This is what my life is like right now....
We are still not moved (lucky, as we are still sorta not packed!!) bit of a domino affect really - we can't move into our house, because the old owners can't move into their house, because the owners can't move into their house etc etc! With three exchange changes, it has been a little unreal (and not in the 90's slang way either!) It feels like we are never going to get in there - we have our paint colours picked, some new furniture for the small ones ordered and a new(ish) 8 seater dining suite now squished into our garage that was suppose to go straight into the new house last weekend!
I can't complain though, we are so blessed to have been able to finally purchase our own home after years of thinking we'd never get there with four kids. I know so many other families that struggle with the rental crisis here in Newcastle, we have always been lucky to find properties that A: allowed a gaggle of kids and B: allowed cats, great owners that fixed things straight away, and gave us living space.
But I sure am happy that my girls are about to experience a real sense of security, and excitement of decorating rooms and planning backyard "modifications" (Oh! the plans they have!) and of course we will now endure the constant chatter of what breed of puppy Santa may just leave under our tree this Christmas - every day there is a new name discussion, and new argument over who will walk and feed said puppy and Christmas is still five months away!! :)
Our house has had lots of things happening apart from the great wall of boxes too!
This miss FINALLY lost her first (and two days later second) tooth!! The tooth fairy was generous, leaving a $5 note, and a toy along with a bucket load of glitter all over the bench, a letter revealed that as Amelia lost the tooth at school (and didn't even know till we were in the shower that night) the tooth fairy searched all over Newcastle and amazingly found it glistening in the playground :) Two days later, another school tooth story - this time eating an apple during fruit break, the tooth was saved and eagerly placed in the tooth fairy box before bedtime. It was lucky those blasted teeth fell out too - notice the photo?? That's the new "big girl teeth" already behind the others - we were fearful that Amelia would have to go the dentist to have the baby teeth pulled. She was a little disappointed that she doesn't have a big gap like many of her classmates - funny thing.. all five friends lost teeth in the same week!
and this one finished another term of baby ballet - learning to skip this term - super proud of all her efforts - now she is hounding us to do eisteddfods like her big sister! Every morning she wakes up and asks if it is Ballet day, and when I say no six days of the week she cries!! She is still totally into it, and pretty much lives in her spare tutu whenever we are at home.
Isn't this the cutest thing on the planet??!!
So I have been a little spoilt with some time outs of late too - last weekend I headed off the Sydney with my partner in crime, Lisa, to a little relaxing retreat organised by my friend Belinda, what a totally totally relaxing weekend it was! No pressure, no commitments, just a bunch of ladies, scrapbook supplies and a pile of takeaway menus!! Lisa and I got over 20 layouts done between and I came home sore from laughing.
**I must add here for my own records that amongst all the packing mayhem of my house right now, I came home to happy clean kids, a sparkling home and a loving husband, it really made me feel so loved to see that my family had made such a big effort for me (without me having to leave a list!) The clothes were washed, dinner was waiting, the kids fed and bathed, and no one had had time outs all weekend - they actually spent 48hours getting on well and playing nicely together! Just made me so proud!
There is lots more to share, but too much for this post so I will leave you with layouts from "this one time at scrap camp" ;)
Of course, this was my favourite layout of the twelve I did - thank goodness the lovely Kim had her sewing machine handy!!
I love all your pages Jen. How fabulous to get so many done!!
Good luck with the house. I can totally relate to the stress, excitement, disappointment (when you can't get in) etc. We are hopefully picking up the keys to our new house today, I am frantically organising insurances etc so that we can get started. I am super excited to finally live with the boxes in our new home. (I know that I will be living with them for quite some time yet!!)
Goodluck to you and your family and enjoy the stability and security of YOUR OWN HOME!!!! :)
Posted by: Alex Hughes | July 13, 2009 at 08:56 AM
Congratulations on your home, how exciting for you, hope there are no more holdups for you
loving as usual all your yummy Lo's
We went through Newcastle last year, what a beautiful city, my Dad had been there pre War time, adored the big Church on the hill
Posted by: Pam M | July 13, 2009 at 02:04 PM
it was a pleasure to sit with you and Lisa. I had a great weekend and great company all round. We will have to do it again
thinking of you packing and keeping the kids amused these holidays
xxxxx
Posted by: Belinda H | July 15, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Hi Jen, just popped in to catch up on your blog. Just love that your layouts are just like you... layers of goodness and full of passion for life...they are just gorgeous as always... happy to help with the move... just holler xx
Posted by: DizzyLizzy | July 16, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Yes, that picture is super darling! So happy for you all getting your own house too! Love your layouts, love them!
Posted by: kip | July 19, 2009 at 08:06 AM