Heading for Melbourne tomorrow

We head off to Melbourne in the morning. I've had a great time catching up with all my cousins, Aunts and Uncles. We don't see each other that much as we scattered far and wide.

The wedding went great. Nicole and Steven had a wonderful day with no major hiccups. We had a big brunch and my Aunty Margaret's today before they headed off on their honeymoon. Have a great time guys!!

Zac and Ella have had a wonderful time playing with my cousin, Kylie's kids - Lachlan and Brooke, as well as Samuel(My cousin, Nicole's son). A great time has been had by all. Quite a few late nights, alcohol and lots of chatter. I just love catching up.

We saw the seals on Friday, and got MORE sunburnt. Had heaps of fun seal-spotting out in Bridgewater Bay. We had a boat load just with us. Also got some great pics.

I'll have heaps to share when I get home...and can't wait to get scrapping with all my new pics.

Looking forward to reaching Melbourne tomorrow. My cousin, Tim, has told me of some good Factory outlet shopping near where we are staying. I'm going to tackle the Melbourne trams as well,(if I can work out how to pay for them) and take the kids to the Zoo.
*My cousins who live in Melbourne don't really know how to pay for a tram - that's saying something - they think you need a degree to work the ticket machine!! LOL

I'll chat to you all when I get home!

Chelle Xx

Hello from Portland

We arrived in Portland, Victoria this afternoon. Now at my cousin, Kylie's place with her family. Off to a big family BBQ tonight to catch up with everyone.

Weather in Ballarat, our first stop, was freezing. It was 11 degrees. Not what we are used to at all! We went to Sovereign Hill, a 1850's Gold rush town. The kids loved it! Zac and I had a ride in a horse and carriage.

Then on to Halls Gap for the past few days. Much better weather - around 23 degrees. Halls Gap is in the Grampians National Park. Very pretty and I took heaps of pics to show you when I get home. I'm a little red, who would of thought I'd get sunburnt. My nose is peeling already!!
Better get the exfoliater out before the wedding on saturday.

So, off to see the fur seals tomorrow. There is a colony not far away. I'm taking Zac out on the boat, with a few of the others. Should be fun!!

Well, I'd better go,

Chat to you soon,
Chelle Xx

Ready to go

Well, I think, anyway??

Kids are rearing to go. They can't wait to get on the plane. Weather is ok, down Melbourne way, about the same as us here in Brissy. I bought a new SD card for my camera last week. Should have enough space...it holds 778 photos and my old one holds 446! Should be ok, do you think?

So, I'll bid farewell for a week or so. Might get some net time at my cousins...will see.

Promise to take lots of pics to share(and scrap) when I get home.

Chat soon,
Chelle Xx

Packing

It's such a chore. I really don't like it! You tend to put in way more than you need, and because we're heading South to Melbourne and country Victoria, you never know what the weather will be like. Bit of a jackpot, so have had to throw in a couple of sets of warm clothes as well.

Was chatting to my cousin, Kylie, on tuesday night(who we are staying with in Portland) and she said it was 39 degrees and very warm, to say the least! Might try and post while I'm at her place, next week.

Yesterday we went to the Qld Museum and Science centre. Didn't the kids love that! Zac wanted to see the dinosaurs and had been talking about it all week. Finally got to see the dinosaurs, and have his pic taken with T-Rex. They have a "Museum zoo" exhibit on at the moment and the animals look so real. Check this out:


We had to visit the Dinosaur garden...



and a close-up of Mike(my nephew), Ella and Zac.



Then on to the Science centre and how cool is that! Mike and Zac loved it. Ella just wanders around. Zac couldn't wait to "have a go" on the next thing. It was a bit busy though, with school holidays. As we come out they were letting people in one for one. (Haven't seen that since my nightclub days!)A great set up for kids of all ages - young and old. My sister Kellie, said we should come back when the kids go back to school, so we can have a play. LOL

Here's Mike in the "Head on a plate" - an illusion with mirrors.



In the room that is an illusion. It makes you very tall or very short!



Both Zac and Ella slept for 2 and a half hrs when we got home. The day was lots of fun!

Better get back to the packing,

Chat soon,
Chelle Xx

What a weekend!

Think I'd better tell you all about my weekend in dot form.

- Started Friday night and I did the Little Scrapbook Shop's Cyber crop. Had fun, I got two Challenges done and a card.

- Had a shopping trip to DFO on Saturday...Jase did very well, and even cleaned out his cupboard on Sunday to fit in his new gear! All I bought were a pair of shoes - very nice though!

- Went out for dinner for a friend's Birthday - Happy Birthday Beef!(that's his nickname) Was great, there was quite a few of us...5 families and about 10 kids, and that's not all of them. We went out to the Karalee tavern, near Ipswich(as that's where they live. Nice meal, good company, great night!

- Brought home my niece Melanie and she's still here, playing with the kids. They've had a fun weekend, playing X-Box, playing out in the yard, and Zac and Melanie even made their first Scrapbook page. That was fun. I think Mel's hooked!

- Did Mum and Dad's hair yesterday afternoon, in preparation for the wedding in Victoria we are all going to on Jan 27th. We leave Saturday, and I can't wait! More hair tonight, to get everyone up to date.

That about sums it up to date.

Here are my L/O's from LSBS CC.

Cousins or Sisters?



Mud Monsters



My card



Chat soon,
Chelle Xx

Thankyou

Thankyou all for your kind wishes, with the sad passing of Jason's Aunty Maureen. All went well, and Jason is on his way home from Tamworth as we speak.

I took the kids up for Grandma's yesterday, as she was looking after Melanie, my niece. So, the kids had a good play together, until it was time to come home....Zac cried and cried because he wanted to stay. So, Mel is coming over for a sleepover on the weekend. Should be fun!

Grandma's come in handy, as Ella's dress for the wedding was way too long for her so she just took it up in no time at all!

Thanks Grandma! :-)

Quiet day today, not much going on. I have been busy making Circle Journals for a couple of Swaps I'm in. Here is the first one....my theme is My Home Town. So, each person has to do a page in my album about where they live. Should be fun...but I have to get them finished and posted before I go away on holidays! Nothing like pushing it to the limit!

The Cover



My Sign In page



This week also saw the launch of Reality Scrap at Scrapbook city, which I can't wait for. Looks like so much fun! Starts with a group of ladies and we have to qualify to be in it. Twenty are selected from the intial group and away we go. Each week we'll have challenges, all to do with Australian Idol, Survivor, Amazing Race, etc. Sounds intresting doesn't it?
I'll keep you filled in on my Challenges each week, and what I come up with! :-)

That's about all from me,

Chat soon,
Chelle Xx

Sad News

We had some sad news yesterday, with the sad passing of my DH, Jason's, Aunty Maureen. She has been quite sick for a few years now, suffering from cancer. Her battle was finally up early on Sunday morning.
So, a quick trip to Tamworth for Jason, his Dad and brother, Scott. Just the boys going. They head off tomorrow afternoon, and will be there in time for the funeral on Wednesday morning, then head home on Thursday. That's a lot of Km's in a short time...it's a 7 hr trip to Tamworth.

We are thinking of Uncle Brian(Jason's Dad's brother) and the rest of the family, at this sad time.

Here is the rest of my weekend in dot form.

- It started well, Friday night, with a crop night at Scrapbook City. I caught up with all the girls -Amanda, Sara, Zane, Miranda, Miranda's MIL, me, Angela and Sara!
Had heaps of fun, lots of chatter, munchies, wine, ohh...and we got a little scrapping done.

- My cousin Tim and his fiance Katherine are up here on holidays, so we had a BBQ at my sister, Kellie's on Saturday night. Was great catching up. I'll actually see him again in a couple of weeks, when I'm down in Victoria for his sister's wedding.

- Took the kids to a new park on Sunday morning. All under cover, with some very cool things for the kids to play on. Ella fell in love with a little rickety bridge and a tunnel for little ones, while you could hardly keep track of Zac. He was going from one thing to another! Lots of fun!

- Today in our house is housework day. Lots of vaccuuming, washing, duting and mopping....and do the Groc shopping to restock the fridge for the week ahead! Very boring really - although Zac likes to help.

So, that about gets me up to date. Will post some new L/O's later in the week!

Chat soon,
Chelle Xx

Lipstick anyone?

Need I say anymore?

Chelle Xx

My first Design Team L/O's

I thought I'd share with my first Design Team L/O's. They are already hanging up at Serendipity Scrapbooking. I'm teaching my first class next week, on doodling. Looking forward to it.





I've been scrapping up a storm before and after Christmas. Last weekend I did 6 L/O's. That's got to be a record for me. I did the Cyber crop at Scrapbook City last Friday night, which was heaps of fun. Here are my 3 L/O's.

Challenge One



Challenge Two



Challenge Three



All the Challenges had instructions and requirements. I love doing Challenges, it makes you think outside the square. Good for the brain! :-)

I've got a few more to share, but I'll save them for tomorrow.

Chat soon,
Chelle Xx

Christmas and New Year

Haven't I been a bad Blogger lately!

Can you believe it's 2007? It'll take me months to get use to writing that. I've got some Christmas pics to share with you.

We spent Saturday 23rd Dec with my family this year, as our "family" Christmas. Was nice, we usually always spend Christmas Day with my family and Boxing day with Jase's, but this year did it round the other way. Had fun, the kids were spoilt rotten, by Nana and Pa and Kel and the gang!
Christmas eve we headed to Jase's older sister, Tracey's place. We had Christmas with Jase's family and Barrie's(my BIL)family. Lots of bodies to house, and a few tents pitched in the backyard to accomodate everyone. They are on acreage, so there was plenty of room. A great few days was had by all. Lucky we left a note for Santa, to say we were at Aunty Trace's. Zac was very addamant about this! He really got into it this year. Woke up and looked out the window just in case the reindeers were still there....very cute!
Here are a couple of pics.
Look what Zac got for Christmas....his crazy Aunt and Uncle bought him a drum kit. My cute nephew is only 6 mths, but can't wait to find the noisiest toy possible for his Birthday!!(He He)


Ella's favourite toy was a Princess Tea Set. A big hit!!


A family photo of all of Jase's side of the family!


We had a quiet New Year...happy to stay home. My sis, Kel and her family came over. They got an eyetoy for their Playstation 2, so the Challenge was on. Was heaps of fun! We only live about 5km's from the City, and at Alderley, are quite high(We live on a hill). So, we walked up the top of the street to watch the fireworks. Great view, and we were up there with about 30 others, popping champagne and sending New Year wishes. Lots of fun....to bring in 2007!

Chat soon,
Chelle Xx