Where is April going......

I can't believe it is the 22nd already - this month is really flying. And I haven't posted for nearly 2 weeks so you'd better grab a coffee.

Bec's had another skating competition (but not done as well as she had hoped) and is studying hard. Sean is doing well at TAFE but not having the same luck with his car. It was broken into out the front of our place - they only took some coins he had in a hidden compartment leaving huge quantities of CD's and other things in the car. We have noticed 2 other cars in the street have been broken into since them - they always go in through the drivers door and leave it ajar. Today he had the valve caps stolen from his tyres. Em is still loving her school and is off to Yea again next week.

Survivor competition finished this week our last 2 layouts were to convert our 6 x 12 from the previous week into a 12 x 12 and to do a layout on mothers using no photographs.

The winners were announced on Sunday and I didn't place but had a great time.

Wendy dropped in for a coffee on Friday - it was lovely to see her. Friday doesn't quite seem the same without having a coffee and chat with her.

Emily and I cybercropped on the weekend. I only got one layout done - a blind crop - very strange working with instructions and no idea what the end result will be. Em had to do a layout about me.

Sunday Em and I dusted off the bikes, attached the rack and drove to Chelsea Park. We then rode to Patterson Lakes via the bike track through the wetlands, along the river bank then stopped at my mother for a drink (and to give the poor body a bit of a break) the rode back again. I haven't been out on my bike for nearly 18 months so I was happy that I survived. Could be the gel seat I have - poor Em wasn't so lucky so I think I had better get her one too.

Today it is Sarah's (Sean's girlfriend) mum, Toni's birthday so sent Sean over tonight with a card and he bought her some flowers. She was supposed to start chemo tomorrow but it has been postponed as she hasn't healed as well hoped from surgery. We are praying for a full recovery.

All done for now, congratulations if you made it through!

April so far......

It's so long since I posted. Life here is busy as usual between work and running kids around. We are in countdown to the end of financial year mode so have 2007 tax returns, BAS's and financial planning to get through before then. And - as usually happens - I can feel the exhaustion, both physical and mental setting in. Bec is off at her coaching accreditation course tonight when really studying for her chemistry test might have been better. I really didn't need another hour of driving after an hour coming home from work. Yay - day off tomorrow.

Cybercropped last weekend on Julie's Scrapping Jewels and I even used bits from my Dolly Kit for one of them.

Last fortnight Survivor layouts were a double page and a 6x12.

This fortnight I have to turn the 6x12 into a 12 x 12 and do a page on mothers - with no photos. Then its over and its point counting time.

One of those days.....

Every have one of those days when you haven't seen anyone for ages then......

Drop into Wendy's to pick up kits and see Merle (and kids and Bowie!!) then....

Find an elusive table in the food court at Frankston and who is on the table next to me but
Leeanne and Madeleine then......

Drop into Lincraft and see Sarah at work then.....

Go next door to Gloria Jeans and say hi to Cindy and Vesna (and kids)!!!

Poor John got left to fend for himself...lol

And my Ski layout has won the challenge and I can look forward to a present in the mail

It's been a good day!

Easter is over for another year.....

The break seems to have gone quickly - with John and kids working during the weekend it doesn't seem much different to a normal week except that it is now school holidays.

It's John's 50-something birthday today so we ducked out for a quiet coffee after we dropped Bec to work. Haven't decided what to get him yet so just put some scratchies in his card.

Last night did a surprise challenge layout on Chookscraps - it was a sketch and we had less than a day to upload.

My last Survivor layout won the Castaway prize for the week - this fortnight we are getting distressed. Double page, at least 3 photos and 5 forms of distressing. Sounds fun.

Can't to pick up my new Dolly kit. The colours look fabulous this month.

Back to work tomorrow - it will be frantic for the next couple of months but then I am planning to escape with friends!

Some new layouts....

I have finished this week's Survivor layout - I am on Castaway now but we still do the same challenges and get points for them. We had to use black and white - including photo and one colour. I finally scrapped the photo of Carol and I at Deveroli's in Acland Street - the lovely girls on the next table took it for us. We have known each other for years - but this was the first time we had met.
TLC Salt & Pepper papers, Bazzill and CM cardstock, HS chipboard heart and red flower, Green tara flowers, SEI button, pens



This was a challenge from the previous weekend - brown, mustard, green cardstock and autumn colour flowers.
Cardstock - TLC and scrap Bazzill, brads, misc flowers and pen

This is a combination of 2 challenges - Wendy's sketch layout and Scrapping Around's Leaf printing challenge. I had cut the photos for the sketch challenge and never got around to using them. The printing on the green card is done with a skeleton leaf and white and gold ink. And yes, it is a sushi mat. Love the simplicity of it.

Otherwise a quiet weekend. It was nice to get the rare opportunity to sleep in.

Yea Day...

I am waiting for Emi to crash - she has been on such a high since getting home from her day at school. The 2.5-3 hour bus trip each way was very tiring but its her first time at Yea and she loved it. They only do the trip there twice a term so they can use science labs, kitchens, sports gear etc. The rest of the time her school group meet at local footy club rooms(which are really lovely - airco and views over the bay).
The best bit was when she rang me at lunch time then told me that she couldn't talk, her friends were waiting! This is such a different girl. She is starting to get some confidence in her abilities and has now decided she likes wearing red. Em has been writing (and now her story so far has 5 chapters) and she has been doing her homework happily. She believes she can achieve.
And all because, when she was bullied out of school early last year and couldn't even walk into the room where she goes to school now, one special lady would not give up on her. Kevin and Miriam, two of the AYCE teachers that worked with Em last year, sometimes cannot believe what Annette has achieved for the kids (and how she gets it funded!) but it works.
We know it is working for one girl who just wants to go to school.

Survivor 3 layout.....

ETA: I am now officially a resident of Castaway Island - the final 10 are left on Survivor. This week's challenge B&W photo, B&W and only one other colour on layout - must have been a week ahead of myself!

This one was a sketch layout. As I am concentrating on old photos this year I have used one from my mother's wedding.

Trivia time - as was often the habit then the dress was cut to evening dress length and dyed so it could be worn again. It was worn once and she regretted doing it and never wore it again. I made my dress to match the colour of the veil (it was a magnolia satin not white) and my mother made my garter out of the remains of her dress.