The past few days...and some scrapping...

Late Sunday afternoon Bryce...my husband left for Auckland at the top end of the north island for work.  (Dunedin is toward the bottom end of the south island.)  So I've been doing the single mum stuff for the past few days.  Boy, am I ever glad I don't have to do that all the time.  And for those that do, I applaud you.  Its a tough job.  Not only have I done the normal duties of being a mum....laundry, cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, running boys to and from school, mowing the yard, but I've had to take our van in for some maintenance.  Nothing major but a few stops that Bryce would normally take care of.  Yesterday was a beautiful day so it made my running around a little easier.  

Love it when I can hang washing out on a winter's day!  The sun felt so good and the clothes got dry the same day!!  :)

And a winter's garden.....so pretty and nice to have colour in the yard.  Nothing like our midwest winters that are brown and barren.  I mean, I mowed the yard yesterday!  I didn't ever do that in Indiana during  winter.  :)  

Today it has felt much more like winter.  Rainy and chilly.  So this is a picture from my kitchen window.  My Dad made me these salt and pepper grinders and brought them when they visited last month.  I love them so.  (You may notice, no screens.  NZ doesn't really have bugs so when we open the house, we really open the house.  So nice!)

Oddly enough, there was a faint rainbow in the sunrise this morning.  Before it started raining.  Beautiful but strange.  This is from the back of the house....

And here is the sunrise from the front...

Now onto something scrappy....Since all my work was done (for now as a mum's work is never really done) I played in my scrap room today. Sketchy Thursdays had a great 3 photo sketch this week.  I pulled out these photos of Aden licking the beaters after we mixed up some chocolate pudding.  Mmmm.....I did have to laugh remembering that he also asked if he could lick them the next time I made mashed potatoes.  :D  That boy loves his mashed potatoes!

A few close ups...

I love that photo with his eyes closed.  And it wasn't a snap while he was blinking.  He really had his eyes closed enjoying that pudding so much.  :)

I also worked on the sketch over at Pencil Lines.  They too had a 3 photo sketch.  I chose photos of Ian this time.  I took these a few months before he turned 10.  He looks so much younger to me but look at those blue eyes.  They really are that blue.  I just love them.  Well, I love the whole boy but those eyes...

I don't typically do hidden journaling but for this page I have a note in the brown envelope just for Ian.  My boys are growing up too quick.  :(  I do love the young men they are becoming though.  

Tonight Bryce will be home.  And we are all happy about that.  But for now, I have tea (dinner) to fix and Aron (11)  has a school disco tonight.  He is so excited.  I asked if I could come along with my camera.  I about fell off my chair laughing at the look he gave me.  And a strong "NO" came with that look!  lol....I'll settle for a pre-disco picture at home.  :)

Scrapbook night and Pencil Lines...

Last night was girl's scrapbook night here at my house.  I was so happy when 6 of my friends turned up, so 8 all together counting my mom and myself.  We had such a fun time.  I was glad for the time to get a couple layouts finished up.

This one is for Pencil Lines weekly sketch challenge.  I had been hanging onto these pictures of Aden and Aron for just the right layout.  I love the way it turned out.

Aron and Aden have this bond that is so precious.  I know I've scrapbooked about it before but it just amazes me to see it over and over again in my pictures.  Simple and sweet.  That's my boys.

I can't believe its almost been 3 weeks since my parents arrived.  Tomorrow is our last day with them.  :( We have seen some amazing things and shared many memories.  Memories which I will be scrapping, when my emotions allow.

Back with a couple more layouts soon!

Pencil Lines...

Good Morning Everyone!!  Its a beautiful morning here in Dunedin.  Last night we had breakfast for tea (dinner) including streaky bacon, which is a special treat here.  Bacon is quite expensive so we've only had it a couple times in 10 months.  This morning when I woke up and could smell bacon and fresh coffee, it took me back to memories of Grandma's house.  There is just something about that memory that has me in a great mood.  Maybe it also had to do with the sunshine, the heat pump running (a warm house is SO nice!), and that my parents are coming in NINE days!!!!!!!!  But I'll take it.  I feel so happy and productive today!  Ahhhhh......


This layout is for the sketch challenge this week at Frosted Designs  As soon as I saw it, I knew what I wanted to do.  I've had this layout in my head for awhile but just needed a clearer picture of it to get it onto paper.  I love this photo of Aron and Aden.  Despite their 4 year age difference, they are the best of buds.  They share a bond that is so evident and will stand true for years to come.  

I was so into creating this layout that I didn't notice until I was all finished that its crooked!  Oh well.  Its the memory that counts.  :)  I am so glad to have this layout out of my head and onto paper!

Pencil Sketches...

What a week!  And its only Wednesday!  Its been a whirlwind of activity at our house.  First one boy was home sick, then another, Bryce in Christchurch helping with earthquake clean up, and lots of visitors.  Its been good but just busy.  I'm thankful to say all boys are well and will be going to school tomorrow!  :)  And Bryce is on his way home from Christchurch.  We are having a huge....and seems to be getting bigger all the time....BBQ here tomorrow.  I'm thankful to have friends (and the space) to share with.

I was able to get this layout done for the sketch challenge over at Pencil Lines done between taking care of sick boys and entertaining friends.  I'm so happy to still be able to get some scrapping done!  Looking forward to more visitors, busy days, and of course more scrapping!!!  :)