time to catch up...

It's been a busy few months for us, since I last updated our blog.

We went to our Spring Festival where Lakiesha had a great time at the Animal Farm stall. Santa came to visit at our Playgroup christmas party and brought Lakiesha a new doll pram. She wouldn't sit on his lap for more than two seconds and absolutely refused to go up there and collect her present. Nevertheless it was a really great day and we had a lot of fun.

Christmas totally snuck up on me this year but in a way I am thankful it has come and gone. Lakiesha got lots of new stuff, Santa gave her a megasketcher and a very muppett christmas DVD, Aunty Charlene gave her Narnia on DVD, Gran bought her 5 new outfits, that I'm almost too scared for her to wear! From David and I she got a new pool, beach towel, bathers & kronk's new groove DVD. In her stocking she got chocolate coins, and new colouring books as well as her very own coloured pencils. She got to go in her new pool on boxing day with Taylah and Cameron, it's quite large and big enough that Dave and I can get in there too.

Two weeks before christmas we went to Nat & Glen's for a bbq so we could all see Dad before he left to go on his trip. It was great to catch up with them all, as we haven't seen them in a while. Lakiesha spent the whole time with Paris and Jessica being carried around and kept entertained.

We rescued a baby bird, who we found on our doorstep when we got home from the bbq at Nat & Glen's. He'd fallen out of his nest and lost his mum, he didn't know how to fly. We took him in and he survived the night, so we took him to Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre where he's getting the care and attention he needs. We are still waiting to hear from them as to how he's doing.

Lakiesha got given a haircut by me, not perfectly straight but it's a cute little bob and it really suits her. Plus it keeps her hair out of her face.

We went to the Wiggles concert at Burswood Dome with Aunty Narelle, Dante and Montana. Lakiesha absolutely loved it she spent the whole time standing on the chair dancing and clapping. It was great and the hour and a half just flew by. We got to see all the action as we were quite close to the front plus some characters walked past our row of chairs. Santa was also there, he's a very busy man.

We said goodbye to David's parents as they have moved to Darwin and are enjoying it except for the hot muggy weather.

We had a playgroup outing to Funstation where Lakiesha spent most of her time making things in the kitchen. We had a fun day though.

Lakiesha and I took a trip to Dongara to do a Stampin' Up! workshop weekend and to catch up with family, while we were away Dave went camping with Neil and Jamie. It was a long, eventful but worthwhile weekend. Before leaving Dongara we went to playgroup with Narelle and the kids in the hopes of wearing Lakiesha out so she'd sleep for the first part of the trip home, and thankfully it worked. She had a blast playing on the little trampoline and really got into being on the swing she was even leaning forward and backwards with the motion of the swing.

I've caught up with friends I used to hang out with and go to school with, which was really great. It's interesting to see how our lives have changed for the better.

David's grandad passed away from his struggle with cancer, he fought as hard as he could but it wasn't meant to be. We were all devastated by losing him he was a wonderful man and David will always miss him.

Overall it has been a wonderful year, full of blessings and struggles, but I think we will emerge as stronger people and a stronger family because of it. We are looking forward to a great new year and many more great thingss in 2007. We hope you all had a wonderful christmas and that your new year is just as awesome.

Web fun...

Check this out if you are a scrapbooker Clique TV.

The current series is about Stacy Julian, founder of Simple Scrapbooks Magazine and Big Picture Scapbooking. I am totally loving this so far and don't forget to download the daily pdf.

If you need some christmas inspiration check out the i wish.... catalouge from Ezibuy. Simply beautiful.

That's all I can think of right now, except today I am thankful for a sleeping child, and I am thankful for my beautiful spring flowers.

What small things are you thankful for today?

Stampin' Up! November Promotion

Buy any of four {4} predetermined stamp sets and recieve the matching standard Stampin' Around© wheel free. That's an $11.95 value.

Stamp Sets and Wheels:

Holiday Spirit & Only Ornaments

Winged Things & Wings & Things

Fishy Friends & Fishy

Buds & Blossoms & Delicate Design {as featured on flyer below}

Rebecca and Craig Gmeiner

Flowergirl (my cousin maddy) and Pageboy

My cousin Bronte as a bridesmaid

The bride being walked up the aisle by her Dad

After exchanging rings

First kiss as Husband and Wife

My brother Phil and his girlfriend Sarah

Bride, groom and our grandparents

Bride and her Mum

Bride and her Dad

Entering the reception

My cousin Rebecca married her sweetheart Craig on the 7th of October. I really enjoyed the wedding it was short, sweet, simple and they wrote their own vows. Fave bit: in his vows Craig said "I love you, because you can cook (everyone laughed) but mostly I love because you're you" majorly sweet, may not be an exact quote but it went something like that. Bad bit: Lakiesha was not happy about being with a babysitter while we were at the reception so we left early, but you get that. We however wish Bec and Craig every future happiness.

YouTube video...

When you have a spare few minutes to wait for this vid to download WATCH IT!! Love it, love the music, love the concept. Hugs should always be free.

Take the time I guarantee you'll enjoy it!

Photo album fun

We are off to a wedding on the weekend, so we are going to be catching up with all my extended family. We are leaving Lakiesha with Dave's parents over night, and because of this my Nan asked me to bring her lots of photos, so I went a little crazy with the idea. I grabbed a cool little album from Target for $1.99. Printed off a ton of photos and the result a great little gift album that cost me about $12.

The photo's only show some of my fave bits about this album, quick, easy and fun. I'm going to use a ton of these little albums to show off all the photos that don't get scrapbooked. I borrowed the idea from Big Picture Scrapbooking teacher Gretchen Schmidt's summer fun idea, I am just kind of expanding it and making it my own.

I also included two more written sections about Lakiesha one titled What I love to do and the other is a list of words she can say. Totally cool.

New Mini Catalouge

The new mini cataloge is now available to be viewed online. To check out all the cool new stamp sets, click here

For more information, or to place an order please email me

Hope to hear from you soon, and don't forget about the new october promotion! Check previous post for more details or feel free to email me!

Stampin' Up! © October Promotion

Starting October 1st if you join the Stampin' Up! family as a Demonstartor not only will you recieve your starter kit but you can choose a FREE stamp set (of your choice) from the Idea Book and Catalouge or the new Mini Catalouge, to the value of $79.95! Offer ends 31st October 2006, so get in quickly.

How cool is that, totally wishing I'd known this was coming three weeks ago I would have waited. LOL!

If you'd like more information please email me at hollyc@westnet.com.au

Good Stuff...

I seriously love everything vanilla (the smell of it is just divine), and though I don't like normal coffee I have always wanted to try vanilla coffee. So while browsing the aisles of woolies I stumbled upon these, needless to say I have fallen in love they smell and taste yummy! They come in a box of 8 for $3 something.

Other good stuff... I have been making more sample cards and I am seriously out of red cardstock, I never thought I was into bright colours until I joined Stampin' Up!, but I really like a lot of the colours in the Bold Brights colour family.

I have to get back into my scrapping now that I have extra shelving and more room in the office. Plus I have a little photo album that I need to put together for Nan and Pop. They want new pics of Lakiesha, so gonna do a cool little album for them.

I bought Dave a George Foreman grill today and we just cooked our steak in it. DIVINE. No more greasy steak or chicken for us, total goodness.

Will post more photos soon, love to ya all.

Decent people...

they are out there. On Saturday my Dad went out drinking with some of his friends, by 7pm he was drunk and ready to go home, he called us and asked us to get him but we were just about to eat dinner and it would have taken us at least half an hour to get to the casino. So he grabbed a taxi and went home, luckily we decided that we had better go down there and make sure he had gotten inside. Well he couldn't get into the house (he'd left his keys behind where his friends were staying) so had decided to lay down in his carport.

So Dave and I went down there and helped him inside, little did we know until Sunday that Dad had left his mobile phone in the taxi that had brought him home. We had tried calling it, Dad had tried calling it but no one answered. This morning at 8:10 I recieved a phone call from the taxi driver that had dropped Dad off at home. He hadn't found the phone until today because he didn't work Sundays, so all our ringing had gone to waste because there was no-one there to hear it.

Well I organised for the taxi driver to come here and drop it off and I would pay the fare. 20 minutes later I got the phone and the fare was only $39. Considering he would have had to get a new phone, heaps cheaper way to do it. The coolest part was that this man remembered dropping Dad off and that he had taken him to Parkerville and then the coolest thing of all happened he said to me "Did he get inside ok?"

WOW! not only did he remember but he cared enough to ask if he was ok! I don't know how many people this man dropped off after Dad but somehow none of them found the phone, a man who was willing to go out of his way and return it did. In fact someone who was willing to return the phone at all would have amazed me I didn't really think there were many of them left in today's world, but it turns out they do exist.

Hooray for the good souls out there!

Stamping fun...

I've been neglecting the housework a bit in the last couple of days (not unusual)and I have been stamping! Having tons of fun fun fun! These are the projects I have been making (well a few of them). I have a few leads worked out for workshops and am waiting to see how they pan out. If any one want more info on Stampin' Up! email me at hollyc@westnet.com.au or click on Stampin' Up! in the menu on the right hand side.






All images Stampin' Up!© 1990-2006

Can't wait to do my first workshop I am excited but nervous, it's going to be heaps of fun!

Love to you all peace out!! LOL xoxo

It's Official...

You are looking at Stampin' Up! Demonstrator number 4000238!! Exciting huh! I have to thank my Dad for being the best in the world, for everything he's ever done for me. I love you Dad you are the best! To my darling David for letting me take this opportunity to try something new and do something I love. I love you honey!

In other news Lakiesha is very well and sleeping through the night at least for the last 2 or 3 so we are hoping it'll stay that way. She's growing so fast and I can't believe she's nearly two. Isn't she beautiful?





Gotta love this girl she has a style all her own. So anyway if anyone would like to see the Stampin' Up! catalouge online click here I can't wait to get out there and start doing workshops and teaching people about stamping and scrapbooking.

Well time to go and make some card samples etc...
Love to you all from us!!

Sick...

So what started out as a normal wednesday at playgroup turned bad. Wednesday afternoon/evening Lakiesha came down sick, vomiting and diarrhea. And today on monday she is a bit better still with an upset tummy but no vomiting so far. Cross your fingers for us. Anyway what started out as 1 sick baby and 2 exhausted parents has turned into 1 unhappy not so well little girl, 1 sick daddy and 1 exhausted mummy. Thankfully I haven't caught the bug so far but I feel a cold coming on so I think I am bound to end up sick anyway. That's all our news we haven't really done much except cleam up spew and poo! We are having lazy days watching movies and trying to get better. Fingers crossed again.

Love, hugs and kisses to you all and here's praying you are all well and don't get sick. xoxo

Just for TJ!

OK TJ here is the picture I promised you! Horrible huh? Anyways now that Dave has finally had a haircut I will try and convince him to do a family photo shoot this weekend going to do it at home myself to save heaps of money so we'll see how that turns out for us.

More exciting news I'm going to be getting a catalogue from Stampin Up (the group I wanna join that I was telling you about) can't wait to get it then when we catch up I'll show it to you and I promise you will love it or you can check it out here ,
click on Australian flag ,then catalogue and it should work.

So seeing how this post is just for you I hope you leave us a comment just click on comment under the post before the date of the next post and it will open up another window where you can leave us a message.

Love you always and see you soon. xoxo

3 Years...

LJ drawing at her table and chairs.



Wearing mum's beanie



Snuggling her Daddy


Yesterday was our 3 year anniversary! There are times when I simply can't believe that we have put up with each other for three years. For the most part, it doesn't even feel like it has been three years. Through it all we've laughed, had fun and brought a beautiful daughter into the world who's going to turn 2 in 5 short months.

The sun is shining but you'd really never know, because it is freezing cold. Though that could just be me. I really can not wait for summer to start, I want to spend time outdoors doing fun stuff like kicking around the footy or just lazing in the sun. When I'm a millionare I am spending half the year in the southern hemisphere and the other half in the northern. That way I get to enjoy summer twice over. Now how's that for wishful thinking huh?

Hugs, kisses and warm wishes to you all xoxo

Hi...

We are doing great, today we finally managed to get Lakiesha to wear shoes without screaming. A hugely major accomplishment for us! And I must admit that I was so happy I could have cried. I can't wait to post a photo of her walking around wearing shoes.

Lately I have been doing plenty of papercrafts (making my own cards) and today I decorated my first paint can.






Mum came to stay with us on wednesday night and Lakiesha was so excited she didn't want to go to bed. David still loves his job and Jason Mazda will take over employing him in the next week or so which is good news for us. The great news is that David has cut down on his smoking and is well on his way to quitting. He is currently down to 3 packets a week which is a huge accomplishment and I am so very, very proud of him for making this change in his life.

That's our latest news and event we'll keep you all posted. Love Hol xoxo

Update...

We are doing well. Keeping busy, having fun together and enjoying everyday. I have been scrapbooking Lakiesha's baby photo's which almost makes we want to have another one. (Almost but not quite) We recieved a lovely photo frame as an engagement present from Aunty Jeanie and Uncle Sandy, Thank you guys so much it meant a lot to us and Thank you also to Nanna and Poppa who sent us a card to say congratulations on our engagement. I promise you that I will write you a letter or call soon.

David is still loving his job and has been told he's getting a pay rise YAY!! We have also concocted a plan to get David to QUIT SMOKING! I have to say he is doing really well I'm very, very proud of him.

Well that's all our news hope you are all well and that you will leave us a message next time you drop by our blog. Love hugs and kisses to you all.

Milestones...

OK so we've mastered crawling, sitting and walking so far and we're onto running. Lakiesha can also blow her own nose, say ta and ta-ta (for goodbye), but Dadda is still the favourite word for my little girl.

Everyday it seems that she conquers something new. She climbs up on to the couch, gets down from the couch, climbs on her toybox and even knows how to get down the back steps all on her own. Most importantly she know how to open the kitchen cupboard doors and she'll bring you the biscuit packet when she's hungry or she'll stand in front of the fridge door yelling. When thirsty she stands in front of the water cooler and yells until you pay attention.

Her latest accomplishment is squealing (yes she know how to do that already!!) and she squeals at you when she doesn't get her way or what she wants and if she feels like it she also hits you and tells you off.

But amongst all the yelling, squealing, hitting and screaming she has quiet time too where she'll just sit quietly and watch one of her favourite movies or be quietly playing with all of her toys. She's grumpy, happy, crazy, tons of fun and the best thing that ever happened to me(other than David) I feel blessed and very lucky to have this little girl in my life, even if she really is Daddy's Little Girl!

A new week...

a new to do list.

There's only one problem it's raining and I really hate winter weather, it's my least favourite part of the year, the funny thing about it though is that I hate the cold, yet I love listening to the rain on our tin roof, it's very calming and peaceful.



Our front yard today.

I am cleaning up the office today, the computer table looks neat, tidy and more organised and as yet I haven't gotten to the sewing table or scrapbook table. (sigh) I am working on a surprise project for Scott and Sherie, secret, secret, I'll reveal photo's of it in a couple of weeks.



My neater office desk.

Ok we're back, custard melties are in the oven as we are all out of biscuits and LJ is hungry. Back again biccy's out of the oven, smell real good too. We're almost recovered from our cold, thankfully. Happy Mother's Day to all of you for yeaterday, I enjoyed the day and last night I stayed up and watched Love Actually on tv, snuggled up on the couch under my doona, a perfect ending to a special day. Leave us a comment and let us know how your mother's day went.

Random thoughts are finished so we will leave you for today. Enjoy what's left of today. Love to you all.



MY GIRL!!!