Merry Christmas one and all...

Just popping in to say Merry Christmas to all my friends and followers.... Hope your day is as awesome as ours has been.  

 

Having this little person and his Mum and Dad here made it very special.  Breakfast was with all the family after present opening.  A quick trip to the beach for some of the family followed by a nap for the little one, while we prepared lunch then of to the beach we went - adventuring for the small one and his parents...  He walked the pipeline (nearly 1/2 a kilometre  or more along and back!)   He should sleep well tonight! 

I'll be AWOL for the next week or so... tomorrow morning we head off to a Camping Ground and are tenting for the next week.  First time in nearly 8 years since we've camped... going to be great fun.  Giving Archie is first taste of camping.   

Blessed Christmas one and all,

Visiting the parentals....

I've been away for a few days as I made a flying visit to the Gold Coast Australia to spend a few days with my parents and celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday.  It's approx a 3 hour flight from Auckland to Coolangatta (Gold Coast).  I went over Thursday afternoon and back Monday afternoon.  It was to be a surprise visit... my brother knew I was coming and was picking me up.   But fate intervened.... Dad rang Wednesday night to let me know my Mum was unwell and was in hospital so I had to let him know I was coming the next day.  He didn't let Mum know so it was a huge surprise to her when I got to the hospital.  Luckily she was able to come out the next day. 

Dad and I went out for a lovely walk on Friday morning

On Saturday, I caught up with my friend Michelle.  We haven't seen each other for about 5 years...  She took me to the Spit ... a very pretty spot where I could look down to the main Surfer's Paradise beach

The two of us  

Sunday was Dad's birthday and we had a lovely dinner cooked by my niece Toni. And Dad enjoyed himself.   Mum was up to eating with us which was lovely.  

I was sad to have to come home, but really please I was able to be there to help them celebrate.  

And before I leave, I have a photo that Dad showed me of my family circa 1960.  I was three and my brother 15 months approx.  

 

Time to get back into some crafting ... at least for a couple of days, before we head away for a 4 day weekend in Napier to visit some friends... we are flying down ( a one hour flight on a little wee plane)  A very busy September!

Sending thoughts and prayers to all my American followers who have been caught in the storms - hoping everyone is safe. 

A Penny Black sketch...........

and saying goodbye to my girl.... yes today Emma headed back to Perth.  The last 10 days seems to have simply flown by.  I've enjoyed the break from work and spending time with my family.  We all went out to dinner last night to say goodbye.

Before heading out to the airport I was checking my blog feed and visited Debby's blog and saw that Penny Black Saturday had a sketch challenge.   I haven't used my PB stamps in ages, so I got them all out and looked to see what would suit.

I chose a butterfly from "Enjoy Life" set.

I used two strips of some beautiful washi tape I got a while back.  I laid the ribbon between.   I inked up the butterfly in Pine Needle distress ink and lightly coloured it with the ink and a Copic marker.  I die cut it with Spellbinders circle and matted it on the green card.  I trimmed a couple of thin strips of the green card and laid then alongside the tape ( thanks to Jennifer McGuire for this tip)  Finished with a green bow and some little black gems.  Quite CAS.

I had stamped a little Hedgie from "Hedgie Friends" and after dropping my daughter off, I pulled together a second card with a piece of My Minds Eye paper I had on my desk,

This time I made the sketch a bit more landscape. I used the backside of the PP to make my little edging strips.  I used a Spellbinders circle die to cut my Hedgie and matted it with a fancy circle die.   My sentiment was from "Mimi and Miles"   Another CAS card.

This has also been entered into the Penny Black and More challenge~ Blossoms and Bows

And I'd like to leave you with a photo of my children and their partners

My son is the one in the cap.... and my daughter is obviously the one with the striped top.

Back to work for me tomorrow....  have a great week.

Love my Family....

This weekend has been just wonderful.... I had ALL my family home on Friday night.  Just magic.  My daughter had to sign some legal documentation so made a flying visit home from Perth.  She arrived in Auckland at 5.50 am on Friday.... and was home for breakfast by 7.15am.  Something to eat and a shower and her and I were ready for a day of catching up and shopping.  She signed her documentation, and we hit the shops.  She got a few new dresses and tops, me a dress and an anorak.  In the middle we stopped to visit Emma's friend, Tash and her new baby girl.  Little Bella is 8 days old and was so adorable. She was asleep while we were there, so no cuddles :(  Finally got home at 4.45pm... to find son and his girlfriend here to shower before we all headed out to celebrate ( early) my birthday

My two babies!

All of us

Kieran, his girlfriend Mel and Emma.

We had a delightful dinner at Gaku Teppanyaki in Browns Bay.  Emma said she hadn't had teppanyaki since she left Auckland.    Kieran and Mel stayed the night as they were in the process of moving house over the weekend.  

And I'll finish with a share of the card I made for Emma to give Tash

We saw Emma off just after lunch today... a 7 hour flight back to Perth.  Literally a flying visit for her.  Just loved having her home, even for such a short time.

Hope your weekend was a happy as mine has been.  

Dawn

Happy Birthday Chelsea.

Yesterday my great niece Chelsea turned one!!!!  Boy does time fly.  She is a real cutie and has two lovely big brothers....  My niece posted some of her birthday party photos so I'd like to share with you some of my lovely family....

The bottom photo is Vicky with Chelsea, Zade and Hunter.... what a lovely family you have Vicky.

And here is the card I sent to Chelsea... my little star

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my family.

More wedding fun

A few more tidbits to share from Emma's wedding.... at the reception all the tables had been named and a plan made of where everyone was to sit

Emma had then made a wine glass charm with everyone's name on it which she put into a little chiffon bag together with a piece of a jigsaw puzzle - everyone had to write a little word of wisdom on the back of.... All the chiffon bags were the colour of the table... we sat at Emerald table and our bags a lovely green -

And now for some more photos. 

these were both taken before leaving Emma's place.  My glasses are photo-chromatic so I look like I am wearing sunnies.... but it was just so sunny...
I really love the one of my two beautiful children.... can you guess that I am one very proud Mama....

this last one is my parents with Emma.  It is lovely that her Grandparents were there with us.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great week.

My Big Boy

Kieran is my youngest - almost 21 now, grown up way to quickly. Tonight he is all dressed up to go the "The House of the Year" function, where his boss is up for a category prize. Kieran helped work on the renovation so the boss got tickets for him and his girlfriend to go along... black tie so Kieran hired a suit. Doesn't he scrub up well. I am very proud of my boy.... he is such a sweetie. Both he and Isobel looked wonderful tonight, but seeing him all dress up makes me realise he is not my little man anymore.... I can hardly believe this is my baby! ( I can just see him cringing when he reads this)
Anyway thanks for visiting.

Mothers Day flowers

Mothers Day flowers
Originally uploaded by turleyfamily(Dawn)

I decided to start a few flower cards for HA challenge this week. I had been watching Kristina Werner's MACM video and got the idea for this card from there. I stamped the Inkadinkadoo (Doodle Flowers) in olive chalk ink onto craft card. Stamped the Sentiment (Stamp-It) and covered it with the printed organza. The butterfly is from HA Artistic Butterflies set - which I coloured in with watercolour pencils. Finished with some gems. I am taking a few mother's day cards to work for my workmates to choose from.

On the home front, we are still waiting for Diane to have her operation to remove the mass on her brain. Hopefully tomorrow. Hubby is going to head down to Wellington tomorrow after work... going as far as Hamilton to stay overnight and then take his brother with him. Hamilton is around 2 hours away and then a further 6 hours travelling to Levin to visit their Mum - Wellington is a further 1 1/2 hours from there.

Quick cards

Family arrived safely yesterday - MIL looking really good. Today Hubby took them out shopping and then we had a lovely barbeque - steak and salad-dinner. Made two little cards for Diane and June to give to Emma with housewarming gifts. Didn't get round to photographing again. One was using HA 4 dolls and the other one used an Inkadinkadoo flourish on it. Pleased with them both. Will take a pic tomorrow and post. I'm having the day off to entertain... might go have a pedicure.