Locked out - locked in!!!

What a day! it started out OK, I got quite a bit of housework done but it all went downhill, when I went to pick the boys up at Kindergarden.
It was a beautiful autumn day, lovely and sunny, so I went out of the front door without my jacket to pick the boys up, pulled the door shut and oops! Keys for the house are in my jacket pocket, which of course is in doors. No time to worry about it now, have to be at Kindergarden on time. A friend in the village has a spare key, but it is school holidays here now, so she just might be away for the week. I went round to see, no luck there. So back home I decided - after checking all doors - for once I had remembered to close them all, bother, so I popped to my neighbour to ask to make a phone call, and let Mum and Dad know we were coming to them (they have a spare key too!) My neighbour being the angel he is, said lets see if we can't break in. Well no more details here, but yep, he was a pretty good burglar cause we got in.
Well, all was good then, or so I thought, we had lunch, Richard had a late and not so long snooze, then we were ready to go in the garden. Robert went upstairs to get his shoes, Richard followed, I stayed downstairs, BIG mistake - BIGGGGGG MISTAKE!
the next thing I know I hear a very faint - Mummy, help, Mummy help me! Mmh, what was that all about. I go up find Robert ask where Richard is, he points to my bedroom, uhoh door was shut, mmmh, well turns out Richard had locked himself in there. Its not a normal door, however but a 100 year old door with a bolt. and he had managed to lock it using the bolt, and it is a bit stiff and he couldn't pull it back!
After a LOT of coaxing and a LOT of tears (only Richard at this time), I got him to go in our ensuite bathroom where I after climbing out of the window and on to the roof of our utility room could see him and calm him down some. I tried to get him to open the window but he wasn't tall enough. To cut a long story short I had to leave him, go and beg my neighbour to help me again, and we together broke in to Richard this time and "saved" the poor but naughty thing! I don't think he will do it again, but to be on the safe side, we will have to either oil the bolt or try and get it off the door!

To cheer us all up again i took the boys out to the front of the house for a ride on their bikes. We have a rule that they may only go one way from where I stand or sit (I usually open the boot (trunk) of our car and sit in it), well Robert today decided that that rule didn't apply to him, I warned him 4 times, telling him on the last time that if he did it again, we would be going in, why he didn't believe me, I don't know, he did it again, and we went in - did you hear him scream!? It was loud enough to travel to whereever you read this. And it went on and on and on! Eventually he calmed himself down and apologised, and I made sure that he understood just WHY we were back indoors.

what a day! Between the two locking incidents I made this layout, therapeutic scrapping I would say! And also making sure that this story stays with us through the generations!

Credits
Monster Mash by Scraps by Jenn at BTST
Alpha from Get Dirty by Sweet Digi Scraps at BTST

If you can't read the journalling clicking on the layout opens the big version!
time to relax now
Bye for now

2nd Winner!!!!! Wooohooo!!!

Join me in my happy dance! I had a GREAT time during the five weeks. When I entered it, it was for the experience of designing, I was fully expecting to be out after Week 1, but DAC let everyone stay in the contest to the end, thanks. That was unexpected and I had to come up with a solution for Week 4 cause I was on holiday in Center Parcs there. Luckily there was an internet cafe in the village and I managed to get my kit uploaded and to Rhonda on time. And then came the surprise, not sure what I read, but I thought it was only 4 weeks, so when we got a task for a 5th week, I was a bit out of ideas, BUT I got Spooked done and I love that one, well, I love them all really.
So what does that mean being second winner, well, I get to put 3 of these kits in the store as freebies, and that way get my name out there! Not bad, eh! Melo, the owner of the store, will be choosing which ones, and letting me in on all the details at the weekend. I can't wait, I am so excited! I'll keep you all up to date!

So what else is new....i had a fun trip to the apple juice place - it was closed til Monday, well, it wasn't actually closed closed cause they were all working very hard, but they have had sooooo many apples delivered, that they couldn't take anymore. So I had to bring mine all home again!
But I will try again on Monday! With everyone else I should think!

This afternoon I took the boys to a different playground from our usual, they loved it! It had a few different things on it, a curly tunnel slide for starters and a wide slide that they could go down together, and some sand toys, where you pull it up to the next level and let it fall down a pipe or so! They had a great time and want to go back again soon. Unfortunately I forgot the camera so no pics from today! I got some dirty ones yesterday, so I might scrap them tonight.
Bye 4 now, I'm off to continue my happy dance!

Apples again!

Yep, we did more apple picking yesterday, mind you, we are not picking them from the tree, just the ones that have fallen. So far after yesterdays and todays picking we have two sacks and 4 boxes to take to the juice place tomorrow. We are going to be drinking a lot of apple juice - yummy! The boys actually helped me today, I held the sack open whilst Robert shovelled them up and in! Not bad, eh?! He thought it was great fun.
After that the boys got out the Bob the builder toys and sat themselves right in the middle of the mud and played so nicely that I didn't have the heart to get them out of there, so now I have some VERY dirty clothes and shoes to get clean! The getting clean is not the problem it is the getting them dry - my dryer, the one responsible for the power cut, has finally given up work after 14 long years, he's gone for good, well, he is still in the utility room, but not for much longer!
I never appreciated it as I should when it was working, but now. I still have wet clothes all over the place, AGH!!!
Shopping at the weekend, I don't want to be too long without one!

So, what else is new, no news yet at DigitalArts Cafe as to who won the contest....I keep checking very regularly....I'll just have to learn to be patient!

I have another layout but its on the laptop, so I'll post it later!

Well here it is! This is Zoe, my Dad took the picture when they went to watch a hockey match. I love it the sun in her hair, the look on her face, great. and look how well it went with Dinphy's last kit. I missed taking part in the DSO Colour challenge last month to busy designing (wow that sounds good!), but I really loved Dinphy's kit. And I finally had the perfect picture to go with it!

Credits:
Fall Leaves by Dinphy
Wordart by Valarie Ostrom Designs

Dad also got a good shot of Mia, and I found this wordart by Bethanynicks (Scrappin Daisies) online. The perfect quote for Mia, she can be a right little madam sometimes. But here she was just playing monkey!

Credits:
Boy I'm Fallin by Colie's Corner
Wordart by Bethanynicks (Scrappin Daisies)

and I think that is all, oh in case you were wondering, I watched all of Coyote Ugly yesterday - probably the reason I only have one layout for you, cause I was too busy jiggling in my chair and singing along!
Bye 4 now

Layouts and an award

I think I promised layouts yesterday, well, I have LOTS of them! Some were done during the Design It Contest but never got posted, but you might not have seen them in the galleries.

So I'll start with my desktop for October, this was done for the September Desktop Challenge at BTST, there is a new one up now, but I haven't done that yet!
Its "my boys" on our holiday at Center Parcs, don't they look super cute!?!

Credits:
Swim Fishy by Kristin Aargard

For the next two I used "Boy I'm Fallin" by Colie's Corner. this first one is my boys helping with the apple picking - a never ending story this year - this was the time they enjoyed it, today they let me do it on my own!

Credits:
Boy I'm Fallin by Colie's Corner

And this one is some more pics from Center Parcs from our game of Minigolf (also for the ABC Challenge at BTST) I tried my hand at journalling for this one.

Credits:
Boy I'm Fallin by Colie's Corner

The next three are CT layouts for Melothria (DigitalArts Cafe). She sent me her latest kit before our holiday, but I had to wait for it to be released before I could post, and what with the Design It contest, i forgot to post them. And honest all three layouts are using the same kit, very versatile!
this first one is my grandmother at 18, so beautiful.

Credits
Not another Autumn Kit by Melothria at DAC

This is Robert having mastered the art of cycling!

Credits
Not another Autumn Kit by Melothria at DAC

And this is Sunny our cat sunning himself on the kids climbing frame!

Credits
Not another Autumn Kit by Melothria at DAC

Are you bored yet?! no, good, cause here is one last one, this one is for the Quote Challenge at DSO.

Credits
Fall Splendour by KimB's Designs
Alpha from Indian Summer by Me!!! hihi!

Uff, that was a lot of layouts, and I intend to do some more tonight! Got some great pics of my nieces from Mum and Dad...

Now about that award! Heather (shawtyp) has awarded me with an "I love your blog" award

- Thanks so much Heather, I love yours too, so here is the award right back to you. I love Heather's layouts, and always look forward to finding them in the gallery at BTST!

Now to find 6 more blogs I love! Well, regardless of whether they already have the award or not, it would have to be

Leigh
Dinphy
Liz
Jan
Melo
Karyn (fellow Design It contestant)

Thanks again Heather.
OK, now do I finish watching Coyote Ugly, or do I turn over to CSI Miami?! Mmh, difficult decision! I love both!
Bye 4 now

Dinphy's Spooked Quickpage and other things!

Thanks for the surprise this morning Dinphy!
Dinphy has made a Quickpage for you all, isn't it just great!

So if you want this just pop on over to see Dinphy and don't forget to leave her some love!

Also the vote is still open and the download links are still there if you now can't resist it, and want the full kit!
Here's how to get it!

First
- You have to register at DigitalArts cafe.
...That's free.
Second
- Make five posts in the forum section.
...Easy; introduce yourself, and say 'hi' to four others... Or play some games.
Third
- Go to the 'secret forum'.
...In the top section, you find two important threads; 'Downloads' and 'Poll'.

I'm close (well sort of) second at the moment, so any votes would be appreciated!

NOw that was the first bit of good news. The second bit is totally non-scrapbooking related. You might remember that my boys decided to paint the freshly painted back wall of the house with dirt! It DIDN'T brush off and it DIDN'T wash off either! GRRRR! BUT I phoned the firm that painted it today to find out just which white they used, as white isn't always white if you know what I mean. And at lunchtime they brought me a little bit of paint round to go over the area again! that was really nice of them, so I am going to give them a little plug here, not that many are from around here, but they deserve it. The firm is Colora (www.colora.net)

As to our Robert, he still has a temperature and what he calls a headache, not really sure whether that is really a headache or a sore throat. He got up this morning and was fine, playing jumping and all the usual, so he went to Kindergarden. Then at lunchtime he crashed again. Didn't eat a thing, and had a long nap afterwards. BUT once awake he wanted us to go out to the Mütze (mother toddler centre - haven't been in a long while). So as I had no idea what his temperature was (still hadn't found the thermometer) we went, and we all enjoyed it!
On the way home I stopped at the chemists and got a thermometer and his temperature is most certainly too high, but he is asleep without Calpol tonight, and if it is still up in the morning I suppose I really must take him to the doctors AGAIN!
Sometimes I think I should just copy and paste every two weeks! Poor little thing!

OK time for some scrapping I think, then tomorrow when the polls are closed, I'll show you some non-halloween themed pages I have been making!

OH and Dinphy, Benita, if I win (I can dream!), I'll need a CT, so if you want....you could make my day again!!!!
Bye 4 now

Spooked again! - Layouts and another Quickpage

"My girls" have been busy again! Dinphy and Benita have been turning out layouts with my entry again, and wow, I'm floating as my Mum put it! I just get such a kick from seeing my kits in action!

Here are two Dinphy made, this first one is from her trip to a fairy tale park at Christmas last year, where her daughter got to have her picture taken with a witch! and her son in a borrowed pram, as his tyre went flat, just as they were leaving! And guess what - I LOVE IT! I love all the felt pieces holding the pictures in place.

And this layout she did for the Font challenge at DigitalArts Cafe. Great Font choice, Rhonda! Perfect for my kit! I LOVE the pics of Tom, he's having such fun! And my kit goes great with the colours on the photo! Another great one!


And this one is from Benita, this was the first layout made with my kit, even I hadn't made any when I spotted this in the galleries at DAC and BTST. Actually Mum spotted it and called me in to see it! When I went back into the lounge, even Dad noticed the grin on my face! anyhow it's her son dressed as Harry Potter. I LOVE IT (did you guess I was going to say that!)


And guess what, Benita has turned it into a Quickpage to share with you! Aren't you and I lucky!

Please leave Benita some love when you download, its her first time to share anything and that can be really daunting, so a bit of a Thank You will go a LONG way!

Download Benita's Quickpage here

And if you like the Quickpage you'll love the kit, scroll down to find out just how to get the Kit Spooked for free!

Well, the boys are in bed, slightly earlier than usual, Robert crashed at lunchtime again! He was fine until he saw his dinner then it was downhill with him and up,up and away with his temperature! He's got me wondering now, if it has something to do with Daddy going away every week. - He crashed after being told that Daddy had to go back to work after lunch! MMh, I'll keep an eye on that.
Well, they BOTH had a nap after lunch and at 5.20pm Robert wanted to go to bed, so I put him to bed dosed up with Calpol. Magic stuff, at 5.45pm he was up again - I do want some tea Mummy!
We'll see how he is now in the morning!
Bye 4 now

Spooked!

I'm late, I have been at my parents all day, having a fun day! More about that at the bottom of this post, first I have to plug the FINAL entry to the Design It Contest at DigitalArts Cafe.

And even if I say it myself, its a good one! Friends of mine are BIG halloween fans, they even have their own Halloween site, with scary desktops, screensavers and wallpapers - you'll find a link to their page in my side bar - anyhow, when it was free choice for the last entry, I decided to go with Halloween. But cute not scary halloween, and this is it! Cute, don't you think!


So if you want this kit, it's free, pop on over to DigitalArts Cafe - here's how it works:

First
- You have to register at DigitalArts cafe.
...That's free.
Second
- Make five posts in the forum section.
...Easy; introduce yourself, and say 'hi' to four others... Or play some games.
Third
- Go to the 'secret forum'.
...In the top section, you find two important threads; 'Downloads' and 'Poll'.

If you are already registered, you only need to do the Third point!

I also have two quickpages for you! i thought some of you might be able to use a halloween party invitation!

And here is one for your Halloween Trick or Treaters!

Download Quickpages here

Enjoy them, and if you do get the kit, how about a vote for me! ;o)
And don't forget to check my friends Halloween site, although just a warning, they are not cute spooks there! :)

Too tired now for today's update, I'll be back tomorrow!
Bye 4 now

MONSTERS!!!

Do you remember that not so long ago, we had the back of the house painted. Well today the boys did THIS to our white wall!!!


Now for the whole story, be warned I am going to bend your ears here, but I need to put it down in writing for future reference, e.g. as to why they are 16 and still not getting pocket money!!!

I was having trouble tidying the lounge this morning, cause everytime I reorganised something, they would rediscover some toy and get it out, empty it, or whatever else they do with their toys. So I decided that they would do less damage in the garden, in fact, if I played my cards right, maybe they would even pick up some more apples. So I dressed them up for the autumn weather and out they went. Not long after I heard a thumping sound and go out and there they are throwing apples at the back of the house. I told them not do it, cause the apples make the nice clean white walls all dirty, and that I don't want dirty walls. Then I went back in and carried on with the tidying up. I heard them a couple of times and saw that they had decided to "bowl" the apples down the side path, that's OK, no painted walls there.
Then I finished the tidying up, did the hoovering, then started to get dinner ready. Whilst making dinner I heard a lot of giggling from outside so I knew they hadn't run off. I even went out at one point and gave them a piece of lettuce for the rabbit. Then they were looking at my flower beds - should have been suspicious then!!!
OK, dinner nearly finished I went out to get them, to wash their hands and such. Well, I went out and that was the sight I saw, only with Richard stood on the left by the door and Robert somewhere to the right of the window, with clumps of moss - YES moss! - in their hands wiping or painting not sure what they thought they were doing, the wall!
I WAS LIVID! I first had to go indoors so that the floor got the harder beating, in which time, knowing that they had been naughty they ran around the house to hide from me.
I found them out the front (luckily the gate was locked) and marched them back in the house.
Well, needless to say, NO TV for these guys this weekend. Yep, I am extending it to cover at least tomorrow. As Robert's words when he heard the punishment were "That's alright Mummy, we didn't want to watch Telly anymore today anyway!" Talk about cheeky!

I made them both tell and show Daddy what they had done when he got in, I had however pre-warned him, as that was just too much of a shock! So they got another telling off. And hopefully it won't happen again. But I am now thinking that I can never trust them on their own anywhere again. its going to be a while at least! Giggling I now know is a sign of danger as is total silence!

Well, now the little monsters are in bed, and I am going to relax. No designing tonight, well, maybe a little bit for an add-on, we'll see, but I fancy scrapping today! Anyhow check back tomorrow morning. Sometime tonight the last entries for the Design It Contest go up! And I am very pleased with what I made! Wish me luck!
Bye 4 now

And today - Apple Juice!

It's all about apples this week, isn't it! Well, I took all the apples to the place where they make them into apple juice (I actually looked it up today on the internet and all the dictionaries and forums I checked, don't know a word for it either!), anyhow we had picked (up off the floor) 56kg!!! of apples! That is a LOT of juice. We don't get it completely for free, but half price. It's a good deal, and we know that it is local produce! I had my first glass of the juice when I got home, obviously it is not with our apples yet, but it was very nice! The boys had some at tea time and really enjoyed it too, only they think it was made with the apples they picked yesterday! Cute!

This afternoon the boys wanted to go for a walk to see the horses, so I put their wellies on, and off we went. It was beautiful weather when we set out, mmh, once at the horses I turned round to see this BIG black cloud following us. I was wise enough to turn back then, only we didn't make it home in time. We got soaked, the boys thought it was great, which it might have been had it been a summer shower all warm and so, but this was cold! Oh well, they got their splash in the puddles!

OK, I had a bad night last night, Richard had me up most of the night, he was feeling sick. He was all better this morning and has been to Kindergarden and eaten no problems, he just had me in there and I have had to change him and me, no more details than that. I hope it was just a case of "his juice went down the wrong way". He has none for now, so hopefully that was ALL the excitement for tonight.
Bye 4 now

Apple picking!

Yep, that's what we were doing between rain showers this afternoon. I bribed the boys into helping me, as in, if they filled a wooden box with apples, I would give them a new Thomas (the Tank Engine) book, when we went back in. Well, you should have seen the speed, with which they filled up their boxes! It was a big help, and tomorrow I will be taking them all to the apple juice making place (there is probably a fancy name for the place, but I haven't looked it up, but you know what I mean!)
That was the most exciting thing of the day today, no power cuts, no major tantrums, just a normal day. I am busy putting the finishing touches to my next entry, and the boys are sound asleep. I forgot to blog, cause tonight I didn't eat with the boys, so I came downstairs sooner to calm my grumbling tummy and forgot! Oops!

Now back to the designing...
Bye 4 now