Hi,

I was hoping that Good Friday would be a GOOD Friday and that the doctors would successfully be able to bring Dad out of his heavy sedation- unfortunately, this was not to be. The doctors didn't even try today as Dad has developed a temperature which indicates an infection some where- they will try to bring him around tomorrow so cross everything you have that it is finally successful.
My retreat name tag!

Okay- here is my rundown of the Scrapboxx retreat- as I said - it was AWESOME!!! This was my third retreat and honestly they just keep getting better and better!
Kim, Kylie and I left Friday morning and after a few stops (a stop in Busselton for a coffee and yummy nibbles with Kim's Mum and then at Watershed Winery) we finally made it to Augusta about 2:30ish. We unloaded our stuff in our rooms and then went and found ourselves a spot in the scrapping room. No one was really scrapping so we just socialized with everyone else!!! We were finally able to meet some people who we only 'knew' in cyberspace!!!

The evening began with our tag swap- a crazy, noisy time where you have about 30 seconds to meet someone and then move on!!!
Here are my tags- mine were all different so people got a lucky dip with the colours!!
The gorgeous Maria and her DT then instructed us in how to make this snazzy box to keep our tags in- very cute huh?

By the time we had finished that - it was getting late so we headed off to bed.
After a delicious breakfast I started the day with Sheree's class. It was fabulous- we made our own ledger paper (very cool) and used chipboard to layer photos-a technique I will definitely use again. We scrapped two LOs in Sheree's class- lucky us!!!

We continued straight on to Mel's class- how fantastic is the LO. I love this LO and think it is my favourite from the weekend!

After lunch the very brave Lisa allowed Leeann to shave her head- raising money for cancer. She is definitely one amazing girl!!!

After that and some shopping in the shop we socialized some more in the scrapping room. Then a friend whom I know from Rockingham invited Kim and I to go with her to feed the sting rays at Hamlin Bay. We went however it turned into more of an adventure than we expected.

While feeding the sting rays, Kathy got her immobilizer wet so alas the car wouldn't start when we wanted to leave. (See Kim's blog for photos of me in the water with the sting rays!)

So with Kathy's car going no where- what were we to do- but drink our bottle of wine and take photos!!!

With no mobile reception we walked to the caravan park and rang Maria- and thankfully Maria and Kylie rescued us in a 12 seater bus!!!!

By this time it was getting late, about 8pm when we arrived back at the motel- a very quick shower and change saw us at dinner minutes later. The theme of the dinner was 'THINK PINK'. I wore pink but would you believe don't have a photo of me in my gorgeous (said tongue in cheek) pink outfit. I will have to see if someone else took one!

Then by 9pm we were at Mel's next class-yes, still dressed in my pink finery!!

Closed.
Open. Pretty amazing LO huh?

Sunday - I had no classes booked however did a little scrapping!

This was a sketch challenge!

This one was a 'Rusty Pickle challenge'

At lunch all the winners were announced. Winners of the challenges, the best name tag, the best retreat tag and the raffle. GUESS WHAT!!!!

I won the raffle!! Woo hoo! I won a Cuttlebug and $50 worth of dies of my choice!!! Boy was I wrapped!!!!

Then all too quickly 4pm came around and sadly the retreat was over for another year :(

Kim and I stayed Sunday night so we didn't have to pack up and rush off home (thank goodness) We has a good night's sleep and drove home the next day.

I can honestly say, even with everything going on with Dad- I had a ball. I loved the retreat and most definitely will be going again next year.

Phew- what a long post so far...are you still reading??? Well done if you are!!! I had better go as tonight my cousin and her cute as a button 18 month old little girl are staying over. Mum is here too so I had better go and be social.

Adam should be home soon. He took Sarah to the West Coast Eagles game. (Mum and Dad's tickets but obviously they weren't going)

Here hoping that everyone has a wonderful Easter Sunday. I'm hoping for some special Easter magic tomorrow and I hope you all get some too.

Love Janine xxx

Thought I would leave you with one more LO- one I scrapped on Good Friday!!

Sorry- layout removed as it has been accepted for publication.

Update..

Firstly let me say that the Scrapboxx retreat was AWESOME!!!! Honestly I had a ball!! Fabulous people, fabulous classes, fabulous everything. I have yet to down load my photos from the retreat but when I do- I'll do a proper update (promise).

Another AWESOME event was our netball grand final on Monday night. Our team only came forth on the ladder however managed to secure ourselves a spot in the finals. Come grand final night, through a series of unfortunate events, we only had 5 players for the game (the other team had a full team!!!)... well we played AWESOME!!! We didn't win however we only lost by 4 goals.... 4 goals - how AWSOME in that!!! Boy was I feeling pretty knacked afterwards however!!!!

Now an update on Dad. Dad is still in ICU and still heavily sedated. Things have only progressed very slowly. (some days no progress- like today) He was been taken back in the theatre everyday to change the dressings on his leg until Tuesday when a special vacuum sealed type bandage was put on his leg so the bandage wasn't changed again until today. There have been three attempts so far to bring Dad out of the sedation however each time it has failed as his blood pressure drops and they stop. Tomorrow the doctors will try again. He is still on dialysis and on a ventilator. I spent Tuesday at the hospital and then again today- it is certainly not a place that I would like to spend any length of time in. Unfortunately Dad looks as if he'll be in hospital for months. We have been told that as soon as he is more stable and no longer sedated the doctors will begin skin grafts on his leg. First things first however- I am SO hoping that the doctors are successful in bringing Dad around tomorrow- I think Mum will feel heaps better too (she is mega stressed as you can imagine)
Please remember Dad in your prayers.

Thank you and cuddle your loved ones extra well today...
Love Janine xxx

Update..

A quick update on Dad - Dad was flown down from Broome to Perth and pretty much went straight in to surgery. They 'de-gloved' his leg, a procedure to cut away the infected skin (sounds yukky I know). Later yesterday afternoon I received a phone call to say that the procedure wasn't as successful as the doctors had hoped and they were taking Dad back to surgery to amputate his leg- OMG!!! I organized myself, Adam and the kids and off I went up the hospital (about an hours drive) to find that the doctors had NOT amputated his leg but had diagnosed my Dad with the very rare Necrotising Fascitis - a flesh eating bacteria. The doctors had in fact removed all the skin off Dad's leg to keep the bug at bay. Last night was critical. Thank goodness we received no phone calls during the night. Then today Dad was taken back into surgery to re dress the leg and to check to see if the bacteria had spread. I'm really pleased to say that I have just received a phone call from Mum to say that the bacteria seems to be under control and the Doctors are very pleased that for the first time Dad's vital signs have improved.
I have been in turmoil all day. I am meant to leave first thing in the morning for the Scrapboxx retreat and despite the fact that I'm so, so, so looking forward to it, I'd not go in a heartbeat if my family needed me. After a very long talk to my Mum this afternoon( a big heart to heart) I am going on the retreat. As Mum said I can always come back if I need to and Mum has my brother, my 4 aunties and my uncle there with her. Dad is heavily sedated and now (thank goodness) has shown signs of improvement.
I will keep in constant contact with Mum all weekend (my goodness, what did we do before mobile phones!) so now, only in the last hour or so, do I feel okay about my decision to go on the retreat.
Please everyone stay safe and tell those whom you love - that you love them.

Love Janine xxx

Wooooo hooooo- this is what I did on Sunday!!!

For my birthday last August, Adam and the girls bought me a 'tandem jump'..... well on Sunday.... I JUMPED!!!!!!

Here I am at the point of no return. I'm in that little plane taking off. It took us about 15-20 minutes to fly up to 10 000ft. YES- 10 000 feet!!!!

Not sure if you can see- but that little dot in the centre of the photo is me!!! OMGawd- what a rush!!!! I tell you- when the door of the plane is opened and you are looking down 10 000 ft to the ground- your heart beats a little faster!!!!!
Here is a better photo.
Look at this gorgeous photo. I was the last jumper of the day and jumped about 7pm. The sunset was glorious- as was the scenery from up there!!!

Down and safe and back with my little possums.

What an absolute experience. I was on a high for ages- lucky I didn't have to drive home!!!!

I am thrilled to be able to cross off one of my life's "TO-DO" things!!!

I still get all hyped up thinking about it!!! Anyone else jumped??? It is pure adrenaline rush!!!See- days later and I'm still pumped that I jumped!!!!

In other news- only 3 more sleeps until the Scrapboxx retreat. All my tags are finished and my name tag is nearly done. I am going to try and sort photos today for my classes so hopefully I'll be well and truly ready before Friday.

Some not so great news. My Dad has been away in Broome and unfortunately was taken to hospital last Thursday night. He has a severe infection in his leg. Today the Royal Flying Doctor is flying him down to Perth as he is not responding to the antibiotics that the doctors are giving him. He has other pre existing medical issues which are hampering his recovery. My poor Mum is mega stressed (again) and is on her way to Perth too. I'll keep you posted.

Stay happy, stay safe and I'll post soon!!

Love Janine xxx

My baby is eight!

Here she is- Emma, my beautiful eight year old!!! This is the first photo of her as an eight year old- first thing in the morning, even before opening any presents!!!

Here she is - opening one of her many presents!!!! One spoilt girl lives here!

It is traditional in our house that I make the birthday cakes. If the birthday party is on a different day than their actual birthday, then my girls get two cake. As we had Emma's party last weekend....she had another cake for her birthday. Here it is- an absolutely delicious ice cream cake, stacked full of chopped up chocolate bars and made by me!!! It was scrummo yummo!!!
Emma was lucky enough that her birthday fell on a Monday public holiday- so nice not to have to rush her off to school after opening presents. We went out to lunch with was very nice (and relaxing). During the day we had different relies drop in, my Mum, my aunty, sister-in-law and cousin. All in all a fabulous day!!!

The rest of the week has flown by. I have been busy trying to finish all my tags for the Scrapboxx retreat and have completed 30 so far- woo hoo only 20 to go!!! This time next week I'll be at the retreat!!! Yeee haaa!!!

We have yet another super busy weekend. Acrobatics tomorrow morning, followed by Grace's birthday party --HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACIE !!! Emma was really disappointed because her friend Kira invited her to Adventure World on Sunday however we have other plans. Sunday morning, we are off to see Dr Seuss' Horton Hears a Who. I'm really looking forward to it!!! Mix 94.5 gave us tickets to a pre release showing! We have something else planned for Sunday afternoon which I'm SUPER excited about however you will have to check back after the event and I'll fill you in then!!!

That's all for now- stay safe and be HAPPY!!!!

Love Janine xxx

An awesome day..

We had a fantastic day today!!!!
Adam and I bought the girls a wildlife experience gift voucher for Christmas and today was the day we went!!!
We were up bright and early and down at the Vale St jetty by 8:30 this morning (yes I know that is early for a Sunday... but we managed!) The first boat we boarded was a dolphin watch cruise. WOW, WOW WOW- we saw heaps of dolphins and thank goodness for digital cameras because I took HEAPS of photos!!!!
On our way out we were served fresh fruit- yum!! We passed the mussel farm and a little later the deckie cooked up some chili mussels- absolutely delicious!!! As I said we saw HEAPS of dolphins and for morning tea we had tea/coffee and biscuits!!! The skipper Murray even let the girls have a turn each to drive the boat home!

Captain Emma.

Captain Sarah.

When we arrived back at the jetty, we then went on to join the Penguin Island ferry and off we went to Penguin Island. We had lunch there and went on a guided island walk. Although we didn't see any wild penguins we went to a 'penguin feeding' and saw about ten gorgeous penguins having their lunch!!
Cute, aren't they?

After that we boarded the glass bottom boat for a tour around the waters of Penguin Island to view the bird life and see the very lazy sea lions- the sea lions were all sun baking on the shores of Seal Island and didn't pay us the slightest bit of attention!!!

We made it home by about 4pm and basically relaxed for the rest of the day!! Overall - a great day!!!

I also have some scrapping to share...

This is a 'just because' LO and also my 10th LO for my 'ten LOs without shopping' challenge. YAY- I did it and now I can shop!!!
Scrappaper are having a cybercrop this weekend and this LO is based on the sketch for challenge #1.
This is another LO for the Scrappaper CC- challenge #4- free choice!!!!

That's about it for tonight- I do have another LO finished however it is too late and too dark to photograph it. I have Emma's birthday cake nearly finished and as I type Adam is making cupcakes .... all getting ready for EMMA'S 8TH BIRTHDAY tomorrow!!!!! Wooo hoooo!!!

Stay happy and stay safe!

Love Janine xxx

29th February

I just had to put up a quick post tonight- being the 29th of Feb and all! I won't get a chance to post on this date again for four years!!!!

I have been busy but at the same time had a great week. On Tuesday Adam and I caught up and had lunch with our friends who are over here from Sydney. Then on Thursday Adam and I went shopping for Emma's birthday presents! I've nearly finished her birthday shopping, just one more present to pick up and I'll do that in the morning. I have to buy wrapping paper tomorrow too- to wrap all Emma's pressies!!!

I have some scrapping to share- hopefully I'll get a chance to photograph my LOs tomorrow.

Have a great February 29th!!! (Happy birthday Marina!)

Love Janine xxx

The party is over....

and we all survived!!!
In fact it was an easy peasy party!!! Emma invited three friends, Morgan, Taylah & Kira, there was Sarah and Emma of course and Taylah's sister Emily came too (she's Sarah's friend!) so that was six kids in total- a very manageable lot too! They arrived at 1.30, we fed them at 1.45ish, cake at 2.15 and then we headed off to the circus about 2.40ish. The circus started at 3 and their parents picked them up at the conclusion of the circus at 5.15 - too easy!!!
Here are a few snaps from today (I took about 225 photos :0)
My gorgeous girls before the party started.
The cake- bright animal cupcakes arranged in a numeral 8.

Emma blowing out her candles.
Cutie clowns!!!

Emma after the circus!!

Both my kiddos are in bed now- exhausted after a great day. I'm heading off to bed very soon- one tired Mumma here too!!!

Have a great week and stay safe!

Love Janine xxx

YAY -

I have some scrapping to share!!! I'm still scrapping without obligation and LOVING it!!!

This LO is from an online class that I participated in over at Scrap World last Saturday night. The teacher was Alice Fettling and I have a feeling that the scrapping world is going to see a whole lot more of her work. She is only 18 (or there abouts) and such a fantastic scrapper!!! Thanks Alice- I really enjoyed your class. (woo hoo- I won a prize too!!!)

My little girl will be eight soon! Emma's birthday isn't until March 3rd however the Joseph Ashton Circus leaves Rockingham this Sunday so we are having an early party for her. Emma is having three gorgeous friends come over and then we are taking them to the circus!! I can't wait. Emma has already picked out her birthday cake so stay tuned for photos after Sunday!! I'm really looking forward to going to the circus again, we went last year and it was fantastic!!!

Not much else to report- life is busy but life is good!!!

Stay safe,

Love Janine xxx

Just a quick post...

Phew- what a weekend!!!
We are now home and VERY exhausted!!!! Sarah played for the Rockingham Flames in a weekend carnival. Her team played two games of basketball yesterday. Sarah couldn't play in the first game because it clashed with acrobatics, the team lost by 7 points. They had a second game in the afternoon (which Sarah did play in) -close game which they managed to win by 6 points. Another game this morning- what a thriller- neck and neck the whole game and they ended up winning by 1 point- 1 point!!!!! Then this afternoon there was a fourth game- an easier game which they won by 23 points (I think).
So after playing so well Sarah's team made the finals!!! YAY!!
Unfortunately they got beaten in the finals, well flogged actually! Sarah played really well and scored 5 of the 12 goals her team got in the final. However now- she is totally shattered and ready for bed! An early night for us all tonight I think.
Here are a couple of action shots from today!

Here she is with her runner up medal- a happy girl!!

I do have some scrapping to share however I haven't taken photos of the pages yet and I'm not going to tonight- too tired. Maybe tomorrow.

Have a great week and stay safe.

Love Janine xxx

Happy Valentines Day!

Hello good people,

I so hope you have had a wonderful day today!
Boy did I have one busy day!! I was planning to scrap. I have a LO nearly finished on my scrapping table but alas it is still sitting there. I had put a load of washing on this morning and was putting some clean washing away when I walked into Emma's disaster zone- her bedroom! Unable to get her wardrobe door open properly to put the clean washing away, I had a mini hissy fit and decided her room needed a 'wheelie bin clean'. So for the next 5 1/2 hours, Emma's room was totally overhauled. My wheelie bin is now FULL. I took two large garbage bags of 'stuff' to the Salvos, I have a big pile of things, mainly books, to go to my cousin's little girl and another pile of things that I'll take to my pre primary tomorrow. Phew- Emma's room now looks SO much better and despite the fact that I didn't get any scrapping done, I feel so much better that I did this. Nothing like a good throw out!!! LOL!!!

Valentines Day- Adam was sweet and bought me chocolates- yummo! I was sneaky and snuck a little note and a heart shaped chocolate into the girls' lunchboxes. Then tonight after a delicious dinner I had organized a special treat for the four of us! I cut up strawberries, pineapple, bananas, had marshmallows, cream, heart shaped chocolates and chocolate fondue!!! It was scrummy. The girls thought it was fantastic as the fondue set came with cute little forks to drip your goodies into the chocolate with. I must agree...it was DELICIOUS!!!
We haven't started yet, just waiting for the chocolate to melt. Check out the cute forks!

Chocolate has melted- and we were ready to dig in!! :0)
Y-U-M-M-O!!!!!

Over at Scrap World, they are running a 'calendar girls' competition. You only have to do one LO per month (I can handle that!!! ) Here is my entry for January. I kind of like the idea of of having a LO that covers everything we do in a month- great reference page!!!


No other scrapping to share however I do have some news. Sarah has been selected to play for Rockingham in an Under 12 (girls) basketball carnival this weekend. She is really wrapped because all Rockingham teams are called the 'Rockingham Flames' and she'll be given a Flames uniform to wear!! I'm really pleased that the weather forecast has been amended and it won't be as hot as first thought! I will definitely take my camera to get some action snaps!!

More news- Sarah has been selected as 'Student of the Week' for her class. She has to present a talk about herself tomorrow in class. I would love to be there to hear her and to see what she says! I'm sure she'll do well and I know she'll fill me in after school.

Anyway, must go...it is bed time for me!!!
Stay safe and BE HAPPY!!!

Love Janine xxx

Hi!

Woo hoo- I have some scrapping to share.

I think these are the first lot of 'first day of school' photos I have actually scrapped!!! I wanted to scrap both using a similar theme and I'm pleased with how these have turned out. I am going to get the girls to fill in the information themselves but when I wanted them to do it they were out helping Adam in the garden...so I'll get them to do that bit later.

I happened to snap this photo on Christmas Day. Adam's Dad loves taking photos and each of his boys have a big album full of photos from their childhood. I'm not sure how it came about that Sarah and Adam were looking through his album...but it was worth a photo...and a LO.

I love this photo of Emma and Rusty. They both look so happy!!!

School is back in full swing, so are after school sports/activities. We have another full on year but hey, you get that. All is good.

I have booked two classes at the Scrapboxx retreat. Yee haaa, I doing a class with the talented Sheree McGee and one with SM master Mel Nunn. I'm really looking forward to the classes AND the retreat. Not long now!!!!

I have designed my retreat tag, now I just have to make another 49 of them!!! Will have to get into it, this year I am determined not to leave my tags until the last minute!!!

Before I go...check this out. Here are two shirts that I bought yesterday- the black owl t-shirt for me and the pink owl long sleeved t-shirt for Sarah.

Pretty cool aren't they! Who do you think is copying whom. Is fashion following scrapping trends- owls are 'in' at the moment... or do scrapbook companies take their cue from fashion??? Million dollar question hey? What do you think?

Anyway, must fly..... I still have a squillion things to do before I sit down and watch 'Kath & Kim'.

Have a great week,

Love Janine xxx

Back in the land of the living....

Hi-de-ho good people!!!

Phew- so much has happened in the past week that I'm not sure where to start! Point form might be easier!!

*I'm back at work. The school year has officially begun. So far it seems as if this year is going to be a good one. I have a lovely class and all is going well so far.

*My poor Mum- she drove up to my house very early Friday morning to look after my girls for me however had her overnight bag and handbag stolen before she even left her carport. Mum put her things in her car (which was parked IN her carport) went inside to tell Dad she was heading off and before she got back to her car (under a minute) her things were gone. Some thug was obviously watching her and has seized the opportunity to take her things- she was devastated and when she arrived at my house was still terribly upset. Rotten %$*#@***!!

*Friday night, Adam and I went to The Police concert. WOW- wonderful, wonderful music however where we were sitting was stifling hot. Coupled with the fact that I had a few wines (in hindsight I should have stuck to water) and not much dinner- before the concert was over, I felt revolting. I had a splitting headache and felt overwhelmed by the heat. We ended up moving and sitting on a grassed area and just listened to the music. This 'yukko' feeling lasted for days and I did wonder whether I was suffering from heat stroke. Another friend of mine (who wasn't at the concert) had similar symptoms to me and she ended up going to her doctor who told her she had a virus...so whatever I had, it was yuk but I'm slowly feeling better each day.

*The girls have started back at school. Sarah is in year 5 and Emma in year 3. Both have settled in beautifully, they are loving their teachers and I'm expecting another wonderful school year.
A quick 'first day' photo. Like the past five years, Adam took them on their first day as I had to be at my school.

*Scrapping- due to feeling 'yuk' over the past week I have only managed one page. Here is my February scrapjack. Jolene Pienaar was this month's jackee. Thanks Jolene for the inspiration!!


*Finally, due to the fact that I'm feeling better, I went on a shopping spree this morning with my partner in crime. We visited two yummo scrapping shops and filled our baskets with all sorts of delicious goodies. Not even the non stop rain dampened our spirits. So I'm off to play with some of my new goodies before I have to pick my kidlets up from school.

*Sine- I have posted your Heidi Swapp date stamp- if you haven't got it already, it won't be far away--- enjoy!

Anyway have a great day...
Love Janine xxx