Xmas Challenge + News

Up for a Christmassy scrappy activity?

Then pop over to Show Us Your Stuff - I think you'll love this month's challenge.

Here's my sample:

As much as the girls loved building our Gingerbread House last year - not sure I'd tackle it again. Got ourselves into a right old mess with lollies sliding off everywhere!

Heaps has been happening since I last posted. Let's see.....

BIG news is this:

Kate received an Outstanding Achievement award (for placing highly in more than 5 subjects) at her high school presentation this week.....and.....

Dux of Year 7!!!!

Wow!

Bethany did a gorgeous performance of "Apache" at her guitar concert.

First time being asked to perform solo for this concert.

She's playing her brand new guitar - it's beautiful!

We gave in to Mia's pleading for a "kitten of my own" after her friend's cat had a litter.

Half pure-bred posh Burmese and half feral cat - oh my lordy!!!

Very cute though - and affectionate and cheeky as all baby animals are!

Climbing on the furniture.....and people's shoulders.....and my keyboard while I'm typing.....are favourite activities of his.

 "Whiskey" is his name. Love his snow white whiskers!

LOL'ed at Carl Barron when he came to Inverell with his "One Ended Stick" show.

He doesn't even have to be telling a joke and he cracks me up!

What else? Oh yeah. It has been ultra HOT.

Cooled off at Copeton Dam the other weekend with a bunch of Mia's friends....

A bobcat was here yesterday digging up the place.

Yes - more home improvements happening!

Beth, Mia and friend dressed up for the final Bluelight Disco of 2012....

John Travolta eat your heart out.

Life drawing works from my Art Class I'm still attending every Saturday....

Xmas shopping comely along nicely.

End of year concerts and things already started.

More to come.

Everyone is tired.

Everyone is crankier than usual.

It is hot.

So hot.

I. Think. It's. Beginning. To. Feel. A. Lot. Like. Christmas.

Hello

I won't bore you with why I haven't posted on my blog for WEEKS.....let's just say Life has gotten in the way of Blogging about Life.

And to tell you the truth - that can't be a bad thing.

Some highlights of the past month include:

Hubby and Middle Princess Beth got their faces on the local news with the local Archery Club.

Here's Bethie with her gold medal...

I had a birthday.

My good buddy Linda visited from Kyogle, bringing along her latest charges for plenty of cuddles....

Had to laugh at the sight of them strapped into the car ready for their journey home....

Yesterday I went to a paper-making workshop at our local art gallery.....

......all inspired now to use these beauties on my scrapping pages!

AND the life drawing class I'm a student at was featured in this gorgeous magazine.....

....including a photo of my drawing of Bethany (the one in my blog header)! Wowsers!

See you soon with more news and more photos....

maybe even some scrapbooking.....

xxx

A zombie and a fairy

.....went off to school today, looking even less related to each other than they normally do.

Yep - Book Week time again at Gum Flat!

We had a green-faced Zigi Zombieson from "Meet the Zombiesons", complete with exposed brain matter....(yep, that one really tested me - but I think I pulled it off. Thank you eBay)

And Opal the Desert Fairy from "Pearlie and Opal" by Wendy Harmer....

Erm, gee Mia - my delicate fair-skinned child.....you HAD to be an Indigenous fairy didn't you. 

Dark bronzer and shimmer tights were the best we could do there!

Poor Kate - no more Book Week dress ups for you my big high-schooler!

Sharing some characters of Book Weeks past for old times sake.....

2009

2010

2011

A weekend to reminisce

I was so happy to revisit NEWCASTLE the other weekend.

I moved there at age 19 as a second year uni student (to this country girl it really was "the big smoke") - and left 4 years later as a career girl and newlywed. I worked days, partied nights and on weekends spent all my wages shopping! No mortgage, no kids, no responsibilities......oh those were the days!  

Was fun driving around showing the girls our old haunts - first apartment, fave restaurants, the foreshore, where we shopped and where we spent our time.

We went for State Gymnastics - Kate made the team for North West by default, there not being enough competitors in our area to hold trials at zone or regional level. So there she was - her very first competition - carrying the banner as the lone NorthWest rep - in the midst of the best high school gymnasts in the state!  

Was she worried? Was she shy? I would have been petrified! But not our Kate. She took it all in her stride, chatting to the other girls, doing her thing and performing her best. Amazing girl. So proud of her!

We braved the cold and took the fam to the footy on Saturday night - Knights (Tim's team) vs Bulldogs. Had great seats and got caught up in the atmosphere - while we watched the Knights get smashed! 

Bessie and Tim:

 Mia was impressed by the Cheerleaders (did I tell you she started Cheer classes this year?)

 Close to the action: 

Thanks for popping by.

I'll be back soon with some new drawings and what's been cooking in my kitchen!

xxx

Almost over

School holidays, that is.....

I have one more day (hopefully of sunshine) to get all the washing done, then it's back to the usual routine on Tuesday.

Here's some of what kept us amused:

Celebrating Princess Mia's actual birthday....

...and constructing all the LEGO she got!

A visit from Mum and my little brother.....which included a paddock bash to find all our new calves....

(that's Mum in the front seat looking spookily like the Queen).

Baking, baking and more baking.....like this old-fashioned APPLE PIE....

for hubby's birthday (his request instead of a cake!).

Trips to the cinema to see....

....both were unbelieveably fantastic!!!

The girls sewed these sweet little dolly kits....

....fabulous felt friends, easy for the girls to make with all the holes pre-punched. A present from their aunty - the kits are by My Studio Girl.

Played multiple tournaments of.....Boggle, Scrabble and Guess Who Mix & Mash.....

and I had a lovely BookFest, finishing....

....and with NO fingernails left after ripping through that last book in one night.....I'm now starting this 750 page brick of a novel.....

....I'm one third the way through and I reckon I'm gonna love it!

Work and meetings carried on as usual.

Thank heavens for a job that lets me work flexible hours!

Love school holidays!

10 weeks til the next!