3 layouts and 4 happy kids...

Firstly...thanks everyone for the birthday wishes and congrat's to Dani. We had a lovely day!!!

Lately I have been trying to use the same basic layout 3 times...ok I am not being lazy...I am being clever :)  Then I read Nicole's post and realised that my latest 3 pages are a variation on her "hilariously simple sketch". See I really am being clever ;)
And just like Nicole I am happy to use it over...

 and over

again!

Today in Sydney it was a scorcher...the hottest day since last summer! According to my car it was 40 degrees when I dropped the girls at dancing. SO this is how they cooled down with their best little friends Kyra and Tahlia ...

 

Are they the cutest little legs or what? Even a mermaids tail !!!

I took these photos with one of these...

I can totally recommend it if you love the beach and the pool...so much fun. And it is shock proof so the kids can have fun, but I cant show you the photos of Jo and I in our bikinis :)

and so a new chapter begins...

Today my big girl finished school...
 

and this old duck had a birthday!

Happy Days at our house :)

confessions of a lazy scrapper...

I confess...I am a lazy scrapper. I often do the same layout for different albums. I would love to be creative enough to do a different layout every time...but alas I am not. I'm not even clever enough to think of something creative for dinner each nigh ( and I suspect i'm not on my own here...but I have a plan I am trying out this week...will let you know how it goes).
Because I use the computer for my journaling I figure once I have set up my text box and title I might as well just change to story! And so I have 3 stories told...and im sure my girls wont mind or even notice :)

 

I am also selling my Becky Higgins school kits. I do like them but have so many 'kits' and projects I haven't finished or even started for that matter so I decided to sell these.
Check them out on ebay if your interested.
Have a good week...mine hasn't started well...rain, sick kids, wet bed & a vomit :(
Update: 2 vomits :0

more 50 things...

Life has been busy here with the school holidays and unpacking boxes. I have managed a few pages...well lifts I should say but haven't managed to scan anything as yet.

I have however been busy sorting photos for my "50 things I loved about Spring 2009".
Some favourites:

Maddy...just too cute!

Sunset on the Port Hacking.

 

THis is what we found when we went to check the girls in bed the other evening... Liv asleep on her floor...she looked so cute snuggled up next to her big polar bear. She is such a funny kids, full of surprises!

1...2...3...

Jump...

JUMP!!! Gotta love a delayed reaction. Amelia, Maddy and Amaris enjoying the holidays!!!

Drawing on the walls with jumbo chalk...$2 from the reject shop...PRICELESS.

And a pink bucket $3...rocks for a rock garden FREE!!!

A 3 packet of noodles...$10 at Kmart...LIMITLESS fun!!! And security to make the big jump of the waterfall!!!

But you still need to hold your nose...lol!!!

 All up $15 for hours and hours and hours of fun.  Much better purchases than the 3 movie tickets to 'Up' $45 and I was pretty disappointed with the movie!!! Sorry but it was way to scary and violent for young kids.

Well back to school tomorrow...back to the everyday routine...holidays are great but after 2 weeks I am ready for routines again!!

Does anyone know why I have boarders on some photos and not others...they are all the same size when I check them?

tips please...

So my kitchen is in (photos to follow, still unpacking boxes) and I am looking for some clever/cute/easy/fun organisation/labeling tips for the kitchen and the kids toy baskets.
I know you girls are like me and love surfing blogland...so if you have found some great ideas PLEASE share them with me :)

I have no scrapping to share due o the unpacking/organising but I do have something cute to share. As i sorted through the piles of drawings in the girls craft boxes I found this little treasure...

Do you think I spend too much time at coffee shops?
And this I found on my computer desktop...

Don't you just love school holidays!!

where has spring gone...cause there are plenty of butterflies at my house!

According to my widget it is 12 degrees ... spring my foot ... winter has popped back in for a peak!!!
Today my kitchen gets a make over ... YIPEE ... I haven't had handles on my cupboards since we moved in, it will be good to open a cupboard with a handle ... not with my foot!
We have had plenty of rain the last few days which really has been great for the gardens ... but also meant GREAT scrapping weather!!!

I have managed a few pages...

Thanks to Renee for pointing out the is no park in Allambie Ave ... I will have to change the page...it is actually Beauford Ave Reserve. oops!

and it would appear I am hooked on butterflies at the moment!

More scrapping weather today ... and no kitchen to cook in! I need to use my non-cooking time wisely ;)

a great weekend to relax...

So much for Spring here in Sydney...it is cold and wet! But we so need the rain to wash away the red dust and water our poor plants! And what great weather to chill inside at home. I am about to scrap, the kids are painting, Dani is studying and Tony is watching the football.

It is Rugby League Grandfinal Day here in Sydney. Now I realise that will be meaningless to some of your, so let me explain. Here in Australia we play several codes/types of football; Rugby League, Rugby Union, Australian Rules and Soccer. Yes we call soccer...soccer... NOT Football!!! Now I am a die hard Rugby League girl and whilst some may not agree, Rugby League is the No 1 sport here in Australia. It has the highest profile, generates the most income, has the biggest crowds and dominates the media. It is our answer to the Super Bowl but on a smaller scale, on a smaller budget and much lower key pre game entertainment. And for the first time this year it is being broadcast in the USA. With that said...Go The EELS!!! ( My team , the Sharks, came second last this year...sigh)  I will scrap and watch while hubby will watch every single second :)

On the scrapping front I have managed a few pages.
I love making connections when I scrap. This page is about me being my Dads daughter when it come to fishing. I love it!!!

And this one from last night. I'm liking these colours together!

To answer a few questions from comments:
Mel, Dani has officially finished all her school lessons. She will sit for exams in 2 weeks and get a mark out of 500. This is called The Higher School Certificate over here. She will also be given a score, based on her HSC mark and other factors,  that is used for University Entry. She is hoping to get into Psychology or Advanced Science at Sydney University. She is eager to get to Uni so she can study subjects she loves. Dani loves the shows Criminal Minds and Numbers, she finds human behavior fascinating and loves applied science and maths. So who knows where she will end up...she has even thought she might like to work for ASIO (the Aussie equivalent of the FBI). For now she is just hoping she can get into Sydney Uni and then see what happens from there. My advice to her is to do the best she can so she can walk away from her exams knowing she "left no stone unturned"... and that is all we want for her. The rest will fall into place!

And Mel, yes the water in the banner pic is pool water. I took it while the pool was filling...great time to take photos, perfect background!

Oh and the replacement slice ...Jo was supposed to come and scrap and bring her FAMOUS and totally delicious Weetbix slice.  She couldn't come along so I cheated and bought some slice hence the 'replacement' slice. And Mel you are more than welcome to come scrap with us ANY time ;)

And finally, Thanks Alexandra, im glad my blog makes you laugh ... there can never be enough fun and laughter in the world!!!
So im off to get a coffee and SCRAP!!!!