What a night!!! And Leigh has a surprise!

Everything was fine when the kids went to bed, and then about 10.30pm Robert needed the potty - nothing new there - except he felt like he was burning up. So I took his temperature, it was up to 39.7°C (102.74°F). What a shock!
Florian and I both carried on watching the TV, both of us worrying silently, then when we went to bed we both couldn't sleep. The only thing the doctor said to watch for, when we left the hospital with him, was for a fever. Bother! In the end (about 0.30am) we got up and called the hospital, the ward he was on, when he was in, and asked, if we should be bringing him in right away. She said to just give him something to bring the fever down and to go straight to the doctor in the morning. Which needless to say we did!
She could find nothing obviously wrong with him, his temperature had dropped now to 38°C(100°F) and he was acting totally normal (I wouldn't even had taken his temperature, if it hadn't been for the night). We now have to watch him closely and if the fever is still around in 3 days time, straight into hospital! Thankfully though it seems to have subsided, tonight it is normal. We also have to watch for nose bleeds, gums bleeding and excessive bruising (that one is a difficult one, as he is always getting himself bruised somehow or another!), and if that increases or occurs straight back to her.
It certainly made for one sleepless night for me! And I don't think Florian did much better either!
Florian by the way stayed an extra day, just incase Robert and I had been sent straight to hospital, which luckily we weren't. He left about 5.30pm to catch the train. It was good to have him here longer. Certainly helped my frayed nerves.

But on to brighter things.
This afternoon we went in the garden (again!) and Richard got on Roberts bike without pedals (skooting bike??) And off he went. He looked so proud of himself! He loved it! Robert is getting a bike for his birthday, so Richard will inherit that one it a weeks time anyway.
Our neighbours have a new Rabbit (Winnie) she kept getting out today and visiting one of our rabbits, it looked like they were kissing at one point. Luckily SHE couldn't get into our rabbit, as it is a HE!! That could have been interesting in a few weeks time! We put the rabbit back 3 times today, not sure how they are going to solve the escaping problems! So I may be catching it some more times this week!

Now about Leigh's surprise. She has been working on a Quickpage album! And its a beauty! She used Phillsboo's Being a Boy Kit, which you can get at DigitalArts Cafe.
Here is Leigh's preview, and if you like what you see (which I am sure you will, pop on over to her blog - picture is clickalbe) and pick it up, and if you do, don't forget to leave her some love.



I used the same kit, to make a layout for the Shape Challenge at DSO. The challenge was to scrap something with a ball in it. That was no problem, lots of pics with the boys and balls around here!

Credits:

Being a boy by Phillsboo at DigitalArts Cafe

Bye 4 now

Where did the sunshine go?

It wasn't here all morning, then it came out for a bit, but as soon as we got in the garden it went and hid again behind big black clouds! It was actually quite chilly, but it could have had something to do with the fact that instead of running around after the kids, I was sat at the computer chatting to Leigh and doing a layout. Another one for Mum!

Mum sent me these pics of her as a little girl some time ago, so cute! And the one of Mum with the boys was taken on 1st May. I was going to embellish it some more, but it just seemed right as it is! I hope you like it Mum.

Credits:

Faded Frames and Swirly Lay Sample by Bunny Cates at DSO

So that was what I made this afternoon, whilst Florian and the boys were playing in the garden.
Quite an uneventful day, but a nice one. The boys certainly enjoyed themselves and wore themselves out. So much so, that at 6pm Robert was complaining he was tired. But then again he had been up since 6am! And on the go since then too!

And here is my layout for Digital Arts Cafe (btw you should visit the forum and see what is going on there!) and also for Phillsboo and I managed to combine it with a challenge to get the most views on it. It is for the lyrics challenge at Been there scrapped That (another place you should visit!) The song this month was "Unconditional Love" by Victoria Beckham (yep the one married to the footballer and the Ex-SpiceGirl).

Credits:
Latte Kisses by Phillsboo at Digital Arts Cafe

That's all for tonight.
Bye 4 now

Weekend at last!

And Florian is home. We let him have a lay in this morning, not that the boys thought it a good idea. They wanted to play with Daddy! I let them get him up at 10.30am
Then they went out in the garden and finally the lawn got mowed!!! Florian has shown me a little trick on how to fill the lawn mower, so hopefully next time I have to fill it, I won't get in such a mess!
In the afternoon it was back out in the garden for the boys and Daddy, whilst I went shopping in peace! After seeing the price of petrol, I did or tried to do the whole week's shopping (€1.50 for a Litre of Diesel). When I got back the boys were on top of me instantly. And Richard's first words were "Did you buy some ice-cream?" I had been promising them that I would the next time I went shopping. He had obviously been waiting for it! THey had it there and then, before I could even unpack the car! So cute.
I then unpacked the car and it was time for ANOTHER ice-cream (after I had a little chat with Leigh!)
Aldi had lettuce on offer when I went, so we had a delicious salad for tea, with croutons and fried egg (left out the bacon that normally goes with it too, as Florian is vegetarian!)

I'll be back later with Mum's B-day layout, it's her Birthday tomorrow, so if you want to wish her well, leave a comment here I am sure she will read them, when she stops by.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!

Credits: Jump by Digitreats
We all love you lots and lots! (or as Richard says "nots and nots"!)

Bye 4 now

And again!

I love the "Happy Place" at DigiShopTalk.com. A) I get to see what great kits are out there, B) you can usually enter a random draw to win one of them, and today I was lucky AGAIN.
Here is what I won (click on image to go to Fergs Store)

Should get some nice layouts with nieces with that!

Today was another early start. I love the birds singing when they wake up, I just wish they wouldn't sing in front of Robert's window, cause he has started getting up with them! And then as he doesn't have a nap anymore, he gets grumpy and worse whiny towards the end of the day.

The morning was OK, I got quite some tidying up and cleaning done. Lunchtime was no fun. Robert decided that he didn't want to eat, and sat there growling at me all lunchtime. He only started to eat when I threatened him with no TV after Richard's nap! that worked! Once he started he actually enjoyed it!

After Richard's nap, it was the boys turn to tidy up! Well, that was my idea, they unfortunately only agreed for about 10 minutes then they got bored with the game. Until it was time to take down the tents, then they were all for helping me, which I could have done without. Now we have one completely broken pole, where the elastic has come right out! Oh well, they were a bit broken before taking them down, now the igloo one is finished!
We finished the tidying about 15 minutes before Florian came home, so that was OK (oh, nearly forgot the boys did do all the hoovering for me!)

I got a layout done, whilst Richard was having his snooze. I'll post it later on. It's my new improved version of a card I always send when someone has a baby. Only now I have discovered Digiscrapping, so it has undergone major changes! Before it was just the b/w picture of Richard's feet on the outside of the card, and the story on the inside. Now it is all pretty too. It makes all new Mum's cry, and me too sometimes! You were warned!

Credits:
Sublime by Sweet Digi Scraps
Alpha from Remember me Always by Sweet Digi Scraps

here is the journalling, so that you can read it:

Once upon a time a child was waiting to be born.

The child asked God:
"How will I be able to live on earth, I am so small and helpless? How will I be able to sing and laugh and be happy? How will I understand the people, if I don’t know their language? What do I do, if I want to talk to you God? And who will protect me?“

And God answered the Baby...
"I have chosen an angel for you, who will guard you until you are an adult.
Your angel will sing and laugh for you. You will feel the love of your angel and be very happy.
Your angel will say the nicest and sweetest words, you will ever hear, and calmly with patience your angel will teach you to speak.
Your angel will bring your hands together and teach you to pray. Your angel will defend you, even if it means risking his own life."

At this moment voices from earth where calling the baby’s name and it said:
"Oh God, I have to leave you now. Before I go, please tell me my angel’s name."

And God said: "Her name is not important. Just call her `Mummy`.

OK, off to play with my two RAKs
Bye 4 now

RAKed again!

Wow, just opened my emails up here, and I have been RAKed at DST again! Look at what I have won (click on the image to go to Lliella's Shop)


That will be great for layouts with the boys! Can't wait to use it, its still downloading as I write.

The day started off OK, I got quite a bit accomplished around the house (washing, floors, chickens, etc.) then I picked the boys up, who spent most of the afternoon arguing over something or the other. They were so whiny! Could have had something to do with the fact, that they were up at the crack of dawn today (6.15am!).
Well after Richard's nap, we went in the garden, where I intended to mow the lawn, before the rain that was forecast. Well, although we now have the petrol for it, it is in a 10l canister, which I can barely lift, let alone tip controlled. But I tried, but all I succeeded in doing was getting it over me, the lawnmower and the floor, not hardly a drop in the lawnmower! Those are the moments, when you realise that you wish even more that your husband didn't work away from home, and you weren't a single Mum during the week. Cause, when I told the boys, that Mummy wasn'tdoing the mowing, cause she couldn't get the mower filled, they both started some more of their screaming! I felt like joining them then. I didn't instead, I fled to the kitchen and secretly had some chocolate - that helped a bit!
I did give the boys some too, after they found me there!
Anyhow the mowing didn't get done, and after being out in the garden about an hour, we started to hear the thunder, the boys are frightened of that, so they fled to the barn, leaving me to clear up all the toys they had got out. But it was cute, they were stood at the barn door singing
"I hear thunder, I hear thunder, hark don't you, hark don't you, pitter patter raindrops, pitter patter raindrops, I'm wet through, so are you !" (if you don't know it, it is to the tune of Frere Jacques).
We went indoors then, did some jigsaws, chatted on Skype to my uncle in England, then I phoned Mum in Spain. then it was tea time - and now they are in bed. Luckily the thunder passed without them being too frightened, and it doesn't look like we are in for anymore. I don't need both of them in bed with me!

Right I am off now, to unpack my unexpected present from Lliella.

Well, I have been busy these last few days, just never got around to putting them on my blog (naughty me!). so you get a bunch of layouts all on one day!
The first is for the "Secret Challenge" at ScrappinFreeStyle. The challenge was to use what the download gave us, in this case the frame and the swirls. And scrap them with a b/w photo.

Credits:
Paper by KayJay (that's me!)
Elements by Aneczwka
WordArt by Elegant Wordart

The next two are for Been There Scrapped That. This is Liz's Kit "Celebrate" - perfect for our invitation to our B-day party! Sorry, no details on it for the time and place, don't need the gate crashers

Credits:
Celebrate by Sweet Digi Scraps at BTST
Alpha from Boyz by Dinphy

Using that same kit, this is a layout I made using my favourite picture from Richard's first Bday Party. I love how Mum sat him on the table next to the cake to blow the candle out!

Credits:
Celebrate by Sweet Digi Scraps at BTST

And here is a layout for the ABC Challenge at Been There Scrapped That (BTST). I had been struggling with that one, but this works. Thanks Leigh for your help on choosing the kit, and the idea to recolour one of the frames!
The boys were in the garden on their climbing frame, I just looked through the camera and tried not to worry about them. Easier when you are preoccupied!

Credits:
Fearless by Just Passin Thru (yellow frame was once blue!)

Bedtime now! Good Night
Bye 4 now

An ordinary Day

Nothing exciting here today, the car was still running, although I did have my neighbour a bit worried, when I walked to pick the kids up from Kindergarden. He thought it wasn't working again, but it was just me making the most of the sunshine!

I got all my shopping done before 10am, I picked Florian's shoes and suit up all clean and/or mended! And then I went shopping for a present for a new born baby. I love to do that, even more so, when it is a baby girl! I got a really cute T-shirt and matching trousers for her, in a lovely shade of green with pinks! I think I will have to take a picture and maybe if I fancy some more designing use it as the colour swatch! (Makes sense, having two boys and considering a pink and green colour swatch!?!!)

Spent the afternoon in the garden again. Robert was being a bit funny today, the neighbour's son and a friend came over to play, and Robert spent all of his time, trying to stop them, saying "it's my garden, I don't want them to come here! I want to play on my own, it's MY garden!" - oh dear. He was quite happy though when they went to follow them back into the neighbours garden and play on their swing! Kids!!!

Well, Been There Scrapped That is having a bit of a facelift today, but it should be up and running again (well it is now, but not at full speed) really soon. Gives me a bit of time to work on my challenge layouts! Just need inspiration, I am really stuck on the "D" word. I want it to be of my boys, so that it turns into a book about them, but "Dance" doesn't really do it. They are not acting like "Darlings" today. Oh, I've just that second had an idea. I got some great pics of them on their climbing frame today, so how about "Daring" that sounds about right....
Now to pick the perfect kit! We'll see!
Bye 4 now

Battery flat AGAIN!

All plans for today went right out the window this morning, when Florian came back in (having said good bye a couple of minutes earlier), and said "the car won't start, I'm taking yours!" And he was gone! In a very BIG hurry as he had a train to catch!
Well I had planned on another trip to Opel's to pick up the winter tyres, but that wasn't going to happen, cause there was no way I could get it all sorted in time. So I got the boys up as normal, we walked to Kindergarden (car wasn't working), then once back, I AGAIN knocked on my neighbours door for some help charging the battery! I don't know what I would do without him!
I checked the lights inside the car again, and Robert had once again, switched his light on, and left it on! And it had been on since Saturday morning, so no wonder it was flat the battery!

It is all better now, thank goodness, and I am going to find a way to tape up the light button, so that our little Mr Man, cannot do it again!

One good thing came out of it, I managed to sound stressed enough on the phone to Opel's that they will let my brother come and get the tyres for me! Thank goodness for that, that saves me 240km of driving!
This afternoon we spent in the garden again, it wasn't quite as sunny as the past two days, but still very nice. Then it was bath time, as we had to clean up Robert's legs and toes. He has a REAL boys legs now, scrapes, grazes on both knees and all of his toes. Riding his Bobby car with sandals on is NOT a good idea - but what would Mummy know!

The chickens have settled in very well now, one of the old ones is boss, and she lets the others know it sometimes, but all in all they seem to be getting along fine. They are certainly laying well! 5 eggs today! Yummy, yummy!

Bye 4 now

It is a bank holiday here in Germany today, so Florian was here an extra day this weekend. We made the most of this by visiting friends and barbecuing.
Florian hurt his knee last weekend, and the doctor told him to be sure what the matter is, he needs an MRT, as our friend is a radiologist an has an MRT in his practice, Florian had his knee looked at too. He has torn his meniskus and will have to be operated on. Not exactly good news.
Now he just needs an appointment.

The weather again today was beautiful, we spent the whole day out in the fresh air! It was great.

I think I am actually out of words today, it has taken me a good 15 minutes to write this little bit. So I will call it a day now, and say
Bye 4 now

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a GREAT day! I got a lay in, after the boys had given me their presents from Kindergarden. They had both made a butterfly for me, and said a little poem - in German - for me! So cute, then Florian took them downstairs and I fell back to sleep again - til 11am! Wow, I was so surprised, when I woke up!
Downstairs, they had picked me a beautiful bunch of flowers, and Florian had made me a card (his first scrapbooking page!). And all day Florian and the boys treated me. We had a lovely time in the garden, the boys played with their boat track and the water again, and Florian and I sat under the sunshade and I had the computer on, it was great fun. The boys didn't even argue today!

The new chickens have already laid 3 eggs for us! I didn't expect them to lay so soon, I thought they would have to get used to their new home first, but it doesn't seem that way. Now about the chicken story I promised. Well.. the chickens have their own little house with a chicken sized door, that is solar operated, so when it starts getting dark the door goes down (very slowly, so as not to hurt anyone). Our new chickens of course don't know this, so at about 9pm I went to check that they had all made it into indoors (safer in there with foxes and such). Not one of them had. I got out there and they had all made themselves comfy on the fence around the chicken run! Oops! We MUST clip their wings if we want to keep them. Florian and I spent a good 15 minutes rounding them up and getting them inside! One of them in an attempt to escape us, even flew into the cherry tree! It was such a funny sight, Ticki joined the fun, well not really I think he was too busy watching us make fools of ourselves to come and help! It still makes me giggle. So when I have finished here, we are off out again to "help" the chickens find their way into their house!

I did a layout for DigitalArts Cafe this afternoon. This is also for the lyrics challenge at DAC, they have some great MiniKits for participating.
This is Mia on her bike the other weekend. And as she is the only tomboy I know, I thought this was perfect for Melothria's new Kit "Tomboy"

Credits:
Tomboy by Melothria at DigitalArts Cafe

Bye 4 now

Five new family members!

Yep, you read right, we have added an additional 5....pets to the family. We went out and bought some new chickens! After making the layout about fresh eggs this week, I dedided that we needed some more chickens. And this morning there was an advert in the local paper for someone selling them. So off we went.
They are still a bit shy, so I haven't got any good pictures yet, but I will let you see them soon. And lets hope they start laying soon, I quite fancy an egg for breakfast tomorrow, but I think that is asking a bit too much!

After getting the chickens, we went to the restaurant with the boys again. It was such a lovely day, we even had our dinner out on the terrace. It was great. - Dare I own up to this next bit....I forgot to take a change of nappies with us. So after dinner Florian and Richard had to drive back home for a complete change of clothes! Oops! Robert and I finished our dinners, then went down to the playground. It was a great day. For me and the kids at least.
Florian actually went to the emergency doctor this morning his sinuses were so blocked that his head was really aching bad. He now has a course of antibiotics to take, so hopefully by tomorrow they will have started to work. He put on a brave face for the boys though.

Once back from the restaurant, we went in the garden, and the boys decided it was warm enough for their boat track (with water), and they were right, so that is what they played with, argued over and played with again all afternoon.

They are really worn out, I have been sat here now for 30 minutes and not a peep from either of them, bless them.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and I want to be prepared, in case Mum gets on a computer tomorrow to check her mails or my blog!

Mum, I love you, this year you don't get the 22 year old card, but a brand new one, made with Love by me!Credits:
Blossom by KayJay (that's me, hihi)
Wordart by KimB Designs (CT Team)

Before I go to bed, just a quick message, Sunny is home, he had a lot to say about where he had been again, and about 7 tics! But safe and sound!
And I'll save the story about the new chickens for tomorrow! It's a good one. Now its bedtime.
Good Night