12.31.08
…and that’s a wrap for 2008
So hard to believe that we are at the very end of another year. I was thinking this morning how this time of year is always spent reflecting. Lists come up for everything – what was good, bad, ugly, hot, not, coming up, going down, Top 10 of this, that and the other. I haven’t even glanced at the TV listings, but I’m sure there will be the usual retrospectives on too, leading into the countdown.
Funny too, how ringing in the New Year with a party, drinks and lots of singing seems to hearald in the NEW. A new beginning for most everything. The new year brings in the chance to draw a line under whatever else has just happened, turn a new page, start with a clean slate.
And while I am unlikely to actually be anywhere but the land of nod come the magic hour, I’m still drawn to reflect upon the year me and mine have had. And this year, I feel it’s been by and large a good one. Lots of room for improvement, yes certainly (….those decluttering plans are yet to be effected for one!), but lots of things that we’ve been able to celebrate at the time, and again upon reflection.
This afternoon, while I was mucking around in my photo albums on the computer, I was trying to identify the few photos I want to print for the December page I’ve got ready thanks to the SBO comp. These photos really need to be the essence to just capture what our December was like this year, because they will all be about 1″ square. And as I was going through them, I was having a hard time trying to figure out each picture to represent the day I’m filling in on the layout.
I’ve selected the ones I’ll use on the page, but I also pulled a little something together as I was playing around in Picassa.
This one doesn’t feature other faces as I haven’t permission to pop them here, but it gives you the flavour of our December I think.
It covers days 1-25 in our month, and features:
- our advent calendar
- decorating the tree
- waiting in the forever queue to see Santa at Kirkaldies
- a christmas recital
- getting the real feel of christmas at the Eastborne Community carols night
- one of the “Fiiiiiiiiive Golden Cats” from the end of school assembly
- lillies, kind of like the Christmas lillies my mum used to always have in the house at this time of year
- decorating gingerbread men on christmas eve with friends here
- and Christmas Day itself.
I love how Picassa collages let you do stuff like this. And I’m going to print a very similar one for another December page. Maybe that’s how I’m spending my New Year’s Eve: scrapbooking!! 
And that really brings my blog to a close for 2008. I wish a very Happy New Year to you all, hoping 2009 brings you lots of goodness and happiness.
See you round the place on the same bat-channel in 2009
12.27.08
SBO’s very sweet christmas competition
I just have to say how much I enjoyed taking part in this competition. Up for grabs was the MM Slice – and the winner was chosen via a “raffle ticket” system which meant that if you participated, you had as good a chance as the next person. Sweet! {nope, it wasn’t my number that got pulled out}
What I really loved about this was that the item to be created each week was something that was useful, or part of the season’s buildup. Meaning it didn’t seem to take any extra time at this busy time of year to complete.
Now, I was going to get all clever and put all the creations together in one little mosaic, but for some reason, the Mosaic Maker over at Big Labs is not playing nicely and all I’m getting is one blank square. Not so interesting I feel. I’ve already share some of the projects so I’m not going to repeat myself with the individual pics now, but I will share the final project with you.
In order to take part in this challenge in Week 7, we needed to have completed four out of the first five week’s. I missed the christmas card gift set challenge, but managed to get the other four done. So I was thrilled to receive the Week 7 mystery item…..
It’s a chipboard house by Doodlebug. Getting it decorated seem to take no time at all. Well, to begin with:
Hmmmm…. yeah. Boring. So, now the bare bones are done, time for a little fun I think! I decided to go with a summer Christmas look – even though the traditional snowy scenes look great. But here in NZ, christmas is all about the summer.
{Oh please! Blurry photos are SO the next scrapbooking trend!! LOL}
The Mr’s enjoyed the final result as much as I did. It seems the house is just right for Lego figures. I feel I might be in need of a “No Trespassing!” sign
And now Andrea and the design team at SBO have ALL the houses done in the village. Go take a look here – spectacular is an understatement!!
12.26.08
Very Merry Christmas wishes to you all
Well, I’m writing this on Boxing day, where we are currently at home after spending a very good and relaxing day at the BIL and SIL’s house in Silverstream. Even Angus came along for the day. And was very well behaved right up until the end, when he decided to just eat his way to through the rope and help himself to a jar of guacamole. Ummmm… yeah. Not sure of the effects of that yet.
The morning started reasonably timed 6.45am. Santa was good and kind to the Mr’s, bringing them by and large at least a couple of items from their wish lists. He also left a note for Mr 7 which contained handwriting that he didn’t recognise. It is safe to say that 2008 contained all the mystery that christmas should have 
We then proceeded to eat and drink as you do on the day. A bit of a walk to take the MIL back to the resthome, plus stretch boy, girl and dog legs. And then back again to attempt to finish some of the food by way of a picked over dinner and dessert.
My Kerst Krans (the recipe this year was an untried one sourced from the net…) went down well, as did the pavlova.
Lego creations are being completed this morning. I am the self-proclaimed Lego-master-builder in this household!
And I am being called down to tie up water bombs, so I’m thinking that is my PC time over for the day 
12.19.08
Officially, we’re on holidays
Kindy finished today at 12.30. Mr 7 and I went to the mall just prior in order for him to choose a gift from himself to Mr4, plus a few other little errands in order to get a step or two away from being “done”. We had a lovely morning tea at Butler’s – yes, the place that gives you a little handmade chocolate with your drink (mmmmmm….).
Earlier in the day, I was congratulating myself on being so close to being *all done*. And then I went and checked e-mails and blogs.
Make that attempted to.
Hmmmmm…… computer is whirring away as it should, modem lights are all on as they should be. What is going on?? The monitor is refusing to come on – or off. Just in Stand-by. A quick call to my friend’s hubby B and he more or less confirms what I’m suspecting: the monitor has given up the ghost. He suggests I check the warrenty because it could still be covered.
Plugging in another monitor that is from our ancient PC, I squint my way around the internet (the screen is *only* 15″ LOL), find Dell and plug in the necessary details. It looks like I’m only days out of warrenty…. cool… I’ll give it a go and plead the small time period and see how my luck goes.
“Ummmm…. what do you mean only days out of warrenty ma’am? (translation: what kind of crack have you been smoking you idiot??!) The warrenty expired in March!“
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…. the date was in american format!!!
So. No free replacement then. Hmmmmmm. Can I live without my daily connection to blogs and emails and forums and friends?! Well, no. Think, think, think. Can we put up with the little old monitor being sat beside us in a clearly temporary position on the deck….well…………….. possibly. But it’s like to cause permanent eye issues (health and safety first, people!)
Can I persuade hubby we really should get a new monitor. Like now. Apparently I can!! Wooohooo!!! Done and ordered. Delivery on Monday.
Now, I can sit back and wrap the gifts with the Mr’s; bake some gingerbread men and possibly even get those out of town items into the post tomorrow.
Because now, the Mr’s are at home from school and kindy. And I remain connected to cyberland, with squinting only an issue for days and not weeks; we are now officially on holidays.
PS: do you need gift tags still? Cathy Zielske has given “us” a template for some lovely, simple tags right here. Just print, and trim.
12.17.08
Red Plate night tonight
We have one of those big red plates that you could buy from the Warehouse a few years ago. It’s got something like “you’re Outstandamazing!” on it and we use it when someone has done something that should be recognised. It could really do some more outings for smaller achievements, but often I forget to use it.
But tonight there are two worthwhile recipients for it. And just one plate.
Mr 7 brought home his first written report. In our school, Years 0 and 1 have Parent-Teacher interviews twice in the year, Year 2 and up get a midyear interview and a written report.
He got a good one. Oh, it makes mention of the listening thing in passing, but it is a very positive one and shows he’s doing well enough. Made me very proud to glance through it (I have to read it properly later tonight).
And the second recipient?
It’s me!! The exam results came through this morning and I passed both papers (an A+ and a B+…. and I’m only revealing the grades because I have NEVER had a final A+ result in my life before……chuffed???……. oh yeah!!!). I’m feeling very chuffed with myself and the effort I pulled out toward the end. And I’m laughing too, because it does nothing to dispel the whole “you should NOT cram at the last minute” kind of routine. So my hard cramming for the last 3 months has paid off. Yipppppeeeeee. That’s it: no more study; I get to graduate and can call myself a qualified Legal Executive from here on in.
How to divide the red plate between 2 of us?
Easy….. we’re eating fish and chips on the run tonight because we have final school assembly at 6pm and a hubby to collect from the train station just prior.
Well, at least me and Mr 7 know our efforts are worth the Red Plate!
12.12.08
A tree layout
This week’s challenge for the SBO Very Sweet Christmas competition was to create a layout using a photo of this year’s tree. Luckily for me, we had the tree up just before I read what the challenge was.
And then I needed to find time to actually produce the darn layout!!
Which may have been a good thing, as the idea percolated in my mind for a few days. Actually, this is nothing like what I had in mind, because I saw smaller photos and more white space. But in the hour I had to play this afternoon (in between school pick-up and the return for the school disco starting at 5), the creation became this.
I see my photographic skills are getting worse rather than better and I’m not sure the light I was using is really an excuse – but in real life the colours work really well. I also wanted to use the words to a little christmas ditty I know – because it has been going around and around and around my head the last few weeks thanks to a “Spot’s Musical Christmas” book we have here. If I knew how to get a post with music in the background, I would inflict share the song upon with you all as well!
And I should admit here and now that although you see the Mr’s helping decorate, this is one thing I’m a bit anal about. The decs MUST be reasonably spread, balanced, generally green/red/gold and not too tacky. I love the fact I have some nice ornaments that have been accumulated from around the globe and over the years. That “Noel” glittery string was actually on a display in a shop in Antwerp and I was able to persuade the owner to part with it. This year’s additions are three little birdies from Kirkcaldies…. the bird trend isn’t just in scrapbooking!! 
Layout details: Various pp from last year’s Srapcook Essentials Dec kit plus vellum and Stampin Up! paper; Maya Road journalling spot; Dymo label; prima flowers; KaiserCraft flourish; paint; glimmermist; various ribbons, fabric and beads; Making Memories glitter alpha and American Craft thicjers; white gel pen
12.11.08
It’s been two years already!
This blog is actually two years old this month….Wow! Actually, I would have missed the milestone myself had I not read someone else also celebrating two years in cyberland.
And what better way to celebrate than to pop up some more bling…. Yippeee! Thanks to Donna for awarding me with this pretty:
I actually spotted this one on another US blog a while back, loved it so much that I asked if I could pinch it and start handing it out round my favourite NZ blogs. Well, I never heard back from that lady, and I was too wimpy to just grab it from her anyway, so I’m thrilled to be awarded it properly. Even if it does mean one of the people I was going to award it to has in fact beaten me to the punchline!!
As usual, there are a couple of rules to accepting this lovely….
12.10.08
I’m on holiday already
…. or my brain is at least! I keep writing these fantastic, funny blog posts in my head. And then promptly forget to actually come and type them up. Something to do with the weather I am sure of it… it’s simply too much like holiday weather to be getting things done.
I’m almost done with the christmas card making. I’ve started writing in them. I’ve finished the newsletter – and have started to print them as needed. One teacher’s gift has been made and given. I’ve thought about the baking I was planning on doing. Might still do some – gingerbread men I think.
The best thing so far is that I am really looking forward to Christmas this year. I feel really excited about the Mr’s ripping open their gifts (far too many of them because I have gone a weeeeee bit overboard this year!) This is such a far cry from where I was at mentally and emotionally last year. When mentioning this among friends last week, one was kind enough to point out that I’ve done a bunch of work to make it so. But while that may well be the case, I also think it helps that I’m taking pressure away by not worrying about what I should be doing….. taking the time to enjoy what I am doing.
Like the Christmas in the Park in Avalon over the weekend. Totally fun for the kids – and great to see it making a comeback (it’s been a few years between drinks). Left my camera at home though… so hoping that some of Hubby’s cellphone pics will do the job.
Like lunching with Beverley, Sarah and Janine last week. Then going to a crop in Otari the next day. Spending time on Friday night with other girlfriends, having enjoyed a family night of dancing and sausage sizzle.
In amongst all of that, I have been creating. Mainly Chrissy cards. In one of two designs. This second design is pinched from Sarah….
So very, very simple to do. Yet so very effective, don’t you think? Sarah, the wonderful girl, even lent me the stamps and inks to recreate the look myself at home.
And while I’m showing some of the creativity going on around here, take a look at these little goodie bags….
Little 3″ totes, just perfect for holding some notecards, or little gifts of appreciation. Plus ultra quick and easy to do – just what you need at this time of year! Take a look at this tutorial if you would like to see how easy it is to make one for yourself.
12.03.08
Ready for December??
I’m not 100% convinced I am, but seeing I find myself in the 3rd day already, I’m guessing going with the flow is the right option about now!!
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Taupo Re-cap:
After a very stop-start kind of trip (being the first time we took the bike on the back of the car for such a long trip, it required checking every so often to ensure it really was still well attached….), we arrived at our accomodation just a little north of Motuapa. Quite basic, but actually a very good place as it had LOADS of space and a good playground for the Mr’s to expend energy.
Unfortunately a miscommunication regarding apparently provided dinner / supper meant that we were waiting for the “dinner” to be provided before Hubby set off to load his bike in Taupo. Once we realised it was “supper” at 7pm and not “dinner” – and it was very late, we had to head to Taupo to take care of both rumbly tumms and the bike. Not quite such an auspicious start to proceedings, but in any event, it worked out well. We hit the pasta tent and had a very satisfying meal in the end.
To say Taupo was “Hot” on Saturday is an understatement! I really did feel sorry for the cyclists. Due to the late night (deepened for me by the fact I didn’t sleep well in a “new” bed) I decided that tiredness and heat would soon turn any real activity into a pile of custard. Instead we based ourselves at the fantastic playground for much of the day. Me and the Mr’s would come and go as we felt like and generally enjoy the shade of the trees there.
One “excursion” was to Farmers and we bought some Star Wars toys. The ones with the little bits that could easily go missing. The ones where I suggested that those bits stay in the car so they wouldn’t get lost. I think it was maybe 2 hours before the first casulty. 
At first I was tired and grumpy about having to deal with the tears at the loss, but in the end, I realised that even if every single bit got lost, it was still a cheaper day out than doing some of the tourist activities would have been!
And how did the cyclist go? Well, he was entered for just the one leg officially, but was feeling good so he decided to go on to the finish. Hatepe Hill was not an issue (cycling home up our hill at the end of a training ride was a huge plus in that sense!!) and it was at the 65km mark that the wall came and hit him. The last 15km were apparently excruciatingly difficult. With several rests, and encouragement from other riders, finally we got word he was about to finish.
80km in around 4 hours. Not bad for the first time. And there are already plans for a full 4 member team for next year – plus Mr 7 wants to take part in the 5km heart-riders section. Looks like we’re going back in ‘09!!
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Piano concert
On the Sunday, we had to ensure we were packed and ready to go first thing. Mr 7 had his first piano concert at the school hall at 2pm. A bit of a bummer that we needed to head straight back home because Taupo was just gorgeous and it would have been nice to just hang for a bit.
But Mrs S had picked this date and you know, life’s like that.
Mr 7 had been practising “Donkey” but unfortunately, Mrs S had him down on the program incorrectly to play Jingle Bells as well as Old McDonald. Old MacDonald was played beautifully…. Jingle Bells was terrible! It wasn’t a song that he had really played let alone practised…. so I swung around and let her know this wasn’t the song that was meant to have been played. She interupted him after a bit, and set him on the right path. His rendition of Donkey was a bit wobbly at first as he realised he was out of his depth in playing the other song and you could tell his confidence was shaken. However, playing the familiar piece seemed to settle him and by the end, he was fine.
Afterwards, he said he felt nervous and scared playing a song he didn’t know, but a bit of reassurance that he did great in the end seemed to put that worry away. Hopefully it won’t play on his mind the next time he is to perform.
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December!
Still a few cards to make, pressies to sort out, decorating to be done. I decided to get the tree up today and we’ll decorate it tonight. Normally I would do it at the weekend – but that’s almost a week into the silly season, so now is a good time. And then I realised that one tradition would be a week out if we didn’t get a move on:
Now this has to be the BEST advent calendar I’ve come across. I found it on the bargain table at the Warehouse about four years ago – $9.99 it was. In each drawer is a little ornament to be hung on a knob as we count down. Each Mr has a day to open the box and hang an ornament. I love it because it isn’t based on chocs or bought things. Although…… I might be tempted to have a surprise in a couple of boxes near the end this year. Maybe. Depends on if the naughty or nice column is being ticked….
And on that note, I should get a move on if I’m going to get a few of my own chores done today!
