Half way through another month ...

I can't believe it has been nearly 3 weeks since my last post.

I don't mean to let it go so long ... it just happens!

I do visit blog land ... but often not long enough to sit and update my blog ... just busy reading everyone elses IYKWIM !

Still i haven't posted our holiday pics ... in fact we haven't had a chance to sit and have a look at them since we've been home. We seem to have 'hit the ground running' with work, orientation days for high school (boy oh boy that 'high school' word really doesn't seem real yet), sport, end of year/Christmas functions start this weekend ... and so on!!

I really will make an effort to get our trip & photos posted on here ... will be great to share; but also good to record.

I have also been very busy scrapping since we've been home ... but certainly not complaining about that !! Unfortunately .... i can't share yet.

One of the projects i have been working on is for the SCRAPBOOK'n'BITS retreat next weekend ... i love these weekends away .... 3 nights & 3 days of uninterrupted scrapping ... now that's something to look forward to!!

I am hosting a 'Make & Bake' Workshop ... No, it's not a cooking class; it truly is scrapbooking but there is a little baking involved ??? Can't tell you anymore - but i can share the sneak peak promo with you ...



This weekend we are off to the Vineyards for a function with DH's work .... should be lovely, especially if the weather is kind.

Blake is off to High School tommorrow ..... just for the day - another Orientation Day. He is sooooo eager and looking forward to High School ... i hope his enthusiasm lasts for the next 6 years!!

Well ... i think i have rambled enough and redeemed myself a little with leaving a post.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Keep Smiling :O)
JULIE x

A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY !

Happy Birthday to my Dad on his 60th Birthday!



on a different note ... yes we are home. I hope to start posting about our trip in the next few days and will share lots of pics.

Have a great week!

LIVING THE DREAM !!

For as long as i can remember i have wanted to go to Disneyland ...

today that dream came true .....

What a magical place!





We were there from 9am to 10.30pm ..... a huge day!

The street parade was so enchanting





Unfortunately the fireworks had to be cancelled due to it getting to windy ... never mind, that famous castle looked gorgeous anyway!



Keep smiling :O)

G'DAY from USA

We are having a fab time .... our days are very busy & very full; but fitting in every little bit possible whilst we are here!

Here's what we have been up to since leaving San Francisco.


Picked up our hire car and drove to Monterey


Went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium


one of the highlights at the Aquarium was these little guys ... the Otters ... really cute and loads of personality !


Visited the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course


Travelled 'The Big Sur' along the USA west coast (sort of like our Great Ocean Road)


Stopped at Vista Point at San Simeon ... behind Blake you can see the colonies of Elephant Seals along the beach. An amazing sight up close in their natural environment.



Visited Hearst Castle at San Simeon ... what an amazing place!



Saturday we arrived in Las Vegas ... what can i say ... awesome!!



We've been to M&M World (4 storeys of everything M&M imaginable!!)


Today we went to The Grand Canyon


... visited the Halupai Indian Village


and went to Hoover Dam.



I think i have taken about a thousand photos and will share lots more when we get home.

Here in Las Vegas for another day then off the DisneyLand!

Talk soon,
JULIE :O)

Hello from San Francisco

We're here .... was a good flight but the last leg felt very loooong. I now have a full understanding of the word jet-lag !!

But not to worry, we recovered very quickly with no time to waste enjoying the highlights of San Francisco ....

The Golden Gate Bridge



riding Cable Cars


shopping


Alcatraz



Pier 39




Next we are off to Yosemite ...

be back soon

JULIE :O)

THE DAY HAS COME ....

This holiday has been about 30 years in the making ....

Today we leave for America !

We're all packed, all organised but it seems things are never without some sort of dilemna ....

Tonight whilst Blake was packing his (hand luggage) backpack it came to his attention that 'Raggy Bear' is missing !

Raggy Bear arrived in the family the same day as Blake; and whilst Blake is getting older now and Raggy spends most of his days sitting on the bed or chair in his room he has been on every single holiday we've ever had ... Sadly, he won't be visiting the USA with us, he is nowhere to be found.

Tonight i had one very upset little man; but the word has been spread far and wide backtracking all the places we think Raggy has been in the last month or so and the search is on!!

I know it may sound trivial, but for Blake it is a big deal ... keep you fingers crossed for him that Raggy is returned safe & sound !


On a more positive note, if you're looking for a fun scrapping challenge ...



i have set this month's
SCRAP YOUR STASH over at SnB ... would love to see your layout/s in the gallery!

Enjoy the school hols everyone ... See you all in 3 weeks!!

JULIE x

6 MORE SLEEPS !

It is hard to believe it is almost here .... today i started to feel very excited, today it started to feel real ...

This time next week we'll be in America!

Now to catch up on some random stuff that i hadn't got around to posting ... bascially pics from events over the past few weeks but in no particular order!

Blake has being "dying" to get a mobile phone!
He is only 11 and up until now i had maintained that it wasn't necessary until he went to high school ... but .... DH and i reconsidered before we went to the snow cause the kids are becoming quite advanced with their skiing and are "all over the mountain" (as a figure of speech) and whilst their is always an adult from our groups within close proximity, it made me feel at ease that he could contact us and vice versa ... so here it is ... one smitten little man and his 1st mobile phone!





The week before we went to the snow, i went to one of my girlfriend's 40th birthday parties ... a Hollywood Murder Mystery night!

I went with another of my girlfriends and i went as Laurel & Hardy whilst DH stayed home to be cheif babysitter for all the kids !!

The night was fun ... i have to say i lost the plot with the whole murder mystery thing about 5 mins in .... but we bumbled along, and had lots of fun & laughs along the way!

So here's the birthday girl .... (and check out the awesome cake) !



Here are the movie stars ... Laurel & Hardy (you'll get a laugh to know that i made my moustache out of felt from my scrap stash and stuck it on with double sided tape ... he he !!)


and .... of course .....

we won a Hollywood Award (not sure what that was for ... maybe they felt sorry for us ... LOL !!



and somewhere in between these events ... Blake had his Bookweek Day at school (his very last primary school BookWeek [sigh] ...

a photo of Blake aka Indiana Jones


Blake & one of his best friends (a very serious Joker)


and the group ...



Well i've had a big day getting organised for our holiday, we're about 75% packed (not too bad for someone that is usually up 'til wee hours of the morning the night before we leave for holidays trying to iron pack & organise all at once) ... time for some beauty sleep!!!

Have a great week ... Keep Smiling !!

JULIE x

OVERDUE UPDATE ...

The weeks are getting away so quickly .... here's what i've/we've been up to in the last few weeks.

I hosted a flocking workshop at SnB ... just loooooved playing with this stuff ... here is the LO we created:



I am currently working on a few projects using gorgeous new products from Bella, Pink Paislee, DreamStreet & Maya Road ... will share some sneek peaks soon!

Last week was our annual trip to the snow ... 26 of us! As usual, we had a great time ;however, unfortunately there was also a downside to this year's trip with 2 of our families having to pack up and leave early when news came through that their father's had passed away ... one of them a day after we arrived, the other in the middle of the week ... it was quite unbelievable that such sad new could strike twice in one week with 2 seperate familes within our group and just prior to Father's Day.


Here are a few of the many hundred pics taken:

It wouldn't be the snow if the kids didn't get to build one of these!


You know it's cold when the railings around the resort deck look like this!


A real wintery wonderland feeling!


The scenery leaving the snowfields on our last day!


Our little 3yr old godson Nicholas at Milo SkiSchool!


Blake & Nicholas.


Some of the kids.


Snowfight action shot!


Blake



After our wonderful week in the snow we are back to reality ... back to work, school and day to day routine; but, we are on the countdown to our big holiday ... we're all feeling a little excited ...



ONLY 2.5 WEEKS TO GO!!

Hope you are having a great week.

Keep Smiling :O)
JULIE x