A busy but satisfying day!

After being stuck indoors with both kids for most of last week, today was GREAT! For a start both of them are back at Kindergarden and life can return to normal! I got a lot accomplished this morning (housewifey sorts of things, washing, dishwashing, feeding all the animals and washing the floors!) I even got a chance for a break, in which I did a layout! Show you it later this evening.

Well, here it is! Mum bought me a present at the weekend, 2 kits from Weeds & Wildflowers! Absolutely gorgeous, this is my first layout with both kits. It's my Nanna (my Dad's Mum), she always dreamt of having her own little cottage with lots of flowers. Well here it is!

The pictures are 69 (!) years old. Credits:
Frames - Bunny Cates
Paper - Patricia Christensen from Weeds & Wildflowers
Grandma's pressed Flowers 3 by Gina Marie Huff, Heidi Williams, & Patricia Christensen from Weeds & Wildflowers

The kids enjoyed dinner and had a good nap/break after it, so I got another 2 layouts done! These ones are for Michelle's CT using her Aargh! Kit.

Completely different to the last layout, but fun! The first is Robert, whilst on holiday in England last year! Unbeknown to me, he had stripped off and gone in the sea! it was freezing, but he wasn't complaining, and someone got a picture!


This is my niece Zoe I think they were on holiday here, when she had her face painted, perfect for this pirate themed kit!

And on this one, I practiced my extraction skills again! I am really pleased with the results. Thanks Mum for remembering the picture! I think it looks great now!


After Richard's nap, we went outside to play in the garden. It was really weird out there, it felt and looked like spring, but there was this huge black clowd lurking, it is still out there in the same position, still no rain. but that was fine by us! The boys did their usual, round and round the front garden on anything with wheels, then some football, and by then the neighbours started joining us, and I got a good ole natter in too!

Then it was back in for tea and bed! which is where they are now, still both awake (could be the time changing, but they are just restless, should be quiet in a minute!)

I did another layout! This one is of my Mum's Mum, my Nanny. She is so beautiful. I have another picture of her I would love to scrap, but I don't have a scanner, so it will have to wait until I get to Mum and Dad's.

Credits:
Frame - Bunny Cates
Paper - Sunshine Sweets by Franziska Altmann
Grandma's Pressed Flowers 3 by Weeds and Wildflowers

Bye 4 now

Clocks went forward

so we didn't have a lay in today. We want to get the kids into the swing of things straight away. And it seems like we have succeeded. 7.30pm (only 6.30pm yesterday) and all is quiet! could have had a little to do with all the fresh air they had today!

We met up with friends for coffee and cakes at the Sieberzmühle (the restaurant where Robert got wet on Thursday), and we actually - can you believe it - sat outside on their terrace! We had a waffle with cream and cherries and black forest gateau. Delicious!
We didn't waste time though gobbling it down, cause all the kids wanted to get to the playground! Where they wore themselves out! They had a great time playing together. Us adults actually got to chat today!
The boys didn't want to go home, but the promise of a bath after tea, made them join us after all!
It was a lovely afternoon.

You should pop on over to Silvia's blog now, and check out her layouts of our day together. She has done two beautiful ones of the day!
Now I am off for my tea, I am getting hungry now. We may have the boys already adjusted to the clocks, but not us yet!
Bye 4 now

A lovely day!

It started off with us actually getting a lay in! the boys were both wide awake and raring to go at 7am BUT they went in Robert's room and played on their own, without fighting. And we fell back to sleep again. I think Florian got up a couple of times for juice and nappy changes, but we didn't get up properly until 10am !!!! Wow, what a treat!
I then rushed off to get some food for the weekend, when I got back, we decided not to cook today but to take the boys to the restaurant for their sausage, that they missed on Thursday! They thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and I have never seen Robert stand so far back from the water before. We didn't go to the park after the meal, a) because it was trying to rain, and b) we wanted to let Richard have his snooze before going to the birthday party!

Whilst they were all napping I made a great Birthday card, which I will share with you later, then it was off to my friends birthday.

Credits:
Being a boy by Phillsboo

Hardly saw the kids there, they were too busy playing. They did appear when the cake did - mmh, wonder why!? It was a lovely afternoon.

Now the boys are worn out and tucked up in bed! I wonder if we will get another lay in tomorrow. I might forgive them then for getting me up in the night!
Bye 4 now

Didn't blog yesterday, too busy...

having a GREAT day! Yep, you read right, even though there was still no Kindergarden the day was great!
Silvia (Phillsboo) and her daughter Belinda came for the day, and we really enjoyed one another's company, well I think I am not only speaking for myself! What did we do... mmh, talked and talked and talked some more. We asked the kids if they would like to go to the restaurant for a sausage for dinner. Great idea. So off we went. BUT...
Outside of the restaurant is a stream with a water wheel in it. The boys always go and look at it, and each time are told to stand back a bit and be careful. Well, it was an accident waiting to happen..and it did! Robert fell right in, the only thing he didn't manage to get wet was his hat. Well, I didn't have a change of clothes with me, so we had to turn around and go back home again. Not that Robert could really understand that. Once we had got his wet clothes off and him wrapped up in a blanket, he thought we could go and have that sausage, but I am not sure they would really want a naked Robert in there! Belinda got some great pictures, which at lunchtime today I put together to make this:

Credits:
Get Dirty by Sweet Digi Scraps

The boys I think fell in love with Belinda, and Belinda if you are reading this, Robert even cried this morning when he got up, because you weren't here anymore. You have a HUGE fan here!
Belinda was great with the boys, and played with them all afternoon. I really appreciated the break I got!
Whilst Belinda was upstairs entertaining the kids, Silvia and I chatted to Leigh, who due to the great distance and absence of "beaming" (like in StarTrek) was unable to join our get together, but the internet made it sort of possible!

Silvia and Belinda stayed for tea too, it was as I said a GREAT day, and I truly hope they decide to come again next week and bring Vanessa! With the weather brightening up, it would be a great idea, and we could try again to get that sausage!

Today we actually had sunshine and we actually got outside to play in it! We went on a different sort of "egghunt". One of our neighbours has a new cockerel, it crows a lot. And Richard was very intrigued by the noise, he does a perfect impression of it. He then decided he wanted to find it.
I hadn't got a clue whose it was, so we followed the noise, but the closer we got the longer the gaps between the crowing! We found it in the end, but we couldn't really get a good look at it, as it was inside its henhouse. But at least Richard knows what is making the noise that makes him jump!

I nearly forgot - the other great thing about yesterday, was an email I had from Liz (sweet Digi Scraps), she RAKed me! What a great surprise, one of the kits was the "Get Dirty" which I used for Roberts little "accident"! One that I had had my on for a while now! Thanks Liz, it is truly appreciated!

I'm back with another layout. This one is for the Lyrics Challenge at Been There Scrapped That! The lyrics are from the Peter Gabriel song "In Your Eyes".

Credits:
Refreshed by Sweet Digi Scraps

Bye 4 now

I miss Kindergarden!

I had forgotten how long a day can be, when I have both kids home all day on my own! But as I told my boys tonight, "only two more sleeps" and Daddy is home!
This morning was the first time in 2 months that I had both of them with me when I went shopping. gosh what a challenge. I went to the shop that has minature trolleys for kids, and then off we went. I blackmailed them, well I promised them an Easter Egg at the end if they behaved. It started off great, and then Robert needed a wee!!!! So back to the start, and trying to convince Richard that we had to go out of the shop again, WITHOUT his trolley was to say the least - NOISY! And once we were back in I think they must have forgotten about the egg! But again they could have been a lot worse. I did at least spot the extras going in the trolley when they went in and not at the till! (silly things like lactose free cheese - yuck! or buttermilk - don't think much of that either!)

Then there was this afternoon to get by, I just wish the weather would cheer up, we had snowflakes all morning and sleet all afternoon and now it is raining! We did the usual jigsaws, a rough and tumble, which resulted in carpet burn on Robert's cheek, ouch, that is going to hurt for a while! And we read LOTS of stories. They found my hiding place for the new books and got them all out, and we read them all! Oh well, we are going to England in June I will stock up again then.

I got one layout done this evening. This one is for the March Colour Challenge at DSO. I found a great picture of Mia from Carnival that went really well with the colour swatch.

Credits:
Paper and frame by Booland Designs
Butterfly and trail by Andrea Dickinson

Bye 4 now

Yippee, they're in bed!!!

Uff, what a long day! We got up to more snow this morning, snow that had to be cleared from the path this time. Poor Florian did that before he left to catch his train, so sometime before 6.30am!
Of course it snowed on and off all day, so we couldn't really go out in it, and were stuck indoors.

A friend phoned at lunch time and complained of the same dilemma, a 3 year old who didn't know what to do with himself, other than test his Mum's nerves - that rung a bell!!! Well, we decided to meet up at her place, and let the boys play with one another. Mine thought it was great, so I did get a bit of a break there. But hers decided he would not leave his Mum in peace to talk to her friend. So I suppose today I was the one that was better off. If she has a blog she is probably writing the same heading!

I did get some pages scrapped last night and one more today, I will put them up later, with whatever else I manage to do tonight. Now to wait a bit more and see if they quieten down (been in three times to Richard whilst writing this short piece and once to Robert). HOpefully Richard will sleep better tonight, because today he was not his normal happy self. He was extremely grumpy!

Here are some layouts from our Easter weekend. Two with another great Kit from Michelle (check her store on the right!). This Kit is called Caitlyn and is GREAT!

The first layout is Mia trying her hand at photography! She needs a bit more practice!

Credits: Caitlyn by Michelle Herron

And this one again is Mia, this time on the Wii boxing, she was better at that than photography!

Credits: Caitlyn by Michelle Herron

And this is our Easter tradition. Start the barbecueing season on Easter Sunday. Not so sure it was a good idea this year - delicious yes, but look at the poor guys out in the SNOW!!!

Credits: Easter Egg Hunt Goodies from Scrapkitten

Didn't get anymore layouts done tonight, but I had a great chat with Silvia instead!
Bye 4 now

A quiet day...

spent playing with Easter presents and eating lots of leftovers!
The boys did their new jigsaws with Daddy this morning. Actually I think Florian did the jigsaws the boys watched, but they had fun. They also had fun tormenting one another with their grabber!
The weather wasn't too brilliant in the afternoon. There was a very very fine snow. But we braved the elements and wrapped up warm and the boys and Florian actually had a bit of a game of football (soccer) in it. I stayed undercover and took a few pictures!
Then it was just too wet and we went into the barn, turned the gas heater on and let the boys play in there. It is then sort of like being in the fresh air!
And that very much was our day!

Silvia, I am trying to chase the snow away, I would really love for you and the girls to come next week (or the week after, if you still have school holidays), I will keep on trying promise!

OK, off to visit Leigh now.
Bye 4 now

The Easter Bunny came...

...and he brought lots of presents and eggs! More hard-boiled eggs than chocolate ones. So we will be having lots of egg salad in the next few days!

But more about our day. Mum and Dad, Lee, Ramona, Zoe and Mia, and Ramona's Mum Ulla came for the day. We had a great day. Lee and Ramona bought Robert and Richard a present back from their trip to Disneyland Paris, a "grabber", can't think what else you would call it. I can use it to pick things up, without having to bend down. They were a big hit with the boys.
We managed to get them to put them down, so we could go out to the barn to see if the Easter Bunny had been. Thank goodness we have a barn. It was bitter cold today and all white! Well, in the barn we found lots of eggs and presents, and we were really quick about it, to get back indoors. Florian, my Dad and Lee were great they stayed out in and by the barn and got the barbecue going and cooked the meat for us all - thanks guys!
The rest of us went in and the kids unpacked their presents. It was just like Xmas!
We had a great barbecue lunch, with steak, sausages, green salad, pasta salad (Robert loved that!), feta cheese spread, potatoe salad (nearly forgot to get that out!). there was so much over, that thankfully everyone stayed for tea and we had leftovers. Delicious!

THe afternoon was spent with my brother's new toy! He has a Wii! It was hilarious. First the kids had a go, Mia and Robert boxing was hilarious. It really wore Robert out. Then we all did bowling! It is such a funny feeling to be doing it, but not actually doing it, if you know what I mean. Then I said I would like to try the boxing - it was great (I actually won one round), but it is really energetic, you really work up a sweat, and now I can even feel some muscle ache coming on! But the funniest thing was when Lee and Ramona boxed! Ramona knocked Lee out cold 3(!!!!) times! I got some good shots of all the action so sometime this week I will be scrapping it!

The boys who had been up since just after 6am this morning are absolutely knackered, and am sure they are now sound asleep. So I am off downstairs to rest my weary muscles.
Bye 4 now

Breakfast at the bakers..

yep, we got up, got dressed and went straight out, to the bakers. Where we had a buffet breakfast. The boys got to run to their hearts content (we took a couple of balls with us to roll around) and we had a nice relaxed cup of hot chocolate (or in Florian's case Cappucino Choco) and croissants with anything you could think of. And it was a bargain at 2 Euros!
We stopped at the OPEL dealer on the way there and got all their car brochures and price lists. We have to pick out and order our new car next week. We thought we were going for a Meriva, but OPEL have an offer on, that makes a bigger car a better deal, so we aren't complaining and will order a Signum. It's great when your Dad works for OPEL and you get a great deal on leasing it, and a new car every year! Thanks Dad!
This afternoon Florian and the boys went in the garden and cleaned out the rabbits and the chickens thoroughly. They found a mouse nest in with Treacle (bunny rabbit), living in what is supposed to be Treacles retreat, but he obviously hadn't been in it for a while. There were 5 mice in there at the time. They of course scarpered when Florian found them. And we believe that they all met an untimely death. 3 to the cats and 1 to the chickens, and one may have made it ...or not! But as Robert once so appropriately put it. "When the cats have finished playing with it, then it is dinner!!!" (Been there scrapped that!)

Florian put the rabbits in the chicken laying boxes to clean them out! And then took pictures for me. As you can see the Easter bunny is all ready for tomorrow, here he is busy laying the Easter Eggs!

Credits:

All things from the Easter Egg Hunt at DSO
Papers and frame by KimB Designs
Papers for journalling by Fishinmom Designs

Tomorrow the family is coming we always have our first barbecue on Easter Sunday, and it is normally nice enough to be outside, whilst it is cooking (we eat indoors though). This year we will be barbecuing in the barn, with the gas heater on! No fun in this weather, but it is tradition!
Bye 4 now

Happy Easter!

Credits:
Grateful 4 U Megakit
Alpha - Krystal Harting
Paper - Colie's Corner, T. Burwick, ARD
Ribbon - A. Heimann
Heart - Eva Kipler

From all of us here to all of you whereever you are!
Our Easter got off to a VERY white start! We woke up this morning to a snowy white (slushy) blanket outside. It didn't even look very pretty, as it really was slushy. It carried on trying to snow all day long, but at the same time melting away. Very wierd.

Robert has miracously recovered from his earache. The poor soul couldn't get to sleep at all last night, he had me in and out until 10pm (as in every 10minutes). I had run out of ideas by then. As a last resort I gave him some stronger nose drops and whether they helped or the fact that he was just knackered I don't know but then he slept. He had me up again at 5am and then got up at 6am (you would think he would have slept longer!) Florian and I tried very hard to ignore them both this morning and we succeeded till about 8.30, and then we HAD to get up!

I baked some Easter Chicks this afternoon. They look more like ducks than chicks, but the boys liked the taste of them. But they are for Easter Sunday, so now I have to hide them til then.

I got a couple of layouts for challenges at DSO done this afternoon. This nice and bright first one was for the Numbers Challenge. You had to use 4 papers, 4 elements and 4 pictures. Its Zoe and Mia enjoying some summer fun last year!

Credits:
Doodledeedoo by Phillsboo

And this other bright layout, was for the Lyrics Challenge. The lyrics are from "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper. Zoe is posing for the camera here. She'll be turning some heads some time.

Credits:
Candy Dreams by Phillsboo

No more layouts today, Florian's turn on the computer! He is downstairs now, making our Pizza. We enjoyed our Pizza the other day so much, we decided to treat ourselves again! Makes my tummy grumble just thinking about it.
Bye 4 now

I'm a lucky girl!!!

The day got off to a much better start today, whilst the boys were playing (without fighting) in Robert's room, I checked my emails....and.... I got accepted to Michelle Herron's Creative Team!!!
I am so excited, she has beautiful designs, and I "know" her from her Challenges at DSO, she does the Sketch and Quote Challenge, two of my favourites.
So when I spotted her CT call, I thought, why not apply, and today I am part of her team. I already have a kit to get started on, so check back later when I upload my first layouts with her kit "Jaxon!.
Isn't it cute, just right for my boys!!

Well, that was the exciting part of my day, the rest was spent daydreaming about scrapping... no just kidding! Shopping for a couple of Easter treats and the normal weekly shop as tomorrow everything is closed! And this afternoon I played with the boys, if they weren't fighting with one another!
Florian came home and they were as good as gold! Strange that! Robert was fine all day, until about 30mins before bedtime, when the earache returned. Typical, all day we could have gone to the doctor, but no, he gets it when the doctor closes for Easter! Fingers crossed, we don't have to go to the emergency doctors over Easter. He's dosed up with Calpol now and will hopefully get a good nights sleep... which reminds me, I was worried yesterday about my sleep. Well, both boys slept right through till 6am! Can't complain about that, maybe again today....watch this space.

Well, Robert is not sleeping well, and I could well be up all night, he is in quite a lot of pain, so tomorrow definitely the doctors! Despite being up and down to the poor soul I did manage to have fun with Michelle's kit! I got 4(!) layouts done.

This one is Mia and Robert digging on the beach in England last year!

When I saw the wordart, I immediately remembered this photo from one of our trips to Roberts favourite restaurant. Richard had spread the ketchup from ear to ear!
This was the sketch Michelle gave us for February's challenge at DSO, I still love it, so I used it again!
This photo of Richard was taken at Centre Parks in September last year. He wasn't too sure about the dinosaur, we wanted him to sit on it, but he wouldn't , but he did have a chat with it!

Credits for all above layouts:
Jaxon by Michelle Herron (click on preview at the beginning of the post to see her store)

Bye 4 now

A loooonnnnnngggggg day

The boys had me up this morning at 6.15 am! Well, Richard actually at 4.00am, but he did go back to sleep again, once cuddled up next to me in my bed. But Robert was wide awake and raring to go at 6.15am and from then until we went downstairs for breakfast they argued, screamed and cried non-stop! What a start to the day!

They were that bad, that I actually asked at Kindergarden when I picked them up, if they had behaved themselves!!! apparently they had, so I had hope! But at lunchtime, Robert didn't even touch his dinner - and I had cooked their favourite (Spaghetti)! The had their quiet/snoozy time, and then at 3pm they were back at their tricks from in the morning. Robert wanted to go in the garden. Unfortunately the weather is so unpredictable and cold at the moment, that it is really not the best of ideas to go in the garden. But he wouldn't listen to reasoning, he just sat there and screamed and cried himself silly. I got Nanna on the phone to try and calm him down, cause I couldn't. He eventually shut up for long enough to listen, but when he found out that yes he could go in the garden, but on his own, he started up again, cause he didn't want to go on his own! Kids!!!
Once he quietened down again, it wasn't long before he started again, this time he had earache, that is a good reason for crying, not that I like it much, but at least it is justified. We had a long cuddle, a phone call to Daddy and then some medicine. And now at bedtime he was full of beans! I have dosed him up with medicine again and hopefully it will last through the night. Looks like we are in for ANOTHER trip to the doctors - does it ever end!?

Scrapping is definitely therapy, I feel much better having done a couple of layouts. Here is one that I did for the Font Challenge at DSO using the CT Appreciation Mega Kit - Grateful 4 U, thanks so much Silvia for this. I appreciate you too!
I am not sure what the boys were up to here, but I think "contemplating mischief" probably comes close!

Credits:
Papers by Alice Koh Designs and Creative Confusion Designs

Bye 4 now

Where did Spring go...

it's snowing here! And I really am not a snow person. I am just hoping that it doesn't stay, cause that would mean that tomorrow I have to clear the whole of the path! Yuck! According to the law, before I take the kids to Kindergarden, but then what do I do with the kids! No, I am not going to think about that now, I am going to hope I wake up to clear paths and roads!

Not much to tell about today really, I had a friend and her kids round this afternoon. The boys played well together today, we didn't have to break up any punch-ups or arguments. And Lisa (my goddaughter) was in a happy mood too, well until she was so tired but was fighting it!
They stayed til just before tea time. We tidied up, had tea, and now the kids are in bed.
I didn't get any scrapping done at lunch time, I am still trying to get the CT Appreciation Kit downloaded - it is sooooo huge! I can't wait to unpack it! But I really want to have it all downloaded before I take a peep! Maybe later on!

I should be back later on with a layout or two, I have one I finished this morning - a funny one! I'll post that when I get downstairs, and I want to do some more this evening. We'll see!

Here's the funny layout. These are the photos you get, when you ask Robert if you can take his Photo for Nanna. He said yes, and then proceeded to pull these faces, I have many more pics like these! Well, I suppose he thought, that as the photos were to show Nanna his new haircut, it wouldn't matter if he pulled silly faces!

Credits:
Run ABC Kit by Digitreats
Journalling Paper from Doodledeedoo by Phillsboo

I thought something Spring-y might chase away the Snow, so here is Mia cuddling Treacle last Easter. This is for the Shape Challenge at DSO.

Credits:
Just too sweet by Sweet Digi Scraps
Wordart by Phillsboo

Bye 4 now

Don't ever forget the shoes!!!

Not like I did this morning! Robert and Richard had new shoes last week from Nanna and Pop. They are little canvas trainers. Robert considers them his new slippers and wears them nonstop. Well, he likes to take them into Kindergarden to wear there too. Oh dear, this morning I forgot them! You should have heard the screaming he did. I couldn't calm him, I actually left with him still screaming about having to wear his "ordinary" slippers. It took the Kindergarden girls a while to calm him and in the end when he didn't listen to reason, they told him in no uncertain terms that it was enough now - and he stopped! Needless to say, tomorrow I will not be so forgetful!

Other than that little episode it was a good day today. We went to the bakers again this afternoon, the cars, skooters and go-kart are gone for good. But they chased around and around on foot, and enjoyed themselves. But it is a real shame about the cars, I still don't understand, why they are no longer there. We met Dominique and her boys (roughly the same age as mine) there too today, but her boys wanted to be anywhere but there, they kept asking when they were going home. Poor Dominique at about 5pm she gave in and took them home, they were so misbehaving. But it was good in a way, because I now know that I am not the only one that has that problem sometimes. Even if today they were behaving like little angels, granted ones with too much energy, but playing really really nicely (I hope I haven't said that too loud!)

I got two layouts done at lunchtime and I have some more in my head from the photos I took at the bakers. I was trying to get some decent pictures of their new haircuts, but they didn't want to pose for me. So I will have to see what I come up with. I'll be back later with the results.


This layout is for Silvia's Colour Challenge at DigitalArts Cafe, lovely colours, and perfect for another of Meenakshi's pictures!

Credits:
Rock Garden by Brenda Mascari

This is my Goddaughter Lisa, and I did it for Liz's Tweak It Challenge at ScrapDigiStyle. We had to make a new photo look old! I also used it for the Heritage Challenge at DSO.

Credits:
Grandma's Love by Phillsboo

Now about the new hairstyles of my boys, didn't get a layout finished, but I do have a picture for you. Here are my little darlings (today at least!) sporting their new haircuts and new jumpers!


Bye 4 now

A lazy day..

yep a very lazy day for me. I got to have a nice lay in this morning. Florian got up with the boys and they let me sleep in. OK I had been up 3 times in the night, but at least I had the feeling of a lay in. I think it did me good. Yesterday I couldn't really do much, cause I was feeling giddy all the time. Today I only felt giddy some of the time! So maybe catching up on some sleep helped.

I got up at about 10am and as know one knew I was up, I had a shower in peace (well, sort of peace, I did have a good sing-a-long to the radio!).
Then I faced the boys ... just kidding... had breakfast then checked emails.
And do you know what it is CT appreciation week! Wow, Silvia actually remembered us, bless her, with all that is going on in her life, we would have understood, if she hadn't. But she did, she is GREAT! We got a mention in the CT thread at Digishop Talk (woohoo!) and a HUGE MEGA kit, which I haven't unpacked yet, actually haven't even finished downloading it yet!
To show how much I appreciate my Designer Silvia, I did a layout using her kit "Grandma's love".

Credits:

Grandma's Love by Phillsboo

I also did one of Robert and his Pop, this is for the "Snap it" Challenge at Been There Scrapped That, we had to concentrate on a close up. These shots seemed perfect for it. Note how the layout is similar to the one before, I tried to use these photos in the above layout, it didn't work, but I did like the other layout, so I found pictures that better suited it, and revised this one.

Credits:

Chamomile by Julie P.
Frames from Grandma's Love by Phillsboo
Trimmed Cardboard Alpha by luckyslayouts.blogspot.com

We gave the boys a haircut before their bath tonight, we use the electric razor like thing to do it, and Richard loves having it done, and holds really, really still. Whereas Robert is too ticklish, and wriggles all over the place. They look good, but it is really short again, although Florian was aiming for longer, it just didn't happen, oh well, good job its not too cold at the minute, and if it cools down, well they always have their wooly hats! No pictures of their haircuts yet, but I will get some of them taken tomorrow, and show them off!
Bye 4 now

Too much food!

Is what I have had so far this weekend. But I will start at the beginning, as in "How was my date?"
It was brilliant!
First we went to the Chinese, where I made sure I got my money's worth on the buffet! It was just so delicious. They do a traditional Chinese buffet and also a Mongolian, where you put your dish together yourself raw, and they then cook it for you as you watch. Well, of course I just had to try it all. Unfortunately I didn't leave enough room for desert so I missed out on the deep fried bananas with honey. Shame!
We then had a short walk, to let the food settle, and then to the cinema. The film we went to see was called "Vantage Point" (that's "8 Blickwinkel" should anyone from Germany be reading), it is about the assasination of the President told from 8 different points of view. It was "The Bourne Identity" meets "24" meets "In the Line of Fire" - and we thoroughly enjoyed it! But I can't tell you anymore than that, unless you want me to spoil it!

When we got back the boys had been good for my Mum and she was watching English TV, we joined her. It was "Top Gear does Ground Force for Sport Relief" and we laughed and laughed. So funny!

Today my Dad came to pick Mum up again, but he did stay a bit too ;o) He brought the kids some new Lorries to play with. They were over the moon with them. This evening they even got the carpet with the road on down so that the lorries could drive on a proper road! Bless them!
Then Dad took us all in his car, which the boys call a bus, cause it can seat us all. We sang "The wheels on the bus" all the way to the restaurant.
The boys were as good as gold there, they had their sausage and chips, then Dad and Florian took them down to the playground, whilst Mum and I stayed in the restaurant. Where we sneakily had an ice-cream between us. Vanilla with Cream and hot raspberries, so delicious. So see what I mean, definitely too much food, so far, but GOOD!

Bye 4 now

I've got a date tonight...

with my husband! So I am blogging early. My Mum is looking after the boys tonight - thanks Mum. And Florian and I are going to a Chinese Restaurant, and then to the cinema. We have just chosen the film we are going to see - Vantage Point. Sounds good (read a one line synopsis, I prefer not knowing too much about a film!) I'll let you know tomorrow, how it was!

I have just had a shower and got myself all pretty, now to stay that way before we leave! Mmh, could be difficult the boys are still up! Wish me luck!

So no new layouts today, and not much news either. Mum and I had a very nice morning at the shopping centre, we got a couple of presents for Richard from his B-day money (a remote control for the racing car track and a playdoh press, so that they don't have to argue over the only one we've got), but the best bit of the morning, was the hot chocolate we had in peace! Great that was!

OK, I'd better show myself downstairs again.
Bye 4 now

Too many sweeties...

at least thats what I hope was the matter with my boys today, cause it wasn't the moon this time! They were so full of beans, and contradictive, it was unbelievable, I think my Mum is seriously considering going home early! They did nothing that they were told, were deliberately destructive, and argumentative! I am so glad they are in bed now!
And I am hoping that they have worn themselves out being naughty and will sleep until the morning, wish me luck!

I had my MOT at the gynaenocologist (I think that is mispelt) this morning and I am all OK! I had to wait only 1,5hours til it was my turn, that is pretty good going for there. I was quite relaxed though this time, cause I was there without any kids! And I didn't have to worry about getting home on time for Kindergarden, cause Mum would have picked the boys up for me! But I was home in time anyways.

I made a layout for Meenakshi (our Indian friend) she left her Dubai holiday photos with me, as soon as I am downstairs I will post it! I am very pleased with the result, I hope she will like it!

Credits:
"Me" Wordart by Kuoha Designs Ink
Frames by Bunny Cates
Alpha by Dawn Wilson
Paper by Tina Williams Designs

Credits:
Frames and Ribbons Djinn by Dnadryad
Credits:
Frames - Djinn by Dnadryad
Credits:
Frames Djinn by Dnadryad
Paper - March DSO Colour Challenge Kit by BooLandDesigns

Well, since blogging early in the evening, I have been having a field day with Meenakshi's pictures! She now has nearly a book to print!!

One last thing before I go

Happy Birthday Leigh

You can stop by her blog if you like and congratulate her, she'd love that!
Bye 4 now

Please take a moment..

to say a prayer for Silvia and her family. Her mother lost the fight to cancer this morning and passed away. Silvia needless to say is left heartbroken. If you would like to you can leave your condolences on her blog: www.phillsboo.blogspot.com

It's hard to carry on this post after the tragic news that reached us this afternoon. Especially as I have had a happy day today. But that is Life.

I picked my Mum up this morning, she has come to stay until Saturday, when Dad will come and pick her up, and take us all out for a meal. Robert asked for that the other day on the telephone, totally out of the blue. And who can resist him (sometimes!).
Mum got the best welcome ever, I should think, when we picked the kids up at Kindergarden. Richard was SO excited to see her, and couldn't stop saying "Nanna". It was so cute! Robert was excited too, but Richard beat him!

Nanna of course had to help with the jigsaws this afternoon, no one gets around that job at the minute! We then went out for a walk, but it was really windy and quite cold, so it was just a quick one, but it blew the cobwebs away. The weather didn't seem to bother the boys much, they were quite happy going at their own slow pace. But we sped them up, when it started to rain!

They had a bath this evening, so they are all squeaky clean and tucked up in bed now.

This is our cat Ticki "playing " with his catch of the night! I just had to grab a camera, before saving the poor mouse! Who is now back outside, waiting for Sunny (our other cat) to catch him again!!Credits:
Collab Kit "Zazzle" by Elemental Scraps

Bye 4 now

I want to stay at Kindergarden!!

Well, there are 6 words I didn't expect to hear at all! When I picked the kids up today, they were pleased to see me. But when I wouldn't let Richard finish zipping his coat up on his own (he had been trying for about 5 minutes), he told me he wanted to stay at Kindergarden, and we had a full paddy when we left! So funny! I really was not expecting that. So perhaps if he keeps on insisting then I will let them have lunch there or so.

Once home it was forgotten though. We had a very nice afternoon, the weather was just like in April one minute it was falling down the next it was sunny, unfortunately the rainy spells were in the majority. But we made the most of it, and made some lollystick animals that Mum had bought for them. Anything with glue involved is OK with them! Then we got a bucket of stickers out, and they made a picture for .. no can't tell you that, whoever might be reading this! ;o)
Then we played "Ring o Roses" and "Dingle Dangle Scarecrow", then it was time to build tracks and play with the Thomas the Tank Engine trains. I think the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves despite being indoors!


I had more fun scrapping again tonight, this is what I made for my Mum's best friend. These are her grandkids (together for the first time). I just love that quote, too! (Grandchildren are Gods reward for putting up with your kids!)

Credits:
Thoughtless by Sweet digi scraps
Alpha by Tamara Pahlke

Oh and if you are here for the quickpages, they are getting lower down the page now!
Bye 4 now

Easter shopping

Its taken me a while, but I have just realised that Easter is right around the corner! So this morning I went Easter shopping. I got some cute little bits to hang on some curly twigs that the neighbour gave me. And I got some "Playmobil" for the girls (my nieces). I looked for my boys, but I really couldn't decide on what to get them. So I will have another look in a couple of days time.

After a week of posting Quickpages, it seems quite strange to going back to being a diary, especially as I know people are still stopping by for their quickpages. I hope I don't bore anyone. Anyhow.

We had visitors this afternoon, so there was plenty of tidying up to do once they had gone. The boys seem to love showing guests "ALL" of their toys, but not in the boxes "OUT" of the boxes (as in emptying them, so that you can see just how many bricks and such they own!) They did help a little bit with the tidying up, but I had to bribe them too.

They are all tucked up now, and hopefully they will have a good nights sleep. The moon is increasing again now, so maybe!!!

I relaxed this evening, and scrapped some of the pics taken at the weekend. In Germany it is tradition to decorate a bush or tree in the garden with coloured eggs (ours are plastic). This year the boys did it!

Credits:

Easter Collab Kit by Phillsboo at Digital Arts Cafe

This kit is one of 7 free kits at Digital Arts Cafe. Pop on over there and check them out. If you create a layout with them and post it in the gallery, you have the chance of winning a 5 dollar Gift Certificate!
Bye 4 now

Flowers with noses!!!!

Just a quick post today, most of you are here for the freebies anyway, if you want you can scroll further down, but you would miss out on this cute thing my son said!

I have to tell the world this cute thing my son Robert came up with today. He went to see my parents this afternoon with my husband. Whilst there he was playing ball in the garden with my Dad, and Robert was telling him about the flowers, when he said the following
Robert: "We've got yellow flowers in our garden, Pop, but we haven't got ones with noses!"
Isn't that cute, true as well, we are about a week or so behind in the garden area and we really haven't got "flowers with noses" - yet!
Have you worked it out yet???
Yep, "flowers with noses" are daffodils! I think that is just too cute! I wonder whether he will use that expression again, when our daffodils start flowering?!

That is all I have time for really today, we have a visitor from India staying for dinner, so I should get back to her and help Florian prepare it. Nothing too elaborate just pizza, only this time we are making it, rather than ordering it! We've got a stone slab that we heat in the oven and do it on, it tastes really good! So I am getting very hungry just writing about it!
Bye 4 now

Grand Finale of Quickpage Week

Yep, last day today. We hope you have enjoyed all that we have given out to you. We have certainly had fun, checking the hitcounter and the number of downloads. And reading your comments on 4shared (you can keep them coming!)
Well, today we have a special treat for you all, all of the CT has one more quickpage for you. I am hosting mine and Kaytee's and if after you have gotten your downloads here you pop on over to Leigh's blog, you will find her Quickpage and Michelle's.

But enough blabla, here are the previews:

My (Kerri's) Quickpage
Click on the image to download
(Angela, I hope this was the one you wanted!)

Kaytee's Quickpage
Click on the image to download

We would like to thank Silvia for giving us this opportunity to share our talent with you. We have had so much fun this past week. Although it has been overshadowed by the fact that Silvia's Mum is very ill. Again please keep her in your thoughts and prayers, and if you have a minute pop on over to Silvia's blog and leave her some support.

Don't forget all of these Quickpages were made with this kit available at DigitalArts Cafe:



Now, if you got this far, maybe you are interested in my life too. Not too much to report about today. But incase you are wondering it is New Moon. And how do I know this....well, my boys have been abducted by aliens again!! Only this time I checked the calender to see just why the temper tantrums were increasing, and yep new moon again! Its like having two toddlers with PMS!!! oh well, at least it will perhaps be over tomorrow, fingers crossed.

This morning Florian took Robert to Media Markt (a man's store with computers and anything eletronic, you name it men love it!) and they came back with an external harddrive which is actually a network harddrive (I'm probably getting this all wrong, but nevermind). It is great it has 500GB of space, so now I don't have to put all my kits on CDs never to be found again, they can go on there! yippee!! And all the photos and our complete CD collection, etc. Oops, sounds like I have already filled it up - hihi!

OK, now to get this posted for you
Bye 4 now

Day 5 of Quickpage Week

and I can finally get on to Blogger! It did not like me during the day, but it seems to have changed his mind now (note how I call it a "him" - what does that mean I wonder!) Enough about that, you are here for a very different reason. Well
Michelle and Kaytee the other members of our CT are very new to the scrapping world and don't have or want to host their quickpages on their own blog. So Leigh and I are hosting them for them.
Which means if you want to leave them some loving (which I am sure you do!), please use 4 shared. Or I suppose you can leave it with me and I will pass it along!

OK, Blogger still doesn't like me, so I am going to send you to
Leigh's blog
She has both Michelle's and Kaytee's Page
up and running! I can't get the pictures uploaded, and I can't ask you to download something you have never seen.

Now you may or may not have read that our Designer Phillsboo (Silvia)'s Mum is very ill, if you could all keep her in your thoughts and prayers it might help somewhat. Thanks!

And on a very different note: ANGELA you left a comment on a page regarding one of my layouts to be a Quickpage. Unfortunately there were two layouts on that page with Latte Kisses, and I am not sure which one you meant. If you leave me another comment or drop me an email:
kayjaydo (at) yahoo (dot) com, I may be able to do that for you.

Tomorrow we will be back with more.

And for the normal update on my life. I spent quite a while at the post office this morning. A couple of weeks ago I sent out 6 parcels, 5 to ebay customers and 1 to my cousin. Of these 6 parcels there was only one, which SHOULD not get lost. have you guessed what is coming....
Yep! The post office lost it! It wasn't of a really high material value, but sentimental, very high. It was my Mum's tiara from her wedding 43 years ago, which my Aunt wore (quite a while ago) too, which I wore 3 years ago and my cousin would have worn it in the summer when she gets married. And now the post have gone and lost it! Well, I have filled in a form so they at least look for it, but the girl at the post office didn't hold out much hope for it! I just hope we get lucky and get it back. It would be such a shame if it was lost for good.

The afternoon was spent tearing up cardboard boxes - well, that's what the boys thought was fun! I then spent quite a bit of time clearing it up again before Daddy got home!
Who is now home, so I will finish here.
Bye 4 now

Quickpage Week - Day 4

Well, it seems we have gotten ourselves a bit confused, but don't let that bother you.So that you don't miss out on a day, I have another quickpage for you.
Different colours from the others, but we want you to know just how versatile this kit "Latte Kisses" by Phillsboo is.

As usual click on the image to download. And please leave some loving, it is such a thrill!

Scroll down the posts to see the other quickpages we have been giving out. They are all still up for grabs!



7.20pm and it's update time!
The kids were in a foul mood this afternoon, I lost count of how many times Richard had a paddy! Robert at one point even got sent to his room. They just stood in front of me screaming. Once they had their composure back, we all did the hoovering (vacuum cleaning) together. It took forever but at least they weren't screaming anymore!

Just a very quick post now, cause it's "Girls Night Out" today, only it is an "in" night. Because I don't have a babysitter, the other girls are coming to see me! Makes a change, but it does mean I have to go downstairs sooner, as otherwise I won't hear the doorbell! And there won't be any layouts tonight either.
Bye 4 now

Day 3 of our Quickpage Week

And Leigh too, loved the kit and also made 2 Quickpages. It's adorable, pop on over to her site to pick it up! And as usual, don't forget to leave her some loving whilst your there. We get a real kick out of it!

Click on the image to get to Leigh's Blog

I'll be back later with todays update, until then (yesterday's update is at the bottom of yesterdays post, Florian!)

Well, kids are finally in bed, we were late getting home today. I had planned on taking the kids to the indoor play area at the local furniture store. But I phoned a friend and we ended up meeting there instead. It was a great afternoon! The 4 boys played really well together.
Before we went there we stopped where Florian leaves his car for the week and got him a new parking ticket. Luckily I didn't leave it any later, as it had ran out this morning at 8.10am! Oops, Florian thought I had til tomorrow!

This morning I took the coat I bought 3 or 4 weeks ago back. The zip had broken, and I couldn't wear it anymore. I had no bill for it, no labels and not even a bag from the shop. But they gave me my money back without any hassle. Very unusual for Germany! They didn't have any other winter coats there. So I drove to their store in town and had a look there. I got a different coat (rusty red colour) and it was 10euros cheaper! Bargain!

And that was about it for today. I did some more tidying up on the computer whilst the kids had their afternoon nap. Maybe now the laptop will be quicker! I hope so, I have some ideas for layouts and that is my plan for this evening. That is if I don't fall asleep. It was a bad night - can't let Mummy get to used to good ones! - the boys had me up at least every half an hour between 0.30 and 3.30am! Finally getting themselves up at 6.30am!! AGH!!
Oh well, now it is my time to relax and unwind!
Bye 4 now

2nd Day of our Quickpage Week

Nice of you to drop by, the girls of Phillsboo's Creative Team are having a Quickpage Week and today it is my turn to offer you a Quickpage. I actually have two on offer, one for the boys and one for the girls! Phillsboo's Kit Latte Kisses, is so great to work with, very versatile, as you will see for yourself as the Creative Team offer you their quickpages. Do come back tomorrow and be linked to the next Quickpage.

But without further ado, here are mine, please click the previews to download, and PLEASE leave some love, I am so excited, as this is the VERY first time, that I am offering anything, and I would love to hear from you. But rest assured should you be too busy, just seeing the number of downloads will "make my day"!

Click image to download

Click image to download

And if you are really getting the flavour for this kit, why not stop at Phillsboo's store for the
whole kit?

Click on image to go shopping

Thanks for stopping by, it was fun having you here!

7:30pm in Germany now, and time for my daily update. (For those of you who read down this far. My husband works away from home and this is how he keeps up with what is going on at home - well, that and the long phone calls!!)

It was "bring a toy day" at Kindergarden today, and why is it that kids always want to take something with so many pieces that they are bound to lose a bit?! I eventually convinced Richard that taking a jigsaw was not a good idea. But it was under protest! They did have a good time there, or so they told me. And they looked happy when I got there to pick them up. Richard was busy giving Xenia cuddles!!! So cute!

Most of my time was however, I admit it, spent refreshing this page, just to watch the counter rise and rise and to see, where everyone was coming here from. Looks like my blog has done a trip around the world today! It's so exciting - I am so thrilled that people like my quickpage and are downloading it! wow!!!
To keep me away from the refresh button - and by request of two small men! - we went in the garden to play. Whilst the boys were in the barn in the sandpit, I sat in the sun and spoke to Mum on the phone. Lovely, and then 20minutes later we were back in doors getting away from the snow!!! I think we skipped March and went straight for April! The snow didn't settle, much to the boys disgust! But I wasn't too disappointed!

Well that is it, I am going to go and watch my counter again!
Take care

Bye 4 now

It's Quickpage Week with the CT members of Phillsboo!

And we are kicking off the week with this beautiful Quickpage by Leigh using Phillsboo's Kit "Latte Kisses"!. Just stop on by her blog to pick it up. But do leave her some love. We are both new to the Creative Team World, and very excited about it all, so if you could find the time to say thank you or even more. We would be OVER THE MOON!
To visit Leigh click on the preview of her Quickpage.



Thanks for dropping by, and come back tomorrow to see what I have in store for you!

Well, I am back for my early evening news update! And I am pleased to report everyone is healthy, or well on the way to recovery. So both boys were back at Kindergarden this morning, Richard was actually quite excited about going, he told me exactly what he was going to play with when he got there! (Lego!) And he did!

This afternoon we went to the "Mütze" (mother and child center) for coffee, cakes and fun and games. We all love it there. Robert and Richard get to use up all their energy, and I get to talk to other Mums and find out that all the kids are the same!!! And I am not alone with any troubles! And generally have a good old natter!
After eating two pieces of carrot cake each the boys still found room for their sandwich at teatime! I was surprised. What also surprised me was that they both took off the icing and marzipan carrot of the cake, wouldn't even try it! So I ate it all! Oops!

Now they are both tucked up in clean beds - got all the germs out this morning, even gave Robert's comfort blanket and teddies a ride in the washing machine, so with a bit of luck, we'll stay healthy now!

Now I have to get my surprise for tomorrow all sorted out and packed and what not!
Bye 4 now

Lazy Sunday afternoon!

But a not quite so lazy Sunday morning! Well, our friends stayed the night, and we had Richard in bed with us, as that was the easiest option, not necessarily the comfiest option, but for one night!
Robert and Richard didn't even flinch in the morning when Kira (the little 6 year old) peeped round the corner of their bedroom and then came in to play. It was as if it was totally normal for someone else to be here - it tickled me!
Even when Kira's parents then appeared, still acted as if it was normal. They did do their showing off thing, but didn't once question where these "people" had appeared from!

We had a lovely breakfast all together and then we all went to our "bakers" again, to wear the kids out, whilst we caught up on old times! BUT when we got there complete with our bobby car and bike with no pedals (what would they be called in English?), we were very politely told, that "anything with wheels" was no longer allowed. I was so upset, but not as disappointed as the kids. The main reason they loved going there was because of the go-kart and other things! And now as of yesterday (if I understood correctly) no more wheels in there. Well, that is it for us then, cause we can go other places for just playing with old toys and no running! Such a shame, I am seriously considering writing to the owner and finding out why. (the girl there didn't really know, something to do with it being to chaotic on Saturday - that is not a good reason!)
Kira's Dad chased them all around for a bit, and then Florian did, so we wore them out that way, but it wasn't the same.

And our lazy afternoon was spent the way the kids like it best. Playing with them, doing jigsaws (for the thousandth time) playing with their Thomas the Tank Engine railway track and racing cars! We did have a bit of a dance (well more like a spin) until Richard fell over backwards cause he was too dizzy, then we stopped that game!

Did I mention that Robert is feeling a lot better, but I gather you already worked that out for yourselves?!!!
Take care and bye 4 now

Just a quick posting

cause any minute now, we are expecting visitors. Friends of Florian's are on their way back from their skiing holiday and always stop in to see us on their way through. Cause of the terrible storms today their journey is taking them a lot longer than expected, and they will be staying with us. So we will have a great chatty evening. AND a pizza! That sounds like a great evening to me! I've already chosen mine! Salami, Ham, Mushrooms, red pepper and onions - mmh, makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Robert was much better today, I didn't even bother taking his temperature. He ate all meals not as much as normal, but he ate, and I didn't have to keep reminding him to have a drink, definitely on the mend! Now its just fingers crossed that Richard doesn't get it!
Speaking of Richard, he was so cute this afternoon. He was playing cars with his Daddy, and then all of a sudden he got up crossed the room stood in front of Daddy and said "nots and nots Daddy" - that in English is "I love you lots and lots, Daddy!" - made both me and Florian melt! It was so out of the blue and so heartfelt!

Got a new blinkie today! Its down on the right, now I can flash to the world that I am proudly creating for Phillsboo! So exciting! Oh and I added a picture of me to the blog too, its rather large I think, but I couldn't figure out what to do to make it smaller. Oh well, never mind, its not too offensive!

No layouts today, can't scrap with pizza in one hand and talking nonstop.
Bye 4 now