Still busy ...

... for this the month of 'me' LOL! Yes the old birthday is here this coming week, another year older ...
It has been a very different month ... lots of travel and fun with the kids, and will finish with a weekend of fun and laughs next week with Scrap Camp on here in Dunedin (starting Thursday night). But has also been a very thought provoking month with the sudden passing of a beautiful lady - makes you really sit back and think about all that you have to be grateful for, and to push yourself and give everything that life has to offer a go.

So to my creative side ... I had been trying to get my scrap gear sorted for camp but couldn't resist creating a couple of projects ...

This layout uses one of the photos I took at Emma's early 5th birthday party last year, when all the girls were dressed up in their fairy skirts and wings. The pp is Crate Paper 'Paper Doll' Collection that I recently got from SBO - couldn't resist it especially when one of the papers was called 'Emma'!!! Add a bit of tulle, some machine stitching and a handmade layered flower and I have a layout I really love!!


Also whipped up this framed butterfly for Emma's room. Yes this is the same Crate Paper as I used above and this is actually both sides of the 'Emma' paper in the Paper Doll Collection - very appropriate I think! ;) The butterfly was cut out by hand, add a bit of a Prima swirl, a few buttons and it's perfect for my girl. (The frame was just a cheapy from the Big Red Shed)


Next is a minibook that I have been meaning to put together for a while. I think I got these Cosmo Cricket 'Girl Friday' papers a couple of months ago - so with a few chipboard pages and my trusty Zutter binder here is a cool book to remind Emma of her days at Kindy ...

(yes another handmade layered flower)

After next weekend I should have a pile of creations to share ... until then I have some recent photos to print off, journalling to type and print out, and a bit of planning to do with regard to my large old printers tray that I want to alter.

A busy month so far ...

Whew ... life has been very busy so far, have only had 3 nights at home since it started!
We headed to Central for Easter, a great relaxing time although not many photos as last year as the orchards were still all covered in green leaves not those golden leaves yet. But I did manage to snap these pics of this gorgeous sunset.

The kids and I then headed south to Invers for a couple of nights with my folks. Home for a quick rest, washing and repacking then off on the next adventure ...

Last Friday the kids and I flew to Auckland to spend some time with my Grandma (the kids Great Grandma). We had an action packed few days, here are a few pics ...

The Macs Ale bar in the City - such a great way to use old lamps in a trendy way (now all I need is a house with high ceilings - LOL!)

A visit to Viaduct Basin ...

Giraffe feeding at the Zoo ...

my monkey Emma ...

The underground viewing window for the seal enclosure ...

cute little Tamrin monkeys ...

lunchtime for the Tiger ...

a gorgeous wee Meerkat ...

a great day out ...

Kelly Tarltons ...

the King Penguins ...

after our picnic lunch at Mission Bay ...

the city from Tamaki Bay ...

stopped in traffic at Spaghetti junction ...

The kids had a fantastic time but were very tired by the time we got home late last night. Both slept in very late this morning and Emma even disappeared to her room for a nap this arvo as well.

Have been hiding under a pile of washing today, emptying suitcases, and trying to catch up on all the news online. Over the next few days I will be sorting out the rest of the photos to print, and make a few collages - all ready to take to ScrapCamp which is only 2 weeks away now!

Gone too soon ...

I have been meaning to get on here for the past few days and write a post about the month of April. I celebrate my birthday at the end of the month and like to extend the celebrations - come on who doesn't like to draw these things out a bit! ;)
So I had decided that April was 'All about me' - getting out and enjoying myself and life in general.
The events of yesterday help put this very much into perspective ... life is for living to the full, don't put off til later what you can enjoy today ...

I was on my way home from Auckland yesterday afternoon when I learned some very sad news.
Gayle Hall, mother of paralympian gold medal winner Adam Hall, had been killed in a car accident.
I had the privilege of first meeting Gayle just over 7 years ago when she was my student midwife when I had Finn. She was an 'older' student - she has been a nurse/midwife at Queen Mary for a few years I guess, but was still working and completeing study to gain her Bachelor of Midwifery. She gained her degree in time to be my lead midwife when I had Emma 5 years ago. And since then I would often bump into her at the supermarket and she was always interested in how the kids were doing, the last time only a few weeks ago.
She was such a larger than life character, a great sense of humour and alway smiling. She was also one very proud Mum, even more so last month when she was on hand in Canada to see Adam win his gold medal. Gayle, Adam and the family only returned from overseas last Tuesday ... and now so suddenly her family are greiving her loss.

Now even more so I am reminded that we should not sit back and let life pass us by, life is definitely for living, grabbing opportunities when they present themselves and telling those that you care about that they are loved.

*Gayle - Thank you for the amazing care you gave me when I had my wonderful children, you will always be remembered by me. My thoughts are with your family at this sad time.*


Will post an update on my holiday tomorrow - once I have edited some of the 300+ photos.