The start of something new?

Friday 12th December was the official last day of school for the year for Joel & the whole of year 10 - they had their graduation assembly & Joel & his yr 10 music band performed a few songs for us all to enjoy. The first song - Baker Street - I was totally gobsmacked! I am so accustomed to him always playing guitar - but for this song he came out & was on drums! And wow, he did an awesome job...they all sounded so great! It made me feel so very proud of him - and even moreso when other parents would comment on how talented he is :). I have no photos to share (insert very annoyed face)...things were such a rush that morning, that I didn't even think to take my camera - how bad is that?!?! But one of the teachers - who is also a scrapbooker - was there taking photos - so I am going to ask her if she would kindly email me the photos that she took of the band. I do however, have a couple of photos that I took of Joel earlier that morning....wanting to capture this milestone.......

Yes, the ipod is practically permanently embeded in his ears!

**rolls eyes**

Doesn't he look oh so grown up? & so NOT wanting his Mum to take his photo!

As the title of this post suggests - the start of something new......this being the last day of yr10 for Joel - may even be his last day of school altogether - which as a Mum, is pretty scarey! As I have mentioned in a previous post, Joel did work experience up at an Aircraft manufacturing/maintenance/service place & now works for them each Saturday morning (which is great!). They have asked if he would like to work all through the school holidays - and that if he likes it - and they think he is suited to the job (which they have already indicated that he is - and that they will be most likely looking for someone next year) - that there could be a permanent full time job for him there next year - with the plan to send him to TAFE to learn all sorts of different things, such as metal fabrication, engine mechanics etc etc - after he's been there a while. It's such a scarey thing to have to decide - even though the decision is ultimately Joel's - sometimes I think he is too young (won't turn 16 until Feb next year) - even though I was the same age when I left school, & I worry that he may lose contact with his school mates who are returning to school. I guess that's all normal to worry of these things as a parent....but I just have to believe that what is best for Joel, is what will come about. He has indicated a while back that he didn't really want to return to school next year - he feels that he wouldn't be able to "cut the mustard" that's required for years 11 & 12 - but I think he underestimates himself - and I'm sure he'd do fine....but if he wants to leave & take on this job - then he has our full support....but it's still scarey! Did I already mention that?

On Tuesday 9th it was Miss Kate's 19th Birthday. She got herself some lovely presents & had a great day (so she tells me). Again - no photos - we barely seen her all day or night - during the day she was working and that night she went out with her friends (yep, I'm really feeling pretty bad about the no photos - perhaps I can get some "after" shots of her with her presents - and just pretend they were taken on the day? But I'll have to plead & beg her to stay home for just an extra 1/2 hour or so, so that I can take them) - have I mentioned that this girl is NEVER home?!??! We had planned to go out for dinner last night for her birthday - but things in our household never go to plan (the reasons are another story, that I won't get into now). So we bought take-away instead to have at home & a nice chocolate mud cake for her birthday cake. After dinner, Kate went off to get ready to go out (oh yes, this girl is a real social butterfly/party animal) - and well, the cake - I don't think I want to talk about the cake - or even think about the cake - it's a little too upsetting. So, lets just say....the cake didn't happen. (I'm sure everyone out there in blogland (well, the few that visit my blog) will probably be thinking - wow, what kind of family is this?!?!?!

Lets just say that I will be oh.so.glad. when the teenage years are over!

OK, onto other news....I totally enjoyed my week off last week, and managed to get all my christmas shopping done....YAY! This year we are going down to Dave's mums for christmas - so that means all the food etc wasn't on my list - which also means that I won't be the one preparing all the food for the day (thank goodness)....although I will be helping his Mum on the day - but that's a whole lot easier than doing it all yourself! I honestly don't know how women who work full-time manage to do all this stuff! Not just Christmas - but just everyday life! I only work part-time & the weeks that I work I really struggle and sooooo look forward to the next week off!

A couple of photos of Oscar - this dog is always SO happy & loves to play. He was playing with this blue football - that is flat & has been out in the yard since who knows when & the rubber has gone all powdery from being out in the sun & weather - so he ended up with all the blue stuff on his face - oh so cute!

Scrapping News....

Not much scrapping has been done lately....just a few LO's to share....

Some of you may remember I did a LO of this a while back - I have replicated the LO & mounted it on a piece of 6mm thick MDF & it sits on this cute little stand (thanks Julie!)....and this is going to be a little gift from me to my MIL - the man playing the trumpet is my FIL - who passed away 8 years ago. I think she is going to LOVE this! :)


I hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Until next time....toodlepip!

Time for that update....

OK, what's been happening around these parts of late....

Dave has started some new work - still contracting for the same company, but is now travelling to different areas which lets him get home a bit more than before, even though some of the time's he gets to come home is only for 15 or 30 minutes - just enough time to have a shower, a quick cup of tea & fill his thermos...and then he's off again. We are hoping that one day - who knows when! - that he will get out of trucks all together. The new laws & regulations are just too much...and he wants to get out. Hooray to that, I say!

Kate has been through the "I want to move out of home" thing (rolls eyes). She seemed to think she was going to do it before christmas - mind you, she has no savings in the bank (I gave up on trying to teach her to save & budget etc)....plus she doesn't have a skerick (sp?) of furniture or household items. After having a talk with her, I think she has seen some sense & for now, says she will stay at home. But now says she wants to buy a new car....yep, a brand new one! Gosh, what is it with kids today? A brand new car at 18 years of age?!??! When I was that age, I was just happy to have a car! and never dreamed of having a new one.... And I never got a brand new one until just this year....30 odd years after getting my first. But I guess the upside of her doing this (I'm HOPING) is that it will teach her some responsibility with her $$$, plus she will end up with something at the end of paying it off....whereas, the way she is going now - she'll have absolutely NOTHING. (sigh)

Joel did a weeks work experience at an Aircraft building/maintenance/servicing place (LOL, I dont' know how else to explain it) back at the beginning of this term & he absolutely LOVED it and was very keen to go each day. He has also gained some casual work from it - each Saturday from about 8am - 2pm....of which he is loving the $$$$.
He has now just completed his yr10 school certificate exams....thank goodness for that! I hope he does well.

And me....nothing much has been happening with me, besides the going to work, being a Mum, doing housework....and of course, some scrapping - YAY :)

Speaking of scrapping.....here's an update on some LO's I've done over the past however many weeks....

This LO was a sketch challenge for a cyber crop at Scrapbook n Bits .... just love this design, Thanks Jolene!

And another challenge from the cybercrop at Scrapbook n Bits - Had to use green, blue & red. When I first read this challenge I thought it was going to be difficult - but it wasn't at all....it came together so easy & I love the look. Thanks Jane!

This one is for Jane's topic of cars in her BOM that I am following over at Scrapbook n Bits. I used one of the sketches from "Page Maps" for this one. I really love how it turned out.

This one was my entry for the "Scrap your Stash" at Scrapbook n Bits - you had to use a travel brochure in your LO - which I didn't have, from our travels in Europe back in 1985 - so I made my own brochure...LOL

This LO - why I love to scrap - was a blind scrap at Scrapbook n Bits. It's the first blind scrap I've every done & it was so much fun. If you've never done one before....I highly recommend giving it a go!

These 2 LO's were done with my local scrap group & were designed by the very talented Rachel....love how they both turned out!

Oh dear.....

look what I've done! I tried to change the background of my blog to something nicer....but I think I've created a headache!!! I've fixed it somewhat - at first it was all lopsided - with all my posts being on the far left side of the page where it was impossible to read. After spending way too much time (couple of hours) trying to fix it (grrrrr)....I've ended up with how it is now. At least it's all centred a bit better....but stuff is still hanging off the right side now, and I have no idea how to fix it....nor could I be bothered right now. I wish I never touched the thing to start with! Plus I have no idea how to get it back how I had it. OK, I've had my whinge...not that anyone is listening or anything...LOL.

I was going to post an update on what's been happening in these parts....but I really don't know if I can be bothered now. Maybe one day soon......

Just a quick update....

of a project that I did about 2 weeks ago.

It is a little book that I did for my MIL's birthday - Grandma's Brag Book - using photos of my kids from various years from babies to present. She called me today to let me know that she rec'd it & loved it ...so, I'm happy about that :).
I was short on time for doing this as I only decided a few days before her birthday that I'd make it...so to cut corners, a few of the pages are pretty much replica's or similar to LO's that I've done using the same photos....which made it nice & quick & easy!

As I said, just a quick update....but hopefully I will get a change to update more happenings soon!

Thanks for stopping by....and 'til next time....Toodlepip! :)

Wow, it's been a while since I last updated my blog....where has the last month gone? As I keep saying.....life just seems to be going too fast lately....can we please slow down now & enjoy the ride?!?!?

Last weekend a group of us lucky girls went to Neville for our annual scrap retreat (where the heck is Neville I hear you ask!?!?....it's a small tiny little village out the back of whoop whoop (Out the back of Mandurama - which is between Bathurst & Cowra). There is absolutely nothing much at Neville, besides the magnificent Neville Siding - which consists of a great big huge hall (known as the Goods Shed) that has all these old train carriages surrounding it for accommodation). We all had a fabulous time....some scrapped heaps, and others drank/talked/socialised heaps....lol. I managed to get 6 LO's done.....but some aren't completely finished yet....just need journalling etc added. So I will try to get them finished off this week (seeing's it is my week off) and I will try to add them to my blog some time during the week....including lots of photos. :)

Here is an update of my latest LO's....there's quite a few because I haven't posted for so long.

This was the August comp challenge over at Scrapbooknbits....had to use the colours - Permisson (orange), swimming pool (blue/aqua), passionate pink & Green tea. I combined this challenge with one of the frundraiser classes at Scrapping for CF.

These 3 LO's were from Julie's "Dude" workshop over at Scrapbooknbits. I just love the colours of these....and I'm really happy with my finished LO's. Thanks for the fab workshop Julie! :) . Photos are of DS & DH doing what they love most....riding motorbikes!

These LO's were all challenges for the August cyber crop at Scrapbooknbits. Great challenges Karen....totally enjoyed participating and it was alot of fun doing them.

These 2 LO's were from Jane's "Angelique" class over at Srapbooknbits. I just love how both of these LO's have turned out. The bottom one is of my DH's father playing his trumpet....I had been wanting to scrap this pic for such a long time, and Jane's class was just perfect for it....thanks Jane!

This photo is of DH & his beloved boxers & the journalling tells of the special bond that he has with his first ever boxer, April . This was a fundraiser class over at Scrapping for CF

This LO tells the story about my first car....that I had for 17 years! I really wish that I never sold that old girl......she should have been a keeper. Used some of my leftover Dream Street "Arte Noveau" PP's. Love the outcome.

Well, that's about all for now.

Thanks for visiting my blog.....and until next time....Toodlepip!!!

Yesterday, being Saturday, meant Soccer for Joel. He just absolutely LOVES playing soccer....and this year he is in a pretty good team, so far they are undefeated. Whereas last year, they didn't win a single game....until their very last game of the season, and they drew. I know that the game isn't just about winning....but boy did he used to get upset & disappointed that each week they just didn't get anywhere...but the whole team never, ever gave up....they would always turn up each week and give it their best. And that's what the game is all about. But he is absolutely loving this year, because they're doing so well...and playing brilliantly.

I snapped a few photos at the game yesterday....and for the amount of photos that I took, I'm quite happy with the 6-8 or so that ended up being good shots. Although, I must admit that there were a few really good shots that I missed....Joel scored 3 goals yesterday, and I only managed to get 1 of them :( ..... I was too busy "watching" and getting excited, that I would forget to take the photos (LOL).....GRRRRR....silly me!

Anyways....here are some of the shots...watch out for future layouts using some of these pics....

Joel about to attempt a shot at goal....but this one was saved by the goaly.

You can't see with the smaller version of this pic...but these 2 are really giving each other the evil eye...LOL. They're waiting & preparing for a corner kick and are keeping their eye on each other.

This is the one that I actually got a pic of the goal that Joel scored.

And this one has been cropped from the photo above....wanted a good, close up pic of him in action.

yesterday was also team photo day....so while the photographer was setting them up for their photo.....I snapped a couple of shots for future LO's. :)