Okay I know a serious update is well overdue but I had to share this --- it is OCTOBER and it is SNOWING here right now !!! I will get typing and do a full update later - it has been a hectic weekend to say the least.

Hi Mum and Dad - I know you are checking in while down in Oz and yes I feel guilty I haven't updated sooner.

I was full of good intentions but I had no pictures and I hate having no pictures as I know my writing skills aren't up to much.

I did have this picture - it is my layout for the Creativity Life website challenge this month - pop over if you would like to win some goodies


It is not that we were not doing anything this week either.
Becca had her election unfortunately she didn't quite get though ( she is not too upset though ) the head of the boy's GAA team got it which she thought was kind of expected , such a sensible head on her has my girl.
Caitlin got to go swimming twice as she has been behaving so well but I couldn't take pictures of that as they get kind of narky at the pool :)
And I forgot the camera for riding which is a shame as Caitlin and Becca were cantering with no hands - yes on purpose - it was to teach them to control the horse with the legs and not to constantly rely on their reins.



I did take pictures of Cailtin's nails - why ? because she got the nail polish as part of her star chart she gets to choose 4 different prizes each week when she hits certain star targets and for 20 stars she got sparkly nail polish.
The whole star chart thing requires lots of effort on all our parts but the difference in behaviour has been noticeable to say the least. Even teacher has commented on it.

Becca has started to be more organised and cleaner too which my biggest bug bear with her ! Which is why I took this
Okay it isn't perfect ( hospital corners are not know to this girl ) but her bed has been made every day this week I could almost cry with happiness at not having to nag her into doing it- I know it is the little things that make me happy !!


The girls also made miniature gardens, truthfully I am not sure what made them make them other than boredom and rainy days but they are cute and are living on the kitchen window sill for now.


I made this Halloween banner too also due to rainy days and free time as Jennie was off this week and I was Rachel free. I am going to put it on the door nearer to the day but it is living in the living room for now.
I used Lil Davis chipboard banner shapes and Scenic Routes Salem papers to make the base for the letters.


The letters are Tim Holtz grunge board - which I inked and then embossed with Sparkly black embossing powder and my trusty heat gun.


The pumpkin I made by drawing onto patterned paper and paper piecing it together.



The spider's web I drew on the paper with an embossing pen and then used the sparkly powder again and made my spider from the middle of a grunge board letter and card stock strip legs.



I also made a Christmas card as promised - I wanted to try something different so I tried a transparent card.


I cut two pieces of paper exactly the same size and glued on either side of the transparency to make sure no glue was showing and I added the Merry Christmas with Stays-On ink.



Finally I believe this is out in the first week of November and I am quite chuffed as both the layouts on the cover are mine :)

I love Autumn - yes I do and today was such a lovely sunny day compared to the non-stop rain we have had recently it that it made me remember what I love about this season so as you can see I have updated the blog to reflect this time of year.


I also wanted to share this project with you I made it last year but could not share at the time. It was made from an old and slightly dodgy looking letter and notepad holder, the calendar is changeable and the pocket holds and mini album with my favourite Autumn pictures.
To get me into the season a bit more I also made a new soup this week after my success with butternut squash and sweet potato last week.


This week it was Roast Pepper and Carrot soup from the Avoca Handweavers book and it was fabulous, so tasty and perfect for the girls after riding. They came back muddy and happy after a hack where Rebecca finally got to Gallop !!
That is not all Becca has been up to she also is up for Student Council after being put forward by her teachers and the election is on Tuesday. I asked her if she was worried about it but no, not her, she thinks it will be an experience either way - typical laid back Becca.


Although I saying that she made me giggle this week when she told me her metalwork teacher thinks she would be perfect for the Drama Club LOL He actually thinks she is a great kid though and wants her to stay in his class as she is just trying the subjects out at the moment they choose their favourites after Christmas.

I have no pictures of Caitlin this week (I know it is a shock !!) and she has been so good as well - the star chart system seems to really be working and she got so many stars this week she earned swimming - her favourite thing to do after riding of course.

We even managed to clean up her room this weekend and this is for her door - she loves to help make things she chose the flowers and colours.
Oh and she insisted I show you the clay animals, they were actually made by the kids last week but I forgot to post them ( bad mummy ) they are very proud of them and wanted to know why they hadn't made the blog !!


They are pretty cool - the tortoise is mine he is called Trevor according to Caitlin the namer of all things in our life.


I also made a layout - another one just for fun, just for me, well actually this one is just for Rachel's album but it was fun never the less. It was Rachel's first walk on her own in the woods and she made it the whole way too chasing after her cousin.



I am always in awe of Christine Middlecamp's work, the details she has are amazing so I tried to take a leaf out of her book and doodled and layered embellishments - fun I tell you. I will be doing it again !

Talking of Rachel she is all about the details too at the moment - she adores hats and shuuuues
(shoes), she got new boots this week and they have to be the cutest thing ever.


I adore baby boots and I love the fact she crosses her legs and swings them when she is drawing at the table - hard to get a picture of though.


Also she has started to give me the cheesiest grins when she is getting her picture taken, mad as a brush that kid is, she was wearing Caitlin's hat and running around the kitchen munching on an apple.



Finally I leave you with this weeks card - I have decided to try and make one a week for the up coming festive season like last year, I might have enough if I start now LOL I know it is similar to last week's but I wanted to try it in traditional colours too.

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 !!