Hi...

Well I'm back in the land of the living, it has felt like a while now, although not long at all.

For those who don't already know which I am guessing isn't many, is that I fell ill after only 4 layouts and about 12 hours socializing time at the mini retreat. To say I am upset would be a massive under-statement. These things happen so I am trying not to be bitter but I am... I can't help it, it is in my nature and I'm just being honest... well today anyway!! LOL!!

I was laying in my bed at the retreat talking to Brenton on my mobile after I had become ill, crying and acting like a child, saying things like "it's not fair" "this is my weekend" (as well as 29 other women too) "I just should have stayed home" "I've been soooooooooo looking forward to this for soooooo long" and other things along those lines.. Hubby was supportive, murmuring the right words, dare I say it, at the very right time!! LOL! Funny now that I have had a decent dinner just tonight, and finally feel ok. Ok, I was ok today but still queezy, BUT was able to go shopping for meat from the local butcher (yum), a little spree in the home and kitchen shop, (new springform, cookie cutters, new wooden spoon, (to smack my kids with my dear) and other good things), a heap of crap at Cheap as Chips $80, just like that on Christmas goodies, pool floating lights, cheap washing powder. A mag spree in the newsagent (why can't I buy a Scrapbook Trends anywhere for the last 5 or so months?) and then back to Mum's for a rest!

Just a quick run down of our illness, just for me to remember later on, so don't read if you just don't want to, I understand... ramble coming up!

Thursday when we drove down, Lexi was being weird right from the start, I can throw all sorts of junk food at them in the car, squeels of delight coming from the back seat, and it is gobbled down, all parties happy! But Lexi threw her little pkt of cheese and bacon balls clean away! Now I saw that child eat nearly a whole big packet of cheese and bacon balls on the plane back from Thailand so thought that was strange straight away... She was a bit grizzly, not at all interested in food, her toys, anything really. We stopped at Pt Aug and the kids happily ran around at McDonalds, and then we got on our way. Lexi was fast asleep by the graffiti tanks, although only slept for 20-25 mins. I drove straight through Whyalla, didn't need to stop. 20kms out of Whyalla, Lexi started vomiting, and to put it short had 4 vomits, the poor little mite. She had her last vommy about 20 mins out of Lincoln... So that was that, when we got to Lincoln, Mum and Dad had a bath ready for her, I pulled her out of the car without touching her, and plonked her in the bath, at that stage she only had a nappy on so took that off and plonked her in... Funniest thing was though, as soon as she was out of the bath, she seemed fine... it was very weird, running around like a mad thing, happy, you wouldn't even know what had just happened... 

3am Friday morning, Mia gets up to the toilet, I had to turn the bedside light on for her so she could see where she was going... when she came back I asked my usual question, "wee or poo" and she says "poo" and something about how it was yucky and made her tummy feel yucky, when BLERRRRRRRRRRRRRCHHHHH! In the bed Mia lets go, poor little thing.. I haven't seen her be sick for about 3 years, so it was heart wrenching... she was so so sick! Then more out the other end, it was full on, changing sheets, and trying to comfort her the best I could. But back to sleep she went eventually went and woke up ok, bit quiet but seemingly ok... I guess I should have known that I would get sick too, but was trying to be positive and keep it uplifting... I just wasn't going to get sick. But I did, and that's enough about it all...(oh except my Dad got sick too from us)

I did take my camera and started taking lots photos... Last time I took stuff all, I wanted selfies of me with Lou, me with Sandra, me with heaps of you.... Love my photos of Meredith on that glorious microphone, Tatum and Lauren whizzing up cocktails and a bit of the glorious scrapping mess on our table... But I tell you those sisters, man, they spread out like an eagles wing span... funny!! I looked at a few other tables, and they were no where near as messy as ours!! Love it!! Photos later, didn't except to be here blogging so left my camera cord at home...

All I will say about all the illness now is BRING ON APRIL! 

So, anyway, back on the Highway tommorow, can't wait to get home. I love my home and can't handle being away for too long especially in times like this...

If you read all of this leave me a comment and I will fall off my chair!!
x

Well back off down the highway tommorow, just me and my little chicky babes, I'm off to the Escape 2 Create mini retreat on Friday. It starts at 1pm and I can guarantee you that I will be there oh about 1:01pm!! LOL! True story! I tell no lie! 

Anyway to say I'm excited would be a massive understatement!! I have set myself a personal goal of 10 LO's for the weekend, let's see if I get even close to that. There is alot of talk of cocktails for this weekend, my esky is CHOKKAS, if I get through it all I will be off to A.A. next week. Although I am a big sharer so will share whatever I have. Which is Johnnie Walker, Vodka, Midori, Blue Curacao, and various accompaniments! Plus mini bags of maltesers and also mini corinthians.. Will be making a dash to the continental shop too for other yummy things... Mmmmmm!

I have scrapped one LO since I was here but I subbed it and it got picked up, so off it went in the post today. Another very exciting thing in my life, what a lovely feeling that is! I feel a little validated IYKWIM? My DH always comments favorably, as he should. It's like asking 'does my ass look big in this' and he says YES. (which would never happen if he knows whats good for him anyway) Of course he is always going to like my scrapping... Sweet thing that he is!! So anyway, yeah I feel good... 3 LO's, anyone would think I won a GOLD in Delhi! Ha! 

 Blurry but cheeky pic of my little chick, she is getting more and more naughty and cheeky everyday! Phew! 

 Some of the gorgeous Sturt Desert Peas... a mutant type obviously.

 My gorgeous big girl amongst some wildflowers, am intrigued by all the growth around our area atm...

Mia had a friend over for a playdate in the holidays, made them a fruit platter and thought it looked good! LOL!!

Seeyou at the retreat or back here after! 

YAY!

I'm around the place, but busy busy busy! I carted my very full scrap tote 600kms and back again just incase I wanted to have a scrap, but it was a busy time with lots of coffees, family catch-ups and catch ups with good friends. Finally had some yummies from 5 Loaves bakery in Cummins, and had a delicious meal at Del Giornos in Lincoln for Brentons birthday. Lots of drinks and laughs! We had a brand new nephew to snuggle and our other toddler nephew to snatch a cuddle of too! No scrapping here and I'm sad about it, but I had not one ounce of oomph to get it out while I was away...

Our beautiful nephew Ethan... (my brother's son) So cute... 

McDonald family gathering at SIL's place... nice afternoon with pizzas from Del Giornos and a bushie... straight home for a shower after though...

Brenton had a birthday while we were away. A family gathering at the Marina, and of course a selfie.

 Snuggles with new baby Logan, Brenton's sisters new bubba! 

 Cute pic of this little chicky! 

 

Horsey ride with Pop! Then dumped on the lounge.

 At P/L foreshore playground, with the McDonald clan again.

 Catch-up with friends for the AFL Grandfinal take 2. A great afty, with a chick cooking the barbie and yep you did a mighty fine job Jacinda!

McDonald gathering at Coffins on Sunday. All but two in this shot are our clan.

Waving bye bye to Sissy who was off for a canoe ride with her uncle... Very cute that Lexi waved goodbye!

Lots of fun in the water for this little one, fell down a couple of times onto her bottom and got a bit of a rude shock, it was a bit cold, but she had a ball! 

This little chick was spoilt with a new scooter while we were in Lincoln, so she was zooming around everywhere on it! Bless her, beautiful little soul!

Hopefully I will be back with some scrapping soon, maybe in a week or two, but love to update photos and what we have been up to. I do like to look back later on. Thanks for popping in if you do.

 

Where have I been? 

Thursday we went to Adelaide with another couple for the Powderfinger concert. Brilliant, but man was Memorial Drive packed out!! 

Farewell boys, thanks for a great gig!! 

Crumbed deep fried mushrooms at Hog's Breath @ the bay... These are so absolutely delicious. Will be trying to re-create these myself... I am in love with them. Seriously.

Saturday we attended the wedding of our friends Chantal and Sam at the Shores. Was a great venue and surprisingly after their 9 hour drinks package, (3pm-12pm) we were very well behaved. I detest rotten hangovers so much these days, that I drank alot of water as well as bubbles, wine and scotch! It was a perfect reception with the yummiest food. A credit to Chantal who had just given birth to the couple's 2nd child only 3 weeks before. She was gloriously cool, calm and collected, especially after a not so smooth birth. 

We didn't really know anyone else at the Wedding so had a bit of fun taking self portraits with stupid faces. I was nearly wetting myself, Brenton really joined in the fun, and we were both laughing our heads off at ourselves when we turned the camera around to check out our perfectness!! LOL!!

 

A nice one first....

 

The best thing was that it was all in sober fun!! Absolutely funny, although I guess you just had to be there!!

Brenton is away working this week so Mia has been sleeping in with me. It's just what happens when Dad is away, I couldn't resist taking this last night... 

Today was pirate day at school in her block. Lots of cute little pirates, she had red stripey pants on as well as her black boots. Very cute, the had a great day, walking around saying things like, Dead men don't tell tales, walk the plank, scrub the deck and so on!

Oh and a LO for Escape 2 Create it was a box challenge, clouds + kraft + splash of colour. I took this photo while my LO was up on the wall this afty, and the red of my curtains with the afternoon sun coming through has made it a funny colour... Anyways. I like it but should have maybe thought about my border before I did my journalling... oh well, that's life. I am most certainly loving the flowers at the moment, and more and more different ones are springing up all the time... 

I could be scrapping, maybe I will have a little play, but feeling blerkkkkkkk, so maybe not! Both the little chicks carried on at bedtime tonight and sometimes that makes me feel like I have had creativity sucked out of me!! 

Seeyou! 

Mia and her Dad went to Father's night at school Thursday week ago... Had a great hour in her class together..... This little hairy dad was given to him on Father's Day but they bought a bean seed in a plastic cup with potting mix and it's growing very well now. Over the last 2 days you can literally watch it getting taller and taller! Something else to go in our garden when all our seedlings are ready to be transplanted.

Playing nicely one afternoon after school last week. Lexi was actually helping Mia instead of knocking blocks down!

Friday morning breakfast in bed! And crumbs too!! lol!

Have to include this photo just so I remember. I saw the girls having a magnificent time out the back with dirt and water, so went and got my camera, but as soon as Mia saw me with my camera, she shot off like a bat out of hell, screaming, with Lexi in hot pursuit!!

And this is just before I put them both in the shower, my god what a mess!! Reminds me I had better go get the dirt out of the shower in the girls bathroom... I was going to squirt them off in the backyard, but thought it really too cold to do that. But that would have been the easiest thing to do... Messy Betties!!

Cute face for today!! Parroting so much of what we say, better cut back on the swearing!! LOL!!

LO for the *currents* challenge at E2C. It is certainly not how I pictured it in my head, but none of my LO's ever look like they do in my head!! Was fun, but got a bit stumped with lots of bits about it!

Friday I got some MME Alphabet Soup papers from Anna's and had lots of fun with this one, just felt like I slapped it together in no time at all. Hope it doesn't look slapped together! Love this pic of Lexi, fresh from the bath with her hair still wet down.... And that little tongue sitting in between her lips in that perfect baby way... *sigh*

Hope you have had a great weekend, I'm looking forward to a fresh week!! And more scrapping!!

Cheeky girls one afty last week having some Shapes. Whatever Mia has Lexi stamps her feet and screams until she has some too. Just tonight Lexi bit Mia bad enough to draw blood because Mia was putting one of her toys on the table and Lexi wanted it. Naughty Lexi... oops!

Standard Mia pose for the camera lately. She is well and truly over it!! Not sure why. Dad was a professional photographer when I was growing up and I was such a poser. I loved it!! That was the childhood exhibitionist in me I suppose!

A love letter Mia recieved last week from her little friend Taj. They were in the same class last term last year and there has been a little love from his side ever since. Mia says 'he's just my friend, Mum' with a roll of her eyes. But he is a gorgeous little kid, she could do worse!! lol!

Fathers Day brekkie for Brenton. Baked beans in the bottom, with a bit of fried bacon, cracked an egg, little bit of grated cheese, then half cherry tomatoes on top. Baked in the oven for however long it takes to have the egg how you like it. Was yummo and kept me going for hours on end.

We went to Lake Mary on Fathers Day for an outing... it has been a long time since we had been there. So many flowers everywhere... I love these photos of Mia with these purple ones by the lake... Such a lovely colour, and both the girls loved our outing! Fresh air and running around. We did see a Winnebago in by the lake and thought that they were extremely game to have driven in there along the dirt roads especially after the rains.. But they were leaving just as we did so had no problems getting out.

L

Love this one too....

I am seriously in love with these flowers... Fried eggs or belly buttons I've been told by a friend who has spent alot of time on Stations around the area.. Although I'm sure they aren't botanical names!! lol! Just love these flowers... 

Love this one in particular of my little sweethearts. I have printed it out and adore it even more on paper!

A LO I did of an older photo of two of my favourite people. I love the way they are looking at each other... Beautiful moment. I think Lexi may have only been back in Roxby for a week or two. I find myself reflecting alot on her journey... It just pops into my mind. It's funny but not in a haha kind of way. Just a strange way. I guess we will think about it all of our lives... 

(LO removed for publication, have to make a proper thingy incase is happens again!! LOL)

I was going to Tatum's last Saturday night so last week I got a few bits of cardstock ready along with photos, and papers and made up little kits for myself. I made about 4 and of course only finished one... But I really really love it. I love the brightness and thanks Tatum for the blue felt and your suggestion for the journalling block. It did just need the flowers... 

I did surprise myself and sent in a LO to Scrapbooking Memories for submission on Sunday night. I have sent one into Scrapbook Creations probably 18months ago or more and never heard back. It's not what I'm about anyway(subbing)  so wasn't too fussed! So this is the only second ever time I have subbed and the first to Scrapbooking Memories. Anyway, I quickly wrote the email, attached the LO and pressed send before I changed my mind. On Monday morning I thought about sending them a quick email saying forget about it. But to my surprise and delight I got a positive email back within a few hours on Monday. I am very excited, I look at others work and don't believe I am of the same standard at all, so it was a very exciting email for me. Anyway, it is just a nice thing for me! Yay!! I think it's funny almost. I appreciate it totally!! But unreal!! Anyway, I'm sure most of my scrappy friends remember the excitement of the first acceptance!! 

Well that's it for now... 

Top 5

Following in Lauren and Kate's recent posts about their top five, I thought I'd think of mine... 

They are just off the top of my head so maybe might come back with a revised top 5!! LOL!!

1. Robbie Williams (of course)

2. Jamie Oliver

3. Leonardo Dicaprio

4. Bernard Fanning

5. John Butler

What do you think of that then?? 

Could probably go a top 10, as names of hot actors and singers just keep popping into my head!!