Blue Heart Scraps - Then & Now

The new kit is out for Blue Heart Scraps... another jam packed one in the most gorgeous of colours. The theme is just perfect for those memories over the years... like this school one I just did of Aaron.

The photos are Grade 1, Grade 7, Grade 8 and Grade 12... yes there is definitely a big change in age and height, but he is still the same little guy I always love.

Aaron passed his matric exams, but not quite as well as he needed to to go study for the BSc degree as planned. So at the moment we are investigating a few other options, one of which is flight school. His dream since he was 10 has been to fly... so this might just be the push we need to get him there sooner rather than later.

Remember to head over to the Gingerscraps store and snag this grab bag quickly while it is available.

Scrapbook Challenges - Sketch 300

It's the last Monday of the second term... this time next week I will be on Mommy holiday... and looking forward to getting time to do lots of scrapping... the last few weeks have just been so busy that I haven't actually touched sides.

This past weekend we had a soap box derby on at Aaron's school... it was a real fun-filled day.  If you want to see more, check out the school blog.  To top of the amazing day I went and fell on the steps at our house that evening and ended up hurting my feet.... was hobbling around most of Sunday.  Thank goodness this morning everything seems to be back to normal.  It was Father's Day yesterday and my folks came over for lunch.  We just  vegged by a roaring fire all afternoon... played monopoly as well.

Today's sketch is up at Scrapbook Challenges and we have reached the 300 milestone. Be sure to check out the forum for lots more inspiration.

For my layout I used the single page sketch and decided to change the circles for hearts in keeping with the "valentines" theme of the photo.  At Aaron's school they don't celebrate valentines as such... rather they have renamed it "Agapanthus Day" to celebrate Agape love.... love one for another.

While you are at the forum checking out the rest of the team's layouts, why not join in a game of bingo... you choose 25 words from the list and the words will be called during the month of July.

Don't forget too, there are lots of fun challenges each week run by different Design Team members.

First day of Grae 4

It was "Back to School" today for Aaron.... Grade 4.

He was super-excited this morning to be going to school and to meet his new teacher... Miss Le Grange.... who is a brand new teach too... first teaching post.

Only about 4 kids from his class last year are in his class this year... a right royal shuffle around... but I think it will be good for study purposes.

This afternoon I had to cover his books in plastic... all 26 of them!  By the end of the afternoon I was finished.... back ache and tired!  The last three years we've got the books in dribs and drabs and then it doesn't feel nearly so bad.... much more manageable!

So here is to an exciting year with lots of hard work ahead.... hope it all goes well.

Look what I won....

hehhee.... I seem to be saying that a lot lately!!!   Today was Aaron's school's Passion4Wheels festival... more on that in another post.... but I just HAD to show you what I won in the raffle....

And while the cake was being fetched from the fridge, the MC was giving out hints....
1 The name of person who won this starts with a C.... "that's ME!" says I
2 The second letter is an A..... "that's ME!" says I again
3 The third letter is a T.  And no it doesn't spell CAT..... again I laugh and say "That's ME!"
4. The fourth letter is an H...... by now I know I stand a HUGE chance of it being ME.
and then he calls my name.... I was jumping .... yippeee..... I simply LOVE chocolate.

Here I am receiving my prize from Mr Norel, the Principal.

mmmmmmmmmmmm..... it's brown, covered in strawberries and chocolates.

As soon as we got home I had a slice.... yummy...... mmmmmmmmm think I might just go have another slice quickly.

ps.... a cake like this I'm sure would cost over R100 and I just paid for two tickets at R5 each.... well worth it don't you think?

Sketches: Creatively Yours... layout 2

The next sketch and reveal is up at Sketches:Creatively Yours.... here is mine

Be sure to check out these layouts... there is the most gorgeous kitten on one of them that makes me want to cuddle up to it... awh!

Please dig deep....

in your wallet that is!  


Aaron's school is having a fundraiser again and this time he has to learn facts about South Africa... it's called an Afrithon.  Please can you see your way to sponsoring him per correct answer - he has to do 30 questions... so if you sponsor R1 per question that would be R30.  The test is next Friday and then I will nag for the money.  So at this stage it's a pledge.

If you want to see how much general knowledge you know, go to our school blog and see the quiz answers.

Thanks a lot

I'm busy....

but not scrapping!! aww! hehehe.... our school is having a valentine's day sale next week and I was asked to put together some kits to make valentine's day cards... so I said I would make 50!  Well I went through all my scraps and sorted out papers, embellishments, ribbons, etc and up to now I've done 30 kits... lots of fun.  Hopefully I can finish these kits tonight and then get to some more serious scrapping tomorrow.

In the last two weeks I've only done one page.

The other reason I didn't scrap more is that last week my shoulder/back seized up and I had to have physio to release it... ended up on spasmed and sleep, plus strict instructions NOT TO SCRAP!!!  Boy that wasn't easy.

Weekend news

I had a great weekend... and you?????

I managed to do a ton of scrapping - 6 layouts... one of which just needs it's journalling but I'm waiting on an email for that.  And unfortunately for you all, I can't show you a single one of these 6.... why?... well because they are for my February sketch team submissions and two are for the design team call... so guess you will just have to be patient (again!).

Besides the scrapping, I did some baking and then also the washing in between the raindrops.  Must still tackle the ironing today though.  I had to go to a school meeting on Saturday morning to enlighten all the new parents about the school blog... was a great session and I think it was well received by all who went.  Hopefully now I will get more stuff to post from other involved parents.

And that really was the weekend.  Today though, I ask for your prayers for a special Mom.... if you remember me writing about Ally who past away in October last year... well today would have been her ninth birthday and it's the three month anniversary of her death... please pray very hard for her mom Jackie who is not in a happy place and is missing her little girl.

This week's scrapping...

Okay the heading of this post might sound a bit silly seeing as today is Thursday, but I haven't scrapped too much this week, except for these two layouts that I'm going to show you... which are both layouts from ISE 2007 - they were by Jodi Holbrook of Making Memories.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I love the feeling of success in completing past projects... it's like a weight off my shoulders... or maybe I just don't feel so guilty any more having all these layouts prepared and not done!

I hope to do a major scrap again this weekend (okay so what else is new... hehehe) but most of what I will be doing is my layouts for my February sketch team committments.... if I get them done 1-2-3 I might just be able to tackle some others too.

Other news .... we had a school info evening on Tuesday, so found out a bit more how Grade 3 will work... pretty straight forward.  This Saturday we have our "new" parents and class mom's meeting and as I'm doing the school blog I need to go and introduce it to them all... so that will use up a few hours of my day... plus there is the usual chores to do (washing and ironing) sure hope our maid comes this week as I don't fancy having to clean house too!

Enough said, time to do some other stuff!

In the last week...

it's been sooooooooooooo hectic that I have (truthfully!) been avoiding my blog.  I've got soooooooooooo much to post about but couldn't really face posting... okay couldn't really face editing photos to post.  Oh and it's not only my blog that I've had to update but Aaron's school blog too.... now that most of that one is done I thought I'd tackle this one with a quick update.  So here is some of what we did over the past week....

Last Friday was my birthday... sorry no photos to show!  The whole family was sick last week and with the constant rain we all felt yuck!  Hubby had a work lunch at Monte Casino so after I helped to set up for our Ladies Tea during the afternoon Aaron & I went there to fetch Keith and stay for supper... ended up with just me eating as Aaron was really under the weather with an awful temperature.  Aaron had mentioned though to our waiter that it was my birthday so I ended up getting a free icecream with sparkler and all the singing that went with it... the only words I made out were "someone's mommy is getting older"!!! hehehe.

Saturday was our Ladies Tea at church... what a great morning.  Our speaker was Agnes who is the principal of Barnato High School in Hillbrow... they do the most amazing work with kids who otherwise wouldn't have a safe place to stay, education and for some even a meal.  Four of the boys came and played for us... a marimba band... wow!

After the week of soaking rain I did lots of praying for good weather and on Sunday morning we woke to the most glorious sunny day... perfect for a pirate birthday party.

Aaron and six friends all had fun... made hats, telescopes, parrots, swords and did a treasure hunt, played musical islands and pass the booty... lots and lots of laughs.  Then just before they were all scheduled to go home they walked the plank (down the slip 'n slide).

On Monday, Aaron's actual 8th birthday he got his presents from Mommy & Daddy... some paints, lego and a new bike.

We all went to KFC for birthday supper...mmmm finger licking good!

Tuesday Aaron tried out his bike...

Thursday was Aaron's school's prizegiving.  Each learner gets to go up on stage, shake the principal's hand and get a certificate.  Aaron's one was for excellence in literacy and musical ability (ie he reads lots and plays the piano!)... well done my boy, you make me very proud.

Phew... I'm exhausted just typing all this.  Now we still have more busyness ahead of us.... This weekend Keith is in Cape Town visiting his sister, so it's just Mommy & Son together.

I'm taking Aaron to Boksburg this afternoon to go to Papa & Granny's church to see their "Follow the Star" nativity display... if you're in the area, please visit them.... Boksburg Methodist Church... from 3 to 8pm today and tomorrow.

Saturday Aaron has rehearsal and then on Sunday it is his Sunday School concert... he is playing Joseph.  We are both very excited for this.

Oh and in between everything we are both still practising for our piano concert next Saturday... I think I need a holiday now!

A prodcutive weekend

I love weekends when I have LOTS to show for it.... and this weekend was one of those.... okay so maybe I can't show you everything just yet... but here is most of it...

On Thursday, our brand new (okay new to us!) piano was delivered while we were at Ally's funeral.... so at least it put a smile on our face after all the sadness.... and within 5 minutes of walking in the door, Aaron was tinkling....

On Friday, Aaron had civvies day at school because he got 40 merits.... well done! He had decided a week ago already what he was going to wear... cool dude!

And then I spent most of the weekend doing what I love best.... SCRAPPING!!!!  On Friday night I tackled my November Nuts About Sketches layouts... got them all done... sorry you will have to wait to see them!

On Saturday afternoon I went to my friend Theresa and we scrapped... I did these two pages:

And then of course I went home and spent the evening scrapping too as there was nothing worth watching on tv...

And that was that for the weekend... really a very productive one if I say so myself.  Hope you all get inspired to go and do a bit of scrapping yourself.

The last few days...

Boy it's been busy again.... inbetween back pain and going for torture (mmm physio!) there have been a few other bits and pieces going on too. August arrived and drenched us (see Saturday's post)... but then Sunday gave us a glorious day which ended with God painting the sky in awesome colours again... just see this sunset.

Yesterday afternoon I fetched Aidan from school and brought him home for the afternoon as a birthday treat (he turns 12 on Thursday)... the boys did homework together (took a photo to prove it did happen!) and then played.... "fishing" in the ditch in the back garden.

Once Judi arrived we did the birthday cake thing... I made chocolate microwave cake especially for the occasion and just to spoil Aidan.
Once that was done the boys decided to go play outside again... but not after dressing for it and then posing for more pics... hehehe
And so ended a lovely afternoon... with lots of laughs over supper. Eventually had to force Judi and Aidan out so that they could finish homework at home and we could get to bed.

Aaron also announced when I fetched him yesterday that he earned another trophy... for NEAT WORK.... hehehe I laughed to myself as we never reckoned he would get this one! Plus he earned another two merits yesterday so Friday will be civies for my little guy.

Today is inter-house athletics at school... I even took the day off work for it so that I could take some photos for the school blog. Aaron was NOT running any races and so by 10am had had enough of sitting around shouting for his team... so we came home.

Have done a bit of school work... Aaron brought his fun maths book home... plus we've done spelling and counting that was for homework.... so now he is playing on the pc and I'm blogging... just a good day spent at home.

news from this week

This week has been fun but also painful! The pain was in my back.... ended up having physio (torture!) twice which has definately eased the pain and allowed me to move again... but not yet 100% better. As to the "how" I hurt my back... who knows! Sat too long scrapping last week and when I moved it was sore.

The fun part of the week was getting my piano lesson book so that I can start practicing, plus also doing some baking with Aaron. His teacher had this kids cook book which we borrowed and then promptly used....

Here is Aaron making "BEES"... mix the ingredients, roll the shapes, dab on the stipes, add wings and eyes... yummy! We made enough for him to take to school and share amongst his classmates. There was one left over which he took to his principal.

And because silly me forgot to take a pic of the final product, here is the recipe.

Another highlight of the week, was Aaron getting a trophy again at school... this was because he didn't shout out the answers in class but rather put up his hand... ie good behaviour

Today we were supposed to be at school too.... interhouse athletics.... but having woken up to "Cape Town" weather... cold and wet.... it got cancelled. BUT we had already got up at 6:30, bathed, dressed and breakfast, plus driven all the way there BEFORE we got the sms to say it was cancelled :( urgh!... So now we have a cold mizzy day at home... blogged, paid bills and will do filing. Possibly scrap this afternoon if my back is not too sore.

Holiday Club

Aaron has gone to Holiday Club at school for this week... it is run by Northcliff Union Church with the help of youth from various other churches... including 8 youngsters from our church, Strubensvalley United. Each morning Aaron is very excited about going, so here's a bit of the goings on for you to enjoy too....

On Monday afternoon he came home and said that he had to have a crazy hat for Tuesday... so with some help from Mommy we made him a paper hat, wrote bible verses on circles and cut them into spirals then stapled them all over his hat. He actually got to go up on stage and received a chomp for his effort... well done!

This morning I took my camera along and took a few pics of the goings one.. this is the hall that has been done up...
Aaron is in the Troopers team.

Early morning madness... registration and collection of name tags... plus each day the kids have a memory verse to learn and have to recite it as soon as they arrive... on Monday Aaron forgot totally so it wasn't done but we did practice yesterday's one ... Romans 3:23 and so he recited it this morning.

And today is "Inside Out" day... the kids had to wear their clothes inside out... Aaron had lots of laughs about this.
One of the other things that they can do is write letters to each other... so Aaron wrote to one of the girls ... nope not a girlfriend just a friend from Sunday School.... and he proudly posted it this morning too.

Will find out later today what tomorrow holds in stall.... plus I still want to get a few more pics during the week.... will make a nice scrapbook page I'm sure.

School Concert

Last night was Aaron's turn in his school concert... Stories Out of a Box.... the school divided the grades into two groups... one on Monday/Wednesday and the other Tuesday/Thursday. I unfortunately couldn't see my way to going to the other half and so only have photos (on the school blog) to look at. BUT here are pics of Aaron's play:

Aaron was one of the narrators... he was very cute and did well... until he found Mom in the audience and then he nearly lost it but recovered well... only waved at me as they were leaving... too sweet.

Well their play was a new take on the original Hansel and Gretel story... all about Aunt Greedy who LOVES sweets... she sent the children off to the woods where they found Candy Sugar and Spice who lives in the candy house. Aunt Greedy followed their sweet trail and ends up having to stay in the house while Candy, the children and their father live happily ever after... moral of the story... Don't be Greedy!

Was lots of fun.... to see more pics see first night and second night over on the school blog.

Do you need a holiday?

Well you will need to buy a raffle ticket from me NOW and then stand in line to win one... here's the bumph....

Aaron's school is holding a Passion 4 Wheels Festival on Saturday and to help this along we are having a Winter Breakaways Competition. Each ticket costs R 10.00 and all funds raised go to school facility improvements.

First correct entry drawn receives 2 Nights Accommodation for 2 people at Makalali ***** Game Lodge which includes all meals and 2 game drives per day. (R 5000.00).

Second prize is 3 Nights Accommodation for 2 people at Three Cities Zululand Safari Lodge *** (Ubizane Wildlife Game reserve) and includes breakfast.(R 3 200.00)

Bring your ticket on the day to enter the Smart Car Balloon competition to win 2 Nights for 2 people at Relais Hotels Casa do Sol Hotel & Resort **** Hazyview which includes Breakfast (value R2000).

Additional tickets can also be purchased on the day.

All Winter Breakaways by Tourvest: Live the Journey prizes are valid until 31 October 2009 and cannot be exchanged or claimed in cash.

So now, please let me know how many tickets you want and I will keep them to one side for you. If you win I will then post it here too.

Congratulations Aaron

Well done Aaron on getting 20 merits... today he got to wear civies to school and received his certificate (a gold one!) in assembly. Wow this award sure came around quickly... at the beginning of the term he only had 3 merits and in the last week he suddenly got 7! Way to go.

And today is a much better day than when he got his last certificate... no tummy aches or rainy weather!