My return to blogging...

So where have I been....hmm I have just returned from a round the world cruise, If only it was true!!

I am still here, just not on here. Its been the most busy, hectic stressful, happy, sad last few months, that time did not prevail for me to actually sit and fill you in on whats been happening.

As some of you are aware, I am on facebook and found that being in contact with my many friends & family on there was enough to keep you all posted as to whats happening in my life and with my scrapping.

So what has been happening???

December 2008 - The birthdays of my 2 oldest girls. Caitlan turned 7 (21/12/2008) and completed grade 1 and Matilda turned 6 (24/12/2008) and completed her 1st year of Prep.
Christmas was a blur, it arrived and left so quickly that I can't really remember it. But I should remember it as the kids are always laughing and having a great time on the new trampoline.

January 2009 - The arrival of the New Year...We took the kids into Federation Square in the city for the early fireworks display. Since train travel was free, we decided that it would be a nice outing for the kids. That was short lived, Caitlan stood in awe watching the display while Matilda burst into tears from the sound, Kai thought it was fantastic as it sounded like machine guns and Ellie clung to my hip and buried her head in total fright. However in saying that I enjoyed myself.
School Holidays were quiet...well not quiet with 4 kids in the house, being bored shit less but money is tight and the weather dropped a couple of doozie hot days on us, so we spent a lot of time at home. I did however manage to scrap quite a bit (I will load some layouts soon) and spent lots of time with the kids doing nothing.
The end of January was a sad time for us with 3 deaths in 5 days. I received a call to tell me that a family member had committed suicide on the Australia day long weekend, Mum then called me to say that my Uncle had passed away and an old school friend lost her mother very suddenly. That totally flawed me...I don't handle deaths very well....I suppose nobody does really, but 3 in 5 days was more than I could take on board.

February 2009 - My cousins wedding 07/02/2009.......this is a day that I think everyone will remember for a long time to come - Black Saturday.
We were down Bairnsdale way for the wedding with 46 degree heat and the worst northerly winds you could possibly imagine. The wedding was great, I managed to catch up with some family that I had not seen in quite some time and I was also blessed to meet the latest arrival of Poppy, Allan and Annie's beautiful baby girl.
With the devastation of the fires burning throughout Victoria, we were unable to make our trip home from the wedding as planned. Most roads & major freeways were closed making it almost impossible to get back. I was beginning to panic as the 4 kids were with friends in Epping and here we were stuck...300kms away and nothing we could do. I am so grateful that the friends the kids were staying with, had them all under control and told us to wait it out and return when it was safe.
My dear friend and her husband lost everything, house, cars, all their worldly possessions, but manage to escape with a handful of treasured possessions and the clothes on their backs. Hearing their voices after this terrible devastation made me realise how lucky they were. They are still here to tell the tale, unlike so many other unfortunate victims.

Today - The kids are all returned to school for another year, Kai has commenced 4 year old Kindergarten, Ellie has just turned 3 (22/02/2009) and I am slowly coming out from the blanket of fog that has taken over my everyday life.

That's about it in a nutshell...no doubt I have forgotten something, but bare with me while I make my return to blogging.

To Everyone out there that has suffered from the bushfire's, through to the floods in Queensland, hold your heads high and know that everyone in this household is thinking of you and we wish you all a safe road to recovery.

Until next time, stay safe and happy scrapping. Karen xxx

(Will load some layouts in the next day or two)

Change is coming.......

Thats right......Stay tuned for the change!!!

Last days of the 20's......

OMG with only 3 more days left of my 20's, I am staring down the barrel of the daunting big "30"!!

So much has happened during my 20's and its only now when I think about it, that I realise how much has happened.

It all started with the milestone of "21", watching, nursing & losing Dad to cancer, watched my Mum become happy again (thanks Jim), meet the man of my dreams (cough) was blessed with becoming a mother to 4 beautiful children (cough, cough), married the man of my dreams (cough, cough again!!), made friends, lost friends, took the good times with the bad and have now become the person that I am today.

So how do we celebrate seeing out the 20's and welcoming the 30's??? A Grand party is the order of the day. With my actual coronation on Tuesday 02/12/08 (meaning my birthday), I decided that a party with a theme was what I wanted!! With months of planning....well I best be honest, with a week or two of planning, a party has been set for Dusk on the 6th December.

With a Medieval theme, spit roast, marque in the back yard, karaoke (never a real party without it) and numerous invites sent out, it has actually given me something to look forward to....its sort of taken the brunt of the whole big turning "30" thing lol!!!

I will also be blessed with the presence of an amazing friend that is taking the time to travel from the other side of Australia just to help celebrate my birthday.

Ok enough on the whole birthday thing, what else has been happening......this last 2 months has been a time of laughs, tears, heartache and anything else you want to throw into the mix.

With the terrible accident of my niece, she has been through a journey that I would not wish upon anyone. Her recovery is a slow and painful one and my heart just breaks, but all my prayers are with her (God bless you Grace).

Family issues have been rearing their ugly heads, leaving me in two minds as to where I stand in the firing line. My beliefs/morals have had a major impact on the way in which I see things and unfortunately disagreements have been had.

The kids are all well. School is winding up for another year and preparations for the girls to start a new year at school are being organised. Caitlan will move into Grade 2 (OMG...shock) and Matilda will repeat another year of Prep to help her get her levels up before moving into Grade 1. Kindergarten is also winding up for Kai, and he has the new year ahead starting 4 year old. Ellie will stay at home for another year with me as her speech/ability to communicate is not ready for 3 year old Kindergarten. Having just Ellie at home with me, will allow me the time I need to help develop her speech and to also get her prepared for what is expected.

Now to finish up, here is a layout that I did last night....yep finally managed to create something, simple but enough to get the mojo happening.

Until next time, thanks for looking, take care of you and see you in the 30's hehehe!!!
Mwah Karen xx

I'm back....

After some much needed time out, I have finally managed to make it back to the cyber world!!

With a lonesome desk staring at me, the scrapping bug took hold and I somehow managed to create this LO tonight. Using a Hambly Screen Print, I decided to challenge myself and not use any PP or C/S as the base of the layout. With 2 phone calls to the West today, Mistra gave me the inspiration that I needed to start scrapping again. Its been almost 6 weeks since I sat and scrapped properly and the feeling I have now of actually finishing a layout is amazing.

Wanting to know how to scan/photograph a layout that was made using the screen print, Mistra was the person I knew would have the answer I needed. I have to say though the LO looks a lot better IRL, as I had to use white C/S behind it so that it would scan. Its not the best scan of the LO....however at this time of night....I mean morning, I am calling it a day and hitting the sack for some much needed zzzzzz's!!

Love this chick always

Anyhow thanks for looking, take care of you and until next time happy scrapping.

Karen xx

Through sickness comes a layout....

After some serious time away from everything, all was looking good for me to come back and face the real world........but just because I could not cope with anything else, we all got knocked for "6" with "GASTRO".

All the kids were complaining of upset tummies and thinking all would be well with myself I copped it "BIG TIME". Loosing 3kgs in the process and looking ever so pale, another week away from everything didn't seem like such a big deal.

So after all my time away from this place we call the real world, I am back and even have a layout to share with you. I know its not much of a layout....but its a start lol!!

Moments

Ok, kids are calling, washing needs hanging out and maybe the scrap desk might get the pleasure of my company again today!!

Thanks for looking and I look forward to keeping you all up to date with all thats happening!! Take care, Regards Karen xx

Almost back.....

I am almost back to the land of the living.

Life seems to have settled down a little.....still not all back with it, but on the improve!!

Hoping that later today I can finally share something with you, I finally managed to scrap the last 2 nights creating an OPT present for my neice.

So stay tuned for later today when I load some pics.

The reason to being MIA....

Just wanting to let you all know, that I have fallen off the face of the earth.....yep you are all in for a bit of a wait until I return!!

Life has thrown a spanner in the works and unfortunatley its resulted in me taking some time out, while I try to get through what I am dealing with.

Please take the time to pop back again in the coming weeks as I'm sure that I will endeavour to return as soon as time & "LIFE" permits!!