What a week !! It has been eventful and busy to say the least ( and yes this is my pitiful excuse for not updating sooner )
First without any more to do because I am sure people are sick of waiting - last night Caitlin and I put all the names into her hat, I did say she had one for the job- and the winner of the papermania goodies is GERTIE


Caitlin was so funny - she took her duties very seriously and when she pulled out the name declared she was delighted Gertie won which is really weird as she hasn't ever in her life met or knows Gertie as far as I know !! That kid cracks me up sometimes.
But apparently Caitlin thinks you really deserve the prize LOL So email me your address to harropaj@gmail.com and I can pop those things in the post for you.
Thanks so much for all the suggestions I will try them all out and let you know how we get on.

Talking of goodies I was sent this gorgeous doodlebug key ring in the post with a pretty card from my lovely bosses Becks and Katy. I adored it but decided to pay it forward and decorated and popped in pictures of the grandkids for my Mum - she and Dad were up this week just before they jetted off to Oz for a very well earned holiday to celebrate Dad's retirement.


We had a small get together before they left with Indian and Champagne and of course the wonderful tacky gold watch to mark the occasion.


Dad and Mum were in great form and the kids took delight in dancing in the kitchen with Grandpop - bless him he always does something silly to entertain them when he is here knowing full well photo's will be taken for evidence and bribery later on.


I hope you both are enjoying yourselves down under - I am not jealous or anything but texts at 4 in the morning telling us how good the weather is - well that is so not fair LOL good job I am a heavy sleeper. I am glad you got there in one piece though and give all my love to Auntie Chris and Uncle Kevin xxx

When we weren't partying this week we have been busy being creative.


Cailtin had a school project to make a Viking ship this week and she took it all very seriously.
We made it together - she did cutting, I did drawing, she added eyes to her dragon head and I assembled the boat. She actually embossed the shields herself after a quick how to from me - she is great at art this kid and she made her sail all by herself.

She was so proud of it and teacher was impressed and wanted to know where to get brads and embossing powder from .


I was being creative myself and made layouts and even a card this week - the card is for a pink challenge group over on Facebook and the layout well it is another holiday one just for our album.

I also made butternut squash and sweet potato soup yesterday. Jennie had made some earlier in the week and I wanted to try it out myself - it was delicious with crusty bread especially yesterday with the miserable rain.
I took this picture as part of the challenge over on Ali Edward's blog taking pictures of your week - I am hopeless though and keep forgetting to do it.

I did take a picture of this though - this is what happens when an 18 month old gets hold of your chalk ink !! All she said was " I is pretty ?" Good job it is washable is all I can say.


Ohh I nearly forgot we have a new addition to the family - Cailtin has been working hard to get stars this week and her reward for getting 25 stars was to pick a fish from the pet shop.


His/her name is Rainbow ( personally I think it is a boy but Caitlin thinks it is too pretty to be a boy ) and it is a Siamese fighting fish apparently although this one seems to be a docile and placid thing and so pretty.

Dave came up to visit too this week out of the blue which was a lovely surprise - it was his Birthday on Friday too.


so Happy Birthday Dave .

It was great to see him again , he has threatened to come up again soon and I will hold him too it.

Well I better go so much to do and the kids are getting restless !!