Forever Young comes to mind today.......

for 2 reasons.
First - yesterday my brother Tim would of being 37. And he sadly died a few mths short of his 32nd birthday in 2001. He always said he never wanted to get old + hearing that song on the radio of late "Forever Young"........(sorry the name of the group slips my minds atm)........reminds me of him a lot lately.
second - its my birthday today + OMG I'm .......eek 35!!!!........so even though I LOVE to celebrate my birthday its always tinged with a wee bit of saddness. As kids Tim + I shared our birthdays with many Telethon weekends.......remember those???? And we got to stay up late + watch the presenters do dicky things for sums of money!!! WE always got to have yummy treats + Tim's fav birthday meal was a roast chicken!!! Funny now as we probably have a roasted chook nearly every second week........they must of being a bit more pricey back then......or maybe not so many hormone drugs around to help grow chooks faster!!! We always got a box of continental chocolates each...........he always ate his faster than me!!! And WOW those chocs are so pricey now too!!!
Aren't memories so precious!!!

Well today I was worried about turning 35 but then I refelected on how lucky I am!! The bestest cow cockie of a dude - that will be Kev + 3 super, rowdy, rule breakers, snot producers + bestest cuddlers in the world - that will be Finn, Ruby + Taidhg!!!
Awesome parents........who gave me the best childhood + super super cool inlaws who live next door who I can't thank enough for all that they do!!!..........I LOVE all these guys with all my heart!!!
A beautiful home + place to live in.
And my friends - who are there for me to lean on, whinge, laugh + cry with!!!

So can you guess I have had a fantastic day???
My day started with a FANTASTIC card + some gorgeous pp from my super cool scrapping buddy Chris Millar - I want to be like her when i grow up!! (see above for pic).
Kids are school, kindy + mil's so Kev took me out for Brunch to one of my favs - McFarlanes to have the most scrummy French toast!!! Then we hung out + checked out a few shops!!! The weather behaved + was so beautiful it was crystal clear.......truly beautiful winters day!!!

And now I'm going next door to inlaws for dinner!!!

I just wanted to remind myself what I was doing 10 years ago..........so there is another pic of me + sil in Athens, Greece.........it was stinking hot there + how do I wish for the heat right now!!! (I'm in the pink top)
And the other pic is Taidhg this time last year. Yep we ended up in hosptial on my birthday last year with a very sick 6mth old. Bronchitis + spend 4 nights up at Base, he was one very sick baby!!!


I'm slowly getting better but it takes me till about 2.00ish each day to feel normal but then by 8.00ish I'm ready to crash.

wwooohooooooo we are in for another major frost tomorrow!!

Rach

today right NOW.........I wish this was me........

yep see in the pic that was ME 10 years ago on a scooter hooning around the Greek Islands + how do I wish I was there right now.........in the warmth + with the sun shining down on me + those beautiful beaches. Not a care in the world!!!
Oh hell i just woke up from my dream.........to a freezing cold day + NO voice + a very sore throat........yes i have NO voice much to my kids pleasure. Have being to the Doc's this morning + I have laryngitis!!!!.............I'm soooooooooo over sickness!!!

But OK on a HAPPY note ...........have you checked out
SCRAPBOOKOUTLET lastest news??
We have a cyber crop happening on the 30th June + online classes will be starting soon. As well as the DT doing online classes there will be some international teachers too......can't wait - how exciting!!!!.........so keep yours eye peeled for that news!!!!
Donna has got some amazing kits lined up too for this mth!!!
Lots of fantastic challenges......I have even got 1 going this week + you could win the girls kit that I did last mth. All you have to do is upload a LO about Summer.....so need this during this very cold period to warm us up!!!!


Just got home from taking Finn + Ruby to the movie "cars".....a neat little story really enjoyed it apart from F + R saying halfway through 'when are we going to McDonalds'.......and it just went on till the end of the movie!!! See my kids don't get to Mickey D's much..........they lead a very sheltered life down here on the farm.......LOL.
Tomorrow Kev + I get some 'us' time ....WOW I can't remember the last time we went to the pics together. I feel quite spoilt having 2 outings in a row without the hurricane Mr T. We are going to see Sione's wedding.........have heard great things about it.

Also thanks for everyone popping by my blog to say HI + get well. And YES I have being a bad blogging babe back I will try better!!! :)
Thanks also Ali for the advice on the links but I had a quick sneak peek + my link didn't work + I followed what your email said to do...........so I'm buggered if I know whats going on!!!

Its freezing here must be almost 2 or less here tonight.
Ok off to put my babies to bed + have a nice hot bath in my BIG old bath tub......you know one of those real deep ones!!! :)
Rach

I'm sick of sick + snot + being SICK!!!

yep the house of snot + sick its right HERE!!!!!..........its being open for nearly 2 weeks now!!! Only guest not welcome are GERMS!!!!
Well I have being flat for my back for about 3 days.......you name I had it!! Its a very yukky virus thats going around. Ruby's kindy only had 23 kids for most of the week + its a 45 roll. She was lucky + missed it (but had a yukky cold) + Kev too but he's got other problems.......lol...... but poor old Finn + T got it too. Today we are all looking + feeling better...........but man its freezing here today!!! The snow is right down the Mountain + I think the ski flieds are open too!!! So for that to happen that means there must be a lot of snow!!!

So not a lot on the news side for me. Here's one of my recent LO's I did for my DT work for www.scrapbookoutletnz.co.nz
OK its gone to the top of the page..........is it just me or what??

Sending out BIG HUGS to my buddy Yolande for Monday :)

Rach
ps i have tired + tired to make my links work + even used that link thing at the top of the page BUT what the hell am I doing WRONG.........HELP!!!!!

last entry for the day.......

OK i just wanted to share this wee pic of Ruby;s VERY loved Poodle......she goes everywhere with her. So here she is catching a ride in the front bag on Ruby's new bike she got for her BD.
so thats all folks.........I'm off to deal with a VERY VERY busy 18mth old + his nappy!!!
remember to look further down my blog to see all my post from today!!!!

Rach :)

OMG another entry in the same day!!

holy FRINKIN smoke.......3 entries + there will be a 4th!!! I don't want to risk losing the pcis again!!!
this time its the tag I made for the lovely Evana. I used the May Lime Tart kit.
http://limetart.com/
I did a wee freak when this one came as I thought 'oh not me' + after seeing how the very talented Michelle Grant used it I thought what would I come up with but I must of being saving it for something pretty special. I LOVE what i made + the pps were easy to work. Philippa always does such a beautiful job of putting the kits together. By the way they are WA pps.

Blogs + 18mths old don't go together!!!

hey thanks Yolande for letting me know I have NO links + only 1 pic. Lets just say after spending 2hrs - yes ppl 2hrs on this FRINKIN thing (dialup sucks more each day.......can't get it as I'm rural) I had a lovely helpful 18mth turn off my computer as I clicked 'publish blog' + then went to turn on the dishwasher!!
I could of cried.........all that time wasted making links + loading up pics!!!!
so here's teh pic of my 6x6 page fop Ky........which I have heard was a lovely evening......YAY!!!

CATCH UP...............

OK so I take the crown for being Miss Slack Blogger!!!
So I'm a bit behind on the sharing about camp. But I had a FAB time + loved meeting heaps of girls in irl. Everybody was sooooooooo lovely. I had heaps of laughs......thx to the cheeky table next to mine!!!
My cabin girls - Donna, Trina, Fiona + Karen were super cool + so lovely. It was just like meeting up with old friends.
And what can i say about Yolande + lianne- Camp Mothers for orgainising amazing weekend!! You GIRLS ROCK!!! And what supper super cool girls too.......loved them!!! Check them out in their PINK gear in pic above!!!

Well i only did one extra LO..........how hopeless is that!!!!...........but you know I think it was more about getting to meet all these girls from around NZ I have met through blogs + forums + also time out from kids as i don't get alot of that!! So thanks Shirley (mil) for having T Man + my wonderful hubby Kev who looked after Finn + Ruby + entertained them in Rotorua. Ruby now has a HUGE fear of blue hydro slides!!!...........LOL.
The classes were awesome too.........thanks Nic, Wendy + Faye. I still have some journalling to do on them + then I will post. And what a little treat to have demos too.........Yolande + Lianne thought of eveything to make this a FUN time!!
Michelle TW's photoshop class was very inpsiring too........way to go Michelle.
Also the 'p' party was awesome..........and how funny were come of those costumes. Well I think you have seen a enough preggie pics of me, Trina + Donna that I don't need to share another one. By the way my labour + birth was very quick that night!!.......lol.
So if you haven't been to camp - make sure you book in for the one in Nov its in Matamata.........is that right Nic???.........cause they sure are a lot of FUN!!!

Well what another exciting week I have had....to be part of 2 exciting scrap realted secrets!!!!........well as you all know by now we had a online baby shower for the lovely Evana....check her blog out if you haven't already. WOW its was sooooooo much fun + how special to be part of something so amazing - 35 scrappers from NZ,Aussie + the US taking part. And all the thanks goes to the SUPER DUDE Nic H
. 6 weeks we have all being keeping this a secret. Thanks Nic for organising something truly wonderful to be part of + to Deb Fuller who organised cool games - but sadly i couldn't play as I'm on dialup + was almost 10mins behind in emails!! But it was still a blast!!! Also a HUGE thanks to Delish Designs
and Tarisota for the tags which we altered + sent to Evana. Somewhere in this entry will be my tags to E. Why did blogspot have to change??


Also last night taking place in a home with some amazing girls in Brissie was a friendship album going down + this was another surprise......... I LOVE surprises + being part of a secret!!! I belong to a little online group called Friday Croppers. Now my connection in this is through the lovely Chris Millar
and I have meet some of the lovely girls when i was in Brissie last year. One the girls planned a secret Friendship ablum for one of the girls Ky. And they just made out it was their normal Friday night crop but HA little did Ky know what she was in for. I'm sure many tears were shed last night. I haven't heard yet how it went but I bet it was FANTASTIC. Thanks girls for letting me be part of this AMAZING little group of scrappers.........your the best!!! WE had to do a 6x6 double page for Ky about friendship.........so somewhere in this blog entry you will find my page to Ky + under my photo is a more personal message. Hope you will LOVE it Ky. Oh by the way Ky's fav colour is purple.

well for the last 4 days I have had a really sick little T Man + talk about not wanting to sleep. Why don't they realise that sleep is helpful to them!!! Awake every 2 hrs in the night........did someone mention sleep??? So I have being dealing with snot, high temps + vomit. I think its some kind of a flu. Finn now has it + Ruby has a sore throat!!!........I think roll on school hoildays for the kids just to stop + rest.

I have finally left you a cute pic of Ruby's very loved Poodle in her front bag of her NEW bike that she got for her BD!!!

have a great weekend everyone + also watch out for the newsletter from
.
I so hope all these links worked........

later Rach

welcome back to me!!!

yep what a bad bad blogging babe I have being!!!.........life has just got in the way. But to be honest I did try to blog last week + this silly thing just decided it didn't want to play my way so I gave it a raspberry + got busy with life again.

well my baby girl is 4 now - on the 15th May!! I feel a tinge of saddness as 3 is a very cute age - well my 3 yr old was cute + had the cutest sayings eg horses are porses, bunks are bumps, she has sprinkles coming out of her new bikes handle bars, Magpies are vampirers, and she wants to be a ballariner riding a porse when she grows up, oh and also she told me not to be sad that she would be turning 3 to 4 as she has to change numbers!!! Here's a pic of her opening a pressie + its now her most precious toy ever - her Poodle. Have any of you seen these cute dogs in a bag - very Pairs Hilton!!!
and another one of her.

I'm a guest DTer for the mth on US www.scrap-tastic.com for this really super cool chick Becky. Here is a few of the LO's I did for her site. Thanks again Becky i had a blast. And another one. OK at this stage I'm noticing that my pics aren't coming up - this is what happened last time.........hmmmmmmmm anyone know why???

I have sick wee boy again who has just slept for 5 hrs, so hopefully he will be on the mend!!

and on a HAPPY NOTE...........wooohooooooo its only 8 MORE SLEEPS till scrap camp!!!
and anothe happy note - we have dried the cows off - YAY!!!

right off to light the fire as its quite cold here!!

Rach

well the Bunny came + left!!!!

well before I go on to tell you about my Easter, I just want to THANKS to everyone that has popped onto my blog + said ouch for me + my sore ankle!!! Its getting heaps better + I can't believe it never turned the many colours of the rainbow as I expected!!!! Still can't put my foot down completely............so still do the limp dance!! Hopefully by Scrap Camp it will be healed as I'm so in the need of a break + a play........lol !!!!!
I hope eveyone had a awesome weekend??!!!!!
Ours started out in a fantastic fashion with great company, food, a egg hunt for the kids + the best Easter weather on Friday. OK I had some pics to share here but somewhere along the way i placed them in a mystery file????...........bugger!!!!
Ok Saturday saw me + 2 of the kids - Finn + Ruby do decorating of the eggs.
They really enjoyed this + so did I. I wasn't clever enough to blow the insides out!!!! I think boiled is good for little hands that can be heavy handed!!!!
Also on Saturday Kev entertained us with burning the hairs of the dead pig that our farm worker had caught on Good Friday while out pig hunting. Ruby was totally grossed out by it to the point that she would not eat it for dinner that night!!!! Finn was really into it asking all the questions under the sun!!! So here's a wee pic of Kev burning the hairs off the pig.




On Sunday the Easter Bunny visited + how we know cause he left his carrot behind beside Finn's bed!!! Both Finn + Ruby were so excited + I so hope that i might get one more year of Finn believing as it just adds that something speical to it!!! When Kev got in from the cowshed we went on a egg hunt. WOW that bunny hides so well !!!!

Well that my Easter over!!! Didn't get to spend much time with Kev as the worker has all the public holidays. And then yesterday Kev gave me a massive fright. He went sailing up in NP with another windsurfer just out of the Port at NP. The waves were big + great for jumping but not good when your husband gets knocked off + can't get his sail up + is drifting towards rocks + finally he makes the decisions to let his gear go or else he will end up smashed on the rocks with his gear. I feel so bad for him as this worth a lot of money but as he says whats more important him or his gear. I know this is true but I just feel for him as this is time out!!! Hopefully the insurance company will come back with some good news.

Tonight I'm doing a www.shopandcrop.com.au online class with the very talented Sally D. I booked this a few weeks ago + really looking forward to it . We are using some Hang 10 BG. I will show once I have finished it. Hopefully it will bring my MOJO back as I have seriously lost it + I have a few assignments to finish. Also just picked up the lastest FK + Scrapbook etc........so got some good reading ahead of me.

well I thought I would end with a pic of my super cute guy Taidhg in the bath from the night before.

catch ya all later

Rach

the phone went down + then I went down!!!

well what a week here!!!
I thought my throat had been cut when we had no phone line for 2 whole days + nights!!!
How would I get my daily fix of the internet + emails??.........well I coped + got sooooooooo much more done around the house + you know what in the end I didn't really mind having a break from the box!!!...............Kev was pleased too ;)
so Friday morning I was a happy little camper when i woke to hear a dial tone on my phone.
But soon it was all to turn to custard.
Yesterday morning I went out to get the mail from the letterbox. I got near the end of the slope on the corner of the property when I basically went arse over kite!!!! Never never never wear jandals on wet grass!!!! All I remember is my left leg going backwards!!! And then feeling this awful pain...........then there was the fun bit - I didn't know if I should be sick or faint!!! I did neither + then tried to get up.............hell NO it wasn't going to work as I got a hot shooting pain up my leg!!! Ok my next plan was to crawl up the slope back to the house to call my inlaws (Kev was at the gym) + Ruby + Taidhg were inside. But the pain was to much to crawl up so i screamed my lungs out to Ruby (I'm sure i was heard all over the Nth Island) to bring Mummy the phone. Finally she came out to tell me that T had touched the TV!!! So she brought the phone to me so I could ring the inlaws. They both came over + helped me up into the house.
So I went to the Doc's + had a xray............NO broken bones!!!.............but a set of crutches (or crunchies as Ruby calls them) the doc never said what he thought it was but is worried about the Achillies + tendons, so back to the doc on Monday. I personally think its a really bad twist or sprain!!! But whatever the hell it is ............it hurt like hell + is still sore. Lots of rest today.
just had to share the sexy ankle + foot.............lol....... its got a rather nice looking swell on it!!!
hope you are all having a great weekend.
Rach

Edit!!!!

opps!!!...........made a boob!!! Blame it on the 'tired parent moment due to lack of sleep from dealing with spewie kids' !!!! Thanks Karen for pointing it out!!!
www.scrapbookoutletnz.co.nz check it out!!!
and on the sick front - Kev's come down with it along with our farm worker.............poor buggers had to milk this morning!!! But we breed em hard here in the NAKI !!!!!
Touch wood Finn + I will not get it!!!
Its raining here today after that S*U*P*E*R fantastic day here yesterday, so a indoor day here + also the little funkster SIL winged her way down from Auckland for 3 nights this morning........YAY Steph. And that means haircuts!!!!
Was going to scrap last night but ended up watching that movie 'Ladder 49'...........had a few red wines and shed a few tears at the end!!!..............hopeless I am..................lol............
and I'm sure a few tears were shed about the Hurricanes loss!!!!
OK off to be productive around the house.
Rach

Whats up??

well with me not much at all!!!................thats why my blog has not been blogged!!!!
Firstly though thanks for all those well wishes for super MIL to get well. She now doesn't look like the elephant lady...........lol. Bit scary though!!! Hopefully she's on the way back to been healthy again...........and she hopes as they are jetting off to SA in 5 weeks!!!
Today its SUPER Kev's BD......the BIG 35!!!!...................HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEV!!!.............I have to say there hasn't been much of a celebration as I have (well feels like it) been knee deep in spew!!! And washing!!! Ruby + Taidhg must have a nasty tummy bug!!! Hopefully tonight will be a lot calmer + everyone sleeping through the night!!! Cause I'm soooooooooo over with dealing with spew + washing!!!!
On the scrapping front checkout www.scrapbookoutlets.co.nz new challenge for April + be in the chance to win $25.00 worth of Basic Grey range of your choice.
and lastly its FRIDAY and its 6's so time for a drink!!!
have a great weekend everyone
Rach

WOW + thanks girls........

for the lovely congrats on my DT position on www.scrapbookoutlet.co.nz . I'm very excited + look forward to working with the very talented Donna, Shani + Lara. The team at SO are fantastic so I'm sure we will have a great time along with all the wonderful members that have joined so far.
We have got lots of great things planned to happen soon - so make sure you check out the forum.
A congrats to all the girls that are getting their work published in Up2scrap!!! Jo has been busy making lots of girls do the happy dance around the country!!! :)
And some not so good news at my end........... super mil had been admitted to hospital with Cellulitis {sp} yesterday. She has it in her face + is not well at all. Ok for those that don't know this infectious disease it effects the legs or face + causes both areas to swell up + become very very red. Its uncomfortable + itchy!! So poor Shirl looks like she has been beaten up but without the black + blue look. Hopefully she will be home soon as she is missed by all of us.

And lastly my last 2 LO's. Now since doing these I have infact have a couple of more favourites but you will find them in the www.scrapbookoutlet.co.nz gallery.
But this LO is a HUGE favourite as I won a comp in the States with this. I was one of the 15 International winners for the Junkitz comp last Dec. Ok I just realised I'm really repeating myself as this LO has featured on my blog before but toooooooooooo bad bloggin babes you are going to see it again!!!























And the last one .......which is another to bad you're seen it but I was very nervous doing this LO as it was my first assignment for Up2scrap. Poor old Nic had me emailing her all night for her thoughts, my other mentor went out for dinner - how rude is she!!! Infact she went away again at the weekend so I couldn't put out a S.O.S to her + if you check out her blog again you will see what she was doing instead + she's that naughty DTer from www.scrapneeds.com Chris Millar. Got to love her though................hehehehehe. Ok digressing here!!!
Yep you guessed it 's "My Home Town" LO. Donna does it make you homesick??.....lol. I bet not when i tell you its raining + windy here today!!!

OK I promised Miss Ruby to make chocolate brownies today, so off I go to make them!!
And YAY its Friday!!!
Have a fantastic weekend every one
Rach

Dribble .......and a few more LO's!!

Well if you are coming to Scrap camp be prepared for lots of dribble........lol.
Lucky it's not the wet kind just verbal dribble!!!! thanks for the smart fart comments by the way......very amusing!!!!
so here they are the next 2 LO's.
I love NO.7 because of the photos of my baby boy + me. He's so big now - this pic was taken in Feb last year. Have to give credit to my funky little sil for taking these pics - hi ya Steph :). And look hardly any pp, so unlike me!!


And this LO I just love cause its of my big boy Finn, who I love so much + who's my hardest child to work with {mmm maybe cause he's so much like me}!!! And also this LO was picked off 2peas to be used as a scraplift challenge back in Jan this year.

Now sorry if I haven't got to your blog or owe a email of late but I have been a bit {buried....watching Jack} busy working on my assignment for Up2scrap LO + I used a lovely pack from www.limetart.com for it.
So keep your eyes peeled for this in the next issue!!!
And oh want to see what the Aussie scrappers get up to at there scrap camps - check out the lovely Chris Millars blog............oh my lots of fun to be had!!!! Good on ya girls.......love it ;)
Rach

5 + 6 and a tag!!

Right I'm doing a massive jump for LO 5 + 6. When i was expecting Taidhg in 2004, I had bad morning sickness + could not scrap or go near the computer. Everytime I went to do either of these 2 things I thought I would throw up everywhere...............it was very strange!!! So I probably didn't scrap for 6mths, so not many pages at all for 2004. So lets go to 2005.
OK this my VERY proud LO - my 1 + only published LO {have to admit I'm a bit lazy chasing the submissions atm}. But it's another major favourite in the photos stake............look at my 3 gorgeous kids!! Makes me want to freeze that moment in time forever!!


And here's LO 6. One of my girl Ruby. This sits high in my favourite list. I loved how the photos came out + catching her so natural + her little blonde curls being whipped around in the wind!!
























I was tagged by the very talented Carole {someone plz tell me how to link ppl's names here}.
You can check out Caroles work on www.limetart.com

What scrapbook lines/products etc do you dislike?
I can't think of any that I dislike cause sometimes a company might have not have great pp's but their embellishments might be fantastic. The only thing i'm probably not big on is stickers.

What is the hardest thing you ever had to scrap?
about my brothers death.

What technique do you use more than anything else?
Inking, inking + more inking!

What is the smallest scrap of paper you save?
I'm like Carole + save all my scraps for Finn + Ruby's pizza boxes.........they make the best cards!

Have you ever had any scrapping related injuries?
yep cut myself with one of those cutters from CM.

Finish this sentence, “If I wasn’t a scrapbooker/stamper, I would spend my money on… shoes, shoes + shoes and lots of treasures from second hand stores + NZ art.

Give your best storage or organisational ideaI would have to say my wooden pegs that sit below my shelves + then they have bull dog clips + they have got all my rubons hanging from them. {not my idea saw it in Ali E's room}

You just won a week long scrapbooking cruise for 5. Who is going with you?
I wish i could be clever like Chris + take everybody but I would have to say Chris as she is a awesome person, talented + very supportive to me, next would have to be 2 other ppl that have being very supportive + if it wasn't for them I wouldn't of meet Jo + Steph from Up2scrap - Nic + Evana. Nic also dribbles like me when she drinks.............LOL, + Evana would give lots of cuddles + look after all of us. Next it would be Carol as she tagged me + she is super talented! Then my gorgeous friend Lissy in Perth who is also a very talented scrapper. OMG thats 5 already!!! But really i would take you all as the prize included the whole ship!!!!

When you received your first publication notification, who did you tell?
Kev + Chris Millar.

Now I would like to tag…Donna, Delys + Nic - cause she loves to be tagged!!! (unless they have already had a go) enjoy.

If I haven't added you to my bloggin babes I will do soon + I must sort out poor Delys hanging off Chris.......lol.
ok I'm off to Finn's school assembly. I made capes for their wee act + Finn is doing a speaking part. {don't you love it when the teachers find out you scrapbook} How cute are these 5yr olds going too look - all 11 of them.

take care
Rach

look out it's 3 + 4!!

I wasn't nearly go to blog tonight as I had a very late one last night........ooohhhh not good for a Monday night - got home right on midnight!!! But was a great night catching up with our friends from Perth Kylie + Rachael. Also putting out a BIG hi to Evalina!!
Ok so onto No.3............this was my first non CM LO + my first purchase off the internet. {never looked back since} Boy I was sooooooooo nervous doing it + worried that I wouldn't get my product. And this little number was from a Aussie shop called "The Scrap Heap". They have fantastic products + the girls are real helpful. I use to get these mthly packs called 'aussles' and at the end of each mth everyone got to vote on them but sadly i never won one but I know someone who won a few + you won't be surprised when I say who this talented little chick is........the one + only CHRIS MILLAR. And thats how Chris + I met through this site!!! So yep I was proud of this brown number + I thought I was quite cool doing the old tearing down the side.............no one teared at CM!!...........lol. Love the photos + super Kev took those!!! I have to say its strange to look at photos + Taidhg's not in them.
Now No.4 was another 'aussle'. Now the reason i love this LO is because when i was expecting Taidhg we all went on a winter hoilday over to Taupo, Hawkes Bay + then down to Wtgn. This has to be one of the best family holidays I have had so far. We did lots of cool things + we were so spontaneous, and this LO is one of those moments. We drove out to Havelock North + keep driving out to the coast + came upon this beach with the coolest kiwi baches, it was called Ocean Beach. It was a beautiful winters day + we all got out on the beach + ran up + down it {well not me with my tummy filled with arms + legs}. Also I know why i loved this hoilday as I was OVER morning sickness finally at 22 weeks!!!
Excuse the spazzie scans!!!
And thx again girls for stopping by to comment on my work. I love it + appreciate it!!! And I would love to have a wee chat with Miss Anonymous who stopped by the other day. Plz do email me!!!
OK bloggin babes my bed calls me
Rach
ps can some one tell me if Chris still has Delys hanging off her in my links?
cheers :)

my 10 FAV LO's......starting from today!!!

Hey a HUGE thx for all the wonderful ppl that have popped onto my blog to say hi!!!
Ok what a slacker i have being................it's being a whole week between post but i have to say life is pretty normal here + have nothing much to report. No recent LO's as I have got very low engery this week for some reason!!! And I can't find my scrapbook room...........its a HUGE MESS!!!................washing, toys, bills, paper work for the farm + of course the MAJOR MESS 'me' not being a tidy 'kiwi' and putting my product away after I use it!!
But today i have had a major clean out as I have had a few pizza boxes arrive this week + so, I decided that if i have had the pp for a year into a pile it goes for either the kids or Trade Me. I haven't got to the embellishments.
So today i start with my 10 fav LO's. This first one was a CM + I did it at my first CM crop April 2003!!! I was so excited + off i went by myself with all my gear new CM gear I brought waiting to be used!! The reason this LO is a fav is because it was our first xmas as parents + the first xmas in our new house, and we were having all the family for lunch + also the beginning of a tradition of getting a live tree from the xmas shop in New Plymouth. I was so proud of this LO.


Ok on to my second fav LO, still in 2003. This is another CM + one for my in memory of my brother Tim, who died coming up 5 years in April. I'm doing this album for my parents but I do struggle with it emotionally + also for the fact that I'm trying to do from my parents view point. Now also I did this as a example for one of CM workshops for customers {yes I was a CM consultant}. I was trying to breakout of the line or triangle down the side look. Now get this I took this along to a CM mtg with other consultants in my area + I was so proud thinking i had worked the products so well + trying to suit the photos blah blah blah ............... and you know what I got "Oh that's wallpapering". I was so hurt + it felt like a slap in the face + it was the beginning of me knowing that CM wasn't for me anymore. I thought CM was all about Creating Memories but NO in fact it's all about how much money can you make!!! I know all CMers aren't like this.
And see its a 8.5x11 I was ahead of myself then!!!
So have you guessed the next 2 won't be CM!!!!....lol
And on a VERY exciting note I have BOOKED my classes for CC with kiwiscraps.................wooohoooo. What a fantastic year of scrapbooking in NZ with Scrapcamp {yes Yolande the chq will in the mail on Tuesday - its a holiday here tomorrow Naki Ann. YAY for me}, in May {which we are turning into a family holiday} and then CC in August.
I can't wait to meet all these girls I chat via email, forums + blogs. They will have a face + a voice.....lol.
hey BIG hugs to all those that need one.
Rach
ps I will now go + update my links :)

supermarkets, kids + links!!!

OK kids + supermarkets are NOT a good mix!!!! So, why do I do it + take all 3????
I always give Finn + Ruby the talk about don't ask me for everything + you will only get a treat if you are good!! So good means - NO running around the supermarket squealing, yelling out each others names, NO putting your sister into headlocks + dragging her around!!! AND lastly NO GETTING BALLS OUT!!!!
So I get 'yes Mummy we will be good cause we want a treat' {who doesn't want a treat - aye Nic ;) }. So off we go + it starts with a head lock in the fruit + vege department!!! Then they do a runner over to the next lane. I can hear them laughing + giggling. So I come around the corner + what do I see???.......................after telling them not to do this................balls being kicked up + down the lane like its football field!!!...............OMG do i own these kids??? What makes it worse is when i bang into ex parents from the kindy where i use to teach + they laugh at me!!!!! So they both get a very stern talking too + Finn is guided by a tight grip to the trolley where he is made to hold it all the way around. {and don't you love it when they yell ouch you are hurting my arm}. So we carry on but by then Taidhg decides he wants a piece of the action is throwing things out the trolley as fast as I can put them in!!!! So while this is all happening Finn makes another run for it!!!! He's gone but I find Ruby doing gymnastics off the side of the freezers!!!! I try to pretend she's not with me but of course I have to the right parent thing + tell her to get down. Starting to feel the stress levels rising but still in control of course - I think anyway...........lol. So, 3 more lanes to go. Food is flying from my trolley left + right - Taidhg's having a ball, but where are Finn + Ruby???...................I find them rearranging the butters + mixing all the brands up................OK almost there, only the bread, milk, yoghurts, cheese + eggs to get!!! Finally I make it to the counter only to have 2 very grumpy kids, who decide to shut down and not listen to anything I say. And to make matters worse they are short staffed at the supermarket, so I have to pack my own bags + struggle out with a HUGE load + 2 bags in my hand!!! Did I mention how they asked 50 million times for treats!!!!
SO the moral of the story is NEVER TAKE your kids to the supermarket. You know that I already know this but everytime I go I think they get a little bit better but to be honest its getting worse + I'm sure oneday I will look like that girl off The Exorcist movie, where my head spins around + my hair all stands on end but I will have steam coming our of my ears too!!!!
On another note - OK I'm going to admit I'm a lazy linker!!! I just go to ppl's blogs like Nic H' s {thats why you have so many hits Nic}, Chris M's, Lianne G's + just click away on all of their links. So thanks girls!!! ;)
Also I still can't work it out + now Donna is new to blogging + is showing me up cause she has linked me + others!!!
I have being working a new LO over the weekend for the last DT I was applying for. I was doing a LO on Kev skateboarding but it wasn't coming together as well as I thought, so I moved onto another one about Ruby - a xmas one. So I will give you a wee tease - NO REASON but just cause I can!!! And I've done a Chris M shot!!!! I used those cool Blitzen BG pps I got from www.scrapbookoutletnz.co.nz late last year. And also go + checkout their new range of Threee Bugs in a Rug..............very cool. I'm just about to order some.

And lastly some exciting news - I'm going to be a guest DTer on a US site in May.
www.scrap-tastic.com Its so new that it hasn't opened its doors yet but Becky the owner seems really lovely + super FUN!!! see if I could link I could link you to her blog!!!!
And just a wee note to my friend up the road - I hope she survived the night + got her assignment done + woke up feeling OK???? That Creme Egg Fairy might have to send you more eggs for inspiration!!! But next time dude get rid of the evidence.............LOL
oh nearly forgot YAY to Scrapcamp + Yolande + Lianne for organising this fantastic weekend away. Ok I have never being to one but i know it will be good - look at the tutors - Nic H, Wendy R + Faye G + also Michelle TW will be clever showing us how to use photoshop!!! This will be awesome as I have the lastest version in my hot little hand waiting to be installed......woohooo.
ok going to blob out with my family + watch a DVD as I'm one very tired chicken from hanging out on the computer last night with Nic + Chris. Also for those here in NZ + have digital sky -see Shark 's Tale is on tonight!!! Cool as I haven't seen this.
catch ya later + man its freezing today I went out this morning wearing jeans, boots, + a woollen cardi!!!! Too crazy!!!
Rach

8 years today!!!

YEP that was us 8 years ago today the 28th !!! Fantastic day it was too - married here in little ole Stratty + we had a awesome garden party with a live band!! Got to have a live band its the only way to go!! And do you know what my fantastic husband did for me on my wedding day???..............he sang + played his guitar to me as i walked up the isle.............how beautiful is that!!!! Who needs to win Lotto when you have got a man like that!!! And now 8 years on - we have built a new home, brought 2 farms + got 3 awesome kids!!! Rock on the next 8 years I say cause it can only get better!!!

But we didn't get to go out+ have a romantic dinner as our baby sittter has gone away on a golf trip!! But i have being promised a dinner date!!!!

WEll UB40 was great - the venue is just the best, you can't bet it!!! Have to say i wasn't keen on their new stuff but i was rockin to their older songs. Great night out!!

I know i meantioned a few entries back I had made a tooth fairy box for Finn's teeth , well I decided not to use it for my DT entries . I got this idea from the 'Book Book'. I must of brought that book about 2 years ago now from kiwiscraps. Hadn't really got any use out of until now. While at Starship Kev's cousin gave me a box of soap + I thought i better not throw this box away it might come in handy for you know what!!!...............ok so get on with the story Rach!!! Finn lost a tooth + I thought aahhh that box will make a perfect tooth fairy box. THE BOX!!

Sorry pics are wee bit blurry but i was in a hurry to get some pics before it got dark. The only other photo I haven't shown is the other end of the box which says 'tooth'. The idea is to slide the tooth end open + place the tooth in there + in the morning after the Tooth Fairy has been you open the money end to get your money. But I guess you all probably got that...............lol.

ok I'm off to bed as I had a 2.30am last night with a sick little girl. She's better today but I'm very tired!!!

Rach

back on deck!!!

well my week has being filled with snot + more snot!!! Still got a glazed dounut in the house.......and that would be Hurricane Taidhg or T man as Nic has named him!!! Poor wee mite is cutting 6 teeth at the moment and Finn's lost 2 + Ruby has 4 fillings to be filled but had to cancel twice due to her yukky cold!!! Oh yeah sorry forgot I already mentioned Mr Finn's teeth - and YES what a very generous 'Tooth Fairy'. And it wasn't me either!!!!
Nothing much happening here. I have being working on a card for a ex colleague of mine, who is also Ruby's kindy teacher. Her Mum died last week and I just want to make a wee card to let her know I was thinking of her.
Front of the card + inside.
I'm off to a crop tomorrow. Some time to myself...YAY!! And them we going to UB40 at the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. Its just awesome there - a little lake + grassy hill side to watch the show from, its quite a magical place in fact!!! I think the last time I saw UB40 was when i was about 17.......eeek that's about 18years ago.......holy cow!!!!
Do some of you remember one of my first blog entries I had a photo of some VERY naughty lambs?? Well watch this space for a LO of them!!!
Once again I should learn not to blog when there is a baby on the loose!!! I think I might have to steal Nic's LO of 'Get out of the toilet' + place a photo of Taidhg on there!!! That boy just dropped 2 rolls of loo paper in the LOO!!!..............he thinks it a great joke!!!
YAY thank god its Friday!!!
have a good one
Rach
ps I heard there is going to be scrap camp???...I'll be there with bells on as I couldn't go last year!!!