Merry Christmas

Today we go away for Christmas and New Years. No telephone, no TV, no internet... I am looking forward to it!! I have packed some craft to do, both for myself and with the kids. Matt has books and a hammock :)
Wherever you are this Christmas, enjoy!
Thanks for visiting my little blog and I will be back early 2010 with holday snaps.

xoxo

My Very Newest!!!

This ornament is just a few hours old... I picked it up at the Reject Shop this afternoon....

Right about now the lovely Pam is laughing or cursing me...

Pam and I have been discussing my blog and the ornaments that I show. I am so thrilled that she went to the trouble of making this one for me. It is special for many reasons, but best one of all is that it makes us smile. Thanks Pam, I will treasure this one always x Lock on!!!!!

I am off to my work Christmas party in an hour.... I just made the cutest hair clip for the occasion. I might post a pic tomorrow. Byeeeee x

Ice Snowman

I picked up this little guy and his Cardinal friend from Sears at Westmoreland Mall 4 years ago. The ice style was very popular then, I just thought he was cute :)

School is over for the year and we are starting them in style... Still in our PJ's :)

Tomorrow I will post a photo of the whole tree as it will come down before we go away.

Teacher Treats

I made these in under an hour the other night for Liberty's Preschool teachers. These ones are pretty basic as that was all the time I had spare to make them. The embellies on top were pre-made, I think from the Kmart sales last Christmas... The lollies come from a shop were you can still purchase by the gram! So much fun. Note to self: The same shop also sells Cherry Coke for $3.50 a can... Sticky Fingers stocks a lot of imported candy.

I think these were cute little gifts and in the price bracket I wanted!

Willow 2007 & 2008

These are the sweetest Willow ornaments. These were sent to us from America by Connie. They take pride of place at the top of the tree.

Today is my last day for 6 or 7 weeks home alone... Last day of school and preschool today. I have been running to get everything done, the clock is winning though! I better get to my next destination!

Byeeeeee x

Feels good.....

I have been giving the sewing machine a work out the past few weeks.... and it feels good!

The top pic are Crayon Carry Bags that I made for Jess and Lucas. I actually have made a few others that Amanda is going to try and sell to her work mates :) Cross fingers! Would be nice if I did sell some, the money would go to a service of the sewing machine.

The idea for these came from a bag that Liberty was given in America (Thanks Sara and Sean) I have made quite a few as gifts.

The middle pic is what Amanda got for Christmas. I love making these tote bags!

The bottom 2 bags were part of my Mothers and Grandmothers Christmas gifts. Some are very hard to part with.... I don't use handbags much anymore, just tote bags, and I change bags every few days :)

I have more that I could show you, but people may see them and ruin their Christmas surprise!

My newest handmade love!

One of my very favourite people made these for me. I plan on stringing them over the fireplace or a door at Green Oak for Christmas. For now they just sit on a tree branch.

I have a few hours to get some things done and then Liberty and I are off to the park to play Santa for the primary end of year party. They each get an icypole. After that we are going up to have Christmas with my Mother and Grandmother.... Mmmmm Grandma does the best baked veggies :)

Sea World, Aurora Ohio

My Dad took me to Sea World in Aurora Ohio when I was 13 (?). This is where this ornament came from. Every year I pack it in bubble wrap and tissue and it has survived 20 years of packing and unpacking. This is a pretty special ornament as The Ohio Sea World is no longer. I remember the trip quite well, I also remember it was very hot and humid.

I can now say after a productive trip to Tamworth yesterday that all of my Christmas gift shopping is done! Just the wrapping to do!

6 sleeps until we go away!!!!

Millennium Baby

This is one of Shawn's. His Grandpa got it the year he was born. I was have a conversation with my 'younger' work mates about Y2K, and all of the computer problems that were expected... they had no idea, didn't know about that at all... Talk about feeling old! At least I sounded like a history buff so I could dazzle them with my knowledge not just my wrinkles! :)

I am off to finish the very last of my Christmas gift buying. If I don't get it today, then sorry, but you miss out.

Disney

We each have an ornament from Disneyland. Shawn's is Mickey and I have the Chip n Dale one.

I work this morning and then have a portrait sitting... it will be a longer Saturday than normal. I am so tired, my eyes are sore. Too many late nights editing.

Statue

This ornament came from the statue of Liberty gift shop. They had a few beautiful glass balls, but not worth the risk of transporting them.

Last night was Presentation night over at the school and then i came home and spent 3 hours editing wedding photos... I have now made it to the half way mark...

Today I am taking our chocolate fountain over to Shawn for his class to use as for some selling activity they are doing. It sounds a lot like The Apprentice TV show, should be fun to see.

Have a great day! x

Newest

Miss Liberty made this at Preschool yesterday and it now hangs proudly on our tree.

The bush fires are not that far away. The air is quite thick with smoke, not a good day.

Well I am starting to go into slight panic mode. I have sewing to do, photos to edit, books to make, gifts to wrap and post, cards to send, a very messy house that needs attention, shopping to do, various school stuff needs doing before the end of term... I have a headache just thinking about it all. I am now at the stage where I have so much to do, that I don't really know where to start!

On a brighter note, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM x have a wonderful day!

Liberty's Phone

This was given to Miss L from Rach last year. Liberty is quite the talker.... Matt is getting me ear plugs for Christmas :)
I have been editing some wedding photos from Chris and Shannyn's wedding. If you would like to have a sticky go HERE.

I've got mail!

This was made for me by the same lady that made the Kiss Monster below. When I was living at home my Mum would put a treat in the mail box for me, and I would have to search the tree to find it. Unfortunately, Matt has not carried on this tradition. :)

The flag moves and the door comes down, pretty clever.

Today is the school end of year school assembly. I am a tad nervous as I was kindly asked if I would present... I have no idea what I am helping present... I just hope it is not a sport award! LOL.

Squeeze my cheeks...

Squeeze my cheeks and I'll give you a Kiss!

He was made by a lady in America. If I am correct I got him in 1986.......

This cutie opens his mouth when you squeeze the sides and out comes a Hershey Kiss chocolate! this year I actually have some Hershey Kisses so he will work! :)

Steelers

These are Matt's Pittsburgh Steelers decorations. The bell I gave him and the 2 players with Santa my Dads cousin sent to him :)

We had a wonderful weekend in Grafton. Today we experienced the Grafton pool for the first time... My 3 children loved it! lol It has a fantastic water slide. The perfect size for every age. It has 3 diving boards. Shawn tried out the low one first and then straight to the high one. I could not believe it! I was so proud of him!!!

Scarlet

This young lady came from a little shop in Gettysburg.

I have a nice collection of old Gone With The Wind books and I used to love the movie... it has been a long while since I have had the time to sit and watch it.

Today I go to work and then we are off to have an early Christmas with our friends in Grafton.

Have a great weekend x

Idlewild... the best day!

Idlewild is an amusement park in Pennsylvania. I went here as a child and I have been fortunate to take my children. That is pretty amazing since Idlewild is the other side of the world from where we live. It keeps me poor...

6 months ago when we where there, my lovely Aunt Linda treated us all to a day at the park. It was such a wonderful day full of great happy memories that I will cherish always!

This is the ornament that came home with us that day. Pretty slim pickings in the ornament department as it was June.

Shawn is back at school today. As it is the end of the school year, today is a rewards day. The students get to have a fun day that finishes up with watching a movie in the school hall. The movie is Up! I am seriously tempted to go and watch it with the kids, as I missed it at the movies and would like to see it. Students got to wear their pyjamas to school and take a pillow... I would do that just to watch the movie! :)

Miss Liberty

Pretty obvious who belongs with this ornament...
My Dad was given this to give to Liberty on our last trip over to see him. She is beautiful. Liberty had a great time putting the decorations on the tree this year. I think only a few branches had about 3 ornaments on them... I did fix that when no one was looking. :)

Star Wars Ornaments

Just for my boy who is home sick today, I thought I would post some of his tree decorations. He has Hallmark Star Wars ornaments, but 2 years ago I picked up a box of 15 star wars key rings in a damaged bin in Kmart as one was missing. They make the perfect ornaments for the Star Wars fan!

Liberty is at Preschool today, Shawn is home with me and enjoying the quiet that exists when his sister is not home, and I am sewing some Christmas goodies :)

Happy Summer!

Today is the first day of Summer.

Not a great start to the season. I am not well, Liberty has a runny nose and Shawn came home from school sick. Poor guy has slept all day and is very pale, we shall see what the night brings...

I thought I would share some more of our tree ornaments again, like I did last year. I will try and pick different ones. Sorry if I do repeat a few :)

This is the newest member to our ornament family. A birdcage. All of our pets have ornaments, so this one is for Smuggler. I also have a bit of a thing for Cardinals at the moment, so it hangs nicely with the tin Cardinals I got at JC Penny in America a few years ago.

I have a P&C Christmas dinner tonight. We are also drawing the raffle we have been running for the past few months.

It's a new car!

This is Matt's new work car. Toyota RAV 4 Edge Limited Edition, in Storm Blue. It is a beautiful colour, darker than it shows in this photo. This pic was taken at the dealers, Matt had just driven it out of the showroom, so I thought I should get a photo as this is the cleanest it will ever be!
We picked it up Friday afternoon with 70 km's on it and now it has 300. I had a wedding to shoot, that involved driving on a dirt road, so I even washed the car after the reception! That was a nice thought... it didn't stay clean for long as we had a dust storm... Oh well!
I plan on scrapping the life story of the other work car over the Christmas break.
Stay tuned for wedding pics. I was hit badly with a cold while the wedding ceremony took place. I thought it was hay fever to start with, but I was wrong. I was never without a tissue and camera in hand... That was a challenge!

Vintage is the new black.

The past few months I have discoverd my love of sewing again. I lived attached to my sewing machine for a good few years. I think we spent so much time together that we had nothing left to really talk about.... Now we are friends again and finding our groove.

My Grandmother gave me these cut up pieces of fabric that she found in her collection, and as I hung them on the line to dry, I thought Sky Watch Friday moment! I love summer. You can hang things on the line at 6pm and they will usually dry before dark!

For free travel around the world from the comfort of where you are now click HERE

Headache!

I have a dreadful headache, sleep is what is needed - not water Mum! :)

So instead of getting productive and making more Christmas goodies, I decided to blog hop. There is just soooo much out there!

I found these fabrics at Retromummy. She is also having a giveaway, so stop on over for a chance and also some inspiration.

I am now too tired and the ARIA awards are not doing much for me!

Night x

Are you ever to old for LEGO?

Look what I found on Pop Deluxe!

I love this building... I have a large photo that I took of it one Autumn, framed and hanging in our entry. I am to lazy to go and take a photo of the photo so I have used the www to show you the famous Fallingwater. I feel many connections to to this building, but I won't bore you with details :) I just love it... but do I love it enough to pay $100 USD + shipping for a lego set of it????

On a cheaper note. I ordered some Vera Bradley fabric from an ebay seller and it arrived today.... very yummy! I just need to decide what I will do with it???

*update* You are never to old for lego, but you can be to poor for it... I searched ebay and found it for $285!!! Santa?????

It's been awhile :)

Hello!
Sorry I have not blogged, not much to share I guess.... except that it is HOT!!! So hot in fact that yesterday I swam in the local pool.
We had a great afternoon. It was 2 special girl's birthday party at the pool. (Super idea Meg!) We sat and talked, (or listened to Rach talk) for a few hours and then all went home and prepared ourselves to go out to dinner. Unfortunately it was a very disappointing meal, but the dessert was sooooo good. Pam surprised us with a huge mud cake. (to celebrate mine and Megs birthdays) Thanks girls....and husbands :)

Today I plan to.
1. Stay inside as much as possible
2. Order some photobooks online
3. Possibly sew or scrap
4. Late in the day I need to garden... actually it is early now and everyone else is asleep, I might sneak out now :)
Byeeeeeee x

Hot, Hot, Hot.

Well we are having some hot days so I thought a photo of my Grandmothers cactus was appropriate. This is the first time it has flowered and it is so delicate.
I spent last night scrapping as part of the Scrapbooking Top 50 as part of the Treasure Hunt Bingo.
I was the winner!!! Very exciting. Top 50 always has the best prizes, Thanks V!

Tomorrow is a busy day. Shawn has guitar, library and swimming with the school and Liberty has preschool. I am meeting up with some friends for caffeine in the morning, then I am off to do some Christmas shopping with Matt. Afternoon tea with my Mum and Grandma. I will also turn 33 tomorrow... Hope there are not 33 candles on the cake, it is hot enough!

Miss Thang!

After work today I did a few things in town and then came home, ipod blaring :)

We spent what was left of the day gardening and general outside stuff, as you do this time of year. Then once we were all hot and needed cooling off we went to the pool. Liberty's first trip this season, Shawn has been going with the school. She loved it!! It helped that she had twin boys from her Preschool following her and calling her name begging for her attention.... I mean with eyes like this, is it any wonder :)

So now dinner is done, children are clean and I am hiding out in the hammock chair. I can hear a lawnmower, 3 different bird calls, the neighbours showing visitors their garden (it is impressive), the odd dog barking and the occasional car. The sun is a warm orange colour and there is a slight coolness to the air... I LOVE this time of year!

Sky Watch Friday

I captured this silhouette of the Jacaranda tree at Green Oak the last time we were there. The tree is huge when you look at the size of the house.

Happy Sky Watch Friday everyone!

I am a lucky girl!

Not that I really believe in luck... but if I did then I am a lucky girl!
My super Friend Rachel gave these treats to me yesterday. She found them when she was on vacation. A huge bag of crayons and 2 Red Velvet Art books. I love that shop!!! Rach found them at a second hand book place for a bargain! Thanks for thinking of me Rach x

More of Alice

Guess I don't really have much to share if I am searching for images to use... The camera is having a rest and so am I.
The last few months have been huge for me/us. I have a wedding job in a few weeks and the P&C street stall to get through and then I think I am pretty much all done for major commitments this year. Touch wood!!
I have done no Christmas shopping... and that is not like me, usually I am all organised by now.

Anywhooooo....

This is another pic I took last Saturday of Alice. She is on my new bath mat waving :) I have not really played with this image.

I am off now to create some photoshop invites for my Grandmothers 80th birthday. Night x

A Beautiful Family

Yesterday after work I had the great pleasure of taking photos of Baby Alice and her wonderful parents. They are super to take photos of!! :) This is one of my faves. Look at her tiny hand.... Alice is 19 days young.

Last night was also Matt's sisters 50th. She is such a lovely person. I spent the week creating a scrapbook for her. Such a big job, but the only time I complained was when I looked at the mess.... For such a big job in just 4 days, I took over the dining table. I finally finished Friday night and was too tired to pack up. While I was at work Saturday, Matt packed it up..... How super is he! (He must have been sick of looking at it!)

tick, tock, tick, tock

Would love to join in on this CC tonight..... not sure if time will work in my favor... If you think you can make it check it out HERE

I have been working on a secret project that has kept me super busy day and night this week.... I will share in a few days :)

Copeton Road Trip

This is Copeton Dam. It is currently holding 11% of the water it should have. Such a sad sight. This is where I learnt to water ski, approx 14 years ago..... Probably in the spot where the photo was taken is where we would ski.
We stopped at Copeton Dam on the way home from Bingara after meeting Alice. Alice is the newest edition to the Myhill family. I will share pics soon.
Enjoy your day where ever you may be x

Halloween Disco

Yesterday Shawn went to a Halloween disco at the school. Can you guess what he went as???

* the marks on his arm are not part of the costume. They did a Fun Run at school, each mark is one lap around the oval. I don't know who decided this should be called "fun"....

*Update - He went as a 'Cereal killer'

Sky Watch Friday

I have missed a few Sky Watches, but hopefully I am back on track now!

I caught this blue hole Wednesday afternoon inbetween rainfalls. It has been so good to get some rain. Though, I could have done without having to light the fire!

Grommet

Thought I better put a pic up of my little surfer dude!
Shawn has been an extra happy little man lately... He is such a good kid and we are so proud of him. He has started playing basketball in Armidale, just like his Dad. He so loves his Dad!

Mechanical Surfboard

This is my hunky husband on the mechanical surfboard at the Thunderbolts Festival. This was a pretty cool thing! I would have had a go but.......... ;)

Shawn also went on this (a few times) and did really well!

All of the rides/activities are free at the festival. The committee seek sponsorship from local business'. This way kids can go on the rides as many times as they like and mum/dad don't have to keep pulling out there wallets. Kids love it... Parents love it!!

We are getting some good rain, it is loverly. I only have to leave the house once today, bliss!

My view of the parade...

On Saturday Uralla hosted the Thunderbolts Festival... The day begins with the street parade. This is the view I see. My main job on the day is to make sure the street parade goes in order and as smoothly as possible... I think I did well :) I catch a lift down to the park and all of the festivities on a Fairytale Tours horse drawn carriage. They are beautiful horses, sadly we won't have them next year as they are going to live in Cairns. (A long way away from Uralla!) As it is they are currently in Bellingen, a good 2 hours away.

So, it was a great day... I have never walked so much or so fast since I was last at Disneyland!

My baby girl is 4!

Yesterday this beautiful girl turned 4. The day started with pressies first thing. Then it was her Preschool day, so she had cupcakes with her friends there. Then another cake in the afternoon with family. The phonecalls didn't stop for her until 8pm... she is a loved little girl!

To make the day extra special and in true Myhill family form, a baby was born.

Matt's neice Bec had a baby girl 4 weeks early. Alice Mary.

So Liberty is the last of the Grandchildren and Alice is the first Great Grandchild. Both girls are named after a very special family member Alice Ada who was raised on Green Oak. Liberty's middle name is Ada. So there you have it!

Green Oak Driving

Just something I did I on the weekend at Green Oak... With a little help from my friends :)

Bushfires in the Macleay

Over the weekend we went down to Green Oak and this was our changing view. In just minutes the fires could change direction... easy to see how destructive a fire could be.

Sorry I have not been blogging much, I am so extra busy this month... I will be better next week (I hope) So many great photos from the weekend away to share :)

Liberty will be 4 tomorrow.... must wrap tonight!

Pez

I have been wanting to get Shawn a funky USB flash drive for school. The one I like most was star wars themed for $50 USD.... No chance of that purchase happening for a 9 year old to take to school! Yesterday I had a wider seach on the www and found something similar to this. My kids have of heaps of Pez dispensers and a tricky daddy so this is the one Matt created. I love it! Need to find a smaller USB for the next one we make, but it does the job! I always have a USB in my bag loaded with images so I think I will put some thought into what I would like....