A long weekend

I'll start where I left off. On Thursday afternoon Emily finished school slightly earlier than normal. It was Open Night on Thursday night and the school closed early to get everything ready. Needless to say, the children don't complain! However, when Emily got home on Thursday her foot looked like this > The nurse at school had bandaged it up after Emily's foot got caught while she was walking down some stairs. The nurse felt that she had probably sprained her ankle and strapped it up. This had happened on the way to Music and before Emily had been due to take part in a rugby lesson organised by the local rugby club. I don't think she minded missing out on that, but it has slowed her down somewhat. We took the bandage off this evening and will see how she gets on tomorrow. Fortunately, she had an inset day on Friday and has another one on Monday so we have a long weekend and, hopefully, the ankle will be feeling a bit better by Tuesday. This afternoon I started on the first layout for Cathy's class. We had to use an 11" x 7.5" photo - something I don't often use but this photo has been one of my favourites and I like the way the layout has turned out. I wish I could say that it all just came together quickly but I kept changing my mind and it was a couple of hours before it felt right! The journaling reads: Chicago - Summer 2006 The weather was beautiful and afternoons were spent in the pond. As you and Henry walked down the garden, Caesar, Amber and Miller would follow you and stay at the pond - watching over you and making sure you were safe.

I'm hoping to make a start on the other layouts for this week tomorrow and will share when they are complete.

Hope you are having a good weekend

xx

A quick catch-up

After reading Nichol's blog and seeing how she used white embossing powder to get white stamped images I decided I would like to give it a try. So, on Tuesday morning, Mum and I went out to The Craft Barn so I could get some white embossing powder. Only problem is that I now can't find my stamps to be able to play! I know they're in the boxes somewhere, but where is another story. Oh well, the powder is here when I do find them.

Inside The Craft Barn The fountain (and fish) at the entrance to the shop After we'd finished shopping we went round to Best Wishes for a coffee. This is such a quaint tea room with lots of little nooks inside.

On Wednesday I was feeling the full effect of this head cold I've had for the past week. So, with nothing planned, I had a blobby day, sat on the sofa and watched the first couple of DVDs of Grey's Anatomy which had come in the post from America on Tuesday. Bliss!!! I stopped to make lunch and dinner but spent the rest of the day getting my fix! It must have done the trick as I feel a lot better today!

After meeting friends for coffee at Nero's this morning, going to Connexions with Claire and running a couple of errands, I had a chance to catch up and finish the last three pages for Shimelle's Learn Something New Everyday class. So glad I kept up with this one and have an album of reminders/lessons taken from our everyday lives. Thanks Shimelle!! Sketch 28 Sketch 29 Sketch 30 Cathy's class started over at Big Picture Scrapbooking today and I'm looking forward to making a start on the first layout for that. Have my photos printed out now I just need to get back to the table and get started. Norma, are you ready to get started as well? How many of you will be joining in with this class? Drop me a line and let me know so I can look out for you :o) xx

Emily

Yesterday, Emily turned 12! Only one more year and my "baby" will be a teenager!! What I can't believe is that I didn't take many photographs.

It was a busy day, up at 6 as usual, present opening at 6.45am before Jon left for work. The usual pre school rushing around and making sure Emily had sweets to give her friends, etc. While she was at school I went grocery shopping with Mum; back home to unpack it; out to Ali's to pick up Emily's present and have a cup of tea; into town for a few bits; pick up Jon's prescription and go to the vet's to get Tom's special diet food. Had an hour or so at home before Emily got back and then family arrived for afternoon tea and cakes. I had set up the table outside but, unfortunately, the wind came up and we had to move inside again. By the time every one had left we had about an hour of quiet before we headed out for dinner at Prezzo's (one of our favourite restaurants). I didn't even take one photo while we were out - my camera sat in my bag untouched! Sorry Emily!!

Here are a few of the photos that I did take.

xx

Sunday

Another glorious day here in West Sussex and I've even had the chance to sit out in the sun for a while to have my lunch. I do love these late sunny days!

Going back to yesterday, as I mentioned, it was good to meet up some of the family again. At the Wake we sat at a table with Nicola and her girls; Sophie, Chloe and Lauren. Nicky is Jon's eldest brother, Mike's daughter, who lives in Staffordshire. For one reason or another, it's been a number of years since we last saw her and it was great to be able to catch up again. As I've said on one of my layouts (to be posted at the end of this post) we really should make more effort to keep in touch with family, for the children's sakes - as well as our own - so that they know who their cousins are. Growing up in South Africa, we didn't have family around us and although I didn't really miss it at the time, with hindsight, I do wish I had known my cousins and had a closer bond with them. I feel I now need to try and give that to our children so they have the opportunity to form a bond for future years. So, here are a few photos of Nicky and her girls.

Mike and Nicola

Sophie ChloeLauren

Mike with his grandaughters doing their little "happy dance" :o)Emily and Claire with their uncle, cousin and 2nd cousins

Finally to finish off today, two layouts for Shimelle's Learn Something New Everyday class which will be coming to an end at the end of September. I've had a great time doing the layouts and it's one of the few classes where I've actually kept up to date - yippee!!!

Sketch 26

Sketch 27 Hope you've had a good weekend wherever you are.

xx