2009 in review

For me 2009 was a year of success, achievement and change. I am a stronger person than I was a year ago. I am happier, and I am definitely more at peace with the person that I becoming/am. Certainly not a complete list, but here's some of what 2009 involved for me:

* I overcame PND
* I realised that my childhood desire to be a primary school teacher was still alive
* I watched my little boy start school and grow up (a lot)
* I realised, with the help of some wonderful friends and Callum's kindy teacher, that success is measured in a lot of ways that I previously hadn't been measuring
* I cut my hair short
* I lost 8kg
* I gained a scrapbooking room
* I quit my job at the Child Support Agency
* I was involved in a car accident which resulted in our car being written off
* I made the decision not to replace the car but to use my legs more instead
* I struggled with accepting that my choice to have 'only 2 children' was a sensible parenting decision and not a cop-out or a reflection of my shortcomings as a parent
* I celebrated 9 years of marriage (13 together) with the man of my dreams
Sent 125 greeting cards (not including Christmas cards)
* My 'baby' turned two

I look forward to what 2010 holds for me, but am more excited about what I can bring to it.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. Henry David Thoreau

Just sharing some more of 2009's craftiness

Limelight card challenge

I have a fantastic crafting area but I'm just not being productive. I'm not sure why, but I thought perhaps if I participated in some of the (many) online challenges that it might get the creative juices flowing again. So here's the first - a card for the challenge at Limelight Papercrafts.



Edited to add: Check it out. I'm featured on the site! :)

Merry Christmas!

A wonderful day was had by all here. Pictures to come when I locate the camera!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas day surrounded by people they love. I know I did. :)

Love notes

Callum has taken to writing me cute little notes. Love them!



It says "Thanks Mum for takeing me to the party". Written when we returned from Annie's best friend Nathaniel's 2nd birthday party.

He makes me smile

First day of school holidays

Oh yeah! I love the holidays! To celebrate I'm still in my pj's at 9.50am. So far this morning we've played Hungry Hippos (Annie is so excited to finally be able to play rather than have to watch), read books, done jigsaw puzzles and opened the Advent Calendar present (a chocolate santa each and a scratch-and-sniff Christmas book).
Love the holidays!

Happy birthday beautiful girl!

Hard to believe but my baby girl is two today. Sweet Annabelle, you make me laugh every single day. You are such a cheeky little monkey! You are highly independent, have a huge vocabulary and already speak in sentences. You love food, all types! You adore your brother and look forward to the afternoons when we go to pick him up from school. You are a blessing in my life and I love you very much.
Happy birthday Annie! :)

Tis the season... to be busy

What is it about December that makes it so incredibly busy? I have a to-so list a full A4 page long and it would have been longer except I forbid myself to keep writing. I have so many things to get through and so little time to do them! Is it like this for everyone else?

And just when I thought we had made it through kindergarten without any catching anything, Callum got headlice. :S I spent just over 2 hours combing his hair until the poor kid was crying from the constant pulling of the comb on his head. Planning to shave his hair short this afternoon. Horrible little itch-creating critters!

Back to it...

Bread, chocolates and proud parents

I've managed three loaves of bread so far. All delicious. I just need to work on the size of them!


As there are so many people at Callum's school that either directly teach him or have a substantial role in his education I decided to make one big present for everyone to share. This is what I came up with. I just put it in the staffroom with a card one morning last week after the bell had gone. I hope that the staff enjoyed it.


Dale and I were very proud parents yesterday when we attended the end of year presentation assembly and watched our little man be presented with the class award for English. Not bad for the second youngest kid in the school. I must admit though, I am much more proud of the overall person he is becoming than of his academic achievements. I love that he is polite, thinks of others and is learning that he can't get his own way all the way. I am amazed at his confidence in performing/reading on stage at assemblies. It is such a joy watching Callum grow up.

I made bread

I made my first loaf of bread today. Sadly I forgot to take a photo before it was completely devoured by my family at dinner time (along with some homemade pumpkin soup). Delicious! I'm hoping the first loaf wasn't just 'beginner's luck' and will be making more tomorrow. :)

Feeling over it

We all have those days. I've just had a few lately. Fear not, I know they will pass. Just for my own record, here's what I've managed to get done today (in random order):
- played soccer with the kids outside
- 3 loads of washing into machine, on to line, folded, put away
- vacuumed the house
- spent 1.5 hours at the school welcoming the parents of next year's kindy class and serving them cups of tea and coffee
- made pumpkin soup (which was delicious)
- chatted to a friend on the phone
- packaged up and took to the post office 9 Stampin' Up! mini catalogues to assorted people
- read lots of books with the kids tonight
- watered the garden, the lawn and the kids (they loved standing there as I flicked water up in the air with the hose)
- bathed and fed previously mentioned kids
- washed and wiped up
- cleaned the kitchen benches and stove-top
- tidied the loungeroom
- paid some bills
and according to the pedometer strapped to my side, have walked 9.48km so far today.

And I feel like I still have a million things to do...

Here's a layout I did last week: