YOU Know your an Aussie

I've always considered myself Welsh first, Aussie second but after reading this i think i have to change my option LOL..(thanks Julie) YOU KNOW YOUR AN AUSSIE WHEN: 1. You're familiar with Neighbours, Home and Away, Playschool, A Country Practice, Norman Gunston, Barry Humphries, Blue Heelers, Ray Martin, Bert Newton, Lisa McCune, Jon Burgess, Number 96, Molly Meldrum, Kerry O'Brien, and of course, Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch. 2. You know that Burger King doesn't exist. It's Hungry Jacks. 3. You know that snow is a memorable and freakish occurrence. Sometimes it's even fake. 4. You know the difference between thongs and a G-banger 5. You know that 'stubbies' are either short shorts or small beer bottles, a 'gimp', 'bogan' or 'geezer' is a random idiot, someone in trouble is in 'strife' and you're liable to burst out laughing whenever you hear of Americans 'rooting' for something.4. You know how to abbreviate every word, all of which usually end in -o: arvo, combo, garbo, kero, lezzo, metho, milko, muso, rego, servo, smoko, speedo, righto etc. 5. You know that some people pronounce 'Australia' like 'Strayla' and that's ok. 6. You know that there is a universal place called 'woop woop' located in the middle of nowhere... no matter where you actually are. 7. You know that while we call our friends 'mates', we don't use terms like 'shiela' and 'shrimp on the barbie', contrary to popular belief. 8. You know that none of us actually drink Fosters beer because it tastes like shit. But we let the world think we do. Because we can. 9. You know that if a man has sex with another man, he's a homosexual, and (until recently), a criminal in Tasmania 10. You resent people who succeed over others- everyone should do the same thing, so we all get a 'fair go'; a kind of 'American-dream' in reverse. This is why we actively like not liking Americans. 11. You've seen Gallipoli, Crocodile Dundee, Young Einstein, Muriel's Wedding, The Castle, Beneath Clouds, Strictly Ballroom, 40,000 Horsemen, and maybe even Wolf Creek. 12. It makes you happy when someone in Hollywood is actually Australian... Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, Russle Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Baz Luhrman, Elle MacPherson, Olivia Newton-John, Midnight Oil, ACDC, INXS, Greg Norman, Cathy Freeman, Dawn Fraser, Pat Rafter, Ian Thorpe... 13. One word: Skippy. 14. You know that Sydney 2000 was one of our proudest moments in history. We just fucking rock. 15. You know that you are not going to die of cholera or other Third World diseases (remote Aboriginal communities are a different matter) 16. You know our country has never been conquered by a foreign nation (you don't count 1788). 17. We know that the Metric system will always be better than anything inches, feet, pounds and farenheit will ever offer 18. You drive on the left-hand side of the road. 19. If you're a pedestrian and cars are stopped at a red light, you will fearlessly cross the street in front of them. 'Hit and runs' just aren't cricket. Because aussies stick together. 20. You think of Australia as being somewhat out of place within the Asia-Pacific region; surrounded by unstable ex-colonial nations who regard you as racist, imperialist, and unfairly wealthy. 21. You know that New Zealanders are basically our naive country cousins, who have a weird fush-and-chups accent, and for some bizzare reason, think that they invented pavlova. Bastards. They are to be pitied and laughed at. They have no hope of gaining the upper hand in the endless sporting rivalry between our two nations. 22. You know that you can't eat Fantales alone... Otherwise who will you play the 'Who am I...' game with when you're reading the wrapper? 23. You know that Sydney should be the capital because Canberra is a hole. 24. You know that Americans think we're all Steve Irwin clones. And crickey, they couldn't be more wrong. 25. You know that Lawyers wear wigs and gowns. And we make it look good. 26. You have some time in your life slept with Aeroguard on in the summer. Maybe even as perfume. 27. You feel obliged to spread salty black stuff that looks like congealed motor oil on bread... and actually grow to like it. You've also squeeze Vegemite through Vita Wheats to make little Vegemite worms. 28. You believe that democracy means the freedom to draw caricatures of good ol' Johnny Howard 29. You think footballers dressing up in drag on TV is funny (but your son being gay isn't). 30. You have the ability to compress several words into one - ie 'g'day' and 'd'reckn?'. This allows more space for profanities. 31. You've ever used the words - tops, ripper, sick, mad, rad, sweet - to mean good. And then you place 'bloody' in front of it when you REALLY mean it. 32. You know that the barbeque is a political arena; the person holding the tongs is always the boss and usually a man. And the women make the salad. 33. The private lives of footy and cricket players become more important than local and national news stories. 34. You say 'no worries' quite often, whether you realise it or not. 35. You know what fairy bread tastes like, and you can't imagine your childhood without it. 36. You know the first verse to the national anthem, but still don't know what 'girt' means. And you're ok with that. 37. You've drank your tea/coffee/milo through a tim tam. 38. You know that backyard cricket is a nice way to bond with family and the rubbish bin. And the 'one bounce, one hand' rule always applies. 39. You know that we are home to the just about all of the world's deadliest of animals. That's why if anybody messes with us we'll get some funnel webs on their asses. 40. You see people walking bare-foot on the sidewalk and don't scorn.... because you're doing it too. 41. You know what trop-fest is and it makes you happy. 42. Sausage rolls and meat pies. End of story .43. You firmly believe that in the end, everything will be ok and have offered advice that included the words, 'she'll be right, mate'. 44. You have a story that somehow involves an excessive consumption of goon... but you can't remember. 45. You own a Bond's chesty. In several different colours. 46. You've ordered a steak the size as your head and only paid $5 at your local RSL 47. You know that Italy should never have been granted that fateful kick in the 2006 Soccer World Cup. 48. You know how to slip, slop, slap like it's nobody's business. 49. You've heard the Prime Minister dismiss anyone who disagrees with him simply as 'un-Australian', and that's enough to make us sit down and shut up. 50. You know that the value of a public holiday is measured in terms of alchohol. God bless the queen and her 4-day birthday. And right now you feel bloody awesome !!

LUCKY ME

well it's not a car, but it's a win LOL, i was lucky enough (with 2 other's) to have a canvas made by Michelle (link in sidebar). I love it!! It's the divine Miss Em of course!! lol..

THANKS EVER SO MUCH MICHELLE, i cant wait for the camel train to get here with it!!!!

LUCKY BOY!!

HOW LUCKY!! my brother won a car..he gets it this week after it's had a full HSV body kit put on it! SO very proud of him, he deserves a bit of luck (now i wish he would pass some onto me!!)

I was the first person he rang (cos i'm speshal!! lol) NOW all we need is for him to drive it up to sunny qld so i can rev the guts out of it LOL

The Outback Rover Returns!

WOW what an adventure! Heat, Dust, Flies, flies, flies and lots more flies!! but oh so worth it, just for the 'outback' experience! Flying, would have been faster (and yes, next time i'm flying!) BUT, in the boys words.... This is the BEST holiday EVER! They were so well behaved on the drive to Mt Isa, we were gobsmacked! lol..it must have been the investment of the incar dvd player, with 2 screens and inbuilt games player! (we had a problem with the games LOL, Aaryn, can't play the PS2, without, moving, jumping and mouth action, which simply doesn't work when you are strapped in a car! HILARIOUS wasn't the word! he managed ok though LOL and yes, got photo's). It's the first time, we've ever gone on a trip without getting lost (just keep going north, then head west! LOL) and made it in record time! We had a night in Rockhampton, (complete with train loading station right behind our cabin, which the lady on phone forgot to tell me about!), a night in Longreach (directly opposite the airport and on the highway, which the lady forgot to tell us about LOL) and 3 nights at Argylla in Mt Isa (which was perfect!! no noise at all). All went very smoothly, no faults with the car (a first!) except for perhaps one speed freak husband who when told by the 'speedo and talking clock on the back seat aka Cameron' that if he didn't slow down, he would get into trouble, kept telling Cam that we were in the outback and there wasn't a cop for miles!!! oh is that so??? so what's this then??? chopped liver?? LOL.. looks very much like a COP to me!! He wouldn't let me take the photo (the cop that is oh and gary too LOL) so i hid, much to Cameron's disgust, behind my seat and took it through the back window!! as if it wasn't bad enough having a speed freak, law breaking father, Cameron was mortified to have his mother 'break the law'too, by taking the photo! Hayley was absolutely dumbstruck when we rocked up at her place a day early!! (after ringing her 5 minutes before landing at her place to tell her we were in Longreach LOL). Well worth the secret, just to see her burst into tears!!

Will update with more details after dinner! so much to tell, so little time (and only 345 photo's taken tut tut tut!!)

my goodness another photo!

I'm getting the hang of taking my photo by myself LOL only because i asked cameron very nicely to take my photo tonight, for a layout i needed to do for the dc's, he agreed and then we had a photo shoot, he had my lying on the floor, looking here, looking there, saying how lovely the pics were, took about 20 in all, when i checked them, the little horror had indeed taken photo's BUT, i wasn't in any of them LOL..he thought it was ever so funny, watching me, be a "model for a moment" it's sort of like, having your photo taken then finding out there is no film in the camera!!! lol..ANYWAY here is the photo i ended up taking myself.. I altered it to 'soften it' a bit, swelling is going down heaps and i almost (said ALMOST) look like i normally do!

Happy birthday to my BLOG!

I can't believe i missed my blogs birthday LOL...13th April 2006 it was and guess what? i still dont know what i'm doing LOL...so much has happened this year, so my plan for the next 12 months is to try and update at least weekly and make it more interesting. (well as interesting as my boring life will allow!!) .............................................................................................................................................................................. More injuries in the Youd household. ..... AARYN (again lol) has a broken toe. No pictures, *sighs of relief heard!*.. he was on his skateboard and it somehow flew up in the air and caught his middle toe on the way up or down i dont remember the details..The said TOE is now, a lovely shade of blue/black and not as swollen as it was on Sunday, then it was really black and very fat! It happened Sunday morning and Aaryn showed us just after his shower on Sunday night, a good 6 hours after the event!! He didn't cry or anything, just kept on playing, he said it didn't hurt at the time but was throbbing after the shower, probably because he relaxed? who knows, he did TRY to get the day off school, but that didn't work, so proudly went to school yesterday and today with one shoe and sock and a thong! very trendy indeed! He has just started to whinge about the pain again (a nightly thing to gain sympathy and a day off!) and is extremely happy because i have told him he can have tomorrow off school! Penny will drop soon enough, he'll realize it's a holiday LOL. I'm off to TSH tomorrow to have a day's peace?? lol, so must get some packs made up to take with me, i'm hoping to get at least 2 layouts done tomorrow LOL (planning big!!)

A pic!

not a very good photo of me, but then, i never take a good photo LOl i'm still a bit swollen and looking more like Theodore, than ever! (Luke has been calling me Theodore, his favorite chipmunk, since i had them done!!)..Gosh i must get over to see L to have my brows done..i look frightful, The added bonus of the procedure is WEIGHT LOSS!! oh yes..i've lost heaps, well i think i have, my capri's have become rather big in the legs and Gary was having a laugh at how baggy the bum of my jeans were yesterday!! so..i think that's a very good bonus LOL..

Emily's Adventure!!

I copied this off Hayley's blog to save me time in explaining!!! (hope you dont mind Hayley, there's been a lot of worried people out there!) well it was bound to happen soon, but i never thought it would be emily in hospital first! she decided she could fly and jumped off the couch, but just like her mum she hurt herself lol!! we called an ambulance cos she screamed whenever she moved her head. When they came they put her in a neck brace and had to strap her onto an adult leg brace cos she is so small!! she looked so cute but you could see she was hurting. The ambulance officer told me to take a PHOTO!! i looked at her a bit weird wondering if she was a scrapbooker lol!! Before we left for hospital they got her to suck on those green stick things like on tv and it knocked her out. After me and ben stopped panicking off we went in the ambulance. and that is where it all went sour. Mt Isa hospital is the worst! seriously.It took ages to find out anything at all. She went in for a CT scan and because we are in a mining town when she was halfway throught he machine the mines decided to let off explosives (Which they do religiously at 8pm) so as u could imagine i was in the waiting room panicking because the walls were shaking and all i could hear was em screaming!! it must have been so scary! when she came out she had a big smile!! she had 2 big stickers on her arm but she was not happy about the CT scan. She said she didnt want to go back in the washine machine pmsl!! Out if that scan they said they THINK she has a fracture in the base of her skull. THINK!!! i couldnt beleive it. we stayed in overnight hoping to find out more the next day. she had another CT scan much to her disgust and yes it was a fracture so she had to be very careful. but that night she was walking around and jumping off the hospital bed! i couldnt keep her still! the doctor said we were able to go home the next morning but when he came around that morning he seemed to have forgotten our conversation because then he said he wanted her in for another night!!!!! When ben came up i was beside myself!! so we ended up having a big talk to each doctor and all the nurses. Ben came agutsa with 1 nurse and i did the same thing with another nurse. she told me she knows it is slow but i had to understand we were in a remote area! i had to laugh!! people get sick here too!!but we are home now finally and she is still being a ratbag. 'but she is a kid and thats what they do' as dad would say lol. we are just happy it wasnt more serious.

BLAH

I've been feeling 'off' for the last couple of days, thought it was just frustration, but no, I have a low grade infection, the dentist said he'll take a good look on Thursday, doesn't want to give me any anti's just at the moment because i've got so much other stuff still in my system (i take ages to get over sedation). Last night I had a shocker, hardly slept, so this morning, when the kids went to school, (hooray) i just upped the pain killers and got rid of that bloody pain. I feel all floaty still LOL..My temp seems to have gone down a bit now, face isn't so sore, still very puffy though and my body is going through it's..lets get rid of this foreign object (apparently all normal!!). Feeling very weird. I managed to eat some pumpkin soup last night, but have no energy today to cook anything for myself so will just drink tea and have some milkshakes. I had to pull out of a competition i had entered because of the way i feel and just dont want to hold anyone back etc. I am feeling useless AND i'm supposed to be starting back at work tomorrow..SOMETIMES it sucks being your own boss, i have no one to cover for me, so I have to do the job (it's only 2 hours, i'm sure B wont mind if i ring in sick, but i hate doing that)..so i'm going to go lie on the couch and feel sorry for myself until the kids get home !! (just because I can!)...(remind me?? why did i do this to myself??? sadist!!!)

I TOLD THEM THIS WOULD HAPPEN!!!

BUT would anyone listen to me NO, Old mum doesn't know what she is talking about, what would she know? she just doesn't like us having fun..dont exaggerate mum, things like that dont happen in real life!! these are just some of the answers i hear when i say DONT PLAY WITH STICKS!!!!! for years, i've been telling the 2 boys, that they are NOT ninja's, they are NOT Gandalf, they are NOT warriors, they are little boys who do NOT know what they are doing! but what would I know being JUST a mum!! SO today it happened........STICK INJURY....I heard them outside and decided not to tell them to be careful (probably because i couldn't anyway!) then came the blood curdling scream...in came Cam, blood just pouring out of his mouth, I just froze and then over so calmly said..." I TOLD YOU SO!!" & cleaned him up, thought it may have needed stitches but he was lucky THIS TIME!! Aaryn had 'thrown the spear' and got him fair smack in the lip, one of his top teeth had come out a few days ago, and the 'spear' also clipped that resulting in a big gash in his gum (couldn't get a pic of that, he couldn't open his mouth wide enough). He has now promised to never play with sticks again. Aaryn thought he had killed him and was no-where to be found, thinking he was going to get into big trouble, BUT we decided NOT to do anything! no grounding, no telling off...just a 'now look what you've done to your brother" and made him apologise. After dinner, i saw him go up to Cam, cuddle him and say, "i'm sorry, i didn't really want to kill you, it was an accident and it will never happen again, because i wont use a sharp stick next time' ARGHHG... I cant put in here what Cam's reply was, BUT he didn't get into trouble for swearing (this time!!) I dont think there'll be any stick playing at our house for quite a while now..(big sigh!!) ....... TESS UPDATE: i have been feeling a bit off today, tired, hungry etc, pain is not really what you would call pain and not at all what i was expecting so quite happy with that BUT have had a bit of a reaction to the anti-inflamitory's the dentist gave me (at least i'm hoping that's what it is) we have just noticed that my face has puffed up and I have a red rash (not itchy) all over my cheeks..The dentist is ringing me tomorrow so I shall mention it to him I guess, I'm allergic to so many pills etc, that i was really nervous about taking the ones he gave me, finished them all now so it may go soon!! I tried to scrap a bit this arvie, but couldn't concentrate, so have only covered Bronwyn's B for her birthday next week. I quite like it the way it is LOL, but have to just embellish it a bit with some black and white flowers, ribbons and charms...hopefully i can concentrate on that tomorrow and then try to catch up on the mounting DC's i have here to do!!!

IT'S OVER!!!!

BEFORE PIC...

and i feel GREAT!!...no pain..no really, the pain left at about 5.30 yesterday afternoon, i've had NO pain killers since 7.30 last night. and slept like a baby all night!!..the procedure well LOL so embarrassing..was relatively calm, filled in forms, told gary to stop acting like a pratt and leave me abloodylone, he was stirring me up, receptionist asked what name to put on his contact i said AH she did and then asked what did that stand for, arsehole i said ROFLMAO she laughed so hard..but then put his real name on!! met anaesthetitist(sp) and he was lovely only wouldn't take his mask off so i wouldnt recognise him again..that got me giggling and saying..i'm an anaeth..you cant see my face on tv...I've always wanted to say that to someone..(when i get nervous i get the sillies!!)..that went ok...then he said come through to the big room now..ok..easy...gary walked in with me, i sat in 'the big chair' gary patted my arm AND I HAD TOTAL MELTDOWN! I was hysterical, the nurses were trying to console me, Gary was beside himself, (so was i) In came my lovely dentist, who also tried to console me by showing me my new teeth (not what i wanted to see), so while they were all busy trying to calm me down John put me out! dont remember a bloody thing after that sorry, cant give gorey details. It was a very happy place I was in..i remember hearing them talking about houses, blue houses, when i came back from happy place, the dentist said they were talking about what teeth to pull and how many stitches etc i was having, no houses LOL my subconcious was hearing their voices but making it something i wanted to hear...HOUSES??? lol...must be tina and hayley's big moves on my mind!..anyway..looked like alvin chipmunk, had a fair bit of pain when i got home. Cam took a couple of pics of me when i got into bed, couldn't sleep..etc as to be expected..took some mercydol and out like a light, managed to eat some custard about 8 ish had the pill the anaethetist gave me for swelling (have 3 more) and that's all i remember until this morning! checked the mirror..majorly dissapointed!! i have no swelling, well maybe just a tiny bit and 2 small grazes but thats all!!!..so what did i end up getting done?? full plate and all bottom back extracted, we decided to go against the bottom place while i still have all front bottom teeth as they wouldnt stay in (which is normal), instead of refund i asked them to keep payment for the dental hygenist i'm going to see, a lot easier that way!! anyway after all that, i feel just great, have to go and take the plate out which i'm trying to put off lol scared about that!!! BIG THANK you to everyone for prayers, emails, texts, and just for being there when i needed the support most!!!! Here's an after pic...will take more today!!

TODAY!!

IS the DAY!!, in 3 hours i'll be a quivering mess! but for now, i'm feeling remarkably calm, had a couple of hours sleep, only because i kept opening my eyes to make sure i didn't sleep past 5am so i could eat and drink something LOL, how sad is that..I've had my 'last supper' (or should that be breakfast?) am dying for another cup of tea, but that's a no-no..had my Arnica which i've been taking religiously for a week now and beginning to quite like the taste! have to keep taking it for a week or 2 after the surgery, it's supposed to help with bruising and swelling..We'll see shall we LOL..Have to have a giggle at the Arnica..The boys saw me taking it a few days ago and I told them what it was for, so they asked if they could taste it..no harm, it's natural..they are allowed 2 sprays every 4 hours...(i haven't told them that..i told them 1 lol...) anyway, i now find out that they have been having a spray every morning and night on their own, so that they wont get bruised when jumping out of the tree, off roofs etc... How's that for logic! I'm surprised they like it..it's bitter, but you get a funny sort of nice after taste, which they both LOVE! strange children!! WELL, i'm going to go and try to get an hours snooze..yeah like that's going to happen! i'll lie on bed and look at ceiling! have to go to chemist at 9 to pick up pain relief and ice packs. Thank you EVERYONE for your email's and sms's today (already!!) BIG thanks to Jackie and Debbie for your ongoing daily support and almost hourly reassurances etc, (and Michelle's K, for letting me know it's 'not that bad!!') ..I have put new batteries in camera Debbie!!! and will try to get someone to take a photo of me when i get home! LMAO i might even set up the tripod and do it myself..oh that will be funny i'm sure!!!...shall try to update tomorrow or Sunday..wont try tonight..well, will see how i go LOL..

THE MOON PERHAPS??

The joys of being a mother of BOYS! today they have been quite feral, i for one will be glad when they have gone to bed and will have a well deserved drink (or 2!). Their antics today, leave much to be desired, but it seems i'm not alone, quite a few people have had problems with kids today!! must be the moon. I took these pics of the boys, not long ago, they dragged the trampoline over to the shed and took turns jumping off..They also thought i was going to use the photo's as 'evidence' of their naughtiness..hmm that's not a bad idea!! but now they are sitting nicely waiting for dinner, after having showers to wash away the 'badness'..I hope tomorrow is a better day...i do, because their sister is babysitting them while i work LOL hmm, maybe overtime is in order tomorrow LOL

3 more sleeps!

only 3 more days to go until D. day...to say i'm nervous is an understatement. I'm snapping at everyone who even mentions the D word and haven't slept properly for about a week now, the closer it's getting the less sleep i'm having! have been throwing myself into work or scrapping to take my mind off it, but the minute i have 5 minutes to just sit..i start to worry that something is going to go wrong. What if the anaesthetic doesn't work and i feel everything?? so many what if's going through my mind at the moment. If it wasn't 100% paid for, i'm sure, i'd have cancelled the appointment by now!!

How I miss them

hayley sent this little video clip of her and the kids yesterday, How i miss them. I fiddled around a bit and worked out how to put it in here, it stalls then starts, but you get to see how much they have grown and how brayden isn't a baby anymore..when did he start to talk and look at that hair!!! have i said how much i miss them?? I cant wait for our trip up there in about 3 weeks (or is it 4?). i wish they were all here, i miss having cuddles off Miss Em, and kisses off Bray. I just want them home with their nanna, who has no little girl to spoil here anymore and well, to be honest, Tina doesn't like me dressing Keiran and Evan in dresses for some reason LOL..I have to laugh at that video clip, Hayley has the whole chinese video happening, voice first then her mouth moves and Emily doesn't want to talk, just make rrrrrrr noises with her tongue, which is her newest trick!! and what is with the lollipop kids song in the background LOL Emily's new wizard of oz dvd that is on loop LOL...it was Hayley's favorite movie as a kid and Em loves it now too..

picnic?? when??

Gary came home from work and announced we are going up the range for a picnic, which translates to fish and chips or pies in the park up there, GREAT the kids love it there and photo opportunities for me!! so...quickly finished the layout i was working on, showered, got kids ready and WE ARE STILL HERE 2 hours later..HE thought bef0re we go, he should put some baits down for the dreaded revolting vermin that have been having parties in the roof and walls (happens every year to the whole street)..now that was at 11.am it's now 1.30..i've got half a roof, and he's just popped to bunnings to buy more bait , it looks like it might rain, his battery on his cordless drill is flat (because he never charges it and that apparently is my fault). Kids are starving, dont feed them he says, we'll be going soon!!..If we do go anywhere today it will be a miracle. I'm so tempted to start my last vc BUT I know the minute i do that, he'll walk in the door and say WHAT??? I thought you wanted to go on a picnic (and then once again, it will be my fault we are running late!!)

CHILDREN To those of us who have children in our lives,whether they are our own,grandchildren,nieces,nephews,or students...here is something to make you chuckle.Whenever your children are out of control,you can take comfort from the thought thateven God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children.After creating heaven and earth,God created Adam and Eve.And the first thing He said was"DON'T!" "Don't what?"Adam replied. "Don't eat the forbidden fruit."God said. "Forbidden fruit?We have forbidden fruit?Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit!" "No Way!" "Yes way!" "Do NOT eat the fruit! "said God. "Why?" "Because I am your Father and I said so! "God replied,wondering why He hadn't stoppedcreation after making the elephants.A few minutes later,God saw His children having an apple breakand He was ticked!"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit? "God asked. "Uh huh,"Adam replied. "Then why did you? "said the Father."I don't know,"said Eve. "She started it! "Adam said. "Did not! " "Did too! " "DID NOT! " Having had it with the two of them,God's punishment was that Adam and Eveshould have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed. BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it,don't be hard on yourself.If God had trouble raising children,what makes you think it would bea piece of cake for you? THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!1. You spend the first two years of their lifeteaching them to walk and talk. Then you spendthe next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up. 2. Grandchildren are God's rewardfor not killing your own children. 3. Mothers of teens now know whysome animals eat their young. 4. Children seldom misquote you.In fact,they usually repeat word for wordwhat you shouldn't have said. 5. The main purpose of holding children's partiesis to remind yourself that there are childrenmore awful than your own.6. We childproofed our homes,but they are still getting in. ADVICE FOR THE DAY:Be nice to your kids.They will choose yournursing home one day. AND FINALLY: IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSIONAND YOU GET A HEADACHE,DO WHAT IT SAYSON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE: "TAKE TWO ASPIRIN"AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"!!!!!

Monkey's mother!!

Aaryn had a stack on his rollerblades not once, not twice but 3 times. I took photo's the first time, the 2nd time i thought about it and by the 3rd time i was totally over the 'my son has hurt himself' photo's...even though the last time was the best, resulting in skin off both knees and a huge bruise. (i'm so caring, i didn't even know he had hurt himself the 3rd time he didn't show us until bath time LOL) he's a tough nut that one, Last week, he put Gary's extension ladder up against the palm tree and up he went...we heard a god almight crash and screams...ran outside to see him under the ladder, yes, it had come down (well crashed really) Cameron said it was like a movie, the ladder slid to one side, Aaryn held on for dear life and just 'rode it to the ground'. We thought he had broken his arm and leg but no, he cried for about 2 minutes then jumped on his bike to prove nothing was broken. NOW the ladder is hung up so he cant get to it. we had to remove all the lattice work from the back of the house when he was 3 because he could use it like a ladder and get on the roof of the house, i could never get him down and had to always get the neighbour or gary to get up there and get the wretched child down! In comparison, he is identical to Luke, he used to climb onto the roof, jump off the roof, nothing was safe. I have a large tree, just outside where i scrap, quite often i look out to see, Mr Monkey up in the branches, it was hilarious on Friday to look out and see him and Luke up the tree, I grabbed my camera but they saw me and jumped out. I will get that photo!!! I guess my kids are just tough nuts i dont know. Hayley used to be always breaking herself, once she fell off her rollerblades and broke her wrist another time she was getting on her bike, managed to get her leg caught and fell, breaking her wrist again, she dislocated her knee playing soccer, cut her finger opening a can of dog food (that was hilarious, she had to have gas just to have stitches, and then only had 2 stitches LOL)..and the best was when told to clean up her disgusting messy bedroom..yes..she tripped over the clothes on the floor and fractured HER WRIST ... Tina is the only one i haven't had to take to emergency (unless you count childbirth LOL..) we had a time when we lived at the ER and i'm sure child welfare services had a file on us LOL. Although, we haven't been since Aaryn, jumped off the shed roof, did a somersault and landed head first on the concrete slab. slight concussion they said..i wanted an xray done to see if the child had a brain in his head!! apparently they take after their father, who was a bit of a daredevil in his hayday. I get a bit complacent, being the mother of a monkey i guess. That is why, poor Luke, walked around with a shattered shoulder-blade for nearly 3 months, i got sick of hearing him whinge about how his shoulder went pop every time he lifted his arm up, it didn't hurt much he said, just went pop, so we went to the doctor who said it was a torn ligament, so off for reconstruction surgery, only to find when he went under, that the complete shoulder was shattered and the only thing holding his arm on was the tendon, the doc was stunned..he had titanium pins to hold the shoulder together and that was supposed to be permanent, but a couple of years later, you could see the 'bolt' through his skin, so he had to have it removed. OH YES tough nuts my kids...sometimes i wish they were 'sookies' but then i'd only tell them to get tough LOL

THANK YOU

just wanted to say a BIG thank you to everyone who commented for your support and well wishes. The closer the day gets, the more scared i'm becoming. Debbie Y came for coffee, i was shaking just telling her about it LOL so she can vouch for my nerves. Really dont know how i'm going to get there in 14 more sleeps!! BTW i've changed the appointment time..having it done at 10am now, just really want it over and out of the way!!

NY resolution COMPLETED!!

For years, i've hated my smile (aka teeth), tried not to smile in photo's (which result in my looking usually gormless) and get very embarrassed if people look to closely at my mouth. One of my NY resolutions was to do something about it, SO, last week, I went and had my quote done! NOW, to say I am petrified of the dentist is an understatement. Tina and Monika had to escort me in the door (to make sure i actually went in), the longer I had to wait, the paler I got and by the time the Dentist called me in, I was in a state of panic, sweat pouring off me, i sat in his chair and burst into tears i was so frightened, he thought he'd have to sedate me just to do the exam, he was very nice and didn't even use his 'counting stick', gave me a sticker and balloon afterwards too!! After all that, the quote wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, (although Gary nearly fainted when i showed him, and yes, he did say..I COULD BUY MY NEW BOAT MOTOR FOR THAT WIH CHANGE!!! rofl) TODAY, i had my first impressions done (nearly threw up in fear but I managed to get myself to the dentist ON MY OWN!!!!!!) He was impressed that I came back and told me I should be congratulated, he has never seen anyone as frightened as me before!!! I go back next Monday for my final impression and choose the 'colour' ( i want movie star WHITE lol) and then on FRIDAY THE 13th (OMG couldn't they have chosen a better date) at 2pm, i go under sedation and have my procedure. TO say i'm excited would be a lie, i'm actually Petrified, apprehensive, Terrified, nervous and perhaps maybe just a tad excited. I keep trying to imagine what it's going to look like. but naturally i cant..I can say however, that when the receptionist told me that the bill was 100% paid for, i felt like sitting down and crying as there was no turning back. To be sure, it's the best present i've given myself, one that is going to help my self esteem a bit (I hope), and i may even start to smile more in photo's!!!!

Pyromanic in the making???

Close call or what??? Gary was sitting on couch watching TV..i was blogging and scrapping (multi tasking !!)...now, my scrapdesk and computer are behind the couch with my back towards the lounge/hall and bedrooms...you get the picture?...Gary jumps up and heads calmly into Aaryn's bedroom (the first bedroom just off the lounge)..i hear him say.."you stupid little boy, your mother is going to kill you..just as well i smelt that isn't it?"...i turned around and said..smelt what/? then i smelt it..burning...the little SNOT had decided to do a little experiment...tore a page out of his book, and put it against the bedside lamp to see what would happen..oh yes..it scorched, thank god thats all it did, his bed is near his window, had it ignited, his curtains would have gone up first. I raced in, expecting to see a remorseful face at least, but no...the little TOAD was smirking, SMIRKING!!!! He isn't smirking now though, he has no bedlamp, no sony and a sore backside!! I'm only glad (for once lol) that Gary was home, because i wouldn't have smelt it until it was too late...I've stopped shaking now, just goes to show how quickly things can happen...(and i'm so glad we have insurance!!!!)

GREAT WEEKEND

WHAT a weekend in Maryborough it was, no sleep. lots of laughing, dips in the pool, dinner at the RSL and even managed to squeeze in a few layouts and 1 class!! the slide show's some of the pics taken in such a short time. Can't wait until the next weekend away!!!

OFF TO MARYBOROUGH!!!

SO EXCITED, 8 of us are heading off to Maryborough for a mini scrapping retreat at our friend Chrissie's house.. We've got mini classes happening, and Miss Maree is bringing along her new Click'n'Cut, for us to play with, if i like it I may think seriously about buying the Robo-cutter. I haven't seen Chrissie since just before Christmas, we were joined at the hip before she moved away so i can't really see much scrapping getting done, but you never know!! Thankfully, I haven't unpacked my scrap stash since SWIG, so all i have to do is throw it all in the car complete with NEW massage chair (other one died at J's the other night so Joyce Mayne, gave me a new upgraded model so i'm a happy camper!!!), RSL for dinner Saturday night should be nice!! Shall share pics when i get back on Monday!!!....

at last!!

Someone has recognised my potential....i've alway's said your a wonderful person Heike..the cheques in the mail!!!!!!!

The NEW improved TSH Inspiration team..

check out Bev's face....ROFL...

My moment of Glory..................

what a fantastic weekend..I have never laughed so much, Bev is just hilarious and just the best fun..even when i kicked her off the Inspiration Team and took over as scrapper extroadinare, now to be known as anon-Y-mous of buderim, she is a dreadful woman really and cases ALL my layouts, passing them off as her own etc, so it was about time i 'got even'. I even had my very own apron and name tag..but unfortunately, because Bev the scrapper from Nerang, had a tissy fit about being 'caught out' etc i reluctantly had to 'resign' my position and hand it back to her, but not to worry, i shall be sending her 'proofs' of my layouts for her to case after all, it's the only way i'm going to be published and well, she might as well have the glory and it's not really a coincidence that our daughters have the same name and also our grand-daughters too (who happen to belong to the daughters with the same name)...OK..i'll let you all in on the secret now...her daughter H's real name is Esmerelda and her grand-daughter E is really called Demelza, so now you can see why she has to name them the same as mine (also makes casing easier, she only has to remove my photo's and put her own there!!)

(THANKS BEV, for being not only a great friend but also one bloody hell of a good sport!!!!)

NOTE: this was a huge joke, by no means am i really on the design team, just a joke between 'friends'..that is all

Darer's go first??

I was issued a dare, by Jackie and Bev at SWIG..never one to back down from a dare i decided i would carry through when i got home.. SO ladies..yes..i came home, told my lovely husband how pleased i was to see him and how much i missed him, after 2 nights without him..gave him a huge kiss, put my tongue down his throat (as dared!)..choked him...the funeral is on THURSDAY...thanks a lot!!!!!!

I am so SLACK!

i mean that metaphorically, NOT literally LOL..look how long it has been since i blogged, DISGUSTING. I guess, however it means i have a life??..hmm..what has happened during January..WELL my brother, his wife and kids came to visit for 4 days. Will tell all later and add pics!...We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary..will tell all later...kids went back to school HOORAY!!!! Today is Gary's birthday, so i'm home NOT scrapping at daisy's (bah)..next week is SWIG so looking forward to getting away! Hayley and the kids move in on Monday, moving to mt isa on the 23rd, so i have 20 or so sleeps to try to persuade her to stay..i dont think that's going to happen...what else has been happening??? cant think at the moment...i think i'll try to find time over the weekend to add some photo's and do something interesting in here, well ihave to before my computer is taken over...hell that's why i haven't been in here LOL, Haylz keeps stealing the computer and i can never get online!!!!!!!!! my excuse..i'm sticking to it!!! oh...aaryn asked me tonight why when you die are you put in the ground?? my reply..(i'm very technical) because there is no room in the fridge....the look on his face was a classic!!!! yes i'm a horrible mother LOL

I cant believe it's all over!

Well, here we are, BOXING DAY already! Where has December gone? Christmas day, has been and gone, everyone is totally happy with this years pressies and peace reigns in the Youd household (for a few days anyway!). A big surprise for us on Christmas eve! Rosso, Lukes mate who is like a 4th son to us, walked down our driveway!! (he moved to Ingham about 18 months ago or more), I was only saying to Luke the day before, how much i missed him coming for his Christmas Dinner (he was bought up Jehovah, and had never had Christmas before he met us, he has spent every Christmas day at our house for the last 4 years, I felt overwhelmed that he had driven down especially to be with us! and to make it all the better, i had no idea!!)

Cameron received some (much needed?) PSP accessories and games and of course..the guiness book of records! Aaryn finally got his batman blaster and Hero guitar (which is one of the best sony accessories and i just love it!).

We had a great day starting at Tina's for Brekkie, Where Poppy, dressed as Santa and seemed to really enjoy his new role in life!! (very worrying lol)

then over to Hayley's for lunch and then back to ours for dinner! why do we just seem to eat all day?

Finished the day with the traditional Poker match! (hayley bought gary a poker set, so the 'boys' were very professional this year LOL.. (photo, Gary

, Rosso, Luke, Tina's head and Zeb)

I always feel a little sad on Boxing day so see Christmas gone, this year is the same, although not as bad as we get to do it all again in 2 weeks when my brother arrives!!...

It will soon be time to take down all the lights outside, but we'll leave them on for another week, AT least it's not going to be so hectic as it has been and we'll be able to relax and enjoy the Christmas season, hopefully do something nice new years eve with all the kids!

In regards to our wishing well, we have raised in excess of $300 for the precious babies at NGH, so will leave the well out until after new year, for passer's-by (we had heaps in last night, but left them to their own devices, we needed time out lol)..

I think to date, Christmas 2006 has been our best yet! Good friends, family and lots of love, that's the secret!!

Love this pic of Aaryn..the kewl dude he is!!

TA..DA..

and here is the finished project!!!...well most of it..you cant see the 8ft santa's on the lawn to the right of santa's workshop (aka the garage lol).. lights on the roof, move,and you cant quite see the blue drop lights that go along the front of the house between the blue poles..nor can you see the G'day Mate sign behind the palm tree, shall put in more photo's later, i was just learning how to use camera with aperture and some other technical term tonight LOL...

FINALLY

Fairy lights finished!

The end of painting the lights has arrived. I've painted 2050 bulbs this year now all that's left to do is put them up. I've just put the igloo into the garden and Gaz has to get on the roof and put up Santa and Rudolph and the other Santa in the chimney..The fairy goes on a 20ft pole to go up the 30ft Christmas tree in the front yard!!! BUT as luck would have it..it's too windy to get on the roof or put a pole up, so he's having the day off work tomorrow, hopefully it will be done then. That's it then, finished, ready for the big tour to start on Saturday!!..bit excited this year as a little birdy told me the newspaper is coming to surprise us with a little interview, quite famous, We've already been mentioned on the radio as we are fund-raising for the hospital and they arranged a little announcement to get the ball rolling!! which reminds me. THE WISHING WELL, has to be pulled out and put in the front garden with the signs around it. I guess everyone is sick and tired about hearing about the lights but to be honest, that's all that's happening here at the moment..give me til next week, then it's 3 of the 5 kids birthdays ..YES..3 of them in the space of 6 days!! Hayley on the 15th, Tina on the 20th and Cam on the 21st!! not to mention Monika (adopted daughter of sorts!!) on the 19th and her Citizenship ceremony on the same day..an exciting time for everyone!!... 20 MORE SLEEPS TO GO and then it's all over for another year!! (and still no presents bought, how slack i have been this year indeed!!!)

just an ordinary update!!!

Not a lot happening in this household other than LIGHTS, LIGHTS and more LIGHTS! we still haven't finished decorating but have to be by Friday ready for the start of the Wonderland of Lights tour!! I'll be painting light bulbs until new year the way i'm going, i'm still to paint the 6ft fairy and the 6ft santa going down the chimney, touch up some of the ones already up and paint the igloo doorway!! shouldn't take too long LOL...I'm going to work out exactly how many lights there are later too (just a bit of mathematics, Cameron will help me,!!! you get sick of people asking how many and just saying..A LOT..so this year i'm going to stump them by giving them a number LOL..) We are collecting for the Special Baby Care Unit at the hospital, so hope we can raise lots of $$ for them. Had the kids carols last night, we lasted 45 minutes! Absolutely DREADFUL, had to have them in the highschool hall because of rain, it was hot, stuffy and far too noisy, trying to fit a whole school into a far to small area, kids running riot, and the school band that they had were just woeful! couldn't hear the kids for the noise coming off the school, the classes were to have gone onstage at 5.30 at 6pm we were still waiting for the wretched noise makers to get off the stage so kids could get on..Usually our carols are one of the best around, but the last 2 years have been shocking..wont be going next year if they are in the hall, BRING BACK THE OVAL i say!!!..Cameron was pleased to leave as well, he said he wont go again!! Aaryn was not to pleased to say the least, he was having fun playing on the oval with his mates, and couldn't understand why we were so hot and frazzled..(probably because the man sitting beside me who i didn't know, was clapping so loudly, singing along to the songs just as badly as the kids and gave me a migraine) to add insult to injury, Miss Emily, decided that nanna's boobies would make a really good chair, so promptly, stood on my legs and then plopped her bottie square on them, she was the only comfortable person in the room LOL..when trying to get her off, the man beside me had a thrill, as my top came down with her and the 'seating arrangement' was revealed to all!! shall update with some photo's of the weekend later, i'm off to Tina's to do a bit of much needed christmas present scrapping now!!

Starting early!

This year, we have put up the tree a bit earlier than usual (well only 4 day's i'm sure nothing bad will happen)..we've just got so much on Friday that i'm sure we wouldn't have time to do it..what with outside to light up, and everyone coming to see that..The boys had a ball doing it, with absolutely no interference from mum! (which was really hard, but i didn't..ok i did..just once..i put my scotland and paris ornaments where they could be seen LOL)..have to yet put a little ribbon on the back of my little welsh doll and scottish doll to be used as a decoration too!! The boys did a really good job, it was funny to watch them step back to admire, then tweak and remove ornaments too close together..I thinkthey must be growing up!

It was Cam's turn to put the Angel on the top which he did just fine!!..

(probably not as lavish as other tree's but it's ours!! plain and simple!!)

The countdown to Christmas has begun. Today I got out the tree and Hayley made it all straight and tidy ready for me to mess up with decorations. Couldn't resist taking a few (well 30) photo's of the delightful Miss Em, just loved this blooper, which turned out quite cute...Emily trying to blow out the xmas lights!!! Aaryn was being a little snot today, so out came the telephone to ring the big fat man. I was having a very animated conversation with Santa (him and i are great friends you know), when suddenly the phone I was holding, rang!!! oh the embarrassment of it all..I've never been caught out before..and by the likes of a little snot too!!he had rung the house phone from my mobile to see if i was really on it, me thinks he is getting to old for THAT trick!!he hasn't let me live it down at all..I shall get him though...my brother is on standby, with his santa voice ready!!..It's a well known fact that I love everything Christmas..We had a test run of the lights extravaganza tonight and have to admit to feeling a little choked up when the kids went AWWW dad, it's fantastic..and we haven't even finished putting them up yet..Quote of the week has to be miss Em, when leaving the house today..looked at poppy, put her hands in the air and proclaimed..I JUST LOVE IT...I LOVE IT ALL...IT'S LOVELY!!! just too cute!!

birthday photos

what do you think??

SO,..what do you think of the new blog look?? i kinda like it!!..and clever me worked out how to replace music AND i'm finding the new beta blogger much easier and user friendly!!!

Birthday Fun

I had a wonderful birthday last week..lots of goodies came my way..a massage chair off gary and the boys, box of choccies off the boys...Tina made me the cutest photo box and gave me an assortment of goodies from the LSS. Hayley and the kids presented me with a beautiful vase with stick things in it!(how technical am i!!)..2 blue cannisters off Chris..beautifully decorated letter T off Tassie Deb...some beautiful earings off my adopted mother Heather, hand decorated card of adopted aunty Jenny and a $20 gift voucher for LSS off Jackie!! (with which i bought my photo album for my BOM. A party was had at daisy's, all the girls were going to be there..imagine my surprise when, out of the blue i heard a voice yell at me across the room..DONT JUST STAND THERE, HELP ME GET MY STUFF IN HERE!! i looked up to see Chris standing there, with the biggest grin on her face..I just froze, burst into tears and couldn't believe what my eyes were telling me.(see the photo, you can tell i've been bawling LOL) I hadn't seen her since swig, and she drove down after work especially to surprise me..WOW..even Tina never told!! (she actually avoided me for a couple of days so she wouldn't tell me LOL).. Jackie bought me a mud cake YUMMMYYY...photo's were taken..posed even LOL.. I sure wont forget my 46th birthday for quite a long time i reckon!!!.. ok having probs with naughty blogger uploading photos will post them later!!

Restaurant

The name of the restaurant was.....THE NAKED TURTLE...Kings Beach....YUMMMMMMMMM

WHAT a Night!!!!

Sunday night was one of the best nights out EVER (dare I even say, more fun than Michael Crawford concert! and that's saying something!).. First we went out for a nice dinner, just the 2 of us at The Naked Turtle at Kings Beach..the GARLIC PRAWNS are a MUST HAVE..just thinking about them makes my mouth water, reasonable prices too and the main courses were FANTASTIC (i had boring FishnChips, but they were the best i've ever tasted and so much!!)..Then we went to the Cultural Centre to pick up our tickets and wait for the Smokie Concert to start. First there was this guy singing (whose name i cant remember, Dennis someone) he was WOEFUL..he sang a song about going to the river to drown or something like that, i remember thinking..if he doesn't stop singing, i'll personally take him to the river and drown him. LOL..then on came Phil Emanuel..WOW WOW that man knows how to strum a guitar...AMAZING...then the highlight.,..SMOKIE!!!!!...WOWZERS!!!! They haven't lost any of their appeal, charisma, vim and vitality at all, I dont know where they get their energy, but boy do they know how to have an audience eat out of their hands.. They had us singing with them, up in our seats dancing..YES they even sang ALICE and everyone at the appropriate moments yelled out ** who the F**k is Alice** just like my cousin said we would LOL..oh so funny..I was so pumped..was a bit reserved at first because there was a man sitting beside me and he told me before the concert he hoped i wasn't one of 'those' women who liked to sing and dance along with the group..(and it wasn't gary) after about the 2nd song i thought, stuff you mister, i paid for my ticket, i'll sing and dance if i want to..SO I DID!!... NO camera's were allowed in the venue and those who did take them in paid the price of having them confiscated and photo's deleted..(tut tut)..another funny thing was this woman in front of us, during the 2nd song, started to crawl out of her seat, and had some sort of hysterical turn in the aisle..she lay down, thrashing about, overcome with it all SO FUNNY..the security guards came and sat with her for a little while but she couldn't be removed from the place..then she sat quietly on the steps, inching her way down to the floor area..Every now and again, the lights would come on so that we could all sing with the Band, she would sit up very straight and yell out to them..(so embarrassing lol)..during the last 2 songs which were the loudest and longest of the night (and most fun), she started to crawl her way to the stage, much to my amusement. i was in fits of giggles..the band noticed her and made a signal to the security, by this time i was nearly wetting myself laughing at her (I mean, she was at least 60, the stupid woman)..with that the Police came in, SMOKIE started to sing REALLY Loud..the lights dimmed down, and she was taken out, the lights came back up and they sang the final song of the night (Alice)..much to everyones delight!!..then they stayed onstage and shook hands with as many people as they could..WHAT LOVELY GUYS...i shook one of their hands, was so in shock i cant remember which one I think it was Mike the lead singer!!..had a kiss blown to me bySteve the Drummer, (because i blew him one!!). .. And had a Wave off Terry, (the original smokie!!) and off Martin (keyboard)...and had a thumbs up off the ever so sexy..Mick..(guitarist..)..so all in all it made for a terrific night i wont forget for a very long time..ROLL ON FEBRUARY 08..when they come back again...I'll be there, camera hidden!!! ready for after the show!!!...oh and yes..i did buy a cd.. but NOT the tshirt LOL..dont think i'd look good wearing a tshirt with (who the F**k is Alice) written on the front of it LOL

in loving memory of Angela...a victim of Breast cancer 1982..my dear cousin..still sadly missed

SMOKIE!!

Well what a suprise for me!!! well 2 suprises really, yesterday Gary bought me a Shiatsu massager (an early birthday present) because I had hurt my back yet again and was in agony. I've used it 4 times and can now touch my toes again which is good, and today i've had no pills whatsoever!! so a great investment..Of course, we had to sell one of the kids to pay for it LOL but worth it LOL LOL..the other suprise was TICKETS to see SMOKIE one of my fave bands from the 70's...some of their hits were..Living next door to Alice..(i must not yell out who the hell is alice!! a long standing joke)..It's your Life...Stumbling In (sung with Suzi Q)... Don't Play your rock'n'roll to me..Lay back in the arms of someone....Oh Carol....Needles and Pins.. etc etc..the list is endless. I'm taking my camera in, not sure if we can use it yet, but will try!! there is also an autograph session afterwards..I SHALL BE THERE with camera in hand and cd case too LOL...We are going out for dinner first, Tina is babysitting the 2 boys and she said we can come home whenever we like NO CURFEW woohoo LOL..

Learn Chinese in 5 Minutes, must read out loud!!

1) That’s not right................................................Sum Ting Wong 2) Are you harbouring a fugitive.........................Hu Yu Hai Ding 3) See me ASAP..................................................Kum Hia 4) Stupid Man......................................................Dum Fuk 5) Small Horse.....................................................Tai Ni Po Ni 6) Did you go to the beach.....................................Wai Yu So Tan 7) I bumped the coffee table..................................Ai Bang Mai Fa Kin Ni 8) I think you need a face lift................................Chin Tu Fat 9) It’s Very dark in here.........................................Wai So Dim 10) I Thought you were on a diet...........................Wai Yu Mun Ching 11) This is a tow away zone...................................No Pah King 12) Our meeting is scheduled for next week..........Wai Yu Kum Nao 13) Staying out of sight.........................................Lei Ying Lo 14) He’s cleaning his automobile .........................Wa Shing Ka 15)Your body odor is offensive............................Yu Stin Ki Pu 16) Great................................................................Fa Kin Su Pah

Chrissy's Class

Bev's Class!!

Raechel and Me!!

Surviver SWIG 13!

YES..i'm a survivor!!!...I survived my first ever SWIG!!...Thanks to my table buddies, Raechel, Chris, Jackie, Judy and Michelle W, i have never laughed so much (or wet my pants!! too much info I know!)..Also thanks must go to Roomies, Julie and Chris..(even though Chris snored far too loud!!)..I did 2 classes, so wishing i did them all, next time, i will be!!..I made a beautiful frame for the grandies with the ever so funny Bev, and a doodled layout with the lovely Chrissy. (Have to admit i was a secret doodler and really enjoyed coming out! LOL..)..The food was..ok...to be fair .. the roast on Saturday night followed by apple pie and custard was delish, the poached egg on Sat morning was yum, The marble cake and orange cake was LUSH,..the kfc we snuck off for and the macca's brekkie on sunday (another sneak) were delish...the food was ok..just really not a lot of it, BUT that is not the Girls fault, more so the Prison warders who ran the joint!! BUT being us, we even managed to really laugh them off too!!...Other than that, the venue was terrific,. LOTS of room to move about, a whole table each!!!!! A cabin YES a cabin with ensuite!! most impressed!!!...I've been on lots of 'scrapping retreats' and have to admit that this was one of the BEST venues...(we just wont mention food again ok!!)...I did 9 layouts and 2 classes, in between laughing so hard everything hurts...I must remember to take my cushion next time, my back is killing for not remembering it!!...Also must remember to leave phone at home because those naughty girls kept stealing it (yes...Judy and Michelle!!) to listen and watch Harry the Hamster...(a very naughty hamster who expresses himself delicately LOL)... Hearing aids must also be packed, as I kept 'mis'hearing things and I'm 100% sure that Deb B did NOT say..I'm terrified of those cane toads jumping out all over the place... Bloody Virginia..(meaning that V told her that cane toads would get her lol)..oh no..she didn't say that..I heard a part of her anatomy mentioned NOT V's name!!!that caused a major asthma attack...just so funny...and then Raech, who wanted a squirt of my glue...THAT is not what she said..she wanted a squirt but not my glue...believe me..those girls are WICKED!!!!...i was a saint before i went, but it's ok..i've been to confession, said my 10 hail mary's and all is forgiven.until the next one..WHERE i shall be taking my Poise..(just incase !!) I enjoyed spending a weekend with Chris, who I haven't seen since she defected to Maryborough, and had forgotten just how much fun we used to have together..I just LOVED Raech..such a funny genuine person..I just wished she lived closer, so we could scrap more often together..Jackie...well what can i say!!! we scrap together most Fridays and she always has me in fits...Judy as usual, made me laugh so hard..and Michelle, well it was the first time i'd met her and she's an lovely person and ever so funny too.....Finally meeting BEV..well..what can i say only that her stories are TRUE..oh so funny, i nearly choked eating morning tea, wet myself laughing..i'm amazed i wasn't taken away by ambulance with all the asthma attacks i had from laughing.!!!.....All in all, everyone was just LOVELY!! Beryl and Christine did a fantastic job organising the classes, running the shop, generally keeping all of us in hand LOL...I CANT WAIT TIL THE NEXT ONE!!!!

I've been tagged!! (thanks Chrissy!!)

The rules of the tag are: List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets.Tag 5 friends and list them. Then, those people need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people. Dont forget to let the people you tag know by posting a comment on their blog! 1. I like to dance along to the wiggles when no one is around 2. I dip my chocolate into coffee 3. I always clean the shower before getting in it 4. When making tea or coffee, i always stir it 10 times (always) 5. When i scrap, i have Meatloaf blaring from the computer!! I tag:- Julie, Debbie Y, Susan C, TD, Jenelle

WE ARE

Expecting...yes..Gary and i are expecting yet again!!!!....it's a boy!,

more excitement

I was gobsmacked when Kelly and Dawn from the scrap apple emailed me and asked if i would like to be a guest scrapper for the month of July, best kept secret LOL, had a few hiccups, but finally, received my stash and became guest scrapper for Sept instead. now it's been in the newsletter, i can share. I was going to apply for the design team, but have decided not to, as I dont really have the time to commit at the moment, and i am a bit worried that it will take the 'fun' out of scrapping if i 'have' to do it!!..(might apply next time when i'm a bit more confident lol). I was sent a mint tin and some chipboard and scrummy black white paper, so i made a tag booklet to put inside the tin!!..gotta love simplicity LOL.................. ON the subject of excitement, there is only 2 more sleeps until the Pulford family meet the Youd family....look out sunshine coast...thinking of changing the venue though, i dont think we are going to get near Aus zoo, and we had arranged to meet at Underwater world if it's raining..I'm now thinking Aussie World will be the go, if Deb's boys are willing that is!....all is nearly ready for the BIG morning tea on Wednesday, when some of the Aussie girls will come to my humble abode ONCE AGAIN..watch out Sunshine Coast LOL...Went to Underwater World today with Keiran and Poppy...absolutely exhausted, but we had a great day!! Tina had won tickets for her and Hayley to go to the Wiggles 15th birthday party, so they took the 2 terrible 2 yr olds to Dreamworld, stole my new car too i might add LOL..pictures coming soon!!!...ok off to my LSS in a few minutes (well when DH gets home!) for my usual Friday crop til ya drop!! rarely get home before 3 am and i'm cactus the next day LOL...CIAO...

VERY EXCITED!!!

I'm ever so excited..my brother rang me last night out of the blue, he had just booked airfares for him, his wife and his 2 children (from a previous relationship who have never been to visit their aunty before!!). I was nearly in tears when he asked if they could stay with us for 5 days..They will stay on the Gold Coast for 4 days, doing the theme parks, then come to us on the 5th January, then we will have a belated Christmas day with them..We are going to leave the Christmas Lights up so the children can see them. I haven't seen Rick and Tahli-Anne for nearly 5 years. This is just what I needed to cheer me up and gives me something to look forward to..(now lets hope 'somebody' doesn't try to spoil it for us!!)..OH how many sleeps until 1st January 2007??? LOL

The word is getting out..

Please read Rani's Story and then go to here to register your name for organ donation..THANK YOU!

Rain Rain and More Rain!!!

How ironic, that TD comes to Qld for a holiday and it hasn't stopped raining since her plane landed...Not complaining..we need the rain..water tanks are over flowing..farmers are starting to smile a bit..so long as it stops by Sunday i dont care~~. TD's family and mine are all meeting at Australia Zoo for the day, has been planned since about March!! finally it's arrived and it's raining LOL..typical...Plan B will be Underwater World at Mooloolaba i guess..We went to Maryborough yesterday for the day, got just out of Gympie and the skys opened, it hasn't stopped yet, thunder and lightening for about 4 hours, (i'm terrified of storms), we were at Chris and Pauls, who have just moved there last week! We had to go to their grandson's soccer trophy presentation, i wouldn't let Chris stand near me with her umbrella for fear of being zapped~~had a great day nontheless!!...I've got the 2 boys home from school today, it's raining so hard, i couldn't find my umbrella's, they have no raincoats..(i gave them to the grandkids, was going to buy new one's BUT it wasn't raining) and they would have gotten soaked getting from the car to their classrooms..they are being so good and quiet, i dont mind so much, Poor Hubby is home too, (prob why the boys are quiet!!) he has a small dose of the flu...edit that..he has chronic pneumonia, i'm probably going to have to call the ambo's later, he is moaning and groaning...his throat is sore...edit that..he has strep throat and will probably need his tonsil's removed...his head aches..edit that..he has something more serious..his nose is runny..WHY is it when men are sick..they are dying...i have just asked him to die a bit quieter, he say's i'm insensitive LOL..my punishment for being an uncaring wife..he now has turned the tv over to watch the shows he loves..argh i hate them..shall scrap and ignore him for a few hours i think LOL..

bit profound!

Rani's True light. 25/8/04 - 1/9/06 Sleeping Peacefully

.................................. .................................................................................................... I was watching tv this morning, tributes for Steve, when someone said a quote, which has stuck in my mind all morning... *His legacy was done, so it was time for him to leave* how true is this...through him, the world now preserves it's conservation, he has (sort of) made the world a better place. His catch cry is heard world wide CRIKEY..tell someone your from Queensland..they ask you..DO you know Steve Irwin...and then they are shocked when you say ..Actually...yes...I live not 15 minutes away from him!!! It's not just me feeling like this, it's every person on the SUnshine Coast, every person in Queensland, every person in Australia, every person in the World!! What's my legacy I thought, do I have one?? Does any of us have one? Is it true that only the good die young?? (It seems to be the case lately.) Does that mean if you die at 80 you were bad? Today is also Rani's funeral, I cant comprehend, how Mel and John feel today, in thinking of legacies, i believe Rani's was to make us all aware of how important love is. To also make us aware of organ donation and Biliary Arteris. We've all become donors, no amount of advertising would have made us, so God sent her, to tell us. She was an angel, sent down to make a difference....which she did, in more way's than one. How many of us, now tell our children we love them, more than we ever did before?? How many of us no longer take small things for granted any more?? the smell of grass, sun/rain on your face? All of these things, she never experienced because she was making a difference. In one year, she made a difference to MY life, I never knew her personally, but through her, I hope I can become a better person. *Her legacy is done, it is time for her to leave* how true are these words....... i had promised myself i would not fill my blog with anything depressing, today i felt i needed to get this all out of my head. I will more than likely delete it in a few days, but for now, in memory of these 2 remarkable people I shall leave it here. Just so you to can see, what a difference they both made to the world.

More sad news

It was not long announced that the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, was accidently killed by a stingray barb in the chest. Steve will sadly be missed by our family, especially Aaryn, who was his biggest fan, Deepest condolences to Teri, Bindy-Sue and Baby Bob. (not that they will read this but it made me feel better putting it there!). RIP Steve..you will be missed by one and all!!!...

Benny Hill's Love child perhaps???

I'm beginning to think I'm Benny Hill's love child...yes it's true..i have finally accepted the fact that i am a clumsy so and so!!..how so you ask??? well Friday night, i was asked to move my car for a fellow scrapper at my LSS..it was very dark..as i went to get into my car, i said to the old lady who was getting in the passenger seat of her daughter's car to be careful, there was a garden bed where she was standing, with a raised edge..Out of the corner of my eye, i noticed something drop..i thought it was her scrapcart, then i realized that the older lady had fallen, backwards into the garden, she had tripped on the raised border. She came down with a horrble thump and hit her head on the cement window sill..I turned around quickly to help her..and to my horror, i smashed my foot into the raised border, resulting in my falling into the same garden bed, i held my hand out to catch myself, and it slammed into the metal edge of the window, resulting in 3 bruised fingers (which we thought were broken) and now my little finger has a huge bruise under the nail!!...i almost landed ontop of the poor woman who i was trying to rescue....i managed to get up without looking a total ass..(well ok then i looked a total ass), helped her up, and found myself covered in her blood..i made her come back inside the shop, sat her down and washed her head to see if she needed stitches, luckily she didn't, so we helped her back out to her daughter's car and i came back inside...I don't know why everyone laughed at me when i told them what had happened..in fact..i was quite serious about it..but they all said it was typical of me...HOW RUDE lol...oh BTW...my fingers are much better now....

OH so Pretty!! LOL

What a weekend we had, I have never laughed so much, yet got so much done!!

We started at 6pm on Friday night, found our beds, and set up ready for a full weekend of scrapping!!...on our table were Me, Jackie, Jenny and Heather (sister's) Maree and Monika. Heather adopted me, so now i have the lovliest mother a girl could wish for!! (and i mean that!!).. After settling in i managed to do 6 layouts on Friday night, although it was 5.30 when i finally got to sleep and up again at 7.30 LOL..I won a prize for doing the most layouts in one night (no mean feat, with all the laughing that was happening at our table, that Jackie is a distraction ROFL). we had the customary full retreat photo shoot, i'll put that in when i get it! i walked in and started singing "i feel pretty, oh so pretty, i feel pretty and witty and gay",..only to have everyone on the table join in, then poor Jackie couldn't get it out of her head and she kept breaking into song too...after that came my Demis Rousouss Forever and Ever...the Tess version is much better, Ask Jenny, who choked with laughter and had to leave the room in a dreadful hurry..something about toilet, quickly??? i dont know lol..that was the end of us all...we started to sing snippets of all the sound of music songs, i'm sure we drove everyone mental! we then did a a class with Beverly from BumbleBee..the first person to finish their album completley would win a prize...hehehe i won!!!...i'll take a pic later...a 9x9 MM leather album, a pack of MM products, some melissa francis products and some glitter chipboard flower...very nice..After that, it started...By Saturday afternoon i was feeling the pressure of no sleep, had a migraine starting to happen so thought i'd take a couple of mersyndol and have a hot shower to see if that would work...it did!! too much LOL..lesson to be learnt..do not take 3 mersyndol when your overtired and have had not much to eat!!! yes it's sends you hyper!! (my excuse i am sticking to it!!)....About 10.30 Jackie and Jenny decided we all needed chocolate, coke and crisps..(as if!!) so we stood up to head to the chip machine outside..OH NO..i was paralysed...i tried to move but my leg just wouldn't move..jackie and jenny were in fits...monika was staring at me horrified..heather was worried..i was beginning to panic...I kept telling them, i couldn't move..my leg was stuck..it was paralysed...ok...calm down i thought..i'll sit for a sec to see if it would come right...i sat down..to my mortification...i found out why...my um..chair you see had somehow gotten itself onto the heal of my slipper, as i was moving my leg, the chair stopped it from moving...HOW EMBARRASSING...that was the end of us..we all collapsed laughing and now thewhole room KNEW we were all mad!!!! Finally after much laughing and singing and not a lot of scrapping, Jackie left to go home about 12.30 Jenny, Heather, Monika and I snuck off for hot chocolate, refusing to go to bed until we had sung that great classic from Sound of music..'goodnite, goodnite' only in english, we couldn't remember the other words lol, to everyone as they went to bed!! we finally got to bed about 1.45..i dont even remember lying down, just waking up at 8.30 feeling not so pretty, not so witty and definately NOT gay rofl..we had breakfast and before lunch i had done yet another 6 layouts!! in total i ended up doing 16 god knows how!! lol..Chris turned up to say goodbye to us all, she was moving to Maryborough the next day, so outside we went for a photo shoot with her. lots of tears were shed by me and her when the time came to say goodbye, but i swear it was because i was overtired!!..we came back in and got someone to take some photo's of our mad table..we couldn't even behave for that...all in all it was a fantastic weekend i only hope we haven't scared Monika off for life!!!! lol

Birthday's galore

WOW what a month we've had...Luke and Evan shared a birthday on the 21st JUNE wow a month ago!! Aaryn turned 9 on the 9th and Miss Emily turned 2 on Monday!!! Haven't done much scrapping in the last month and haven't kept up with the dc's either BUT i have done this layout that i haven't shared on The scrap heap YET!! I treated myself to the K&co k-ology scrappad peabody and also some of provocraft new flocked lettering.....YUMMOOO...couldn't decide which lettering so bought both boxes. naughty girl LOL but it's been so long since i had a really big spend up so it's justified LOL especially since i dont tell Gary how much the pad cost etc *giggle*.. I'm off now to to the accompanying page to this one, then i can share it on TSH!!!!

TAGGED ARGHH

OMG i cant believe it..i've been tagged!! by Julie none the less LOL....so i had better do it otherwise i'll be in very big trouble What would you do?with 27 millon dollars? Ok I stole this from anotehr blog...hehehe thansk sally. 1. Buy 6 Houses one for each child and one for me and Gary, naturally Cam and Aaryn will have to wait until they are old enough to move out to get their houses, so i'll rent them out until then. 2. Buy a House in UK - so i could go there anytime i wish without the hassle of having to stay with rellies and inconvenience them .3. Buy us all a you beaut car each and a super huge boat for gary, probably one for Zeb too, campervan oh and a car to keep in UK for when we are there.4. World trip for 12 months or more.5. Give my brother a heap of money cos i love him and invest a whole heap too.naturally of course if i ever won that much i wouldn't have to worry about what to do with it because i'd have had a massive heart attack and gary would get the lot LOL???So what do you want - I tag hmmmm TD and Michelle M....... SUFFER!!!!!!!!!

Chrissy's challenge!!

The lovely Chrissie issued us a challenge to update our blogs with a pic of the layout we like the best that we've done for the daily challenges. I couldn't decide between 2 (should have asked for the worst i could have put in that revolting orange or even worse the yellow/green effort!).I love the way my case of Tassie Deb's layout turned out, It turned out better than i thought it would (i simply cant case for the life of me!) and i love love love my blurred challenge. Of course it looks better IRL because you can see the Castle looming out of the tree's, it's a fairytale castle and you half expect to see a knight on horseback racing down to rescue you!

BUSY!!!

I'm in the process of trying to get my layouts into albums YEAH RIGHT too many layouts not near enough albums, looking good in pizza boxes! Thinking I might have to use my Yoki Ori box for the layouts until i get proper albums actually, that's not a bad idea I might use that instead of albums, they'll look good stacked up with the layouts inside them hmmm must go and order some more i'm thinking!! While doing all this i counted up how many layouts etc i've done so far this year TADA ~ ~ ~ 92 layouts 2 RE technique folders with 6 complete pages 10 tins 3 boxes 2 photo swap layouts 15 cards 30 + paperclips 2 clipboards 5 canvases 2 RAK pages, i've also done Bev's classes so really not sure how many little bits and pieces i've made. Also made 2 shop hour signs, 1 for my cousin's hair salon in Wales and one for daisy chain which looks good on their wall LOL. So while i've been sulking and thinking i've done nothing, i've actually done heaps (no wonder i have scrappers block now!) if it wasn't for the daily challenges that we've all been doing for the scrap heap i wouldn't have done half the layouts i have! it's been a good learning curve, looking at everyone's lovely layouts, trying to comment even though i've not really had the time (must remedy that i think i need to comment on about 100 now!) i'm still 5 layouts behind but will catch up eventually, I hope lol..I also have to make 8 cards for the card swap i'm in, (why do i do this to myself?? cos it's fun lol) actually i love the swaps!! I am also in the process of making a secret santa in july present, cant say what it is or who it is from incase she comes in here and see's but after she's received it, i'll put a pic in LOL..gosh i love secret santa's. The lovely Michelle M organises the best swaps! well off to do some more sorting and might make a start on some cards..why did i pick boy birthday?? i wonder if it's too late to change to thank you????? i'll see ;) lol..