:)

Life is just so busy atm.

On Mondays life is a whirl as i've worked all weekend and the house is in chaos... So I spend the morning trying to tidy up, the kiddos want to spend time with me and Em has school in the afto.

On Tuesdays we just do things together. We play and I carry on with the mammouth task of washing and drying.

On Wednesdays Em is at school until 1pm so we rush around to get her there and then Ben and I have some time together. He is so happy and easy on his own... no squabbling :) :) :)

On Thursdays (today) we have the major clean/tidy up/housework day. The whole of downstairs is blitzed. Yes, we hoover more or less everyday but on Thursdays things are done properly. The ironing gets done *groan*, all the mounting opened mail gets put away. The washing and ironing is put away. More washing is done.

I get myself ready for the weekend ~ I feel that if the house is in some sort of order, I am ready to work non-stop from Friday AM til Sunday PM. This is how it is every weekend.

And i'm not saying that I don't like it like this. I actually like feeling busy. Knowing I have heaps to do. Mentally it keeps me healthy. I feel happy and my life has a purpose. I have a purpose in making sure the house, our home ticks over for a whole three days on its own.

So, that's what i've been doing today. Getting ready for the weekend (workend) and the special visitors we have coming next weekend.... My sister is coming with her three for Saturday and we are all so excited :)

Other than all of that... Marion has gone away for a few weeks to Florida, so all hands to the pump in the shop... and I am teaching two classes on Sunday *which I still have kits to make up for*! I am also trying to makemy Crimbo cards and get them all ready to go out on December the first. This year I promise to send friends in the US and OZ cards and little gifts.

I have two of the best kits to use up too. Firstly my SoML kit arrived a while ago (www.story-kits.com/store) and my studio calico (www.studiocalico.com) both of them have some weathervane yummies in them. I just had to order Mr.Campy stamps from Sara @ SoML too ;) that range is just so retro and cool. I also have a heap of stamps (I am loving those cheapie imaginisce ones ~ which are fab quality) which I haven't used... :( And a heap of halloween goodies I still have to use up! My mojo just seems to have vanished into thin air atm. Maybe getting some piccies printed up might spur me into scrapping...?

...Or maybe my mojo is fleeting because i'm spending tooooooo much time chatting to scrappy buddies on facebook... I am so totally happy a few US gals I know have joined facebook! I am absoloutely addicted to flitting around, sending IM's and nattering. :)

HOPE

I read a beautiful quote today on a journo LO. It was '...the world got its HOPE back.' It just dawned on me right then. The word HOPE is so special. Through good times and bad thoughout our lives we all have hope. Whether we are 4 or 40 we have it.

• Emily currently is hoping for a pink DS for Crimbo.
• I am hoping for a peaceful night of scrapping.
• Kev is most probably hoping for West Ham to win.
• Ben is hoping not to get caught when he delves into the cutlery draw for the hundreth time today.
• I am hoping on a lotto win this weekend (same as every Saturday).
• I am hoping that the kiddos don't get this sickness bug going around.
• I am hoping that I will be well when I have to go in for my exploratory surgery.
• I am hoping that everyone I know is health and safe, no matter where in the world they are.
• I am hoping that I will enjoy 'The Family' tonight.
• I am hoping that I will always appreciate HOPE.

Do you get me? Do you get the HOPE thing too? I Guess I may want to start a HOPE Journo too.

So, what else has happened to me in the last 24 hrs. Not much. I had drs app. I have to have exploratory surgery which I am not so happy about :( You know I am pretty worried about it. I guess though that millions of peeps each day have surgeries and are ok. I just worry what might be wrong with me to need it. And so in preperation I had to go and have a blood test today. Which is pretty much as traumatic as being told you need surgery LMAO. My veins are non-exsistent. Even for a fat bird :) So after being stabbed a few times and having my arm totally butchered, I have a huge swollen purple bruise. Which has made me cranky as the kids always seem to hang off this arm, which now hurts. I HOPE they stop. ;) But it's nice to know after two years someone is listening to me. I have HOPE.

Evidence.

I have returned to school. Well. Ok. Not quiet. But hey a virtual, online school. My new teachie is the fab... Ashley Wren. OMG! This class already has me hooked. Journo'ing is the most important part of scrapping to me. Ok, You may of been swayed by pretty paper, sparkly goodies and satin ribbons... but hey. Remember why we do this hobby, right? The memories. The most important, insignificant stuff on paper. (and the most important stuff too) Just everything. Our lives. Our memories. right there on paper, forever. So anyhow. This class. Evidence. Cool, huh?

Right now I think it's be good to have an ongoing random journo full of natter. All the stuff that gets forgotten. Like how Ben is obssessed by saying 'all~gone'. Like the fact Emily stays for lunch at pre-school tomorrow for the first time ever... Like the fact I am learning to let go.

So today I have to go buy a new notebook. (I hear you *like you don't have a million already*) I have a docs app this afto too... so it'll be a good little treat to myself afterwards. And then Kev has to go back to work and teach the evening class. I will have kiddos in bed on time :) and then surround myself in paper. With wine. With a yummy supper. And try and be a good student. I will get my homework done. I will try and print out all those fabby flashcards teachie has created lovingly. I will not deviate onto facebook and spend endless hours laughing to myself like a weirdo ;)

I will also complete the kit blog sketches and upload them. I will also think of a cool project to do with this months kit.

I am going to be busy.

Heavy times...

We had Paul's funeral last Thursday and life has been one blur since then. It was hard seeing seven amazing friends turned into six. It was heart wrenching hearing Michelle's sobs and hearing Paul's mum asking why her baby had been taken away. Loss is hard to bear at any time but he was in his early thirties, how can this be fair??

Amazingly though we all had a laugh about the times we'd spent together and thought of Michelle and Bobbi and Dave. We have made promises to be better friends and actually see each other more often. I guess a big shock and loss does this. And i'm hoping it's going to be true as I think no one truly appreciates what they have until it's gone. I am now pestering Kev daily to text Lee and make sure he is ok :) Even though we are all far apart and spread across the UK, we're going to see and hear from each other much more ;)

On a much lighter note, work is busy. Working at L/C is as stressful as ever :) But saying that I guess we try and see the funny side of it all while we're there. And of course there is always time to read the hillarious e.mails which flood my inbox ;)

And in the shop (http://www.sugarandspicecrafts.co.uk/) it's fab, as always. I'm kinda spoilt with this job. Not only is it like working in my idea of heaven but there's also the best girls there. Thank you so much to Addi for inviting me to her 'Sex and Pizza' night (Kev got very excited until he realised it was actually Sex in the City and pizza) the company was great. And thanks to Marion for my lift home ;) I am looking forward to our crafty get together nearer to Crimbo.

I am also in lurvvvveee with facebook ;) This place is the coolest place to hang online. It reminds me i'm not just 'muuuuuummmm' and i'm me;) I am a person who has a fab (if not pretty colourful) past and some super~dooper buddies.

I also signed up for this http://www.sistvboutique.com/product_p/sis_ds_holiday.htm Yes, it looks funky~licious. TBH I need some Crimbo-ness booted into me. I have only a few gift brought and no cards made. It's already freakin' November! I'm hoping that this will be the rocket that I need up my big fat bum to get doing....

Losses.

We lost a friend last weekend. He had been ill for a long time and he is at peace now. Losing someone doesn't get easier, it rakes up all the losses you had before them and makes them raw.

My heart is with this lovely lady on the right who was his wonderful partner and her son, I hope they can find the strength to get through this hard time together and with the support of those who love them.

I got it!

My studio calico came yestarday and made me one happy bunny! I am kinda wishing I had grabbed some add ons now but hey ho :) I started a LO with it last night while I watched 'The Family' and 'Desperate Housewives'... (how sad am I that next week it ends :( ) I have been telling everyone how much I am loving The Family. The whole programme has me in stitches from start to finish. I know it's maybe not supposed to but you have to admit it is pretty funny.

Emily had her first pre-school parents evening last night! Yes, we finally got her into the school we wanted to and it was well worth the wait. She loves it, they love her and it is one of the best childcare places I have seen. She is having a blast while she is there and the ladies all seem to love her. She has taken an enormous shine to Natalie and has even let her french plait her hair. (Emily is just not one for hairstyles and would let it look like a haystack if i'd let her) Natalie is special. After all the aprehension aboutleaving her anywhere, I am really, really happy with them. Kev finally got to see inside and see what Emily had been nattering on about... Won't be all that long til she starts full time school and Ben and I will be left home alone without our bubbly little bunny :( My babies are growing too fast!

And I am waiting eagerly for October afternoon to come into here: www.sugarandspicecrafts.co.uk

All sorts. (mainly thank you's!)

Problems in my life atm seemto be righting themselves. I am sure that in some people's eyes, they may think I should of done thing differently but I was sad with the whole situation. It's now all out in the open and hopefully things will be sorted and return to normal.

Is anyone so confused with Studio Calico??? I have no idea if my subscription to their kits is taken automatically any more??? I have no idea if I will get an October kit, as the money hasn't come from my account. The whole thing sucks. I know that the whole subscription through themselves rather than paypal is probably a much better idea (eps. when we're up at 5am trying to bag the add ons we want, only to be redirected to paypal to find it took too long and now the add ons have sold out :( ) but I have no idea if i'm supposed to order my main kit or not??? If my subscription has gone through or what! At least with the paypal I knew they automatically took the money for the main kit a few days before and it would also serve as a reminder to the add on release on the 28th. This month I missed out. Although, i'm not too sad as they weren't my cuppa and I have the biggest mountain of full embellie packets, papers mounting and all scrapping supplies going untouched. I need to get scrapping!

I am excited though that it's SoML (www.story-kits.com/store) release morning tomorrow (night if you're in the US) So at 5am I will be up hanging around for those add ons... I loved last months kit! I just love the rainbow colours and this one, from the sneaky peek look full of halloween goodness (the stamp looks fab:) ) ... this is the one kit I just have to have every month. Sara is the best at kits!

Talking of Sara too, I got my US CJ back ;) Oh my, it is full of some of the most talented scrapping ladies on the planet. And i'm proud to say my journo has braved and stayed together for well over a year and visiting many homes in the US and Canada. Thank you girls! I am going to take pics and share with you all, although I look back now and see how naff my scrapping style was *groan* and feel it kinda lets the whole album down. And back to Sara, she did the most heart wrenching story in my journo. I wanna let y'all know how super special she is to deal with her hubbie away and bring up a little guy and holding it all together. The whole CJ has put me in touch with some very inspirational women and not just in scrapping terms. I've heard tales of hubbies loosing jobs, met (ok, just online...but maybe some day our bank balance and kids will allowfor a trip) the most fabby women, losses, heart aches and new babies *Congrats Gina!* I am just amazed that there are women out there that are so strong and give inspo to us all. I feel touched that many of you shared a little bit of you in my journo. Thank you. It has made me want to scrap all day and night long!

I was teaching two classes on Sunday... (and got some beautiful flowers from Barbie ~ thank you!) and heard some great news too! I can't share just yet as it's a big secret and I feel privalidged to know... :) :) :) I am busy making something special for that special person. She is yet another inspirational woman that scrapping has put me in touch with. I am hoping that Nicky, who joined us in the family tree class has finally had a go with her cricut!