Happy happy happy!!!

Well if you're paying attention to my blog (probably just Lesley lol) you'll notice I'm blogging backwards again. This is because the event I needed my bag for on Monday was we were going to Spain!!!! I don't mention it on my blog/facebook etc because I worry people will see and think 'ohhh empty house' so I blog backwards instead once I'm home :)
So after an uneventful drive down to Gatwick (I was terrified) we settled in at the airport. Now on my bucket list is to eat at one of Jamie Olivers resturants, not I'm not sure this counts but we had a slice of takeaway pizza from his bakery so it's something!! lol.

Almost had a heart attack at the airport though, we were going down some escaltors and as we stepped off Caitlin suddenly started screaming at me, turned around and her shoelace has gotten caught and was being pulled under the steps. Mark and I grabbed her foot and tell you what we really had to pull to get it out but we managed it. Could only happen to Caitlin!
After the shoe incident I was all ready tense and I was really worried about the flight considering how many crashes there have been in the news recently but it went fine. We got to the hotel about 5am, dumped the cases and had a couple of hours before breakfast. The rooms were tiny but what a view! Thats one of 7 pools off to the right while the green water is a huge lake to go boating etc on.

The weather was beautiful so the kids didn't waste any time and went to breakfast with their costumes on. After a buffet breakfast (can see lots of food being eaten this week) We dragged the kids to the welcome meeting, got info we needed for excursions and unleashed the kids on the pool. The weather was amazing and as we got sunbeds right next to the pool I could relax and see them easily :)

Mark and my Dad went off to get the kids some slushies (all inclusive, got to love it) and they discovered that they do pina colada slushies for grown ups!! Yum :)
As the kids loved the kids club last time we booked them in for a couple of sessions this time too, including the chocolate party. The point of which seemed to be stuff yourself with chocolate, and play games which cover you in chocolate

Think we're going to have a fun week ;)

Pretty bag

Ok so I was very good in the Next sale and didn't go and spend a fortune. The kids did need some bits though so today Mum and I popped up town to buy them some shorts and hats etc, and this might have 'fell' into my basket ;)

Was a bit of a drama though as I bought this and a lace shrug for myself. Get home to find a mark on the bag, and a hole in the shrug. It was now 3:30, shops close at 4 and since I needed both items for an event tomorrow we had to rush back up town to change them! The shrug wasn't a problem but there were no more bags so I had to have the marked one, they did reduce it even further to £10 for me so I was happy ;)
As I was up to date on jobs I got back to the Hama beads, ;) Decided to make something for mark this time so making a set of coasters based on Magic the gathering cards. Just need more green to finish the tree :)

Bookmarks

I love our local library :) Every Summer they have a big reading challenge where the kids get posters and collect stickers each time they read a book. When the poster is full they get a medal.
They love to read anyway so its great fun for them as an extra ;) As well as all this they have free craft classes too! Today they made kite bookmarks. Was great to keep the three of them occupied for a bit. :)

Considering none of them slept until gone 1 last night, then were up at 7 I expect an early night for them tonight! FX anyway they have proved me wrong in the past! I've got lots of washing to do then shopping tomorrow. Not long now till the Summer hols, woohoo!!!

Golden girl

Well I'm a VERY proud Mummy today! Caitlin not only got TWO golden book certificates but Star of the year!!! the kids in her class had to vote for who they thought deserved it the most and Caitlin and another child had tie votes. So proud of her!

As a reward tonight we agreed Mollie could stay over. The only reason she can do this is it's the Next sale tomorrow and I'm not going! :( We just don't have the money and I'm trying SO hard to catch up with the credit card bills I just can't justify it. Sad but proud of myself for being so grown up lol. Now off to watch some Disney films to bring me back down to my mental age ;)

Pampered :)

Well today has actually been a lovely day :) This morning we went out for breakfast with Gemma and Craig which was lovely. Usually when we spend time together the kids are running around too so was nice to have some just adult time. There was unlimited Costa coffees too! Honestly I think I'd have been quite happy to just go there with my kindle and sit in the corner lol. When we got home Gemma invited me round to paint my nails for me. Well that turned into a mini pamper session. I got a manicure, pedicure, eyebrows done and legs epilated (ow) so feeling very pampered :)
After picking up the kids and tidying up a bit Gemma came round for a coffee and while the boys played in the garden Caitlin made a skipping rope out of loom bands!

Now I'mm 99.9% sure she has 3 skipping ropes dotted about the house, but obviously a loom band one is much more impressive lol. Kept her busy anyway.

End of year concert

Very emotional today :( Went to see Camerons end of year concert at school. It was the pied piper of Hamlin and it was really good! The two wee girls playing the mayor and the piper had amazing voices, even Mark said it was very Disney like. I was ok until the end were all the kids sang a song about new beginnings, saying that the Autumn of their life is over and won't come back but the spring brings new beginnings, omg I bawled! I'm whelling up now thinking about it! Cameron was a Govenor and looked so cute in his little outfit :)

So only a week left at school before the summer holidays. Yey! Bike rides, relaxing, trips to the libary, I love it. :)
Will leave with a funny comment from Caitlin today:

Me - can I have a kiss Caitlin?
Caitlin - I don't have lips right now

I would love to go into her mind for a day.

Crazy day

Well today started out easy enough. Dropped kids at school, did some housework, then I got a call from a very nice lady telling me that they had a place for their school in Essex for Cameron, for when we moved there in September. Um, I'm sorry what now?! She insisted that the council had contacted her and told her we needed a place so I made some frantic phone calls to try and find out what was going on but typically nobody was answering!
After a while and a mini meltdown I managed to get through to someone at the council who explained the mistake. For my second choice I had put a nearby Primary school, but when the guy had put it on the form he had put the same name, but junior not primary, which was located in Essex. Bit of a mistake there! Luckily I had caught it before his other place was cancelled but OMG what a panic!
Unfortunately it didn't get any better. Remember how I was getting my hair (which realllly needs done) cut and coloured a while ago, but then a bill came up and needed to pay that, so then Mum booked me in for my birthday gift? Well the next phone call was from the hairdressers canceling as my hairdresser was poorly :( Top it off with losing one of my fave earrings and it's been one of those days where it's hard to stay positive. :(
Tomorrow looks brighter though, Camerons end of school play is in the afternoon so looking forward to seeing that :)

It's still Monday?

Today has been a verrrrrry busy day, which is great because I got a lot done off my to do list, :) Will need to pick up the pace a little though as still plenty on it!
Cameron made me laugh though, they were both tired when they came home so we watched a little of 'The goofy movie' before dinner. In it Goofys son Max doesn't want to go on a trip with him as he wants to go to a party with his friends instead. This confused Cameron who didn't understand why he didn't want to spend time with his Daddy. Even when we explained Max was older, and they would feel the same when they were he was having none of it insisting he would always want to spend time with us. fast forward an hour and I'm playing cards with Cam in his room (kid kicked my butt, I'm taking him vegas) and my phone beeps. Cam looks at it
Cameron - 'Um, Gemmas asking if I want to go play with Cody?'
Me *smirking* - 'So do you want to go play with your friend Cameron or stay with your Mummy?'
Cameron - Um, is it ok if I play one more game with you then go play with him?
lol. I don't mind, I probably will when he doesn't want to spend ANY time with me but if he wanted to spend all his time with us and not with his friends, think I'd be more concerned then.
So with Cam out and Caitlin on the PC I did some scrapping, and guess what, I used some of my counterfiet kit the same month I made it! I had planned to use this one for their use 5 triangles challenge, but finished it then remembered that lol. So its just a layout. But I'm pleased with it :) The photo was taken in Turkey a couple of years ago of Mum and me enjoying a cocktail. I made this about being grateful as we have been through a LOT the past few years, but have each others backs and I'm grateful for that.

While in the crafting mood I also finished off the teacher end of year gifts. After much thought and browsing Pinterest I bought these summer cups, filled them with things like chocolates, bath cream etc and tied a little bottle of wine on. I was going to just make a card but Cameron said that was boring, couldnt I make the card DO something?! So I made little hamma bead magnets to go on too.

Can see Hamma beads becoming my trademark or something lol

Lists!!

Today has been about lists, lists and more lists. I have SUCH a lot to fit into next week before the kids break up for Summer and everything gets turned upside down! Don't get me wrong I'm so excited about the holidays and spending time with them, but it doesn't leave much room for jobs and things so the more I've done this week the better!
As photos of lists are dull I thought I'd share this layout I did a while ago. I still have a few photos from Christmas a couple years back so pulled this one out of Mum and Caitlin singing with Caitlins new Peppa pig set. :)

Still using up scraps, don't think I'll ever catch up with that one lol

Shopping

Today my Mum, Caitlin and I went shopping in Peterbrough. As usual I spent more than I intended but thats just how things are now! Was a great girly day out :) In the middle of the town they have all these fountains that squirt water up for kids to play in. Caitlin bless her was so self consious about playing in them :( She is such a self aware little girl its a shame. Cameron will run off and make an idiot out of himself as long as hes having fun which IMO is the best way to be, Caitlin however gets embarrassed so easily. I could see how much she wanted to go play though so being me decided the best way to make her play was to go play myself ;) Worked like a charm lol. Ruined my shoes though, lol.

We were both soaked by the end of it but was great watching Caitlin be a little kid.

Chinese whisper cj

A while ago I joined a Chinese whisper CJ, which was where someone would do a layout, email it to me, I would scraplift it and email it to the next person on the list iyswim. Nobdoy else on the list saw the layouts until the big reveal and it was interesting to see how the layout changed as it went along.
Sorry for all the photos!

FRANCES; Chrissie, Rosie
Gemma, Ally & Maggie

JULES, Caz, Frances
Chrissie, Rosie &Gemma

ROSIE, Gemma, Ally
Maggie, Pauline & Cynthia

CAZ, Frances, Chrissie
Rosie, Gemma & Ally

CHRISSIE, Rosie, Gemma
Ally, Maggie & Pauline

GEMMA, Ally, Maggie
Pauline, Cynthia & Lynn
It was a cheap 'swap' as was all done online so no postage, would def do again :)
So today was all meetings, PTA, homestart and social but on the good note my Mum finally has a social worker!!! Woohoo!!!! Only been waiting since September :s Not doing much tonight, just spending some time with hubby and this crazy pup. All the toys he has and he wants the one hes managed to push under the couch.

Vets

This morning Scamp was very excited to go into the car, poor boy probably thought we were off to the farm or the park or something. Nope was a quick trip to the vets lol. When we go away next month Scamp is going to nearby kennels (sob) so he needed kennel cough vaccination. He did get a hot dog when we got home though for being a good boy :)

As I had nothing else to do today I was back on hama bead duty. My to do list for these just gets bigger and bigger but tbh I dont mind :) It's like a jigsaw but at the end you have something to use rather than something to go back in a box.

I even have a loooong list of gifts I plan to make for christmas using them :) Got to love cheap gifts!

29 + 1

Well today was the day I've been dreading, the big 30, and tbh, it was pretty good :) I woke up to cards from friends, gifts from the kids (chocolate, bubble bath etc) and these from my friend Jess :) I love how well she knows me!!!

This afternoon before getting the kids Gemma and I went for a coffee at the new cafe next to the school. Was so funny. We were sitting having a coffee when the guy randomly brought us some tomato soup! I think he was bored as we were the only ones in there so he cooked some soup to keep him busy lol. I panicked as I HATE tomato soup and thought oh god I'll need to eat this but OMG it was amazing! It had rice and lots of veggies and was quite spicy. Will def go back again!
So walking home with the kids I hear 'Let it go' playing and I knew they'd done something, walked round the corner to see a BBQ party set up in the front garden :) I was so touched! My Mum, dad, granny and everyone was there and Craig was cooking up lots of food. There were party hats too, even Scamp got into the party spirit lol.

So after some food and good conversation it was time to open gifts! I did have a chocolate cake but Mark got me a birthday cookie as usual. I burst out laughing when I saw the icing. :)

My Mum had given me 30 gifts for turning 30. Some were funny, like a new toothbrush, and some were touching, like this t-shirt Mollie had made me with my favourite things on it :) Bless her she had even paid for me to have my hair done and included a voucher for me to go next week.

My neighbour Gemma made me this amazing papercut. She does lots of different designs and I'm so thrilled with this one!

Me and Gemma laughing at something lol

While we chilled out the boys and girls played together. I love this picture of Cam and Cody just being with each other. I can't tell you how great it is for us to have them living next door now. Can't wait until the Summer holidays :)

All in all I feel so loved and spoiled today. :) Maybe being 30 won't be that bad after all.

Counterfeit kit

I looooove this months kit!! I actually looked how much it would be to buy but its pretty pricey and all the way form the US so will have to make do with my own!

After much searching, these are the papers I picked. Lots this month so quite a large kit.

And the embellishments :)

Look I altered some wooden shapes :) I added some rub ons to them to made the pictured ones like in the main kit. The black ones were pretty old and didnt work too well :( But the butterflies turned out great.

hand made flower and lots of pretty brads :)

Added some sunny bunting as was quite a bright kit in the end.

Well even though I've been making kits for months I've never actually used one the same month I made it, so this month rather than putting it into a 12x12 bag like the rest of them I've left it out right to hand. Made one layout already so good start!

My crazy Mother

I love my Mum, as she's got older she's cared less. If someone finds her odd, who cares. I LOVE her attitude! As a result I have some great photos of her, like this one here lol.

We were at dinner and Mollie was having a tantrum, she was playing on my Mums last nerve so when I took a photo of Mollie in a sulk Mum jumped in with this face.

Thought this sticker was perfect ;)

Can't sleep

Ok so I've changed the time on the publishing because its actually 3am Monday morning and I can't sleep! No idea why just wide awake. Truth be told I have a possibly rough week ahead so think my mind is whirring with all that :s
Had a nice day though :) Cameron went to his friends house so I played computer games with Caitlin for a bit. OMG I got my ass handed to me! I've played with her loads of times and I'm usually unbeatable, today I lost 6-1. Embarrasing! lol. Couldn't have that so I've been playing since they went to bed. Next weekend it is on! ;)
Got to love Caitlin, made dinner, shes eating hers then starts giggling. This is why. Shes certainly her fathers daughter!

Cameron was a happy bunny :) Last time my Mum came round she has a handbag for Caitlin so when she popped round for a coffee today she bought these minecraft style glasses for him. He was a very happy bunny :)

Well better try and get some sleep I guess, have shopping and meetings tomorrow and being cranky from no sleep won't improve things!

Actually dreamed about raffle tickets last night lol

So today was the school summer fair. OMG it was crazy!! After hours and hours of folding tickets it was well worth it. I was constantly taking money, finding winning bottles etc. Ended up making £190 which was more than any other stall! :) Was great fun and I loved doing it and we have loads of bottles left for another one too :)

Didn't hurt that we won a free family swim, and £5 morrisons voucher in the raffle too! I never win anything so was squealing like I'd won a car! lol. The kids came over and played on the games too though were not as lucky. Caitlin won a creepy little porcalain doll though :s that might get 'lost' sometime soon lol.
As I was out all morning I promised the kids I'd play some games with them tonight so Pikmin bingo in my future! With a large glass of wine of course ;)

Star of the week :)

Well today is crazy busy as usual :) This morning Caitlin was Star of the week so obviously we went to see her get her certificate, then rushed to get shopping, Marks paperwork to be referred for a wheelchair then a lovely afternoon having a coffee with our neighbours before they go on their hols :)

Tonight I'll be finishing folding hundereds and hundereds of raffle tickets! Its the PTA school fair tomorrow and I'm running the bottle tombola. I'm excited but nervous in case nobody shows up! Will hopefully be a fun day anyway :)

Making a more boyish flower, IMO anyway

OK I'm doing things a little backwards but hey, its me lol. Yesterday I made up my Counterfeit kit for this month, one of the things in the kit were these cute little fabric flowers. Now I know I haven't shared my kit yet but I haven't photographed it so sharing this first :) See, backwards, lol.

I don't have anything like these in my stash, and usually I would leave them out but decided to have a go making my own instead :) Now when I went through my photos the other day I realised I had loads of Cameron left to scrap, and I think that's because it's so much easier to scrap Caitlin as shes a girl. With this in mind I wanted to make my flowers less 'flowery' and more a 'flower type embellishment' if that makes sense to you guys.
So I started with some of these, they're basically huge glue circles, but you can just punch/cut a circle and put DST on it instead.

You also need some ribbon. I've no idea where I got this, was sitting on the floor with my other bits, think the 'bits' area is breeding :s

1 - Stick the Gluber on some card or take your circle with dst.
2 - Twist the ribbon so it is like a long snake shape. (I tried to photograph this step, but after a glass of wine and at 11:30 holding the ribbon while twisted and taking a photo wasn't happening)
3 - Stick one end of your 'snake' in the middle of your glue circle, hold it fast and start to wind the snake round to fill the circle.

4 - Keep going until it is full.

5 - Put a brad/button or whatever in the middle and theres your 'flower' :) Now if like me you want a boyish one, don't forget what you're doing, put a pink on in then think in the morning 'why did I do that?'

Plan on photographing and blogging my kit tomorrow after Marks hospital appointment. Just a check up nothing big to worry about. :) Good timing though as the poor bloke woke up yesterday and could barely move his knee. Quick trip to drs and they think he has osteoarthritus (sp) so they've given him some gel to rub on, told us to get an xray and hes being assessed for a wheelchair. I knew he'd end up in a wheelchair eventually and as his health and mobility has taken a huge nosedive the past few months I expected it, poor Mark though, think he keeps expecting to wake up and suddenly feel like a young guy again so hit him hard. Like everything else though I'm sure he'll adapt soon, got to keep thinking positive! lol