Christmas evening

We had 20 people, family and friends for Christmas dinner. It was wonderful, and all done on two hours sleep. We had a lovely Christmas day and Merlin and I were just so thrilled with the thought the girls had gone to with their gift giving this year.


My best present.... when my 16 year old suggested they all sleep together on Christmas Eve, much to the delight of Lili (6 yrs) .. so sweet and precious. I really am blessed to have such an amazing family.

I hope your Christmas was fun and relaxed as well.

Kate

Summer time

I made this layout using Pink Paislee patterned papers and some vintage lace and flowers. I really like the sweet summery look. And the yummy ice creams.




I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas Day and you are enjoying this glorious summer. I am on anuual leave and have started my regime of walking up the goat track on Te Mata peak. It feels bad at the time but it feels so good afterwards.

I'm looking forward to some fun days on the beach with the kids.

Happy holidaying

Kate x x x

Quick, easy and cheap last minute gift idea.

After a recent melt down by one of my teens, I thought that it would be a good idea if we had journals to note down the things that we are grateful for. (Not a new idea I know) So this afternoon I altered these hard cover school note books. Because it was a last minute kind of thing I have kept them pretty simple. I have used fabric and paper scraps and bits and pieces I had around the place. I hope the girls will write in them at the end of the day and in the process learn to be more aware and thankful for all they have. I think I better make myself one too!!
SO for 70 cents, a few scraps and a bit of time you have a cute little last minute gift.

Have a very happy and thankful Christmas

Kate

Here's some pressies...

Look at the pressies under the tree. Amazing what you can do with some junk and a glue gun!!

Summer is....

Ice creams at the Strawberry patch. Yes this is definately something we look forward to every year. These ice creams are the best!!!!

How good is this?...

I have just recieved the news that I have been chosen to be a part of Scrappin' Patch's design team. Yes... you better believe it coz it's true... I have, along with 3 other awesome ladies, Annelie Maddock, Tracy Leroy and Delys Cram, been asked to make up the first design team. So I am like a pig in mud actually. Totally stoked!!! (A little surprised). Slightly apprehensive, for all sorts of reasons,not least my persisting lack of faith in myself, but mostly excited. Yeah, so bring it on!!! Its a great team. Also Beverley Cunningham and Heidi Barclay are guest designers so that's awesome too.

So doing a huge happy dance over here at my place.

Also made this...


yes another recycled tin.
I just love the little gold bird.
I have no idea what I'll put in it.
Still it just looks good hanging around
the house spreading it's Christmas cheer.

And this is what our Christmas tree looks like at night... well sort of... only better. Hmmmm, I'm dreaming of..... a DSLR....


Lili had a haircut the other day. She specifically requested a fringe, (try explaining a cowlick to a 6 year old) so here she is with her fringe.. so cute. However I had to follow her around the house to try and get a shot of her and she did NOT under any circumstances want a photo taken. This was one of the best... yes you should see the others.



So that must be enough boring dribble from me. Happy mid December to you all.

Katepai. x x x

I made this.

I made this last night. I am so pleased with how it has turned out. I hope to make another one at least. I love using old stuff, and re-cycling bits and pieces. Rachel spotted these tins when we were out for a walk. They were in someones recycling. Cool coffee tins. We walked by thinking, no we shouldn't, then I thought nah stuff it they're cool I want them so we grabbbed them. So glad I did.
I am totally in love with the tissue paper flowers. They are gorgeous!!!
SO when I'm not working a the hospital I will be busy creating Christmassy stuff.
PS. Anyone know why my 1st Dec post has the 30th November date and how to change it???
See ya!
Katepai

Of mice, flowers and the first day of Christmas...

Ballet recital time, how cute is this....



My little mouse and my gorgeous flower in Waltz of the Flowers. The mouse was cute but I question how much ballet she has actually learnt this year. LOL. Brylee shone on stage as usual and I was very proud Mummy!!

Oh, also the December challenge is up on Scrap the Girls. It is a sketch this month. Here is my layout based on the sketch. Pop on over and take a look at the rest of the creative teams layouts.


It is the 1st of December. The advent calenders are up, (my husband asks why we have three... duh) I am still looking for one which seems to have been carefully put away.. so carefully we can't find it. LOL.
Anyway I whipped home from work, piled the kids into the trusty, rusty Volvo and we trooped to the Christmas tree shop/field thing. We were underwhelmed by the size of the trees but found one we liked the shape of, had it chopped down thrown into back of station wagon, scored lollypops and drove home (stopping on the way to purchase cherries). We then took to decorating said tree. Guess what!? 6 year olds don't "get" the idea of a themed Christams tree much to my 12 year olds disgust. it's all about "more is more"!!! Here's a few pics.












It's starting to look more Christmassy around here. Now off to find the missing advent calender. It's the one which the candy goes in it so it's high priority!!!!

Happy 1st of December to you.

Katepai xxx