New Year 2011

Well the new year is here... and you won't be getting any resolutions from me!!

However I do have a couple of things I want to aim for. I desperately want this separation stuff, financial and custody sorted, so I can move on to the next phase of my life. I am tired of living in limbo, and it has been going on for 16 months! I'm not sure how I make this happen, but I am not willing to lay down and be walked on simply to have it over and done with. Hopefully this year will see a conclusion.

I am also going to continue to do my very best at uni, I am proud of the marks I have recieved so far, and really want to keep them up. I need to keep myself healthy, and take care of my baby girl, not only physically, but guide her through the complicated life that she is already forced to live.

I'm not sure what the year will bring, good or bad, but I hope that I have the strength to take whatever comes my way, with dignity and respect for others. I am so very fortunate to have a few amazing people in my life who have supported me, rescued me, listened to me, and even helped me out financially so that I have so many more choices, and the ability to be as independent as I can. To Bama Lyn and Poppy Mick, thank you just doesn't cover how much I truly appreciate your help.

No scrapping to show off, my time is currently spent writing an assignment and trying to keep up with uni over the holidays. And after all, playing with my girl and helping her with Chrsitmas presents is so much more worthy of my time.

And lastly, Happy Birthday for tomorrow Grandma Lyn, we have made you the most gorgeous chocolate cake with pink icing and lots of sprinkles (as per Rory's instructions) - you are going to be amazed!

Christmas 2010!!

Well, just a few piccies of the big day. I never have a lot of photos of the big day, because I'm always the one that has to take them, and I'd rather be sharing in the fun and excitement with Rory rather than being behind the camera. And seeing as Rory had to go to her Dad's at 11am, we had to squeeze lots of Christmas into a short amount of time!

Grandma's Christmas Tree

Loving the wind up bubble blower!

This is my favourite shot from the day - very indepth conversation with Grandma



Santa's been!!

Just a few of my favourite pics, now just to find time to scrap them. And while I'm at it, I could scrap last year's Christmas too!!

Christmas Countdown!!

Well, we are remarkably organised for Christmas this year...

All presents are wrapped, just need to find a bone for the dog, thanks to Rory's instructions.

I am so excited that my name was randomly drawn out for the purple challenge at Scrapbook Savvy, I was just happy to do a page! So thanks to Anthea for the challenge. Am finding that I can't scrapbook at all with Rory as she wants to do exactly what I am doing, which is not exactly conducive to getting anything done!

Anyway, Rory is currently glued to the television, due to the fact that we picked up the DVD of the dance concert this morning. Weather has turned yucky (as expected) so that gives me an excuse for no washing.

Need to go get some lunch into this kidlet and put her down for a sleep. I can see this is going to be difficult, although at the moment the 'Santa' argument works well!

Well, I have managed to screw this up royally for 2010!!



My new aims for 2011...



1. Keep blog reasonably up to date (cause I'm so good at it!!)

2. Spent more time laughing and playing with my daughter rather than teaching her rules, and how to grow up.

3. Stay up to date with uni stuff (I am getting better) and keep on aiming for Distinctions and High Distinctions.

4. Get more photos taken of Rory and I - even if I don't like how I look in them (I think there is one photo of us together ALL year)

5. Continue to get my health sorted, including my weight and diet under control. This may take awhile, so I need to be patient.

6. Scrapbook for the fun of it! No pressure to do perfect pages, just get in there and do it. If I spent as much time planning it as I did doing it I would be up to date on my 52 weeks album ( which at this stage is a 30 week album...)



I think that will do - don't want to stress myself out too much after all!!



And here is the only page I have done in months. Anthea challenged us on the Scrapbook Savvy site to do a page using purple. Wasn't really a challenge for me cos I use lots of purple, but it is another page done!



TFL!!

March is nearly over!!

I can't believe how fast the year is going, easter next week and then I guess we'll start heading into winter...

Did a couple of layouts for the Scrapbook Savvy Cypercrop that was held the week before last...


Travelling in Style - Blind Scrap Challenge





























Flower Girls - had to use a specific photo (available at Scrapbook Savvy) as inspiration...





























Concentration - another challenge based on a specific picture (available at Scrapbook Savvy forum)...




























Once again I am behind in my '52 weeks of us' album, have the photos ready just haven't had the time to scrap... two uni subjects is definitely keeping me on my toes, and I am trying desperately not to fall behind...



Rory and I are busy doing 'easter' stuff, made biscuits today, just need to ice them after her sleep today. We have some dough left over that I think we will put in the freezer - will make for an easy baking day later in the week. We also have some other crafty stuff planned, and we have been talking about the easter bunny coming...

More Layouts!!

I have been on a bit of a roll just of late... well for me anyway!! This is Week 9 of my '52 weeks of Us' album:




























And I have done two layouts!! using the Scrapbook Savvy - We're Savvy kit for March - also had to scraplift a page from the Design Team at Scrapbook Savvy, use at least a two word title, and use more than 3 embellishments.




















































Not a lot else happening around here, am keeping up with two Uni subjects quite well so far, and have been doing a lot of baking, collage, and crafty stuff with Rory. She is loving dancing, and is very busy at the moment learning the days of the week - PlaySchool does wonders!

I am looking forward to the Scrapbook Savvy cybercrop that starts tonight: here's hoping I actually get some of the challenges done!

I've been so slack!!

Well, I can't believe how slack I have been about this blog, it seems to be the thing on the bottom of my list all the time.

Not that alot has been happening, finished Indigenous Perspectives for Educators at Uni and got a High Distinction, so was pleased with that, it was certainly unexpected. The new Semester started on March 1 and I am doing two subjects, Communication and Scholarship, and Psychology A.

Rory started Tiny Tots dance classes at the beginning of February, she looks so cute in her leotard, skirt and slippers. We have been doing lots of baking, gluing and activity books while I have been off Uni.

I decided at the beginning of the year I was going to scrapbook a '52 weeks of Us', basically a 8.5X11 page for each week of the year. I am mostly using scraps etc. and leftovers from kits.

Week 1 - Make a Wish



























Week 2 - Feeding Einstein (papers from Scrapbook Savvy kit)



























Week 3 - Fun (inspiration from a Scrapbook Savvy We're Savvy kit challenge)



























Week 4 - Swimming Lessons (once again using leftovers from January We're Savvy kit)



























Week 5 - Swimming in Luxury



























Week 6 - Dance (inspiration for this one from Scrap the Girls blog)



























Week 7 - Coffee (inspiration for this one from a February Scrapbook Savvy Cybercrop challenge)


























Week 8 - No More Dummy



























Haven't done any real pages... but I guess this way I am at least doing one page a week!

We had another 3 inches of rain here last night, so that means 14 inches of rain since the start of February! Sorely needed, and I have to say the overcast/rainy weather hasn't bothered me like it usually does!! Lucky, because I think we are in for more tomorrow!

Not much been going on...

I got my mark back for my first assignment, 27/30 (yay me!!) so am very happy with that.

Rory and I have had a quiet week, not much happening... she is now at her Dad's for the weekend.

The last couple of layouts I've done - I can't believe I've done three layouts already for the month - so not like me! I guess I'll make up for it during exam time whem I don't get any done.

This LO is for a Colour challenge on the Scrapbook Savvy site, the colours were purple, teal blue and orange.

And the sketch challenge for Scrapbook Savvy and Inspire Blueprints as well - love this sketch - will definitely be using it again.

Well I welcomed in the new year in my comfy bed and a good book... not very exciting hey!! My BIL Brad managed to get vey sick and hospitalised New Year's Eve so I drove up and picked up Nellie and Lachy. As Nellie and Rory are only 13 days apart in age, it's like having twins I imagine, one minute they are getting on famously, the next fighting like cats and dogs! So we spent New Year's Day up at the farm so they could entertain each other, and Lachlan was happy just following them around.

Today marks our first birthday of the year, Grandma Lyn turned 53! I organised lunch and took it up to their place seeing as nowhere was open to go out to lunch. Cheated though, didn't even make the cake! The girls helped her blow out her candles...

Not the best photo of Mum, but the kids are cute!

Scrapbooking wise, seeing as everyone is making goals, I am going to aim for 50 layouts for the year (about twice my output last year) plus not buy any cards, make them instead!

And here is my first layout for 2010, it is based on Emma's 5-4-3-2-1 challenge for December from the Scrapbook Savvy site.