December pics (ready the scroll button...)

hello
would you like to see what I've been up to this month?

AEIOU Treven Glen hayride

and horse (not to Rainer's liking)

Cherpie (note the correct spelling by Mackinley, not chirpie as I spelt it)

one week just with Mackinley

last day for Rainer at C&K with Sally (we'll miss you)

knucklehead the possum takes refuge in our SES tarp after the storm

scrapboutique get-together (had a FABULOUS time)

me and Kerry (awesome surprise)

xmas drinks with Neil and his motorbike (he's had this since he was a kid)

Eumundi Markets The Great Little Bag (handmade of couse)

contact Chris or Jan at noosachic@yahoo.com - loads more styles, wish I could buy them all!!!!!

Wallallure (the nicest couple...please visit their website, just awesome. I'm covering the new house in their stuff)


the scott xmas at Sunshine Coast
the courtyard at Alan and Kathy's unit all decked out for Xmas breakfast


a "group" shot (laughed my head off)


me and my honey (frock from Eumundi Markets....LOVE IT!!)


and still to come
"that" present that Michael gave me on my birthday....photos were too blurry - have to do them again

and some more books I can't wait to get messy with......

brigher and buoyant.........
and soon to be nourished........

what's YOUR word for 2009???? please share!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Here is what my beautiful FIRST-BORN gave me this afternoon.

Our divine Crepe Mertle is still standing and in bloom....ahhhh....

And this

from Michael. You can't imagine the illustrations inside this delectable hardcover!!

I'm not yet feeling FORTY, but I know I always get into this kind of introspective-brooding-pensive state which usually means there will be clarity soon. This state only occurs if I haven't been whisked away for a night of party-fuelled/Christmas-hangover/pre-NYE shennanigans!!

So in the meantime, I will retreat to my "cave", enjoy my in-laws who have been with us at the Sunshine Coast all week, and will be here until Monday, enjoy my husband while he has another 2 weeks off (woohoo), and start to make some plans for 2009.

Off to dinner tonight - ALONE with hubby....forgot what that feels like.....seriously, so I am all at once excited and tired and hungry and fearful because I don't know where we're going.

Not good for a control-freaking Capricorn!!!!

I hope everyone in blog-land had a lovely Christmas with family and - by some grand freak I don't get back to my blog - have a pleasant start to 2009!!

I am looking forward to it.....are you????

brighter and buoyant
and optimistically nourished..

Babies Babies everywhere!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO......

Fiona and Mark and James and Harrison
on the arrival of their sweet sweet baby girl/sister
Kate Margaret on Tuesday night

Super Fiona had a natural delivery and Kate is now out of Intensive Care and closer to home. We all hope she'll be home for Christmas, but that is unlikely. Can't wait for her to come home so we can all visit!!!

AND
Cara and Lucien and Kai
on the arrival of their handsome baby son/brother
(insert name here) - we think "Michael" or "Giovanni" would be perfect LOL
on Friday night(2 weeks early!!)

Super Mum Cara, drug-free labour for only 5.5 hours!!!!!!

I know this is a major achievement for both these families who have dealt with so much the last 3 years or so. Both of you deserve a whopping great big diamond tiara for this journey!!

When there is so much going on around you, sometimes you need to stop and delight in the most purest of things, like the birth of a new child - or two!! And I'm pausing and trying to remember what it was like when my babies came into this world and I get happy - and a little sad too.

Okay, now I'm crying.
So onto something else.

Here's what I made for Alex today (my unofficial god-daughter)

and as I thought, not sure if she liked it or not. It's a bit of a departure from the cutesy stuff I usually give her. But thought it was time for her to move into new territory. Charlotte LOVED it as I expected.

and some exciting news....
Susan Longman (the White with One genius) has taken over the helm of Scrap the Boys which I am SUPER SUPER excited about.
She's looking for a Creative Team.
Wondering if I should apply??????????????????????????????
(any "Oh yes Gi!! You'd be great!!" type encouragement would be appreciated LOL)

brighter and buoyant........
(p.s. still thinking about what I was thinking about yesterday)

Officially Teacher's Pet LOL

WHAT HAVE I BEEN UP TO????












I asked the girls at Bon's a while ago what I should do for the multitude of Rainer's teachers and the one that stood out was this idea of altering a notebook.

(apologies for the crappy pics - it's really really cloudy in Brisbane today - just not one photo is clear - these are the best)

The notebooks cost $1.99 from officworks and I just used up a heap of stash for the covers!! I really like them. I have one more to do for my god-daughter and then hopefully I'm done. I treated each front cover like a card, used some card sketches if I got way-laid/tired/blah and just dove into my scrap pile. Michael actually likes the back covers more than the front. Well, he would!! LOL

I'm working on a fantastic altered piece for the staff at AEIOU. There's just too many there to buy an individual present. I hope they'll like it. Won't arrive until next year unfortunately, but it'll get there.

MOre soon. I have some thinking to do............

brighter and buoyant.........

scrap for the hell of it

Ahem....who is this adorable boy???
When did you suddenly turn into this specimen of kindness and joy??

Oh yeah, I must have been busy with your brother.
Thank you Mackinley for just being the best son a mother could wish for.

I can't remember the last time I felt compelled to scrap without the aid of a challenge behind me!!




Gosh it felt good!! This kit is from Bon's months ago and have been seriously eyeing it off and NOW IT'S DONE.
I probably need to get off my backside and do some serious work/delightfulness before both the boys finish school.
Mackinley's chest is tight again. He might just finish a day earlier and be dragged around the ARt Shed and Reverse Garbage tomorrow with his "on a mission" mother.
LUCKY BOY!!!

Had Rainer's excursion to Trevena Glen Farm Stay today. I'm not quite sure what the purpose of the trip was. There was no schedule, pecs, support from the staff or real good communication from the Director. Quite cranky actually (I feel an email coming on). It only lasted about an hour and then we had to take them home!

Mackinley begged me to come to his excursion today. I should have and just put Rainer in his regular C&K day and spent some time with the "neglected one".

Rainer has his first Prep visitation tomorrow (yeah, a little late...tell me about it!!!) and again on Monday.

So, in retrospect I should learn to ask more detailed questions and not just leave the planning and preparation to people who are in control....to BE in control.

In the home stretch now, so should just let it wash over me. I don't have enough energy to do EVERYTHING!!

The meeting with the Austism Advisory people was FANTASTIC. Can access the full $12000 before Rainer starts Year 1!!! Another busy year ahead.....again!! LOL

brighter and buoyant....

catch up ... all things past

Just looking through my photos and realised I have forgotten some very important things lately (I wonder why?? LOL)

BON'S PHOTO SWAP
Malinda Gardner got my photo and sent me this GORGEOUS layout. It was a while ago, but only this week have I put some journaling on it and added a few rub-ons (just can't help myself).

Love it Malinda. Thanks again and again!!!

THE CHIRP-MEISTER
Mackinley now has a budgie. Do I dare re-tell the stories of how Chirpie came to be with us?? Only if you have a strong stomach, should you continue reading the next paragraph.

I came home from collecting the boys the Friday before "the storm". Noticed from the kitchen window, a dog INSIDE the chook pen!!!! yep, happily feasting on the chickens. The boys had followed me outside (probably because I screamed as I opened the doors) but luckily they didn't actually SEE anything. The dog wasn't collared, but found out later that it belonged to someone "living" in the house down the road. Reported the dog to council but didn't take photos of it because I thought it was feral (no collar, remember) and raced back inside, dragging the boys by the arm!!!

Mackinley spent the next hour HOWLING in his room. Later he decided that he had enough money in his money box for a hand-reared budgie (he stalks the local pet shop). So on Saturday, he and Michael bought "Peakie".

Then the storm came on Sunday night. On Monday, I asked Michael to go inside and keep an eye on Rainer while I checked on an elderley neighbour and to see the damage at the school. Came home, Michael's still in the car, charging his BlackBerry. Go inside. Rainer's laughing his head off, seed everywhere, NO PEAKIE!!!

Mackinley spent the next hour HOWLING in his room.
Dad is the most unpopular person in our street.

We return to the pet shop and buy Chirpie. But Chirpie is not like Peakie. Peakie was gentle and would let us hold her. Chirpie is a little like Rainer - doesn't stop moving and has serious "being held" issues.


But we still love Chirpie.

KAISERCRAFT/SCRAPBOOKING MEMORIES
I re-subscribed with Scrapbooking Memories a while ago and got a really good deal which included this awesome Kaisercraft pack!!

All current Christmas papers and loads of embellishments and off the page yumminess!! IT WAS BULGING!! It arrived the week I got back, so it really made me smile. Gotta love a good bargain. Can't wait to get started.

DAD'S ANNIVERSARY
Last Sunday was the anniversary of Dad's passing. I know, already a year!! Mum had a mass said for Dad and then we went to Rita and Marc's place for lunch. Their new house is great. They have a pool!!!

We took Rainer home early and Mackinley stayed on till late. That was the morning of Cara's Baby Shower.

CLEAN/CULL/CREATE
I've been culling my stash. Using a lot of old stuff I love and just being ruthless with all the old stuff. I'm not even bothering about gifting it, I just want it GONE. Mackinley thought it would be fun to take photos of Mummy "working" LOL.


I have my "art" text books out and I'm going to systematically go through each technique, from beginning to end. Only then will I be satisfied and feel less guilty about buying all these awesome arty/crafty books.

more soon.....

it aches....

and until I recover from a massive sugar and hysterical laughing overload from yesterday's session with Ngaire at Inkredible

watch this little number that I found on her blog while I was looking for something completely unrelated {so annoying}

i want this forever.........


and here's what I did for Bon's CC
Charm's bling/blind challenge




and Bon's colour challenge


and by "ONE" it can be one commitment, one child, one house, one covenant. For my traditional parents, it was one child. {just so you know, I don't think that if you don't have children, you're not a family...okay?}

it's so good to be creating again!

back soon......
brighter and buoyant........

News from the Villa

While I was in Denver I received an email from my second cousin, Antonino, in Italy. His family run Villa delle Rondini (it's in the sidebar). I havent' met him but my sisters have and Mum has not stopped smiling since I told her about the email.

Go to the sidebar and click on the link (under SHAMELESS FAMILY PROMOTION). They've done a fantastic job at restoring the house, and you get to see some pictures of my ancestors!!!

And if you know someone who's traveling to Italy, send them the link please and mention me so they know.

I'm sending some photos of us and the kids so we can compare theirs to ours and try to get some family resemblances. I'm excited by the prospect of connecting with distant relatives - especially on Mum's side of the family, whom I presume we get our wicked sense of humour from!!!

ERROR!!!
Thanks to Tamara (Inkredible) for highlighting one major error in a previous post.

Apparently a boob job only costs between $8 000 and $10 000. Not the $50 000 I reported.

Thank you Tamara. Where would I be without you?????

Off to scrap with Ngaire B today. woohoooo!!

brighter and buoyant....

I scrapped...therefore

I'm feeling nourished.

Amazing what a bit of "me time" can do for one's soul.

Sandie's sketch over at Bon's cybercrop.




I've just looked at Charm's challenge and have the photo for that too and some great ideas for Rainer's teachers' xmas/thankyou gifts.

Ask and ye shall receive....except for thinner thighs. I have to work on those!! No magic tape available..yet...heehee!!

GUESS WHAT RAINER SAID??
He was piling toy soldiers onto James. I said to him, "oh no! What happened?" which is what I normally say, very dramatically.

He looks at me.....
Looks back at the toys.......
Looks back at me and says,

"a crash"

HOLY MOLEY!! Nearly fell off my chair, nearly cried, but thought that might confuse the poor child. He understood a question!!!! That's HUGE in Rainer/ASD-land!

a noun and a pronoun.....that was the pre-diagnosis Rainer....before it all went pear-shaped.....a hint of recovery...so satisfying.

However, in true Rainer style, he wasn't so forthcoming with the answers the next time we did it. Oh well, it was SOMETHING!!!!!

And I'm again, NOURISHED!

Hey, that might be my word for 2009!! WHAT DO YOU THINK????

Some 40th photos

Theme: Arabian Nights
Place: Cafe Tara
Date: Saturday 15th November 2008





Here's the best shot so far I have of my outfit. The costume hire lady just had it arrive from India. The colour was PERFECT!!

I have LOTS of hollywood tape and that adhesive bra stuff holding me "in"!! Someone suggested that perhaps I had gone to the states for a boob job!!!! I could find a million better things to spend $50K on.....sheez! Don't need a boob job when you have a "Bras n Things" store close by!!

Louise copied the colours and pattern from invite for the cake. It's double moist dark chocolate cake, covered in white chocolate!! THAT'S why we're all standing up LOL.

Still have a slab of it in the freezer!
Who wants to come over for cake???????? pmsl

It was a fantastic, humid, early night for everyone. Wish I had more time to get around to everyone (boohoo). I'm hoping to have a little (cough cough) celebration just for my birthday....but it won't happen until probably February next year.

The curse of being born 27th December!!!!
(but it means I get to celebrate it lots of little times - heehee)

More photos when I can grab Michael's camera.

I'm sorting through some photos and now I'm a little inspired to do some serious scrapping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

brighter and buoyant.....

Cara's Baby Shower

Lovely afternoon on Sunday at St Lucia Golf Club for Cara's Baby Shower. Last time I was there, Michael and I were hosting our Wedding Reception!! WOW, time flies.

Here's the beautiful Mumma...

I'm so excited and nervous for her (for reasons I don't need to publish here). Bub is due on MY BIRTHDAY!! How exciting. Don't know exactly how Capricorn works on boys though. I don't think I know any!!

I got a leave pass on Saturday and packed my Tote and ran away to Inkredible. Let's just say this Mumma was suffering from sensory overload.......

*helicopters...still!
*chainsaws....still!
*tree mulchers....still!
*emergency vehicles with their noisy reversing lights....still!
*generators...still!
*Rainer tugging on my right wrist...still! (I'm buying a sweat band...seriously, it's that bad!)

I needed to get away and make these Thank You Cards in a couple of hours because the storm and clean up mucked up my perfectly planned week - don't you just hate that???

Here's what I managed to do and presented them in a Maya Road tin (the perfect size) wrapped in "frankie" paper. What's "frankie", I hear you ask???? More on that later. (yes, I tease)
















I will make more over the next months and just mail them to her. Even probably do birth announcements, or whatever she wants.

I still have a mountain of photos from our 40th to sort through. That will be next post.

And went to the Beyond Recruitment Christmas Party last Wednesday night. Love being around Mike and Sara. It was at Gold Class "Quantum of Solace" 007 double-oh-heaven!!! I reckon Daniel Craig is just one accent away from looking like a thug in the next Guy Ritchie movie!! Very cool. A "must-see".

I had a horrible night tonight. Bon's CC was on and I was looking forward to catching up with all the girlies, but there was just too much to do here first (and look, I'm still up).

Oooooh boy!! Always too much to do and not enough for MOI!! Getting a little freaked out but looking forward to a new year, Rainer in school, Mackinley another year older, maybe the house started....

ah the possibilities!!