When You Take A Class .....

I find that it is hard to stay on topic. Luckily there is no law saying that you need to adhere to the topics in JYC but there is a nagging feeling within me that I'm not really participating in the true sense. I am not overly sentimental about Christmas, I thoroughly enjoy the time with my family and that is what Christmas has always been for me. We put decorations up after the school year finishes, we also wait until then for the Christmas music to go on and we prefer to spend time with the people who are important to us rather than rushing around madly shopping.
We still seem to manage to fit in plenty of shopping and mad rushing - I just don't like this to be the focus.

I'm struggling a bit to write about my 'perfect' Christmas or my 'countdown' to Christmas this early in December - for me, these topics may be easier later in the month. Actually, probably not the 'perfect' Christmas prompt - I have a great deal of trouble with this word, perfection around a celebration like Christmas is not easily achieved, if at all.

What I fully embrace about a class like JYC is its ability to make me think, reflect and embrace what is happening now. I like to be encouraged to record each day - it is an invaulable incentive. I am accutely aware of how brief the moments of childhood are, the funny words and the pull your hair out days. So, while December is a month of great celebration it is still an ordinary month in an ordinary year with all of the ordinary moments that help to make my family unique.

Not So Far Out Of My Comfort Zone ......

Sorry Mel, sorry Di - not so 'mucky' after all. For all of my good intentions I have not strayed too far -

But, I didn't use a template. I used some real life kraft cardstock - not digital - I sort of stuck to the topic. I did use ink, Staz On and I used a Stampin' Up stamp. Most exciting of all, I used some bling - I nearly fainted when I came up with the idea and then I had the thought that there actually may not be any bling in the stash ..... of course there was! So, maybe I need to learn how to cut loose a little more ..... don't hold your breath ;-)

So, The Excuses Begin ......

Yep, I'm busy - fun stuff though.
I've also committed a scrapbooking sin - for me that is ...... no journaling.
Here is day three of JYC - no journaling - off topic - oh well .......

The Next Pages ......

Just a quick one to update my Journal Your Christmas pages - the forum is huge, I'll just post here and maybe link back every now and then.

Nothing like keeping it simple .... again, thankyou CZ for the templates - you make life very easy.

On The Scrap Front ......

I'm feeling positive and productive on the scrap front. Up until August there were only a few pages in the album and that was making me feel annoyed but, I didn't know how I was going to improve upon my paltry number of pages. So, a combination of on-line scrap classes, feeling more confident with digital pages and the odd challenge here and there I feel as though I've had a productive end to the year.

Journal Your Christmas with Shimelle Laine has begun and I've got a couple of my pages to share.

I'll probably stick to a digital format for the most part - using templates are quick and easy and I don't want the class to become a chore or an obligation.

I've also got some recent paper pages up my sleeve ..... I'll save them for a rainy day!

Where I Live ....

This song is iconic for Melbournians.
Paul Kelly is an iconic Australian - you can see him at the concert hall, in a local pub or he'd be right at home out beside a camp fire.
He is a story teller.

This song tells a part of our story.
We like the old Nylex sign that tells us the time and the temperature.
We like the Skipping Girl.
We like the MCG.
We don't mind sport ......

This song has the ability to make us homesick.
I can see myself walking past all of the places mentioned.
The river is always dirty.
The city looks different now.

This is my home.

Ten On Tuesday .....

1. Today is the first day of the last month of the year. Is anyone else wondering where 2009 may have gone? This has been a year of change in our family with the first born starting school - what seemed daunting and overwhelming has been delightful and a lot of fun .... if not a little tiring.
2. We have an extremly full calendar over the next three weeks - keep calm.
3. Today is the first orientation session for three year old Kinder. The young lady is quite excited, she's already telling us that she's going to 'her' Kinder - this is going to be a very interesting experience for the young lady ... her prime coping mechanism is a short sharp squeal - mmmmmmm?
4. For someone who usually has a lot to say, when I sit down to write a list of ten in the moment items I'm struggling - imagine me staring out the window wondering what I can write next.
5. Oh, I know ..... this weekend I vacuumed, mopped, cleaned the bathroom, dusted and ironed what seemed like an absolute mountain of clothing - see, I'm grasping at straws.
6. I'm contemplating the Christams Cards for classmates issue ..... wondering if I should whip up a quick little digital number for the first born to take to school - not sure yet.
7. A dear friend is leaving to live in China at the end of the month - I am sad. She's not Australian so these will probably be our last opportunities to see each other in real life.
8. How do you cope with children home for the school holidays? I'm concerned about the last two weeks.
9. I've been working hard at the gym - surprisingly, I'm really enjoying myself.
10. The kids seemed to be getting colds last week - I'm grateful they didn't progress any further than what they did ..... snotty noses and hot weather don't make a pleasant combination.

What's been going on .....

over at our place -

 Something gorgeous arrived in the mail from the lovely and extremely talented Rinda.

 I've been inflicting my inadequate craft expertise on the six year old .... come on, it's a clown fish in a coral reef - what? You can't see that?

 Serves me right for having an email conversation with Di.

 So, we've had a months worth of rain in about one hour - don't be fooled ... it's still 30 degrees.

Feeling Scerene ......

Do you have .....

a favourite book from your childhood?
I do. Actually there are five which make up a series known as 'The Dark Is Rising'  by Susan Cooper.
I first read these books when I was thirteen and I still love them - which says one of two things a) I'm quite immature or b) they are very good - we'll go with the latter.

The link I have provided gives quite a good overview of the books, please don't dismiss them because the reviews are rather old - Shakespeare's old too! I'm really looking forward to the day when my kids are old enough for me to read them aloud - too bad if it will be when they are of an age where they probably won't appreciate their Mum reading aloud!