Busy, busy, busy

I'm a bad Mum. Elisa's 3rd birthday is on Saturday and I really have nothing organised except the presents. I have to bake the cake tomorrow and I still don't know exactly what I'm going to do. Well I know it's going to be a butterfly cake, but I haven't decided how it's going to be decorated yet. I was hoping she'd be happy to have little butterfly cupcakes, because I saw some online that were super cute and easy to make, but nooooo........she wants a big cake, much like the one I did for Brooke's 3rd birthday I think. She must have seen a photo of it in one of the scrapbooks. I have to shop tomorrow too for some little bits and pieces. I haven't even thought of what to feed the kids yet. At least I got the lawns mowed yesterday and the sandpit sanded and stained ready for DH to put together on Saturday morning. We had a Relief Society Board Meeting here last night, and tomorrow we have a morning tea to go to, so my week has been pretty busy. On top of that I've had to write up our Relief Society Newsletter, meeting minutes and organise our Visiting Teaching Conference for the 6th of December. That actually takes up quite a bit of my time since I'm doing everything (arranging speakers, the programme, the handouts and thankyou gifts). I don't mind doing it, I just have to find ways to fit it all in to my day.

Elisa and I spent two and a half hours at church this morning helping photocopy and put together the Relief Society Newsletter for December. It took four of us all that time to do it, writing the individual names on each newsletter, sorting them into visiting teaching groups, and bundling them up ready for delivery. Having close to 200 sisters on our roll makes this a team job each month. Elisa played quietly the whole time. The other ladies thought she was just a doll. Funnily enough one of them had JUST finished saying how good she was when I looked over at her to find her covered in black printer toner (powder). She'd been playing with the (not quite) empty cartridge in the bin. Oh dear. Most of it seems to have washed out anyway - I've got her shirt and pants soaking in the laundry now.

Brooke had a 'wheels' day at school on Tuesday. The junior school could bring a bike, scooter or skateboard to school, where they decorated it and then had a parade in the afternoon. Since she still needs a push start with her bike, and her 3-wheeled scooter was too small, she didn't really have anything to take. Poor poppet had a bit of a trembly lower lip thinking she might be left out of the fun. Since DH and I were going to get her a 2-wheel scooter for Christmas anyway, we decided to give it to her early for this special day. DH picked it up on his way home from work on Monday, and gave it to Brooke after dinner. Oh the SMILES! She was one very happy little girl. And to top it off, DH turned up at her school at 2.30pm to watch her parade. Totally unexpected, and it really made her day. Elisa's too for that matter. She wouldn't let him go. (He's been away a lot lately and the girls have really missed him).

What else has happened this week? Oh, I've done something to my leg, but I have NO idea how or even when. Just woke up the other morning and found myself limping. It feels like I've strained the ligaments right at the top of my leg at the front. Weird. Was quite sore today, but I bet the Dr would just say rest it, so haven't been to get checked out.

Elisa left her blankie and teddy at Nanny and Papas on Sunday. She really misses them. The first night she was fine, but each successive night she's been quite teary about it. She even makes me say a prayer for Nanny to bring them back on Saturday. So cute.

Here are the pages I've done this week. All images are linked to my galleries for credits.

Latest projects and another 365

So how was YOUR weekend? Mine was great. Packed the girls off to Mum and Dad's on Thursday night and pretty much did whatever I wanted the rest of the weekend. :D I shopped my heart out on Friday and got a haircut while I was at it. Saturday DH and I wandered around the shops buying more than we intended (par for the course for us). He's sorting out a new sandpit for the girls which will be ready for Elisa's birthday on Saturday. I found a couple of really nice Christmas Story books to use with my new Activities Advent Calendar (see pic below) in December. One of the books has a collection of christmas stories, while the other one is a kids version of Jesus' birth with accompanying nativity magnets and magnetised pages. Super cute. I intend to only bring these books out around christmas time so they stay special. Sunday I spent most of the day at church, so DH went south to pick up the girls and bring them home. We got the hugest hugs and kisses from them which was just lovely. They pretty much got home, brushed teeth and went straight to bed, falling asleep almost instantly. Thanks so much Mum and Dad for having them.

So first up here is my Advent Calendar. This is a template by Mari Koegelenberg, and was sooo easy to use. I searched the net and came up with a list of activities the girls can do each day. You can find the list HERE if you're interested. Between Brooke and I we went through the list and picked activities that interested us and that wouldn't be too hard to do. We also added a few of our own ideas.







Last week I was asked to speak at the Young Women's Excellence Night at church. Instead of throwing out my notes afterwards I decided to scrap them in the hopes Brooke and Elisa may get some benefit from them in the years to come. This layout made the Gallery Standouts Blog too which was a nice surprise. After church on Sunday I was ambushed by three of the Young Men wanting me to speak at their Careers Night this coming Tuesday. They must have heard the girls talking about my speech because they were all excited and really wanting me to come. LOL. I said yes, and went down to the Army Recruiting Office today to pick up some pamphlets and posters for them.


And my latest 365 to match last weeks.

My latest 365

The girls are counting down sleeps till they go down to Nanny and Papa's on Thursday night. I'm letting Brooke have Friday off school and she is sooooo excited. I'm not sure if DH will be home that weekend either, so I intend to scrap, shop and chill. Yay!

More layouts and a freebie!

This week it's all about journalling. I love to journal on my pages - I feel I need to leave more than just photos for my girls, so I write. I write about me, about them, about the love we have for them, and advice for the future. For the AAM journalling challenge I'm hosting at The Digi Chick this week I created these first three layouts as examples:




And these pages use new releases from The Digi Chick Designers too. Click for credits.



And finally.......someone asked me to make a template from my Christmas Tree layout, so here it is! Click on the preview to download from 4shared. I'd love it if you left a comment too.

More illness and a 365 page

Elisa got over her croup no worries, but the red eardrum she had on examination that night, developed into a double ear infection by the end of the week. We had to take her to the After Hours Clinic on Sunday morning to get her some antibiotics. She then stayed home with Dad while Brooke and I went to church. Brooke participated in the Primary Presentation during Sacrament, and spoke her part loud and clear. I was so proud of her.


On Tuesday, the day after creating the angel layout, I picked up Brooke from school (Elisa was with my Mum) and took her to the dairy, letting her choose whatever lolly and icecream she wanted. We then came home and spent some quality time eating our icecreams, talking, reading books and playing games together. I apologized to her for being so grumpy lately, and reiterated how much I loved her, and how special I thought she was. It was a wonderful afternoon - just the two of us - really connecting. It made me feel guilty for getting caught up in the after school rush each day, of clearing bags, preparing snacks, doing homework, getting dinner ready, etc....and not taking the time to just sit and talk with her like this. An area I plan to work on most diligently.

Here is a summary of our week:



Oh, I was asked to make a template from one of my Christmas tree layouts, so keep an eye out for that freebie later in the week.

Plodding along

I haven't posted for a few days as I was letting the blog train run it's course. I've had over 1100 visitors to my blog in the past week, and over 200 downloads of my quick page. Feels nice to know others like what I create. Would've been nice if more than 5 people left a thankyou though!

We had another trip to the Emergency Room at 2am this week with Elisa's croup. This makes 5 times in 3 years. She bounced back pretty quickly though, and I'm just glad it happened on a night DH was home so there was someone to stay with Brooke.

Anyhoo, here are the pages for this week's new releases at The Digi Chick. The designers have put out 19 new Grab Bags today. TOTAL value for money! The sale will last for the next few days, so go check it out. All images are clickable to my gallery. (Note: the last page was created using Chrissy W's template and kit from Elemental Scraps)