Tagged

Got this from Kathryn
Find out a little about me you didnt know :)
Feel free to be tagged yourself

1 Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Neither, not a big milk drinker

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Wraps them

3. Do you hang mistletoe?
no

4. When do you put your decorations up?
After the 11th December, tradition since I was little

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Love turkey with all the trimmings

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
Boxing day (homegrown) cricket matches in my nans back yard

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
That santa really isnt Tim Allan ?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Nope, no gifts under our tree until christmas morning

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
The boys decortate it, so however it ends up lol

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? (did say it was american !!)
Love snow, just wish it wasnt so cold

12. Can you ice skate?
I have refereed and played ice hockey, skated since i was 14

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I have received so many good ones its hard to pick a favourite

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Family and being together

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Im not a sweets eater

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
We dont really have any traditions other than when our tree goes up

17. What tops your tree?
Angel

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?
Love to receive, but I love to give and see the joy the gift brings to others

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Jingle Bells

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
Yuck!

Ramblings

OK so I play in a mixed futsal (indoor soccer) team, its a FUN comp, not serious at all. We play this new team thurs night and I swear the guys in the team thought they were socceroos players. Rough and nasty goes along way to explain how they played. My 11 yr old son who is our goalie was lucky to walk away without injury, and you better believe I let them know what I thought about their style of play. We have 3 girls in our team, all of us not afraid to get in and have a go, but all 3 of us ended up injured after this game.
My ankle is a beautiful mix of black and yellow and twice its normal size, amazingly it doesnt hurt all that much to walk around on, havent tried to run or kick a ball yet though..
On a brighter note, found out this week that the engagement party our neighbours are having next weekend is actually going to be a surprise wedding!! None of the guests bar a cple know about it, how exciting is that, going to be peeking over the fence next saturday for sure.
My scrap desk is full on paints and glues and paper and anything else scrap related you can think of lol The upside is I am almost done with christmas making!! Well unless you count cards, and those I havent started on yet..
Trying to get a decent christmasy photo of the boys together is proving to be an impossibility. Im really trying to stop the urge to just go buy cards this year.
Finish with a huge big GO AUSSIES!!
The cricketers are batting up a storm, looking good fore regaining the ashes!

Cheers

Random Stuff

Found this on another blog, how cool is it, now if only I really did look like any of those women!!

A totally awesome site for inspiration if you scrap with alot of photos.

So today im stuck at home without a car again! so bored I decide to rearrange furniture... Who would of guessed that filing cabinet was so heavy. Moving things made me realise that My scrap room isnt as accessible as I wanted it..so yup im rearranging that too..

Found this site that gave me a laugh, thought I would share..
Aussie Christmas

And just to finish with, my clever husband penned this...
Out of the skies flew a little red chap
with some lovely reindeer and a little red cap
He had gifts there for all
for the fat & the thin
the short and the tall
he left them in stockings
and floors most of all
He smiled as he laughed
and completed his task
proud of the fact
he can do it so fast
He sighed as he looked
at the kids all in bed
with presents and fun times
dancing in their head
as he left this one house
he had a last look
and saw a card made for SANTA
so this one he took
he read as he flew
remembering when
as a child he heard
of the best gift of all
was of that which was given
with not even a word
So this is his story
believe it or not
but you ask my child asleep in his cot
"Santa is real daddy
i love him a lot
he brought us his presents
he never forgot"
as i think back now i did hear a feint sound
sounding like laughter comming from all around
i realised at once
a new hope was found
Santas' still real
in our hearts and our soul
with the love wev'e been given
and the joy that we feel.

O'Reilleys Rainforest Retreat

WOW!!
Sums it all up in one word. After a almost 2 hour drive through alot of mountain goat territory and a few week stomachs, we arrived at the guest house. Beautiful just doesn't give it justice. We were treated to a buffet style lunch before being checked into our rooms. Rooms were spacious and had all the necessitys, coffee facilities and a gorgeous bathroom :D A balcony overlooking a gorgeous few.
We had a few hours to do what we pleased, the boys had a great time hand feeding all the tame parrots. They were so beutiful and would just sit on your hand or arm, or even head.


We went for a short walk thru one of the many trails. It was beautiful, so fresh and peaceful. The wildlife and the vegetation was just spectacular. The boys then headed to the pool and spa for a hour or so of splashing around and cooling of.



The kids were all booked into the 'Scrub Club', taken by a few of the staff and treated to games, movie and dinner.
The adults all boarded a 4wd bus and headed into the hills. A bumpy ride through scrub to a clearing high up in the mountain. A short walk and we came to a bar and waiter set up with beer, wine, champers and canapes, we felt like royalty, Another short walk then down to a clearing where we watched the most beautiful sunset.



We then all boarded the bus and was taken back to the Guest house where we dined in a private room. A scrumpcious 3 course meal. The night was then ours to do as we pleased, some chose the bar, some chose bed, others chose the game room.
We awoke early the next day to parrots on our balcony, before dressing and heading to the dining room for a full on breakfast.. The works..the boys thought all their christmas' had come at
once lol



We took a short walk through another of the trails, walking over a swinging bridge, which was a tad scary.
Was soon time to pack up and check out. That wasnt the end of our weekend package though. We all hopped in the cars and drove back down that mountain goat track to the Winery. We were then treated to a wine tasting and a oh so yummy picninc hamper lunch.
It was a beautiful end to a wonderful weekend.



The boys were full of, when can we go back, can we go there at christmas, all the way home.

Mrs Santa

Isnt it so exciting when everything around you starts to get festive, the atmosphere changes to one of joy and excitement.
This has happened at KSK Mrs Santa has popped in for a visit. You can read more about her here
I love christmas, and with mine starting early with my weekend away pressie tomorrow, its perfect timing for Mrs Santa to visit a site I hang out at alot.

R & R

Christmas has come early for our family this year.
John's amazingly wonderful company he works for have decided that for this years christmas function they are taking not jsut staff and partners, but their whole families (yes kids included) away for the weekend (well one night, 2 days)!!
How fantastic is that!!
No cleaning, no cooking, just resting and relaxing and having a good time.



Look at that picture, doesnt it look just devine! Lots more pics and info on their website.
O'reilleys guest house

Needless to say I wont be posting again till sunday night, when I will hopefully have some amazing photos to share and news of how I had the best weekend!

Ugh...

I am a firm believer in kids having discipline, and being aware that their actions have consequences. That the severity of their actions depict what the severity of the discipline will be. It can be frustrating and confusing though when other factors in their lifes contradict the lessons we are trying to teach them.
When discipline is handed out carelessly and without thought, it really undoes all the good that you have tried to uphold in your children's life. To have one disciplinary action that covers a wide range of actions from minor to major is not in my opinion the right way to teach these lessons.
When you as an adult cannot understand why these issues are dealt with like this then imagine how the child feels.
We want our kids to grow into smart caring adults, then lets start treating them with the same consideration that we would adults....

Random shots..

Just a few pics of the boys over the weekend.
This first one is them of to a school disco.


A couple of my favourites. The boys being boys and playing around with a large cardboard box.
Love that they still have a great imagination at their ages.

This week..

My son found out this week just how low and bitchy girls can be...
He had his heart broken when his girlfriend broke up with him :( i felt so bad for him, but really wanted to slap this girl. She didnt even tell him herself, she text msg'd a friend and got them to tell him. How low and nasty is that!
We gave him the whole 'fish in the sea' story, your only young, its going to happen lots more yet etc etc.. Im so proud of him, he went to school the next day and spoke to her, didnt get upset with her or cranky, just 'shes just a girl at school mum' attitude.
Had an arguement with a hospital pharmacy on the phone over medications for my youngest son, felt great satisfaction when by then end they admitted they were in the wrong and would fix the problem!! I love being right!!
The week ended with the two youngest boys going to a school disco, have photos will try and upload later. They had a great time, music (really loud lol) lights, smoke machine, and glow sticks. Apart from a little 'time out' from the flashing lights and smoke for Jay, a great time was had, they both came home tired.
My big boy (DH) got a new toy of sorts (a rack for his server) and has spent all day rearranging his workshop to accommodate it. Ive been wanting him to sort thru that place for ages, finally it happened. Pity the rubbish clean up was last weekend, cos now we have a new pile to get rid of lol.
Planning on making a start on christmas cards tonight, have left it so late this year. Tomorrow I want to try out some christmas shots with the boys ready to put on some cards. Ren babe you need to live close by, you would take awesome shots for me.
Enough of my ramblings for today, till next time *Muah*

Catching up..

So i think I've caught up on the challenges. I locked myself away for most of the week and just scrapped. Haven't done so many pages in such a short time in a long while.

This one is of my son, for a Monthly challenge on KSK.




My beautiful niece, who I adore.
This was for a design team challenge
also on KSK.

Normality

So I return home from a fabulous weekend away, my dh and boys have been great and the house is clean and tidy!
Im not sure if it was from my son, or from the huge change in weather, but day 2 back home and im sick :( got the whole works, sore throat, runny nose, coughin, heavy chest..poor me..
But life goes on and the whole 'mum cant be sick' thingy, still have to soldier on.
Have lots of challenges that I have to complete so I've been hibernating at home with lots of fluids and tissues and trying to get some scrapping done.
Will post some layouts when i actually get them done.
On a brighter note...
My baby boy is doing a scrapbook class at school!! Oh My ive corrupted another son lol Thats 2 sons now, time to hide the supplies i think..