We're HOME + a HUGE thanks......

Yes we are HOME!!!!!
Firstly a HUGE thanks for all the lovely thoughts + prays from everyone that was sending them our way.
Chris is just the BEST ringing me at Starship hospital + along with E texting me!!!! Thanks girls!! I was so blowen away by the messages sent via Chris + E's blogs + some personal ones sent to me. See it just goes to show how FANTASTIC scrapbooking is - for its craft + the wonderful + suportive friendships we have!!!! You girls all rock!!!!
Ok for some of you that didn't know Taidhg's kidneys were failing him + his blood count down was down, along with protein + blood in his urine. So a trip was made to our local hospital in New Plymouth + test were done + this was when they told me we had to be flown to Auckland Starship Childrens hospital for possible dailysis + a blood transfusion. So off went T + I in a air ambo to Auckland.
Ok about my little man, Taidhg he was sooooooooooooooooo lucky to escape dialysis + get his kidneys working again after he had a drip put in. Taidhg with his drip in!!!
But he still had to have a blood tranfusion. Ok if you don't like blood block the next pic!!!! And my baby having his transfusion.
His blood count + pressure are all good now by we will still have blood test + visit with the paediatrician. We are so lucky to have him back with us + on the road to recovery.
















Once again everyone thanks for all those postive thoughts + prayers - they sure did help.
One more of T resting up before the trip home and nothing like our special friends to hold + cuddle when we are tired + unhappy - introducing Mr Bird.

And on a happy note we had a FANTASTIC time in Perth!!!! I loved it. It wasn't long enough. I got to catch up with the lovely Lissy from the BOXX + we had a great time hanging out. The wedding was beautiful + lots of fun to be had!!!!! hopefully in my next blog I might have some LO's to share I feel like i haven't scrapped for ages.

Rach

ok.........here we come Perth!!!

Yep.............boys + girls we are off to Perth in the morning. I'll be up with the cows tomorrow + flying over that cheeky young thing Nic H's house round about 7.20ish!!! Waving BIG hi's to you Nic!!!
I can't wait as I have never being to Perth + I'm catching up with the lovely Lissy!!!!
And NO kids!!!! Did everybody hear that one - NO KIDS!!!! We off to a wedding + it will be fantastic!!!
So I will all see you in the Spring!!! Well not really just me + my silly sayings but I'll be back blogging next week!!!
please all behave while I'm away!!!
out of here Rach :)

TAGGED again!!!

this time from that very cheeky Nic Howard!!

Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. cleaner at a daycare
2. cashier at Payless Plastics
3. glass collector @ Molly Malones in Wgtn
4. kindergarten teacher

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Shawshank Redemption
2. First 50 dates
3. Shreik 1 (I have never watched a movie so many times to the point we have worn the tape out)!!!!
4. tear jeakers - I'm hopless

Four places you have lived:
1. Lower Hutt
2. New Plymouth
3. Scotland
4. Warehuia, Stratford

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. CSI
2. extreme makeover - homes
3. CSI Miami
4. Nip tuck (hanging out for the new season of it)

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Europe
2. Urenui beach
3. Taupo
4. Australia

Four websites I visit daily:
Two Peas
Kiwiscraps Forum
A million blogs - maybe not this many but a few!!

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Chocolate
2. summer fruits
3. curries
4. pasta meals with yummy sauces - ok i should of just written Italian food!!!

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. my scrapping space but there aren't NO space as it's a mess!!!
2. Perth - I go in 2 more sleeps.......YAY
3. At Chris's house scrapping with her!!
4. in a cool cafe in Wellington sharing a coffee with my brother + tell him about his nephews + neice that he hasn't met.

oh so who do i pass this tag onto next????
mmmmmmmmm.........let me see.............ok got one Michelle!!!
no links again!!

OK I've being tagged not once but twice!!!

I could say god I'm popular but I think its just my lovely scrapbooking buddies out to make me blog just cause they can!!!!....................LOL.
So Chris tagged me first.

A is for age: 34
B is for booze of choice: red wine!!!
C is for career: SAHM, and its all in the milk - dairy farmers, well I just sleep with one!!
D is for your dad's name: Ronald
E is for essential items to bring to a party: chips + my spanish dancing skills!!!!
F is for favorite song at the moment: I'm loving the whole CD of Crowded House with all those chicks singing on it.
G is for favorite game: Love games - any games!!
H is for hometown: Warehuia, Stratford
I is for instruments you play: well I try to play the guitar!!!
J is for jam or jelly you like: strawberry + plum
K is for kids: 3 - Finn 5, Ruby 3, Taidhg 13mths + kev 34
L is for living arrangements: with Kev, Finn, Ruby + Taidhg
M is for mum's name: Mary
N is for name of your crush: Heath Ledger + that guy off Pearl Harbour (not ben the other one)
O is for overnight hospital stays: Having babies - 7 nights with Finn, 5 nights both with Ruby + Taidhg. Then last year when Taidhg got very very sick at 6mths for 4 nights.
P is for phobias: something that is BIG + hairy!!!!
Q is for quotes you like: what goes around comes around!!! BIG believer of that quote.
R is for relationship that lasted the longest: 9.5yrs
S is for sexual preference: its got to be Kev!!!
U is for underwear: as long as its clean!!!!
V is for vegetable you love: kumara (sweet potatoe). And sorry Chris avocade is a fruit it has a pip/stone.
W is for weekend plans: well its just about over but we had a 5th birthday party, Finn had a friend over to play + then his parents for dinner but next weekend I'll be playing it up in Perth!!X is for x-rays you've had: my jaw
Y is for yummy food you make: lasagne
Z is for zodiac sign: cancer
ok Chris did you know that the letter 'T' was missing?

its very late here - so I'll do that cheeky Nic's tag tomorrow!!!
bed is calling
Rach
ps i forgot I need to tag someone - so the person i tag is the very lovely Yolande.
(ok ok I still can't link)!!!!

Beach Carnival's + prize packets!!!!

On Saturday we headed off to one of the many beach carnival's that they have around the beaches of Taranaki. We went to Opunake beach. And minus one child - Taidhg, he got to stay with his lovely Nana.
The BIG plan was to enter Ruby into Miss Teeny weeny + Finn into Mr Mini Muscle. BUT the flamin car battery was flat!!! Daddy saved the day + we finally got to the beach later than planned. We met up with some friends + their girls. It was a fantastic day out - lots of great sunshine, yummy picnic, swimming, face painting + jumping in the bouncey castle ( the kids - not me!!!)
Finn + Ruby loved having their wee faces painted.








AND before we left the beach I got my prize from JUNKITZ in the post!!!
It was Christmas all over again!!!! I can't believe how generous they are.
















OK I just learnt a HUGE lesson never take your baby's nappy off + go back to your blog.
Cause he will crawl away + do a whoopsie down the hallway + big brother will get toyboxes out of the end cupboard + drag up the hallway to take to another room + not realise what he had dragged the box through!!! Nothing like brown streaks on the carpet!!!........ick!!!!
out of here
Rach

only something little - but I'm excited!!!!

I was asked a few weeks back from another pea on 2peas if they could use my "Take ME Back" LO as part of the January scraplift challenge on 2peas.
And this morning I found a email to say that it was all go. I can't wait to see what some of the other peas come up with!!!!
This is my LO they are scraplifting. It's one of Finn I did for when i was on a DT for a Aussie online shop last year.
I have final finished my Up2Scrap assignment and I'm sooooooooooo happy with it!!! And thx to Nic + Chris who helped me unspin about it when I was getting my nickers in a twist about it!!! Would love to share but you will just have to wait for the next issue. I think its going to be a awesome issue too with lots of exciting LO's + I know there are lots of excited Aussie girls who are having some of their work published in there.
OK now on to my next challenge - using a LO with orange in it. I got it from Yolande's blog + sorry guys I'm still as hopeless as ever at linking. CAn ppl link themselves to my blog??? I have seen this on the typepad blogs.
Maybe I should make that my next challenge - learn how to link!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR - here's to 2006

WOW another new year + I hope filled lots of exciting things.
Well we just had a quiet one here with Kev's sister + brother - the singles!!!
Had a yummy barbie (kids were tucked up in bed after having a hard day at the beach) + a few drinks!!! Kev had to hit the hay early as those MOO's would be calling early to be milked + me what a HOPELESS hostess - I fell asleep on the sofa about 11.30ish + left the singels to enterain themselves!!! .................LOL. Motherhood taking it toll on me + the fresh air at the beach that day!!! WEll I enjoyed myself not sure if the singles did !!!!
So yesterday we spent the day at Waitara beach. The Naki weather was showing off as usual with lots hot sunshine + lets not forget the wind (for those keen windsurfers out there).
Here' s one in action now!!!! - Kev the man i call my husband!!!

and lots eating done as its hard work playing in the sand, chasing waves + riding boogie boards.

Ruby, Finn + Taidhg hanging out in the shade tent.

And we had the lovely singles join us - Kev's sister + brother.

Taidhg has lots of fun playing with Auntie Steph + having his first dip in the sea with Daddy.

And last but not least I just had to show my baby that has turned into a real boy over night after auntie Steph gave him his first haircut!!! Where has my baby gone??

Not sure what 2006 has instored for the Hosking's but I can only ask for another year filled with wonderful memories, health + happiness. On the scrapbooking side of things I have had another exciting email !!!! So that has being a great start for the scrapping year of 2006 so far!!! I look forward to another year of scrappin + meeting up with scrappin buddies. Fristly Lissy from the Scrapboxx I'm hooking up with when I go to Perth in 17 days!!!! And I get to play with the lovely Christine Millar mid year!!! Can't wait for that when we can play farmers here!!!........................rofl - watch out Chris !!!! hopefully too I get to meet up with NZ scrap buddies too!!!! I hope life will be kind + good for all in 2006.

And thanks to all the lovely ppl that have taken time out to read my blog + leave a message - I really appreciate it!!

Hugs Rach.

Chris's challenge

OK I know I'm not one of the first 2 to put up some pics of me as a teenager but I decided to play the game too as Chris is such a good sport + so good at keeping up with her BLOG!!!
Also thx Chris for this challenge as it has reminded me that I'm meant to be doing a Childhood Album for my kids about ME!!!
OK I found some goodies!!!
I'm greedy + had to show 2 pics of myself.
First one is of me when I was 18, at the end of my last year at school + my Mum + I had some professional photos taken. And that night i went to my very first BIG concert U2. They played at Athletic Park (which is no more). I remember having the best time + in fact I had a great time being 18!!!

And this one is very typical of me back then - a total goofball!!! It was Waitaingi Day + my friend + I were bored - so we dressed up in her Mums clothes from the 60's!!!

Have great NEW YEAR everyone. no BIG parties here just a few quiet ones!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

well I finally got my Christmas shoot done with the kids last night before bed.
Taidhg did not agree at all to be part of this shoot but then when you are ONE why would you want to sit down with a reindeer headband or a santa hat on your head!!!!!!
And shock horror I'm even in these photos!!!!!
and finally I just had to share these 3 rather cute photos of Taidhg - couldn't help but LOVE them!!!!

I noticed my single CBX LO was missing don't know what happened there. So here it is.

I hope everyone has a lovely day with family + friends tomorrow - lots of yummy food + good times. We are off to my parents today. Pressies are all wrapped + all Santa has to do is put them in the car when little ppl aren't looking!!! We have got a sign made so Santa will find us at Poppins + Poppa's house. Bring on the sunshine Wellington!!!!

Have a good one everyone, take care + safe travels to those on the roads!!

Also extra BIG hug to my friend Chris!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS - back soon!!!

Busy busy busy!!!

I'm sooooooooooooooooo over BTP projects!!!!
7 in 3 weeks + I'm sooooooo not a BTP girl. These things did my head in!!!
Only 2 more to complete - actually just about finished one. And of course none for me!!!
But i have to say it was lovely to give them away + see the smiles on their faces!!!
Clipboards for kindy teachers.

and thanks to the lovely Evana who sent me a RAK a few weeks back as I used the black lace she sent me on the first clipboard.

And I made for the daycare teachers a paint pot filled with apricot slice, truffles + home made chocs - which Ruby helped make.

Ruby making chocolates for the teachers.

Just had to sample some too!!!

And last thing I thought i would share my CBX LO's I see on the Scrapboxx girls sharing their LO's as they have had theirs returned. So I'll be stalking to get my letterbox for mine!!!

My double entry of Finn + his love of tractors.

and my single - this one was about my rings.

those little hands!!!!

oh but soooooooooooooooo cute.
I just love this pic I caught of Taidhg's wee hand reaching for a decoration. He luuuurrrrrrrrvvvvvessssssss playing with the xmas tree!!!!!!

time to update!!!!!

ok first I hate the fact I have slow dial up!!!!! Get this I live 1.72km's away from where jetstream ends!!!! Not fair!!!!!! So due to this bloody slow dialup it takes forever to upload pics to my blog!!!! I acutally did do a new entry the other day .............don't fall over Nic + Chris......lol. But I accidentally wiped it................how did I do this??? OK I'm still working that one out!!!!
And see ppl I have links now but only cause Chris sent me them + I copy + pasted them...........ROFL!!!!!! Hopless i tell ya. But I was in the right area of the template for all those fantastic girls that were trying to help me out. But still got a lot to work out!!!!
So have you heard my exciting news????? I won a comp, little old me!!!! There was lots of woohooooooooooing + yeehaaaaing at my house yesterday morning after I finally worked out what I had won. I was a winner along with my buddies Nic H, Chris M, Debbie K + Rach A in the Junkitz comp. (see I can't put their names in links either)!!!! Only 15 international winners were picked + how exciting to have my friends along for the ride!!!!!! Makes it 10 times more exciting.
My first win!!!! to check out the other winners have a lookise on the junkitz site www.junkitz.com

Here's my entry

I only went out + brought one thing for this LO + they were the buttons. I used up scraps from previous Lo's.
I luuuuuurrrrrrrrrrvvvvveeeeeee (imagine I'm saying that in a deep voice) JUNKITZ + can't wait to get my prize!!!
YES there is a prize. woooohoooooo
(waving my arms in the air like i just don't care - now I'm taking lines from songs)!!!!!









OK so that was one awesome early christmas pressie for me!!!!
So whats being going down on the farm here - well Finn has being scrapping up a storm making wee chrissy cards for his classmates. He came home last week with some cards + wanted me to buy some for his friends + I said no way we can make these. So I got out my scraps, pens + bit + pieces for him.


He had a ball here he is working away his cards + just a few of his cards he made.
I really enjoyed making his teachers pressies. I got hold of some pots + decorated them and then filled with lollies of course!!!!
Finn's teachers loved them + being non scrappers they couldn't believe I made them. Funny eh?? If they only knew they too could belong to this crazy world of scrapping!!!!
Teachers pots

I'm ONE celebrations!!!

Ok its nearly a week tomorrow T turned ONE + yes I'm sooooooo hopless at this blog thing!!!
But i have a house full of sick kids + a over tired Mummy!!!!
T had a lovely day turning one (as if he knew what was going on). So here's just a few pics to see T in the party mode!!!!
helping to make his cake!!! pressie time!!!
blowing out the candles!!!

and finally eating the cake!!!!

going on a christmas tree hunt!!!

every year we go up to New Plymouth + go to Cedar Lodge + walk around the trees + pick one + then cut it down. I love doing this every year and have made it as one of our traditions. So since I have got into the blog mode today I thought I'd share our wee tradition (for anyone that's interested)!!!! They have the most gorgeous Christmas shop too + the kids get to pick a new decoration every year.
so look out for the next addition of my blog as it will be pics of the kids decorating the tree!!!

For Mrs Millar + Mrs Howard!!!!!!

OK OK OK girls I know I'm hopless + not good at this blogging thing!!! Still so much to workout - links (as I need some friends.........LOL) , a pic of my beautiful myself......... wow on a roll here....hehehehehehe!!
Well that crazy season is upon us + boy its sure is busy but I love busy!!! And I love Christmas!!!!
Well what have we being up too (apart from avoiding this blog!!). Finn got pushed out of a tree -suspected broken arm - but no thank goodness but still has to wear a sling. But man, that boy drove me nuts home all day!!!!! Birthday parties + christmas tree hunting + barbies with friends!!!! Oh + lots of scrappin + windsurfing!!!
I finally finished my doorhangers................eek I'm not good at this BTP (beyond the page) for the Silent Art Auction for kindy this Friday!!! They stressed me out + as much as I would of loved to scraplift that very talented Chris I just couldn't. So I did a boy + a girl one.
Now I'm working on my secret santa for the Boxx. I hope no one from the Boxx is reading this as they are menat to be in the post now!!!! I really like it + want to keep it too!!!! Next job is my LO for Up2Scrap. For those that don't know I got asked to be on the DT for Up2Scrap. I'm very excited and was hugh lift after the few disappointments I had in the scrappin world of late!!
And I have to say a hugh thanks to that lovely small cheeky girl from Pukekohe - can you all guess??? God I'm dork I write this like heaps of ppl are going to read it.................LOL. Oh well makes me feel good saying it out loud + now I can say to my kids when they ask me who are you talking to Mummy , I can say my BLOG!!!! Ok getting off track (whats new)!!! Thanks Nic for that lovely reality check about whats scrapping is all about, it made my day + I got all warm + fuzzy. OK so now i need to 2 things for you my tagging + making someones day!!!!
And finally - IT'S MY BABY'S BIRTHDAY - he's ONE.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAIDHG!!!

and the award goes too..........

OK the award goes to my father inlaw for once again leaving gates open on the farm!!!!!
This is what happens when gates are left open...............you get little visitors baaing at your door to be let in (or barking as Finn calls it)!!!

OK I will admit this wasn't Starfire or RedX today but this is exactly what they looked like!!!! Kev's nickname for them is Choppa Choppa........lol. Right that's my gripe for the day but for any of you reading this + have to deal with live stock you will know the frustration of gates being left open!!!

Well we have another sick child in the house - Taidhg is sick again with bronchitis - third time this year since June!!! Had a new doc today + he explained that his lungs will be scarred from his time in hospital in June, but he will grow out of it - thank goodness. But I got onto this one much quicker this time so hopefully I can nip it in the butt faster!!!

Kev's gone windsurfing so we have gone casual tonight. Luvvv that!!!! Finn is sulking in the bath + Ruby is cleaning up the lego (which had spread to nearly every corner of the house)!!!! And my wee man T is hanging out with me!!!!

Right once the kids are in bed I will do some more scrappin + I have to start my doorhangers for the Silent Art for kindy this week too!!!........not sure where to start with those as I have never made one. Mmmmm wonder if I should scraplift that talented Chris Millars one she sent to me for my birthday!!!!!! ;)

small animal !!!!

ok after being scrapped out at ISC (a scrapbooking convention for all those non scrapbooking ppl out there) in Sydney - i have finally got my mojo back + have got 4 LO's on the go!!!! Anyway i was on a roll last night + had a bit of a late one - 1.00am in fact!!! So I will be very tired this arvo but to make matters worse when i went to bed there was this noise in the bedroom. I said to Kev whats that noise? He said he thought it was me making noises while I was scrapbooking??? Do I make noises while I scrapbook???!!!!.............LOL. Anyway his next reply was its probably just a small animal!!!! Small animal what small animal in our bedroom!!!????
In the end I must of fallen asleep + I had forgotten about that noise when i got up this morning until I heard it again. So I traced the noise to the walk in wardrobe. And you will never believe what that flamin noise was???? It was one of Tiadhg's BD pressies - a play phone making this click click click sound!!!! Small animal!!!! I think Kev needs to get out more!!!

just sharing!!!

I thought for those who have checked out our blog + wondering what scrapbooking is I have decided to post a LO for all to see.
One of my 3 kids.!!!! And this is my one + only time of fame in the scrapbooking world. I had this LO published in Scrapbooking Memories this year.
Once I have completely sorted my scrappin space I will post some pics of that too!!!