Top 10

Last year I participated in a challenge set by Ali to post your fave 10 LOs. On her blog she has challenged us to do this again. Youve probably seen it on quite a few blogs recently as people take up the challenge, this is the basic guidelines she set....



I want you all to post in your blogs 10 of your layouts.

It doesn't matter if you've already uploaded them to your blog before - just think of it as giving us all a "refresher".

Now - these 10 layouts - they have to be a *certain* 10.
I want to see the 10 layouts which are either:
(a) your favourite 10 layouts;
or
(b) the 10 layouts that you're most proud of;
or
(c) 10 layouts that have some really special significance*** ;
or
(d) a combination of any of the above!

*** I know that *all* our pages are special and signficant - but i'm referring to those layouts that really have that extra "meaning" to you...

It was actually quite difficult. A couple of my favourites I included last year, so they were out. A couple are due for publication soon, so they were out and my two most favourite LOs ever (for now!) - one is for Scrapbook Stations next DT challenge so I cant share that yet, and the other I got really brave and subbed to CK in the states, and now get to play the waiting game, so that was out too.. LOL... but here goes....

Why this LO ? I did this as part of my EDM album. I love the glittery letters, and the doodling, and the way I managed to capture the joy and excitement in the photo!

Why this LO ? This photo just makes me happy every time I see it. My girl friend caught this tender moment between my oldest & youngest at the end of a very busy baptism day. Its so filled with love.

Why this LO ? Another photo Ive always loved. Its my Dad. Many years ago. I dont aften scrap heritage pics, so maybe thats why Im particularly drawn to this LO. It also reminds me of how important it is to record the story behind my photos now. It was so difficult for mum & dad to try and work out where they actually were when this photo was taken.

Why this LO ? This one is definately about the journaling. It records the differing realtionships I have with each of my three boys. It was prompted by this photo, and the way it uncanilly captures this.

Why this LO ? Cause it managed to get a full double page spread in this months FK. Its only about the second LO I have managed to get accepted by FK, so I was thrilled to see it in print, and SO big LOL. I didnt buy the mag, as I was waitong for the contributers copy, but while we were away on the weekend DH came back from the newsagents one day with it...he had no idea that his bubba was staring in it, and was quite excited when I showed him.

Why these two LOs ? Love the photos, Love the fact Ive recorded the tradition of our annaul australia day breaky with my mum & dad. Love that I can look back at this and compare it to the next LO ... so many things the same, same celebration, same place, and yet so much changes in just one year. I want to be able to record this day anually.

Why this LO ? Even though there are only about three and a half years between the three of us, I never in a million years thought that we would all be pregnant at the same time. Three sisters, three bellies, and three babys...precious. So glad I recorded this. Its not a stunning LO, but I love what its recorded.

Why this LO ? Im not a lover of old china and glass wear, and yet I adore this cup & saucer set from my Nanna, it brings back so many childhood memories. I also loved that I could include the lace doilies of hers on this as well.

Why this LO ? Ive breastfed all three boys, yet its not something I ever thought of recording on film, or journaling about. So glad I have this. Love also that Nathan took the photo for me.





Why this LO ? It feels like some days that all these two boys do is annoy each other and argue over nothing. So I love that Ive captured them being such great brothers and mates and having so much fun together.

LO share

Here are a couple of LOs that Ive put in the gallery at Scrapbook station. The first is this months DT layout. The theme was typography, and if you want to see an awesome collection of LOs by the team check this out!

Next are a few more LOs that Ive done recently but havn't shared here yet.

15 months

Dear Isaac

Since Mummy didn't get around to writing you a letter at fourteen months,

this will be a catch up of the last couple of months.

The biggest milestone you reached during this period was leaning to walk. At first it was just a couple of wobbly steps with lots of encouragement from us. In the last week or so you have been walking most of the time, all this practice is paying off, your getting quite confident now. You even attempt the cutest little run. It looks so unco-ordinated, your arms flap around madly and your little legs dont seem to be moving in time with the rest of your body - Im so scared your just going to run straight into things at this speed and hurt yourself.

You move so quickly that its getting hard to get a decent picture of you. Ive got heaps of you dissapearing out of the frame, or lunging toward the camera!

Your moods have been all over the place, and your eating is terrible. If its fruit (or anything sweet) you will always eat it, but most other things you have gone right off. I think its got a lot to do with those molars which are still slowly pushing their way through. You hands and toys are constantly being chewed on, or your dummy is in your mouth, and your dribbling a lot. You have been unsettled while your sleeping as well. Not enough to wake you, but enough to effect your mood in the mornings. You had a bit of a tummy bug a couple of days ago, and thats made your eating patterns go down hill even further. Oh well when your hungry I suppose you will eat.

We have quite a bit of hot summer weather and you have delighted in being able to go swimming in Auntie Mandy’s pool on a regular basis. You wear your little wahoo vest and arm floaties and your off. You like to kick around all by yourself, but Mummy or Daddy still like to stay nice and close, just in case. We have also been to the beach which you loved. You show no fear of the water, Im not sure if that is a blessing or not! You still love the bath, and start pulling at your clothes as soon as anyone mentions the word bath. You love pouring water from your bath toys, splashing, catching the bubbles, sucking the water from the face washer - Mummy thinks thst really yucky - and playing with the empty shampoo and baby bath bottles.Once your in there I spend most of my time trying to stop you pulling the plug out. You have a fascination with the water going down the plug hole, and the added attraction of wanting to poke your fingers down there too! The biggest problem at bath time is that you get really cranky when its time to get out of the bath, so Id really rather you left that plug in place as long as possible.

Your still sleeping right through the night, well you do stir but you dont need us to help you

re settle, you can get yourself back to sleep. You have a warm bottle (bot-bot) of milk when you wake in the mornings, another before your afternoon sleep, and another at bedtime. You settle easily (most of the time) with a bot-bot, dummy and your precious Teddy.

Teddy is starting to get that slightlt bedraggled look of a well loved friend. He had a 'bath' in the washing machine again the other day. He was becoming a dull shade of grey, Id forgotten what a lovely cream colour his fur was supposed to be. The next day we had to do it all again after you threw up all over him. Poor teddy!

Im constantly amazed by the number of things you take notice of. I let you push the button to put the garage door down one day, now every time I get you out of your car seat, you point to the button and grunt at me to let you do it again. Today when we went to visit Grandma you looked up at her kitchen window, pointed, smiled and grunted...last time we visited she came and knocked on the window and waved to you as we were getting out of the car. You pick up the game boys and know that you need to push the little buttons, you love the remote controls and their little buttons as well. You love opening the cupboards and drawers, and want to be in the kitchen under my feet when ever Im in there. The things that amuse you the most at the moment are everyday things. Paper tubes, cups, stubby holders — you love putting your toys in these. What ever we have you want! You want to drink from our glasses, eat from our plates, and try to put on our shoes...don't grow up to quickly my little man, enjoy all your baby things for a bit longer yet. You love to imitate. When we had your cousin Georgia over the other day, you took great joy in being able to push her around in a nappy box, just like your big brothers do to you. You love to hand me the towels and clothes when Im folding the washing, the only trouble is you dont deferentiate very well between the piles that need to be folded and the piles that are already folded. It only takes you seconds to start grabbing the already folded clothes and unfolding them. You think your being helpful though, and its really sweet...just hope it lasts!When I filled the watering can to water the fernery the other day, you appeared grunting beside me with your little watering can...you wanted it filled so you could help too. Needless to say you ended up wetter than the pots!

You have also shown how quickly you can turn into a screaming mess if you don't get your own way. Getting out of the bath and coming in from outside are two things that usually start you off. Couple this with tiredness and you can get yourself really worked up!

Your still not saying much. You manage to get everything you need by grunting and pointing and squealing, so I guess you don't really see the point. You can say mum & dad (if you feel like it) you can make a piggy grunting noise (snorting through your nose), meow (eow, with the cutest little enunciation) like a pussy cat and woof (oof) like a puppy. You point to the sky when you hear a plane, and look for the source of any noise you hear. You know what we are saying to you and can respond to simple tasks like looking for your shoes or dummy when we ask. The squealing is driving us all crazy. It’s a high pitched loud squeal designed to get attention...and you will keep doing it until you get that attention too!

I love you my little man, and Im really enjoying spending my days with you.

All my love Mummy xxxx

Catch Up

I cant believe how long since I blogged. The forum & gallery are now up and running at Scrapbook Station. Why dont you pop over for a look and a chat. There are a lovely group of very friendly and chatty ladies over there, and we would love lots of new people to join us.

As a bit of an inscentive to get you all over there, I will offer a little give away to someone. I have a gorgeous 7 gypsies express stamp to give away. All you have to do is find and leave a comment on one of my LOs in the DT gallery. I will put all the names in the hat and draw out a winner next Wednesday. ( OK I know Im not a 'famous'..for want of a better word...scrapper, and there arnt that many people who visit my little blog, but I was going to RAK this to someone anyway, so I may as well have a bit of fun first LOL)

Isaac is walking everywhere now. Ive hardly seen that gorgeous little, bum in the air, crawl in the last couple of days - I miss it already!!!

He has been a bit grumpy lately and off his food - I think its teeth (LOL Kathie) he has four molars all cutting at once ...still...there are two that are part way through, and the others are still coming. Poor little thing, it must be so sore!

The other two have settled back into the school routine really well. they both like the teachers they have, which helps a lot too. It still difficult to workIsaacs sleeping routines around shool times, but we are getting there.

We celebrated my Nannas 91st birthday the other weekend. Its wonderful to watch her with the littlies, but hard to believe there is a whole 90 years between her and Isaac!!!! They were born in different centuries LOL She was looking really well. She has her good weeks and her bad weeks, but I guess thats to be expected!!! Her sister turned 100 a few days later!

tagged, a LO to share & ahhh the serenity!

Ok first things first. Ive been tagged by a couple of people so here goes...

A - Available/Single? married - 12 years on the 8th April

B- Best Friend? Sabine - for the last 20 something years!

C- Cake or Pie? ???? neither really, not a real sweet tooth

D - Drink Of Choice? good coffee, water, kahlua, vodka

E - Essential Item You Use Everyday? coffee machine

F - Favorite Color? pink atm

G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? Gummy bears - sabines gandma has been sending them from Germany since before you could get them in Australia - Yummo

I - Indulgence? A sleep in - I wish!

H - Home or Homesick? Home

J - January Or February? February - our Wallaroo trip!!!

K - Kids & Their Names? Caleb Thomas, Nathan Charles & Isaac John

L - Life Is Incomplete Without? family and friends

M - Marriage date? 8th April

N - Number Of Siblings? 2 younger sisters

O - Oranges Or Apples? apples

P - Phobias/Fears? something happening to my kids

Q - Favorite Quote: scripture - Live, love, laugh

R - Real Hair Color? drab brown - with quite a few greys!

S - Season? Spring

T - Tag 3 or 4 people? anyone wanna play???

U - Unknown Fact About Me? I was diagnosed with endemetriosis at 18 and told it would be difficult to get pregnant...YEAH RIGHT!!!!!

V - Vegetable you don’t like? raw mushroom

W - Worst Habit? too much time on the computer

X - X-rays You’ve Had? teeth, many ultrasounds, MRI (torn cruciate ligament)

Y - Your Favourite Foods? chicken, thai, vietnamese cold rolls

Z - Zodiac Sign? Virgo

OK that actually took a bit of brain power LOL

Next...a DT LO to share...done for scrapbook stations christmas theme...used felt with stitching and brads for the heart. Excuse the aweful cropping around the tags on the side - got a bit slack with it!!! The flower actually looks a lot closer to the colour of the heart IRL.

Back to school for the boys today - its so quiet here with out them -ahhhhhhhhhh!!! It was so hot yesterday, and its the same today. After we walked the boys to school I let Isaac have a play with the hose for a couple of minutes to cool him off before his nap - he loved it - of course...he loves anything to do with water! The story board is one of the ones I mentioned in a post a while back, and the absolutely gorgeous brush is by Tia Bennet and is part of Januarys free digi kit download on 2peas.

Back to school

The day has finally arrived, and the morning went quite smoothly - everyone was ready for school by 8.10am - we dont leave till 8.30AM! Im sure we wont continue with that level of organisation for long though LOL

Got one photo of the two boys together. Caleb didnt want to pose for a pic..until I told him I either took one at home, or I was coming into his class room to get a few there - he agreed to one photo straight away LOL It not very good, but at least I have it!!!!

Nath let me get a couple of him, and even agreed to some once we were in his class room!

Isaac will really miss the boys now they are back at school. The bags were packed and we were nearly ready to go this morning when I got this shot of him... Im sure he is wishing he could go off to school too!!!!

Im off to enjoy a few hours of peace and quiet while Isaac sleeps. Thought I might leave you with this shot of our little bubble monster in the bath last night....isnt he cute!!!!!

He really loves his baths, and Im gateful for that, BUT the only downfall is that when you love your bath that much there is always going to be a performance when its time to get out. Last night was a particularly long and loud one !!!! Wow, I dont think Ive ever seen a tantrum quite like this from him. He was still screaming and throwing himself backwards and ripping his dummy out his mouth and throwing it across the room after he was dried off and had his Jamies on! Gee cant wait for the whole two year old thing LOL

Happy Australia Day

Hope you all have a wonderful relaxing day!

my weekend

What a great weekend! Friday night I did my first ever class at Creative edge. It was a mini album with Zina Wright. I did discover that I'm definitely not a fast scrapper though LOL. It was so much fun. Zina is just so dynamic, and a wonderful teacher. You cant help but be inspired by her. I cant wait to get some time to finish off my album and use some ideas inspired by her on other LOs. It was also wonderful to catch up with, and get to scrap with some of my favorite scrapping buddies - Kathie, Mel, Kate, Jane & Michelle, as well as get to meet lots of other lovely ladies over the weekend. The only downfall was the awful headache I developed half way through the class. I wanted to stick around and chat with some of you (especially my fellow DT member Jahnava), but my head was SO yuck that I just needed to leave and get home to bed...so sorry if I seemed a bit vague or rude!

Thanks to Michelle for grabbing the 'compulsory' photo with the wonderful Zina for me...I felt a bit like a 'stalker' getting my photo taken with her after...I'm sure she had no idea who I was..LOL..I guess she is pretty used to that though!

Saturday I headed back down (feeling much better!) to help out. I had a super quick shop at the plaza on the way. Managed to get myself some new bathers - I HATE shopping for bathers but on limited time you just have to make do!!!

I got some gorgeous little red 'crocs' - well targets version of them LOL - for Isaac, and a pair of camo shorts each for the other boys. I wasn't that keen on the camos to start with, but since I have had Isaac wearing some they have really grown on me, and now I just love them. They all had them on yesterday and today - too cute!!!! I got Isaac a little travel booster seat too - it fits nicely in our highchair at home which didn't have straps, and was getting to be a little dangerous as some little monkey discovered he could turn around and stand up in the highchair a while back. It folds up into a little bag and just straps to a normal chair if we are out anywhere.

I helped out in Kates class on Saturday morning, and another of Zinas in the afternoon - lots of washing out brushes and getting little bits and pieces sorted so that the girls could concentrate on teaching! It was a blast and I loved doing it. I also ended up staying for the dinner (thank you Janine!!) and laughed so much my stomach ached all the way home. It was a lot of fun, and really nice to have a bit of time for me!

Sunday was a family day. We had to be in town for an audition for Isaac in the morning, and then went for a tour of the old Adelaide gaol. It went for two hours and the kids managed to get through the whole time - what troopers. Had lunch together and then headed home again for a few hours of doing nothing. Lovely!.

Pulled out all my goodies from the weekend after the kids went to bed and finished the front cover of my mini album while Craig flicked between cricket and tennis on the telly. For those of you who don't know, I just do not like watching sport, Id rather be doing anything else. I did set myself up at the kitchen table, so I could be in the same room as him though...must have missed my man a bit over the weekend then! Not that I actually thought about it till then LOL.

Lastly an update on the walking. He will take a few steps if you stand him up and encourage him lots, although falling down plonk on his bottom is still a very funny part of the game for him LOL. Yesterday he finally discovered he could stand up all by himself with out needing to pull up on anything. Last night he was practicing over and over. I would turn around and he would be up again, and taking a few wobbly little steps each time. I took these pics this morning - I have no idea why all the walking pics I seem to take are in his PJ's either!!!

1428.8

...anyone want to hazard a guess what Im on about???? Yippee for me!!!! LOL


Oh, and by the way.......Isaac took his first step today!!!!!! Yah, so proud of my bubba, I had a tear in my eye...not that you could tell through all the clapping and cheering the boys and I were doing for him. Quite chuffed with himself he was too! We even had a little encore performance for Daddy when he got home this afternoon. I tried to get Nathan to get a pic of a step, but Isaac was too distracted by the camera to take any more LOL.

We had a nice family afternoon yesterday. We took the kids down to the beach, and who should be two cars in front of us when we arived and found a park - our next door neighbours LOL The kids were stoked to have them to play with. It wasnt Isaacs first trip to the beach, but it was his first real swim at the beach. He crawled right on into the water and loved it...except for the one time that he got knocked over backwards as he sat in the waves. Of course I had to get a few photos!!! Only had the 'little' camera, but they turned out OK.























Have to pick up the kids school books this week. I just love book collection days. there is just something about all those new books and pens and other goodies. The novelty wears off real quickly when I get them home and have to start covering them all though!!!!

Thursday we've got haircuts. A new hairdresser. My 'old' hairdresser used to come up to our houses and do a group of us every five weeks. She had been doing our hair for years, so we were all a little distraught when she told us last cut that it would be her last. She works full time (not hairdressing any more) and and it ws all geting a bit much. Very sad to see her go. Im going to a friend of my sister who has a salon at home. You know what they say, a change is as good as a holiday!!! I will keep telling myself that! I never had to think about what colour etc I wanted, I just left it upto J, and always loved the colours she managed to mix up. Im sure my new hairdresser will be great. I know her (I actually knew her years ago, before my sister met her at anti natal classes - small world!) and she is great, so all will be fine!

Friday - CREATIVE EDGE!!!! SO excited. Cant wait to do Zinas class! Then Im helping out in one of Kates classes and one of Zinas classes on the Saturday. Then we are heading back to the city again on Sunday for some other stuff. Should be a great weekend - lots of driving though, which is the only downfall about living up in the hills (its only about 45 min drive, but its a VERY windy trip) No kids with me (well Friday & Saturday anyway), so that will be nice too - school holidays are SO long!!!!!

Here is my latest LO for scrapbook station. Transparencies. I used ghost letters, sanded and coloured with pencils on the back, and the large adorable is a cut down transparency overlay (from CI maybe?) which is painted on the back, and layered with rub-on words. Would you believe I think this is the first time I have ever used journalling strips like this. I always love the look on other peoples LOs, but couldnt get them to 'work' for me. Happy with this though. The border is HS tape - lovin this stuff too! Old I know, but Id never owned any up until about a month ago whe I got it REALLY cheap at a sale with a voucher I had won. I remember Janine saying ages ago that I would love it - you know me well!!!

swim little fish

Ever since Isaacs first swim (about 1 year ago) when he was about six weeks old we have always sung a little song to him when he goes in the water. At first it was just to relax him, but now he knows that if we start singing "swim little fish, swim little fish, swim, swim, swim...." (for those of you lucky enough to watch play school, you probably know the tune...well the one I sing it too any way, DH has his own version!) he knows its time for a bath, or a shower with Daddy, or a swim in the pool...and he gets so excited.


This kid is just such a water baby.

Today I tightened up his little wahoo vest and put the arm floaties on him and he was off. Kicking his feet, laughing, splashing and a bit of spluttering LOL.
It was funny to watch him, casue when he didnt concetrate on keeping his legs up behind him, his jacket flipped him on to his back.

He soon turned this into a game as well, and thought he was very clever - albeit like a stranded turtle when he flipped as he wasnt quite clever enought to turn back again with out help.





The boys love having him in the pool with them. Caleb is very confident with him and loves having a [short] play with him and tossing him around. Isaac is a lucky boy having two big brothers that dote on him like Caleb & Nathan do.
Nathan took afew pics today for me and I even got Craig to take some of Isaacs most favorite game of all. 1...2...3... and I pull him off the side of the pool and let him go under! Not quite the pics I had envisioned, but a record of our little game at least.








And how could I nearly forget....we had a couple of new arrivals at our house this afternoon. From outer space!!!!! The boys hatched their test tube aliens :0 LOL. Now we have to keep them in the dark for 12 hours a day, feed them, they have little red flashing lights (beating hearts) and apparently they grow into mature aliens in just 14 days. Look out Lilo and Stitch, here comes the Wood boys and ??????? (they do even have names , Mummy just doesnt remember them!)

one little word

I was reading this weeks AEzine (Ali Edwards newsletter) and just love her concept of chosing a word to focus on through out the year. The word that came to mind straight away for me was Grateful. I want to always remember to be grateful that I am blessed with such a wondeful life. Its all the little things that I so often take for granted that make it so special. I created this LO about my word (and take my word for it, the concept for this LO looked way better in my head - it definately lost something in the translation to reality LOL) Ive left blank tags so I can add something else each month that Im grateful for.

This is a bit of what was in the ezine
" Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2007?It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word. One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities."
(If you want to read more, its here)

What else have we been up to? Last Friday I had Kathie & Jamie up for lunch. Lovely to catch up with them again. The boys have been remarkably well behaved during the holidays - thank goodness! The weather has been great...the kids were on the slip and slide next door yesterday..lots of fun....

Isaac just loves iceblocks, but Im not too keen on the sticky mess (mean mummy I know!!!) so I made him some that were just water and he LOVED them!!! He could hold them himself and they could drip all over him and no one cared LOL

Ive also being trying to get a photo of Issacs weird new habit. He cant see why he needs to use his hands unless absolutely nessesary..he leans forward like this to have a drink with out having to pick it up, and when I offer him a piece of food, he just leans forward and wants to take it with his mouth. Look Mum, no hands....he's a funny monkey!!!

I keep forgetting to mention - the messageboard/forum is up and running again at Scrapbook Station. Come and check out some gorgeous LOs by some really talented gals including LOs by Kathie, Katie, Carol-lea that are on the home page right now. Just click on the messagebaord link to join us all in the forums.

Only about 1 1/2 weeks till I get to catch up with some gorgeous girlies at Creative edge. It will be my first ever class, and Im stoked that its a class by the very talented Zina Wright...I cant wait.

One more photo of my little (est) man to finish off today. Did anyone elses kids crawl like this? A couple of people have commented on his unusual style of late. He scuttles around most of the time like this. Maybe its just the rest of the world thats a bit odd though, cause when Kathie was here last week Jamie has the same gorgeous 'style'!!! (Ok mental note...need to get a few photos of his crawling...just went to grab one to put on here and this is the only one I could find!)

sorry if the text and photo are not matching up in this post..boggers not playing nice today!!!