niece Jasmine, how beautiful is this photo of her!!!! Lots and lots and lots of tiny jewels. They took forever to individually stick on but I love how it turned out!
Keep smiling :)
Trish
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