This Fella...

... started Playschool today.
He'll go every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, for 2.5 hours.

Boy, was he ever so excited. He's been asking us for weeks, "When's playschool starting? What grade am I going to be in?"...hee...cute!

Of course, this guy missed him...


...a lot!

And so did Mum :(

De-Cluttering Life

Lately I've been feeling overwhelmed.
By everything.

I've had to step back and take a cold, critical look at where I am, and where I'm going.

One big thing i've noticed is that through the years my life has become cluttered: physically and emotionally.

I have made the decision to de-clutter it.
Now.

I started with something small... my library books.
I've always had a pile of library books on my night-stand.
Just looking at that pile puts me off reading.
And I forget about the books (which I am not reading)
And the fines start piling up.

So, I returned all those books, I "just had to read".
And I picked one book from our home library (yes, it is a rather well-stocked and current library), and started reading it.
I read for 2 nights...
And finished the book.
And loved it.

Next I sent back the rented DVD's that were sitting on the mantle.
Movies I "just had to watch" but didn't get around to even breaking them out the case.
Sent them back.

To keep the momentum going, I picked up a small pile of scrapbooking supplies, and auctioned them off on E-Bay.
And they were sold.

Then I packed a big box full of supplies and donated it to a non-profit organisation which auctions off goods at Christmas.
So, the scrappy pile is being reduced...

How do you de-clutter your life?

So, the school that the girls are attending is pretty close to our house.
In fact, they've been walking to and from school every day.



I rushed out one afternoon just so I could get this shot of them walking home :)

Kerseni and I, looking rad and fab in Durban, South Africa - July 2009

I realise that I've been very slack on keeping up my blog for a while.
In fact, some days, I think about just forgetting about it altogether.

Then I talk to someone (usually a friend or family member) who mentions that they love reading it, seeing the pics and keeping up with my scrappy stuff.

Then I come back to it.
Like now :)

Life has gotten so busy lately.
Since we got back from South Africa, we have decided to make some major changes in our lives. The trip was a huge wake-up call.We saw the life we could have had, and realised that we were leading lives that fell so short of what we want, what we grew up with, and what we want our children to experience.

So we've been making changes.
And it has been exhausting.

School started 3 weeks ago and getting into the routine of making lunches, packing snacks, over-seeing homework e.t.c has been challenging. The boys are home with me, and since they're not T.V fiends, they need to be occupied every. single. minute.

I havn't had a whole lotta "ME" time lately.And I've been feeling and looking pretty neglected.
Hopefully that'll change once the help we're hiring gets here in a week and a half.

Okay, gotta scoot...started a new tradition of baking from scratch on a Thursday :)

Summer's almost over...

Ara and Cai --- taken at one of the nearby lakes a week or so ago

This has been the longest summer we've ever experienced since coming to Canada, over 8 years ago.
Usually by the time the kids go back to school, there's a noticeable chill in the air, and they're wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt to school.

This year, though, they're still wearing summer dresses, capris and shorts to school.
(You'll have to take my word on this, since I don't have pics to prove it -- see previous post hee-hee)

We've been busy busy busy since we got back from S.A.
Lots of new stuff going on with our family.

As far as scrapping goes, I'm going through all my stuff now and trying to organise a garage sale.
At the moment I have a ton of Basic Grey 12x12 Paper packs for sale. So, if you're looking for something in particular, just holler at me 'kay?

Okay, off to take a tea break...later gators :)

Supplies: "Upsy Daisy" - "A new Day" patterned papers; "Circle of Friends" brad; "You make me Blush" rub-ons; AC chipoard Thickers

"How YOU doin'?"
(said in my best Joey Tribiani voice)

The girls started school this week.
I forgot to take pics.
*gasp*
The entire week.
I meant to...even charged the batteries...
But just plain forgot!