To follow up .............

Just a quick note about my last post. After posting that on Monday night, I went to uni yesterday and during my promoting positive learning environments lecture, we discussed the science of giving. Here is a quote from the lecture,

"Giving reduces mortality signifcantly, even when you start late. Dough Oman of UCB followed almost 2000 individuals over the age of 55 for 5 years. Those who volunteered for 2 or more organisations had 44% lower likelihood of dying. This is a stronger predicitor than exercising 4 times a week (30%)."

So apart from making me feel like I'm giving back to my community, now I don't need to exercise! Have a great Wednesday!

This and That

So this is another random post, and although I've uploaded photos, I'm not sure they will match my random thoughts!

So these photos were taken on Sunday just near Canberra, my husband took the 3 big kids to have a look for some snow. This is what they found!

The children haven't really seen snow before (other than a few years ago on the side of the road) and they were excited to go and find some. They have been promised that next year they will get to go to a snow field and hire gear and do the whole thing properly. That being said they did have fun, and really enjoyed the snowball fight, making sure each person got hit in the head at least once! (as you do)

Love this shot of Kayden, the look of concentration!

Curtis shaping his snowball



One of the reasons for not visiting the snow earlier is Ash's fingers, she suffers from chill blains and it can cause her real problems.



These photos don't really show the full extent of the problem but basically her fingers are red and purple and a bout twice the size they should be. Also rather painful and hot to touch - not fun!


Also following on from my last post, my sister was over on the weekend and was left alone with Eli for all of 5 minutes, this is what I came back to:


Not just a kilt, but bagpipes to complete the outfit - I guess it's a look!

As an aside I wanted to have a little rant about volunteering. Last week and this week I'm madly trying to do everything I normally have to do (kids, house, study etc) but am also trying to do numerous school P&C things as well. Don't get me wrong, I love helping out - I wouldn't do it otherwise but I do wonder why it's always the same people? In the last few days we've had to arrange morning tea and a ceremonial cake for the hall opening, organise things for a BBQ breakfast in the morning (yes I have to be at school by about 7.45) and than get organised for the father's day stall, which isn't to bad as a few people are wrapping gifts so I'm only wrapping about 80 gifts and then manning the stall for 2 mornings. Like I said I do enjoy it, and I love the feeling of giving back to the school or community. I think this also has a positive influence on my children and their role in the community and the notion of volunteering and community spirit.
You see the reason I thought about this was that today I was asked why am I doing all the stuff at school? Actually I had decided to step back this year with Uni starting and Eli being born, so I stepped down from the P&C and from my Women's group and thought I'd help out here and there but didn't want to commit to anything more. But I seem to be taking on more and more somehow! I guess I put my hand up, but it's only because no one else seems to. Is it just me or are there fewer and fewer people doing volunteer work? Is it that people are too busy? Or is that an excuse because they don't see why they should donate their time and effort if someone else is willing to do it? I don't really understand. I guess I see what I do on the school P&C as a way of contributing to my children's education, in the form of providing additional resources and supporting activities that couldn't happen without added helpers. I also see it as a chance to meet no only other like minded parents but also build relationships with the teachers and staff at their school - who at the end of the day have a huge influence over my child. I think my lack of understanding steams from this point - why wouldn't you want to be actively involved in your child's education? why wouldn't you want to be aware of what is happening in the school and who these people are that are influencing your child? Food for thought I guess.

Okay time for bed, if you got through all that you must be pretty fantastic, that or really bored. Anyway night!

Wee Bairns!

I just wanted to share some photos with you as i haven't really had much time to do anything creative and I haven't really done anything interesting to write about. So this post is very photo heavy! Firstly the title, well I'm guessing that a lot of you won't actually understand it but it's a Scottish term, you may have picked up on that from the photo! So why you ask, well my sister just got back from Scotland a week or so ago. Why had she gone, well my Grandmother is Scottish and came to Australia when she was in her twenties and has never been back. Earlier this year my Aunt moved over there and my Grandmother was very keen to visit. Unfortunately my grandmother was a little nervous travelling by herself so my sister escorted her over, stayed for a couple of weeks and then flew back just in time for uni this semester (yes, we are both at uni which is great!). She flew in late on the Sunday night, after the children had gone to bed. So you can imagine their surprise when they got up Monday morning! In her usual style she HAD to get them some gifts, and trusting her not your everyday kind! She got the girls Kilts and the boys mini bagpipes. Plus Eli a 'highland cow' bib and some assorted scottish books including 'Oor Wullie'. Now I know that I said that she gave the girls kilts, and in the photo Curtis is wearing a kilt that is because he insisted on wearing a kilt to play the bagpipes. Needless to say we have now asked for my grandma to bring back 2 more kilts (for the boys) and another set of bagpipes (for Ash). I'm sure you can imagine the noise in the house at the moment, as none of the children actually know how to play, they just blow and make as much noise as possible!

Curtis Filling up the bag.

Look at his style! He had no idea how to hold it.

Miss Michaela, a gorgeous look - kilt over pyjamas


Eli's also got a heap of clothes - exhibit A Superbaby outfit!


Here are a few random shots from the last few days:


The kids wrestling on Miss Michaela's bed! They love wrestling.



And a few shots from the book parade yesterday:



Kayden as Peter from the chronicles of Narnia



Ashley as Sapphire from the Pearlie series


Curtis as Gregory from Diary of a wimpy kid

Well I should stop now, have lots on over the next few weeks with the kids school. Add to that my uni tutor has advised us that for 1 subject we actually need to do 30 hours a weeks worth of work, I'm going to be stretched to get time to do anything creative - although I have a couple of ideas that I really need to play with so I can see that I'll have a few late nights trying to cram everything in! Hope you have a great week, Bye!

W is for waterpark!

Ok I haven't really gotten round to doing too many scrap booking posts so I thought I'd do a quick post from my A to Z album. So I'm doing W! W was easy for me to pick, last year for the Canberra day holiday we took the kids to Jamberoo recreation park and it was brilliant. Being Canberra day (March) meant there only seemed to be Canberra people there so it wasn't too busy, being in March it wasn't ridiculously hot either. Perfect! WE also went with my sister and a friend and her 2 boys, which was great as it gave Curtis someone to play with and meant we had an extra pair of hands! Jamberoo has lots of slides, pools etc plus toboggans and also the ROCK! Now I hadn't been there since I was in high school, but I remember jumping off the rock then. You see I'm terrified of heights, shake, feel sick, get dizzy everything, it's awful. But worst than heights is the fear of embarrassment, of having to walk back down, past the line everyone looking at you! So when we took the kids last year and Curtis wanted to jump of the rock (which I think is about 5 meters) I had to take him up. I did suggest that we jump off the small one first (only 2 1/2m) which he and his friend did no worries and then we went up to the big rock. I had to go first, obviously, and not show any signs of fear! Just before I jumped I told Curtis ( 9 years old) walk to the edge, don't look over and just jump! So I jumped, swam to the edge and turned to watch him. He walks to the edge, he is little for his age but being up so high, by himself he looked tiny. By this stage everyone around the pool was watching and you could hear people commenting that there was no way that little boy would jump! They obviously don't know Curtis, because without a seconds hesitation off he jumps! And then again and again and again. I think that was my favourite memory of the day.

Don't get me wrong, the rest of the day was great as well such as us all sitting having lunch, overlooking the wave pool!

Everybody racing down the slides on their mats!


Posing for countless photos with all the characters around the park.


It really was a great day and although we didn't go this year (I was very pregnant!) we are really looking forward to going next year.

On a side note I'm not sure how much time I'll have over the next few weeks to be creative as I started back at uni yesterday and I can see the next few weeks (or months) being about just getting through it and not a lot of time for anything else! One of my lectures had informed us that we need to set aside 30hours a week for that subject, not sure where I'm going to pull that from - maybe no sleep! Hopefully I'll get to do a post before the end of the week and let you know if I've done a challenge piece for Saturdays Kaszazz team meeting, Bye!

If only I was 2 again!

Do you ever wonder why children refuse to sleep? I do, constantly! I have just spent the last 2 hours, that's right from 7.50pm to 9.50pm trying to get Miss Michaela to stay in her bed and GO TO SLEEP! Okay in her defence we were out for lunch and didn't get home till after 3 which meant she had a late nap, than Miss Ashley was being a drama queen so I spent a great deal of time trying to defuse that, as well as Baby Eli trying to have a feed and to top it all off Dad wasn't here to back me up! You see Michaela is not quite 2, she'll be 2 next month and we've only just moved her into a big bed about a month ago, so she is still enjoying the new found freedom and has gone from a little girl that just went straight to sleep (after months of training!) to someone who fights it like the plague! And this is the bit I don't understand - what I wouldn't give for a daytime nap, no one would have to ask me twice, I'd be out like a light. And going to bed at 7.30, yes please. Why is it that when your a baby or a little person all people want you to do is go to sleep, if you sleep a lot everyone is happy. The problem is you don't appreciate it, you fight it, you kick, scream, whinge, argue, need to get a drink, need to go to the toilet, not to mention the endless "but I forgot to say goodnight". Is sleeping really that bad? the answer is no! Sleep is blissful, it's not until your a parent that you understand the true joy of sleep. It's just one of those things that until you've had it taken away from you, you just don't appreciate it. So that is why I wish I could go back to being 2, just for a couple of days. Just long enough to catch up on about 11 years off lost sleep, off being up throughout the night, of numerous night time feeds,of have to get up early and of going to bed late just so I can have some time to myself!

On another note I've been thinking about what to do with this cupboard door.

Recently we had been thinking of moving house, (our house is way to small) but since we've been here about 4 1/2 years I've been marking the kids heights on the inside of the pantry door. I love it, and when we talked about moving I started wondering what would happen to my door. I mean I guess I can't rip it off and take it with me! So after thinking about it for a few days I have thought of a little project I could do using the door and markings. Not sure how it will turn out but I'll keep you updated. I guess I'll have to do it sooner than later as I meant to be revamping the kitchen over the next few weeks which means the doors will have to go!

And another project that I'm currently working on, I think I actually started this in March it was a doona and wall hanging for Eli, Oops! Yet another UFO (unfinished project)


The wall hanging (I haven't put it up yet, will have to wait till I rearrange rooms - again!)



His buttons that Miss Michaela choose and had to help sew on.

Eli's doona (yes it is very scrunched but it just came out of the dryer and I couldn't be bothered ironing it before I took a photo!)
The back of his doona, Yes I love Mickey!!!!!

So that's me for tonight, hopefully I can do another post tomorrow as I had intended to do one every couple of days and tonight's was nothing like I had in mind, it just came from me having to vent my frustration - argh, much better. Thanks, Good night!

Beware of the supermum!

So I've been thinking a lot about the notion of 'supermum'. I think all mums do a great job, some work full time, some part time and some are stay at home mums. Personally I think that mothering is the most challenging job you'll ever face and there has been a few blog posts recently about this. For example here and here. I guess my thing about supermums is that they just don't exist. Often when people find out that I have 5 children, their first comment is "I don't know how you do it!" I often get people saying things like 'I just don't know you have the time to do everything' or 'I can't do that I just wouldn't be able to fit it all in'. I have a few problems with comments like these: 1- I'm really not good at taking compliments! and 2- I don't have any more hours in the day than anyone else I guess I just choose to use them differently (hence my ironing pile!). There is no humanly possible way that I could do everything around the house, look after 5 children including a toddler and a baby, act as a taxi service, study and help out with volunteer organisations, and stay sane! I couldn't, no one can. A few months ago I went to BWG's Women's gathering, it was an awesome day and one of the key presenters was Jules Tarrant, she is an amazing inspiring woman and a great friend. She was saying beware of the supermum, how (and I'm para phrasing) you might see these amazing women that always look fantastic, juggling children, work etc and you're likely to think that they really had their stuff together, little do you know that earlier that day they were curled up in the fetal position sobbing! Everyone thought this was hilarious, not just because the way she said it was funny but also, I and I'm assuming all the other women there could relate. I know there has been numerous days that whilst I might start off the day fantastically I end up falling apart. Days where I have found myself laughing at the fact that a then 5 year old decided to drag himself around the house in the washing basket scratching the 2 week old floorboards. I had to laugh,it was either laugh or cry! Days when the kids need to get somewhere, I'm trying to feed, I've been thrown up all over and have dinner burning, when I seem to ask myself 'if this only happens to me?' Days (like all of last week) when I have had to carry a 2 1/2 month old and an almost 2 year old into school at 5 past 3 to pick up children, with snot all over my shoulder, kids coughing and eyes hanging out their heads. I don't care to think what some parents thought then! I doubt that when people see me like this they are going to say how lucky I am to have time to craft! I guess what I'm trying to say that no one is perfect, no one can do everything all of the time without losing the plot. I think mum's in general are too hard on themselves, I know I always have a fear of someone turning up to the house unannounced and coming into the 'bombsite', of being judged as a bad mother for not having a clean house. For not spending enough time reading with the kids individually every night, I always feel guilty that I don't do guided reading anymore and the list goes on. So what am I going to do about it, well I think I have had a bit of a mind shift of the last few months. Up until this year I never asked for help, I felt like people would think that I couldn't cope, I now realise that there is no harm in asking for help. I have wonderful friends that are always helping out and I like to think that I do the same. I'm not going to get hung about the house as much, my friends are comfortable coming into the mess and putting on the kettle and getting there own coffee! Most of all I have acknowledged that I can't do everything and I'm ok with that, and if anyone thinks that they can good on them! I would have my doubts, but good for them! So if you find that your comparing yourself to this fantasy figure that is 'supermum' just stop past my place and you'll see something far from it!

Girly gifts!

I don't often make pink things. Even for the girls I would prefer to do something with light blues or purples but last night I was knee deep in pink! Pink ribbons, pink papers, pink sock, pink butterflies pink everything! So you might think I went a little overboard but there was a reason behind it, you see Curtis' teacher is pregnant and due to have her first baby in about 2 months. It's all very exciting! Curtis had the same teacher last year and she's wonderful! Last year Curtis would constantly take Michaela into class for news (time to talk). Whenever she was able to do something new or at a different stage she had to go into the classroom, and luckily for him his teacher loved it and was more than happy to let Michaela join the class. It got to the point that Michaela would just run into the classroom and sit down waiting for the teacher as soon as she could walk! It hasn't been much different with Eli, he's been in to class and Curtis' teacher stops to see Eli every time she walks past, needless to say we are very excited for Mrs Shelley and can't wait for her to have her baby. (Even if a little disappointed that Curtis will have a relief teacher for the rest of the year). So to show Mrs Shelley how much we care and how excited we are we decided to make her a couple of presents for her baby shower this weekend. We made her a nappy cake (above) with a few different bits and pieces (socks, creams, brush,soft toy etc.) And we ( Curtis more so) decided she should also have a baby shower book like the one's that I had made earlier in the year for a friends baby shower and my baby sprinkle. I think it's rather cute even if it's a little pink!

Front cover - chipboard, papers, lettering and lots of ribbon

A few of the pages inside - including pages for her to stick in photos, write down guests names, gifts, games, words of advice, and to guess the weight and date of the baby!

So there you go, last nights rushed project - note to self stop leaving things to the last minute!
With that in mind I should go and re-write these instructions for my workshops tomorrow night, will let you know how it goes. Hope you have a great weekend, Bye!

Todays blog is brought to you by the letter Z!

So I thought I'd do a little write up on each letter and for some reason I thought I'd start from the end! So here goes.

Firstly trying to find something for Z was a little difficult for me but finally I thought about a layout I did about a year ago with Michaela as a baby when she was asleep and snoring, hence the Z's. So I know it's a bit of a reach but that's all I had and at least it let me get in some more gorgeous photos of sleeping babies!

So materials used: chipboard letters- weird, Gelati paper range, Gelati tag cut outs, raven bazzill, weird lettering. I think that was it. They are Basic layouts but I think that is a good thing. If I tried to make them to fancy, 1 I think it might of been too much for a whole album and overshadowed the photos and 2 I would never have finished it!

On another note I'm just going to have a whinge about my stupid computer! I had finally finished writing up all the instructions for my 2 workshops that I'm testing on Saturday night (about 6hrs work) and went to email them to some friends last night to have a look to discover that the computer had chose not to save them! Aah I'm not sure why this happens but it seems to happen whenever I try to download something (i.e a template) and then try to save it, so last night I wasn't happy! My husband in all his wisdom asked me why I didn't check that it had saved before closing the document. Yes Hindsight is a fantastic thing! Anyway now that's out of my system I'm off to finish making some presents for Curtis teacher for her baby shower!
Might post them tonight! Have a great day!

More A to Z album.........

So I've been busy trying to complete my A to Z album before Uni starts back in a couple of weeks. I only have one page left to go (plus a little bit of journalling and a few more photos that I haven't had a chance to get printed off yet) but still only one page left! Yay! So from start to finish it's taken about 3 and 1/2 weeks, not too bad. So I thought I'd share a few more photos of the layouts. I really enjoyed doing this project, and I've decided to do another one - but I'll take a bit longer! I also learnt a lot, with this one I followed the Kaszazz A to Z kit although I changed the paper ranges and mixed the letters around but I still used the layout instructions, (hence the speed of completing 26 double page layouts!) and that was fantastic. There is no way I would have started such a large project had I not had the ideas and instructions to follow, it provided lots of inspiration and ideas for different uses of papers, embellishments and lettering! I love the idea of the share and tell album, being able to just slide in photos without always having to scrap them but still using them in the layout. I also like the use of tags, I never incorporate tags into my layouts, but they make great journal aids. So all in all I'm really happy with my album, I've started to think about the next one and I've decided to do one for each of the kids! Maybe a little too ambushes but I'm still on a bit of a high from the current one!
Anyway here are a few more pages:

T is for trees - of the climbing variety!


U is for Uncle Nick - this one is because the kids don't get to see him at the moment as he lives in Canada


V is for Vacation - our trip to Hawaii in 2008.


W is for Waterpark
X is for Xmas (couldn't think of anything else starting with x!)

Today I asked some friends to have a read of my blog and give me some feedback, one suggestion was to do a post on each individual letter layout, what do you think? I might give that a go tomorrow. If I don't do it over the next couple of weeks I don't think it will get done, I can see my time being even more stretched when Uni goes back - which by the way I am really looking forward to even if I'm a little stressed about juggling everyone with classes, doing all the reading, assessments and a 3 month old baby. Should be interesting............