A new addition to the Jones family....

Just had a very exciting text - my friend Kirsty and husband Davin are the proud parents of Cooper Aeron, born yesterday. Corey is now a big brother!
You don't have to worry about stocking up on pink bits for your scrapbooks now!

K xx

A little quiet time...

I am sitting writing this in a lovely quiet house - John is at work and kids are asleep.

The one thing I notice about holidays is that I never seem to get "me" time. Everyone is home and wanting things - I can't even go to the shops by myself. It seems very strange to be in Melbourne - usually on Boxing Day we head to Lake Mulwala for a couple of weeks. Now I have 3 teenagers who don't want to go there (no broadband internet!!) so John and I will go by ourselves for a few days before I go back to work.


Christmas Day was great - the kids loved their presents. Sean got a 20" flat computer monitor, Bec got a Ninendo DS and Emi a new MP3 player and other bits and pieces. Pancakes for breakfast then off to my mother's for lunch. As usual we had a seafood entree, turkey and trimmings and finished with a huge pudding made to my grandmothers handwritten recipe. There were 16 of us - my family and the Maskreys (who are near enough to family!) - and the day was filled with fun and laughter. I missed my father not being there but we gained Ben. Tom was very frail but was able to be with us. My mother did an amazing job - she does the majority of the work. No wonder she was tired at the end of the day!

I am thankful for a family that can enjoy being together.

Boxing day sales - that's a whole other topic (now I know why I don't like being in Melbourne...lol)

Not many days of 2007 left now.

Karen.

Looks like Santa has been...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Karen

My flock have landed...

My birds have landed on their branches now - there's about 12 of them in the tree. It must be time to start buying presents to put under it.
Crop/party night at Paperdoll was fun as usual Friday night - got a great little paper bag album from Leeanne in the KK. I have made such a great group of friends there - we will have to stay in touch in the New Year (especially as we need to borrow Vesna's stamps...lol). I am having withdrawal symptoms on Fridays already - coffee beats housework any day.

Off to the movies with Em tonight to see Mr Magorium then only 4 more days at work. YAY

K x

Countdown to a break...

Isn't it amazing how the thought of 3 weeks off keeps you functioning. Gradually the "must do" pile is reducing. Christmas Show is over for another year - and I did not take one photo for a change - Bec had no training last night so I didn't have to go out (except to do three loads of washing - must get washing machine fixed one day!). One Circle Journal layout to complete and they are finished - and on time. More birdies to sew but I need to buy more ribbon so they will have to wait. I can see the top of my desk at work - just - but now its down to getting my easy client accounts done so boss can do tax returns while I am off. Do you think I should tell him I am having holidays????? Bit depressing though that first December BAS's are already arriving in my PO box. Anyone told Michael D'Ascenzio that he needs a break too! (Not until he deposits my tax refund into my bank account though...lol)

Em's gingerbread house is looking a bit...mmm...eaten!

Better think about Christmas shopping soon too.

Karen

Look what my girls have made....

This year I have been lucky - my girls have been cooking at school. Look what they have made for me!

Rebecca decided that "Spot's First Christmas" was her favourite story when she was little so instead of Santas and snowmen she put him on her cake. Emily came home with this on Monday. I am so happy she has settled into her new school so well and cannot thank AYCE enough for giving her hope.

The only problem is that they want to start eating them now!

Karen

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Tree is up and this year I have decided after years of putting everything on the tree that I want a more "elegant" look. Maybe its just because the kids are older and don't want to do the "decorating" any more. I have been watching the influx of little birdies (Ngaire Bartlam's project from Crop for a Cure http://scrapblogmebaby.typepad.com/) at PaperDoll and decided that they would be perfect. I loved Amy's cuttlebugged wings and just happened to have some gold sheets left over from my Christmas cards. They are such fun to make.

The outside lights were switched on last night - I think after being left up for 5 years that some new ones are needed, they are a bit faded and some of the wires have come apart. Might take the kids out on a light hunt tonight.

Karen

Weekend reflections...

I have been away at Mount Martha for a couple of days for meetings and fellowship and feel spiritually refreshed.

A slight challenge on Saturday when we confirmed that there were no caterers booked for dinner. I did a quick trip to the supermarket and within half an hour dinner for 40 was organised. Everyone enjoyed it far more that the catered meal last year - and the bonus was that it cost heaps less. Roast chicken, pasta salad, coleslaw, tossed salad, baked potatoes, hot bread rolls (we had 2 large catering ovens so it made it very easy) - and enough cold chicken left to contribute to our lunch on Sunday. I had also donated a box of handmade Christmas cards and sold around 30 of them. Can't wait until next year.

Might have been nice to come home to a clean kitchen...but then my front verandah had been tidied and I could get past the boxes at the front door so I can't have everything.

Only 1 more BAS to do and I have finished for another quarter YAY!!!!

Dolly is having a makeover....

My home away from home is closing :(

Very sad for me, but in the scheme of things, the best decision for Wendy and her family. I have been so lucky to have found this little haven - I walked in on the day it opened and met Leeanne - who at that stage hadn't even done a layout. Booked in for the shop's first crop night and stayed ever since.

Wendy has made Paperdoll more than a shop - it is a community of friends. I have met so many wonderful ladies there. Friday mornings have always been drop kids off, clean up at home as quickly as possible then off to have coffee with Wendy.

No more running around the corner when I need a piece of cardstock or something else I have forgotten (or when family are annoying me!) and no more Harry's cheeky smile on a Saturday.

See you after your makeover Dolly xx

Karen

Thought for today....

Downhill run...

Today I had to be in the city at 9.30 with Bec as her rollerskating club were participating in the Myer Christmas Parade. It was huge and the organisers did an incredible job. It was a brilliant way to showcase community groups. The parade started in Spring Street and went down Bourke Street to the Mall and Myer Store. For anyone unfamiliar with this street - it is on a hill. This is fine for all the groups dancing or marching but when you are on rollerskates AND have to negotiate trams tracks and drains it is very scarey -and quite dangerous. Luckily no one fell.

Their coach doesn't want them to do it next year

Bec got a bit sunburnt on her back - where we put the sunblock. The Mall was packed and the parade was televised on Channel 7 tonight.

Tomorrow I plan on a sleep in! Then need to prepare some audit work papers - and write annual reports for printing on Monday - fun! I really want to be making my last batch of Christmas cards and finishing circle journals. I know Emily will want me to do other things with her.

Just for today - I will take care of myself and have an early night.

Karen

The week has ended....

Today we farwelled my father. The service was lovely - bright, cheerful and full of memories. We decorated with his footy scarves and the flowers were Swans colours. I was very impressed with his minister - when he spoke it was clear that they knew each other well. Two of my brothers delivered the eulogy and my daughter Rebecca stunned everyone with her clear and expressive scripture reading. I caught up with relatives and family friends I had not seen in a while. My boss gave me these lovely flowers yesterday.

Thank you everyone for your kind messages. The support I have received has really helped during this week.

Karen

A long 3 days.....

In the last three days my world has been turned upside down. My father was diagnosed with leukemia and we were told that he would probably only be with us for two or three days. One of my brothers raced here from the country and my uncle flew over from Devonport to join my mother, me and my other two brothers. Although he was very weak we had a lovely day with him yesterday - one that we will all treasure. He even spoke to Bec on the phone. He knew he had a difficult road and spent some time with his minister. The doctor kept telling us how brave he was. He deteriorated rapidly over night and passed away this afternoon with all his family around him.
The care and dignity shown to him and the family by the doctors and staff on 33N at Monash was wonderful - a room change away from a noisy door, making sure we had enough chairs and keeping him as comfortable as possible the whole time. Palliative care staff and social workers dropping in to look after all our needs and queries. We were kept informed at all times and nothing was too much trouble. I thank you all.

23 Years....

Wow - is it that long since I was young and single! Where have the years gone?

Don't think I would fit in the dress anymore as I was only 55kg then - and thought I was fat! I took a week off work to make it - and I still use the same sewing machine. Thanks to my mother all seams were either french or neatened properly and I used a pattern - she doesn't cope with me just laying material on the floor and cutting it! John came up a treat in a formal suit.

Life and partnerships have ups and downs - but they are worth fighting for.

Happy anniversary John xxx

Kaz

A work in progress......

Sounds just like me.

I know it will take me time to get everything I want in here - and then I am sure I will want to change it all again. My 3 not so little computer experts are all offering help to write everything in Html, give me pretty colours, and probably put their You tube and Sketchfu links in. Thanks guys, but.....

I was excited to hear my American Crafts layout for Paperdoll won this month's challenge. So were Sarah and Sean - which was lucky as I pinched the photo out of the shared folder on my computer.

I haven't done many "normal" page layouts lately - I seem to have been doing 6x6 and 8x8 circle journals forever. Not many left now and they are all done. Next time someone wants to start another group I am going say no - well try at least! I received my pages back today from my Boxx of Pages group on Scrapboxx - now I have to do mine and make my journal.

Better go and do some work

Check out my Slide Show!

Beginnings....

Today is the first day of the rest of my blog.......