Madeleine I mean.  yep my baby girl turned seven yesterday.  Another bittersweet milestone.  And she still has no front teeth!  And she couldn’t have been more excited.

We bestowed upon her the much coveted pink Razor scooter.  I’d love to show you photos but little treasure decided that scooter pics were not allowed.  Tomorrow I’m going to pretend I DON’T want to photograph her scooter and see if reverse psychology might work.  I doubt it though, I’m sure that with the turning of seven, she got a whole lot smarter.  There’s not much easy fooling of either of my offspring anymore, they’re onto me.  A sad day for me.  Inevitable for all parents I suspect.

We held the obligatory tea party in Miss M’s honour and much to my surprise, she only wanted two little friends.  She could have had more but she decided she’d just like her friends Summer and Jordain.  I haven’t put pics of them here because I haven’t checked with their Mums but here’s a few of the party pics “sans” Jordain and Summer…

Her cake was decorated under strict supervision as apparently if she didn’t check, I might make it wrong!  Hmm….it had to have a path, a fairy, sprinkles and flowers made from lollipops plus seven candles….well she liked it.  I thought it was a bit crazy but it was all about the birthday girl so requests were fulfilled of course….

Our holidays have been lovely and quiet really.  We haven’t done a whole lot so far and that’s been at the children’s request as well as mine.  It’s been freezing and often wet and they’ve been content to hang out at home drawing, playing Lego, watching movies, riding their scooters and I think more than anything, they’ve both loved playing with our kitten Matilda who is about to turn eight months old and she is getting BIG!  Hard to remember what a tiny kitten she was and she is adored by Alex and Maddy.  They look after her like a queen and she is just gorgeous and patient with them, often following them around or sleeping on their feet while they sleep.

Amongst the holiday activity (or lack of) I’ve still been working whenever the kids are busy on their own.  Editing photos, scrapping etc and it’s been very busy.  But busy is good.  Right? Of course it is.  Above in my photo show you’ll see wedding pics from my last wedding shoot and the most stunning looking teenage sisters - beautiful.  I’m still working on those!

You may be one of the people waiting patiently for an email from me, or watching the website to find out about or shop with Budget Scrapbooking and wondering why it’s not live yet and I’m going to answer you right here, right now, but I WILL get back to everyone who has emailed!  Soon.  The short (I hope) answer is that we’ve been held up by a few unforeseen circumstances.  Basically the way things started has ended and Suz and I are now flying solo.  Yes we’re partners.  After years of being scrappy gal-pals we’re now in business together and I can tell you I enter into this with as much anxiety as excitement!  I want to scream it out loud yet I’m wishing on every lucky charm I have that it will be successful for us.  I’m pretty sure it will be a great thing mostly because it’s a concept I BELIEVE in and I know we’re capable of seeing it through.  Plus I get to work more from home, save getting a “real” job plus I get to jet-set around the country and call it ‘work’.

We still have a little red tape to get through and software issues so if you continue to be patient I promise we’ll announce the grand opening soon.  And to be honest I can’t wait!

Speaking of scrapping, I haven’t been doing much for the last few weeks - too much photo editing to do, but here’s what I’ve been doing for Aussie Scrap Source

Here’s some bits I did for my favourite CHA release.  Felt.  I never get tired of the stuff - yummy textured, coloured, squishy fluffy felt!

These of course, are the felties by Sassafrass Lass - YUM!

New and not-so-new felt from Queen and Company -

And this little notebook and envelope.

The envelope houses this teeny little mini album.  The Sassafrass Lass Paper Whimsies were SO gorgeous I couldn’t resist making this…

This one for the competition going on over at the Aussie blog right now - this one was for the week that featured the word “know” and the selected colour combination.  If you haven’t entered you should check it - it was great to have the limited colour palette!

One to showcase the gorgeous Teresa Collins Designs new “Family” line….

And lucky last - Rose Moka “Diva”

Phew - that’s it for now I think!  I’ll share my stuff for Budget Scrapbooking soon

I had a fabulous night swapping and cropping with Cindy and the girls.  I made a few $$$ selling off unwanted bits in my stash - mainly older papers I’d been hoarding but I know I’ll never use! Mind you, the $$ I made, I spent again on more stuff for my stash!  So everyone was happy

Speaking of Cindy, she has tagged me - thanks Cindy - here goes….

Answer 8 questions and then tag 8 fellow bloggers

Question 1 : 8 things I look forward to ……..

• The quiet after I drop the kids at school and the house is empty
• Budget Scrapbooking’s official opening
• Yoga next Thursday
• Snuggling my electric blanket tonight
• My morning coffee
• Going on another Excellent Adenture soon
• Going back to the John Brack exhibition at the end of this month and to Salvador Dali as well
• Morning snuggles with my babies

Question 2 : 8 things I did yesterday ……..

• Celebrated Maddy’s birthday
• Edited photos of the M family
• Laundry
• Scrubbed the shower with bleach (eww)
• Talked on the phone.  A lot :-\
• Had dinner with my Mum and her partner
• Squeezed my gorgeous nephew and smothered him with kisses
• Went to bed too late!

Question 3: 8 things I wish I could do ……..

• Rollerskate without injuring myself again
• Remain patient with my children always
• Never go to a supermarket again
• Catch up on my bills - sheesh!
• See into the future
• Steal “3pm Collins Street” by John Brack from the Ian Potter gallery
• Cartwheels like when I was a kid
• Have self-discipline

Question 4: 8 things or shows I  have watched lately …….

• Masterchef
• American Dad
• Lipstick Jungle
• Spicks and Specks
• The Simpsons
• Night At The Museum 2
• Family Guy

Now to tag 8 other bloggers…..

Help yourself, I can’t think of eight that haven’t been done already

Thanks for visiting!

Nic