Enough to make your eyes water!

Sam finally got his last tag on his belt before his grading - this time for doing the box splits. He has been able to do the splits for some time now - but not to be able to fully lie down while he does it. Looks painful to me.

This means that he can grade for his brown and black belt a week on Saturday. Then a year from now he should be able to go for his black belt - and if he does it then Sensei kayleigh will be pleased as he will be the first of her students that she has taught right from white belt to achieve it. Will definitely be a proud mummy moment!!

Weekly challenge

Had some quiet time this aftrenoon after doing the school run to have a go at the weekly challenge.

Theme of new beginnings 10pts
Use Stamping 10pts
Glitter 5pts
Monochrome 5pts
The photo shows the beginning of our new home - will Callum standing on the foundations. Stamped some scallops and used Stickles on them and used monochrome Crate Paper.

Mascot

Great excitement in this house tonight.

At rugby training today the kids names were put into a hat to be chosen to be the mascot at the Scotland V Canada game in November. I never expected to get a phone call this evening to say that Callums name had been picked - poor boy doesn't know whether to be excited or terrified!!! One thing is for certain - his Dad will be over the moon.

He gets kitted out in a Scotland strip and lead the team out onto the pitch and stand with them while they sing the national anthem - we had best start learning the words of Flower of Scotland. The match is on 22nd November at Pittodrie in Aberdeen.

No crop - no problem

Due to Andy's first trip offshore I wasn't able to make yesterdays Fraserburgh crop which was a shame as I really enjoyed the last one. So I decided to do nothing but scrap yesterday afternoon and managed 3 LOs altogether. Due to my imposed stash ban I had a rummage through some older stash to see what i could find lurking. Came across the remnants of the first Sarahscards kit I bought last year - the colours in the Tinkering Ink papers matched my photos perfectly.

The first LO is for the Animal, Vegetable, Mineral challenge over on UKS - no people allowed in the photos used. This was the challenge for September - Sanctuary and I thought the photo summed it up.

The second LO is of Callum pulling one of his faces while we were down at the harbour at Findhorn earlier in the summer.

Challenge 4

Over on Sarahs Book of Me with a Difference over on Carolinez Crafts:

Take it literally

For this weeks challenge I would like you to indulge yourself in some reading. Go to your favourite book shop, the kind that has nice cosy couches and a coffee shop, your local dusty old unusual book shop or your local library.
Spend a few hours in the craft section, wander around the cooking section, and dream in the soppy romantic section.

Review old favourites or discover some authors. Maybe pick a book that really wants you to read more and go ahead and buy it. If budget is an issue, take a note and look in your local charity shops or ask the library if they can get it in for you.

Whilst you are whiling away your time at the book shop, think about all your favourite books/authors. Make a list.
So for this week’s LO, either take some pictures whilst at the shop or a picture of you reading that favourite book. Try and include that list of favourite books/authors somewhere on the page.

Happy reading

This challenge was made for me as I always have a book nearby - in the car for when I am waiting for the boys to finish school and there is uaully one in my bag for the odd five minutes I have spare here and there.

I took a photo of the insode of Elgin library where I think I am on first name terms with most of the staff - it has been mentioned more than once that it is my second home!!!

As for favourite authors - that would be difficult as I love so many and it would be a long list. I'm not a book snob and love reading best sellers and chick lit and one of the best books I have read this year was The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.

Blow the cobwebs away

After rugby we went down to Findhorn for a walk along the beach - shame the tide was in but the boys had fun throwing stones (and bringing a variety of them home too!) We sat and watched the seabirds diving for fish and kept a look out for dolphins but there were none to be seen.

Had fun playing around with my camera and in between fooling around I managed to get a few nice shots of the boys.

Its a dirty game

And I think thats what Callum likes most about playing rugby - check out those fingernails!! He got on much better today at training - was right in the thick of things and made a few passes and tackles. He is really beginning to enjoy it I think - even though he now has a sore neck after being stood on!!

Another Award

Callum seems to be going from strength to strength this week at school - today he came home with a pupil of the week award!!

25th September

Here are my Scrap Your Day pages from this month - had fun playing around with my new camera. The theme of some of the photos was reflections so I took one of myself reflected in the wing mirror of my car and of the swans on the pond down at Cooper park. the other pics show some local wildlife (including a heilan' coo), my new house complete with roof and my first trip to the new Starbucks that has opened this week in Elgin - such a shame it is almost right next to the blue door in my photo which is the entrance to my new work!!

Weekly challenge

This weeks challenge over on UKS was to use a photo of someone in bed or sleeping, to use only scraps, stamping and a heart on the LO somewhere.

I used scraps of my favourite ever Scrapagogo kit featuring October Afternoon papers and used my October Afternoon owl stamps.

The photo is of Callum fast asleep on the sofa on the evening of his birthday - these youngsters just can't stand the pace!!

Starbucks

Civilisation has finally reached Elgin in the shape of Starbucks. NoI know it isn't the best coffee ever - and on the whole I don't much like the stuff, but I am partial to a vanilla latte and am eagerly awaiting the red cups!!!

The only downside to this is the new establishment is right next door to my new work - far to handy I think. After being let loose on an unsuspecting public this afternoon I decided I deserved a little treat. So took my coffee down to Cooper Park along with my camera (it's Scrap Your Day today)to take some pics of the swans and guls.

Delicious.

Clever Boy

Reading and writing doesn't come easy to Callum - he finds it all a bit of a struggle. But give him a page of sums and he works it all out in a flash. So he was as pleased as punch to come home with this little certificate from his new teacher.

The boy done good.

Sam arrived home about 10pm last night - full of his news but absolutely shattered. He won 2 silver medals for both points and continuous sparring - lost out for gold against his fellow Kaizen teammate Craig. Sensei Kayleigh had recorded all the fights so this evening I was able to see Sam in action. There is no doubt he is quick - and delivered an impressive head kick - and hopefully as his strength improves he should get better and better.

So being a proud mummy I made him pose out in the garden with his medals so I could get a few photos for the album.

He is hoping for more of the same on 4th October when he competes in the Phoenix Challenge in Inverness.

First day of autumn

Where is this year going - but have to admit that autumn is my favourite season. Here are a couple of pics taken last autumn on our holiday in the Peak District.

Bow Fiddle Rock

While surfing the internet last night I came upon a photo of Bow Fiddle Rock at Portknockie and realised we had never seen it even though its right on out doorstep. Seeing as it was a a beautiful day we decided to take a drive out and have a walk along the coastal path.

Portknockie has a lovey little harbour - there were people mackerel fishing off the harbour walls - although I didn't much fancy a dip in the lido!!

We walked up from the harbour and around to the rocks - passing the aptly named Shitten Crag - it was covered in Comorants and seagulls - and covered in poo! We walked down onto the beach so I could try out my new camera and take some pics. On the way home we had a pit stop to refuel on orange squash and birthday cake!! And I even let Andy have a shot of my new toy!!

Mojo challenge

Here is my take on Wombats gorgeous LO Emily @ 15. Not sure I have done it justice and I had to modify it slightly as I only had 3 photos.

the photos are of Sam yesterday just before he set off to Glasgow for his first big karate competition. He was a bit nervous but so excited to be going on this adventure. I used Pink Paislee Spring Fling papers and some blooms from Sarahscards.

The nerves weren't in vain as Sam won 2 silver medals - and we are waiting for him to arrive home to congratulate him!!

Birthday card

Callus asked me if I would make his birthdday card and not buy one from a shop. I usually struggle with male cards but the Sugar Nellie stamps from Funky Kits fit the bill. I used the cowboy stamp along with some scraps of Crate Paper and Dooslebug alpha stamps. He liked it which is the main thing.

All partied out!

This is what happens when you reach the grand old age of 8 - just can't stand the pace!!!

Good Luck

To Sam who has travelled down to Wishaw to compete in his first big competition. He was nervous but so excited this morning - wish I could be there tomorrow to cheer him on.

Lewis Hamilton had to start somewhere!

Callum decided as a birthday treat he would like to try out the local go kart track. After watching the speed some of the adults were whizzing round at I think he started to have second thoughts.

He set off at a steady pace but then got quicker and quicker as his confidence grew - to be honest I don't think his legs were really long enough to reach the pedals properly. He had a few close encounters with the tyre walls but I think he enjoyed it - and I know Daddy did!!

Birthday Boy

Callum turned 8 today.

His birthday list was a very short one this year - a BMX bike and Lego Agents (set number 5) We duly obliged and Sam got him a big set of Lego Mars Mission which kept Daddy quiet for most of the morning!!

nothing else but a WWE birthday cake would do - and he thought the magic candles that kept reigniting themselves were brilliant - until they set the smoke alarm off!!

Photocube from Lidl

I bought one of the photocubes that were on offer in Lidls this week thinking they might be good as xmas pressies. Till I picked them up - they are really heavy so not suitable for posting. I printed off 3 pics of the boys and was really pleased with the result - it now has pride of place on my desk at my new work.

Andy liked it too so popped back to Lidl tonight and managed to get the very last one so he can have one on his desk too. Not bad for £2.99 each.