25 days to go till CHRISTMAS

I really have to get my head around how fast the year has flown by. I can't believe that xmas is just around the corner. its truly scary!! My little man is crawling and pulling himself up on the furniture. he is in to everything and I mean EVERYTHING. We have had to put the xmas tree up inside his playpen! Watching his face as he looks at all the sparkly, glittery Xmas decoration is an absolute delight. We are all enjoying having a baby around the place again so very much.

Sophie is geting to be such a BIG girl. Last weekend she danced at the Bruce Mason theatre in the LÁcademy de danse concert with Natalie. She was so cute and adorable and did a great job of her dances. Yesterday we bought her new greenhithe school uniform for her first school visit on Thursday. OMG she looked so cute - I couldn't help but shed a few tears.

Meanwhile I have finished a few LOs for benjis album - his first Halloween and one of his first trips to the beach (Count your Blessings above) - i love that photo so much it is just adorable! The 11 1/2 X 8 LO is of Sophies birthday treat day at Rainbows End. We all had such a great day :)

First official Xmas 2009 LO

I took this photo of my gorgeous Natalie when we were taking photos for our xmas cards this year. I thought that these lovely papers and embellishments from Rasberry's new xmas collection were perfect to scrap it - the colours go so well with the beach setting which just goes to show how versatile this range is. I am loving using "Smooch" on my chipboard and flowers right now too. I am building up quite a collection of colours!

Now he's standing

Ben is really on the move now. He not only crawls like lightening but he pulls himself up on any static object and is beginning to cruise around the furniture. All this and he is only just 9 months old. I think he will be walking befor he turns one!! I did thid LO using my new Fiscars border punches and the bright and breezy Basic Grey Lime Rickey papers. I love the colourful result and just look at that cute little face

milestones galore

Life has been so hectic round here. Sophie turned 5 last week and celebrated with a family birthday, a lovely party at her kindy and a trip to Rainbows End. She loved all the attention and ofcourse her presents which included a kids camera a new 'big girl' scooter, a cup-cake maker and lots more., Here she is blowing out her candles on her 'puffy' cake.

Benjamin has been racing through the milestones. He is crawling around commando style very efficiently, he has started solids - a little late because of his allergies and eczema - and loathes all lumps and tastes other than 'milky and bland'. He holds up his arms to be picked up and says 'mumma'. Just a few days ago he pulled himself up to standing on the toybox and stood there with this enormous grin of triumph on his face. Each milestone is met with a mixture of pride and sadnessfrom me - I love to watch his pride in his achievements but so don't want my last baby to grow up too quickly.

Anyway, above are a few LOs that I have put together to commemorate some of these magical moments. The first two were done for NZ Scrapbook using the gorgeous 7 gypsies papers and embellishments. I can't believe how tiny Benji was snuggled in Sophies arms at a few days old!!

Driving tests and Birthdays

We have been busy round here (so whats new!). Its birthday season and 4 of our kids have birthdays within a month. Chris turned 19 on Wednesday - makes me feel so old. He's not much younger than I was when I had him!! We went to Daikoku with family and friends to celebrate. As always we had a blast and the food was excellent. Chris wanted mainly cash for his birthday but we got him some small pressies too. The main one was a fress shirt from Barkers which he wore on the night and looked gorgeous in.

Natalie is 13 today. My little girl is a teenager. She has been thoroughly spoiled with a trip to Wellington for the wearable arts show, then today she and I are going to see to Mama Mia. She doesn;t know yet so it will be a real surprise.

Jaime is now on a FULL licence. He passed his driving test at Orewa last Tuesday. He is so pleased! So now he has his 'new' white corolla and a full licence. What more can an almost 17 year old want?

I have been doing some LOs for NZ Scrapbook. A lot of them feature my dad since we have not seen him for 5 yeqars and I am really grateful to have him nearby and in my childrens lives again. seeing them together brings tars to my eyes

On a not so good note poor little benji has been really sick. he came down with a croup virus and then developped bronchiolitis. I got very little sleep for a few nights and we almost ended up in the Starship. Luckily he is now fully recovered and I did the LO 'Under the Weather' to remind me not to take his good health and happy smiles for granted!

Yikes - He's 7 months old!!

I know I've said it before and its a cliche but where does the time go to? Benji is officially in the second half of his first year. At the weekend we elebrated fathers day by going to the same restaurant (the Indian Summer) where we told the family that I was expecting Benji exactly a year ago. I remember every detail of that evening as though it were yesterday. I remember thinking that this time next year we would have a baby with us sleeping in a car seat under the table - and thats exactly what it was like - apart from the sleeping in carseat bit. Benji had a ball being passed from person to person around the table. He got very vocal towards the end of the evening but fortunately the other people in the restaurant were baby lovers and thought that he was cute!

Benji has been giving me lots to scrap about. He is now sitting by himself - albeit a bit wobbly, and we found his first tiny teeth peeping through his gums a few days ago so his days of gummy grins are numbered. I have completed a few pages of him and his grandpa. I feel so blessed to have dad in our loves again. there was a time when I wondered if dad would ever get to meet his tinyest grandson. The two of them are so good for each other. Benji adores grandpa and dad seems to be comforted by holding Ben. On Sunday we all went to watch Natalie dance at her last Corelli concert and I got some priceless photos of the three generations together.

Rasberry designs, 6mth old babies and snowfun!

I have been busy designing with the gorgeous products that I have been sent by Rasberry. I am loving all their stuff! It is so easy to work with and can be used for a wide range of themes. Here are a few LOs that I have recently done using the 'Starburst" "petite" and "vintage" ranges.

On a personal note my elderly dad arrived in NZ to live two weeks ago. this was a huge deal for us all. My kids had not seen him for almost 5 years. Sophie was a tiny baby when we last were together and ofcourse dad had never met Benji. When we met him at the airport I was shocked at how old and frail dad had become. he was in a wheel chair and his breathing has deteriorated to the extent that he can no longer walk across a room without being out of breath. This is the same guy who was playing soccer in the garden with my boys 5 years ago. He has also deteriorated mentally. he is very confused and at times forgets that he is in NZ and thinks that we are visiting him in the UK. We are currently getting him settled into Lady Allum retirement village. we are hoping that he will manage in his own little cottage (he is still fiercely independent) but it is looking more like he will be needing daily care in the very near future. It breaks my heart to see him this way. My dad has always been my rock - such a strong man and even though I didn't see him often I knew that he was there for me if I ever needed him. I love my dad. I am grateful that he has this opportunity to spend quality time with his grandchildren and get to know Benji and I am happy that he is with us in NZ.

Benji is 6 months old and almost sitting. I took some cute photos of him balancing yesterday!

Sophie went to snow planet with her kindy group last Friday. It was the highlight of her month!! She loved the snow and had an absolute blast. Luckiky daddy was able to take time off work to go with her. he hjad a blast too!!