Just a quick post this morning as I am off to do some scrap shopping! Wayne and I got back from Nambucca Heads yesterday, we had a lovely time at his parents. Jacob is still there and I am sure it talking his granddads head off!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Thanks to everyone for your friendship over the past year, I look forward to 2008 and having more adventures with you!

Thanks to GypsyAngel it was you who started me on this scrapping journey by organising the retreat at Mt Tambourine and me having the guts to go even though I didnt know anyone. So thank you! To those I have met this year what a wondeful bunch you all are and I feel special by being apart of your lives.

Looking forward to 2008

Love
Karen

Hi Everyone

OK so Jacob is on his thirds week of school hols now, he hasn't done all that much. He announced a couple of days ago he doesn't want to do much as he needs to rest his mind after a long year! Good grief! I will brag though he got his best ever report card. He did work very hard this last semester. Things will always be hard but he really wants to do well!

Last Saturday we went to a our friend Adam birthday BBQ, had a lovely time. I got to see his little nephew Tom is is gorgeous. I took a few photos and am going to put together a layout for his Mum and Dad. I have some photos of the party as well but the batteries died in the camera yesterday and i have searched hi and low and cant find any in the house. Must remember to buy some this week!

My house will be the place to be on Saturday when a Scrapchat forum friend is visiting from Melbourne and us Brissie girls are getting together for some scrapping although most likely we will end up chatting away the day. I am really looking forward to it.

Now for all those people who dont use Facebook and havent seen my sisters photos of the family trip in Sweden here are some. I can get over how much I am missing them, but I am now a facebook lover! Sorry about the size of the photo dont know why they are small.

Oliver in his Snow Suit!

One of the places they are staying, this is Thomas sisters

'Papa, Oliver and Oskar'

Mama and Oskar - look at his pink nose it must have been so cold!

Also just a shout out to Bopper and Susan for joining in with us at Scrapchat - Have fun!

Talk again soon!

Come and Visit

Hi All


Dont have much to share this week. No layouts, not photos just worked this week which is an effort in itself. Shona and Thomas left for Sweden on Friday night, by all acocunts the flight with the boys did not go well. The boys didnt sleep and played up a lot. They were exahusted by the time they landed in Stockholm. Hopefully after some sleep all will be well!


OK so here is some blantant advertising. Please come and visit the Scrapchat forum. It is a hive a activity with lots of chat and fun. You dont have to be a scrapper although I wont say you want get hooked when you see the talented works of its members! There is now a gallery which is full of great layouts (not mine yet though oops must get to that!). So hop on over and join in!

Early Christmas

The family celebrated Christmas dinner on Saturday. I know it's a bit early but my sister and her family fly out for Sweden this Friday and will miss Christmas. Unfortunately Wayne wasn't here though, he wont be back until a day or so before Christmas.

The Rafferty 3 joined us as is tradition . It was quite a sedate evening by our normal standards but still enjoyable. The usual spread of food, roast pork, ham with a Swedish twist, chicken and roast beef, roast veggies, apple sauce and heaps of nibbles. As usual we had way to much food but it always makes good the next day! Mum did all the cooking this year and did an awesome job!

Now that Oliver and Lillian have a better understanding of Christmas it is so much fun to see the faces of Small children when they see presents under the tree. Oskar got into as well, he loves opening presents. As soon as Oliver arrived he went straight to the tree, he worked out one of his and opened it before we had a chance to see him. Jacob received a Helicopter Meccano set which he put together on Sun day morning, it is now sitting pride of place in the family room - Thanks Kerri, Adam and Lillian. I got a 'PINK"2008 Calendar some of you who are reading this will know how happy that made me, and some gorgeous earrings and necklace. Thanks!!!!

It was strange not waking up on Sunday and it not being Christmas day, it is amazing how a change in routine makes you feel LO. We will have a quiet Christmas eve this year and will head up to the Sunny Coast on Christmas day to spend the day at Nana's, she came down this weekend so another trip so close it just not on. Boxing day Wayne, Jacob and I (if I have the week off) will head off to Nambucca Heads to spend a few days with PIL and Jacob will remain there for about a week after that. He is really looking forward to it.

Here are a couple of photos from Saturday night, I didn't end up taking a lot.









Have a great week!

End of the Year

Well Jacob finishes Year 5 tomorrow, I cant believe how fast this year has gone. His class had a party today and has another one tomorrow.

The year has had some ups and downs but that is to be expected I guess. Some of the highlights were

• Starting at a new school
• Making friends quicker than he ever has before
• Developing a great relationship with his teacher
• Starting to learn an instrument and other languages
• Getting up in front of Grade 5 parents/friends and teachers for a Night of the Notables where he was Steve Waugh - this was an awesome evening
• Taking part in the narrater group last night for a French play
• One of the biggest achievements for him is that he wants to go to school!

We have had some more difficult occasions but we can learn from these and not dwell on them.

I and Wayne are so proud of our boy he has come so far this year and we couldnt ask for anything more. We love you!

I was going to put some pictures on here but blogger seems to be having a few issues.

Onwards and upwards from here.

LoveKaren

Jacob and Oliver playing in the rain last weekend at Great Grandma's
Oliver helping Oskar with lunch - Heres the aeroplane Oskar!!!

Photo Share

Hi All

I have not completed any layouts this week, I have so many to get finished by the end of the week for November challenges. Its a pretty daunting task really as I have unpacked from the retreat. I know pretty unorganised of me, but I think I want to change the study around a bit so don’t want to unload to just move everything. Well that’s what I am telling myself.

I received a CD containing everyone’s photos from the retreat - thanks Peggy you are an absolute star!!!! My mind was spinning looking through them and thinking about all the layouts I want to do.

I thought I would share some family photos this week.

Oliver my newphew

Mother and Son - Shona and Oskar
I cant wait to scap this one, my gorgeous boy
Shona and Thomas
Gorgeous Oskar my nephew

What a Weekend!!!!

Well we Arrived,

we Ate,

we Shopped,

we Sing Starred,

we Scrapped and

we most certainly had a Great Time.

I managed to complete 4 layouts and lost the artist flow after Sing Star came out. I have never sang in front of people like I did on Saturday and some people who read my blog will confirm that. With such a wonderful bunch of girls it was hard not to be relaxed and let the barriers down.

I want to thank

Amanda for organising this one, you did a fantastic job.

Peggy who gave us all a wonderful memento for the weekend,

Sarah my box friend,

Chelle for your opinions and help with my layouts, I couldn't do them without you and,

lastly to everyone who came you made it a fantastic weekend.

A special shout out to Lynnie my sing star idol partner what laughs we had!

Here are the layouts I completed.

The beautiful Green Family!

This one is ME!

This one is my sister and her DS2 Oskar

This one is Me and my sisters a long time ago. I am holding Shona and Melanie is beside us.

Retreat Here We Come

Only 3 more days until the big event. I am so excited, cant wait to see everyone again. I was on the way to being organised but that has fallen over LOL. I received my raffle prize yesterday, it has such lovely goodies I am eager to start using them. Now it has arrived I can finalise my layout packs for the weekend.

I have only completed a couple of layouts this week. Both are for challenges. I am having heaps of fun with challenges at the moment and it is really helping me to improve my layouts I think. I have a few more to do for this month and will hopefully get them done on the weekend!

This one is for Kata's Forums Sketch Challenge

This one is for Monthly ScrapChat Sketch Challenge

Hugs

Karen

Tagged

I have been tagged by the 'Wonderful' GypsyAngel. I am going to tag you straight back along with Chelle, Ness and Kim G.

Hugs

Karen

My Week

Hi Everyone

I thought I would share some news, layouts since my last post.

Where do I start - hmm

I won the ScrapbookNBits Breast Cancer Raffle. I am so excited I cant wait for my parcel to arrive it has over $100 worth of products! I will post a pick when it arrives.

I have also spent my CC winnings, I received the goodies today. Can I just say that Karen over at ScrapbookNBits has a fabulous store and provides excellant service. Make sure you go and visit!

Time has almost arrived for the QLD Girls Retreat at Warana being organised by ScrapManda. ScrapManda has arranged some great challenges and I am even taking a photo of me for one! Only for you Manda! I cant wait to see everyone. Tonight I am starting to get my packs together.

I have completed a few more layouts in the past week and I still have a few on the go for the Monthly Challenges at ScrapChat, Scrapbooknbits and StampShak. I joined StampShak last week, the foum is run by the awesome Michelle Jamieson (ChelleJamo). Scrapchat is also becoming a hive of activity with new members arriving everyday. GypsyAngel you are a star!

Dont think there is too much more to tell, Jacob is doing well. Although he has started the countdown to Christmas. He starts his holidays at the start of December and has 10 weeks off! Wayne will be home this weekend and is taking him out fishing.

My layout share is one I completed this week. The photo is of one of the most important person I have in my life, Tina. I hope you like it.

Unbelievable

Hi All

Hope you are having a great week!

I think I am still in shock the layout of Shelby - Angel Girl in my last post won the CC at Scrapbooknbits. Thanks so much to Karen for the gift voucher. Karen has great products in store at the moment so make sure you check it out.

Here is another layout I have completed of the beautiful Sianna. Hope you like this one as well Tina.

Not much going on this week, just the usual grind. I will hopefully get a couple more layouts completed this week.

Talk soon.

Love

Karen

Hi All

Hi Everyone

Here a couple more layouts from me this week. These are both for the Scrapbooknbits CC.

Also please check out Sheila Higgins Photography. Sheila has a lovely site and takes wonderful photo's. My nephews are even on the site! Sheila also has a blog where she has just announced that she is part of 'Think Pink Photography".

Angel Girl Shelby, Sianna's little sister. Hope you like it Tina!

My Mum and her partner David

Talk again soon.

Karen

Scapping Layouts

Hi All

Here are a couple of layouts I have completed over the past couple of weeks.

The goergeous Sienna, I completed this for the LSBS crop for Breat Cancer last weekend.


Jacob and his Aunt Mel, action buddies!
Jacob at 6 months old.

Thanks for looking

Love Karen

Yeppoon Visit

Well I am up and running. Not sure I am completely happy with the look of the page yet, might have to do some more tweaking I think.

Some of you know that I have had Glandular Fever, I have had a crappy couple of days my head is aching again and I cant seem to stay awake for long. I am so over it!!!

I thought I would share some photos from our recent trip to Yeppoon, we had a fantastic time. The resort was full to the brim with activities we never left.

Mini Golf

Water slide fun, the water slide was open twice a day, I don't think Jacob missed one session!

Jacob, Me and a camel called Capricorn! Capricorn was a mischievous camel, every time we went near a hanging branch from a tree she want to stop and eat it. The branches kept flying in our faces I thought we were going to fall off from all our giggling!

View from our room

Hello and Welcome

After much procrastination I have finally started this Blog. I hope to share my goings on, photos and my scrapbooking efforts.

I hope to share some layouts I have completed in the last few days, I was inspired by the Girls Night In event arranged by ScrapManda. ScrapManda did a fabulous job and managed to raise almost $1000 to go towards Breast Cancer Research. It was a great night.

Jacob came home today with a couple of small gifts from his French teacher, he managed to accumulate merit points for his effort and eagerness to learn. Nothing like bribery to get the work done!

I was hoping to place some photos on here tonight but there is an error showing that this is not working tonight.

Would love to hear any comments you may have.

Love

Karen