Yet more Crazy Busy

So here are some of the photos I downloaded off the camera – there are still more to be down, but life is …. crazy busy. Still. These things were done a little over 2 weeks ago. And they already feel like ancient history. Crazy busy needs to stop being crazy and learn to live a little slower. Can you all tell crazy busy that? Cos crazy busy isn’t listening to me…..!

Mr then still just 4 on his last day of kindy – taking part in the Happy School Days mat-time with one of the teachers. Here he is telling everyone about the Happy School Days hat he made.

That “modelling” session – yeah, really, America’s Top Model is in the tree!!

The excitement of doing the 3M pool challenges during school swimming…. “it’s a pin-dive, mum!”

So I’ve not been keeping you all up to date as life moves along quite swiftly in this household at the  moment. First, Mr 5 has been at school exactly ONE WEEK when I spot a listing for a part time job. Now, the plan was to go back to work once Mr 5 was at school, but I did sort of assume that it would be several months before that really came about. Something about it taking a long time to find the “right” fit, I’d be lucky to find something quickly, the recession etc etc. So on Monday when I called to find out more about the “perfect” hours job, chatted to the recruitment consultant for a bit, got a wee bit excited and lo and behold – I have an interview on Wednesday. Which I attended and it went well. Very well. Being the recruitment route, I still need to met with the hiring manager but I have been confirmed as one of two solid candidates. So I am waiting for the call about the second interview.

Then today, I got a call on the cell which I assume is the recruitment agent. It’s not – it’s the hospital. There’s been a cancellation and they would like me to come in for my gall-bladder surgery. On Friday! With the pre-assessment to be done this afternoon. Yikes!

Yes indeed. Wait, Wait. Wait. Wait…..for the last six months. Then “Hurry up and get here NOW” seems to be the way things are done in the hospital.

I’m a bit all over the place at the moment in terms of planning because that seems to have gone out the window these last few days! I’m a little nervous about one meaning the other may not be able to happen. To counter the possible outcomes associated with recovery etc, I called the rectruitment agent to let her know that I have a fairly short window this week if the interview is to happen. So yes, it seems the old not raining but pouring in these parts is still very much the way things are around here.

I’ll ask you all to cross your fingers on one hand that I get the interview and it goes well, and then cross the fingers on the other hand that the surgery is short and sweet and without too many hassles.

And on that note, I’m outa here for now. I need to catch my breath!!

PS – Mr 5 is doing very well at school, and both the Mr’s have rugby season kicking off on Saturday. I’m likely to be missing the first games.

PPS: it’s a very special day for scrap-buddy Hannah today…. Happy Birthday!!!

Andrea is cooking something up….

Over at SBO. Apparently that is the place to be on Friday. Can’t wait to find out…. when I hear there is a surprise in the wings, I get all impatient So all you scrappy girls…. make sure you are in on the buzz and come visit SBO on Friday.

And ummm….yep. Those photos I promised? Still on the camera. Had a friend’s 4oth to have fun with last week. Plus a little something of my own which will have to wait until tomorrow before I share. It’s called real life. And it keeps you away from your blog sometimes. But you know I’ll catch you all up at some point, right?!

From the recovery room

So the week that was last week has finished. We managed to cram a LOT into it. I have yet to download some pictures from the camera, so I will do that and do some proper posts with pics in the next few days. In the meantime, here’s a few snippits.

*****

Tuesday: The Mr’s and I went to a friends evening photography class where they were meant to be “models” for the portraiture lesson. I’m yet to receive any pics. I suspect because Mr then4 believed he was being funny by not looking at the photographer working with him at any given point in the evening. Mr 7 was posing lots…. A la “America’s Next Top Model”. As he struck each pose and was *fierce* abut being ANTM, I kept asking myseslf “How does he know about ANTM?? He never watches it!!!!!” And then I cringed in embarrassment, but also motherly pride as he really was being quite funky!!

Oh, and I learned that turning your ISO setting up too high is not a great idea. Then I found an online widget thingy that will fix these mistakes and make the yuk-grainy photos half-decent again. Who needs to be a great photographer when you have technology??!

*****

Thursday AM – Mr 4: Last day of kindy and “Happy School Day” celebrations. I spent the  morning with him at kindy and we had fun just doing stuff that he enjoys. We also made our celebration hat, had pop-corn and fruit party food, and tried to get a decent photo. Yes, we made it just into this year’s kindy photos! The photographer was really patient with Mr4 – he kept trying to hide his eyes and wasn’t terribly interested in the fact Mum wanted one last kindy pic! I’m sensing a theme here……. Anyway, she thought she got a good one in the end, so I’m happy.

*****

Thursday AM – Mr7: Meanwhile, over at the main city pool, school swimming is winding up with school swimming sports day. Officially it is for Year 4-6 students, but those Year 3′s that can stroke are also asked if they would like to take part. Mr 7 managed to conquer a discomfort with being in the 3 metre section of the pool and is now almost unable to leave that part of the pool. He has also managed to swim the entire 25m length without stopping so when he was asked, he jumped at the chance. Year 3′s swim widths instead of lengths, and he did freestyle, backstroke and something else which I’m not entirely sure of. He finished a very proud 2nd in all the events he swam in. I was so proud to hear this – and so sad I can’t literally be in two places at once for these kinds of things! And because I was with Mr 4 in the morning, I thought it was only fitting that Mr 7 had the Red Plate for dinner.

*****

Thursday evening: Last night for K School Athletics season. Mr still4 had been worried because he was having a few problems with high jump. It had been a bit upsetting for him the last couple of weeks, especially as his neglectful mother had been down at the adjoining ground walking Angus while they were busy and before Dad arrived to save the day. One mum on this night told me off: you really need to be here, he gets so upset!! Actually, I found out from other parents that while he was looking for me, but after they reminded him that I was just over the boundary and that dad was almost there, he was happily rejoining the activities. But that aside, it was a BIG night for the kids doing athletics. Those that had been pretty much every night and were noted as doing their best recieved medals from Miss J, the Principal.

*****

Sunday: Party day. “The” Event in our household this month. It was such a gorgeous day I was very happy we had decided to go ahead with a family BBQ prior to the party. Originally planned for afterwards, we had to either cancel it or move it because Hubby’s band had a rehersal in the late afternoon. One of my SIL’s commented that she was amazed I would even think about having the BBQ prior, but everything was planned and done so you might as well have fun too, right?!

The extra things I did because I got carried away with myself came off and it sure has been a good party.

Needless to say – I was completely knackered afterwards. A couple of yummy, ice-cold beers to relax with, peanut butter sandwiches for dinner and I was in bed early!!

*****

Monday: First Day of School. We did our traditions of the first day photos outside our gate and again outside the school. Mr 5 (as of the 16th) was walked to school by Dad and Big Brother. It was so fun to see the three of them walking up the hill. I drove Hubby’s car up to the school so he could continue on to work afterwards. Mr 5 comes out of that class room beaming at the end of the day. I cannot get over at how well he fits in – as if he has been there for ages already.

I go to the gym to restart my fitness efforts.

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Tuesday: Swimming Assessments. I’m throwing this in here because FINALLY Mr7 is allowed to move up to Otters. AND after just one term in Turtles, Mr 5 is doing well enough to go to Octopus. OMG, he is just the biggest learning sponger there is right now!!!!

Also, I spend the morning on the phone and internet arranging life. Me and the Mr’s are off to the big family do in Invercargill for my Nana and Granddad’s 60th Wedding Anniversary in April. Some by plane, some by car but we are going to be there. I’m thrilled! And Mrs F, Julie et al…. I hope I get to meet you lot!!!! Consider this notice!! ROFL.

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And that’s been our week. Look for the pictures in the next few days So how are YOU all doing??

Oh, and just to finish off, we are heading out right now for a “Rugby Trial”. Yes, indeed, the madness round here continues…….

And in amongst the insanity

There is a little normal life continuing in our household as I tick off items on the To-Do lists heading towards “The Party”. For instance, Janine hosted a small crafty get together for a few of us over the weekend. So nice to actually scrap something. Not that I’m going to show you guys right now, because I kind of like it a lot, and I’m thinking when I’ve done the journalling, I might even have a go at submitting it somewhere. Possibly.

But some cards I’ve done last week, I will show you. Because my camera battery was finally charged and I took some photos! Firstly, I’m very pleased with this very pretty card I made specifically for our neice K over in the US. She’s been feeling more than a bit poorly after being hit with a cold and various compounding infections. We hope she’s feeling better very soon. Actually, I’m only going to pop the sneak-peek here….

And then I made a card for Keryn’s latest colour challenge. Actually, she made it really easy for me to do. Having meant to take part in her challenges for a few weeks now, she got exasperated with me and handed me the cardstock scraps when we got together on Friday night. One way to make sure I do something right, huh??! LOL Considering I was putting this together in 10 minutes before I left Vicky’s house as I felt it was getting late, I’m quite pleased with how this came out. The colour challenge was Close to Cocoa, Sage Shadow and Barely Banana with a neutral.

While I was downloading these photos off my camera, I also realised I never even mentioned something I did way back at the beginning of February. So I’ll quickly share with you now.

Feb 3 was my Dad’s 60th. My brother suggested I fly down and surprise him and we’s all go out to dinner together. It worked really well – he had no idea. My sister had arranged to just come out and meet up with him, so when he saw me, the surprise was evident. In fact his first words were when he saw me was “Bloody hell! If I knew you were coming, I’d have cleaned up a bit!”. Sis was a bit miffed at that!

He had taken the day off work at the behest of Little Bro and was just pottering around his place. While he was off getting a shower and a change, Sis and I mooched around his place. It’s the first time I’ve actually seen it since he’d done quite a bit of work on it. And while I laughingly call him the newest “Trailer Trash” I’m actually very impressed with how homely he is making his pad.

He’s added on a full lounge and ensuite bathroom as well as that verandah. Plus he has cobbled the side drive and has a workshop and vegie patch out the back. Not too shabby!! Although my sis might have something to say about being caught in the photo

And a little later on that day, we wound up at the West Coast bar and cafe for dinner. It was the biggest, juiciest steak I’ve had in a very long time.

And hte cake featuring stuff that Dad is:

And then having gotten over the party fun and goings on, mid February saw Hubby and I get some quality time by leaving the boys at a neighbours for the afternoon, and what turned out to be longer part of the evening than anticipated. We took the bus ride over to Martinborough, and the return journey was late departing as we seemed to have the most concientious driver in the fleet who wanted to ensue no concert goer was left behind. but apart from that little glitch, we had a fabulous time. Where? Here:

That’s Opshop up on stage and along with Anika Moa and Dave Dobbyn provided just the best summer concert in a very long time.  We saw them at Alana Estate in Martinborough, the day was nothing short of perfect, the food on offer was divine and yeah, we had a great time. If you haven’t already been and they are coming to your neck of the woods soon – go!

Colour me striped and call me insane!

Because that’s what I am folks!

Mr4 has just the one week left of kindy – yep, he’s a school-boy from Monday week. The feedback I’ve been given from the teachers about his visits is nothing short of fantastic and makes me so very proud of the little fella.

So why do I need to confess you all about how insane I am? Well, Mr soon to be 5 requested that for his party he have a particular cake and a banner. Yeah, not really that much to ask for is it? Not something to really send you into a tailspin? Well, that’s because you guys are not me!!

Bit by bit ideas have been percolating around this brain of mine (a very dangerous thing to happen at times!) and in discussions with hubby, more ideas have been concocted. Before we know we are, I have a full-on Star Wars themed party on my hands.

You would have seen me at Spotlight today. Choosing a pattern with Soon-To-Be-Mr5 that best resembled a jedi costume. Yes indeed folks. One week out from the party, I’ve decided to make the Mr’s Jedi costumes. And a few other bits and pieces for the kids.

The truth is that the 5th party was always the last “big” shindig I intended for both boys. And I’m really having fun putting the ideas together, so I’m going with it.

But my sanity? Seriously questionable.

Oh where oh where has my mojo gone?

There a serious mojo drought happening around these parts. Do you know I’ve not actually finished one complete layout yet this year??!! I know….. and I call myself a scrapbooker!  Think I might be turning my id card in any day.

It makes me feel better that I’m not the only one suffering the affliction… several cyber buddies seem to have similar issues. So instead of looking guiltily at the layout that just needs a bit of something to finish it off, I decided it was time to do my homework from the 2Peas PSE class for February. The lesson was specifically learning about using the shape tool – and I think I got it. The strips and the photo shape are the shapes I used. I piked out of doing the 1/4 circle thing that she showed us in the tutorial. My excuse was the kit I was using had a cute butterfly that I just wanted to use.

So in handing in this assignment, I earned my first official badge over at 2Peas. I forgot to tick the box on the January one so it didn’t show up. Darn!!

Layout details: Shabby Princess “Promise” Collection, swirl by Sunflowers, fonts are Cafe Rojo and Vintage type.

Now that wee bit or creativity has been done, I better get back to the list of UFOs I’ve got gathering dust. There was a time when I wouldn’t actually do something else until I had the first one done… And that is really quite a good rule of thumb. Except when you have a really bright idea that you just have to do.

Um, yeah, not willing to hand back the title of World’s Best Procrastinator I see!