Lochsport - Anzac Weekend

Again we spent a holiday in Lochsport with Scott and Tania and Marty and Julie. If it's not Moama, it's Lochsport.

The weather was kind to us, with the sun shining and actually feeling quite warm. We took the kids out motorbike riding on Friday.

Bailey crashed our little Suzuki 50, then decided to ride Sarah and Brandons bike with the training wheels.

On the Friday afternoon Tania and Julie took all the kids for a paddle in the boat. I stayed back and relaxed with a drink, watching the Essendon v Collingwood game with the boys. It was so peaceful without the kids. Having a fractured arm, I really couldn't be bothered going out exerting myself, paddling in a boat. I told my kids not to get wet, but of course what happens, my kids and only my kids are the ones that got wet.

Saturday morning Tania, Julie and I took the kids for a walk to the beach. Again they got wet. After they were told to stay out of the water. Micayla lifted her pants so she could paddle in the water just up to her ankles. This ended up to her knees so I told her to take her pants off and go in her knickers so her pants stayed dry, but she still wasn't allowed in over her knees. I think she thinks her knees are at her waist. She ended up with sopping wet knickers and half her top wet. At least Bailey listened to me.

That afternoon the girls decided for the boys to take the kids fishing and we'd stay back child free and relax. Julie said she was going to have a sleep and so did Tania, and Nathan and Jaeda had come down sick with Jaeda vomitiing. So I decided it was going to be no fun at all staying back at the house while they were sick and sleeping so I went fishing with the boys and the kids. They were only feeding the fish, catching nothing. Micayla again was told not to get wet, so what does she do. Yep you guessed it.

Here is a photo of her wrapped in a towel to keep warm cause she got her pants wet again.

Next time I'll just pack their wetsuits and let them go for their life. But they had been sick so I didn't want them playing in cold water while their colds were still lingering. And I still didn't want Bailey's head getting wet where he'd been glued. Bailey at least listened to me mostly. He did play chicken with the waves for a minute. Got his pants a bit wet and stopped.

Scott was casting off when a wave came in and got him. On his way out of the water he stepped in a hole and fell right in. Unfortunately I'd pointed the camera behind me at Bailey jumping off the sandhills and missed capturing Scott falling in the water. I did get to see it happen though, which gave me a good laugh.

And here is Bailey squashing one of the sand castles. He said he was flying.

What's happening at Artypants

I've just held a class using Opals Embossing Powders. This is a fantastic versatile product. I've never been a huge fan of embossing until I tried the Opals. This class was well received and students are impressed to see just what you can do with this product. This class will be running again soon. Keep and eye out for when. Also Opals products will be coming to Artypants real soon.

7th May I will be running a class on how to use up your scraps. You will put a layout together and then create a minibook using the scraps from the layout. This is a Wednesday morning class.



Princess Castle Mini Book class will be held on Saturday 10th May, 10.30am-12.30pm. Create this gorgeous mini book for that special little person in your life. The kit to make this mini book is provided and included in price of the class.

The popular Transparency class and Doodling class are back for May too. Bec and Jodie are also holding some fabulous classes worth checking out. Distressed Out and R U Puzzled. Just pop into the store or ring Artypants on 5995 5476 to find out more and book in to any of the classes you want to attend.

Artypants Special Occassions Invitation Department
will be having their Grand Opening on Wednesday 30th April at 7pm (enter via classroom door). Come and see our exciting new range of papers, cardstock and accessories to make your own invitations. Fully customised service available also.

Come and see us at
From Picture to Page.
Saturday 3rd May, 9.00am - 4.30pm
and
Sunday 4th May 10.00am - 4.30pm
The Whitehorse Club,
298-336 Burwood Hwy
East Burwood Reserve, East Burwood
Mel Ref: 62 C7
Entry Fee: $8.50 Adults
Kids Under 12 Free

Artypants April Fun and Funky Kit

April's Fun and Funky kit is now available for purchase. Pop instore to pick yourself up the pack or use the coupon in the current Scrapbooking Memories to order your kit now, only $39.95. Check online at Artypants for details of what the kit contains.

These are the layouts I did using only what is in the kit and some basic products like paint, ink and stamps. Jodie has given a special mention on the website to Adrian for helping me finish these layouts when I broke my elbow. Check out the Crusty Demons picture on the Stunt Man in the Making layout. This was done by Adrian. I'll get him scrapping yet LOL!!!



And while your instore, be sure to book in for the retreat at Camp Manyung, May 23rd to 25th

Bailey's First big Accident

We went to Castello's in Berwick last night (19th April) for David Overdyk's birthday (Happy Birthday Dave). We were only there about 15 minutes when Bailey came crying his eyes out and blood pouring out of the back of his head. His head hit the back of the slide on his way down and a broken bit jutting out split his head open. We spent the next hour and a half at Casey Hospital having it glued. We were starving. We left Micayla in the care of Mel and Steve (thanks guys) so she could eat. Didn't need her waiting around at the hospital with us whinging that she was hungry. After his head was glued we went back to the pub and we had a meal before going back to Dave and Laura's for the evening. Bailey was very brave. When the nurse asked him what his name was he said "Bailey Jordan Klaster", so cute! While we were waiting he kept asking for his stitches and when we found out he was getting glue he still wanted stitches, until I told him how they did stitches, then he wanted the glue. They had to cut his hair away from the cut and it was stuck to it. It was hurting him but he was soooo brave!!!

OMG! What a Weekend!!!

Friday 3rd April, the kids went for a sleepover at Oma and Opa's. They were dropped off around 10am and I had the whole day to myself. What bliss!!! By the end of the afternoon I felt so relaxed. I did a bit of shopping and picked up some awesome bargains. A black jacket that was $99 reduced to $39, among other things. Adrian was home from work by the time I arrived back home and he wanted me to parade them for him, as I did. We then went out for a nice casual dinner at The Pancake Parlour. We were going to go ten pin bowling after that but never made it there. We ended up spending the rest of the night (actually till 2am) enjoying each other's company and talking all night. The next morning Adrian made me breakfast in bed. We then spent the day together doing bits and pieces, including spending 2 hours at the Hallam opening of Sexyland. LOL It was huge, lots of fun stuff happening there. Then we picked the kids up at around 4pm.

I went out on a girls night out at The Matthew Flinders Hotel. It was a friend Sue's birthday. We had dinner and then went into Tom Thumbs after dinner. Had a bit of fun dancing with the girls but was glad to get home. I was actually ready to go around 11pm but I was told the band was due to come on soon. I waited til midnight and still no band so I went home. Being at a place like that really makes you appreciate what's waiting for you at home.

Then on the Sunday we took the kids Rollerskating in Dandenong. Big Mistake!!!! Well for me anyway. Was having lots of fun. Bailey looked so cute on tiny little rollerskates, but he found it so hard he switched to a scooter. Micayla was using her rollerblades but the also switched to rollerskates.

I think it must be close to 30 years since I skated. Took me a bit of getting used to it again. I was a bit wobbly, but soon found my wheels and was whizzing around the rink pretty easily. Then I decided to see if I remembered how to go backwards. That was my BIG MISTAKE!!! The wheel of one skate clipped the wheel of the other skate and my legs flew out from under me and I fractured my arm. Can you believe that!!! After 38 years I've broken my first bone. It's actually the radial head in my elbow. It's only a minor fracture but it has to be bandaged and in a sling for a minimum of 2 weeks. Yeah alright, I can hear you all laughing, it's not funny!!! Actually yes it is. That'll teach me. Shouldn't have got so cocky.

Doesn't stop me from Scrapping though. This was at last Friday night's Crop at Artypants (11th April). I had others cutting things out for me. Thanks Bec and Jenny for doing that. I did everything else, sticking things down with my left hand and doodling on the Cool Dude layout. These are the 2 layouts I did and a photo of me scrapping with a fractured arm. Thanks Jodie for your photography of me.

Mother and Daughter Crop at Artypants

On Monday 31st March, I took Micayla along to the Mother and Daughter crop they hold at Artypants during the school holidays. She had an absolute ball and produced 3 gorgeous layouts. I messed around with a few papers but spent most of the night helping Micayla, teaching her the basics of Scrapbooking. I've always left her to do her own thing. Now it's time for her to learn it properly. She was so excited to bring her own tote bag along. I also taught her how to use the cricut machine, which she cut out a couple of little bags to make. She was also very excited when I bought her her own paper trimmer, double sided tape and a couple of other little things to add to her stash. On the way home she was raving about how much fun she had and that she just loves to scrapbook and she never wants to stop once she starts. That was obvious, I couldn't get her to pack up. She also said that she was wide awake and that was at 10.30pm. He he he, I knew exactly what she was saying, cause that's how I feel. Yep, she's got the bug!!!

Here are the layouts she did.

Next time the school holidays roll around make sure you get yourself down to Artypants to book in for the next Mother and Daughter Crop.

Paperific and AED

On Sunday 30th March I went and helped out Alison with the make and takes on the AED stand (Alison Ellis Designs) at Paperific at Caulfield Racecourse.

Leading up to that day Alison sent me her new 'Flights of Fancy' paper range to put together some layouts for display at Paperfic. With Easter in the middle of it all, I only had a couple of days to put some layouts together. Adrian was a great help, taking the rest of the week after Easter off work to look after the kids while I got the layouts done. This is what I came up with.

Crusty Demons Night of World Records 2008

On 29th March we went to Calder Raceway to see Seth Enslow break his personal best record jump. His pb was set at 268 and he broke it a couple of times with the final jump recorded at 301 feet. That was his goal, to break his personal record before his retirement from the Crusty Demons team. There was also the world record jump. Set by Robbie Maddison off shore in Las Vegas at 322 feet, then broken by Ryan Capes with a 324 foot jump here at Calder. Robbie Maddison then followed Ryan, jumping an amazing 346 feet. Then he topped it off by jumping again and jumping an amazing 351 feet. Robbie was stoked to break the record on home turf.


I personally was a little dissappointed because the rain spoit a lot of the show. It rained for half an hour, then everything was so wet. Everyone stood for the rest of the night with the ground being too wet to sit on. We stood on a hill and my toes were being pushed into the front of my shoes making my toes hurt. I just kept sitting down on the rug and getting up when a jump attempt was about to happen. Only to stand up to find it was just another speed test. There was a lot of waiting around. My fav part was the Expression Sessions but there wasn't enough of it. For more details about the night and all the records set as well as some awesome pics, check out this link to the Crusty website.


Here are some of the pics I took. By the time the rain went away and the track was dried up enough for the jumps to take place it was dark and all the bright lights were on, making it difficult to take a decent photo. Of course if I had a professional camera I would've got much better shots but they don't let prof. camera's in. (Not that I have one). I did manage, however to get my tripod in there ???? don't know how they missed the search on that one. They inspected my camera though and nearly didn't let it in. Even with the tripod and attempting lots of different settings; with the distance and the bright lights in front of me, the photos are pretty bad. There were a couple of jumps with better light before the rain came so those shots aren't too bad.

This is at the beginning, while we were waiting. These are all the landings, and jumping ramps.


This is while we were waiting for it all to start (before the rain). Bailey just loves donuts, he ate 2 of these yummy hot jam donuts.


This is the shot taken early, before the rain.

Then the rain came.



As Bailey says, he's "licking the rain".





These are the bad photos taken after the rain and they'd dried out the track a bit. As you can see they are very blurry. The dark shot, if you look closely, you can see one of the crusty demons upside down. His bike is hidden in the light. Look closely at the tallest light and you may be able to make out the rider.


The this is the usual of Bailey. 'Asleep'.

Michelle and Steve Ewing also met us there. We were going to meet at McDonalds after the event for a snack before driving home. But we were gridlocked in traffic in separate parts of the car park trying to get out, so we went to McDonalds on our own then made our way home.

10 Years Married

Adrian and I celebrated our 10 year Wedding Anniversary on 20th March. We were planning on going out to the city for the night. Getting a room overnight and dinner etc. But decided by the time it would be over we'd spend $500+ and not have anything to show for it. Being such a milestone anniversary we decided to buy each other something big to signify it. So we went out and bought an LCD Flat Screen TV and DVD player for our bedroom. We also went out to dinner at Nik's Greek Tavern in Echuca. After all our anniversary fell on Easter. It was a delicious meal as I knew it would be because Greek is my favourite cuisine. The kids came with us. They wanted to eat the chicken nuggets and chips, but we said "NO" you can get them at any pub, you are here at a Greek restaurant, you can taste Greek food". So we ordered them both a yuros and chips. They didn't like the yuros and ate just the chips, but Micayla did fall in love with Tzatziki dip and now has it as a snack with rice crackers in her lunch box.

Easter in Moama Again 2008

We did the usual for Easter, went to Moama. You may think, not another Moama post, read that read them all. This time lots of stuff happened.

The kids all tried new stuff. Bailey got up on the water skis for the first time.

Just look at my baby, isn't he so cute. He looks like a baby up on water.

Micayla tried one ski, doing a deep water start, but found it harder than she thought. She decided to go on doubles and try dropping a ski. We bought a small set of double skies that are a good size for the kids to use. The training skies are not set up for learning to drop a ski, there is no back binder.

Micayla is a natural and has a great body position on the skies. Bailey has yet to learn that.

Micayla also had a go at the wakeboard, which we also recently bought. Its a kids size wakeboard. Micayla wasn't able to get up this time, but Mitchell Graham did.

The boys decided to take out this big log from the river. Cause the water is lower the log sticks out and is dangerous to skiers. Erwin and his 4 wheel drive winched it up to the top of the bank, which is about 9 metre high. Erwin then got out his favourite toy 'the chainsaw' and cut it up for firewood. This took most of the day though, if not all of the day.

My brother Rohan and his boys, Liam and Lachlan came away with us too.

The first photo is of Liam having a go on the kneeboard. Then it's Rohan and Liam in the boat. Then it's Lachlan on the kneeboard. It was really great having Rohan and the boys away. The boys loved it except for Lachlan when he got bitten by a bullant and burnt himself in the fire. Maybe next time he'll leave the fire alone!!!

This is what always happens when Bailey rides in the boat.

Bailey also had his first go at shooting an air rifle. Under the supervision of Scott. Actually, Scott had to help Bailey hold the gun up cause it was too heavy for the 'little man'.

Micayla really enjoyed playing the little mum to Jordan Van der geer. She even took baby Mitchell for a walk in the pram and got him to sleep.

The night before Easter Bunny came was a huge night by the fire. Especially for Tania. Here is Tania after one too many Vodka's. We ended up putting her to bed in a stretcher in her annexe so she could sleep and still get fresh air.

The next morning was the usual Easter Egg hunt that the Easter Bunny left behind.

Of course Bailey got stuck into his eggs and opened almost all of them at once.