I am just me..... e

Thanks everyone!

A huge hello! and a massive big thanks to all of you who left well wishes on my blog after my little stair crashing. Thanks so much. It is just so nice to read all of your comments.

A huge week it has been. Not allot of time for blogging even which is a bit sad. To sum it up.....

Sat stair crashing, builders banging all day
Sunday; not allot of movement, builders here again but I won't complain cause huge progress
Monday; Builders and bruises were the order of the day. The body was broken and the noise was huge!
Tuesday; builders finishing up most of the gib work ready for the plasterers, Arnica working wonders on the body.
Wednesday; WE HAVE PLASTERERS!!! Yay....I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The first coat of plaster is on and we have 3 to go and then the dreaded sanding...YUK! The builder puts a nail through the mains cable in the new bathroom and knocks the power out to the house....just in time for my last Online class! Can this day get worse????.....then we discover when our sparkie gets here that it has popped the power at the pole fuse not at the house...great. Babysitting an extra kiddie for dinner....chicken was in the oven.....oh heck! This is one of those days when you want to hit the restart button. Get sorted.call the power board and it could be HOURS before we get relief.....then in much excitement a nice man in his reflector vests, shines in the dark light an angel....PHEW....SAVED SASHA!!!! Make the class, and have a a all! Thanks everyone!

Thursday; Bruce the builder (gosh he is a gem working hard for credits after Wed muck-up) beavers away all day hanging the doors. New V Groove doors for all the rooms and the new cavity slider and Bi-folds are ready to be hung. Plasterers here again ...Coat 2 down and 2 to go! Starting to look awesome now.....
Friday.......WOW WHERE DID THAT WEEK GO????? My mission today *should I choose to accept* is too cover the living room floor in old sheets and lay 2 long boards for the doors. My goal is to get the 2 coats of undercoat on at least 4 doors......that means.....no computer, no surfing, and definitely no scrapping.....bummer. I feel like the scrapping desk is crying out for action! Actually the scrapping desk is waiting on overdue parcels which should be here right when we have all this painting to do....ARGH! SOMEONE COME SAVE ME!

This is me....that is my week. I don't want to do over this week for anything I can tell you! Only 2 more weeks and then my big girl (WHO TURNS 14 ON MONDAY.....FLIPPEN HECK!) is home. OMG What is up with that. Kaitlyn is turning 14......SOMEONE PINCH ME!!!!! I am getting really old then huh. And here I am ready to have another....wouldn't change that but how funny....for those of you thinking that this baby was planned for when the eldest was legal babysitting age.....I wish it were true but what a perk to the job....LMAO

ok....I have almost finished the cuppa I promised I could have. This means that now I have to go and clear the lounge and lay out the sheets and doors and get organized to make a big frigin mess! The pay off is coming....I keep telling myself that.....humour me people!

Huge hugs to all. Have a huge Friday full of love and laughter, cause there won't be much laughter here...lol......Thanks Hera for the lovely little package! Your a doll! Ain't that google grand!

Bye for now

E

OVERWHELMING!!!!

Is that spelt right? O well....I don't mind if you don't. I was just so overwhelmed to read all the nice posts about my class page. It was so much fun and I have Wednesday night's page class to look forward to. April registrations are still open for other classes so don't be foolish and miss out now.....head over to Shop & Crop and seal your place! I would love to have ya'll there.

Helllllooooooo blogdom! Sorry for being a tardy blogger but life has been very very crazy yet again with the start of stage 1 of the home renovations! OMG Why do we do this again? I have to ask myself but you know what......even though I don't have the famous Paul Howard building for me my new builder (Bruce) is every bit as good and even has a good sense of humour. I have to admit to giving him a bit of gip over the last week, and he copes fine.

I know these pics are so hard to get an idea of perspective from but I will try. This is looking up the hall from the lounge room.

Before the hall was huge and wide and a big waste of space and the ceiling was really low! Now the ceiling is about 2.6mtrs high and is getting gibed as we speak.

On the right of the pic is where my hidden laundry will be. 2 x bi-fold doors will hide it all away....and then maybe I can unpack the new appliances from the garage....yay!

Straight ahead in the pic where the pink bats are is the new entrance to Liam's room. That is actually his wardrobe and the rooms carries on round to the left. On the right of that door way (where you can see daylight) is the new old back door....that is the old door has been moved from the top deck to the back wall of the house and leads out t the clothesline. Then to the right of that will be a cavity slider leading into the bathroom....and o what a nice room it is! 3mtrs x 3 mtrs of pure bliss!

So....there you have it.....hard to get the true perspective but I know you will be able to tell how darn excited I am. Most of the areas are gibed today and later in the week the gib stopper will be here....bring on that gib dust!

In other news......we all now own rubber soled slippers....boot type slippers. Not cause it is getting cold here but because over the last 3 days myself, Craig and Nikita and slipped down the 4 steps that lead from the hall down into the lounge. Not a good look. They are carpeted and are a bloody hazard. I was sure I had my foot on the step proper (they are illegal tread depth anyhow) and when my foot (in sock) hit the rounded carpeted edge it was all over. I tried to save myself but it was not happening....my feet jumped down the 3 remaining steps and in pure protection mode i stuck my feet out in front of me and my arms to the side to stop myself from rolling onto to front or hitting anything....and crash....came down, bum on the floor and small of my back taking the brunt of the fall on the bottom step. Long story short....baby is fine....I am fine but couldn't move yesterday and today is hard aswell, after finding more sore muscles this morning. The bruising is coming out but the Arnica cream is helping. Not long after my fall Craig went but managed to stay on his feet (and spilt a bit of the beer he had in his hands....lol) and then Nikita went and landed on her front. NASTY BLOODY STEPS.....you wouldn't think all this devastation from 4 carpeted steps but yes.

Ok...enough of poor me......

in other news.....remember February 9th challenge? Remember me going on and on about the kiwis getting into the submissions for the kiwi mag Up2Scrap....well....I offered to rAK the first 3 successfull Kiwi submissions to the next issue and it is official.......after a tonne of submissions..... the winners of the 'E Rak's' are : *cue drum roll*

SHAREE MORTENSON, LIANNE GRAY, TRINA MCCLUNE

Congrats girls. I have emailed you all and will look forward to you receiving your little gifts.

My pal Trina has just entered the world of blog too, so please head over and check her out! you can find her here! Take care girlie and bring on Wednesday!

Ok....enough of all of my stuff.....I am getting tired of my own ramblings so I am off to make a cupper and check on my builder. Hope this finds you all well.

HUGE HUGS!!!! e

heck why not indeed

I guess as the ladies that did the class today can share their work....so can I ....afterall I designed the page!...lol (hope that is ok Sasha)

Everything you see is provided in one kit......plus tonnes of extra blossoms...remember the whole tin post a ways back! Anyhow....you pay the registration and get a password to join the class which has been specifically designed. There you will get very easy to follow step by step instructions and as the steps progress you even get a visual picture/photo of what we are doing....how cool is that!

Anyhow....this was March's class. Registrations are open for April classes and all the details are HERE! Just yell if you have any questions......WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE!

nitey nite

e

THIS DAY TOTALLY ROCKED!

You know how crazy things have been around here....nod people cause you know you know....I told yáll......lol....well today was totally one of the coolest days!

I had the pleasure of having the first online workshop with Shop & Crop and we had a blast! The class just went so well, and to have ladies from west - east of Aussie and some kiwis was just awesome. All there doing what we love and hopefully having a laugh and learning something. The 2 hours was perfect for time for the class, and even had enough time in there for my pressurised bladder to be relieved!

THIS IS THE BIGGEST THANKS FOR ALL THE LADIES THAT STOPPED WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND TOOK THE TIME TO JOIN ME! 

I was totally honoured that you would be there with me and Sasha, and I know that these will only grow! I just can't wait to see all your pages.....how cool! so thanks from the bottome of my heart!

This is a really fast layout I did tonight for Sasha and will load tomorrow.

Love the Junkitz stuff and was dying to use these pics of my handsome little man. More to load tomorrow but for now......I am just the most contented happy little camper! For all of you ladies thinking about a class run off and book for the April classes. The classroom is amazing and you won't regret it!

thanks again for making my day wonderfull you lot! Thanks Sasha for creating this great place! Nitey Nite blogdom!

e

Sorry Hera...just about forgot!

one for the road....

wow this is a great pic Lynda thanks....can you remind me where this one was again Lynda (baby brain kicking in)

WHAT A WEEKEND!

I am not even going to attempt to bore you all with the inner workings of this last weekend....MADNESS! Anyhow....sorry for not being in here but I actually enjoyed a day yesterday when the computer didn't even get turned on * I know....true though....not even powered up once!* and I have to say the break was great. The headaches come and go and are a reflection of pregnancy low pressure (perfectly normal though) and I have been trying to get out and find some remedies Jules....just haven't made it......because!.......*cue drum roll*

TOMORROW IS MY FIRST ONLINE WORKSHOP! How excited am I? How excited are you girls who are coming? Holy it has been so fun. I have just been into the classroom and seen all the pics and stuff *hush hush* and it is FABULOUS! omg i won't sleep tonight....like a kid at Xmas.....

CONGRATS TO ALL WHO ARE JOINING ME....AND I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU ALL THERE....

REMEMBER KIWIS .......This class starts at 12pm our time (new end of daylight savings time) or 11am NSW Est.

Huge Hi to Kelli Noto tonight....her mum and Dad who are travelling the south island stopped in for a cuppa and some juice today and they are just the nicest people. And they brought me American candy, and American coins for the kids....they love em!!! YOU GUYS ROCK! I wish I was looking more presentable and the house was in better shape....lol. Lovely to meet them. Kelli I can see where you get that lovely nature from! Hugs to you....hope the snow is not falling too hard!

Congrats again to Lynda for her correct guess of the location of my banner. Gimme a few days to get through the builders tearing the house up etc and I will load another challenge. Ok...kids are all tucked up and I am thinking I might just do the same. Nite everyone. SEE Y'ALL TOMORROW!

hugs

e

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!

Well here I was coming i to add another hint and say hi for the day and there it was! *cue drum roll please maestro*

LYNDA!!!! YOU ARE THE LUCKY BANNER WINNER!!! You were spot on my friend.....Tairua! I was at a wedding over Xmas and I walked down to the beach from the house we were at, and I couldn't help but snap this pic on dusk......wow....

CONGRATULATIONS........ I know you celebrated a birthday this week too so happy happy birthday and please email me ( scrap_e@xtra.co.nz) and I will post out your RAK! Well done girl!

Phew....that was harder than I thought. Might have to do this again though cause that really was fun.

My day has been a crazy ole head down kinda day. I have a tonne of stuff to do and with all the comings and goings of tradespeople and deliveries of bathroom stuff etc it is so hard to get onto a roll. I mean this week...WHERE HAS IT GONE? Who stole it???? Huh....fess up!
Hubby took off to the north on business and the kids and I are flying solo, but that is ok. He will be back tomorrow night so not a long trip. Have been thinking allot about hubbies and the jobs they do today. Must have been the long chatting with the lovely Trina. Wow.....she has twins and is expecting and her man is gone for much longer periods than mine so from the bottom of my heart honey......YOUR MY HERO! I would seriously hate to be apart from my man that long. I know I know...some of you love the break and the freedom but me....nah....I need my man around. He is my other half..literally....ok enough soppy stuff.
Still not sure that I am come down off the cloud of yesterdays scan. As I sit her in my scraproom and type this message I am getting the lovely kicking and punching that I adore so much.....I love this really! I can really start to see a pattern of awake time now, which I am not sure is a good thing when this baby wakes me at 3 am....lol....BRING IT ON!

Ok....HUGE HUGS GOING OUT TO MY DAD! I miss you more than you know dude. I wish I could be closer but I hope this little meandering blog might make you feel a little closer to us all. Never far from our thoughts.

Hello to my friend Jules Stone. Some of you know her as the vivacious chickie fro  ISC....she is a doll and believe me she has a heart the size of Tasmania and gorgeous kids to boot! Welcome out of blogging virgin-ism. Good to have you here.....chek her out everyone! Jules
Now...off to dig through some pics and find a suitable banner competition.....could become contagious this. Hi to Hera and friends. Check out another great couple of pics from this land of the long white cloud.

(thanks for this pic of Ahipara, Ninety Mile Beach Lianne)

(Lonely Bay, Coromandel)


Nite blogdom!

Where are all the guesses?????

WHERE IS THE BANNER PIC TAKEN? There is a RAK up for grabs if you can name the place/town/settlement where this banner pic is taken!

Todays hint was.....IT IS ON THE EAST COAST OF THE NORTH ISL. First correct guess gets the RAK!!!!

On to other things. A huge hi is going out to everyone in Switzerland. I know I am getting hits from friends of Hera's so a HUGE HUMONGOUS HI FROM DOWN HERE IN NZ! Ain't our country beaut?
and on that note and in keeping with the 'make Hera feel closer to home' assignment here are more pics of this vast and gorgeous country!

This is the gorgeous beach at Hahei (thanks a bunch Nic) .....ahhhhh  summer.....gotta love it!

This is the amazing city of Auckland by night. Wow.....cool huh.

Ok....stay tuned for more pics tomorrow!.....saved the most important pics for last.....check these out.

So there you go. We are all thrilled that our scan was awesome. Our baby is fine and happy and healthy. It was wriggling around in  there and gave a kick of disgust every now and then. The kids were amazed at it. Nikita was a little shocked how real it all was but very happy. Liam was good for about 10 minutes and then he was satisfied and happy to go play with the puzzles while we finished up. Craig and I are still so feeling so surreal after the last few years but absolutely over the moon. We even got to see the baby sucking and opening and closing its mouth....the kids were amazed at that!

So there you have it. Willis # 6. and I am proud to say we are both perfectly normal.....just so thankful right now. Thanks for looking.

Nitey nite all. I am off to snuggle on the couch with my man and remember how amazingly blessed we are. Catch you all tomorrow.

hugs

e

Images of NZ

Some more pics for Hera. Hope you like em girl.

e

The Divine Malborough Sounds.

Said to be our first sign of summer....the gorgeous Monarch Butterfly

Keep watching....more to come

Keep guessing at the banner location everyone....North Isl East Coast was todays clue!

hugs

e

A SHOUT OUT FOR HERA!

Well I have just gotten the most amazing email from expat kiwi Hera Frei. Hera was formerly of Takaka which from me is about an hour over the hill (those of you that know the area, will know 'the hill....won't they Hera....lol) and is now living in the stunning Zurich in Switzerland with her man and their 2 sons.

Just wanted to say how lovely it was to hear from you! I know it must be hard being so far from home but always know that you can come here for some tastes of home. Actually I am starting another challenge. EVERYBODY SEND ME A PIC OF SOME BEAUTIFUL NZ PLACES! Ok girls....send them to my email scrap_e@xtra.co.nz I will then load a pic or 2 or 3 of some awesome scenes just for you Hera! We have to make you feel at home somehow right!

get emailing girls....here is my first one

This gorgeous pic is taken from the top of the Paku hill in Tairua, Coromandel Peninsula. It is looking across Pauanui. Out of view to the left of this pic is the beautiful Alderman Islands where the fishing is amazing.

ENJOY HERA! More to come so stick around and don't be a stranger. We may not be able to bring you home but we can sure try and bring a little of 'home' to you!

BTW.....If you make it home in  August for CC then let me know. We can hook you up with some cool kiwis t share with. Me....I will be here nursing a newborn....lol

huge hugs across the miles.

e