Have a good one!

A New Year's Eve Celebration I mean!
My boys are in bed, just waiting to be sure they are asleep, then Florian and I are doing a Raclette, and I have promised not to touch the computer - so no scrapping tonight - but that is OK, we will probably play a board game and have our own little disco, once the Caipirinha's start working!
Then just before midnight, we will get the boys up and let them watch Florian light the fireworks from indoors. At -10°C (14°F) it is just too cold to let them go out and watch from a bit closer!
At the moment it is all VERY quiet in the village, so we may well be the only ones out setting off fireworks tonight - we'll see!

Oh and I didn't promise not to touch the camera, so I am going try and get some good pics of the boys watching!

So everyone have a GREAT evening, and I'll be back tomorrow to wish you all a Happy New Year!

AGHHHH!! KIDS!!!! (oh and some layouts!)

Anyone want mine?! Or has anyone got mine? I think mine may have been abducted by aliens again and we have some MONSTERS in their place! They are in bed now, and I almost did a happy dance about it! They have been naughty all day long. And Richard has done more screaming today than he has done the last two weeks in total! But not because something hurt or so, but because he didn't get his way! But I won't bore you with that - I'll show the surprise my friend Dinphy had for me this morning. That will cheer me up again

These layouts are just gorgeous. The fascination in Dinphy's daughters eyes, the extraction and placement of my firework! AWESOME! thanks so much Dinphy!


And I love the journalling on this one, and how she is looking out of the window!

I am hoping for some good pictures this year in the years previously Robert has been really scared of the fireworks, he just doesn't like loud noises! (*edited by Florian: Unless he is making them himself!!!)

OK, I am off to relax by scrapping, I need to see pics of my boys looking cute and not acting like monsters!
Bye 4 now

A cold walk yesterday

So, I'll start today with the pictures from our walk yesterday, it was GREAT fun, although it was just that little bit long for poor Richard, and Florian had to carry him on his shoulders for the last 20 minutes! But he did really well, we were walking for about 90 minutes altogether!
Robert wanted to give up too, but understood, that standing still in the middle of a pitch black woods was NOT a good idea! And carried on carrying the fire and showing us the way.
The boys wore their Xmas present - a torch for the head, that was good too, Richard watched the light on the floor all the way (well, until he was on Daddy's shoulders!)
So those were the pictures from when we first turned the fire on. And here is one of me and Ricahrd at the restaurant where we had our tea after the walk. Florian ordered a tomato soup, and it was the BEST tomato soup I had ever had! And we will definitely be going back there again! I had deep fried mushrooms with garlic sauce - ooh that was delicious too. Richard enjoyed them too, here he is dipping his chips into the sauce, but he had mushrooms too. And quite a bit of my salad (in fact ALL of my cucumber!)


today was a quiet day in for us, it was -10°C (14°F) outside, so we stayed in with the log fire on! I did a bit of designing - expect a GREAT (well I think so) posting bonus in the DAC forum next month, and the boys played.
thats all for today, I'm off to play with my new toy now!

New Kit, Special Offer and a FREEBIE!

Well, as promised I am back today with my new kit, a special offer and a freebie. I'll start with my new kit!
I have been working on a New Year's Kit for you all to scrap those party photos you will be taking in a couple of days time! Complete with all those things we relate with good luck, ie. chimney sweep, lucky pig, ladybird and 4-leaf clover! (images are linked to the store)


these are the papers, there are 5 solid papers, 9 patterned papers and two papers with glittered edges all with some lovely textures!
and then I decided that the kit needed a special sort of Alpha, and look what I came up with! You get the complete upper alpha and numbers along with a bit of rope and a peg to create whatever title you need! I am really pleased with it! I hope you like it too.
So before I get to the freebie, what is my special offer?! Well, if you buy the kit between now and January 7th, email me (kayjaydo (at) yahoo (dot) com) the Order No. then I will send you a coupon to get the Alpha for free! Not a bad deal, right?!
Oh and if you head on over to the store before the 4th January, the kit and alpha are 20% off!

And now on to the freebie. I decided that EVERYONE needed the New Years Wordart to match the kit, and have created these international "Happy New Years" for everyone. Should you stop by and not find your language in this pack, then drop me a line (kayjaydo (at) yahoo (dot) com) and I will be happy to oblige, you'll just need to send me the correct spelling - I am afraid however that this particular font only has latin letters, so I cannot do it all in Russian or such, sorry about that.
At the moment the freebie has,
English (Happy New Year and Auld Lang Syne),
German (Prost Neujahr and Guten Rutsch)
Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Danish and Swedish
Image linked to the freebie, which is available in the store, if you are not already a customer there, you will have to register to download, but there are no additional charges or anything.
I hope you all enjoy it, and have a GREAT party at New Year. We are still undecided what we are doing, but we will be having fireworks, that I know!

And for all my regular readers, I'll be back this evening (probably late) with todays update. Late because we are off on a walk in the woods with torches (real flames and battery powered), its the annual Xmas party from the mother and toddler center. Should be fun!
Bye 4 now

I'm BACK!!

And we had "the best Christmas EVER" to put it in Robert (my four-year-old's) words!
But no we really did have the best time. Lots and lots of presents - check out the mess here! And wow, did we all get some surprises!
I think mine was the biggest though, I got a Wacom graphic tablet, just like my Dad's I still can't believe it, but it is sat right next to me as I type, and as soon as I finish blogging, I am going to practise using it! I think it might take a bit of time to get used to, but already I can see the advantages!
Want to know what else I got, i got my photoshop bible, that comes with a Tutorial CD, so that will be interesting, I got a kitchen mixer and chopper! My one broke back in May I think, and since then I have been chopping manually, it will be great to have the machine do it again, so much quicker! I got the book that all the scrapbooking blogs have been raving about "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyers, so hopefully, they weren't all wrong. And so much more, but I won't bore you all!

The boys got everything off of their Xmas lists and more! So they both got their computers! So cute, aren't they. Robert is already really good at sorting out the largest and smallest numbers!
I won't list all of their toys, as I'll still be typing in the new year!!!

For all of those who know - Florian LOVED his calendar! I have been making him a CD Calendar these past few weeks and have been longing to show off the layouts I made for him, but as this is HIS blog, I couldn't BUT I have been posting them in my gallery at Been there Scrapped that, so if you fancy having a look at them, do pop on over. the cover page is linked to the gallery!


I also got Florian a digital photo frame for Xmas so that he can have it in Augsburg on his desk there, and see us all the time. Well, its a good job I used Mum to help organise it, as Florian had originally had the same idea for me!! AND exactly the same offer!! So funny, Mum managed to somehow dissuade him without giving the game away! So he was surprised when he opened the present! So funny!
oh and he also got a Chocolate fondue set, he had asked for one of those chocolate fountain things, but Mum had said, that no way was he getting one of them for xmas, but she did get him a fondue set. Which we tried out tonight, with all sorts of Mums fruits (her fruit bowl was much fuller than ours). And it was DELICIOUS!

Now with all of the presents we got, I will have a LOT of thank yous to be writing, I'll have to see what I can come up with!

I hope your Christmas's were as much fun as ours! (here is our christmas family photo!)


I'll be back tomorrow with my new kit, a special offer and a freebie!

Busy, busy, busy

but then again who isn't! Yesterday I just never got around to posting, not even sure why now. I did get my kit nearly ready to go, but the preview....If you have ever made one, you might know what I mean. Or if you are like Liz, you can do them in 30 minutes, whilst chatting to me on Yahoo - still jealous about that. Well, me it takes forever. But I'll get there in the end, I hope. Don't want to miss out on anyones vouchers after Xmas ;o)
Anyhow, today was spent tidying up, ironing and getting the house shipshape so we can go to Mum and Dad's tomorrow and come back and wreck the place with all the new toys Santa will be bringing!!!
So, can't stop now, we have guests downstairs (just done Raclette, I am soooo full now), I might be back later, depending on how the wrapping of the presents go.
Bye 4 now
OH, PS, Robert is fit again no more temperature, just in time for Xmas!

still poorly

Yep, Robert woke up this morning with his temperature still way too high. So Robert and I stayed at home cosy in front of the TV (about the only thing that would stop his whimpering, poor thing) and Florian and Richard went to our breakfast date. We told Richard that he was just getting the bread with Daddy, as he wouldn't have wanted to go on his own. I actually thought they would be back quite soon, cause of the fact that Robert wasn't there, but he quite enjoyed himself I think and they got back in time for lunch. By which time, Robert's temperature was nearly normal and he was almost his normal self (just a bit pale). Unfortunately this afternoon it shot right back up again. So again he is dosed up and hopefully sleeping now.

We did have some fun this afternoon though, we baked "Plätzchen" (German cookies). What a feat! Luckily I didn't dish out all the dough, cause they were not letting ANYONE help them, so the dough was rolling out too thin, sticking to the rolling sheet, and when they tried to get it off to put on the baking tray it was coming off in tiny pieces. A real mess. Eventually we were allowed to roll it out for them, they cut the shapes and I put them on the baking tray. It didn't last for long though and Richard particularly wanted to do it all on his own again. So mean Mummy that I am, once the first batch was in the oven, I sent them off with Daddy, and finished up the baking with out the little helpers!

here are a few of the pictures Florian took!

The first ones of the boys going it alone!
Then we have one of the so-called cookies NOT! Had to redo that lot!
and here are the ones the boys really did make, they did a great job really!
Bye 4 now

A Storewide Sale at DAC and an update

First things first:

Now isn't that fun news, if you have had your eye on something over there, now is the time to go shopping - and hey, if you haven't yet, then why not quickly do a challenge over there and get 15% off of any 3$ purchase on top of the sales prices! Can't go wrong really!!

OK, so where was I yesterday, anyone wondering?! Well, it was my SIL's birthday and party, so after Kindergarden, I drove straight down to Mum and Dad's the plan being that the boys would sleep on their way down there, and would be fitter for the party (which wasn't going to be starting til 7pm which is normally their bedtime) - GREAT plan, BUT it didn't work. Neither of my little monsters slept a wink on the way down. In fact worse than that, they didn't shut up all the way down there (it's about an hours drive depending on traffic!). Richard must have told me about 60 times "Mummy, I love you lots and lots", Robert was a REAL back seat driver. He told me when I had changed lanes, kept asking if I was sure this was the right way, etc. At one point a car cut me up and I had to brake quite hard, I made a fist at the car that did it, and Robert just had to find out all about that. Only to tell Pop all about it whilst we were having lunch there. My times of having secrets are OVER!!

Pop kept them happy all afternoon with the Lego and the "blowing things" off of the Xmas tree. They were allowed to help themselves to one chocolate off of the tree, but they chose those party blowing things that unravel, toot then roll back up - I have NO IDEA what to call them, neither in English nor German so I can't even check the online dictionary for it!

The party was good and the boys did last out til 9.30pm, which was a huge surprise. Well, we got back at 11pm and it was straight to bed, so no blogging yesterday, sorry about that.

Today, Florian and the kids tidied up their bedroom, they got rid of a lot more baby toys and re-discovered some. It was cute to see Richard playing with them again.
Unfortunately at about 3pm Robert crashed - he had 39.4°C/102.92, by bedtime it was 39.8°C/103.64, poor thing, he is all dosed up now, and will hopefully sleep through and be better in the morning! We are supposed to be going to breakfast with friends and their kids tomorrow, so we'll see how he is doing tomorrow, whether or not we make it.
OK, back to work for me - still working on my new kit...
Bye 4 now

Kids!!!!

it was a bit yucky at the time, but really it was hilarious! the boys were playing silly games this afternoon, chase and such, when they ran in the lounge where I was. Robert bent over as if to let Richard jump over him, and said "go on Richard push me", so what do you think happened next!!!
Richard pushed - Robert fell flat on his face, nose first! Needless to say a lot of screaming and a NOSE BLEED! I tried so hard not to laugh!
Robert once equipped with a wet flannel on his bleeding nose, turned to Richard who had said sorry no end of times and said "Naughty Richard" upon which Richard burst into tears, as he doesn#t like being called "naughty". I explained to Robert that he himself had asked Richard to push him, and that therefore he is not naughty, but I don't think he really understood! Such a funny - all be it painful moment!

So what else is new. I got the last of the Xmas shopping today, I needed a present for Robert, got him Sodor Airport for his Thomas Take Along track it comes complete with Jeremy the Jet Plane, so I am sure it will go down well. Then I needed presents for all 4 kids for on boxing day - only a little something. Well I got a unicorn in a handbag for the girls (1 each), it was nice to get something really girly for a change. And then I got the boys some tools - a chainsaw and some other kind of saw, both came complete with safety glasses. So cute. I think they'll love them too, not sure we will after 5 minutes of their noise, but oh well! that's what Xmas is all about! I can't wait!

OK, I have been trying to finish this post for over an hour now, the cat got between me and the computer, now I have lost the plot, so I'll finish for tonight

OK, I'm back, I pressed post and remembered what else I wanted to tell you. Leigh and I are entering the Amazing Digi Scrapping Race - Season 4 together. It is basically 6 weeks of fun challenges with the chance to win a prize at the end of the 6 weeks. If you want to know more, I linked the blinkie to their blog. And check out Leigh's and my blinkie for the race! Cool isn't it?! MissLilly a dear online friend all the way over in Australia made it for us. She used Liz's kit "Snow Blind" for it, and we will be doing our blog up to match. I have linked the blog, but there is NOTHING there yet, you'll have to wait til January for that. It will be sooo much fun I know! I'll keep you posted. OK
Bye 4 now

dominos and a picnic!

Woohoo for Richard, well sort of - after me literally cheerleading him as he was sat on the potty, he actually did a pooh on it. I felt a bit of an idiot, but he liked it! Unfortunately just before storytime tonight, he forgot that he can do it properly now and did another one in his pull-ups (freshly put on! GRRR!) Oh well, maybe tomorrow he will get it right, wish him luck!

And that was the most exciting thing of the day, boring right?! We played dominos most of the afternoon, only this time the sort that you stand on end in swirls and lines then watch them fall as you knock just one over. In Germany once a year they make an evening event out of it on TV, it's called Domino Day, I think it is quite boring really, clever yes, but not for a full 90 minutes or more on TV. But after today, I think I might record it next time it is on for the boys, as they would LOVE it!
Oh and I let the kids have their tea in front of the TV tonight, something that I NEVER normally let them do. I do however let them watch TV whilst I make tea, and tonight it was the Koala Brothers Xmas Special, which was on for 45minutes instead of the usual 10! So I put a picnic blanket down for them, and they had a picnic. They have never eaten tea so well! Even asked for more! Wow!

So I have a new kit in the making, so I'll be getting back to being creative.
Bye 4 now

A new hairdo!

Well, I did it, I actually let them cut more than just an inch off the bottom! I let the hairdresser layer it all! Uhoh! I hope I haven't now made it difficult to handle! Florian has seen a picture and has withdrew his threat of divorce, as although I had a lot off, it still doesn't look short, just more curly and less like "rats tails".

Hold on, I'll show you the layout I did at lunchtime! Credits:
Mischief Makers by Sweet Digi Scraps at BTST

The after photo could be better, but I did it myself with the self timer, I found it hard to smile for myself! the journalling reads "Florian threatened to divorce me if I cut my hair short, so I opted to keep the length, but layer it! I hope it is easy to keep. I'm not used to high maintenance hairstyles".

The boys reaction was funny, they new I were going, but when I picked them up, Robert said he didn't like it and went into a "huff", meaning he didn't talk to me, didn't put his coat or shoes on, just stood there with his arms crossed and his back to me. Richard liked it, until he saw Robert's reaction then didn't like it either! By bedtime though they both decided that i was still the same Mummy, just with a bit different hair! So funny!

this afternoon, we did a bit of sorting of toys in their room. Robert thought it was a great game, Richard was wiser and realised that Mummy was just after cheap helpers! And found a tight corner to play in whilst Robert and I sorted through the boxes and boxes of toys. I got rid of quite a bit of rubbish in those boxes - broken cars, baby food lids (we used to play with them when Robert was a baby, long, long ago!) the packaging from Kinder Eggs (chocolate eggs with surprises in them), and so on. We also sorted out the toys that are for babies so more to go to the charity shop, or on Ebay!

Oh, and if you think I am looking a bit tired on the photo, you are right, Richard had me up for a long while last night, he is still coughing badly and last night so much so, that he was sick, so at nearly 2am i was at the washing machine putting it on, and then he had to sleep in with me, cause I couldn't find another bottom sheet for his bed, and I never sleep well, with the boys in the bed with me. Hopefully tonight will not be a repeat! and on that note...
Bye 4 now

Nothing new

I decided to blog late tonight, incase something exciting did decide to happen, BUT nothing did, so after all the exciting things we did at the weekend, today was rather boring! The kids were at Kindergarden, whilst I was home washing and tidying. Then I picked them up, and in the afternoon we played their favourite games, had tea and they went to bed - a really calm day! I had wanted to take them out for a walk, but by the time we were ready, fog or a cloud had set in and I didn't find that too appealing, so we stayed in! Hopefully tomorrow we'll have a nice sunny day, and can get out.
Talking about tomorrow, I am having another "ME" morning! Only this time I get pampered, just a little bit - I'm off to the hairdressers. Nothing too different, just a trim. I showed Florian a photo of a nice haircut and he nearly fainted "but that's short"!
He thought about it a little while then on our way to bed he more or less begged me not to cut it short! (just exaggerating a little bit, but he meant it!)
I'll have to take a photo for him tomorrow, so if it turns out OK, I'll post it here too!
OK, nearly time for bed
Nun Night

Still Oh Christmas Tree...

yep, today was the big day, we decorated the tree! The boys were so excited about it all. And us mean parents made them wait until 3pm! In the morning we met friends for breakfast at the bakers. It's an all you can eat buffet for just 2 Euros! So you can't go wrong. And the kids get to use up some excess energy as they can ride around on the gokart, or today someone else had taken along a tractor, which was a big hit with my little ones!


This is my boys bringing the tree in to the house, the back way!


The boys were most excited about decorating the tree, and NO Mummy was not really allowed to help, by telling them where to put things. Which did result in a LOT of things on the bottom right of the tree!
I think it is beautiful, so do the boys, Florian thinks it has way too much on it. But then he is German and their trees to me seem to be with a lot less tinsel! BUT I just love tinsel, as it reflects the light and makes it all sparkle even more.
Anyhow I got some pictures and will now show you, that it really is beautiful!


Oh and I did a layout yesterday with one of the photos at the christmas tree chopping event, it was for the Lyrics Challenge at DigitalArts Cafe and I am pleased with how it turned out.

Credits:
DigitalArts Cafe Collab Kit - On A Snowy Evening (my portion)

Robert isn't really as tall as our tree (as you can see on the decorating photo) he was stood on a mound playing "I'm the king of the castle" in front of our tree.
Oh, and don't you think I found the perfect position to take the picture of decorated tree, it looks quite straight in it! - you see, it is really quite wonky - we didn't realise that until we had it at home, but the trunk has quite a curve to it! But I love our wonky tree!

Off to be creative now
Bye 4 now

Oh Tannenbaum - Oh Christmas Tree

wie grün sind deine Blätter.... Sorry that is what has been going round and around in my head all day today! You see this morning we went into the woods and chose our Xmas tree.

This year Robert wanted to saw it down and Florian let him do the very first bit of it. So cute!

I stood there snap happy after pointing out which tree I thought would look good in our lounge!
Then the boys got the snow off of it, so we could see if we still thought it would look good, then they sawed, and dragged it to the car.


It was a fun morning that we all got excited about. It costs a lot more than going to the supermarket and getting one, but it is way more fun this way!
OOH, and this afternoon another GREAT fun thing! We took the boys to the cinema! We decided to go today as we need the tree to dry off before bringing it in to decorate, so we'll do that tomorrow.
Robert wasn't sure he wanted to go to the cinema, he's like that anything new can't be good, is his motto! BUT he loved it. We had popcorn as well. Richard tucked straight into that but Robert was so enthralled by the film, he forgot what he was holding...until I put a piece in his mouth for him!
We saw Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa, they love part 1 so much, and they loved part 2 too. They said it was a bit scary, but we discussed those parts after and they were OK. Now I will probably have to keep explaining why we can't go and see it again. I hope it comes out on DVD soon!
And as all good things come in threes. We finished off our day with a trip to McDonalds for tea.

And surprise, the Happy Meal for the kids came with Madagascar figures!! So it really did round the day off nicely! (Although Florian is downstairs now, having his tea here - since McDonalds took the Veggie Burger off the menu, there isn't really much other than chips there for him to eat! Plus we already had rolls for tea really!)
Hope you like the pictures, expect to see them scrapped sometime soon.
Bye 4 now

chemists!!!

Well, I didn't have to deal with the Kindergarden teachers today, cause, hey, guess what, the boys were ill, and we had to go to the doctors! Robert isn't too bad, but Richard woke up ASKING to go to the doctors. Bad news that is. Well, they both have a cough, but Richard's is some sort of bronchitis. As I have been giving him cough mixture all week, we now have to stop that, so no more mucus (or whatever it is called) builds up. Now we have to inhale. The doctor prescribed a "Pariboy inhaler" which we get at the chemists. So off I go, and there they won't give me one. Something about the health insurance having the final say who gets one. GRRRR! Could take up to two weeks! HELLO - the boys are ill NOW!
Nothing I said changed the chemists mind, so once home I gave the insurance a ring, to try to speed things up. And there I hear, that no they don't need to confirm anything the chemist can give it to me. So back on the phone to the chemist, who doesn't believe me, but luckily the health insurance anticipated that, and gave me the number so that the chemist could confirm it themselves. Which they did and then got back to me. I told them that I now wanted it delivered. So I now have an inhaler at home for the boys.
I would have been quite OK, with borrowing one for the weekend, but that chemist doesn't work that way, where Mum lives they do. Oh well, now if we get colds and such, we can inhale the posh way, instead of over a thermos flask of boiling salt water!

So what else is new here, not much, Florian is home now, and we have a fun weekend ahead. Christmas tree chopping tomorrow and cinema on Sunday. I'll let you know how it all goes!
Good night

One of them days!

Do you know them? When you get up and you think everything is going alright, then someone says something to you that upsets your whole day... Well that is what happened to me. It was my turn to be the bad guy at Kindergarden. I got told off for different things from each of the Kindergarden teachers today. The first early in the morning, telling me that kids with diarhoea are not allowed at Kindergarden. If my boys had diarhoea I WOULDN'T be taking them, thanks very much!
I got over that one, by pampering myself when I got home. I dyed my hair back to its original colour (bye bye grey!), and had a long hot shower!
BUT when I went to pick them up, the next one jumped me as I walked in - Robert's shoes for sports have laces! Well, I never! that is no good, he can't do them up, she has to do it, I have to get him new ones! What did they use to do!! And does money grow in her garden, it doesn#t in ours and kids shoes are expensive. The lace ones fit, he will be wearing them. Mum suggested putting in elastic, I'll try that at the weekend, but ooh I was not a happy chappy.
Then I made the mistake of asking the last one how Richard was today, and again got told off about the diarhoea - HE DID NOT HAVE DIARHOEA - he poohed his pants! But they weren't having that, and i was a bit tearful today, so did not argue it, but just left quickly and let the tears - stupid me - flow in the car.
What a morning, and guess what tomorrow is a full moon, so the boys were not in the best of moods today either. Richard did more screaming than talking and Robert was just in his "I will not do what you tell me" "and certainly not first time" mode!
Needless to say, I need to scrap some nice pictures tonight to put me back on track!
Sorry for the rant, but I needed to get it out of my system - that helps me the best!
Bye 4 now

A new product in the store!

Hihi, that's a title I never thought I would be writing! Sounds great doesn't it! Can you believe that I still get excited about this adventure!?!
Anyhow, you probably want to know what went into the store, well here it is - the new improved version of

BYGONE DAYS

I hope you like it, you may well recognise it, it is a combination of the kits I entered into both the DigitalArts Cafe Contest and the Sunshine Studio Contest!
And until Xmas it is on offer with 20% off! (images are linked to the store).

Now about the rest of my day, if the kids weren't arguing with one another they were arguing with me. It was hard work all day.
Oh and to top it all off this morning I had to go and pick Richard up from Kindergarden. They phoned and said he had the runs and to pick him up (Robert was at the bakers making cookies), so off I went, and in hindsight, he hadn't had the runs, just needed a pooh and not told anyone, like he does at home! So home we both came, me thinking he is poorly and mothering him and letting him watch Madagaskar. THEN I went to sort out the washing - lets just say, I can tell the difference between runs and... And he had not got the runs!
So tomorrow, against all protest, he will be wearing nappy pants (pull-ups) to Kindergarden, maybe that will get the message through to him!

OK, enough about that, most of you that wouldn't interest, but remember this blog is also for my husband who works away from home and this is his update too! Mmh, wonder if he is interested in that though?! Probably glad he wasn't around to have witnessed the mess!

Robert however had great fun at the baker's they saw all the BIG machines that mix the dough - he told me. And when I asked where my biscuit was, he informed me that they were too hot and had to go in a "BIG freezer to cool down". No pictures though as it was kids only!

OK, off to be creative
Bye 4 now

Just a short note!

Not so forgetful today, then again nothing important to remember really! We didn't go anywhere this afternoon and we weren't supposed to either - at least I think so -hihi!

In other words, I don't actually have anything to blog about life her today.
BUT one of my new blogging friends did something very cute for me yesterday, I was so touched.
Danyale made a layout for me, I snagged it, but I am going to send you to her blog to see it and read her blog - she is a great blogger and does some great layouts.
Click here to visit! And Danyale thanks so much!

OK, I have something to upload now, and it might take me a while so I'd better go.
Bye 4 now

So forgetful!!

Oops, I forgot to blog yesterday - I was so wrapped up in my Xmas cards, that I totally forgot about blogging - BUT I did finish all of my cards, just have to post them all now! It will be interesting then to see how long it takes them all to reach their destinations! You'll let me know, won't you!?!
So what else was new yesterday, oh I got a really big lay in, in fact when I did get up, Florian had taken the boys to the bakers for breakfast with friends! It did me good, but boy was my back hurting. And I was starting to get really worried.
BUT, I went to the doctor this morning and my kidney's are fine. The back ache now is due to some sort of cramp at the bottom of my spine where it meets the pelvis. Apparently this area is flexible (so that having babies is easier) but, sometimes it gets itself caught as it is not smooth around there and that is what has happened with me. So I now have to keep it warm and moving is good too. Although in this weather moving around outside is not so good, and I mustn't pick anything heavy up - try telling Richard that!
anyhow I am just relieved that it is not my kidneys! And hopefully after one tablet tonight I will feel better in the morning!

What with my back, and the boys both coughing really badly this afternoon (Richard may even have had a temperature, but wouldn't let me take it) I actually managed to forget a birthday party we were all invited too! AGH!! I could so kick myself, I was really looking forward to it as well. I have phoned and apologised, and it was probably better that I hadn't been, as the other Mum's don't really want my boys cough. But I should have at least rang and said we wouldn't be coming. It is so not like me to forget something like this. Oh well, better luck next year!

I remembered the party on the way back from the bakers, where I had had to go, as I only had mouldy bread and toast at home! So, despite the coughing and possible temperature we went to the "playing bakers" as the boys call it, but only for about 30 minutes. BUT I did remember to get the bread for us for tea!

Now for a bit of advertising for DigitalArts Cafe. They have this great new offer on called the VIP Lounge, you join for 12 months at the price of $30, and each month you get a GREAT kit, which will only ever be available to VIP members. This is the kit this month


Isn't it cute, I just love penguins and could spend any visit at the zoo, only watching them, not that the kids would let me, but when I was young and free, I did!

Oh and this month as a starting special, those that sign up, get the December Collab kit free too!
Not bad, eh?!
I did a layout with A-liya's Polar Christmas. It's Richard helping to build the snowman last week.


So if you fancy becoming a VIP click here for the rest of the information.
Bye 4 now

Nikolaus

the boys were so excited today, they had us up at 6.45 am. We managed to keep them from rushing down the cold stairs to see if St. Nikolaus had been until about 7.20am, then they were dressed and there was no stopping them.
St. Nikolaus had been and wow, there was a present in their shoes - and chocolate!Once unpacked they found they had some new Lego, which Daddy built up for them.

And for breakfast they ate their chocolates! What healthy boys!
After lunch we went to visit my parents, we wanted to take the boys to the Xmas Market there, and also St. Nikolaus had left some presents in Nanna's shoes for them! They were so excited about it all - even or should I say especially the fruit and nuts!
Then it was off to the Xmas Market where they had a REAL steam train for the kids to ride on!


They LOVED it! From there it was on to a ride on the parcel slide. Is that what you would call it, it is what they use at the post office for moving parcels around, and today it was being used as a slide for the kids! So cute seeing them in the post office boxes!


And then we went to the restaurant for chicken and chips - you would never have thought that the boys had been eating chocolate all day, the way they tucked in and ate it all up! Salad included!
We had a lovely day out - oh and cause I really like this photo of me, you get to see it too! Florian took it as we watched the boys on the slide thing!

So as you can see, plenty of material for more layouts!
Bye 4 now

16.000!!!

Wow, I was visitor 16.000 this afternoon, when I stopped by my own blog (I do that quite often, like to see who has visited from where, still get excited about it!) When I started this blog, I didn't expect to have many visitors, and now look! I have 10 followers too - thanks guys for following - you made my day when you signed up! (Can you see my great big grin?!)

AND I found another layout in the gallery this morning - thanks Benita, you certainly know how to get my day off to a good start! Look at this cute layout of Benita's granddaughter yesterday.

The children in The Netherlands celebrate Sinterklaas (St. Nikolaus) today, so there are lots of little dutch kids out there today playing with their presents. i hope they all got what they asked "Sint" (his nickname) for.

In Germany, the children put their boots out for St. Nikolaus, the boys forgot whilst downstairs, so they put their slippers outside of their bedroom door. In which we will sneak some Lego and a chocolate Santa whilst they sleep! (Good job they can't read yet ;) !)
St. Nikolaus actually visited Kindergarden today and he tells every child one good thing and one thing that needs some improvement (in a nice way) Robert was told how pleased Nikolaus was that he now had his Best Friend Luca, and Richard was told how good it was that he went to the toilet now! Both were told that it was good that they were speaking more German and to keep it up (that was the bit that needed improvement) I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall and seen all of this, but never mind Robert or was it Richard said that the kindergarden teacher took pictures, so maybe I'll get a copy - I need to use my own kit!!

As to my kidney problems, I still have back ache and tried to go to the doctors this morning, BUT she has kids too, and had taken today off. So I decided to try and hold off until Monday, rather than go and see the doctor standing in for her. It hasn't got any better really, BUT it hasn't got worse, maybe I am just too impatient waiting for the antibiotics to work their magic!

Quick update on St. Nikolaus, I just had to go in to the boys
Richard: "Has Nikolaus been yet?"
Me: "No, he doesn't come until you are asleep"
Richard: "I've finished sleeping"
Robert: "I sleep with my eyes open"
Me: "Oh, dear, then he won't be able to come then, will he?"
Robert: "When it gets darker Mummy, then I'll shut my eyes"
Richard: "I've run out of laying downs, Mummy"
Me: "I don't think he'll be coming if you don't find some, Richard"

then all was quiet and hopefully they are now on their way to the Land of Nod!

I forgot something!!! Shame on me! Yesterday I got an email from Michelle, asking if she could make some Bragbook pages with my St. Nikolaus kit! Woohoo! Michelle you too made my day (she also said she was a fan - hihi, so chuffed!)
Anyways today she has these two beautiful bragbook pages on her blog - you can pick them up here:


Michelle thanks so much for the great pages! Love them!

Bye 4 now