Be back soon once we are all feeling better with longer post
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Look.....
....at what I treated myself to...I love the paper at the price i paid worked out to be 20cents per sheet, not thats better than the normal $1.80 per sheet....gotta love the warehouse.
Be back soon once we are all feeling better with longer post
Be back soon once we are all feeling better with longer post
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Ive been busy.....
since I last posted. I thought I would share some of the things I have been creating and a few random photos. First is a kaisercraft tic tac toe that I did for the boys. They really love it and I enjoyed creating something that is for them to use daily and to get use out of it.
I did this cupcake album for a friends little girls 1st birthday. This one I really enjoyed doing with all the pink and ribbon and glitter....so much fun.
And just a random photo of a tshirt I got Steven for his birthday
Okay short and sweet tonight, I will be back again soon.
I did this cupcake album for a friends little girls 1st birthday. This one I really enjoyed doing with all the pink and ribbon and glitter....so much fun.
And just a random photo of a tshirt I got Steven for his birthday
Okay short and sweet tonight, I will be back again soon.
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Another post.....
...before the month is over. A week ago I was asked if I was willing to have our story of autism published again, I said yes as the more word of autism out there the better and hopefully the more understood it will become. So here is the article that with the huge help from Alison Brown has been published in the Valley Voice Rural-August 09 along with this photo of the boys.
Autism: so common, yet so misunderstood
Alison Exelby’s elder son Steven was diagnosed with ‘moderate’ autism when he was three and a half.
Now, at almost nine, he’s mainstreamed and doing ‘okay’ at school, because his teachers, both last year and this, understand the condition, recognise Steven’s behavioural indicators, and value ‘visuals’ in accommodating his special learning needs.
Like many people with autism, Steven is intelligent, inquisitive and focuses intensely on what he’s doing. Unlike many, whose frustrations are reflected in their antisocial behaviour, Steven usually withdraws into himself when he’s confused or frustrated.
Alison and Steven’s teacher have learned that sometimes when given pen and paper he will draw a picture to explain what has upset him. “We use this to find out what’s troubling him when he’s unwilling to talk. Once he has drawn the picture he seems able to tell me more. It’s great that we have found another way for him to communicate so we can understand him better.”
Alison recalls her son’s first 18 months, before she knew there was anything ‘wrong’. “He was screaming a lot and seemed frustrated as though he knew what he wanted but couldn’t make himself understood.”
Her grandmother suggested autism might be the cause and Steven’s progress started when his pre-school also recognised his condition and referred him to an early education psychology service – with a long waiting list.
When eventually Steven’s turn came, a light went on for the family as they were introduced to concepts and ideas that changed their way of thinking.
“We learned that he was a visual learner. And early intervention ideas like visuals workshops were a breath of fresh air,” reckons Alison. “They showed Steven a picture of food – say a banana – and then took his hand to touch a real banana. Then they taught him that if he wanted a banana to eat he needed to take the picture to me.” Alison recalls pictures blue-tacked all round the kitchen. “And it worked: Steven could communicate! Eventually he learned to say the words and we stop needing to use the visuals.”
Steven loves pictures and especially photographs of people and events he’s part of.
“He needs to see pictures that look like the real thing,” Alison says. “I had to explain to the pre-school teachers that there was no point drawing stick people as they meant nothing to Steven. That’s when they got the visuals that Steven could understand.”
While he had one-on-one support at pre-school Steven and his family still had to cope with the real world, which seemed filled with judgmental people.
“Because children with autism are not ‘visually impaired’ there will always be people who assume their behaviour is naughtiness, or simply the result of poor parenting,” comments Alison, adding, “But some are willing to ask you if you need help.”
Nowadays Steven is considered too ‘normal’ to qualify for Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS) funding. At first Alison was delighted to hear the description – until she realised Steven now gets little extra help just because his assessment level is too high.
“He can say the alphabet forwards and back, and count up to and down from 100 – but that doesn’t alter the fact it can be hard for his teacher to keep him on task,” she says. “Steven concentrates on what he likes doing to the point of blocking out everything else.”
Currently Steven gets a couple of hours of teacher aide time at school which is mainly used for story writing time as he finds that hard to do. Alison feels if there was more teacher aide time for him he would be able to cope better. “How can you expect a classroom teacher to coax the best out of children with special needs like Steven’s when he has 25 other children to teach too?” she asks with feeling.
Alison has to juggle Steven’s needs with those of her younger son. Last term Steven started ‘after school kids club’ so that she could share one-on-one 'normal' time with Liam. “Liam has had to grow up fast and cope with a lot. Most of the time he adjusts to playing games the way Steven wants to play them.”
That’s because, besides learning difficulties, Steven has limited social skills – and his own addictions.
“Anything tidily in its place seems to delight him,” Alison explains. She has many photos of Steven with items lined up, re-arranged in diverse shapes and blended colours – all evidence of Steven’s passion for orderliness and his love of numbers and letters. “He’s meticulous about re-arranging things, he makes repetitive noises which his teacher and classmates have learned to ignore, and he has a phobic hand action, a kind of lateral wave, which indicates he’s stressed.”
Anything that breaks into Steven’s routine can cause a change in his behaviour.
“We recently moved, which Steven found to be stressful, but in the week before I was able to take him over to the new house daily to help him see where we were going to live. We took paper over and drew his room and then he drew where he wanted his furniture to go. Knowing what was going to happen and when was very reassuring for him.”
Just as Alison’s learning new ways of assisting Steven, she suggests there’s much the general public could learn about autism too.
She applauds Steven’s school: “They ran a mufti day to raise money for autism awareness,” she says. “And the school office has a DVD that families can borrow to learn more about autism.”
But generally, she believes, people are scared of the situation and don’t know how to cope.
Her advice: “If you know of a child who has been diagnosed with autism, get books out of the library and search the internet for information, and spend time with the parent and child so you can watch and see. Don’t just label the child. And don’t condemn the parents. They need more help, not criticism.”
Autism: so common, yet so misunderstood
Alison Exelby’s elder son Steven was diagnosed with ‘moderate’ autism when he was three and a half.
Now, at almost nine, he’s mainstreamed and doing ‘okay’ at school, because his teachers, both last year and this, understand the condition, recognise Steven’s behavioural indicators, and value ‘visuals’ in accommodating his special learning needs.
Like many people with autism, Steven is intelligent, inquisitive and focuses intensely on what he’s doing. Unlike many, whose frustrations are reflected in their antisocial behaviour, Steven usually withdraws into himself when he’s confused or frustrated.
Alison and Steven’s teacher have learned that sometimes when given pen and paper he will draw a picture to explain what has upset him. “We use this to find out what’s troubling him when he’s unwilling to talk. Once he has drawn the picture he seems able to tell me more. It’s great that we have found another way for him to communicate so we can understand him better.”
Alison recalls her son’s first 18 months, before she knew there was anything ‘wrong’. “He was screaming a lot and seemed frustrated as though he knew what he wanted but couldn’t make himself understood.”
Her grandmother suggested autism might be the cause and Steven’s progress started when his pre-school also recognised his condition and referred him to an early education psychology service – with a long waiting list.
When eventually Steven’s turn came, a light went on for the family as they were introduced to concepts and ideas that changed their way of thinking.
“We learned that he was a visual learner. And early intervention ideas like visuals workshops were a breath of fresh air,” reckons Alison. “They showed Steven a picture of food – say a banana – and then took his hand to touch a real banana. Then they taught him that if he wanted a banana to eat he needed to take the picture to me.” Alison recalls pictures blue-tacked all round the kitchen. “And it worked: Steven could communicate! Eventually he learned to say the words and we stop needing to use the visuals.”
Steven loves pictures and especially photographs of people and events he’s part of.
“He needs to see pictures that look like the real thing,” Alison says. “I had to explain to the pre-school teachers that there was no point drawing stick people as they meant nothing to Steven. That’s when they got the visuals that Steven could understand.”
While he had one-on-one support at pre-school Steven and his family still had to cope with the real world, which seemed filled with judgmental people.
“Because children with autism are not ‘visually impaired’ there will always be people who assume their behaviour is naughtiness, or simply the result of poor parenting,” comments Alison, adding, “But some are willing to ask you if you need help.”
Nowadays Steven is considered too ‘normal’ to qualify for Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS) funding. At first Alison was delighted to hear the description – until she realised Steven now gets little extra help just because his assessment level is too high.
“He can say the alphabet forwards and back, and count up to and down from 100 – but that doesn’t alter the fact it can be hard for his teacher to keep him on task,” she says. “Steven concentrates on what he likes doing to the point of blocking out everything else.”
Currently Steven gets a couple of hours of teacher aide time at school which is mainly used for story writing time as he finds that hard to do. Alison feels if there was more teacher aide time for him he would be able to cope better. “How can you expect a classroom teacher to coax the best out of children with special needs like Steven’s when he has 25 other children to teach too?” she asks with feeling.
Alison has to juggle Steven’s needs with those of her younger son. Last term Steven started ‘after school kids club’ so that she could share one-on-one 'normal' time with Liam. “Liam has had to grow up fast and cope with a lot. Most of the time he adjusts to playing games the way Steven wants to play them.”
That’s because, besides learning difficulties, Steven has limited social skills – and his own addictions.
“Anything tidily in its place seems to delight him,” Alison explains. She has many photos of Steven with items lined up, re-arranged in diverse shapes and blended colours – all evidence of Steven’s passion for orderliness and his love of numbers and letters. “He’s meticulous about re-arranging things, he makes repetitive noises which his teacher and classmates have learned to ignore, and he has a phobic hand action, a kind of lateral wave, which indicates he’s stressed.”
Anything that breaks into Steven’s routine can cause a change in his behaviour.
“We recently moved, which Steven found to be stressful, but in the week before I was able to take him over to the new house daily to help him see where we were going to live. We took paper over and drew his room and then he drew where he wanted his furniture to go. Knowing what was going to happen and when was very reassuring for him.”
Just as Alison’s learning new ways of assisting Steven, she suggests there’s much the general public could learn about autism too.
She applauds Steven’s school: “They ran a mufti day to raise money for autism awareness,” she says. “And the school office has a DVD that families can borrow to learn more about autism.”
But generally, she believes, people are scared of the situation and don’t know how to cope.
Her advice: “If you know of a child who has been diagnosed with autism, get books out of the library and search the internet for information, and spend time with the parent and child so you can watch and see. Don’t just label the child. And don’t condemn the parents. They need more help, not criticism.”
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Change
I'm not a great fan of change, I like to know what is happening and when its happening.....but i also think we need change to help us grow and adjust to things. At the moment we have lots of things changing here. This weekend we are moving(not far) for the last couple of weeks I have been busy sorting, packing and cleaning. I can tell you now I'm over it all and will be glad to be moved into the new house. The new house doesn't have a sleep out like this one does which was very handy to store stuff/junk, but has a garage which this place doesn't have. There are positive and negative for both the houses but at the end of the day I decide the move would be worth it and we will be better in the new house. Both the boys have been very excited about the move and Liam still is very excited, Steven not so much and because everything is pretty much packed now he is getting a bit stressed. And then i question if all this stress is worth this change for us all. But i know he will be fine once we are in the house and the boys are at their dad all this weekend so I will make sure i have their rooms sorted first. I took Steven over with some paper and pens so we could draw a plan of his room and where he wants everything to which has worked nicely( will add photo of it later on)I thought I will also use it as part of a layout too add to his album for him. Steven has lots of questions about when we are moving where everything is going and who will be moving into our old house. On the bright side its good that the move is over the holidays to give him time to settle in before going back to school. On top of packing and cleaning the boys have been sick, nothing to major just enough that they don't feel well and seem to be annoying easily by one another. I will be back again once we have moved and I have most things unpacked(hopefully not another 2mnthstime like it has been since my last posted before this one). Fingers crossed Saturday will be fine for the big move, have a nice weekend and make the most of this lovely sun.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Another layout
A couple of close up since I enjoy these photos at the moment and the finished layout which I'm totally loving. A very different layout from what I normally do and for me its busy I know there are many of you who have layers and layers of papers and flowers and lots of embellishment, but I'm very simple and keep to the basic and while I know this is still very simple for me its also busy and I love it...lol....but a great layout starts with a great photo right and this photo if Liam is my favourite at the moment. I wish Steven was as willing for me to photograph him so I could get some great shots like this of him too.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Just a few layouts.....
The Blue Ribbon Belle is my favourite layout...after reading Ali Edwards blog about organising all the stuff kids bring home from school this is what i created. I had the photo of Liam form the school production and he still had his mask which was on his bookcase collecting dust but he didn't want to throw it away. So I have lots of ideas for other layouts to use up those pictures and keepsakes that the boys bring home.
Very simple layout but all group photos in the boys preschool/school albums are very simple. Still love doing hand stitching and this circle took nearly an hour to do...I didn't think it would take long but it takes a while to do. When doing hand stitching i wait till I'm sitting down and watch TV and do it then.
I cant remember when Liam started collection the mail, I know there is a post about it on here somewhere and it was many months ago now and he still collects the mail every day.
Very simple layout but all group photos in the boys preschool/school albums are very simple. Still love doing hand stitching and this circle took nearly an hour to do...I didn't think it would take long but it takes a while to do. When doing hand stitching i wait till I'm sitting down and watch TV and do it then.
I cant remember when Liam started collection the mail, I know there is a post about it on here somewhere and it was many months ago now and he still collects the mail every day.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
bit and pieces
I have been asked where I scrapbook now so thought I would show a couple of photos of my new scrapbooking area which is now in the lounge/dining area. I got the bookcase from the second hand shop. The plastic draws I have had for awhile which I got from the warehouse, I find them very handy as you can see with having so many of them. When having such a small area to work with I don't have that much stuff really and I think it looks quite tidy. I'm amazed when you at American scrapbooker's area/rooms and they have soooooo much stuff, like a mini shop really. I stand up when I scrapbook and this cupboard is the perfect height for me. When I need to sit down which I do every now and then I sit at the dining room table.
Because it is too late to get a nice photo of my layout I was working on today here is a small part of the layout....I love how these close up photos look so interesting showing the detail and texture of a layout....tomorrow I will share the whole layout.
A couple of photos that were taken when Steven was at kindy many years ago now. When I was changing rooms I found this frame so did this up for them. I LOVE black and white photos...look how little my guys were, Liam and his chubby little cheeks.
Liam's new room...look at all that space, I still have some sorting with the stuff on the shelves but he is happy to be in the biggest room of the house.
This is Stevens old room, not much room for a 8year old to play.
And his new room, he even keeps it pretty clean and is over the moon with the space.
And my new room,LOL I think I got ripped off. But at the end of the day I only sleep in my room so I don't need any space, the boys need space in their rooms. Its a shame the walls are so YELLOW and don't match my duvet cover at all, not to worry the landlord is back at the end of this year and I'm told he wants to paint so maybe I will have white walls.
Because it is too late to get a nice photo of my layout I was working on today here is a small part of the layout....I love how these close up photos look so interesting showing the detail and texture of a layout....tomorrow I will share the whole layout.
A couple of photos that were taken when Steven was at kindy many years ago now. When I was changing rooms I found this frame so did this up for them. I LOVE black and white photos...look how little my guys were, Liam and his chubby little cheeks.
Liam's new room...look at all that space, I still have some sorting with the stuff on the shelves but he is happy to be in the biggest room of the house.
This is Stevens old room, not much room for a 8year old to play.
And his new room, he even keeps it pretty clean and is over the moon with the space.
And my new room,LOL I think I got ripped off. But at the end of the day I only sleep in my room so I don't need any space, the boys need space in their rooms. Its a shame the walls are so YELLOW and don't match my duvet cover at all, not to worry the landlord is back at the end of this year and I'm told he wants to paint so maybe I will have white walls.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Time for an update.......
dont know where to start its been so long since I have up dated my blog. I have been busy rearranging the hosue and have moved everyones bedrooms around to a different room. Steven is at the age where I thought he really needed more space and room to play, his old room(which is now my room) could fit his bed and set of draws and that was pretty much it...now it fits a queen size bed and tv at the foot of the bed and nothing else,LOL.....also Steven never had toys in his room and hasnt done since he was about 4years old. Since he has moved rooms and is now on the other side of the house(which is sunny in the afternoon so his room is alot warmer inthe evenings) which is Liams old room and I tell you I wish i moved him into this room years ago because he is now sleeping through the night(most nights anyway and its longer than his old usual 11pm-3am). So YAY for a good nights sleep. This photo is Steven and Piggy who goes everywhere with him, I have banned him from the toliet and bath, but other than that if you see steven piggy wont be far away.
Love this photo of Liam, the boys love to have a nice deep bubble bath and we had run out of bubbles and i always forgot to get them when i did the shopping. When I didnt remember Liam had soooooo much fun with them but was a bit surprised when i came into bathroom to get photo of his silly antics,LOL. A 21st photo for sure.
Look what I treated myself too, a friend does Stampin' Up and when I saw this i had to have it(as you do). the next punch i want to get is called Spiral which is one that i ahve been after for awhile that give you a note book spiral edge look, but for now im happy playing aorund wiht this one.
The last week of school was camp week. This year the years 1-4 went to Hamilton Zoo for their day trip. I was hoping to go but didnt in the end(but thats a whole other post) the boys enjoyed themself although a bit let down i wasnt going. The girl I look after in the mornings, her mum went and kept me up to date with txts about the boys for me(I know im mad worry wart mother) she txt when they were leaving Hamilton and told me that Liam had fallen over and grazed his knees but he was fine....poor wee man when i saw him he looked so sad and sore with plasters on his knees and his shorts rolled up so they didnt rub on the plasters and he was walking like an old grandad anyone would have thought he twisted his ankle or something. Once home I managed to convince him to take the palsters of so the air could get onto the sore and they can start to heal...i have been nice and not shown the photo of the raw knees.
ONe of Stevens favourite books....Steven doesnt like photos at the moment and runs and hids so this is the best I can get of him at the moment and while you cant see his face I think its nice photo showing what he enjoys doing, and best of all hes not a running away blurr,LOL.
I havent been very creative lately but here is one layout i did the other night which i quite like. i showed it to liam to see what he thinks and he told me it doesnt look finished but couldnt give any ideas of how to finish it...what sort of scrapbooker is he,LOL. Have a few more layouts but its too late to get photos of them tonight.
A random but favourite photo at the moment.
Lots more has been happening but nothing that I really want to blog about. Totally enjoying the holidays and the boys being at home and most mornings they climb into my bed and have lie in and watch Ben 10 on my bedroom tv and then we get up and start our day....we will all go into shock when school starts again. But also looking forward to school for Steven to get back into routine...he says he misses school because he likes to work and hates the holidays and yet when he is at school he pretty much refuses to do work. And then Liam says he loves the holidays and doesnt want to go back to school because he hates to work and yet he does very well at school,LOL....me i just want a bit of normal in my life(whatever normal is) but we are getting there, baby steps im told but then how long can we take baby steps for? Somewhere along the journey the steps have to get bigger and more effort and achievement have to be done? Right im not going to go into this Im going to finish of here with happy note that I have two nights without the kids this weekend so im off to get some sleep and then a day of creating tomorrow I think. Have a great weekend.
PS...its midnight and blogger spell check isnt working and Im lazy and cant be bothered going throught to spell check so sorry for all the mistakes that im sure there will be.
Love this photo of Liam, the boys love to have a nice deep bubble bath and we had run out of bubbles and i always forgot to get them when i did the shopping. When I didnt remember Liam had soooooo much fun with them but was a bit surprised when i came into bathroom to get photo of his silly antics,LOL. A 21st photo for sure.
Look what I treated myself too, a friend does Stampin' Up and when I saw this i had to have it(as you do). the next punch i want to get is called Spiral which is one that i ahve been after for awhile that give you a note book spiral edge look, but for now im happy playing aorund wiht this one.
The last week of school was camp week. This year the years 1-4 went to Hamilton Zoo for their day trip. I was hoping to go but didnt in the end(but thats a whole other post) the boys enjoyed themself although a bit let down i wasnt going. The girl I look after in the mornings, her mum went and kept me up to date with txts about the boys for me(I know im mad worry wart mother) she txt when they were leaving Hamilton and told me that Liam had fallen over and grazed his knees but he was fine....poor wee man when i saw him he looked so sad and sore with plasters on his knees and his shorts rolled up so they didnt rub on the plasters and he was walking like an old grandad anyone would have thought he twisted his ankle or something. Once home I managed to convince him to take the palsters of so the air could get onto the sore and they can start to heal...i have been nice and not shown the photo of the raw knees.
ONe of Stevens favourite books....Steven doesnt like photos at the moment and runs and hids so this is the best I can get of him at the moment and while you cant see his face I think its nice photo showing what he enjoys doing, and best of all hes not a running away blurr,LOL.
I havent been very creative lately but here is one layout i did the other night which i quite like. i showed it to liam to see what he thinks and he told me it doesnt look finished but couldnt give any ideas of how to finish it...what sort of scrapbooker is he,LOL. Have a few more layouts but its too late to get photos of them tonight.
A random but favourite photo at the moment.
Lots more has been happening but nothing that I really want to blog about. Totally enjoying the holidays and the boys being at home and most mornings they climb into my bed and have lie in and watch Ben 10 on my bedroom tv and then we get up and start our day....we will all go into shock when school starts again. But also looking forward to school for Steven to get back into routine...he says he misses school because he likes to work and hates the holidays and yet when he is at school he pretty much refuses to do work. And then Liam says he loves the holidays and doesnt want to go back to school because he hates to work and yet he does very well at school,LOL....me i just want a bit of normal in my life(whatever normal is) but we are getting there, baby steps im told but then how long can we take baby steps for? Somewhere along the journey the steps have to get bigger and more effort and achievement have to be done? Right im not going to go into this Im going to finish of here with happy note that I have two nights without the kids this weekend so im off to get some sleep and then a day of creating tomorrow I think. Have a great weekend.
PS...its midnight and blogger spell check isnt working and Im lazy and cant be bothered going throught to spell check so sorry for all the mistakes that im sure there will be.
Thursday, 9 April 2009
SALE! SALE! SALE!
Scrappin' Patch are having a sale, go and check out there website and grab yourself a bargin with 30% of from Thursday 9th April until Tuesday 14th April. Offer applies to instock items only (not preorder products), excluding diecut machines.
Im going to head over there now and grab myself a bargin before everyone else gets there,LOL...I will try to make it back here again over the long weekend with some 365 project photos and catch up.
Im going to head over there now and grab myself a bargin before everyone else gets there,LOL...I will try to make it back here again over the long weekend with some 365 project photos and catch up.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Autism Awareness Day
Did you know that one in every 100 New Zealand Children has an autism spectrum disorder?In order to raise awareness of this issue, Autism New Zealand is holding Multicoloured Mayhem Day on 2nd April this year.
When Steven started mainstream school there were 4 kids at his school that had ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorder). For a small country school of a couple of hundreds students that was more than enough ASD students for the school, now he is into his 4th year at school and there are two students with ASD. This year is the first year that the school has done anything for Autism awareness and I think its fantastic. Lets get the word of autism out there so that people understand that when a child is screaming in the middle of the supermarket it doesn't mean that that child is naughty or the parent has no control over their child, let us understand that that child may have ASD and cant cope with the flickering of the lights or the noise of the beep for every item being scanned, lets understand that these child find it VERY hard to cope and understand our world. Take time on this day to think about those affected by autism, the child and the families.
Thanks to the help from Louise Williams the Franklin ASD Support group now have a website. So if you have the time go and check it out, I have added link on the sidebar for the website.
Friday, 20 March 2009
Another layout
using the Paper Pesto monthly kit, other than the butterfly and thread for stitching everything else is from the kit. I really like how this page has come together. The chipboard butterfly had crackle paint which I love the affect of once it has dried. I'm loving hand stitching at the moment and did a bit on the machine for this layout as well.
The boys are away with their dad for two nights again this weekend and while I do enjoy having that extra night I do miss them when they are not here and I miss our Sunday mornings at home not having to get up and go anywhere. But since he is off to America for a month I am making the most of the breaks I get before he goes away and they don't have their Friday nights with their dad......Steven finds the extra night a bit hard to deal with in that its a change from whats normal but he loves his time away and I love when they come home and give me big hugs and tell me they love and missed me.
Liam is doing REALLY, REALLY WELL at school and had a test yesterday(and if you know the name of the test let me know I was told but I cant for the life of me remember-it was maths reading and spelling all that sort of stuff to see what level he is at)and the teacher who took the test told me I should be very proud of Liam as hes a very smart young man. In many ways hes too smart for his own good,LOL.....His class teacher has also said to me in the past that he is very good at his maths and spelling. he is one of the youngest in his class and he does do really well for himself, he does however need to remember when he needs help to ask his teacher for help which he wont do and even at home if he is stuck with something he tends to sit and just wait for me to notice he needs help or he will continue and get him self annoyed and frustrated because he cant work it out himself instead of just asking for me to help him. I do think its good to a point that he wants to do things himself and work things out but he needs to learn that there is a point where he needs to ask for help and that its okay to need to ask for help. So I'm very proud of Liam and I think its great that he is doing so well and above his age level in most areas.
Steven is also doing really well at school and is now getting into doing most of his school work. After weeks of Steven not writing his homework into his book or even doing his homework I suggest to his teacher that letting Steven type it on computer and print it out might help and encourage him to do his work. So Monday he let Steven type his homework list out and print it off and glue it into his book and Steven did it no fuss, YAY....so through out the week Steven has had more computer time to do some of his work, like story writing which Steven totally hates but with the use of computer he is happy to type you a whole book, lol. And for years now I have asked the school for Steven to have more use of the computer to do his work because at the end of the day he is not a typical child and you need to try different things with him to encourage him to do his work. he is still doing story writing but he is typing instead of writing BUT to me its the same as he still needs to think about what he wants to type and hey at the end of the day if it means he will actually do his work instead of flat out refusing to do any work all day then let him use the computer I say. So YAY for his teacher willing to give this a try and see that it works for Steven. Looks like another great year for Steven at school.
Well thats all from me for now Im off to scrapbook my next few nights/day away,lol....have a good weekend everyone and hope we still have this lovely sunny weather for a few more days.
The boys are away with their dad for two nights again this weekend and while I do enjoy having that extra night I do miss them when they are not here and I miss our Sunday mornings at home not having to get up and go anywhere. But since he is off to America for a month I am making the most of the breaks I get before he goes away and they don't have their Friday nights with their dad......Steven finds the extra night a bit hard to deal with in that its a change from whats normal but he loves his time away and I love when they come home and give me big hugs and tell me they love and missed me.
Liam is doing REALLY, REALLY WELL at school and had a test yesterday(and if you know the name of the test let me know I was told but I cant for the life of me remember-it was maths reading and spelling all that sort of stuff to see what level he is at)and the teacher who took the test told me I should be very proud of Liam as hes a very smart young man. In many ways hes too smart for his own good,LOL.....His class teacher has also said to me in the past that he is very good at his maths and spelling. he is one of the youngest in his class and he does do really well for himself, he does however need to remember when he needs help to ask his teacher for help which he wont do and even at home if he is stuck with something he tends to sit and just wait for me to notice he needs help or he will continue and get him self annoyed and frustrated because he cant work it out himself instead of just asking for me to help him. I do think its good to a point that he wants to do things himself and work things out but he needs to learn that there is a point where he needs to ask for help and that its okay to need to ask for help. So I'm very proud of Liam and I think its great that he is doing so well and above his age level in most areas.
Steven is also doing really well at school and is now getting into doing most of his school work. After weeks of Steven not writing his homework into his book or even doing his homework I suggest to his teacher that letting Steven type it on computer and print it out might help and encourage him to do his work. So Monday he let Steven type his homework list out and print it off and glue it into his book and Steven did it no fuss, YAY....so through out the week Steven has had more computer time to do some of his work, like story writing which Steven totally hates but with the use of computer he is happy to type you a whole book, lol. And for years now I have asked the school for Steven to have more use of the computer to do his work because at the end of the day he is not a typical child and you need to try different things with him to encourage him to do his work. he is still doing story writing but he is typing instead of writing BUT to me its the same as he still needs to think about what he wants to type and hey at the end of the day if it means he will actually do his work instead of flat out refusing to do any work all day then let him use the computer I say. So YAY for his teacher willing to give this a try and see that it works for Steven. Looks like another great year for Steven at school.
Well thats all from me for now Im off to scrapbook my next few nights/day away,lol....have a good weekend everyone and hope we still have this lovely sunny weather for a few more days.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Another layout
Another layout using the kit from Paper Pesto, not the best photos of Liam but I loved the big smile and had to scrapbook them even used a flower on a boys layout which I don't do unless I'm in the photo as well. Other than the chipboard that Liam's name is on all the rest is from the monthly kit.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Im Back......
Not much to share that is worth share so will make this post a post of my layout i have been creating over the last couple of weeks. These first three photos are using the monthly kit I got from Paper Pesto this is the only the second kit i have ever bought and I challenged myself to doing at least one layout using only what was in the kit. The lettering I coloured to suit the layout with one of my pens the paper i screwed up then sanded and inked it, the thread through the buttons is the only thing that didn't come in the kit. Love the end result and love the cute papers that came in this kit. More creating with it to be done.
These are some other pages that I have done over the last few weeks. Most are scraplifts or from my page maps book. There are two that I still need to do the journalling for but other wise they are all my quick and easy simple style, and I have found no matter how hard i try to add more i always end up with simple so have decide that just the way i scrapbook no point in changing what works ah. Have also started having Monday as my scrapbooking day with a couple of friends who come over for the day and we scrapbook our day away
Will try and make it back here again in the next few days with some photos of my 365 project. hope your all having a great weekend and enjoying the warm sunny weather while its still here.
These are some other pages that I have done over the last few weeks. Most are scraplifts or from my page maps book. There are two that I still need to do the journalling for but other wise they are all my quick and easy simple style, and I have found no matter how hard i try to add more i always end up with simple so have decide that just the way i scrapbook no point in changing what works ah. Have also started having Monday as my scrapbooking day with a couple of friends who come over for the day and we scrapbook our day away
Will try and make it back here again in the next few days with some photos of my 365 project. hope your all having a great weekend and enjoying the warm sunny weather while its still here.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Happy 6th Birthday Liam
I cant believe that we are at years 6 already, you are growing so fast changing from my little baby boy to a very handsome young man.....I love you lots and look forward to the years ahead of us.
Friday, 13 February 2009
Every Woman Should Have.......
MAYA ANGELOU'S'
BEST POEM EVER
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
enough
money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to..
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
something
perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams
wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD
HAVE .
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a past juicy
enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her
old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
one friend who
always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
a good piece
of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her
family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
eight
matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for
a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
a feeling of
control over her destiny..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD
KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit
a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend
without;
ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN
SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK
AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her
childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over.....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she
would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live
alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY
WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to
go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a
charming Inn in the woods....
when her soul needs
soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a
month...and a year...
BEST POEM EVER
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
enough
money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to..
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
something
perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams
wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD
HAVE .
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a past juicy
enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her
old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
one friend who
always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
a good piece
of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her
family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
eight
matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for
a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
a feeling of
control over her destiny..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD
KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit
a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend
without;
ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN
SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK
AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her
childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over.....
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she
would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live
alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY
WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to
go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a
charming Inn in the woods....
when her soul needs
soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a
month...and a year...
Monday, 2 February 2009
First layout
I honestly cant remember if this was my very first layout but it was one of the first layouts I ever did. I remember Steven was at home with his dad and I spent the day around at Tanya's place with Liam-he was about 8-9 months old at the time. Tanya and I spent the day scrapbooking. When I started I taught myself then I held a creative memories class at my place. So that's why even thought my first page there is colour and its not the white background like what creative memories teaches.
Another earlier page of mine which is the white background of Liam's first xmas.
Now these are the pages I do. This one I love with all the cutting out and I went through a stage of cutting out swirls and vines etc.....*note to self to finish this layout off*
And this one is one that I finished last night.....loving this one too and I wish all my layouts I could look at them and say there is nothing I would change about them...but I guess they cant be perfect all the time. Might have to display this one in my scrapbooking room for a little while before it gets hidden in an album.
So school is back tomorrow and while Liam is sort of looking forward to it, Steven is trying everything to get out of it. Yesterday he had a little sore on his foot and said oh well looks like I cant go to school if I cant walk....nice try buddy but you are so going to school kicking and screaming if need be. I do feel for him because I know and understand that first day of school is very unsettling for him and there are lots of new changes he has to get use to, but sadly this is just the part of life he HAS to learn to live with and deal with. But I have talked to the school today and they have organised a teacher aid to be with him all day tomorrow, so at least I can drop him off and know that if he is too unsettle there is someone there to help him and calm him down(fingers crossed).
Another earlier page of mine which is the white background of Liam's first xmas.
Now these are the pages I do. This one I love with all the cutting out and I went through a stage of cutting out swirls and vines etc.....*note to self to finish this layout off*
And this one is one that I finished last night.....loving this one too and I wish all my layouts I could look at them and say there is nothing I would change about them...but I guess they cant be perfect all the time. Might have to display this one in my scrapbooking room for a little while before it gets hidden in an album.
So school is back tomorrow and while Liam is sort of looking forward to it, Steven is trying everything to get out of it. Yesterday he had a little sore on his foot and said oh well looks like I cant go to school if I cant walk....nice try buddy but you are so going to school kicking and screaming if need be. I do feel for him because I know and understand that first day of school is very unsettling for him and there are lots of new changes he has to get use to, but sadly this is just the part of life he HAS to learn to live with and deal with. But I have talked to the school today and they have organised a teacher aid to be with him all day tomorrow, so at least I can drop him off and know that if he is too unsettle there is someone there to help him and calm him down(fingers crossed).
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