Hunter Valley retreat

I had the pleasure of hosting our very first Scrap Girls Hunter Valley retreat last weekend.
It was very small group with limit numbers of 15 ladies.
We had the most fabulous time. We started off with a little wine tour on the Friday afternoon which only saw us seeing one winery, but after we tasted such fabulous PINK champagne we really didn't need to go anywhere else.
Belle came along and cooked for us. I think we all wanted to wrap Belle up and take her home with us to be our own personal cook! Look your work Belle :)
Saturday and Sunday saw us scrapping in the cutest little barnstay. It had such amazing picturesque views.
I would definitely say YES to another Hunter Valley retreat, but maybe somewhere that wasn't so open to nature, lol.

I even got to do a little scrapping myself........ i know........ that certainly doesn't happen at retreats for me!

looking down from one of the lofts onto the 2 areas in which we scrapped away.

mmmmm..... pink champagne and cheese on the verandah

Group photo on an original Cobb & Co coach

a little bit of craziness

and lastly......... an special photo in memory of NIC!

wish you were there huney.

family day

This year we were lucky and got invited to Coke's family day.
Joh had raved about how much fun it was and we couldn't wait. Of course it was the day after i flew back in from Cairns.
It was a gorgeous sunny day. We walked in there were so many rides to go one and food to eat. The kids didn't know where to start.
The Sizzler ride (know by me as the Cha Cha) was their favourite and after about the 10th time they went on it i lost count. It got to the point the men just let kids stay on instead of getting in line again.
Connor did drag me on the dodge 'em cars. Which i hate - dont know why, i just do! After that he conned John to take him on.
The kids filled themselves with endless supplies of ice cream, soft drink, fairy floss and popcorn.
By 3pm i was exhausted and was a good thing it was home time.
Cant wait for next years.


Connor and Riley racing on the Giant Slide


Shanice concentrating

Shanice took Caleb on the cups and saucers, which he thought was just TOPS!!!!

Connor & Riley on the Sizzler - AGAIN!!!

Me and Connor on the Sizzler - yep, once was enough for me

Connor on the surfboard ride - he only lasted enough for 5 photos

Ethan, Brittney and Shanice

Warm, Sunny, Gorgeous CAIRNS.........

For mum's 60th birthday she didn't want a birthday party (although she got a surprise one anyways) all she wanted was for her family to go with her to Cairns.

It was a hard decision for me to make, do i go by myself and leave Anthony & the kids behind OR do i miss out and disappoint mum. About 3 weeks before the holiday i decided that i would go, by myself without the kids and without Anthony. It almost killed me!

But we couldn't afford for all 4 of us to go and it was important to spend that time with mum and mandy and bond with my gorgeous baby nephew :)

We fly up early on the Monday morning - 14th sept 09. I got to have Hunter on my knee for the take off, Mandy was busily having a little panic attack cause she hates the first part of the flight.

I'd forgotten just how gorgeous Cairns is. It was in 2000 that i was last there, for our honeymoon.

Mum had rented a house/villa one street back from the beach at Palm cove. About 100metres from the local pub and 200 metres from the beach itself. The house was only 2 bedrooms which is all we needed and it had it's own pool. Now i DONT do swimmers (togs, cossies, bathers - whatever you want to call them), but in the heat up there I might just take the plunge.

We planned a few trips for while i was up there and spent a few days just walking around Palm Cove and lazing around our pool.

So instead of me boring you with my long winded verse of events, how bout i do it in photos?

Hunter trying on his first pair of Havainas.

Tuesday - we went to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures

The place has been completely redone since we went in 2000. But Sollie the Croc, that was named after the dog he ate, was still there and that made me happy

Yes, it was my idea to put hunter in the mouth of the Croc!

we went on a little boat ride and saw a little croc feeding too

We saw another croc feeding in a big enclosure.

This photo was taken right under my feet and was not zoomed in at all. 2 male croco's having a barney.

Needless to say i moved pretty quickly around the boardwalk after i took a few shoots first.

Thursday - saw us going on the Kuranda Scenic Railway

While in Kuranda I spent a small fortune on some cute little finds. A gorgeous jewelery box, a glass dragon for Anthony, a too cute silver flower ring and some souvenirs for the kids.

We also went to the Butterfly house. It was just gorgeous inside. I wish the blue ones would have stayed still long enough for me to take a photo though.

Mum took Hunter back down to Cairns on the train while Mandy and i went on the Skyway.

I actually found out that i really dont like being that high off the ground especially when the wind picked up and started swaying the gondola!

We got out and had a look round at the 2 stops and did some stupid tourist things

Like this!

There is also one of Mandy being a bush turkey too!

Yes ....... i made her stand like that......but she still stupidly did it

Friday we went to CoffeeWorks........

I just had to stick Hunter in the with all the coffee trees to take photos.

Now i know what they look like!

Hunter on a cart with roasted coffee beans

I was in heaven in the museum part if the place........ so many teapots and coffee pots........ now i need to collect these as well as my tea cups.

What can i saw..........

Sometimes i do wonder if we have the same dna!

I had such a great time

It was exactly what i needed

09-09-09

how's that for a spooky date!
well.......... yesterday was mine and mums birthday.And my gorgeous mum turned 60.
Mandy and i pulled together a surprise birthday party for her on Saturday night which was just lovely and she had a great time.
yesterday i had a great day doing nothing much at all......... a perfect day!
when the kids got home from school i decided i needed a birthday photo to mark the special occasion and i just love it!

researching......

so..... for while i've been thinking of some very exciting tattoos to add to my little collection.

The biggest decision though is what next!

I know that for my 10th wedding anniversary thats coming up in January i want a tattooed wedding band, but i'm thinking of all the other possibilities....

Shanice has picked the fairy she likes and wants me to get for her. The spot has a reserved sign on it - my upper right thigh.

Pirate fairy will definitely be going down my left side.

For ages now i've wanted some sort of skull...... i know how non-feminine and morbid. But i have a little crush on skulls :) I've now decided i want a Day of the Dead skull cause they are so bright and funky.

Now dont go thinking all morbid on me, the Day of the Dead is a celebration so family and friends can get together and pray for and remember those that have past. Which i think is just lovely.....

So while i was surfing trying to find some images that i really liked for a tattoo, i came across so fabulous piccies that i just want to share.

and here it is......... I LOVE THIS SIDE PIECE ........ and this is what i want next!

so i know there have been quite a few things going on that i really need to catch up on so i will be back soon for updates on the sheppard-morris clan

Jungle Safari

this was the theme for this years open day book parade.

I love going to open day, it's such a fun afternoon.

We get to spend some time with the kids in their class room and then we go on a treasure hunt

around all the Primary class rooms and then for the grand finale it's the book character parade.

I always take a big picninc lunch with some extra special treats for the kids and as always mum, grandma and mandy come too.

It was Hunters first parade and in the spirit of the day he even dressed up.

So here are a few piccies from last Thursday.

I went to Connor's classroom second and helped him make a rocket ship. I also got to play with the Smart Board that all the primary classrooms got at the start of second term.

Connor's Space project that he handed in that morning was chosen as the Star Work of the week - so i was having a proud mummy moment.

Hunter dressed up as a priate.

Shame about the stupid sun spot!

The teachers get right into the spirit of the day and dress up and do some dances.

That is Connor's teacher, Mrs Donnelly, the one closest to us.

The deputy pricipal is dressed as the bear and the head of primary is the tiger

The teachers "going on a bear hunt"

And there is Mr Cochram, the school princial, dressed in a safari outfit.

Shanice, Brittney and Zoey

As they older they dont want to dress up as much!

where have i been......

well............. with this NEW me happening i've been rather busy and an awful lot has happened since i last posted.

So far so good with sorting my shit out and being more organised and going to bed earlier. let's just hope with fingers and toes crossed that i can continue being good.

Family life is a mad house and there hasn't been a moment to rest in between kids after school activities, homework, projects, birthdays and weekends away.

At the start of August i went to the LSBS retreat which was unreal. I went with Trac on the Thursday and didn't come home till sunday which was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Trac and i sat with a great bunch of ladies - Aunty Rae, Joyce, Christel, Vanilla and Shelly.

I had so much fun and actually scrapped up a storm - well as storm for me, LOL.

2 layouts and 2 and a bit mini albums. I was very chuffed with my efforts.

Thursday, Trac and i arrived a bit early to help Cath with the set up. The Owl and the Budgie were jam packed with goodies for the shop, but we were instructed to leave them near the shop and not unpack anything! So that's what we did.

Nic arrived and i spent most of my night chatting away merrily to her in the shop while helping setting up all the stock. Yep, it all got done by midnight, i think. But the more i spoke the more i put off finishing a mini album i promised to a friend over 18 months ago.

Friday morning, well it was almost afternoon before i actually got out of bed. It's like every time i go away from the kids and my house all i want to do is just sleep. So i got started on my mini album project and that became my mission for the day and YES i can happily say that i finished it (and Skye loved it - finally).

By about 7.30pm the other half of the scrappers arrived and so began the retreat - officially.

I did stay up and was the last scrapper to bed only because i was too busy chatting away to Nic, lol.

Saturday morning i missed breakfast again! But only missed a small part of the class that had started. Belle had created the most amazing gated mini album. Yes, i am still to finish it, but i will! After lunch Lisa Pate taught a different mini album class. I love the flicking ink and getting messing, my type of scrapping.

Of course, it wouldn't be an LSBS retreat with some fancy shindig on Saturday night and this years was Belle's ball. I was one of the designated paparazzi. And in between killing myself laughing i managed to take a gazillion photos. All the contestants did a wonderful job and were far too funny in their great costumes.

Sunday........ still didn't make it to breakie, but i only just missed it. i had to get up earlier as Anthony and the kids were coming around 11am to pick me up as shanice had her first karate grading....... more on that soon.

It was sad to say goodbye after such a great weekend, but my name is already on the list for next year and i am so looking forward to it already.

Nic & aunty Rae

Crazy, boss lady Cath

A very classy Miss Ali - i want those pink uggies

Well....... what do you say to this Nic "You are so hot right now"

Kathy having a great time at Belle's Ball

You should have worn the apron though Kathy!

Another "I am so hot right now" moment by Belle

As i was saying before, i had to leave cause my big girl was going to her her very first karate grading. This is too special a moment for me to miss out on.

This time we invited Nan, Nay, Hunter, Grandma and Grandpa to come along a watch too. Good thing it wasn't a big grading month!

Shanice looked so gorgeous in her gee. Poor bugger had really sore lips too and suffered the whole hour of grading without a whinge.

Hunter was very funny......when they answer the Senei the kids all yell out "hey". Well this particular Senei (who looks like that bad teenager guy in the Karate Kid-too funny), is quite loud and strict with the kids and every time he yell "hey" Hunter screamed. So i took him outside and still every time"hey" was yelled he screamed.

Shanice did fantastic. Se was the only person from their dojo grading too, so she was very brave going all by herself.

So i now have 2 yellow belts in the house. And of course now they can start sparing! Can you imagine the bruises to come!

I love this photo! i am so going to get it blown up and am putting it on the wall.

After grading we headed to the Alroy for dinner to celebrate Anthony's birthday.

So it was a perfect weekend.