Ups and downs....

Life is throwing all sorts of things at our family at the moment- some good and some bad.
Let me start with to good!!
Friday 4th- Sarah represented her school at the Inter school swimming carnival. I wasn't able to go due to work however she was thrilled to bits even to be going. She swam in two events. She was in division B for the year 5 girl's backstroke and came 5th. She then swam backstroke in the medley relay- woo hoo, they came third so she was tickled pink to receive a ribbon. Our school, Star of the Sea, won the swimming carnival so everyone was wrapped!!
Emma's basketball team competed in a round robin type event to finish off the season. Emma was so excited because she got a goal in one of the games- only her second for the season!!! She also received a medal (all the kids did) for her efforts thought out the season!
Sarah's team played an awesome semi final to win comfortably and go through to the grand final next week.
Saturday 5th- Despite the dreadful weather Emma had two birthday parties to attend. The second one was Taylah's party (Kim's DD). Sarah and I went too and boy, was it a great afternoon. The kids had a fantastic time. Kim had organized lots of crafty things to do and it kept them occupied nicely!
Kim, another friend Lian and I had a glass of wine (or two) after the party and that just topped the party off beautifully.
Sunday 6th- We had a quiet day and late in the afternoon the girls and I took the dog's for a walk. Right near our house we have 'Lake Cooloongup Reserve'. We had a wander and I took a few snaps.


Monday 7th- Sarah received a medal at the school assembly for coming equal third at the school's swimming carnival for the Year 5 Girls. Believe me I was as shocked as her! I thought she was joking when she jumped in the car at the end of the day and told me!!!
Thursday 10th- My partner in crime and I went on a shopping day!!! We firstly went to one scrapping shop, then another and then off to a major shopping centre for lunch and some retail therapy- it was a FANTASTIC day...I stocked up well and truly on yummy scrapping supplies and it was a good girly shopping day- so thanks Kim, I really needed a day like that!!!
Friday 11th-Last day of tern one- woo hoo, school holidays begin!!!!
Sarah's basketball grand final. They had a few hiccups- one player was in Qld on holidays and another failed to turn up until half time.... so unfortunately they went down 13 to 27. I really don't think they minded too much. It was the team's first grand final game and they all got a medal!!


Now the downs- I can't say too much here however a certain family member has been going through a rough patch (close friends and family will know who I'm talking about) so we have moved him into our house while we try and sort his life out. Some days are better than others, however we will keep trying. We have been riding the emotional roller coater and life in this house hasn't all been plain sailing. Enough said.

Talking of family members - Dad is continuing to improve. He has been doing regular physio and the doctors, although they say he still has a long road ahead and very pleased with his progress. Hopefully by next week he will be up standing and maybe even taking a few steps. Mum is still staying here too so my poor little house is a bit overcrowded!!! Never mind- family is more important that anything.

My switch off to all the stress around here has been scrapping. Yesterday I managed to finish two LOs-
Kim and I are actually doing a 'school holiday challenge'- we have come up with 10 challenges each and over the holiday we see how many of the 20 challenges we can complete.
Here are my challenges-

J1. Create a LO using product/s we just bought on Thursday. Can use other stuff as well but MUST have some of our new goodies on the page!
J2. Create a LO using photo/s from this month.
J3. Create a LO using product/s over 12 months old. All products, all pp, embellishments etc must be over 12 months old. Card stock and photo -only things newer than 12 months allowed!! And adhesive of course!!!
J4. Create a LO with an animal on it. This can be a photo or embellishment.
J5. Create a single LO containing more than 3 photos.
J6. Create a LO using photos from an event!
J7. Create a LO with lots of journaling. (And I mean LOTS! – 100 words or more!) Journaling must be visible.
J8. Create a monochromatic LO. (Oh my- I haven’t done one of these in ages!)
J9. Create a LO using two or more fonts.
J10. Create a LO about YOU!!! (Including a photo of you!)
And here are Kim's-
K1. Create a layout using two or more different stamps
K2. Cut a photo into a shape (eeek) and use it on your layout - obviously squares and rectangles do not count lol
K3. Use paint and ribbon on the same layout
K4. Create a double layout – totally free choice
K5. Create a layout based on a sketch from the Fiskars ANZ blog - http://fiskarscraft.typepad.com/my_weblog/sketches/index.html
K6. Scraplift a layout from SM Vol 9 No 12
K7. Scrap a photo/s that you did not take
K8. Create a layout using only stuff that is on your table right now and without opening any new packets - one new sheet of cardstock allowed
K9. Use a transparency somewhere on your layout
K10. Create a layout using one or more of those LOUD patterned papers from Tarisota collections – you know the Tinkering Ink or Urban Lily ones that are not really our style.

Feel free to join us - the more the merrier. We are doing it so we get lots of scrapping completed over the holidays!!!

This is challenge J1- using product we bought on Thursday!

This is challenge J10- a LO about me!

That is about all for today- I'm off to lunch with a group of teachers so I'm looking forward to that.

Stay safe and be happy...

Love Janine xxx

EDITED TO ADD!!!

I didn't want to do a second entry for today so I'm adding to this earlier one. I had a wonderful lunch today- of the 30 or so teachers at Pengo's only four of us are currently teaching at Bungaree. It was such a 'blast from the past'- IYKWIM!!! The lunch started at 12 and it was well after four o'clock by the time I left- great food and great conversation!!!!

I know this is a terrible scan however here is another LO that I have completed for the 'holiday challenge'. Kim's challenge #6 was to scrap lift a LO from SM Vol 9 No 12. I have scrap lifted Belinda Venables' LO called Patience. (page 106) I loved the LO as soon as I saw it!! Thanks for the inspiration Belinda!!!

Okay-this is definitely IT for today!!

Nighty night,

Love Janine xxx