One Little Word & Welcome 2011

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Long time, no blog. I guess I allowed myself to get caught up in all the usual rush – Christmas, work, kids, work…I am happy that I kept relitively up-to-date with my Project Life 2010 (only have October and some photos to print and we are done!).

My One Little Word (an Ali Edwards thing) for 2011 is CONTROL. I want to have control at work, at home – keeping to deadlines ( I am pretty good at this anyway work-wise); keeping up to date with PL 2011 as I want this to be P365 and not have monthly highlights as I did for some of 2010; clean out my stash of unfinished projects and be realistic about what I might complete – this might be the time to be ruthless, especially on my stitching patterns; replace my paper books with eBooks – which is already underway; keep to a healthy diet despite the stresses; and any other goals that pop up along the way.

I think however I will be flexible with the PL thing. It is OK to do high-lights – the kids and Si have enjoyed looking back at what we have done, despite the fact that Simon is the biggest critic of the money I spent on that album (it’s about $100 for all the components, with the additional outlay of an acid-free pen and photo priniting). Funny tho that he was the first one to tell me to pull it out on Saturday when we had guests over!

I have started to use the spare parts to get up-to-date on all the other digital photos – 2002 is complete apart from a print I am waiting on from Mum (hi Mum) – and 2003 is complete to August. It’s amazing to see how much I can remember even before I get Si or the kids’ input (gosh, Mase is going to be a mini-Bran all the way). This too is an album we’re all getting a kick out of.

So anyway that’s my goals. No resolutions, just Control. With a little bit of flex 😉

a very overdue update

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Here’s our man – hard to belive he’s now 7 months old. He’s walking around the furniture; eating heaps (still); starting to babble; kicks his legs furiously when he’s excited to see someone or something; sleeps well if in his sleeping bag; loves Bear in the Big Blue House and just about anything else on Playhouse Disney but doesn’t like Jonas Brothers (good taste, son!); loves swimming or baths but not getting out; his aunt and uncle, even tho A isn’t too keen on the nappy business; adores his sister and will go to her even when she’s grumpy; likes to push his dad out of bed and is now facing forward in the car. Likes playgroup some days and is not good at sharing if it’s not with his brothers!

The others are all doing well – Lou is with us at the moment, taking some time out from the other household (which is not going down well, but what can you do?); Bran has started training and Zac starts tonight. Muster is also tonight so it’ll be a late one.

Si is working at the Dockyard again; team leader of the sheetmetal shop where he did his time. He has two apprentices at the moment and I am encouraging them to give him heaps back.

As for me, I’m back at work and studying. Not too sure how things will fit, given home and work and league life, but we’ll see how that goes. Have a Becky Higgins Project Life folder which is desperately in need of photos but up-to-date (gasp!) with journal cards. Even sent some with the SIL for them to do, so it will be a full-on family affair. Just the way I like it.

Other stuff

Posted in family, stitching patterns by

I forgot to say that Mason is nearly up and crawling (he’s rocking, so we need to get those gates up pronto!). Zac and Bran can ride their new bikes with ease, and always remember their helmets. Bran also is showing awesome timing with the cricket bat he got from Nana & Grandad. He can heave it over the neighbours house. Oops.

This is Bran’s sampler – an Alma Lynne Ark that I altered. Cause I always do.

This is Mason’s – Sharon made it from a Maria van Scharrenburg kit. I had to finish off the bottom border but didn’t touch it otherwise.

and this is a framed pencil sketch print I found in a Devonport op shop of a Selwyn-like church and graveyard. Si loves things like this. We found a gorgeous old church while roaming the other day – St Johns in Drury. Took some great shots with my new phone.

Christmas Day

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It has been an absolutely fantastic Christmas Day, apart from Mase’s ear infection and the Skype failing when we wanted to talk to Hong Kong. Photos and more commentary soon, but Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may you feel God’s blessings fall on you.

a post for Rowyn

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Rowyn is someone I admire. She’s got cats for a start, and she finishes her needlework. That is something I struggle with, as I get bored working on the same piece. Her taste is different from mine, but I think she’d like these pieces too ($4.99 from Spotlight, or Rowyn, I’ll send you the charts when I’m done). They’re little kits from Janlynn.

This nativity is something I want to do; I’ll have to order it. I do have somewhere a Just Cross Stitch magazine or similar part nativity, but I’d want it to match.
I am part-way thru the one of Christ in the manger;  if I was kidless each piece would be less than a day I guess. This time around I’ll frame in the plastic frames provided but I would like to repeat on 20 count linen and frame as a sequence for the wall. I think that would look quite cool.

Result!

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I finally got up the courage to ring the hospital yesterday – outrage winning over the I-don’t-wanna-know’s. It’s been three weeks since the MRI and even our GP hadn’t heard anything. The MRI lab had to send the results thru to the surgery but the upshot is:
the tumor is consistent with the appearance of FNH (so therefore benign)
the size is 6.5 x 4.5 cmm
I still don’t know if it requires surgical removal or anything, those doctors notes haven’t been made available.

Hospital Update

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Not me this time, but Zac. He has an issue which he’d rather I didn’t blog about (or talk about, or, well, just about anything about!) and the specialist today was pretty happy with his progress. Looks like he won’t need an op if he keeps focussed on the therapy. Yay Zac!

The boys

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Bran & Zac started a blog today (it’s linked to my profile) as they have started the Waitakere Library’s summer reading programme. I have high hopes that comprehension will improve – to their dismay I am asking them to tell me, with the book shut, something they have learnt from their reading today.
There was a small outcry. LOL.