love your life

just a little change

2010-08-31T09:25:00.003+10:00

I have re-opened this blog, only to re-direct you to my new one :)

You can find me here lisakate.typepad.com/blog

So come and say hello, and also change your links please.

Lisa
x

Sugar Rush

2010-06-05T16:42:00.000+10:00

Let the sugar high begin!!! Check out these gorgeous faces, my three monkeys plus cousin Ruby all having a crazy good time. Kris and Sea have our kids for the night while we head to a local winery for dinner. I am kinda glad I don't get to witness the sugar rush. But these pictures just make me smile.

Thanks Kris and Sea

xxxxx

What a week

2010-05-22T11:33:00.000+10:00

THis week has been crazy. You know the kind of week where you have so much to get done? Where everyone needs you for something? Where you get called into work everyday??

But it had also been awesome. After living in a bedroom which was bland and boring for two years, we finaly decided to renovate and totally re-decorate. We are almost done, and gosh it has been lots and lots of work. I should be able to show some pics in the next day or two.... just trying to get the bedroom back to normal after sleeping in our loungeroom for the week!!!

If you are after a scrap challenge or two this weekend, Scraptherapy are cybercropping and there are planty of cool challenges. I had the pleasure of designing the sketch challenge this month (my fave!) and here is my sketch and also the layout from the sketch.

The rest of this week is going to be spent MADLY getting organised for the Scraptherapy retreat next weekend in WARM Cairns. I am so looking forward to seeing all the girls again, and teaching a fast paced class. It's going to be fun. But gosh there is some work to be done at home first.

Have a blessed week

Lisa

I think I just found a new obsession

2010-05-11T20:45:00.000+10:00

*DROOL*

I love love love this look!!! I alredy have a vintage vibe going on in my kitchen, but this is just so pretty and inspired. You can find the original images Here at Design Sponge.

Seems to me that a trip to the local Thrift Shop for a bit of junking fun is in order.

You will probably fine me adding more design posts now and then .... it seems that is all I am looking at while studying. Lots of wonderful inspiration, lots of different colours and styles. So much fun.

Love Pretty things :)

Lisa
x

PS - What is your style??? as in home style? it could be what your current home is or what you dream your home to be one day. Tell Me :)

a post just because..

2010-05-10T13:41:00.000+10:00

Just because I can, and just because I finally downloaded all my photos's off my iphone.

They made me super happy looking at the all. I think they are such an awesome snapshot of our daily lives and what we have been up to for the last 6 months or more.

Because I always have my phone on me, but not always my camera. Lets face it the iphone is not a brilliant camera, but I LOVE the candid nature of all the shots.

Lots of fun,

Lisa

A big clear out

2010-05-09T08:44:00.001+10:00

I *need* to make more room.

I am gathering more and more design and art supplies for my interiors course, and a heap of my crafty stuff is taking up valuable space.... and not being used either.

Of course I am keeping things I love, things I use all the time. But there is still a truckload of things that could do with a new home.

I will post some piccies here before they hit ebay, just incase any of my online friends want them.

These stamps sets are all $10 each plus postage. They retailed for much more, quite a few have not even been opened or if they have only one stamp has been used. See what I mean? they need t go to a new home where they will be LOVED.

Please email me at pateygirl (at) tpg (dot) com (dot) au if you want to claim some :)

love birds - never used

Big swirls - never used

spring - never used

word fourishes - never used SOLD

They are all by Autumn Leaves and Retailed for approx $25 each.

There will be plenty more to come

Lisa

PS - my blog is playing silly!!! lots of links are not visable? Driving me insane, think I might look at another blog service. Anyone else having problems with blogger?

Her new jumper

2010-05-07T09:16:00.000+10:00

This girls LOVES knitted jumpers (kinda like her muma).

I *think* the fact that her nanna knits for her and so did I when she was little one is the reason. She always had lovely soft snuggly knits on.

If I ask her to fetch a jumper, it is always a knitted one. If it is cold in the morning, she will grab a knit. She has been known to sleep in them.

So when I found this super pretty jumper in her fave colour I *knew* she would love it. Even better I picked it up for $4 at the local oppie, and it even has a bag with it that perfectly fits one beanie kid.

Her face was so cute when I gave it to her "Thankyou mumma, it is beautiful ... and someone knitted it with their hands for me" awwwwwww (Except it isn't a hand knit! LOL).

So today I am just so thankful for a child who appreciates what she is given, who see's value in things made by hand, and delights in a warm snuggly knit given to her by a Mum who knows what she loves.

Lisa

relaxing

2010-05-05T13:13:00.000+10:00

We spent the long weekend (Anzac) sitting my the water at Toronto. They have an amazing park which even Jere enjoys. Lots of climbing, spinnng, swinging and enjoying the sunshine.

Justin and I enjoy it, because there is a VERY HANDY cafe right there, so we can grab a latte and sit back to watch the kids play. It's perfect. I took heaps of photo's of the kids playing at the park, but these three are my faves. Just before we left I dragged them down to the waters edge for some snaps.

Jere even manages a smile (don't worry I have HEAPS of silly face ones as well!!!)

My little blondie - awwwwww. So cute!

Miss Lilli had a fringe cut as well over the weekend, and she looks so grown up!! She loves it, and yep she looks cute as .... but a whole lot older :(

*sigh* why oh why do they have to grow up????

So onto some crafty goodness. My DT kit this month from Scraptherapy included lots of yummy October afternoon. I have been playing with the beautiful and bright nigh light range .... so good!!!! Most of my work will be uploaded over the weekend for the monthly challenges .... BUT I can share this one now.

Check Jere's face, he is such a cracker. Lee-Anne has filled the store with LOTS of october afternon goodies, and the turn around time for postage is *amazing*. Love great service.

An assignment is calling me :-? So off I go .....

Lisa
x

Something for the mums

2010-04-26T17:52:00.000+10:00

So who out there is thinking that their mum would LOVE something hand made for Mothers Day? I have seen all the beautiful classes and I just know there will be more than one thing your Mum or Nan would love. I am really looking forward to putting some if not all of this gifts together myself.

Here is the blurb straight from the @home site.

We were thrilled with the response to our recent @Home Support Team search and narrowed our choice down to FIFTEEN finalists. As part of our stage two of the competition, our Top 15 girls had to come up with a quick, easy and fresh gift idea suitable for Mother's Day! And we were blown away by the brilliant ideas and great projects they designed!

Now that our search has ended and we welcome Sheree Forcier and Lisa Pate to our Support Team, we decided that we wanted to share the Top 15 girls' ideas with our @Home participants. Soooo, we have put together this new class featuring 14 of our 15 finalists PLUS members of our Support Team as we share ideas, projects and step by step instructions. Plus we have a few giveaways.

They join our Support Team girls as we present a glorious selection of Mother's Day projects. Make sure you take advantage of our Early Bird Price!!! Offer expires 30 April 2010.

Hope to see some of you there :)

Lisa
x

Happy Happy

2010-04-20T19:14:00.000+10:00

Yep, that's me! I am so excited to say that I am now a very proud member of the Kim Archers Workshops @Home team. I am still pinching myself. The competition was amazing, everyone who made the top 15 were and are seriously talented ladies. I was chuffed just to make it that far...... but to become part of the team is just so COOL. I have long been a fan of Kim's unique style and the girls on the team have been so wonderful and welcoming..... like I said just so so COOL!!!

And Kim made sure we were put straight to work :) I loved that. I can only show you a little sneak peak, but I will let you know that I had lots of fun putting it all together.

and in other exciting news .......

I am back studying :) I feel so blessed to be finally doing something I LOVE. I am doing an Advanced Diploma in Commercial Arts (Interior Design) and I am really enjoying it all. So the plan will be Justin has his Vines in the Valley and I will have my office in Newcastle (I am planning on Honeysuckle along the restaurant strip!) and it will somehow all work out.

Life is feeling pretty good at the moment, and after such a hard year last year, it is wonderful!

Love Lisa
x

What our Easter looked like

2010-04-13T09:16:00.000+10:00

This is what we were busy doing for Easter and Justin's parents farm. Collecting eggs (chocolate and chook ones), feeding sheep - Miss Liv seems to be quite the sheep whisperer, loving on Kel the farm dog, working with Pop (also knows as following him around the farm alllll day), playing basketball, painting, drawing and lots more!!

Justin and I were lucky enough to head out to a beautiful town called Nundle about an hour away from the farm on Easter morning (after all the egg chaos of course). Nundle has a festival every year at Easter celebrating it's history as a Gold Mining town and the Chinese people who came to live and work there.

So together we wandered the beautiful streets, visited all the stalls, and tasted some yummy foods. We visited the mill and even watched in in action. My gorgeous hubby bought me the most BEAUTIFUL cashmere cardi while we were there. I was so blessed. I had picked it up numerous times and put it back down - even on *sale* it was expensive... but my lovely hubby bought it for me :)

We had such a lovely time as a family, just relaxing and having fun. Was wonderful.

Lisa
x

PS Shame about the mountain of washing I had to bring home!

Super Seven

2010-03-31T20:02:00.000+11:00

How on earth did this little one get so BIG! It's very bitter sweet my *baby* turning seven. I love watching her grow and learn, but I will miss having a little one around.

She is such a funny soul, always laughing and playing fun. She LOVES dress-ups, and here she is in one of my old hats that now has a home in the dress-up box. So cute.

Check out that gummy smile :)

Livinia is the babe who completed our family, who makes us laugh each and everyday. Who surprises us with her smart brain, who delights in life.

We are so blessed to have her.

Lisax

Some more makings.

2010-03-20T16:41:00.000+11:00

Seems the "make stuff" bug has hit hard around here. I am forever cutting fabric, sticking down papers, and looking for things to paint. I really love when I am up to my eyeballs in projects,it just makes me happy.

I decided to start to re-vamp our lounge cushions. One needed a little imaginative hiding of a big stain, and the other I just decided to start all over with. I love both. My fave is the hodge-podge of fabrics one, I plan to make many more. I loved just ripping fabric, sewing haphazardly and watching it all come together.

They look so pretty together.

Hope you are doing something creative today.

Lisa
x

A Project kinda girl

2010-03-06T20:07:00.000+11:00

I really love projects. You know something other than scrapbooking (shock!) that will take most of the day to complete. Something that ususally makes a huge mess. Something other than housework.

So today I decided it was time to make a teepee :) I had seen and admired one that Rachel Denbow made so printed out her instructions and away I went. Rachel's blog is super cute and full of lots of crafty goodness, so pop over and have a lookie.

The only thing I had to purchase was the poles. They came to around $30, we couldn't find what we needed in pine so just bought another type of timber, I am sure if you could find pine it would be cheaper. Everything else I had at hand. It was really nice to use up some of my vintage sheet stash.

The teepee was really easy to construct, but by the end there was lots and lots of fabric to hold while sewing. The looks on the girls faces when it was finished was wonderful, they have played in it all evening (as has Mr Freddie Bear our doggie) and it won't be put away anytime soon.

Now I want one for my bedroom, with fairy lights in it. Which of course won't happen, because our room is tiny ..... but I can certainly dream :)

Love Lisa xx

and missy Lilliana turns ten!

2010-02-24T20:57:00.000+11:00

Yep, that's right TEN!!! Oh dear.

Not quite sure where my little Bambino went. She just kinda morphed into a gorgeous grown up girl. She is so GORGEOUS and has no idea at all. Which I love. Don't get me wrong, she loves clothes and bags and shoes (even stealing mine, our shoe sizes are almost the same!) But she isn't really aware of how stunning she is. As a baby everyone would stop me and comment on how beautiful she is - they still do.

She seems to have inherited very European looks, both from my side (Italian) and Justins (Spanish). I would love to have her olive skin. We call her our brown berry :)

She is such a delight. Softly spoken, creative and has a fiery side that no one ever expects (just quietly I am sure that is from me!). She knows her mind. I love that. I love her.

Lisa

xxx

PS - we had ANOTHER trip to the emergency ward of John Hunter Hospital yesterday with Jere and another kidney stone .... eeeekkkk this one passed OUT. OUCHIE!!!

Back from a break

2010-02-11T19:27:00.000+11:00

And hasn't it been a busy one? Christmas, New Years, Aussie Day, Back to school. It makes me tired just thinking about it all.

Throw in my Birthday, Ruby's birthday, friends over, changing of rooms, painting, sorting throwing. No wonder I havn't have the chance to sit and blog. I was also having MAJOR perfectionist issues with the look of my blog (LOL) everytime I opened it I saw the old photo's of the kids, a background that needed changing and I just couldn't be bothered. So I didn't.

But FINALLY I got my butt in gear and made some changes, still need to do more, but it is much better.

I am totally excited to say that I am OFFICIALLY part of the Scraptherapy DT. The team is fabbo, and I am so happy to be a part. So head over and check it out, there are some wonderful challenges this month and a cybercrop coming up too.

I did this layout for the January Sketch Challenge at Scraptherapy I LOVE this photo of Livinia on her first day of big school last year, and it was nice to finally scrap it, with some yummy Sassafrass Lass.

And I can't end this post without saying a huge happy birthday to my Boy, Jere who turned 13. Oh dear!!!! We bought him a guitar for his birthday, and were so thankful that my Dad is an AWESOME guitarist and knew exactly what to buy him. Dad is also teaching Jere for the first 12 months and has promsed that he will buy him his first electric guitar if he practises hard this year. YAY for great Poppy's!!!!

Here is my ~~BOY~~ TEENAGER .... so excited with his gift. I grew up with a dad who is a guitarist and a brother, and I gotta say the sound of someone tuning their guitar still makes me want to rock in the corner :) But I am looking forward to Jere learning his instrument and making some pretty cool music with his Poppa and Uncle Kris.

Till next time...

Lisa
x

it's almost here ...

2009-12-23T09:03:00.000+11:00

Christmas that is :)

How are things at your house? are you ready? or are you rushing?

We are *mostly* ready, and just a little rushing.

Our schedule was put a little behind when during a bit of festive fun at our home with friends, I managed to chop off the top of my thumb. Ah, yep - that would be a HUGE chunk right off onto the cutting board. Lets just say our new Mundial knives are very very sharp. It was chaos, with blood spurting, me crying/yelling, Justin trying to stop the blood. It has taken two days for it to stop seeping. BLERK!!!

I was looking through my photo's and found this super sweet layout of Miss Liv, which I hadn't posted yet. It is about one year old and I still love it. She was all dressed up for a Anne of Green Gables party - so gorgeous.

And in other super duper exciting news, this man (my rather gorgeous hubby) has been accepted into Sturt University to study his Bachelor of Wine Science. We are so excited, and I am so proud of him for following his dream. So come March, this families got a few changes to get use too. Justin will still be working full time, while he studies.... and it is going to be busy. But I think it is also going to be awesome.

What does the new year hold for you and your family?? I hope it is good, and full of joy and love.

Merry Christmas,

Love Lisa
x

December is here!

2009-12-11T08:24:00.000+11:00

How quick has the year gone? I feel like I have missed most of it. My kindy girl, is through her first year of school, my tween-child has finished his first year of highschool (thank goodness), and Miss in-the-middle has taken massive steps forward in her confidence. I am so proud of all of them.

Mis Liv has worked very very hard all year with her kindy buddies on a Christmas production called "you are His treasure". She has been so excited all year, and I thought she was going to burst from excitement in the few days before her performance. All the kindy's did an AMAZING job, telling the story f Jesus's birth and reminding us all that WE are His treasure. Miss Liv was a little sheep, and the cutest little sheep ever! She sang her little heart out, we are so blessed by her happy nature. She is our treasure.

I just *have* to add a photo of her smile a few days later :) I was BEGGING her to let me pull her tooth out, it was so loose and I was very worried it was going to fall out on stage and bleed all over her white costume But she would have none of it. It did everntually fall out, while she was at a friends party, in the swimming pool! OMGosh!!! after telling her the tooth fairy would visit anyway, because there was no way we were going to find it with 20 kids splashing around. One of her friends popped out of the water with "I've got it". Liv was very very excited indeed.

And my last (but not least) bit of news to tell is that I have been selected to join the Design Team at Scraptherapy . I am so excited. I have been patiently waiting for the *right* DT job to come up after leaving my last position almost 18 months ago. I didn't want to jump at anything, I wanted to be somewhere that felt like home. Well it seems I have found that place. I officially kick off my role in Feb, but I am doing some unofficial stuff through January. So pop in and say hello.

Stay safe and well, during this silly season,

Lisa
x

This boy ....

2009-12-01T10:33:00.000+11:00

Has had another rough day .... passing a kidney stone!! OUCHIE!

He woke up feeling unwell, and vomiting and was quite distressed but couldn't tell us what was going on. We got a little frustrated, and gave him a panadol and sent him back to bed. A few mins later he was back, groaning and really stressed. But couldn't explain what was going on.....

*knowing* he had one kidney stone, and also where he said the pain was (near the apendix) Justin rushed him to John Hunter Hospital.

The gave him nurofen and a bed and something to stop the vomiting. I was stressing at home, because I know the history of Jere's kidney condition better than anyone, and usually better than the doctors in emergency wards. Jere is usually the youngest patient they have ever seen with idiopathic hypercalciuria, sometimes they even have to look it all up!

anyway, My Jere is a tough one. Most adults pass kidney stones with serious pain relief, usually a shot or two of pethidine. Jere just toughed it out (which just quietly annoyed me, they didn't offer him anything stronger). They did an ultrasound, and he has three stones in his right kidney, two in his left and one in his bladder. EEEEEKKKKKKK !!!

We are heading to the very clever Dr Roger in a week to see what we can do.

In true "Jere" fashion, as soon as the stone had passed and the pain was gone, all he wanted to do was talk and eat! LOL So on the way home, I filled his belly with his fave KFC - a serious no no with his kidney condition (waaaaaay to much salt) but by this stage I figured it really couldn't do much more damage :)

He is back at school, happy and for the most part feeling healthy as well.

Take care everyone,
Lisa
x

December Daily

2009-11-22T19:30:00.000+11:00

Yep, I FINALLY have managed to get it together and DO a December Daily Album. I am rather excited that I was organised enough! Those that know me well *know* that organisation is NOT my strong point! ha!

But here is the proof!!

Yep! Done and ready!

If you want to check out how I have put it all together you can see it here .

My beautiful friend Janelle has also made one. It is super gorgeous and well worth a sticky beak. I made mine the day before she posted her album on her blog and I was amazed how similar they were.

If you do one, PLEASE leave a link here so we can all have a lookie!

Love Lisa

Finding her happy soul again...

2009-11-10T18:19:00.000+11:00

Yep she is!!! and it is making my heart so happy.

Liv has been really strugling with Ruth's passing. She adored Ruth (as we all did) and her 6 year old brain just couldn't sort it all out. She went from being the life of the party, to being scared for everyone she loves. It broke my mumma's heart. Thankfully, we have an amazing support team here at family pate! Plus she had an amazing kindy teacher who helped to much.

I know it is only baby steps, and I know she has a way to go.... but I am starting to see glimpses of her usual happy gorgeous self. And the photo's to prove it.

Hugs and Love,

Lisa

so much to say..

2009-10-31T17:42:00.000+11:00

Well with the best of intentions to be around my blog more, unfortunately that just hasn't happened.

We have had a very big month, and are hearts are very sad. One of my besties has lost her battle with cancer. She fought long and hard for around five years, and it was a PRIVILEGE to know and love her. I am so thankful to have spent her last days in her presence. I will never ever forget her birthday a few days before she went to be with the Lord. Surrounded by her family, sipping coke and just soaking up their love. We love you Ruth, and we know that you are with your Lord and Saviour, Jesus. We are counting the days till we see you again. xxxxx

If you don't know Jesus, perhaps you may be uncomfortable with me speaking so plainly about where Ruth is and her and my beliefs. That is not what I want, but I need to write freely and openly. Our hearts are raw and there is no place for gently treading worrying about whether I might offend someone.

But I am back, and also back creating.

Finally I have managed to finish a challenge for Lets Get Shabby ..... I actually did last months, but with everything that happened didn't get to upload it :( This months challenge was to ad a handmade embellishment and of course in the style of "shabby" I am so pleased with my finished result. Miss Livinia when she was just a little one.... so gorgeous! I handmade the flowers, and I love them!!!

and if you want some of the flowers yourself ..... you need to visit lilli-lou vintage :)

Back really soon!!!

Love Lisa

something is keeping me busy....

2009-09-10T07:15:00.000+10:00

With all the vintage loveliness around me (and the fact that I keep collecting it) I have started a new venture. I am so excited, come and take a peek!!!

www.lillilouvintage.blogspot.com

Lisa

Home Sweet Home ...

2009-08-10T19:29:00.003+10:00

Back to my comfy bed, and ownspace with my gorgeous family to love on :)

But gosh and goodness I had me some fun!!

I love getting together with the LSBS girl's, it's like family really. I have been so blessed to be part of the teaching team for the last three years. This year I taught a mini album class made from scratch. It is one of my fave sizes for a mini album (12 x 6). We used some yummy Sass Lass papers, Vintage fabric and dictionary papers... YUMMY!!!!

Such FUN!!

So big hugs to all the girls, for the hugs and the laughs and the crazy fun you added to my weekend.

Love Lisa
x

Looking good!

2009-08-04T18:38:00.004+10:00

Some of you will know that I have had a major health battle for the last six years, some of you will have no idea ! As the years have gone by I have been a little more open telling people what's going on, but I am still fairly carefull with who I share information with....

so when I started losing my hair 6 months ago, and it was starting to look like I couldn't hide it anymore, I totally freaked out.

You probably wonder why it has taken so long to share on my blog about my health. There are so many reasons. The main ones being that people just don't understand Rhematoid Arthritis, they assume it is an old person disease, they assume it only affects joints, they assume I have "sore knees".....blah blah blah.... they also have plenty of wonderful ways to cure me... *sigh* I get really really over it all.

ANYWAY.... six months ago I started losing my hair, and managed to lose over half of it, including a very very large bare spot on the crown of my head. EEEEEKKKKKKKK. Thankfully it is growing back and I have lots of lovely fluffy re-growth going on.

But everytime I looked in the mirror, because I was forced to cut my hair I saw a sick women, I saw an old women, I saw someone who wasn't me. So with encouragement and support from my hubby I had extensions put in my hair.

I can't even explain how wonderful it feels. I just see me now, not the disease and it is wonderful!!!

Onward and Upward!!

Busy Hands

2009-07-31T06:56:00.004+10:00

I love having busy hands, and find it hard when I don't have at least one project on the go. While waitng in the car at various sporting stuff or at school I always have a stitchery to do. I have fabric strips and needle and thread in my handbag to make fabric flowers (which is great while the kids are playing at he park). I usually have a couple of scrapbooking projects on the go, and now you can also add at least one or two sewing projects....

It makes me happy, it de-stresses me, and I just love creating.

Yesterday I really wasn't feeling 100%, just a yukky head cold, but enough to make me feel really blah. SO instead of doing my housework (icky) I grabbed some fabric, and a gorgeous pattern from the Janelle Wind Collection that was kindly RAKed to me a few weeks ago and started sewing. Something about methodically cutting and pining and stitching (even for someone who HATES measuring *ahem* me) that just feels good.

So here it is in all it's goodness. I used some beautiful Amy Butler fabric and a pre-purchased flower to finish it off. I am so pleased how it looks!!!

So then of course I had to make something else, so after a visit with Miss Ally last week, where she showed me a really lovely table runner she made, and many questions from me about how you make prairie points.... I was off and racing and created this cute table runner.

I am not sure what fabrics they are (opps!) I know some are by Moda, and I bought them in a scrummy roll (no idea on the correct term) that made them look so lovely I had to buy them!!

Not sure what the plan is today, besides cooking pancakes for Miss Lilliana and her bestie Hayley who have enjoyed a sleep over .... I am guessing more stitching and less housework!

Love Lisa

We are going CAMPING!!!

2009-07-08T19:16:00.005+10:00

and we are all so so so excited.... I am trying to not think about how much it has really cost us to set up! I know that everything we have will be used time and time again, but it hasn't exactly been a cheap set up.

We are heading up to the Barrington Tops, it is two hours from here and BEAUTIFUL. The girls are going horseriding (me too) Justin and I are intending to do a bit of bush walking (while mum and dad mind the kiddies, and generally just enjoy some time together.

I have been really busy creating stuff lately. A bit of everything really :) Scrapping, sewing, stitching. I feel in a really happy creative place at the moment, it is really lovely. No stress, just lots of projects and fun, the way it should be I guess.

Here are a few bits I have been up too....

This gorgeous bag from The Janelle Wind Collection

I still have the clutch to make and finally found the perfect fabric! YAY!!!

and also these layouts of my gorgeous girls using some older Basic Grey from Scraptherapy which are going to be displayed in their Babinda Store! Very excited about that!!

On a home front we are starting to talk about putting new floor boards down, a carport (for my new car!!! - more on that when it gets here) and in VERY exciting news.... converting our single garage to an office space for J and I. Yep finally I am going to get my own space. I am already imagining the antique table and chairs, vintage wardrobe for storage and all things yummy!!!

So excited.

off to keep organising & packing for our trip... see you all soon!
Love Lisa
xx

Time for some changes ...

2009-06-28T20:38:00.001+10:00

Yep, time for some change of direction.

In my life in my blog, so just roll with it as I start to add links, change links, and even blog more.

I feel well and whole and healthy....probably the best I have in six years. It is liberating and scary and totally surreal. I am so blessed.

So get ready world, Lisa is totally back and ready for anything :)

a "beary" happy birthday ...

2009-03-28T19:22:00.004+11:00

To Miss Livinia of course :)

Miss Liv turned 6 on the 17th of March, and I have been rather absent to blog about the whole adventure.

She was so excited, and really looking forward to her birthday party. We invited the entire kindy class, and celebrated at the local park. It was perfect.

Cupcakes, fairy bread, lollies, and sausage sanga's were the menu, with lots of water to wash it all down with. She recieved so many beautiful gifts, and the funniest was watching he open beanie kid after beanie kid - she was in HEAVEN!!! Not one doubled up - perfect.

Miss Liv is such a ray of sunshine in this house. I call her my fairy child, because she seems to float through life, always smiling and laughing and she is so so so EASY.

She loves music, singing listening and dancing to it. Quite often she has music blaring from her room regardless of the time. She is a very picky eater, with her favourite foods being peanut butter sandwiches, pancakes and strawberries.

She is an amazing reader, even though she is not quite through one term of kindy. She reads everything, and delights in learning new words. She also loves to draw, there are always piles of paper and pencils all over her room.

Tennis is the sport of choice atm, and in true Livinia fashion, she took to it like an old pro. She loves "smashes" the best followed by "volleys". She is so darn cute to watch.

We love this girl so much, our last baby, the child I prayed for two years for, my little monkey.

Love you baby girl,

Love Muma

and this girl turned 9

2009-02-17T18:59:00.003+11:00

Yep, my valentine baby turned nine. I can't beleive my little spikey haired baby girl is so grown up!

Lilliana is the quiet one in our family, you could say that she is shy, but we don't use that word in this family.

Sometimes she gets frustrated with the NOISE in this house, and people not hearing her. That's when she throws it!!! I am constantly reminding her that she does have a voice, and I want to hear it. It is pretty tricky sometimes.

Lilli loves animals, and makeup, and bling :) She mothers her sissy, and looks up to her big brother. She is thoughtfull and creative, and loves spending time on her own on her bed reading.

This girl healed my heart after losing a pregnancy. In fact she was conceived the next month! I spent her whole pregnancy worried and still greiving for the lost pregnancey, but the moment I heard her cry I knew everything was going to be ok.

Lilli is loved to the moon and back. She brings warmth and joy to us always.

Love Lisa

This boy turned 12

2009-02-08T17:41:00.003+11:00

Yep, he is now a twelve year old and highschooler - and funny enough it isn't making me feel old :)

Jere loves reading (I mean obsessivly, three books at a time), soccer, computers and playstation, he is a talented drawer and he has a photographic memory - which is scary!!! He loves anything to do with history, and visiting the museums in London seriously "did it" for him. His fave movies are the Pirates of the Carribean triology, and

he asks for Nachos every night for dinner....which he doesn't get!!!!

His health has been a battle for years - since he was six. He has ongoing and lifelong kidney problems and last doctors visit we found a kidney stone! He struggles to put on weight, and we have had two "C" scares - one very very serious. Praise God that we are in the clear now.

He is his daddy's boy although they are as strong as eachother and sometimes butt heads (not literally). Jere is loved beyond measure. We are blessed to have him.

Oh and for the record - his name is really Jeremiah - which by year 4 was shortened to Jere (pronounced Jerry)

Love Lisa

Growing up.....

2009-02-03T20:14:00.003+11:00

This little girl....started kindy this year.

It is amazing to see her in her uniform, all excited about the day ahead. She LOVES big school, I mean totally LOVES it. Justin picked her up from her first day (I was at work at preschool) and the first thing out of her mouth was "Daddy I love big school, thanks for letting me go". What a sweetie.

And today she can home with her first bit of homework - she was the only one who got some. They are reading words. And you would think being her mother and all, and working at a preschool I would have realised that she CAN ACTUALLY READ!!!!

I *thought* she was just "pre-reading" but um, no, the teacher has given her the first two groups of words (40 words all up) and when she knows them all she gets the third and so on....anyway. I was waiting for my big high school boy and thought I would see how she went if I showed them to her. SHE READ EVERY SINGLE WORD!!! I didn't help, or sound them out. She just could read. I thought I was going to fall over. Such a happy mummy moment.

Miss Lilli started year 3, and thankfully she is with her bestie Hayley. She couldn't be happier. He is my big girl and my bigger girl before the start of school. *love* them.

Jere started HIGH SCHOOL, when did I even get old enough to have a high school child?? I was so worried, and I could tell he was anxious (the tell tale sign was the shade of pale he was) but he was awesome, jumped out of the car and went. When Justin picked him up he had the BESTEST day ever....I was so so so so relieved. Jere continues to inform me that High School is so much better then primary. Thank goodness!!!!

I have some coolio work to share, but it is going up elsewhere first.....can't wait to show you what I have been working on.

Love Lisa

Welcome to January!!!

2009-01-06T20:11:00.006+11:00

I love January :)

I love the swims at the beach and in (mums) pool

I love the end of the day when it starts to cool down, watching the kids play in the yard.

I love school holidays

I love pajama days

I love that it is my BIRTHDAY .....lol

so Christmas has come and gone, and it was quite a cruisy affair here. Which was totally lovely. Kids happy, we were happy - all good.

On a scrappy front, I have been taking a HUGE rest and just starting to get back into it all, which is very very nice. Doing projects I want, picking and choosing - very noice indeed. So no sharing layouts today, but soon, very soon :)

I am endeavouring (sp?) to do a 52 week project, nothing to complex. Just us as we are week to week. I have started taking and editing the photo's but I am WAITING EVER SO PATIENTLY (not) for my new printer .....hopefully tomorrow.... so I will share some of the pics I plan to use instead!!!

Here is the gorgous Miss Lilli - in front of a dump bin (and I so so so wish I could remember who I saw so this?? I am fairly sure it was on the front of SM......anyway whoever you are thanks for the inspiration!) WE were waiting for a new TV in the back docks of JB Hi Fi - it was hot, kids were bored, I was bored - then I spotted the bin....LOL!!!! She only stayed put for one minute, but I got the photo I wanted!!

and the girls having some seriously funny times on the trampoline with the help of a sprinkler - yep we don't have water restrictions here - though after living on the coast for years on level 4 restrictions I still feel very naughty doing this - so I don't do it very often.

Miss Lilli again, she decided a few days ago she wanted to sew....actually she had been badgering me for WEEKS, MONTHS even.....and today I caved in LOL. She wanted to do a stitchery (like I am currently working on) and thankfully her nanna gave me a whole heap of old transfers and we found an easy one and got to work - so proud of her patience!!!

Miss Liv, helping herself to three weatbix covered in sugar!! You should have seen my bench, she is so proud of herself though. As a side note she also made herself three peanut butter sanga's.

And Mr Jere, who hates his photo taken because of his teeth ( that makes my heart sad - we will be getting braces but his mouth is not ready yet) doing what he loves - computer time!!

anyway - it is a start..... lets hope I can keep it up!

Love Lisa

Little bits of my home........

2008-12-21T19:09:00.007+11:00

Finally a few images of little nooks in my home.....

we bought a very old home almost 18 months ago now, with the intention of "doing it up"... it has been slow slow going. I am finally starting to get a little excited. We have so much to go, but these few nooks of my home, are giving me hope :)

Anyone who knows me, knows I love antiques and vintage styles. Always have. Even before they became fashionable. But I like a mix of stuff, not just one style or era, so my style is certainly ecclectic :) Bit like me I guess!!! Oh and I LOVE RED!!!!

Here is my foyer ( I LOVE that old homes have foyers) - I bought a vintage table cloth for $2 (which was stained) and cut out a couple of good bits and frames them with emroidery hoops.

The Tapestry of the two girls (which reminded me of my girls) I picked up for $10 !!!! the frame alone would have cost $100 plus - so happy about that purchase!! and the tapestry sitting on the floor my nanna made for me YEARS ago, and I have neer found a place for it....but it goes so well with the reds now.

Here is our dinning room - yep a RED chandlelier!! I wanted this when it was full price - but wait a few months and I got it for 1/3 the asking price originally!!! and our gorgeous dining table, was bought last year at the easter show, towards the end of the show, and the man who makes them just didn't want to truck it back to Melboure - another amazing bargain :)

This buffet was one of the first peices of furniture Justin and I bought new - we loved it, it was that yellow pine colour, and for years it has sat in our garage. A few weeks ago I found some white paint gave it two coats, them scrubbed it back, added some new handles and I LOVE it again.

A gorgeous antique set of kitchen scales I bought on ebay

Oh and o course I need a red polka dot apron!!! ROFL

And some framed artwork from my clever kiddies....and a red 70's rotary phone (found on ebay) and a typewrited (which the kids love and it still works) found in the local opshop for $5. Bargain!!!!

So that is just the start, a few of the bits of my home that I adore!

Love Lisa

Why oh Why ???

2008-12-16T20:29:00.003+11:00

Does this happen when I am trying ot get a couple of decent photo's of the Kids for Christmas??

I mean how hard is it to either smile, or look natural?? Seriously what is the world coming too ;) Love that they have so much fun together, they play, and tease and love....makes my heart happy really.

I will be back soon with a couple of photo's of my seriously wonky gingerbread house, and some picks of what we have been up to in our home.

Love Lisa

Been home for ages!!!!

2008-12-02T19:41:00.003+11:00

and no blogging!!

sorry, life has been so hectic.

Jere had his high school orientation, and Liv her kindy one. How on earth I managed to have two children starting such huge milestones in the same year in the same week, is beyond me!!!

I am really looking to the "big kids" finishing school in a week, so I don't have to worry about lunches, and uniforms and just concentrate on having some fun with the kids and resting myself.

My RA has gone insane over the last few months, and I am under a new specialist - but it will be a long few months till I qualify for the new super dooper injections. They cost $1700 per jab!!! which I will need every 2 weeks, but if I jump through all the hoops the govt want me too, they will only be $30 per jab - a huge difference and an affordale difference. Yesterday my new doc gave me cortisone injections into my shoulder joints. Which wasn't so bad at the time, but I appear to be part of the small number of people who it makes their joints worse for a day or two - it is so so so so BAD!!! anyway hopefully it will improve tomorrow!!!

Onto some scrappy goodness!!! here is a layout I did for a challenge over at scraptherapy, inspired by the sensational Miss Belinda V.........I so love her work, and she is the most lovely girl ( and might I add enjoys a glass of chardy)

anyway, I am now waffling....

so I am going to go :)

Love Lisa

Shanghai and the search for clean air?????

2008-10-29T13:05:00.004+11:00

That was the first thing that I noticed as we landed in Shanghai, where the heck was the sky???

The above piccy is a great example, this is almost Midday and it is a piccy at "The Bund" an old part of town with beautiful old French Buildings, can you see the far bank?? Not really?? It is only about 400m wide (approx) and you had to squint to see it!

I was expecting it to perhaps be a little smoggy in the morning, but not all day, it's kinda like you are living in low grey cloud........all the time. Feels weird. We have Miss Liv's asthma stuff here and she is on a preventative, but we have been praying like mad she wouldn't have an attack, Lord knows I don't want to see the inside of a Chinese Hospital (Hiya Dad!). She does have a croaky throat, but I am not sure wether that is from the pool or the polution???

and the PEOPLE..........thousands and thousands of them, everywhere. In cars, on motorbikes, push bikes, on foot - crazy. The streets are mad, with honking horns and scary driving. We even managed to witness an accident involving two motorbikes!! EEEEKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!

The kids have taken it all in their stride, not bothered by the noise and the crowds, battling the streets no problems at all. We are so very proud of them. They have also learnt how to say "no no" when someone asks them if they want to buy something! LOL

They are all little stars here, particularly Miss Liv with her blonde hair and blue eyes, she waves and says hello, and smiles for the camera - too funny really. She keeps saying that she is "very special" in China.

The above is a piccy from out hotel at night, we are up lovely and high, and as you can see even late the traffic doesn't stop!

and Below are piccy's of both the Kids and J and I at "the bund"............ We have a thing anout Lions I reckon....

Today is our last full day here (we leave tomorrow around 5pm) and so we are going to head back to Nanjing Road for some more shopping and bargaining......kids even know how to say "cheapa you give for cheapa" Too Funny!!!!

Love Lisa

Bustin' a Move

2008-10-21T07:38:00.005+11:00

This is what happens when you let Livinia loose on London!!!!!

We had been having a spot of breaky at Kris and Sea's fave cafe, and I took the kids out while Justin paid the bill............

and this is what Liv did (with encouragement from her Sis that people may throw money at her!). I was hysterical with laughter, and she was most perturbed that we stoped her and didn't get a couple of pounds! What am I going to do with this child????

She is wearing her brothers cap, and we nicknamed her "axl" after this performance, as that is what her hair looked like - the music style (singing) of choice was more Hip Hop!!!

OMG!!!!!! We are a family of crazy people!

Love Lisa

More Museums........

2008-10-18T06:08:00.004+11:00

Our kids just love love love museums...........

doesn't matter what kind, they just LOVE them

We visited the natural history museam a couple of days ago, they just adored it especially the dinosoar exhibit and the "stuffed animals" LOL!!!!

We have also visited the science museu which was really great - no photo's from that though, I was getting a little sick of carrying my camera everywhere - and just didn't feel like the pressure of taking photo's really!

The kids (and us) are doin really well, and loving everything.......the kids are missing having a backyard though, and the girls tend to wander outside barefooted and in T-shirts to "play" in a very small courtyard. Funny Things. We went to a little cutie place called Chiswick and stopped in a churches' grounds for a bit of a rest and a sanga, and they took off like they were crazy, running, chasing, enjoying the space. Funny.

Justin has booked us into hotel on tuesday (just him and me) in the heart of London and also booked us into one of Gordon Ramsey's Restaurants - I can't wait!!!!!

Till next time!

Lisa

more adventures

2008-10-15T07:45:00.005+11:00

I am so behind in keeping everyone up to date with what we are doing here in England, sorry :)

Here are a few piccy's to keep you going.....kiddies in Trafalgar (SP?) Square...this has been one of Jere's fave things.....He was so looking forward to seeing the statue of Nelson (Such his Daddy's boy).

We have had a few days "down time" cause we are all tired! I just needed a day to blob so my joints would start playing nice, and poor Jere and Justin got a tummy bug, all good now though.

Tomorrow we are heading to So -Ho and to pick up some tickets to a couple of musicals - should be fun.

Love Lisa

Big Days

2008-10-12T05:35:00.003+11:00

That's what we seem to be having.................walking, exploring,walking!!!

Enjoying local parks -Lilli is a huge fan of the "round a bout" something that we don't see much of here in Aus. The faster the better :)

So we have visited Harrods - what an amazingly beautiful store. Had a trip around the city in a open top red bus. More museams, art gallery's, parks, shops loving it all - even if we are so so so so tired!!!!

The Girls in Harrods, with a "friend"!!!!

Jere playing super man :)

and lastly, the girls playing roller coaster at the back of the open bus around London ( they also sang, "London Bridge is falling down" at the TOP of their lungs while riding over it!) - bit of a spot the aussie moment!!! LOL

Off to Notting Hill Tomorrow :) Can't wait.

Love Lisa

The British Museum

2008-10-06T23:48:00.005+11:00

Yesterday we headed on the tube to the museum..... we braced ourselves because it was raining, and armed with jackets and rain covers for the pram... of we went.

And had a fabbo time. It was awesome. So much to see. So many people. The museum was a beautiful building, high ceilings, gorgeous light. Beautiful.

I was panicking when I realised that when I put my camera in my bag it had my 50mm lens, not my everyday all situations one. But it was such a blessing in disguise, because I got great shots inside the museum of both the kids and some of the artifacts.

That's all for today!

Love Lisa

Good times.............

2008-10-05T06:43:00.004+11:00

yep, that's what this trip is all about.

Chillin' with family. Playing with Roobs. Just enjoying being together. So good.

Here are a few of my fave photo's so far (and there is going to be hundreds!)

We bought Roobs a DS today :) She totally loves it, and has been playing it all day - just like the "big kids" - cooking mumma is the game of choice. So nice to be able to spoil her, can't wait till they move home.

More photo's tomorrow! LOL

Love Lisa

Cutie Journals for the Kiddies!!!

2008-10-01T13:37:00.002+10:00

Just finished in time :) Some super cute jouranals for the kids, to put all their bits and bobs, photo's and writing in while on our trip. I used a mixture of Love Elsie and Making Memories, a little Jenni Bowlin, and a few other bits........the best bit is the kids LOVE them.

Mine is still a work in progress! Which is pretty funny considering we leave tomorrow!!!! I reckon I will finish it tonight sometime!

Very possibly the next time I post I will be in LONDON!!!! YAY!!!!!

Love Lisa

packing and unpacking.........

2008-09-22T17:06:00.004+10:00

Trying desperately not to over pack. Because I know there is going to be some SERIOUS Shopping in London and Shanghai!!!

So I pack, then check, then remove stuff, then pack again.

This week is all about getting the "jobs" done, stuff like organising for Freddie the Wonder Dog to be groomed and clipped, picking up visa cards, washing, cleaning, making sure there is music on the kids Ipods, chanrging DS's, checking scripts and medications, final bloods for me before the trip (oh the joy) and of course my hair done today!

Amoungst all this there have been kiddie parties and soccer presentations. My beautiful Godson Jake has turned ONE!!!!! Check out this cutie eating his Bday cake!!!!

So busy! but I am sooooo looking forward to the trip!!!!

And here is a photo of Littlest Missy - with my new lens.....so so so happy with it. Darn those eyes are GORGEOUS - and I didn't even bother with PS.

Anyway, Justin is about to head out to Footsal ( indoor soccer kinda game) and the kids and I are about to eat some yummy shephards pie......hmmmmm.

Wait a minute - just a quick share, of a layout I did for the LSBS Cybercrop last weekend. Love these dodgy photo's of Helen and I looking rather worse for wear, after a huge weekend at retreat - check out our eyes!!!! But I love the photo's anyway, cause it is with the most gorgeous girl in the entire universe, and we had one hoot of a weekend!!!!

Love Lisa

Saying Goodbye..........

2008-09-17T19:47:00.002+10:00

I have been trying to write this post all week! and i just didn't know what to say.

So here is is, simple and sweet. This last week I have finalised my time on the DT at LSBS.... I know, I know....I love the place, I have loved being part of the team, it has been such a HUGE part of my life for the last three years.

There is no real reason why I am moving on, just that I *knew* it was time. Nothing more than that. Time to let someone else step up. Time to enjoy being just part of the forum.

*sigh*

I am thankfull that the end has been such a positive experience, all the Dt girls so supportive of my decision. That makes me happy. I am thankfull for the wonderful friends I have made.

So onto the next thing, whatever that may be. I know it will find me in the right time. And until that time, I will be busy preparing for the trip to LONDON in 14 days!!!!!!!

WHOOOOO HOOOO.

Love Lisa
x

Just doing some pretty stuff ........

2008-09-09T17:41:00.001+10:00

so just give me a chance......it will slowly get pretty!!!!

Lots and Lots of Layouts !

2008-08-31T06:57:00.001+10:00

Just sharing!

2008-08-29T19:07:00.003+10:00

It has been another huge week here, and I am thankful it is friday!

But I still found plenty of time to get to my desk and create, some is here

, some will be uploaded in the next week or so......

Tomorrow we are heading up the mountains to have some family photo's, I can't wait. They are going to be fun, intimate and so so so so not like a pixie photo! One of the mums at preschool is an AWESOME photographer, and as soon as saw what she did with the preschool photo's ( and lets admit they are HARD to get great natural shots!) I KNEW that Kylie was the girl for our family photoshoot. You can check out her work here If you are in the Lake Macquarie/Newcastle Area, I highly reccomend her - and she is a cool chick to boot :)

Thats all for today!! YAY for the weekend!

Love Lisa

101 Posts!!!

2008-08-24T17:18:00.004+10:00

That probably deserves a prize !! For you not me!!! Leave me a comment and I will get Miss Liv to pick a name out of a hat ( or something else) and I will send you a little something in the mail :)

Back to blogging!!!

Well I am home from the retreat, and I can FINALLY share with you the class I taught - it is a super cute Maya Road sheer album. I LOVE it, and thankfully everyone else did too ;)

It was so much fun! I love it when people are totally excited about the class, and come up to you after to show you there completed album - makes me happy in my heart!

All things are going well and full steam ahead for our trip to LONDON!!! We had our last lot of shots for the stopover (four nights) in shanghai, and I have bought some new clothes and back packs for the kiddies.

Can't wait Can't wait Can't wait......

and here are some stuff I have been creating just for the fun of sharing!

This layout was in Creative Paper not that long ago - I was lucky enough to get to do a tool challenge :)

Love Love Love this - arty and farty! This was for a challenge at LSBS

and my boy - I did this TWELVE months ago and it was accepted for publication my SM at the same time - it is finally in the mag!!!!

Hope your sunday is beautiful

Love Lisa

Jeremiah

2008-08-12T19:14:00.003+10:00

ahhhhh, my baby boy!!!

Some of you will know that Jere has had ongoing health issues since he was 5. Kidney stuff and other stuff....*sigh*

Well we have had to have a whole other round of investigations as the poor laddies has been having massive pain in his tum tum. They first found NINE enlarged/swollen lymph nodes in his tummy, and for the last few weeks we have been back and forward to doctors to work out what the HECK is going on.

So today we went back to the Pead.........and had some xrays.........then back to the pead......

and so far we have found Jere has a kidney stone, a blocked up intestine/bowel, and HIGH CHOLESTROL!!!!!!

His cholestrol is not from his diet, but rather his bad Genes!

So we are starting some stuff to clear the blockage, having some more bloods for his cholestrol then starting meds, and watching the stone carefully!!!!

This would probably be too much for some mums, but for us this is actually GOOD NEWS!!!! This is all treatable, and that is the bestest ever............and it means by the time we get to LONDON he will be so so so so so so so so much better.

Happy Day!!!

So Darn busy

2008-08-06T19:30:00.004+10:00

Busy Busy Busy.........getting oranised for the LSBS retreat THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!

I am teaching again this year, and can't wait. I love teaching a big crowd!!!!!

But with work, and getting myself a chest infection, Justin being away for work, Pead appointments for Jere, and a suspect mole taken out yesterday ( ouchie stitches!!) , and my white blood cell count lower than it ever has been- I feel like I havn't been able to catch my breath for weeks.

I know it will all work itself out, but it is a little stressfull in the process.

Jus and I spent Sat night away at Pokolbin, our FAVE PLACE EVER!!! We did lots of wine tasting and laughing, and just having fun together - and even got to see Jana Pitman ( I can't remember her married name!!!) she was tasting wine too! LOL right next to us. Of course I had no idea and could't work out where I knew her from! I thought it might have been school.

What I dag!

anyway - whatever you do this weekend, know I am having fun!!

Love Lisa

Simple Things....

2008-07-10T19:52:00.004+10:00

I love how, the girls can play for hours outside, riding their bikes, "making stories", digging in the dirt.

This is one of their new pastimes.... taking charcoal from the fire ( after it is cold of course) and drawing all over the driveway...it looks so much COOLER than chalk.

Yep, they get black hands, but they LOVE it.

Onto some *seriously exciting* news!! Our tickets were booked today for LONDON!!!! I can't believe it really, it finally all seems real.

Still so much to organise, but OMGosh - we are taking the kids to LONDON!!!! ( also Shanghai for a few days on the way home). Time for a count down ticker I think :)

Hope you are all warm!!

Love Lisa

My Rockin' Dad

2008-07-08T19:01:00.003+10:00

How cool is he???

Playing is brand new "Gretsch" guitar ..... it is red and just gorgeous. I would like to hang it on my wall :)

I am planning to take a few piccy's of it, I reckon they will be Fabbo!!!

thats all really, just wanted to show you how cool my dad is!!!

Love Lisa
x

Loving where I Live

2008-06-28T14:00:00.003+10:00

We are almost at our 12 month milestone of our move to Cooranbong, in our new (old) house.

Not much done on the renovations end, as we have decided to head to London in October instead! And we are busy saving our pennies for that.

But so much to be thankful for.

I love the community here, I love that if you go for a walk everyone says "Hi", I love that I can walk down the street for a latte :) . We love the school, and new friends. WE love that we are closer to our church. I love that I have a dream-job working at the preschool connected with my kiddies school!

But one of my most fave places and things to do is to head up the Watagans. A beautiful mountain range, 5 mins from our home. It is another world. We ventured up last sunday morning for a BBQ breaky and a walk.

so much fun!

Brisbane FUN!!!

2008-06-15T20:23:00.003+10:00

I can't even put into words how much fun I had in Brissy.

Shann and her gorgeous family put up with both myself and Helen, it was AWESOME. Scott William outdid himself as an amazing taxi service, cook and general "whatever you want girls" kinda guy. I do think we may have scarred him for life though!!!! Shan's gorgeous daughters Tee and Ellie were so serisouly cute, they made me miss my babies so I gave the poor things lots of cuddles :)

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard or so much. We also had a few tears watching "PS I LOVE YOU" even that was funny cause we were all sitting on the lounge sobbing together! PMSL!!!!

Maya Road classes were fabbo, shopping was great, but the funniest moment was at the SM stand having our "I am so famous moment" Kerryn had to have her puffa, she was laughing so hard.

So here are a few piccies.

Once again thanks to Shann, you are such a beautiful, generous ( and very norty) soul and I love you to bits.

Helen, if you don't know by know how much I love you, well - you are silly.

Kerryn, seriously you are a total GEM. Gorgeous, funny and just lovely to hang around.

Onto the pictures!!!

Vertigo Girls

2008-06-01T19:21:00.001+10:00

My girls, doing their thing!!!! Totally cracking me up, I dont think we have brain wash them tooooo much ................. well perhaps a little when it comes to U2!!!

A New Hobby????

2008-05-28T19:24:00.002+10:00

From this pile of cut fabric

To this block of a quilt :)

So is it a new hobby??? or perhaps a revival of an old one???

I have been avoiding and avoiding quilting/patchwork for years, because I knew once I started it would soon be a new obsession. From a very very young age, I have been facinated with sewing. I will remember my mum ( a non sewing type) teaching me - at about age three - how to sew by hand with a rather large darning needle.

My Nan is an amazing woman with a sewing machine, and I spent hours at her home, sewing. She always encouraged and helped.

But alas, the general busyness of life and the other little hobby I have ;) made me put my machine away and just ohhhh and ahhhhh at other peoples creations.

So I was just admiring other peoples work like Janelles , and NOT STARTING another hobby

then...................

Well a trip to Nundle did it :) OMG I was in fabric heaven and came home with a very naughty amount of fabric!!! Enough to make three raggy quilts ( one for each kiddies) and I signed up for a block of the month. It is by Natalie Ross in Stitches and it is proving a very quick learning curve!! You can see what it will look like here. I have done both block one and two ( well minus the applique!) and will be starting block three hopefully tomorrow.

ahhhhhh, can you smell the new fabric??????? LOL!

Love Lisa

where has the time gone?????

2008-05-26T19:36:00.004+10:00

Look at my babies!!!!

Jere went to his first "youth event" in Newcastle on Friday night ( made me feel so old). He has an awesome time, came home minus his wallet ( which I half expected!) and also minus a molar tooth!

It was so cool to see him so excited, and dressed all spunky :)

Miss Lilli is again proving that "hormones" are ruling the little vixen! LOL - she is such a sweet, shy thing - then bang. Miss monster appears. We were heading out the door on saturday, just me and the girls to a birthday party 30 mins away and we were running late, I had to get petrol and a pressie. I asked her to get into the car, to which she answered "Muuum, I havn't put my lipstick on yet" What the?????????? ahhhh, neither have I honey.

and Miss Liv, is spelling words out phonetically ( sp?) and doing her sisters year 2 maths homework - I seriously feel sorry for her Kindy teacher next year.

Thats all for now!!!

Love Lisa

Wednesday Sharing

2008-05-21T17:48:00.002+10:00

Been very busy with a new DT kit from LSBS here is some of the stuff I have been up too :)

Hope you are having a happy wednesday!

Love Lisa

Loving PS Actions

2008-05-21T09:30:00.000+10:00

I know, it is a way to "cheat" with editing your piccy's :) But it is sooooo much quicker!!!!

So I am haing fun, surfing the net for freebie PS Actions, if youknow any good sites, let me know! LOL

I *LOVE* how this photo turned out. I loved the photo anyway, my girls floating in the ocean on their boards, chatting away, and their scute little bots.

Too cute.

Time for a share

2008-05-15T20:05:00.004+10:00

I realised today, that for the volume of work I produce for LSBS and the mags, I actually don't put much up on my blog!
So beware, I am going to start uploading some work :)
and some exciting news! Both my girls are excited to be published in this months SBM!!!! They both have a digi layout ( that they did 18 months ago) and can't wait for their cheque!!!!

The gorgeous Miss Liv

My brother and his baby girl Ruby

Miss Livinia *finally* asleep!!!

Having some fun with my brother and our kiddies when he was visiting from England!!!

and lastly if you want a giggle - this is my SIL in the middle of London during her lunch break! Too cool Seana :)

http://www.vimeo.com/1007258

Love Lisa

Bling

2008-05-11T21:43:00.003+10:00

What girl doesn't love a bit of bling????

Justin bought these home from his latest trip overseas, they are green saphires and the photo just doesn't do them justice. The are a beautiful green, the pendant goes from a very light green to a dark dark green.

I wore them today for the first time, and was paranoid I would lose them. Need t get them insured.

Feel very very lucky today, to have a hubby who knows what I like without even having to tell him.

Love Lisa

Hello Friends

2008-05-07T20:44:00.005+10:00

I am so thankful today for friends, you know the kind that would DO ANYTHING for you???

I spent the weekend with my bestest bestie Helen in Cairns, and we had such a hoot. But what I love most about this girl, is that not only do we laugh till our sides hurt, but I can have a "moment" and she just knows the right things to say. Love you chuffy :)

We also drove into Cairns to meet up with Relsi and Honey wine, you girls are so much fun. And we met a few other new friends while we were visiting. Shouting a big hello to Belinda and Kerry.

*yes I will update links soonish* LOL

and some very exciting news.

My coolio muso brother, has released a new single which you can download for free here http://krismorris.com/

His blerb "The full release pack includes two mixes of the song, an iPod ready version of the music video, and the artwork. Just download it, unzip it, and enjoy - and then tell some friends about it or facebook it to help spread the word. On the website you'll also find some news concerning rumours of a full album project too. Yippee!"

So get downloading!!!!

Some work to share - most of it oldish, but hey what the heck :)

This layout was in SM a month or so ago. I forgot to buy a copy! LOL silly me.

These are in stamping and papercraft, either this issue or next? Can't remember!

and these lovlies were in the last issue of stamping and papercraft and one was even on the cover! Cool Hey????

Love Lisa

melbourne

2008-04-28T19:55:00.006+10:00

Was fantastic!

We shopped,we ate, we drank coffee, we ate icecream, we say the sights and visited friends.

I love Melbourne!!!

Here are the kids at the airport. How excited does Miss Livinia look!

Ahhhhh, Lygon Street! Best coffee ever.

The Tram ride that Liv just *had* to have!!!

We had the bestest time with Relsi and Steve and kiddies! Livinia keeps talking about "tom tom" and the bigger kids have Meg and Tom firmly planted in their hearts as friends. They just had a fabbo time, eating chuppa chups and playing in the kids area at the tavern. * The Adults * talked the afternoon away. Just lovely!

and onto one other thing :) I have another blog www.art-of-worship.blogspot.com it might be your thing, or not :) But I am having a whole heap of fun with it!

Love Lisa

check this out

2008-04-19T19:57:00.002+10:00

http://www.krismorris.com/

This is my little brother.

He totally rocks. I am in awe of his talent.

Gosh he even made me cry I miss him so much :(

BRING ON OCTOBER!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am heading to London town to hand with the bestest brother in the whole world!!!!

new blog

2008-04-05T16:58:00.001+11:00

this one is staying, but you might want to check this one out as well!

www.art-of-worship.blogspot.com

loved

2008-03-05T19:31:00.004+11:00

Completly! Unconditionally. Life is good!

Here we are

2008-02-11T20:03:00.000+11:00

Funny, time goes so quickly.

Wasn't too long go we were newly weds, with a life time ahead of us. Planning dreaming. Now here we are, living the life we have chosen. Three beautiful children.

It will be our 13th anniversary in a few short weeks. I am amazed what we have been through, how far we have come.

Life has certainly thrown those naive newlyweds, challenges that would defeat most people. Chronic disease, a child with a life threatening illness ( all good now - no panicking people!), house moves - lots of them!, tonsillectomy's (SP?). grommet's, lots and lots of visits to just about every specialist you can imagine, miscarriage :(, hemorrhage after one of the tonsillectomy's!

But how much fun have we had???? Holidays ( lots of them), camping, beaches, wine! Kids and Family and Friends .Playing in the park, planning and still dreaming, dreaming BIG BIG BIG ( isn't that the only way to dream?)

I wouldn't have done it any other way thought!

ahhhhhh, isn't love grand :)

What's Missing?????

2008-02-03T19:55:00.000+11:00

Miss Ruby is :(

Funny how life goes on, school starts and you put thoughts of Missing Ruby, Kris and Sea to the back of your mind. Just to protect yourself. So that you don't feel sad. Then one moment and you realise just how much you miss them.

I had that moment today, while my kids played with their water pistils in the rain, and all of a sudden I *knew* Miss Ruby would be in there, giggling and laughing and getting into mischief with my kiddies the "cousins". It just wasn't the same without her.

I went for a run today ( yep back to it) and realised that if she was here Sea would be up for a run/walk. That I probably would have somone to run with, and laugh with.

and then to top it off, Justin is sitting here watching the "one dayer" on his own, and I *knew* if Kris was here, they would be watching it together. Not saying much, just enjoying the company.

Bring on October !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cause we are heading to LONDON!!!!!!!!!!

back to the blog

2008-01-23T20:21:00.000+11:00

LOL - well trying, sometimes just not enough hours in the day!

We had a chld free evening last night, thanks to mum and dad, and that meant I had a child free day !! Very nice, though it was soooo darn quiet. I managed to do a bit of creating for LSBS which will be uploaded later :)

I have *started* editing the hundreds of photo's I took while Kris and Sea and Miss Boo were here, here are a few to share.

Do you think My little ( by 14 months, not ny height) brother and I look similar? I don't, I look like the "Moriconi" side of the family ( my mums) and Kris looks like my Dads ( Morris side). Funny.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Kris and Sea this week, so nice to talk. And Miss Boo has been asking about "uncle justin" ( from the sound of it allllllll day!) so nice to know that there has been a connection made. We love that little cutie.

anyway, till next time,

Love Lisa
xx

Miss Ruby is Gone

2008-01-18T21:44:00.000+11:00

*sigh* yep back in cold england. I miss her " I can't like it" and " what's that noise". *sigh* Miss my Bro and Gorgeous Sea :(

Can't be bothered writing really, here is a layout I did of miss Boo, many many more to follow!

A new year

2008-01-08T20:21:00.000+11:00

and a new Look :)

Yep, hair has gone and I have got to say it feels FABBO. Now of course the girls want their hair cut *sigh*

Life has been busy busy busy with Miss Ruby( and her mummy and daddy) here from England, it has been bliss spending time with all of them.

I have decided that this was my year for doing a 365 day photo challenge, but not one of me eeeekkkkk! I don't think I want that many photo's of my head! So I am doing it a little different ( as usual) and taking some shots from each day what we did as a family. Sometimes exciting, mostly mundane - just us as we are. I am then taking the photo's and putting them into a photoshop collage for scrapping, in a very very plain no nonsense kinda way. So that will make 365 layouts! OMG I am SO CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!

Here is an example of what I am doing.

This is from yesterday. Girls creating, Justin getting back into work for the year, and poor liv feeling sick :(

Pre-school Concert

2007-11-28T07:18:00.000+11:00

Miss Liv was ready and excited with the rest of the 110 kiddies !!! They were everywhere :)

Unfortunately, no photo's were allowed as some parents did not want their kids photographed. What is with THAT?? Ok I get child protection, but seriously it would have been a minority of parents who requested no photo's so the rest of us couldn't take any of our little darlings performing *sigh*

So I took photo's after :)

Here is my Princess. Too Cute!

Have a beautiful day,

Love Lisa

Christmas is coming!

2007-11-23T17:07:00.000+11:00

ahhhh, love the Christmas season. Mostly ;)

I managed to find one of our christmas trees in the garage today and a box of deco's as well. Put the tree up for the kids to decorate when they got home from school.

I have been a little under the weather and decided to have a power nap on the lounge, when I woke up Miss Liv had decorated the majority of it herself, sooo cute :) Managed to get her to leave the rest till Lilli got home, as I KNEW Lilli wouldn't be very inpressed at all! It is all done now, looks cute. I can't wait till we get the main tree though, A big, messy, yummy smelling real one.

I have taken the plunge and joined flickr so come on over and I would love some friends! LOL! Lots of amazing inspiration to be seen, so make sure you have a coffee and a handfull of chocolate with you :)

I will leave you with a not so perfect photo, which just sums up the day and makes me smile. Of course now I have to find me a proper glass bauble to take a *good photo* one that will be clear without all the bumps, still like the original though.

Love Lisa

I am back :)

2007-11-08T21:19:00.000+11:00

Well I am back and soooo tired and generally feeling crappy, kinda worn out really.

I need a break. I don't think I have ever had one from scrap work, but considering one at the moment. Not a big one, not just droppng everything, just a slow step back for a month or two. And with my bro and family heading over for Christmas I want to spend as much time as I can with them. Especially Miss Ruby.

This is the start of the MASS upload of work I did for Penrith :) there are something like 17 layouts and two BTP all done in under one week, honestly I am a FREAK!

Penrith was Awseome and stressful ( the set up was a total nightmare) and so much fun, and the Dinner was a total hoot, so nice to not worry about kiddies for one night and let my hair down :)

And I ran into so may people/friends :) Love that part!

Lets see there was the beautiful Lusi who I will catch up with again on saturday, and
Ally, Kerry and Nicki, Jane and Emily from S & P, Mishelle and I got to meet Megan ( she was so lovely) and of course Rachel Greig and Simone ( yep play day soon!) and Rebekka Erickson who kept stealing my kindy glitz ( LOL - we were having fun!), and Alison Shearer - you sooo should have come to dinner ;) and the gorgeous Andrea Thompson. PHEW - I am sure I have left someone out and if it was you SORRY I still love you :)

and who could forget the LSBS girls???? Not me!

and I guess as my work was on public display I can FINALLY tell everyone that I am doing some work for acacia papercraft and I am soooo excited :) I am their "REMINICSE" girl, so everytime they release new stuff I get to play! How cool is that??? I am just so EXCITED to part of such an awesome team!

and please never ask me how to use a doodling template!

Love Lisa
xx

Penrith Here I Come

2007-10-30T21:13:00.000+11:00

Some of the work I have done in the pst WEEK! yes I said WEEK! They are for penrith paper arts and will be displayed in the LSBS stand.

Well the year seems to have flown and it doesn't feel like that long ago I was posting about my accident at the last Penrtih Paper Arts!

But Tomorrow I leave for sydney and meet up with the beautiful Shelee ( our hostest with the mostest!) and start getting ready to work/demo my little butt off all weekend. I can't wait to meet Helen at the airport, don't know what I would do without this girlie, certainly wouldn't laugh half as much!

The house is clean, meals are in the freezer and I have even written a list of all the school stuff for Justin. He always does such a fabbo job with the kids if I am away, but with new school etc etc etc I though a note might be helpful!

We are also going out with a bunch of girlies from LSBS and that is sure to be a total hoot. Look our Penrith!

anyway,

I *should* be getting a decent night sleep tonight, but I am so excited/anxious. Will tell you all about it when I get back ( after I have slept for probably three days!)

Love Lisa

Art Journal

2007-10-19T14:50:00.000+10:00

I have been thinking and thinking about staarting an art journal for AGES. I did actually start one about 18 months ago and found it difficult, I was trying to do what I *thought* you did in an art journal!

Anyway I had an epiphany last night! I only have to do what I want to do :) and it feels so good to be experimenting with paints and inks again, chopping photo's and using my own handwriting.
So here are the first two entires

Loved, just sticking my photo's down with paint and stamping over everything, finding "old stuff" to use. hmmmmmmmmmmmm feels good just to create for creating sake.

Happy friday everyone !

Love Lisa

Think Pink

2007-10-14T10:18:00.001+10:00

Well It is done! I have managed to pull together a massive night of scrapping and fun for around 30ish women in the space of three weeks! It was rather busy around here.

I don't know what else to say, we just had an amazing time, and managed to raise around $430 for womens cancers! WHOOOOO HOOOOOO. Look out next year, it is going to be bigger and better! LOL

anyway, my house is a disaster after this week :( so it is tidy up day!

Love Lisa

Sharing :)

2007-10-09T08:32:00.000+10:00

Life is certainly busy on the creative front at the moment, just the way I like it! So some layouts to share.

Also preparation for my "Girls Night In" is well underway, with 35 ( mostly non scrappers) booked in for friday night!!!!! OMG - the class is organised, so that is a start, but there are a million others things to do! Just hoping to raise as much funds as possible towards womens cancers. I am hosting with a whole heap of other girls from the LSBS forum, there are competitions and pink packs, and possibly a girls night in near YOU, so go and check it out.

Must love you and leave you,

Kids are ready and I am not, for a day out in the sunshine.

Love Lisa

We are the MARINERS!!!!!!!!

2007-09-27T19:27:00.000+10:00

the mighty mighty mariners "la la la la" ( I don't know the rest!)

We have sooo loved the A -league soccer this year, even better with membership passes!

Here are some photo's of the kids before the game on the weekend, so cute! Justin even bought me a mariners shirt at the game, very very cool!

Thanksfully we won, with no help from the Ref, he was shocking! So we are still on top of the table for another week :)

In other news, I feel like my life is going fast forward! It always starts reving up around this time, classes, step by steps, DT stuff and a new spot with a wholesaler, not sure if I am allowed to spill who yet - better find out huh! Lots of fun, but not much housework done!

Poor Liv was finally diagnosed with asthma this week, so we are on ventoin and are going to an asthma clinic next week for assesment and a treatment plan :( Oh well, least I know why she has been coughing for three months!

anyway, hope this makes you happy Kerryn, updated just for YOU!

Love Lisa

another monday

2007-09-17T13:10:00.001+10:00

The weekend just goes toooo quick. Kids are back to school and there is one hundred things to do around the house, but I can't be bothered to do any of them!

Kris ( my little bro) rang last night from London, nice to have a chat and a laugh ( and a talk to ruby). He is busy with Muso stuff, which it totally cool, you can check out his stuff here http://www.krismorris.com/ . Very groovey and lots of good reveiws etc etc etc, and plus he is my brother so he HAS to be cool! and if you thought I was naughty ( esp at bingo) Kris would be annoying everyone sooooooo much worse! He is the master at being funny/annoying when people are trying to be serious! LOVE IT!

Can't wait till they get here for Christmas. They will be here for my birthday so I am stoked! Also for Ruby's Third birthday, so I am planning a little party for the birthday girl! **YAY**

um, what else????

We went to "hardly normal" aka Harvey Norman and bought a new oven, rangehood and dishwasher today! Very very excited as the oven in this house doesn't even work and it has been sooooo frustrating. So bring on chrissy cause I will be ready!

Sharing another photo ( of the girls again) looking cute, lilli being serious about having her photo taken and smiling and Liv being silly ( whish of course is normal!) Playing again in photoshop, thanks to Michelle for the chllenges over at LSBS

BINGO :)

2007-09-15T20:41:00.000+10:00

LOL - well if you have been at the LSBS cybercrop over the weekend, you will know why this one little word is sooooooo funny!

I played bingo, but I didn't register, and didn't have words, just kept jumping in the thread and yelling "BINGO" then if that wasn't funny enough ( for me anyway) I decided that the chat thread needed a bit of bingo action! LOrdy I was cracking myself up, sitting in front of the computer spitting over the screen.

Poor Kerryn was having an asthma attack from laughing, but that is her fault cause she totally encouraged me :)

Anyway, you still have till monday night to upload for any of the challenges, Cath has some awesome prizes and if you are a newby tell them Lisa sent ya! cause then we might both get a prize! LOL!

So another photo, didn't take any today, too tired and I also spent half of it having coffee with mum and A. Sylv , belle and yaz. Lots of FUN! Nothing like bacon and eggs at 11am for brekie.

This one is of Liv, just like it really???? Not so sure why, started playing with lighting effects in photoshop and I am loving it :)

Anyway, off to cause havoc and yell some more BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The quest for better photography

2007-09-13T19:43:00.000+10:00

Its such a mix isn't it, good light, great subject, decent camera, perfect spot, perfect moment, aquick click and a bit of editing in photoshop :) all that has to line up right for a great photo.

Phew ... no wonder I take heaps to get one good shot.

So I have set myself a goal one great photo a day! It makes me play with my camera, look for different things and keep working out the photoshop beast! LOL

So this is my effort today, my GORGEOUS girl Lilliana. No bad, not perfect but not bad! Will see how I go tomorrow - I think Jere is going to be the hard challenge!

Take Care

Lisa
xx

Ruby Girl

2007-09-11T20:28:00.000+10:00

This is a post for my gorgeous neice RUBY!!!!!!!!

Love you baby girl ( actually big girl) can't wait till you are here at christmas.

Lovey is soooooo excited, so are we.

yep, been tagged yonks ago by tash ( who should be in my links but isn't) will sort that out shortly! So I am a rockin girl blogger! AWESOME Now I have to tag five people, so they are Helen, PT, AT, CAth ( would you update pleeeease) and um Celeste, though she has probably been tagged already. So my lovies you just need to copy the blinkie thingy and tag another 5 rockin girl bloggers!

copyright issues :(

2007-09-09T20:29:00.000+10:00

A little share before I start! This is the gorgeous album I taught recently for Cath at the LSBS Retreat, cute hey?? It is sitting proudly on my mantle and it makes my smile everytime I lok at it! Onto the other stuff .........

**sigh** I can never understand why people CHOOSE to use someone elses work and pass it as their own, it always makes me mad and some times even a little cranky ( some times a lot!)

Not to long ago an "unnamed site" decided it would be smart to copy and paste a number of my step by step projects that I had designed exclusivly for LSBS they even had used the pictures of my children for goodness sake! Talk about cranky! Thankfully that was all sorted rather quickly ( as is what happens when legal action is threatened), and I have gone on my merry little way, not thinking that it would happen again. I am no Ali Edwards.

So I was suprised to find something else today that looks remarkably like my work, on another site. There is no reference to where they got their inspiration, and that is all I want, someone to write a little line " inspiration for this project is from ........" It is the polite thing don't you think?? It is only the outside of the project that is the same, but the inside is quite similar to a very very good friend of mines work. **another sigh** I just don't know, where is the line?? Why is it so hard to credit the original artist?

anyway, onto happier things!

WE had an awesome time with our friends tosay after church, we were meant to be going on a picnic but ut was raining so we ended up with 23 people for lunch at our house! 13 kids!! OMGoodness we had fun, sitting infront of the fire, laughing and carrying on, everyone left at about 6.30pm so I guess you could say the afternoon was a sucess!

anyway, hope you all had a good one!

Love Lisa

almost friday

2007-09-06T18:35:00.000+10:00

**YAY** So close to the weekend you can almost taste it!

We are hangning around the house all day on saturday andthen mum and dad are going to mind the kids so we can go and see the new "bourne" movie, looking forward to that.

In other news, we had an AMAZING parent teacher interview with Jere's new teacher, Mrs Stacey. Where to begin ..... I have never felt more welcome in a class room. Mrs Stacey took well over an hour with us and included Jere in the interview, some really positive things are happening because of the interview, and as a mum I could not be happier.

Quite a few people were annoyed that we changed schools, but honestly I am so THANKFUL that we took a very scary plunge :)

I am also going to be involved in getting a year five blog up and running and I am soooo excited about that.

I have been so busy creatively! Love that the mojo is flowing, some I can share, some not! You will see them in an upcoming mag!

One Traditional, two digi.

For full info you can check them out at LBSB

Thats all for now, I have more layouts to share, but I will do that another day.

Love Lisa
xx

my baby

2007-08-29T19:56:00.001+10:00

Well when I look at this photo she is my baby! She may be four and a half, but it feels like yesterday she was born.

This is a quite normal look in the morning, cuddling a "friend" and just wanting "mama" ( love that she still calls me mama). But she is growing up soooooo quickly *sigh*

She even helped dad clear all the crap out of the front gardens all morning today, and she is reading her preschool homereaders *another sigh* too big too soon :(

Anyway, on a happy note ....... we are in ! the new house that is ! and it feels sooooooo good. Still unorganised, but just like home already :) Good stuff.

have a good one,

Love Lisa

LSBS Retreat

2007-08-22T13:32:00.000+10:00

There is so much to tell you! Since last post I have bought a new house, living currently at mums till it is ready ( this friday), kids have changed schools, justin has been in the states etc etc etc etc

BUT the most bestest ever part was the LSBS retreat, SERIOUSLY the most fun a girl can have in a weekend.

There is so much to say, and so many photo's to download :)

So a quick round up.

Thanks to Cath for organising everything and being the best DT boss ever!

Thanks to Helen and Celeste for keeping me laughing all weekend you are just the most gorgeous girls and I feel so lucky to call you my friends.

To Relsi a fellow "softie" - love you darl

To Nicrus, you are such a beautiful chickie, thanks for being there when I needed a little therapy.

Shan, you are such a beautiful heart

PT - I just love you babe, things will get better I promise.

Altered (Nic) and Karen - loved meeting the both of you, you are so booked on my table next year ;)

Alison Shearer - thanks so much for making the teaching in an unusual situation fun rather than stressful! You ROCK!

I soooo can't name everyone :( It was just such a wonderful weekend and I can't wait till nest year already :)

Photo is of Helen, Celeste and myself muching around with the self timer on my camera, Just makes me laugh!

Have a good one.

Lots of love
xx

The Rain Came Down!

2007-06-13T10:44:00.001+10:00

Well you would probably have to living under a rock if you didn't realise that the Central coast and Hunter region were hit with a massive storm over the weekend ! We are talking 100 km winds and also the yearly rainful in just two days. It was unbelievable.

We were so lucky, houses in our street wern't as lucky, plenty flooded and plenty without power. We were also very very lucky to get our kids out of school at about 2.30pm, by 3pm you couldn't get to them and plenty of them had to stay the night :(

But life goes on and as everyone starts to assess the damage and tidy up the sun is shining today :) The kids are back at school and life just keeps going. I am so saddened by the families who have lost loved ones in this tradgedy, I can't even imagine how they must be feeling.

I will leave you with photo's in and around our streets, the blue fence is Livinia's preschool and yes that is the LAKE right up to their door !

I uploaded my photo's via photobucket for the first time, can't say I like how it has made each a new post - but can't be bothered fiddling now!

Stay safe,

Love Lisa
x

2007-06-13T10:43:00.005+10:00

2007-06-13T10:43:00.003+10:00

2007-06-13T10:43:00.001+10:00

2007-06-13T10:42:00.003+10:00

2007-06-13T10:42:00.001+10:00

cause I want to share!

2007-05-23T20:10:00.000+10:00

Having more fun, learning more stuff :) Nothing is perfect, but really who wants it to be anyway?? Love my super girl.

monday

2007-05-21T18:43:00.001+10:00

This is what I got up to at 5.30 this morning! I Love these photo's of my boys, I have scrapped them before and will probably will again. Digi Kit is by KSK designs available at LSBS .

Thats all - just wanted to share :)

Love Lisa

the watagans and another hospital visit!

2007-05-20T13:06:00.000+10:00

WE are back, a little grotty but happy :)

I never ever thought I would enjoy camping, always thought of myself as a five star kinda girl - but I LOVED it! Planning on buying our own camper trailer now!

But of course it wouldn't be us without one trip to the hospital now would it?

So imagine , we arrive at the watagans with about 1 hour of light left, we get the trailer up and dinner cooked - the kids are excited because they get to sleep in their sleeping bags and they want to go to bed ( SHOCK) - thats cool with us, we get them all cozy and sit outside under the stars and enjoy a bottle of red ! yummy!

Kids are playing and chattering when we hear a goodness almighty scream and a "Don't Jere" and that horrible crying when you know something is wrong. WE rush in Liv is screaming and covering her eye - Jere is yelling "it wasn't me"

I put a blankie around her and cuddle her and try to look at her eye and she is screaming to "get the thing out" I knew she has scratched it ( or actually Jere had), but couldn't tell how bad, and not to mention by this stage we had finished the bottle of wine :( She fell asleep crying an we hoped for the best. ALAS, at 11pm she woke screaming and we knew she had to go to the hospital, justin bundled her up and took screaming child to car. Then returned 15 minutes later cause there was no visibility.

She fell back asleep and Justin took her to the hopital at abut 8am in the morning. i was left to entertain two children while it was pouring outside and I was so worried about Liv - we played a thousand games of UNO listened to my i-pod and drank cups of tea!

Liv returned about midday sporting a rather funky patch and some eye drops to stop here eye getting infected. She is great now just not to keen on the drops!

I will leave you with a piccy of her when she got back to camp!

Love Lisa

I got an IPOD!

2007-05-15T21:38:00.000+10:00

LOL - I love mothers day! yep got myself an ipod ( actually J and the kids did) and we got one for mum as well and she was totally stoked!

That was probably the best part of mothers day - or mayby the 18 under fives I took for kiddies church :) crazy stuff

the rest of mothers day was spent ferrying to and from the hospital as dad has ANOTHER BLOODY DVT, and one in his lung ( they found that today) - he is in good spirits we just want him well again. I HATE hospitals.

J had his birthday, but spent the most of it working ( YUKKY) and is still working at the moment, waiting for an 11pm conference call. The life of an IBM preject executive - hmmmmm. Did I say he was up at 4.30am this morning answering emails. WE bought him a mariners jersey and he was very very pleased.

We are off camping this weekend and I can't tell you how much I need to be away from my phone and dare I say it the computer ( actually J needs it more than me) Going to be great, just scared of going to the toilet in the middle of the night and leeches! LOL!

Oh and Yas and Ben had another beautiful Boy, they called him Beau Bradley - very very cute. Congrats guys!

I **LOVE** this photo of my boys goofing off! there are a whole heap in a series. Layout created in photoshop and Digi elements all from two peas. Noice and easy one :)

Do you think me blog needs an overhaul, what about a pretty banner - sounds like a plan. Might have to get some hints from my wonderful, talanted muso/web designer brother LOL! "Oh Kris ................."

Love Lisa
x

tagged :)

2007-05-02T10:57:00.000+10:00

By the Gorgeous Celeste and Sandie !

So here goes:

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. We have lived in Waaaaay to many houses! we are currently in our fourth house that we ( actually the bank) owns. We tend to move every 18 months to two years. I think we may be gypseys.

2. My mum is Welsh and I have inherrited (SP?) a few weird sayings from her. Which I didn't know were weird till I married hubby!

3. I am an obsessive reader and can't put a book down, I tend to go through novels like magazines usually three a week at the moment.

4. I once had a moment of road rage in our school park ! She was a known offender of car park danger - so that is how I justify it, it was really lovely seeing me honk my horn and carry on - especially as my kiddies go to a christian school ! LOL!

5. My favourite place in the world is the beach followed by the hunter valley wineries and if I could have them both together i would be in total Bliss!

6.I hate mess, which is really funny, cause I am a messy person by nature? go figure?

7. I find it really hard to have "down time" - perhaps I am hyperactive. I need to always be doign something.

Phew! I am not tagging anyone, cause I think everyone I know has been tagged?????

Thanks Celeste and Sandie for getting me back blogging - i will leave you with a layout of my boy, using the gorgeous piggy tales paper from LSBS

Oh - before I go - I am going to buy an IPOD - but am totally confused? Do I just need a shuffly for running, or do I need a nano and If I need a nano what one??? PLease someone help me :)
Love Lisa
xx