Tuesday 23 March 2010

Where to Start...?!?

This is what happens when I leave over 2 weeks between posts...I don't know where to start! Am going to have to rely on the photos I've taken to jog my memory and you might want to grab yourself a cuppa - you could be in for a long read!


Better start with Harry's birthday. Our little boy is now 4 which seems very grown up all of a sudden. Got his Nursery letter through today confirming he'll be starting at Ellie and James's school in August - scary!! He's a force of nature our Harry - strong willed, funny and with nothing to learn. My Mum reckons he's been here before and my Dad always says "There's only one Harry..." Thank goodness for that!! He didn't talk until he was around 20 months - he had ongoing hearing problems from birth so we used sign language to ease the frustration he felt trying to communicate. Now, he won't stop talking and since he got his hearing aids a few months back his speech has improved so much.

His birthday was during the week so at Playgroup, he brought in little chocolate cakes for his friends to share. We went out for dinner that evening but as we were about to start I got a phonecall from my Mum saying that my Granny had been taken into hospital with a problem with her heart...this started days of worrying, travelling up to Elgin to visit her, trying to get her to take it a bit easier and all realising that (despite what she might think) Granny Ruby is not invincible. She never stops despite being 79, she is a lovely Granny and we all adore her. She makes me laugh, is always on hand for cooking/sewing advice and makes the best pancakes ever. She is home now thankfully and says she's resting but I highly doubt it...!

This was all mixed in with getting ready for Harry's party, a bag pack at M&S on the Saturday for Playgroup, a study group which was supposed to be at our house but with all that was going on was held at Ellie's friend's house (thanks Catriona!), my friend's Mum's funeral in Edinburgh which we sadly couldn't attend and the usual mini dramas that family life brings!! Anyway, here's the preparations underway for the Race Car party...





Went to bed exhausted but in the morning it was Mother's Day and I was woken up with a lovely surprise...

...breakfast in bed!




Got some special cards too...

...and some lovely presents.

Got a bit of a lie in with my book but once I got up, I hit the ground running - party time! We set up 4 race tracks and the kids were split into 4 teams and all had team t-shirts to wear. Four Dads, including Paul were the Race Marshalls and took their team around the tracks making notes on how they were driving, best crash, fastest lap time and who improved the most. They had a great time, especially the girls! Everyone got their photo taken on the 'podium' and there were prizes for each team. Here are some piccies from the afternoon...








After everyone had gone, Harry opened his presents...there seemed to be a bit of a theme going on with some of them!

Can't wait till Toy Story 3 comes out!

Got the March pages of the 365 Challenge completed - yay! Determined to be more organised with April's!

Wrote 'march' over and over again to create the ribbon for the bunting...

...and stuck down the top edge of each triangle.

Not been much more creating going on but did do a mini art journal in a fit of frustration the other day. It certainly helped me work a few things out and start to ease some the negative stuff that I was trying to deal with. It's not something to be shared in detail but it should be included in this post as it's been an important part of my week.

It's a very small notebook that happened to fall off a shelf in my study at just the right time. I grabbed a handful of pens and wrote down an emotion or a feeling that I wanted to work through on each page. Didn't use any images, just doodled and journalled.

In hindsight, I should have glued a few pages together as they are quite thin but I'll go back and cover them, maybe with an image. Have signed up for Dina Wakley's Art Jounalling 101 which started yesterday. Would have loved to have made it to her class at AFTH but am looking forward to learning some of her techniques. Will post the results of the first lesson soon!

Ellie and I did a bit more work on her 7 Gypsies printers tray last week...

...nothing's stuck down yet so it can be tweaked till she's happy with it.

We made a little CK shop by cutting down a postcard I picked up in the Windsor branch and adding a punched canopy.

This section lifts up so secret notes can be left or the odd sweetie hidden!

Having so much fun doing this with her and seeing it all develop and change. I think we'll be sad when it's finally done - if that ever happens!

A few other things to share...almost done, honest!


One of Harry's favourite birthday presents - a Buzz Lightyear Hot Wheels track - hours of fun!

Race Marshall Molly shouting Ready, Steady, Go! in her own unique style...

Pretty flowers from Kirsti

Posted this jewellery hanger a while back - it's now loaded!

Paul spent the weekend in Dublin with some mates and went to see the Scotland v Ireland Rugby match - Scotland won!!!

He brought me back some Red Roses bath oil - love it. Reminds me of the 'perfume' I would try to make with roses from my Granny's garden when I was little - only better!

Saw this on Home Shopping Spy a few weeks back and have been dreaming about it ever since...I want one!

We were going to build a wooden summer house this summer but now we are on the lookout for an old caravan to restore!

Ooh - hot off the press! The postie's just been to deliver this - the prize I won off the Bo Bunny blog back in January!

Finally, the lovely Lesley has been blogging for almost a year and to celebrate she's having a giveaway! Hop on over to see her and leave a nice comment...you'll make her day and might win some gorgeous things! Also Elaine is celebrating her first year as a Stampin' Up demonstrator and it's her actual birthday soon too so she is giving away a fabby selection of products. Good luck!

Off to wipe more noses and dose more Calpol - Harry and Molly have horrible colds...poor babies. Have a lovely week - almost the holidays!! xx

11 comments:

  1. Oh my Oh my you have been a busy Girl Jude!!! So much to comment on. Must be quick cos Jack's just taking a nap.

    Lovely to see all your party preparations - what fun you all had.

    I love your 365 pages they are so colourful and so YOU! Gorgeous!

    I love the tiny art journal you're doing. Such a good size for quick thoughts.

    Just adore that caravan!!!!!!

    Thanks for the plug!

    I always enjoy reading your lovely newsy posts.

    Lesley x

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  2. Jude it was worth the wait loved reading all about your fantastic childrens party they look to have really enjoyed it all and I do hope your dear Granny is on the mend .I loved the gift your lovely Paul brought you back I often used pure rose oil to scent my dried flower arrangements years ago and my Father always commented on how nice my Living room used to smell so it reminded me of those far off days years ago when my Dear Father was still with us.Loved your mini book on emotions and doodling it is something I could take to work in my handbag may have to adopt your idea .Speak again soon sweetie.

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  3. Love the printer's frame! Right up my street (and into the CK shop!!) Also love the caravan, mine looks nothing like that - LOL

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  4. Thanks for the comments it does me good to have a rant and some of it is tongue in cheek when it comes to Daughter number two Melanie the conservatory thing is all true and downloading it to my blog is a great way of dealing with it. As for Melanie I just keep winding her up it keeps us all on our toes. By the way I also loved the caravan and would live in it .

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  5. You must have been like a whirling dervish for the last two weeks with all this going on! But I loved reading what you''ve been up to... its such a privilege when people share a part of their lives with you! x x

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  6. That caravan is suuuuuper cute! I hope you find one and renovate it and put it in your yard and blog about it :)

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  7. Ooh I can't believe it's taken me a day to reply - I read this very late last night whilst i was attempting to keep my eyes open with matchsticks and thought I need to come back and write war and peace on here when I have time - now don't get me wrong tonight's not much better but I'll give it a go!

    The birthday party looks awesome - you look like you went to loads of trouble to make it happen and it looks fantastic I loved all of it from the decorations to the cake, from the podium photo to the t-shirts fantastic - love it love it love it

    Loving your Mother's day pictures - breakfast in bed - fantastic and the homemade cards are beautiful!

    The printers tray is looking truly amazing - string it out til May then you can buy the next item to alter when we meet up again at Dyan's! Love the little shop and the usage of the AFTH heart on the tray from the survival pack!

    Presents from loved ones and gorgeous caravans - if I had something bigger than a postage stamp of a backgarden I could see it really working.

    Now I'm sure you also mentioned doing the Dina Wakley class online - how's it going I've signed for another on line art journaling course which is awesome (up to now) and taking me in a completely different direction and out of my comfort zone - but i'm always keen to hear what other cool courses are out there so let me know.

    The karaoke wars are still continuing on my Mum's blog - although apparently my comment on said posting made her giggle and now she's gone back to happier posts!

    Melanie - well not seen a lot of her since new boyfriend arrived on the scene LOL

    Hugs

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  8. Hi girl... checking your blog regurlarly (at work!) to see if there is more news... so you made my day today.
    Sooooo looking forward to seeing you all very soon, time for a good catch up.
    Love you,
    Wxx

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  9. Hey! Wish I'd know Harry was into Toy Story, I hadn't a clue what to get him, Alan is far better at choosing the boys gifts but he was away. Apart from Lego, I'm rubbish!! Good at the girls' pressies though...think Ellie would agree!? The party looked great.

    Spied that brooch we got you for your b'day, was it ok then, u like?

    I saw that caravan a while back on another blog too, , it's luuuuuuuvly, if only we had a bigger garden....xx

    http://suzysvintageattic.blogspot.com/2009/05/romance-of-vw-campervan-vintage-caravan.html

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  10. Wow, this is the longest blog post ever! You have been busy. The birthday party looked like great fun. Can't wait to see your completed calendar page, and your page for April.
    BTW I love the caravan too. Hope you find one to renovate (will you be taking paying guests?!) Kate x

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  11. Busy bee indeed! Love the March pages and your racing themed birthday party. My kids are past that sort of birthday party now but I used to love organising these sorts of parties for them so know what a lot of effort it takes.

    Hope everyone is well now?

    :)

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Thanks for taking the time to comment - I love reading them all!