So Im in the middle of a week off work with tonsillitis and other related infections. Everyone has been sick around here. Except Chanelle. And then Alyssa is here too so it is even more crowded than usual.



It has been good to connect with home again. LIke I said last post, I would give an aweful lot to be able to stay home full time again.



Isn't it wierd how you don't appreciate stuff like that when you have it. I used to be so frustrated with being at home with the kids all the time. I defnitely didn't enjoy it. And I hated housework. Now I don't mind keeping the house tidy - although I could never be accused of being a neat freak, and crave time at home. and time with the kids. I just can't get enough these days.



I wish I could have done it the other way around... If I could have worked and felt this way first and THEN had to stay home with the little ones I would have loved it! and I think I would have been a better mother for them... although you never know do you. It is easy to look at something that isn't happening right now and imagine that it would be great - the grass is always greener and all that. The odd time when I take care of Grace or Cody for Shel, those little chatterbox pinklings (that is what I call them since they wear pink every minute of every day) drive me crazy!! they never stop talking and they need you ALL THE TIME.

Life is busy

Isn't it? I know it's not just me. I know it is the world in general these days. We have had Caylah's best friend move in with us recently. She is 16 and pregnant and along with her comes her boyfriend - every day for a lot of the day. And since Cayz' boyfriend is also here every day a lot of the day that means I now feed 7 people most days and we hardly have any space or privacy.

that just makes everything feel so busy and full. Don't get me wrong I actually enjoy the social way our life is now and I love having them all around and I love being part of their lives. It is just that it leaves so little time for anything else...

Like my business idea. I am too chicken to write about it yet, but I am planning to start my own business. It started when I was less than satisfied with my work a few months ago (this has picked up now) and in thinking about getting another job I realised that I would just be trading one 'its ok' job for another and what I really wanted to do was to have more freedom in my time to be there when the kids were doing stuff and take them places they need to go etc. For instance Caylah sat her test for her drivers licence on Friday. And I had to take Laman (Katrina's boyfriend) to an appointment to try to find him a course or a job. And I have had to go with Katrina to WINZ appointments and Cayz has been to the doctors a few times lately. How are you supposed to do all that when you are required at work 8.30 - 4.30 monday to friday.

So frustrating!!! Honestly if I could give up work and stay home I would soooooo do it tomorrow!!

ANYWAY... I have some good scrapbooking news!! I have been chosen for another Design Team. It is with an australian chipboard manufacturing company - A2Z Scraplets They have some absolutely gorgeous swirls and curls and I can't wait to start using them!

This was good news since I bombed in both of the comps I was participating in. Which actually suprised me because I did this awesome page for one of them (can't even remember which one any more!!). the challenge included several things to include, as well as a found item and some packaging or labels.

and I really liked this one too although once again the photo doesn't really do the page justice. there are bling in a swirl pattern across the bottom that don't really show here. I cut out some flowers out of vellum and loved how they looked layered on here.here is a two page spread for one of those competitions too. DIdn't like this one so much but the frames were excellent! you were supposed to do a creative frame and so I used this shiny red wire twist tie stuff that I go off my nana a few years ago and I twisted them into curls and stitched them on. I really liked how they turned out.Ive done something else inspiring lately - I visited the glaciers!! Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. The weather wasn't great and I didn't get really close but I saw them and I am glad taht I did. The first one is Fox and the second one Franz Josef. I would really like to do one of the half day walks that takes you right up and onto the ice.