Peek a boo.....

I discovered a new scrapbook challenge site a little while ago. The Southern Girls Challenge really appealed as it's NZ based (since I'm a kiwi girl) but also international (since I am that too) submissions are accepted.

I missed the first challenge, the second challenge wasn't for me (didn't really have the supplies) and the third challenge - working with 4 patterned papers - came at the right time. I'd just finished the below layout working with Cosmo Cricket papers (the Early Bird line) that came in one of my monthly kits. Papers worked so well with the photos.

Creative Scrappers - Sketch 121

This is my very first sketch entry to Creative Scrappers and is my take on Sketch 121. This was such a fun sketch to follow !

For those reading my blog for the first time I'm a kiwi girl living with my family in the bright lights of Hong Kong where everday is an adventure and something new is always happening ! We've been here for 2 years - hard to believe as time has just flown by.

I used an old collection of Sassafrass Lass - Fawnd of You too. I just LOVE Sassafrass and can't wait to start using my collection of NEW papers. The flowers were just plain yellow so used Glimmer Mist - Electric Blue. They turned into a gorgeous torquoise blue. The Thickers were plain white so used Distress Ink Brick Red to add a touch of colour.





Please leave a comment on this post - would love to hear from you !

Miss 3 - Settling in

Victoria has had her first full week at school. And has just LOVED it !!! She tells everyone that she is a 'big' girl now and that she goes to school. The morning drop offs for some reason she gets abit teary - she thinks that we'll go before giving her a kiss and a cuddle ! It only lasts for a minute though. Also after getting told off on her first day the first thing she says to me when I pick her up is that "I didn't get told off today" !!

This photo is what the school sent to me. They've changed how they're going to do things so I'll be receiving photos electronically and will upload here. She is painting a very special dinosaur !! The said painting came home today ! It's her very first piece of art to bring home - and I know that it won't be her last. I had to sort through all Hannah's work and then "file" them when she wasn't around. I've taken photos of the art that she did so that we always have a record !


This photo was taken today when I picked her up. I took some the other day but deleted them before I had downloaded them - very clever I know. She's got her library folder with her library book. Couldn't wait to get home and have it read to her.

Miss 3 - Preschool

Today was Victoria's day. It was her first morning at pre-school. She has been looking forward to going to pre-school since we've been back from Thailand. Since Hannah started school she'd be asking "my turn now?". It'll be so good for her to have her own activities and to make her own friends - she really has been lost with Hannah at school. The photos below are of her just before she left this morning. I did take my camera to pre-school for pick up but didn't get any of her coming out.

I was abit concerned when we first go to school as didn't know how she'd go - it could have gone in either direction. She walked in by herself and knew the way - was very happy. Meet the teachers and sat down at the table to play with playdough. I had a chat with the teachers and said to her that I was going "OK Mum, bye" ! Was more than happy to stay ! Yay !!!

Went back for pick-up 3 hours later and it was very odd when I first saw her as for the past 2 years we've been there waiting for Hannah. I do wonder how many times she will get called "Hannah". She was excited about what she had done and told me a few stories. I asked her did she like school "NO". Why not? "cos I got told off" Why did you get told off "I wasn't listening". Her first day too !! At least she told me.....!! Another funny story was I asked about what she had for her snack "Cookies and watermelon. I ate the cookies - there were 2" What about the watermelon ? "No didn't eat that. It was rubbish so I put it in the bin"

Getting ready to go....THE bag !

So excited to be off !!

A new chapter begins !

Introducing Miss 5.....

Warning : this is a LONG post...

Today Hannah turned 5 ! It brought with it alot of emotion as our little girl is now 5 ! Where have the last few years gone. With the school routine as it is and not wanting to miss the bus she has to be woken up about 6.40am normally. Today, being the occasion it is I woke her up earlier !!! Couldn't send her off to school without opening up some pressies.... she doesn't normally like being woken up, well who does, but with it being her birthday she was abit more agreeable than usual.

The anticipation....


Opening....


To reveal...Doctor Barbie (we already have a Dr Lally - that's Victoria)


Birthday girl off to school..

Birthday girl back home opening some more pressies that had arrived - great timing !

Loving the card and the badge...

Wearing the badge...

Is this an ice cream....? no it's lip gloss and a pen !

Blowing candles out...

Off to the pool with dad...

Today was her birthday but yesterday was her party. A few friends came round to celebrate with her. Many of them are just back in HK after their summer vacation so they haven't really seen one other since end of school - 30th June. It was alot of fun. We had a few games - Pass the parcel, fairy freeze (statues), pin the star on the fairy wand - or they read books and entertained themselves. It was great as it meant the the mums (and Paul) could catch up and goss !!

Waiting for friends to arrive....

With dad...

Drawing...

Reading books...

Fairy freeze....

Pass the parcel..

Hannah and Vivienne waiting their turn...

Lining up to play pin the star on the fairy wand...

Party food.....

Blowing the candles out....on a cupcake.....

THE cake....it's ice cream so candles wouldn't have worked in it for very long hence the cupcake. Yes, it's home made !!

Group photo....

Victoria with her raisins....after the party....

Opening party pressies....

Even Victoria got a turn....

More pressies....

Our beautiful BIG girl - she's not so little anymore....

Big School

The 19th August 2010 is a pretty important day. Today Hannah started school !!! A new chapter is now underway. She was so excited to be going to big school. Ever since we got back from our summer holiday she would ask how many more sleeps to go. Such a big occasion.

School hours are 8.15 -2.40. Many school start and finish around this time to avoid the rush hour traffic - and it can be a nightmare the traffic here. Paul and I had to take her to school. It was advised not to use the bus system on the first day so we got a mini bus and taxi. Typical - it rained ! It was on and off all day. Thankfully, the downpours only happened once we were indoors.

For the first week the class has been split into 2 and they each go every other day until Friday 27th. It's a full day they're going for unlike some of the other schools here where they've got split days.

Hannah just LOVES going to school. She was so excited when we picked her up on her first day and was showing us this is where she ate her snack, what they did. It really was wonderful to hear. I got told that I hadn't given her enough food (that has to be a first) and I need to give her more on Monday. I best check with her if it'll be enough......

Her first day - we're about to leave the apartment


Yes, the bag is still big !


Waiting to go to her class - 1D. Her teacher is Miss Davies.


Today, being Monday 23rd was her turn again. This time we caught the bus. She was so excited to be going to school but rather anxious about catching the bus. This is something completely foreign to her as for the past 2 years I've taken her to school - either walking or on the mini-bus. I went with her this morning (I think she felt better when I told her that this was my first time on a school bus too!). We left the apartment just after 7.30am to go downstairs to the entrance to wait. The bus arrived at 7.45 and hopped on. We were at school by 8.00. I took her to her area to wait with her friends for the bell to ring and the teacher to arrive. She was happy to say goodbye. I was doing great until I saw a little boy in another class not very happy !

Waiting in the playarea

Waiting

And off she goes.....

Victoria and I went downstairs about 3pm to wait for the bus. Victoria was so excited to be waiting for Hannah and sat on the ledge and watched all the traffic that came up the hill. As soon as she saw the bus it was "There it is, there's Hannah's bus. I see it".

Here comes the bus round the corner

It's getting closer (it's passing our apartment driveway entrance)

And here she is !!!

She had another wonderful day. She's looking forward to Wednesday. They went to the music room today and met her music teacher. She was so impressed with it and said "There's lots of really cool instruments there. I'm want to learn how to play one".

Koh Samui - on the road

We decided to hire a car for a couple of days to explore the island. It's not that big of an island - 21km at the widest point and 25km at the longest. It's about 53km to go right around and I think, from memory that there is only 2 sets of traffic lights. The middle of the island is just jungle and we didn't venture in. We had plans to go see waterfalls but after reading comments of other people's we decided probably wasn't a good idea.

Don't you just love the power lines !! We did experience a major power outage - there had been a tropical storm with lots of wind and rain. The power to our area Cheong Mon was all affected so wasn't just us. We decided to head to the busy part Chaweng Beach and as luck would have it the power came on just as we were waiting for transport. We still went there was wasn't sure if it was just a 5 min thing or if it had been completely restored. Would have been a warm night otherwise....

This is down at one end of Cheong Mon. The street to the right takes you to the beach while the other road is the main road. We were waiting to be picked up to return to the apartment.


This is at the south end of Chaweng Beach.


Victoria doing her favourite dance move and pose at the Big Buddha


Me trying to be artistic.....

This is taken at the lookout point. The beach you're looking at is Chaweng Beach. As you can see by the white sand it's a rather large beach. There's lots of restaurants and shops but we prefer our little corner of the island.

The girls at the Butterfly Garden.

Looking at Bophut Beach from the Big Buddha. This area is another great place and is just around the corner from where we are

The Big Buddha

The girls ringing the bells around the Buddha. It's meant to bring you luck. You just don't do one. You start at one end and go around - 3 sides of a square. Each bell has a different sound as they are all different sizes. They loved banging and hearing what the sound was - you're only mean to bang each bell once !!