Super Seven

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.

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

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!

 

 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

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 ...

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!

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 ....

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

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

x

Finding her happy soul again...

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

x

so much to say..

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

xx

something is keeping me busy....

 

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

x

Home Sweet Home ...

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!

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

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!!!

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 ...

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 ...

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

xx

and this girl turned 9

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

x

This boy turned 12

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

x