Hello from Germany

(I CANNOT UPLOAD PHOTOS UNTIL WE RETURN HOME AS I FORGOT TO BRING THE CABLE WITH ME ! doh!)

We drove from the UK to Germany yesterday (Saturday) to stay with our friends Martin, Jill and Luke for the New Years celebrations. The Germans are quite big on fireworks and Oliver loves them so he will be excited about that.

We had a really good run with no traffic to hold us up except for checking in at the UK port. To cut a long story short, we missed our train and we ended up not leaving the UK until 12:20pm. Not the start we wanted but it turned out ok. Oliver had a sleep in the car and I closed my eyes for a while as both Oliver and I have been ill AGAIN !!!

We are both feeling better now but today Oliver seems to be losing his voice. The two men went out last night and didn't come home until after 4am so everyone has gone to bed for a sleep so what a great time to update my blog while it is nice and quiet.

K.

Christmas Day

Santa was thirsty and hungry on his journey tonight. He stopped by our house and ate the mince pie and drank the whiskey little Oliver left him !!! Then he left presents in Oliver's stocking.


Here are the presents that Santa left and his special stocking from Disneyland Paris.
THIS is the stash Oliver got for Christmas. Not all of this is from us but also from family and friends. Oliver liked opening the toy gifts but when it came to the clothes I bought him - he was not interested !! He so needed clothes as he is out growing the ones he has.

This is his favourite toy. It is almost as tall as him !! LOL It is a Thomas the Tank Engine Sodor Mining Co.









Here is the little fella eating his yorshire pudding. He ate nothing else for lunch.

He had a great day and enjoyed playing with his toys.

K.

Fog

I opened the blinds this morning to fog. Okay, I thought, it will clear. No, the fog stayed around all day.

Not a nice day to go outside and being a Sunday, I am not going anywhere near the shops. I will have to go tomorrow as Oliver hasn't had his photo with Santa yet. It suddenly dawned on me on Wednesday night that I have run out of days for the photo. Oliver spends the day at his grand parents on Thursday's and Friday's he is at nursery. The weekend was out due to it being the last weekend before Christmas so the photo will have to be tomorrow - Christmas Eve !! Wish me luck.

K.

Merry Christmas

Our little family wanted to wish everybody who reads this blog a very Happy Christmas.

Here is cheeky photo of my little angel, Oliver.


Here is the family all together.

Happy Holidays.

K.

Oliver's Art

I let Oliver do some stamping tonight. He had 2 stamps and a black ink pad.

I put his painting apron on and lucky I did as he got ink on it. He had a absolute ball stamping but he didn't like it when I told him it was time to clean up as my dinner was ready.

Hope you like it.

K.

Trip to the doctor

I took Oliver to the doctor today. Poor little thing has a temperature, doesn't want to eat and has also been sick so off to the doctor we went. Oliver burst into tears when we entered the doctor's room but he soon settled down. He was really quite warm and the nurofen wasn't working in getting his temperature down. Thirty minutes later, we had his antibiotics (he loves his yellow medicine !). His 'yellow' medicine is the only one we have had no problem him taking. He has never liked taking medicine (calpol & nurofen were the worst). Now, he will take his medicine because 'it makes him feel better'!

K.

No More Swimming

Today is Oliver's last swimming lesson. We decided not to send him for another term as he isn't happy at the new site. It won't be too long before we move to Sydney so once we get there I will sign him up for lessons again. There is a pool withing walking distance from my parents house.

Oliver is eating again today - he has been unwell all week with a very bad cold and I think he also had tonsillitis which is why he didn't want to eat - not even his tomato soup. He ever so graciously gave me his cold so I have also been unwell since Wednesday. What a pair we make !!

K.

Only 9 more sleeps until Santa visits Oliver !! LOL

Christmas Decorations

I thought I would post some photos of our Christmas decorations.

As you can see, our tree is only small but next year we will have a decent sized tree.

You can see the star much better in this shot but I was taking a photo of the candles.
This is the view out our front window. The photos are l-r: Nanny with Oliver and Karen, Steve with baby Hannah (who is now 2).


These photos are l-r: Janine, Sheldon and their twin boys, Matthew & Dylan then there is Poppy with Oliver.

...more decorations

These two are really funny. When you press the button on their leg they start singing and their legs swing from left to right. Oliver loves pressing one straight after the other.

I took this photo without the flash as you can see the lights better. The next photo is a close up of each light. This is the arch way leading into our kitchen.

It's Santa !!

I really like this vine as it has lights and it looks really pretty - I just wish it was a bit longer.

K.

Christmas Spirit

Oliver seems to be getting into the Christmas Spirit - at least with his stickers. He went to a party yesterday and each child got a goodie bag. In the bag were stickers which he proudly stuck all over his face. I finally found the lights for the tree today (hidden amongst the tinsel!) so I was able to decorate our tree. I put a couple of things on the tree but I didn't want to go too far until the light went on. It now feels like Christmas in our house. I shall take a photo tomorrow to show you.

With Oliver's birthday being the 1st December, I don't feel that I should start Christmas until after that - at least while he is so young and doesn't understand, maybe when he is older it won't bother him but I will leave it up to him - it is his special day after all !!


Look at those BIG BLUE eyes !! Aren't they adorable. He has his Scooby Doo pj's on too !

Are we all counting down 'til Christmas??

K.

Rain, Rain Go Away

It is absolutely pouring with rain today and it is very windy. I am supposed to go out grocery shopping but I think dinner might have to be what ever is in the cupboards !!!

Rob had his work drinks last night and stayed at a local hotel near to his work. As he was drinking and it would take an hour to get home, it was better he stay at the hotel. His mate and co-worker Simon stayed at the same hotel.

Oliver asked his daddy when he called if he was 'drunk' yet (with my promtping of course !! LOL), Rob laughed and said not yet !!

No photos today - someone is not in the best of moods but he will be after a nap (fingers crossed) !!

K.

100 Posts

WOW - I have posted 100 posts. Who knew I had so much to say !!! LOL

Of course it helped that I posted my cards on here too but don't forget that I have another blog for all my craft related projects Krafty Kylie. Go and check it out.

K.

Something Funny

I just have to tell you something that Oliver says nearly every morning..........

"Mummy, it's morning!"

He almost sings it - it is really funny. Who needs an alarm clock when you have this little cheeky 3 year old !! LOL

K.

Good News

This is Neill & Kath visiting us for Oliver's birthday. Neill was our best man at our wedding. They had another reason for seeing us.....they are expecting a baby !!! OMG !! CONGRATULATIONS GUYS !!!

For those of you that have seen Oliver's Thomas the Tank Engine collection, it is ALL Neill & Kath's fault !! Truly. They gave him his first set for last years birthday.

Oliver loves Neill throwing him up into the air - he didn't stop laughing.

k.

Oliver's 3rd Birthday

Yay, Oliver is three today !!

He woke up to find his presents waiting for him in the lounge room.

This is what he got from Rob and I and amongst them is a present from the Watson's in Germany. Thanks Jill, Martin & Luke !!

Does anyone think that Oliver likes Thoms The Tank Engine??? LOL. As well as Scooby Doo !!

This is Oliver in action at his Manic Monsters party with his friends. There were 7 other kids to help him celebrate. He loved it.

As I took his original cake to nursery yesterday, I had to go out and buy a second one but I couldn't get a "Pirate" cake so he got a different Scooby cake instead.

Everybody meet Pirate Oliver !! He is saying 'cheese' with the biggest grin ever. LOL.

When asked if he had a good day, he said "Oh yes!"

K.

Cake at Nursery

I took a cake to nursery for Oliver today to share with his friends.

He was so excited as the cake had Scooby Doo on it.

Here he is trying to blow out the candles (without success) with Vanessa his key carer helping him.

My little boy turns 3 tomorrow. He understands what is happening and when you ask how old he is turning, he will tell you FREE - he hasn't quite got the "th" happening so they come out as "f". Bless him!

K.

New Blog - Krafty Kylie

I have set up another blog which is just related to crafting only - KRAFTY KYLIE. Please check it out and feel free to leave your comments - it is nice to hear what you think.

K.

Potty Training Is Complete

Oh Bless. Oliver is potty trained - yippeeeeee ! He has had a couple of accidents but apart from that he has done really well. I thought the one place he would have accidents was at nursery. No, not one accident.

It has turned cold here. Rob had to turn the heating up and we have to scrape the ice off the cars in the morning. The past two mornings have been okay, with no ice - I wonder if we will get snow this year.

K.

Binder Journal

Go to Krafty Kylie for the tutorial.

K.

Thomas and Friends

Here is my little Oliver playing with is Thomas the Tank Engine set. He put the track together himself, then when pulling the trains along the track he talks to them and tells a story just like his Thomas DVD's. Rob and I sit there some nights looking at each other amazed by what Oliver has said. He maybe only turning 3 on the 1st December but he is like a little old man.

K.

New Project

Here is my next project. I got the idea from Step by Step Projects - Decorative Journals by Donna Downey. I bought it from amazon UK.

Donna uses a 3 ring binder in her book but I thought a 4 ring binder was better for me. I decided to use my Paper Salon paper with Bazzil blue cardstock. The letters are chipboard which I have coloured with SU! Chocolate Chip and the other 'home' in blue was done on the PC. I will use this on the spine of the folder.

I will post the finished project later today (hopefully) with a tutorial. It is pretty simple but I did not do it EXACTLY the same as Donna did - I didn't have all the products she used handy.

K.

Sneaky Peak

Before you say anything.....no, I haven't got a new light. This is the same light but the photos were taken about 10 minutes apart !!

Thought I would tease you a little with my Christmas cards. LOL. Well, what I used to make them !!


The finished card is inside the envelope and if you look closely, you can see the red glitter !!

You will have to wait until Christmas to see the finished project but most of you that read my blog will get one in the post so you will be able to see it in person. Hope you like it !!

K.

I'm on a roll

Yes, I have a production line going for my Christmas cards. I currently have 60 to make but as usual, there will probably be some I have forgotten to add to my list (I blame my baby brain due to having Oliver !! LOL).

Hope you have got your cards well under way too.

K.

Stampin' UP! has come to the UK

Yes, SU! has officially opened in the UK and Europe. I am planning on becoming a demonstrator in Australia when we move and found out about a month ago that SU! was coming to the UK. I had a brainwave (LOL) that I could demonstrate here in the UK and get my confidence up, then when in Australia, I could hit the ground running.

I contacted SU! to see what the process was. I knew that I would have to re-sign in Australia but I wanted to know if I had to purchase both starter kits. SU! UK came back to me saying that I DID have to purchase the starter kit in Australia even though I would have the UK kit - both kits are identical apart from the stamps (but you can always change the sets). My problem with this is that I would have double the tools when I don't really need 2 sets. It was suggested that I wait and sign up in Australia. Oh well, I will still purchase SU! products here (at least they will be delivered to my door).

K.

Treat Box

I made this 'Treat Box' today while Oliver was having a nap.

You can find the tutorial on Beate's blog or on SCS and it was pretty easy to make. I should have filled it up with CHOCOLATES but I know that I would have wanted to eat them ALL!! LOL


I also used Papertey Ink's Beautiful Blooms stamp set which you can see on the outside of the box.

I am really pleased with my effort and pretty much made it up as I went along.

K.

Supplies: Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Beautiful Blooms). Ink: SU! (Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Old Olive). Paper: Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey (Urban Couture). Accessories: Yellow Satin Ribbin, Yellow Eyelets.

Updated Box

I decided to jazz up the box in the previous post as it was just toooooo boring for me.

I used my corner rounder punch on the handle and also the top of the box. I also added the organza ribbon.

Hope you like it.

Box

For those of you that don't know or have never heard of Papertrey Ink's Nichole Heady - where have you been!! Check out her blog HERE. I highly recommend you do. She is a very talented lady!!
Anyway, this project is from Nichole's blog. I made this box very plain with no added embelishments. The card on the right is my practice sheet (another Nichole Heady creation).



Supplies: Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Beautiful Blooms). Ink: SU! (Creamy Caramel, Really Rust), Adirondak (Cranberry). Paper: Bazzill cardstock. Accessories: Gold Brad.

Another Card

Here is another sample. I got the sketch from Amy Westerman (check out her blog). I changed the sketch slightly and only added the sentiment and not the image, mainly because I am on my out the door to my keep fit class and my christmas stamps haven't come out of their box yet. I will grab some when I get home tonight and hopefully post another sample.


Supplies: Stamps: Crafter's Companion. Ink: Versafine (Black). Paper: Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey (Fruitcake). Accessories: Red Organza Ribbon, Rectangle Nestabilities, White Gel Pen.

Christmas Cards

I started on some Christmas cards last night using my nestabilities (first time I have used them). I wanted to create a couple of designs to see which one I like the best and then start on making them up to send out this year.

Rob likes the top one best and so do I.

I forgot to add my red gem stones before I took this photo to the corners of the sentiment piece. I may not use black ink for the snow flakes on the top of the card but use versamark and red glittler - a girl can never go without her glittler and I haven't used mine in a while. I will have to have a play today.

Ignore the eyelet at the top left corner, I was trying something and didn't like it but I cannot take out the eyelet now it has been set. The white border around the 'merry chrismas' sentiment is a white gel pen. I wanted to use my Papertrey Ink Borders & Corners stamp but they weren't big enough - I could have played a bit more but as it was after 11pm, I was too tired.

Let me know what you think of my designs. I am open to any suggestions.

K.

Supplies: Stamps: Crafter's Companion, Stampendous - Perfectly Clear Stamps (Retro Border). Ink: Versafine (Black). Paper: Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey (Fruitcake). Accessories: Red Organza Ribbon, Red Gem Stones, White Gel Pen, Square Nestabilities.

Potty Training

After a nearly non-existent summer here in the UK, I have decided to start potty training Oliver. I was hoping to do it months ago with the summer season but it wasn't warm enough to have him running around with no trousers on, then I was going to do it while in Australia last month but we were never home for more than 2 days in a row !!
Now that winter is drawing near (it is 8 degrees today), the heating has been on since we arrived home, it is warm enough inside the house for Oliver to be wearing no trousers.
I did actually start his training last weekend but he was ill with a bad cold during the week and wasn't in the mood to wear his under pants.
He has a potty in the lounge room and upstairs he has a seat for the big toilet. Yesterday was a really good day - he had no accidents at all!!! I was told that the biggest problem I would have is trying to get Oliver to do a poo in the potty. He so wanted to do one last night he asked for his nappy but I managed to bribe him with a new train if he went on the potty. After about 5 minutes, he said "I'm doing it, mummy". We praised him and gave him big hugs and kisses. I was really so proud of him and he was pleased with himself too!!

Little Girl Birthday Card

I had to change the photo as the black background just wasn't working. It also made the card look very dark.

One of Oliver's friends is having a birthday in a few weeks time so I decided to use my Pretty Princess stamp set from SU! How cute is this little princess!!

I got the sketch of this card from the Australian SU! catalogue but changed a couple of things.

Supplies: Stamps: SU! Pretty Princess. Ink: Black Stazon, So Saffron, Pink Passion, Lavender lace, Old Olive, Blush Blossom, Barley Banana, Elegant Eggplant. Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, White. Accessories: Papermania Ribbon Collection (Pink), White Gel Pen.

It had to happen!

Well, I guess it had to happen......we have been back in the country for 1 week and Oliver gets a cold. Luckily I bought some cough medicine whilst in Australia so I have started giving that to Oliver hoping that he gets better quickly.

Guy Fawkes Night

This is the history of Guy Fawkes Night in the UK.

In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow upthe Houses of Parliament. Among them was Guy Fawkes, Britain's most notorious traitor.

After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. James I had, after all, had a Catholic mother. Unfortunately, James did not turn out to be more tolerant than Elizabeth and a number of young men, 13 to be exact, decided that violent action was the answer.
A small group took shape, under the leadership of Robert Catesby. Catesby felt that violent action was warranted. Indeed, the thing to do was to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In doing so, they would kill the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics. Today these conspirators would be known as extremists, or terrorists.
To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored them in a cellar, just under the House of Lords.
But as the group worked on the plot, it became clear that innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack, including some people who even fought for more rights for Catholics. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of the group members even sent an anonymous letter warning his friend, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th. Was the letter real?
The warning letter reached the King, and the King's forces made plans to stop the conspirators.
Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed.
It's unclear if the conspirators would ever have been able to pull off their plan to blow up the Parliament even if they had not been betrayed. Some have suggested that the gunpowder itself was so old as to be useless. Since Guy Fawkes and the other conspirators got caught before trying to ignite the powder, we'll never know for certain.
Even for the period which was notoriously unstable, the Gunpowder Plot struck a very profound chord for the people of England. In fact, even today, the reigning monarch only enters the Parliament once a year, on what is called "the State Opening of Parliament". Prior to the Opening, and according to custom, the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster. Nowadays, the Queen and Parliament still observe this tradition.
On the very night that the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, on November 5th, 1605, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King. Since then, November 5th has become known as Bonfire Night. The event is commemorated every year with fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire.
Some of the English have been known to wonder, in a tongue in cheek kind of way, whether they are celebrating Fawkes' execution or honoring his attempt to do away with the government.

Bonfire Night is tomorrow and this will be my first one, so I will post some photos afterwards.

Nursery Day

As Oliver hasn't been to nursery for 5 weeks due to us being in Paris and then Australia, we thought he might take a couple of weeks to settle back into things, but no! It took him two minutes to move away from my side when we got there, but once he found the bike, he was off. I did manage to get a kiss goodbye and then a wave from afar. LOL.

When I picked him up, all the girls said he has been no trouble all day. During the day the kids iced a cookie and put smarties on top so after eating all his dinner, he ate his cookie too.

K.

Pumpkin Oliver

How cute is this !!!!!

I went out today and found this outfit (the only one for Oliver's size) and when I asked him if he wanted to be a pumpkin, he said 'yes'. It didn't last too long and he soon wanted to take it off. Oh well.

Early Mornings

Since we arrived back from Australia, Oliver has been up between 4:30am and 5:30am and it is killing me. I was in bed at 9pm last night and lucky I was because this morning was the 4:30am wake up call !!!! He has not had a sleep today but I am hoping he doesn't want to go to be at 6pm like last night.

Happy Halloween !

I really have to get a new light to take photos with!!

Anyway, this is my little fun card for Halloween. We don't really celebrate it here in the UK but I am sure that the children in our street will be out and about tonight.

As I do not have any Halloween stamps (I might have to buy some from Papertrey Ink), I got on the computer and used some from clipart.


My bat is flying but you can not see it from the top photo.

Hope you have a great Halloween (if you celebrate it).

K.

Baby Girl Card

I had to quickly whip up this baby girl card for Karen as I couldn't really use the blue card (I will save it for another baby boy).


Supplies: Stamps: SU! Bundle of Joy, Wash DayJumbo Wheel, Hero Arts (It's a Girl). Ink: Pink Passion, Cartain Celery. Paper: SU! Pretty in Pink, Certain Celery, Blush Blossom. Accessories: Pale Pink ribbon from local craft shop.

Baby Boy Card

I made this boy card a couple of weeks ago while in Australia for my friend Karen as we thought she was having a boy - no, she had a girl !

Supplies: Stamps: SU! Bundle of Joy, SU! Riveting. Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue. Paper: SU! Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Certainly Clelery. Accessories: Pale Blue ribbon from local craft shop.