From Our Family to Yours

MERRY CHRISTMAS..

School Holiday Update..

So this is how it is done...

Jay is on the up and up-eating real food and back fighting with his brother LOL..

We even ventured out on Saturday, Don and the boys went to a Magic show at South Bank, while I worked. We then met up at Jay's favourite place -Sizzlers with the Cameron's- its been a while..

Looking at seeing the movie "Space Chimps" and we still have a few craft items to play with..

Some of the items that are going on Ebay include Beading supplies & books, Aromatheraphy & Bach Flower Books, selected Candle Making Books, Hay House Publications, including titles by Doreen Vitrue and few scrapping items -see below. Email me if you would like any before they are up..

We Are Here-Promise..

Where do I start... life is good.. I have left full time work to try to find the all important Family and work balance... I am looking for a part time job or a few private book keeping clients (just in case you know of anyone LOL)..

Don and the kids are well.. Let me see, we are now on school holidays, time is an amazing thing, with me not at work, Jay's operation somehow was booked in for Monday just gone.. Jay is very sore and tired, but if you ask him hes not.. He is only eating chicken and noodle soup and his voice has changed, the doctor said he will be back to his normal self, (minus the snoring and tonsillitis) within a month.. Both boys are Star Wars mad (still). Uncle Steve bought Jay a Wii game-Stars Wars 'The Force" Unleashed and Ash Stars Wars Lego - photos to follow including the footy ones I promised over a month ago..

Don's tank has had new additions, Fathers Day was good for Don.. I had my birthday, a week before that mum was down for Grandparents day-did you take any photos mum-cause if you did I haven't seen any....

Also having time home has allowed me to get all those bits and pieces photographed for Ebay-I'll post the link soon...

That pretty much sums the last month up for us, minus the emotion which tends to take over at times LOL.. Oh, lifestyle change still on track, Don a little more that I, he is looking great.. 8 weeks to Shaun and Lesley's Wedding, so hopefully we'll lose at least another 5 kilos before then..

Here's a fun pic-maybe a little too early-might get the boys out next week for this years Christmas Card Shoot..

X Mel

Wii Fit

As the month has progressed, Don and I are doing well, the change in eating and lifestyle habits has been positive... What I love at the moment for stress release and weight loss is the Wii Fit- Love It, especially the Rhythm Boxing.. Man do you feel it, but it is great fun... Don is looking Fab... We both have lost weight, but when I look in the mirror, I cannot really see where, but I feel have an my fame jeans are loose....

The boys are great, Jay was on his school camp, last Tue through Fri-back home now- a little tired though.. Footy is over for 2008, Don took photos at last weeks last game-will post soon (yes mum, I'll email them to u and Steven). Ash is Ash, missed his brother terribly while he was away, but also enjoyed the stillness that came with it..

Looking into Summer sports for Jay, not sure what he may choose?!!!

Have to post a photo so posted this one.. LOL.. How time flies (back in 2002)

Till next time..

Mel

New Meaning to Sun Don't Shine??!!

Sorry Dad, just had to share....

Lots Happening..

A day off today for those non Brisbane based, today is Ekka Day-which means all of Brisbane should be going to the Ekka (the Ekka is our Royal Show).. Jay went with school on Friday and next week he is off for a 4 day school camp-they grow up soooo fast..

Last weekend I was away at a retreat (scrapping related) held in Maleny. Maleny is such a beautiful area. Mum and Dad, I know a great picnic area we can stop at next time your down.. Jay scored a try at footy and Ash started Acro classes on Friday afternoon.

The weekend before the boys were off to the Broncos game, Ash and I stayed in had a ball...

Don and I have embarked on a lifestyle change.... First cab off the rank is weight loss. We both started on the TF shakes and did well, but felt that it wasn't a lifetime Solution, we have since gone to a dietitian and are doing well. Don is looking amazing. To add to the change of eating habits, we are both exercising, would you believe with the Wii Fit, it really is worth it (and man do you feel it) I must admit working together on this is a great way to reconnect.. The boys have been a great inspiration and really are our personal cheer squad.

I am thinking of using this blog as a sort of record keeping facility of our progress, I want to pop up a few before shots and progress shots-but I am not there yet.. I will admit that we have both dropped over 6kgs each, Don near 10kgs..

I have no current photos to share.. Sad I know.. I did take the camera bag with me to Ashton's Tabloid Sports Day yesterday only to open it and remember the camera is sitting on my desk..

Enjoy Life..

Mel

The Real World...

I am well and truly back in the real world...

Work has been, well what I'd call interesting... We won an award for one of the houses that we designed and built (when I say "we" I mean the company I work for-LOL)

Classes have been fantastic-check out the Point Shoot Play Blog for all that info-a few bits and pieces of exciting news as well...


Jay was 10 on June 30.. Can you believe it my (our) baby 10....

We went to Kingston Park Raceway for Jay's party-boys and their cars-(fast cars at that)what have we to look forward too... Time will tell..

"THE BOYS"

"JAY"

"ASH-I hate waiting"

The boys have been in Sydney for a week now, another week to go.. They are being spoilt as usual.. Sooo not use to the cold though.. I believe they are off to the footy Friday night to watch a Panthers game (Shaun now looks after all things Panthers) and then off to Uncle Shaun's for the weekend, where I dare so they will continue to be spoilt...

Both Don and I have been ill-I am sure all at work are loving it, Mel without a voice LOL...

Looking forward to the weekend-Saturday sees (i hope) a lazy day and Sunday, Sara and I are off to Gympie for a PSP class.. Come Monday, Daddy comes to visit... Tuesday, our boys are home...

I hope everyone is well??!! Keep Warm...

X Mel

3 Days Left and Then Back to The Real World..

After the Scrapbooking Expo last weekend I have had this week off from the real world.. I even had time to have lunch with my husband and meet a girlfriend for lunch-WOW... Thanks to D for looking after the bouys on Monday night so Don could help us pack up...



Today, Don and I pick us his new car and then head off to watch Jay at sport, not sure who is more excited..



The boys had a great long "boys" weekend, while I was at the show, only down side is I missed Don's Birthday (below is a pic of Don and his little bro way back when-how cute) We should make up for it this weekend, I am going to surprise him with a visit to the "fish" supplier to grab a few more kilos of "live rock" -I know what the??The remainder of weekend I hope to sleep (not that I think it will happen -LOL), Ash has dancing tomorrow morning, but there is no Footy on Sunday and I have to prepare myself for the real world for Monday AM..



I hope everyone has a great weekend..

XX Mel

Where does the time go..

I know I say that every week. But, where does it go..

Just stopping by, I am madly getting ready for the Scrapbook Expo for Point Shoot Play next weekend at the Convention Centre-check out the Point Shoot Play blog for more info.

Kids are great, Jay was at a Broncos party for one of his mates tonight, so Don and Ash had a mini boys night-I wasn't allowed to talk-LOL.. I haven't any up to date photos to add to the post, so I thought I'd add the one below..

Bad, I know this is Steven and I in 1986.. ROFL...

Have a Great Weekend..

x Mel

Busy Busy Like A Honey Bee..

My name means Honey Bee... My grandfather, also called me his "little honey bee"...

This time of the year, we grieve then celebrate.. But this year it is a little it more on both sides...

10 years ago this month, my grandfather died. 10 years ago next month Jay was born..

10 Years, how it comes and goes, but only seems like yesterday..

With Jay turning 10, comes the "Big Boy Toys", well in this case a totally cool Birthday Party. We are taking Jay and a few mates to Kingston Park Raceway, I mean what more do 9 and 10 year old boys, need...

Below is the invite I whipped up tonight (3 times-note to self, when you as DH, to have a look -give more detail-if you mean proof read-say proof read-LOL). Now this just shows you if I can do this, you have no excuses any more-pop on over to the Point Shoot Play Blog and see where the next class around you is being held.....

We're Back....

Happy 60th Birthday Dad.....

We have had a wonderful weekend away, for Dad's 60th Birthday. We stayed at Swell Resort,

Burleigh Heads, a lovely modern resort. On Saturday night we all went to The Outback Spectacular. We all had a great evening, the boys even got to participate in the show, they were in the Great Chicken Race...


Sunday, saw Don, the boys and I have breaky a the Burleigh Heads Surf club-OMG yum... Lunch was for Dad's Birthday, we dined at Oskar's on Burleigh, joined by The Jones and Hylands, a big shout out to all, thanks for looking after us so well. The above is the invite I made, I had so much fun with this. I also put together a montage of Dad over the years, the memories, they flooded back.






Today, mum, dad, Lesley and Steve joined us at our house for lunch. The amount of food we have eaten this weekend. Sign me up for the next Biggest Loser, please.

I hope everyone has had a great weekend and is ready for the week ahead.



X Mel

I'm Waiting.........

You know who are (mother) and what I am waiting for LOL!!!

I'll I've been waiting, I've been going through photos. It is amazing the moments we think we will never forget-thankfully we can capture them on camera.

A few of my faves are below. Not great photography, just moments I am grateful that we have these reminders.

Happy Anniversary Babe...

11 years... I advised Don he is now on parole for Good behaviour-LOL..

Boys Will Be Boys...

We were lucky take Miss Sara's youngest along with us on a beach picnic lunch... The boys had a ball, I think Ashton enjoyed not being the youngest for a while.. Jay of course was BIG Brother to all...

WOW.. It's the 12th April...

Each post,I keep going to say the same thing, where does our time go..

Below is what I'd said I'd post back on the 29th March-OMG-so sorry... I won't say I'm slack-cause we have been soooo busy-like everyone else I know..

In this little experiment, I have used one of Lanne's templates and a few of Rhonna Farrer's papers and overlays-stay tuned (at Point Shoot Play) for all the exciting news-Opps-shhhh... Anyway, back to the below-I adjusted the hue and saturation on all layers individually and then played with the pics a bit and viola..

Since my last post, we have been there done that with Jay's first Footy match for the season (well since he got his cast off)... My boy is no longer a boy, the below first pic is back in 2004, with Gordon Tallis and Ashton (we were lucky enough to have great contacts for the Broncos, that year) and the second pic a few weeks ago-he is such as footy boy..

We have been there done that with the Gold Coast Craft Fair for Point Shoot Play-check out the blog for all the updates-we all had a ball ... We even celebrated Peta's 30th Bday on Friday 4th April...

School holidays for the boys, are half way through..

The boy's school have 2 weeks off instead of one-not really sure why..

Don has been great (as usual) and is having the time off with them..

Poor Jay, he has been sick and only had his first day outside today..

He is on the up and up though..

This weekend sees us still working on the office-bits and pieces.

We hope to take the kids out and about tomorrow-not sure where-maybe to Shorncliffe or Sandgate??

When mum gets herself into gear (I know you are reading this) and sends me a certain disc-I'll be busy compling something special for someone special-can't say anymore just in case Dad reads this post (not that I'm that worried LOL)

Have a great weekend.

X

Mel

I've Been Playing..

How, I fitted it in-I'll never know-but I am so glad I did..

Well honestly, I came home after Scrappy Diva's last night and played until the wee hours of this morning.. Gotta Love It..

Got to run to Ashton's Dance Class now-but will post my "Masterpiece" or not later today.. LOL

x Mel

Happy Easter..

I know it was really yesterday.. LOL

I hope everyone enjoyed the time spent with their families..

We have had a family filled weekend-it has been great..

Friday saw Dad and Don, putting together Ashton's bike a relaxing day in and outside...

Saturday, mum and dad went to Dad's family farm to visit family. We went to D&D's for the Easter Egg hunt and morning tea-Yum... We may have not been able to join in the fun, but we had yummy Hot Cross Buns.. Saturday afternoon, saw Don's dad and Heather, with the D&D clan for late lunch-great to catch up with everyone.. I finally was able to get a few pics of Little K and Big K.

Sunday, we had Don's Oma, aunt and cousin-the lovely Mizz Corrine over for lunch-more food and more chocolate-not to mention what the Easter Bunny left...

Today, saw a trip to Ikea (I heart Ikea) to get a few goodies for the PSP stand at the Gold Coast Craft Fair... As I write this mum and dad our on their way back.. More food, more chocolate-bring on the walker...

All in all, the way Easter should be, spending time with family and being Thankful..

X

Mel

Happy Birthday Ashton For the 20th....

Yesterday our "baby" was 7.....

7....

That's all I can keeping thinking...

Mum and Dad arrived from Mackay, and we all went to the Buffet at The Royal Mail Hotel at Tingalpa (one of the hotels-where I work renovated) Ashton loves all you can eat options-not that he eats a lot-He just loves being able to choose.. Miss Sarah for Sweeeet As, did a wonderful job (as usual) with Ashton's favorite-Lemon Meringue Pie.... I would have photos, but I left the camera in the car-not a great idea, I know...

Here is a photo of my 3 boys the day Ashton was born 7 years ago...

Tomorrow we are off to D&D's for an Easter Egg Hunt-Yum... Not that the adults are allowed to play... LOL..

Have a Great Easter...

X

Mel

Thankyou Rachel...

I was checking out Rachel Richter's blog the other night... Rachel had made the most wonderful Easter PhotoCards-I just had to create my own-nowhere as great as Rachel's-but ok.. These are what the boys are giving their teachers today...




1 more sleep to Ashton is 7........

I'm Slack-I know...

We have been busy... Don has been busy in yard as well-getting it ready for our next little project.. Classes with PSP are doing well, we have also been putting together samples for the Gold Coast Craft Fair (more on that later).

Jay has had a break from Footy, since his cast came off-he'll be back on the field after the Easter weekend.. Easter can you believe it, even though it is a little earlier this year, it seems like it arrived so quickly.. Ashton is 7 this Thursday, we officially do not have babies or even little ones anymore... Sad, but exciting as well.. It is great to watching the boys grow into young men..

Below are a few photos I can across when putting together a "sample" the the show.. (look familiar-LOL) I love these photos-they were taken by Adam Bolt of Adam Bolt Photography last May-WOW nearly 12 months ago...Adam's work rocks...

For this years photo shoot-I cannot wait to get this out in a plush green field.... Oh, and we will be photos taken by Sassi Photography-you know when we all have some free time LOL..