No Internet!!

Argh! I had no internet all day until hubby came home and waved his magic wand over it. I did feel a little cut off from the world.

However, I continued with the cleanup (29 items on TradeMe); I started sewing a pair of 3/4 pants for myself but I was half way through when I remembered I hadn't washed the fabric before I cut it - into the machine it went with the rest of the fabric I bought. I will hopefully finish them tomorrow and then see whether the fabric shrank.

Started sorting out s/b magazines and I decided that it as easier to kepp a single page rather than the whole magazine - started copying the pages I needed and I jammed the printer!

What else can go wrong today?

And it's nearly 2009 - I can't believe how quickly the years are going by (and that I'm getting old). Two babies at College this year, full time job for me. It's going to be a hard year, I'm sure, so just as well I'll have my scrapping to keep me sane.

After Christmas

We had a lovely Christmas lunch ... lots of yummy food and even better lots of leftovers so I haven't had to cook yet! Things may change tomorrow, however! This is the boys sitting at their places waiting for lunch.


Boxing Day we did go to the sales and bought a couple of Christmas lights. I couldn't believe how busy the shops were! Even busier than before Christmas. We then came home and decided that it was time to start clearing in order to paint. We had a colour consultant in a few years back and really liked the colours she gave us. We have painted the outside fences and other wood; the bedroom downstairs, the hallway downstairs and the stairwell. The big task, however, is our family room. One of the walls is to be a feature wall, but that meant moving a large wall unit that had to be pulled up over the balcony as it couldn't come up the stairs. Last week we bought a new TV so the decision was to cut the cupboard in half so the TV could sit on the shelf and then put the top half onto the wall. Here you can see the top half on its side on the right of the photo.

The room looks so nice now that we decided not to put the top half back on which meant that the kitchen cupboards had to be reorganised to take the glasses and other stuff. The Sallies have already got two boxes and the third is filling fast! I also have to clean up my "scrap heap" in order to paint. I have so much stuff that I need to throw out stuff, sell some of it on TradeMe including lots of books; and the rest I have no idea how to get rid of it! Any suggestions gratefully received. The TM stuff I will load on Sunday night. I need to hold a garage sale for my excess scrapbook stuff! I have decided that I'm not going to buy anything extra until I use up some of what I have. That includes the lovely kits I've been getting monthly, but I just can't justify spending money on it anymore. In that regard, the only things I am going to buy are some vertical storage folders so that I can SEE my cardstock - maybe that way I'll use it.

Any suggestions for neat, compact, tidy storage will also be gratefully received ..... or even better come and tidy up for me! In fact, maybe I can make this a competition and find some things to send people who can give untidy-me some really good ideas!

Christmas Eve

So are you ready for tomorrow? I think I am but if I'm not too bad! I'm not stressing about it - the day should be one for enjoying with friends and family and remembering the real reason we celebrate.

I've done the Festive loaf that we have for breakfast and bought cherries, strawberries and raspberries (at $6 for a tiny punnet I didn't buy more than one!). I need to make the entree savoury "cake": layers of tuna, avocado and egg on a cracker base. Then the turkey stuffing and look to see what vegetables I have and those are the ones we'll eat! Oh yes, I must make some meringues too. Then I'm done preparing the food.

The presents need wrapping and I must finish Adrian's sleeping shorts. I would have done it yesterday but spent at least an hour fighting with my sewing machine. I bought some new needles so hopefully that will help.

I also made these lovely little totes and filled them with Guylian chocolate squares. I got the idea from Kelly, who got the idea here. They look really nice hanging on the tree and I've been thinking of other sizes to make too.

This is what our cul-de-sac looks like from the top - it doesn't look as good in the dusk as it does when it's dark.

And our house:

We have been standing outside at night handing out lollies and most kids are great except one last night was complaining that he could only have one! I held my tongue, but wanted to say to him that e did not have a money tree out the back! It's so lovely seeing the kids faces when they see the lights AND get a lolly! Even the old people's homes have come looking: buses from Rita Angus, Shona McFarlane and Malvina Major have been round looking.

For those of you wondering, I decided not to get a Slice, but bought myself a new camera instead

Well, I'm off to get showered and get on with my day. Happy Christmas to all and I hope that you all have a wonderful, safe day

Catch up

Colin is a bit better but the weather is dreadful here so he has taken to his bed with his new book! He's a bit like me - gets his nose stuck in a book and is quite happy to just read and read and read.


I have finished my work!!! Yay! Woo Hoo! and other suitable exclamations. But at the sae time I am tired and have no inspiration to do anything. I should make some mince pies or something .......


I also have to find some inspiration to decorate my little Doodlebug house. If you haven't seen them, look here on Vicki's blog. I have some tiny little Christmas lights but that is all I can think of right now


I have also planned our Christmas lunch but it is so miserable that I can't be bothered going out. We do have to go to fetch hubby's car as he had a work function last night and decided it was better for me to fetch him than for him to drive home. There was a road block but it was on the way to fetch him: the policeman who asked me my name and address told me I was going in the wrong direction and was very impressed when I told him I was fetching hubby. "What a lucky husband", he said.

Tomorrow I must go shopping for Christmas presents but I have no idea what to buy the boys - any suggestions for teenage boys??

Today .....

I am the mother of teenagers!

Unfortunately the planned birthday party didn't work out very well. The plan was for the guests to arrive yesterday at 1.30pm when we would go to H2O (swimming pool). Back home for a bbq and a sleepover.

All was going well until I got home from the hairdresser at midday to find Colin wheezing and coughing and asking me to take him to the doctor. I phoned the GP and the earliest they could see us was 2.30pm so off to A&M we went where we waited... and waited .... and waited. I realised that we would not be home by 1.30pm and managed to get hold of one of the guests to ask him to come later. We finally saw the doctor around 2pm, got some Prednizone and were home by 2.30pm. Colin said that he really didn't feel like going to the pool so the boys just stayed at home and played PS2 and watched a movie. They wanted a real fire so that they could roast marshmallows; but the wind was so strong that I had to sit outside in the smoke watching for any sparks. Adrian got home and took over and we ate about 7pm.

Granny bought an ice cream cake from Wendy's which was nice but not worth the money spent. Had to put and "9" and four other candles on it. They finally went to sleep about 10.30pm and slept until just after 9am. I made them crepes for breakfast and by the time they were ready to go it was after 11.30am.

Colin was a bit disappointed as his birthday had not gone to plan but what he did have enjoyed.

I took two guests home and here comes my gripe: one barely said thanks and the other didn't even grunt at me as he got out the car! Not a "thanks for the party", "thanks for bringing me home" nothing! I was seething and I have decided that in future I will make them say thank you. Why should I be the one to get angry at these kids for fear of hurting their poor sensitive souls?

Anyway, Colin has taken to his bed - not such a nice place for his 13th birthday but he also has a brand new book to read so he's not too unhappy.

(PS Why won't bl***y blogger keep the paragraph spacing??)

The end is in sight!

On the work front, that is! I have even had time to visit a few blogs AND leave some comments. I'll catch up next week.

We bought some more lights on Saturday and put them up on Sunday. Interesting talking to people outside who notice each and every new one that goes up - they must visit our street fairly regularly. We're trying to get a charity brass band (eg Sallies) to come and play next Wednesday but so far no go. Anyone who can send someone our way, please let me know so we can organise it.

I was so pleased to see that Raewyn has asked for an extension at the SBO Christmas competition as maybe I'll get my little house done too.

My Dad's birthday last night was lovely. We went to Mungavin Blues and had a really yummy meal. He enjoyed himself too and it was nice to see him enjoying himself. I forgot to take my camera! I really like my big camera but sometimes think a little pocket one would be better so I am eyeing the Olympus FE20 but I'm also eyeing the Making Memories Slice so I'll have to count my dollars to see what I can afford.

Anyway, off to get things prepared for the next birthday party!

Today

I am soooo tired! I haven't got much work left to do though and I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel. We were late getting up today so I had to give Colin a note for school! I should be working, but I'm reading blogs and writing this lol!

We are off out to dinner tonight for my Dad's 85th birthday tonight and then on Friday I will be the mother of two teenage boys! Eek - where did that time go? The party is on Thursday (and I haven't made any invitations yet!); I think we will be making phone calls later.

I was just reading Meek's blog and feeling as though I needed a day on a deserted island! Everyone's Christmas planning is sounding so good - I have a present for Adrian, a present for Jacob (a young man of 17 months who is joining ua along with his parents on Christmas Day), a present for my Dad and that is it! There isn't even any Christmas food in the house ... and I don't have too much for the birthday party on Thursday either. I will have to go to the shops today and then start the serios shopping on Sunday.

Anyway, must get in the shower and then back to my desk.

Junior Prizegiving

Yesterday was the final Dean's Assembly where the first prizes in subjects were given out and today was prizegiving where the first in class prizes were given out.

I was very proud of Ross' achievements: first place in ICT and a Distinction certificate from the Australiasian ICT exam

And I am still very busy - I'll have time to buy things for Christmas, sort out Christmas Day and catch up on other people's lives after 20th December!

School Trips

I have just spent two full days on trips with Year 9s and came home exhausted both days. First day we took 52 to rock climbing, lunch next to the river, and then to H2O a big swimming complex. At rock climbing, I caught sticking their fingers up the charity lollie dispensers. Some had no interest in climbing whatsoever and just wanted the radio turned up loudly. On to the river and they weren't too bad. Then to the pool where six decided that they weren't swimming .. but three then went wandering off outside the pool complex. Coming back, the bus driver took the scenic route: for those of you who are local - across Haywards Hill, then immediately into Whitby and through the suburbs, through Ascot Park and into Porirua next to Pak 'n' Save then back to school. For those of you not local - a car trip of 30 minutes became a bus trip of nearly and hour as we wended our way through the suburbs rather than directly on the motorway!


But we weren't done yet - we had to herd them all into the hall as the previous day a lot of damage had been done to Paintball! ARGH! The perpetrator was discovered and banned from the rest of the trips (and more).


Second day we took slightly less than 52 to Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and then on to movies. Some of them had no interest whatsoever regarding the birds and other wildlife. One made the most inane comments that eventually I told him that we were best friends and he had to walk/stand next to me all the time ... and if he wanted to make a comment, he could tell me first and I'd tell him if it was okay.


Now it sounds like they're all ratbags whereas in reality most of them are great; it's the 1% or 2% that spoil the outings for everyone.


As a result I am very far behind in my work and ill have to try to catch up this weekend and do some house work - the boys will be helping out.


Here are a couple of photos of some Tuis

And can you see the Tuatara?

Christmas is coming!

And some of our lights are up outside. The boys will put more up in the evenings and I think by the weekend all of ours will up. Hopefully the neighbours will put theirs up this weekend too.

I had people asking me today when all our lights will be up!

Home made gifts

Just reading Penny's blog on what she did last year and then an email from her sayig she doesn't have time this as she did last year. I understand as I am in the same situation.

Last year I made these Chocolate Christmas Trees (scroll most of the way down the page) which were a bit fiddly to do, but looked wonderful and tasted even better. I will probably make some more this year because they are the kind of thing that can be made in bulk.

The boys are saving for a PS3 so that's easy but I still like to get them little bits and pieces. The rest of the people who may or may not be coming? I'll make it up when I get confirmation that they will be here!

SBO Big Sale

There's a big sale over at SBO - go to Christmas Sale

It will be really nice to meet up with many of you at Senz next year and as soon as the Christmas season is over, I will think about making a Senz counter thingy!

ETA - Good idea, Trace!

Senz 2009

From the Senz website ...... SENZ 09 is to be held at the Auckland ASB Showgrounds Greenlane from the 17-19th July (that's the last weekend of the winter school holidays)

I am so excited about this as my SIL Jenny and niece Kylie are planning on coming from South Africa on a girl's scrapping holiday!

Instead of an Advent Calendar I think I need a Senz calendar!

Making Memories albums

I have recently changed all my albums from post-bound to 3-Ring as I don't scrap in order and I love the freedom of the 3-Ring albums. Anyway, SBO has 20% off ALL MM product until Sunday night so I bought another three albums! I need to put 2007 into two albums; 2000 - 2002 needs an album and of course I need a spare one, don't I?

PS. I have marking to do so can you see how I'm procrastinating here? Also been "talking" to my lovely SIL about Senz next year as she and my niece are coming for a girl's scrapping holiday. Just wish we knew some dates and a venue!

Entrance exam tomorrow

Colin has his College entrance exam tomorrow for placement (or not) in a streamed class. He and I have been doing Maths over the last few days and I firmly believe that he has been taught nothing at school these last eight years! He understood it once I explained it to him and then just ploughed through the work but it's been very hard doing all that work in a few days.

He also has to do an English exam and usually his writing is good - he just has to watch his spelling and punctuation.

Anyway, I will be a bit nervous all morning and then will be anxious to find out the results. I just hope we've done enough work! Think of us all tomorrow, please?

Thanks

Thank you to all of you who have cared and offered me words of support - I really appreciate each and every one of you.

I went scrapping today and I had a wonderful today - it was relaxing and I got lots of photos scrapped. They may not be works of art, and Up2Scrap won't want them; but I like what I did and they're photos and memories saved. Now I would love to finsih the journalling and the titles tomorrrow but I really need to get stuck into the exam marking. I'll see how much I can get done tonight.

It is great scrapping at KiwiScraps - it is such a convenient place (some would say too convenient lol). David was very kind to us today as well and gave us some great things so it really felt like Christmas.

I had one meltdown when I thought about what my Christmas wish is for the competition over at SBO - it's about my Dad and I'll share sometime.

I'll upload my l/os tomorrow or when they're done

Thank you again for your thoughts, wishes and advice

So down

I got home yesterday around 5pm after a long day at school and then taking my dad to the doctor again and just felt my seams unravelling. The boys were still in their uniforms; there were dirty dishes lying all over the place; the chicken I had asked them to get at 4pm from the freezer was still in the freezer and they had a bicker as to who was going to get it .....

I went to bed in tears and closed the door. Then I sent a text to hubby telling him I was on strike. I could not stop crying and then I felt guilty because there are so many other people who are worse off than me ... so I cried some more!

The phone rang and because I was on strike I didn't answer it - it was hubby instructing his sons to cook dinner! Which they did and it was delicious.

I stayed in bed and I had little taps on the door: "Mom are you okay?" "Go away." Again, another tap and another voice: "Mom do you want some wine?" "No go away"

I got up for dinner, checked emails and then went to bed and I did feel better this morning. But I did have a serious sense of humour failure at someone at work whose biggest problem is what colour nail polish to buy!

I need my all day scrap tomorrow!

I know Christmas is now less than six weeks away, but I really don't have the energy to even think about it at the moment ... maybe next week!

Catch up

My Dad: can't drive for the forseeable future and probably not ever again. Thise leaves me to be the taxi-driver to the doctor, the vet, the dentist, the supermarket etc. I was really depressed on Monday night and Tueday about this. Thanks goodness my parents live close by and it's easy to get to them.

The seniors left today - YAY!!! I was at the point where I was more worried about their exams than they are.

Juinors start writing exams tomorrow. That means lots of marking for me but it means that Ross write exams too. Right now Ross is learning the countries of Europe and Asia-Pacific. When I asked him if he had anything to learn, he said, "No" but then I found all this stuff in his school bag! ARGH! He's as bad as my seniors

Colin has his College entrance test next week and I'm stressing over that too

Scrapping on Saturday and I can't wait! I have a very cool little project up my sleeve for everyone but everyone else will be more creative than me so theirs will look better! I have started my first prototype and got as far as the paint and now I'm stuck!

Hubby is off to Seattle on Friday to a Sequel Server convention (don't know if I've even spelled that correctly but it's a Database) - boys and I can eat pizza for dinner!

8th November 2008

In New Zealand, women have been able to vote since 1893 - that's 105 years! New Zealand women were the first women in the world to get this right. Many people in many parts of the world do not have this right. In the 80s I voted for all people to have the right to vote in South Africa.

So go and vote today - it is a right that many people are denied

Home

My Dad is home tonight but without a very conclusive diagnosis. He is on antibiotics for suspected pneumonia and we are expecting some more results to come in the post. Hopefully we'll know more next week when they go for their three monthly check-up. We are all very pleased he is home because it is a 30minute (at best) drive to the hospital.

Thank you again for all your concern - it is very much appreciated