What have I been up to?

The last four days have been really busy. On Saturday I had a scrap booking class with Mr Rusty Pickle (Lance Anderson). We made a Christmas book from scratch with pop up snowman and pop up Christmas tree. It was lots of fun and mine actually works. I am looking forward to putting my Christmas photos in it.

Sunday was interesting, my boys had done something wrong (can't remember what now) and they were not aloud any electronics for the day. It is amazing what they come up with when they are not distracted. It is a lot noisier in the house and war games seem to be the most popular form of entertainment. As Phil said they're boys what do you expect. I managed to work on my Journal your Christmas Journal. I got really messy (yeah).

Monday, did a bit of Christmas shopping (I'm not really panicking, honest, well not much anyway). That was the extent of my Christmas activities for the day. Oh that's not true I sorted the Christmas budget (to see how much we had to spend).

Tuesday, I decided that I would buy the rest of Phil's present. He has been wanting to go to a MotoGP race for the last 7 years, so I thought I would buy him and a friend a ticket to silver stone in June. Simple, not! Do you want a three day pass and ticket on Sunday, which grandstand do you want. Do you want to tent or do you want a hotel. So In the end I had to ring Phil and ask what he wanted, especially which grand stand. So there went the surprise, but I still have a surprise for under the tree. And after all that I still haven't ordered the tickets. Phil's not sure which package he wants either.

Today I will tell you about at the end of the day.

Busy, busy.

OK I missed yesterday. I was on my own, Phil went to the Bike Show at the NEC. Days when Phil is not around makes me grateful that I have his help the rest of the time. It is a lot of hard work getting the boys to school on time by yourself. I am in awe of all my friends who are single Mums. I don't know how you do it. Yesterday was a productive day. I brought a new Christmas table cloth that is gold with white holy leaves on it. And I have put Mums table runner over the top. My Mum made me the table runner last year and it is beautiful. She is so talented. I will add a photo later tonight.

Today I'm off to a Mr Rusty Pickle class with yours truly Lance Anderson. Will report tonight.

Where do I start?

Yesterday Benjamin had a Victorian day. All the students had to dress up as a Victorian school student. This is what Benjamin looked like.




I asked him what the day was like. He said it was great but his backed hurt because they had to sit so straight for so long.

Now to Christmas stuff. What have I done that is Christmasie today. Well I have opened my 3rd Advent pressie, which was bubble bath that smells really yummy. Looking forward to a night where i can relax in the bath.

I also finished off my Title page for my Journal your Christmas art Journal. Here is what it looks like.



I have also taken some Christmas photos that I have missed over the last couple of days. The boys opening their Advent calendars,






the Christmas Tree



and a Christmas sandwich.



Well that's all i can think of that I have done Christmasie.

Christmas is so cool.

The 2ND of December.

Today I opened my second secret Santa and I got a smiley face that bounces (see photo) The boys grabbed it as soon as the pressie was open. It bounces all over the place and they were trying to catch it. We laughed so much, it was a great pressie.



I forgot to mention yesterday that we have started burning our advent calender. We do this every year for the last 7 years (except one). We take turns lighting it and blowing it out.



I have also started my list today of the people that I need to buy for and some ideas of what to buy them.

On a more I'm neurotic note. I decided last night that I didn't like my Journal your Christmas journal at all. So I have decided that I'm going to write everything down in this blog and I am going to make an altered art journal. I have never done this before but it looks fun. I had a bit of a stress thinking about what others are going to say, most likely 'that's not a art journal'. Then I realised I don't care it's mine for my pleasure and so there. (If I say this 20 times a day I shouldn't care by Christmas :-) )

I have found a note book that has a white cover and I'm going to glue the pages together today. Well it's a start.

For Starters

Starting today, December first, I will keep a Christmas journal blog. In it, I will write something every day to reflect on the holidays of my past, enjoy the holidays of the present and dream about the holidays of the future. To some, this would be a stack of papers and trivial scribbles, but not to me. I am taking back my Christmas, I am letting it be something I relish and most importantly I am giving at least fifteen minutes to myself, every day, no matter how crazy this season becomes. This Christmas I will make something with my own hands, my own words and my own memories.

(Written by Shimelle, borrowed by me)

It's the 1st today (obviously) and I am so excited about Christmas. This year my Christmas journal is going to be about what I do each day to get ready for Christmas and what exciting things I am going to do.

Today already I have opened my advent secret Santa, I received a really cool Christmas mug, that I had been eyeing up in the store and had almost brought for myself.



Yesterday was Kris Kringle at the boys school, Simeon loves Kris Kringle. He loves making the orange with a candle and sticks with raisins and marshmallow in it. This year they had glow sticks shaped a candles instead of candles. A brilliant idea it meant the kids could actually have their candle lit or glow in this case. Simeon's commented that during the assemble they were not allowed to eat the marshmellows. He got around that by picking off little bits and eating them. As he put it "they were there tempting me".




Later to day the boys can open their 1st advent pocket and eat the chocolate. They are really excited. So far Christmas has be awesome.

Here goes again

My last post was on my New Years resolutions. Didn't keep most of them. I would like to keep up with a blog so here goes again.

I think of the last day of November as being the last day before bedlam. December seems to me to be always super busy and not much time to do what needs to be done and everyone rushing around and extra things to do. You get my point. Each year I think to myself that I'm not going to be busy in December and each year I am (this year being no different).

If I have to be busy I have decided that I am going to enjoy the next month and not complain that I am busy. Maybe I can keep that resolution, it's only a month long.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

yeh I know it's the 12th and a bit late to wish everyone a happy New Year. But Happy New Year anyway.

What have I been up to....

Christmas was amazing and lots of fun. We got a Wii for the boys and it was the best thing we have every brought them. I love it too :) It was also made special because my MUM and DAD came over from NZ to be with us for Christmas.

Over the New Year we all went to Mallorca. It was warm, sunny and we were staying in the most amazing resort.

Now I am back at work and my boys are back at school. And I haven't really being doing much.

I am almost finished my Shimelle Journal your Christmas Book. I will take some picture of my favourite LO and post them in the next few days.

Hope your New Year is going well.