It's that time again ...

Time to share another couple of layouts ...


Ta da ... my layout for this week's challenge with the girls over at Scrapbook Essentials ... love the way this has come together. The challenge : to use at least two black and white pics - either black or white background [not both] and then another colour as an accent ... I went with the black and white ...

Would loved to have added another colour and nearly did, but no ... thought to myself, stick with the black and white and go with the flow. So I did just that.





I know that Meg was having a few problems with her website earlier today, so hope that it is okay to post my layout now


This next layout is a layout I put together as a result of being involved in a pic swap ... whereby you scrap someone else's pics, put a layout together, hope like ... something or other it comes together okay and then you send it back to the owner of pics.

Mine looks like this ... and it will be winging its way over the ditch when and if I ever get around to packaging it up and sending it back to its rightful owner ... lol.





Marg it will be home soon, truly.


I have now been involved in three swap layouts - I've scrapped pics of Tess' grandchildren, I got really close to Gerri and just for the record, Gerri belongs to Ann and her family in Auckland and is of the purring family i.e., a cat and now I've scrapped Mardi and Bella who are additions to Marg's family from over the ditch and Mardi and Bella are dogs.


Wow, talk about a variety ... all three of them tho have a little something in common ... they all have circles on their layouts ... I still haven't got over the circle phase that I am going through - lol - I'm sure that it will happen, but not just yet. Fiskars, I love your wee circle cutting gadget and of course with a little help from my Cricut for the smaller circles, I'm having a blast.


Had better cracking, I've got another layout to put together, well at least think about putting together ... time to head into my creative mess - to those of you wondering about what my creative mess really is ... it's my scrapping room ...lol.

Take care.

Busy weekend

Why is it that weekends disappear - they truly just fly by - just like that ... you just start to wind down and it is time to crank the body back up to work mode again ... I'm thinking this weekend that I have been robbed of a day ... I'm sure that Saturday passed in a blur - IYKWIM ...

We have been lucky to have a little sunshine this weekend, just for a change. I must admit, it has been blowing a gale and it has been bitterly cold, but the sun has made an appearance for the better part of yesterday and today. One just had to stay indoors, look outside and imagine that it was about 20 degrees warmer than it really was ... lol. Trust me on this one, you would need to have some imagination.

The fire has been roaring most of the weekend and whilst indoors it has been a balmy 23 / 24 degrees, but note that I said whilst indoors ... we would have been lucky to get to double digits outside this weekend in the deep south. The wind has been bitterly cold.

Perfect weather for a little scrapping, a little housework and little bit of R&R. On the scrapping front I have completed two layouts, one I'm not in a position to share until such time as I have the okay from my swap partner over the ditch. A swap where you scrap someone else's pics and then send them the layout, which will hopefully make it into their scrapbook album.

So that one is now done and dusted ...

Then last night I was playing [oops being creative] with the next challenge with the girls over the ditch, the theme for this challenge, to scrap a building or structure and it wasn't allowed to be a tourist attraction ... the layout had to be loaded by tonight, so I'm now loaded into the gallery and here is my layout.





I really like the way this has come together. I've used a golden yellow for my background - after a mad dash over to Meg's this afternoon. I have got cardstock coming out my ears really, but nothing seemed to give it a little bit of oomph that I was looking for, so I came home with a selection of different coloured cardstock. Yellow is not a colour that I would normally use, but I think that it just lifted everything. Well it is more a golden yellow really and it lifts the golden colour in the patterned paper.

As you know, well the scrappers will know, taking a pic of a layout at night can sometimes be a hit and miss really and taking a pic tonight didn't really do the layout justice. Looks far better in real life. And I really do like the way that this one has come together - I'm repeating myself and I know it.

Russell is the historian in the family and many years ago we both spent hours and hours and hours [we won't go there] tracing back down the lines of the family tree ... this was pre-children I might add. While on holiday over 20 years ago, we visited the Ashburton court house and a few cemeteries around the area and we came across a small unmarked cemetery, on the main road, hidden behind big trees and we found some Frisby family headstones ... and yes they are relations. One of the gravestones is of one of Russell's grandfather's brothers and some of his family.


Now something totally different ... a whinge from moi. Yesterday afternoon I spent well over an hour on hold, I kid you not ... on hold waiting while a technician came on line to talk to me about a wee few problems that we have been having with our internet connection ... now after the hour that I was on hold, I talked to a techno man and Russell also talked to the same techno man and I kid you not, after two and a half hours of either being on hold or talking to someone from the team at Xtra, Russell finished his call ... and wouldn't you know it ... not all the problems were resolved ... grrrrhhh - technology can be a giant pain in the butt ...

In saying that, at least today we have had a connection to the internet. Yesterday we would be clicking here and there and the internet connection would come up with an internet error and close down ... well after I don't know how many times of that happening, that was when I decided I wanted to talk to a real live person ... not some dinky pre-recorded telephone message ... so we will see how long this lasts for this time around ...



This afternoon I had to go out and about in the bitterly cold [but remember the sun was shining - lol] to watch Nathan front up for another game of rugby - Southland under 65kgs vs Southland under 13's ... well ... our boys were absolutely 'dicked' excuse the expression ... I probably could have said 'hammered' ... they had their butts whipped by the opposition. They were quite simply outplayed. This is only their second outing as a team and I'm sure as they play a few more games together they will gel as a team, but today, unfortunately, it just wasn't a happening thing.

I'm thinking to myself, that they had better gel before I have to head away to Timaru for a four day rugby tournament next month. And I'm sure that they will. The team have been having two practices a week around the region for the last couple of weeks and I know full well that they have come a long way to get to where they are now and they still have a long way to go. I think that today's loss will have been a real eye opener for them and I'm sure that they will play better as a unit next time they run out on to the paddock.

I haven't actually spoken to Nathan about the game as yet, so it will be interesting to see what he has to say about it.


Before I forget a big thank you to all of you who have offered to send me $2 for a ticket in Nathan's cricket scratchie boards. Thank you so very much - much appreciated.


But now I must get off this computer and head back into my scrap room. I've got another layout to put together for Meg's latest challenge and it is going to be a challenge putting this one together ... we will see what I can come up with - time will tell.


Before I go - deepest sympathies are extended to one of my scrapping colleagues, Janine, who has recently lost her mother.

Memories are for ever and for ever you will cherish them.
Thinking of you ... take care.


To one and all, enjoy the week ahead of you.

Every day is challenging and some days are more challenging than others.

Well here it is ...

I still can not believe that I loaded this layout ... I said in my post last night I SO DO NOT do whimsical and I still believe that, 110%. What was I thinking ???

I was trying to play with the fact that Danielle had drawn the flowers on my birthday note. Danielle was 5 years old at the time [fast approaching 6] and this note was for my 30th birthday, I know that because ... because Russell had also written a note for my birthday on the same piece of paper as well and he had made reference to our wedding anniversary, a new baby [namely Nathan] and then my birthday - so that was reference to August, September and then October ... so that's why the layout is covered in flowers, butterflies and dragonflies - to bring out the flowers that Danielle had drawn.

So here it is ... I have referred to this layout as a creative mess, it is SO NOT LIKE the way I would normally scrap anything ... ROFLMAO and you can now see why!!!




Change of subject entirely. We are fundraising!!! Why are we fundraising??? We are fundraising for the cricket trip to Westport in January and we have some fundraising to do that's for real and then last night at rugby, Frizz came home with another fundraising raffle ... crikey. You can only hit up the same people so many times and try and get them to part with a few coins from their wallets. It's not easy really.

I know what I can do, just had a brainwave ... perhaps I should suggest to all that read my blog, no persuade you all would be a better ... to send me down a $2 coin and I can put your name beside one of the numbers on my scratchie board ... how does that sound - you don't need to send me a RAK for a while - how cheeky is that ... you would then have the opportunity to win a scratchie board full of scratchies AND a $20 note ... and you just never know, I might just send you a RAK as a thank you. Sound like a plan ...

And if your name is drawn I promise to send you all the scratchies for you to scratch and the $20 ... sounds good to me ...

Right then, if anyone takes me up on the offer, or should I say opportunity ... look forward to hearing from you.

On that note, I've got a few more fundraising emails to send out tonight before I disappear to bed.

Take care and keep warm.

I'm in trouble ...

Mr Mojo has disappeared on me ... BIG TIME ... what a time to dessert me Mr Mojo, I'm so not impressed.

I have a deadline tonight to upload another layout with the girls at www.scrapbookessentials.co.nz and yes, I have now completed a layout ... like something you have never seen before - well not from me, that's for real. I've decided I SO DO NOT do whimsical ... I like more defined things I've decided. I've got a few hours to go and I'm thinking of pulling it ... and may just do that. I've got time on my side ... will mull over it for another hour or two. Don't be surprised Meg if you get a call from me ...

You are going to have to wait until tomorrow to see 'my creative mess' - don't say that I haven't warned you - and I know that you will be thinking she is just having us all on - I'm NOT!!!! So there!!! My daughter was out visiting tonight and she turned her nose up at it ... although when she saw the subject matter up close and personal, she laughed.

That's all I will say on the subject, all will be revealed tomorrow and you will see for yourselves. Sometimes, it just doesn't happen.

I put together a layout a few months ago without photos and loved what I came up with. I scrapped my wedding vows and loved the layout, but this one is so outside the square for me ...

Right then, onwards and upwards. Nathan had yet another day off school today - although he ventured onto the computer, so I'm thinking that he must be feeling better. This bug, chest cough, runny eyes, snotty nose, whatever it is that he has, really has hit him for a six to be honest. He is not normally sick and this has just flattened him. He has been unwell since Friday night and will probably stay home from school again tomorrow as well.

On a lighter note ... lighter being the operative word. I have noticed the last few mornings that it has been quite a bit lighter in the morning when one wakes up ... and the nights have drawn out a little. Roll on Spring ... I'm ready for some colour in the garden, some sunshine, oops, that should be some warm sunshine.

On that note, see you later.

Another challenge ...

Check - done ...


and here it is ... my latest creation with the girls over at Country Papercraft ... my partner in crime and I both have layouts covering off with the circle of flowers, the one pic, one pp and cardstock and as you know, I so love my flowers - lol.






What I haven't done tho is put together my layout for the next round challenge with the girls at Scrapbook Essentials ... tapping my fingers ever so patiently waiting for Mr Mojo to come and pay a visit ... well hello, I'm ready and waiting ... where are you ?!?!?!?!?!

I should be in my scrapping room being creative as a bonus. Nathan should be running on the rugby paddock about now but he has come down with some bug ... yesterday he spent the day plastered to the couch, not even with the X-box, not even on the computer. My young man has to be SICK not to do either of those - truly. Friday night he was a very glassy-eyed young man and coughing, big time. He fell asleep on the couch watching the rugby - so NOT like him. He is still coughing today and feeling very lethargic. He needs a fix-it potion [or something].

So today he misses a game of rugby ... gutting!!!

Well it's time for me to go and play - in my scrapping room.

Enjoy your day!!!!

Do I ...

Tempt fate and say ... blogger behave ... don't know whether to blame the internet connection or blogger ... someone isn't behaving and it is more than a little frustrating.

So here goes ...


I didn't realise until this morning that I was 'honoured' with one of these a couple of weeks ago ...




How cool is that ... I was surfing a few blogs this morning and found 'moi' mentioned on Tassie Deb's blog [and if the name didn't give it away - that would be Deb in Tasmania - A U S T R A L I A - said with an Australian twang - lol] - how cool is that ...

So thank you so very much Deb and my apologies for not having picked up on it sooner.


And then ... this week, my scrapping buddy from way up yonder honoured me with an award ... a 'NICE' award ... how sweet is that.




Hannah, thank you so very much ... you my friend are the sweetest, both inside and out and it was my pleasure to meet up with you and Rob when you ventured down to this part of the world. Hopefully at some stage, somewhere along the line, we will have the opportunity to meet up again for coffee and dessert.


Scrapbooking together with the internet has opened up a big wide world to me ... I was visiting a local scrapbooking store this week and talking to Karen [the owner] and we still laugh about the fact that I was a cardmaker long before I was a scrapbooker and years ago she used to say to me, it's about time you started scrapbooking - my response ... I'm never going to scrapbook. Well hello ... scrapbooking and moi ... are buddies ... I love it. It's something that I have stuck with now for the longest time and it is more than a hobby to me ... yes sometimes I can get stressed - and I use the word 'stressed' in the sense, that something may not quite be going right and I have to walk away from the layout for a day or two [or a week or something - lol] cos something isn't going quite right and I SO WILL NOT put it together if it's not quite a happening thing [most of the time].

I enjoy the fact that I am scrapping for others to share our memories in years to come. I enjoy that I am being creative, sometimes more than others and I enjoy that I am doing something for me, something that I enjoy doing. I'm sure Mr Visa enjoys that I scrap as well ... I see new product and that comes under the category 'I must have' and so I do ... lol.

Scrapbooking has brought new friends and I would like to think that some of my new friends will remain life-long friends. The two forums that I spend a little time with, okay I'll be honest, a lot of time with, the girls at Scrapbook Essentials and over the ditch at Country Papercraft are an awesome bunch of girls. When I'm yakking on the forum [so to speak] I'm not scrapping as such, but I'm involved with scrapping. It's more than a little addictive really, a great deal of laughter is involved as well and I am thankful for the friendships that I have made ... thank you ladies. When I go blog-hopping, there can tears of laughter and there can be tears of sadness as well from time to time. It gives me a little insight of others lives and it's wonderful.


Right then, another pic ... now I should be scrapping this pic or one very similar instead of tapping on the puta ... and I will ... soon. I took this pic of my DD on Thursday night after work. The challenge this week with the girls over at Country Papercraft ... colour my world ... talked to DD and said that I wanted a pic of her in a colourful top, did she have one ... her comment, don't think so, but I've got a top. Okay, meet you after work, I'll bring the camera.

Now what the rest of the world quite possibly isn't aware of ... it's still Winter here in the deep south and it is COLD ... now standing outside in one skimpy little top for a photo opportunity at 5.30 pm at night is probably not high on the list of priorities for an 18 year old. But she knows that her mother is more than a little 'mad' said in the nicest possibly way and sometimes the pic just has to be taken. Thursday was one of those days. Now I kid you not ... it was extremely cold and I can honestly say that the temperature outside was probably borderline '0' degrees Celsius and trust me on this one ... not the ideal conditions for standing outside taking photos ... I was freezing my butt off and I had proper clothes on, so to speak ... so this pic was taken in the name of scrapbooking.

Thank you young lady for humouring your mother.






My friend NanJules came out to visit on Thursday night, we had a cuppa and a natter as you do ... and I parted with some cash to pay Julie for this ...




Julie was up nice and bright and early and I thank her for that ... a 4.30 am start - for me --- I don't think so. But Jules did. She was up bright and early the day that the HS Club Kits were released and as you can see, that is the middle of the night in our part of the world. Well they arrived and I'm absolutely stoked with the goodies. Awesome - brilliant - amazing and for what it cost ... excellent value, I kid you not including the horrendous shipping charges and making allowances for the exchange rate ... cool.

Now I'm not saying that Jules is going to be out of bed bright and early every month when the HS Club Kits go up for sale ... it would totally depend on what the goodies are ... ROFLMAO ...

So a big thank you Julie, much appreciated and I'm thinking some of my scrapping layouts in the next wee while are going to feature a lovely colour combination of ummmmmmmm ... pink and brown ... lol.


Okay one and all, are you still with me ... I should have started this blog post with another - this is a long post warning ... oops ... didn't, shame on me.


So I'm going to toodle off now and that saying on some TV programme, the name of which eludes me atm - stop that bus ... it will be 'scrap that pic' ... ROFLMAO.


Before I go - I'm going to pass on the Rockin' Girl Blogger award to ...


Drum roll please ...




Kelly [Memory Fairy]
Janine [Angelgurl]

Your blogs rock girls ... awesome !!!


and then I am going to nominate my fellow bloggers with the 'Nice' award ...




NanJules - she is a very special lady and someone I truly believe is more than 'NICE', she has had some major battles in her life and these battles have made her a stronger person for it. Every day is challenging and some days are more challenging than others ... you deserve a 'NICE' award my friend.

and

Tanya - another battler, a lady who is finally believing in herself - she's a wonderful lady and at the start of the year, we all picked a word that we would concentrate on for the rest of the year ... Tanya's word - 'believe' ... another special friend, and I look forward to meeting up at SENZ for some fun, a little laughter, some wonderful comraderie and of course a little creativity.


Wow, on that note ... I'm away to be a little creative.

If you've got this far and haven't been blogged out, you have done well. Enjoy your weekend everybody and keep warm ...

See ya ...

Precious time

My latest creation in the next round with the girls at www.scrapbookessentials.co.nz - some brilliant layouts have been uploaded in the gallery - absolutely awesome. Nothing like a challenge to make you think outside the square ... although last night I put this together and it was just about not a happening thing. I nursed a stinking headache yesterday at work, got home from work and lay down for a while with a cold facecloth on my face ... not pretty. But I put this layout together and I'm rapt with the way it turned out [well, most of it - lol]. We are our own worst critics ... ROFLMAO.

So there you have it ... precious time ... and time is definitely precious first thing in the morning. I'm totally guilty of hitting that snooze button and rolling over ... but hey, I know that I'm not the only one.

Right that's it from me ... have to head back into town for another lots of photos with the young fella for rugby ... I tell you - I'm going to be broke sooner rather than later with rugby ... team photos for three teams is a costly exercise.

Later ...

You ...

Over with the girls at www.countrypapercraft.com.au - the latest round is now done and dusted ... they have had some awesome layouts go up in the gallery. Whip in there and take a peek - very creative and inspirational.

My Ozzie partner in crime and I both scrapped the two big men in our lives ... here's mine ... love it to be honest.





Next round is now underway [funny that] and is going to be just a little challenging ... how about a lot challenging.


I have a deadline tonight of uploading my next round of the ultimate scrapbook champion with the girls at www.scrapbookessentials.co.nz - all I will say is that I started last night and didn't achieve much, away to work shortly and tonight it's going to be all hands on deck - ummmmmm ... that would be, both hands on deck and Mr Mojo I'm calling for you ... please don't desert me now.

Just as well DH is here atm, he is going to be on rugby training duty today ... that's right, it's started already.

This rugby training should do wonders for Nathan's athletics fitness.

On that note, time to disappear, have a great day and whatever you are doing, do it well and keep warm.

Bragging rights

It's like this ... as a mother you are allowed to have bragging rights when it comes to the achievements of your children. Over the years I know that I have done a lot of bragging when it comes to my own children's achievements. We have been very proud parents so many times both academically and sporting-wise and don't get me wrong there have been many many times when we have been proud for lots of different reasons. Just lately our son has done us proud with his prowess on the rugby paddock and today was no different.

Are you ready ...


Nathan made the Southland U65kg rugby squad [he weighed in at 54.1 kg] - woo hoo ... you are going to find him on the wing ... woo hoo.

Trials were held today in absolutey hideous weather conditions. Luckily for me DH went to the rugby and I stayed home indoors in the warmth doing the housework thing, while the boys were outside battling it against Mother Nature.

Nathan is absolutely stoked and both parents are more than just a little bit stoked as well, just for the record.

Training schedule is out as well and it's amazing what these boys have to do - an exercise programme for morning and night ... practice two days a week after school, which works in well with his cricket training as well - different nights - so that's cool. Unfortunately because of commitments now with the rugby squad he is going to have to miss his school camp and that's a real shame. The boys love going into Deep Cove for a few days, not to mention a certain big boy I know as well ... oh well, these things happen.

We already know when the games are on ... he will be heading to Dunedin for a weekend in September and heading away to the South Island rugby tournament next month as well. I had better work my schedule out as well sometime in the very near future.

That's a whole lot of running around and playing chauffeur ...

Our young man has now worn the Southland colours in three different sporting codes; athletics, cricket and rugby and he is only 12.

Woo hoo, go Nathan ... another one of those proud mother moments.

Just thought that I would share that with you ...

Make a cup of coffee ...

Well I suggest you hit the pause button [or something], make yourself a cup of coffee, sit back and relax and read on ... long post ahead ... don't say that you haven't been sufficiently warned ... lol

Today is Saturday, just in case you didn't know that - lol. In the deep south today it is pouring down ... it's raining and outside it is bleedin' wet. Just thought that I would share that with you.

Now I know that it is wet, cos I've been outside in the rain for the last few hours. This morning at the Les George Oval in Invercargill, the under 13 final of the town primary rugby took place ... at stake naturally was bragging rights and the PlaceMakers U13 Trophy ... this is what it looks like, up close and personal ...




I know that it looks like this, up close and personal, cos our boys won it ... woo hoo ... what a brilliant game of rugby our boys played ... okay so they struggled a little in the second half, they had a referee that should have been sin binned. Quite noticeably in the second half he made some shocking calls that really did go against our boys, he was whistle blower happy and so in favour of the other team and it was so blatantly obvious - very unfair. I kept standing there, I was screaming on the sideline to our boys to hold it together with a little bit longer and they did ... woo hoo ... final score I think was 22-19.

Both teams battled it out, they truly did and in shocking weather conditions. Wet, wet, wet!!! Our boys were soundly beaten when they played the opposition in an earlier round, they played out of their skins in the semi final last weekend to make the final today and they went on to beat the opposition, who today, suffered their first loss for the season.

I did take lots of pics but it wasn't until I got home and went to upload them, there must have been a few rain drops on the lens and I've got a big 'yick' in some of the photos ... not a happy camper, scrapper or whatever ... I was using a big resolution, so hopefully I might be able to have a play around and come out with some decent pics.

Before I finish with this part of my post, I should say congratulations to our young man. He scored a try and it was a brilliant try, he had the foresight to make some brilliant play and he read the game on more than one occasion. Well played Nathan ... you were awesome today and both Mum and Dad can proudly say ... you played well and we were so very proud of you. Nana and Danz were also at the rugby ground to see him play in the final.

A game of rugby isn't over until the final whistle and it takes all 30 players on the field to make a great game of rugby - let's not forget the young fellas who were on the bench, the coaches and sideline judges as well.

To both teams, well done boys.


Right then, onward and upward ...

My wee chirpy friend arrived on Thursday - woo hoo ... it came out of its nest for a short while on Thursday night and again last night ...

If you aren't a scrapbooker, you will have absolutely no idea what I'm going on about it and will probably be thinking to yourself, that the woman has lost the plot entirely ... not quite ...

My wee chirpy friend looks like this ...





It's neat and I have been humming and haa-ing about buying one of these wee chirpy things for quite some time ... well I've done it now and I can see it is going to get a good working out on a regular basis.


My friend NanJules came out to visit last night and went away with a title for her layout ... all by myself and a few flowers.

My latest creation which I will share at some stage [probably tomorrow] has some Cricut cut outs on it as well. Love it ...

And last, but not least ... are you still with me people, nearly there and you can take a breather ... lol.

My thanks go across the ditch to Marg over at www.countrypapercraft.com.au - Marg and I are doing the photo swap thing - you scrap each other's pics and then send them over a completed layout ... well my layout has arrived. Marg scrapped DD and DS and I love it ... it's gorgeous. It is way better in real life and is now safely tucked away in one of my scrapping albums ... here it is for all to enjoy.





Thank you Marg ... it's gorgeous.


And finally, I had better get my butt off this computer and into my scrapping room - I HAVE to get a layout completed so that my partner and I can upload our creations in the next round of the Amazing Scrapbook Journey.


Enjoy your weekend !!!

Time to share

Two layouts to share ... one titled 'belle of the ball' - my weekly layout with the girls over at www.countrypapercraft.com.au where my partner and I team up and come up with a layout between us ... this layout had to show the costs - what it cost for something ... on the right hand side of the layout is a hidden embellished tag with what it really cost to go to the ball ... trust me on this one, it sure wasn't cheap. Tucked away under the photo is a hidden pocket with a scanned after ball ticket as well ... love the way it came together.

Round one with the girls at www.scrapbookessentials.co.nz and our challenge for the week was to come up with a layout that featured two handmade embellishments. Thought to myself, I've got a pic that I can use to make a double layout of DD ... so that's what I did. I scanned the invitation and used a Sizzix movie strip over the top and I've also made a transparency with a few rub-ons, chipboard photo corners and then the word 'magical' is on a piece of chipboard that had been covered in patterned paper and then the edges painted as well - someone you know didn't quite do the 'paint' bit quite right, so one had to improvise and do a whole lot more dabbing with the dauber and then wait and wait and wait until the paint was dry to use the rub-on alphas. Love the way this has come together as well.

Love both layouts and I can say that it has been quite a while since I have put a double page layout together ... a lot of fun in putting together both layouts to be honest.

Don't know what it was about them ... could have been the pearls, the fibres, the ribbon ... may well have been the feathers and the beads ... I'm so into beads at the moment ... in years to come, people are going to say, she must have been going through a phase - and I AM!!!!!

With being in both competitions/challenges I am completing at least two layouts a week and filling up my scrapbook albums at the same time. These challenges make you think outside the square and it's wonderful.

Look forward to the next few weeks - just busy enough really.


Before I disappear, birthday greetings go out to a very special man in my life ... my darling husband is another year older today ... happy birthday Mr Friz. Mwah !!!!! love you ...

Happy anniversary baby ...

It was this day 21 years ago that I married the man of my dreams. We went away to Queenstown on a skiing holiday [not something that we have done again, the skiing bit I mean - lol] and came home Mr and Mrs. We eloped, quite simple really. That's just what we did.

This photo was taken on the ski slopes either the day we got married or the day before, not sure which ...

So to my darling husband, I love you, I'm in love with you and I will always love you ... but hey ... you know that.

Happy anniversary babe ...
With love,
M
xx

A weekend for rugby

Nathan had a full on weekend on the rugby paddock this weekend. Just as well Russell was around to play chauffeur, cos that's what he did.

Saturday saw Nathan's team walk on the rugby field in the semi final game and woo hoo, they won - they blitzed the other team. The forwards had a brilliant game making it a lot easier for the backs to get the ball. So well done guys!!!! The big final is next Saturday morning. So we are going to be there with bells on. Don't think it would be a cool look for the pom poms though - lol.

Today, the boys had to go out to Otautau - about 40 minutes drive away for a double header. They left home at 8:30 am this morning and didn't get home until probably closer to 4:15 pm. A huge day for them. Major understatement really.

Nathan was playing in the South Town team and they won both games ... woo hoo!!!!! South Town came away with a draw last weekend - so they went on today to be joint winners with the team from Eastern.

Well done guys.

After the game the triallists were named for the Southland squad - trialling next Sunday will be our son ... woo hoo - doing a whole lot of woo hoo's at the moment in this blogging post. But Mum's are allowed to do that!!!

So his first season in rugby boots - a member of the team in the final next Saturday in the Saturday competition; a member of the winning team that were joint winners of the Sunday competition and to top it all off, trialling for the Under 65 kg Southland team.

What a season ... congratulations young man!!!! You've done us proud [again!!!].


Another big week ahead of us sporting wise. Cricket tomorrow after school, club rugby team photos on Tuesday night, rugby on Thursday night, rugby on Saturday and rugby again on Sunday.

The young fella has had a terrible cold for the last few days - so I'm thinking he had better hurry up and get rid of it ... pronto!!!

Secret Santa

Mail man has been - woo hoo ... another parcel arrived in my mail box this morning.

I so love getting mail ... and not those horrible envelopes that you know darn well is going to have a bill to be paid in them.

I was involved with the girls over at Country Papercraft in Oz - you can find them here ... www.countrypapercraft.com.au and I signed up for their mid year Secret Santa.

I got to work this morning, grabbed my scissors and delved into my parcel - well that's what you do when you get exciting mail!!! I'm no different than anyone else - ROFLMAO ... although I did consider pulling over in my car and opening up my parcel on the side of the road ... lol - I did, truly!!!!

So I'm going to share with you now the contents ...

Have a look at this ...






Wow, how cool is that ...

I will be following through on the same idea with the calendar myself - it has what I think is a transparency [not 110% sure on that] on the top, so you can use a marker and write your notes and scribbles and reminders on it and then at the end of the month, you can rub it all off, pop in the next months' calendar and way you go again ... love it, love it, love it ... what a great idea.

As well as that Secret Santa spoiled me with scrapping supplies as well ... cool ... love it - so when I have a play with my Secret Santa's spoils, I will share with you all.

A big HUGE thank you goes out to my Australian Secret Santa - woo hoo ... thank you.