A Chillaxin' kind of weekend

As much as I hate the word chillaxin' (a cross of chill out and relax for those of you who don't know what it means), this is the one word which sums up my weekend perfectly. Every time I hear the kids at school say the word, the hairs on the back of my next stand up and my insides cringe. But that is the beauty of the English language, it is constantly evolving and changing. Even Shakespeare did it - apparently he made up every third (I think that is the number) word he used. Anyway, enough of the linguistics lesson - I don't want you all falling asleep on me hehehe.
The reason why Chillaxin' was on my mind all weekend was the photo I used in this layout. As soon as I saw this picture of Lachlan on my camera screen, I knew that chillaxin' had to be incorporated onto the layout somehow:

My next scrapping item was the dreaded school picture. I don't know how many of you out there feel the same way as me but I HATE scrapping the annual school portraits. This one is almost two years old and I have lost count of how many times I have pulled it out and put it away all becuase of the background. I seriously do no know what the photography company were thinking when they chose that background to go behind green school shirts. I finally bit the bullet and just grabbed papers, sucked it up and scrapped the layout. Not happy with it but it is another layout for the album:

And finally, I tried move away from my single photo layout trend used in the previous two layouts to create this:

The pictures are from our day trip (one and only day trip - never will I drive up that horrible road again) to O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland. There is nothing wrong with the Retreat itself but omg the road up there leaves a lot to be desired. I am not normally one to succumb to car-sickness (only one other time prior to this and that was due to an unknown pregnancy) but I did not enjoy the car trip at all. The walking trails up there are awesome and the scenery totally beautiful but nope, sorry not for me ever again lol. Please don't let my bad travel experience let me change your mind about heading up there. It is something everyone needs to do once lol.

Heading towards the end of the term. Students have assignments going left, right and centre. My Year 12's are on the countdown for the rest of the year - 8 teaching weeks (or 40 days) according to them; eek is that enough time to get through everything I need to get through???

Have a good week everyone.

Sarah xoxo

A Work in Progress actually finished ... kind of

Hehehehe how is that for confusion. Talk about a paradox or an oxymoron if you have ever read one (ok note to self, stop using words on my blog that I have been using all day with my Year 10's hehehehe).
I had trouble falling asleep the other night. Mitchell (DS1) and I are going through a rough patch at the moment - all we ever seem to do is fight and argue with each other and we aren't doing that, one or both of us are crying because we are hurt and upset. He is such a complex kid - he doesn't always cope with change well, will question things constantly (and I mean CONSTANTLY) and has a hard time coping if we can't give him the answers to his questions. I have several thoughts about all that but here is not the time or place to be going through that - think I need to process a few things first. Anyways, back to the other night. The night ended the way it has done quite a lot lately - cross words between us, some yelling and tears (on both sides) and when it was finally quiet and everyone was in bed I sat in my scrap room processing everything that has been happening between us lately. I know that part of the reason why we clash is that our personalities are just far too alike (both a bit OCD when it comes to certain things, both have to question why things are the way they are, we are creatures of habit and we are both people pleasers which usually means we get hurt easily and a lot).
So I sat down and wrote a letter to him just to put it all out there. I know that a lot of the way things are between us is my fault, I know I could and should be a better mother to him but I tell ya, in the heat of the moment I forget that. I know that he would not understand the meaning behind the letter so I decided to hide it behind on a scrapbook layout. One day when I think he understands better and when I can deal with him seeing my emotions spilt out there on the page, I will show him but for now we are just a work in progress:

Dear Mitchell, Well it is close to midnight on Monday August 16 2010 and I am sitting out in the scrap room going over and over the last few days. Tonight has ended with more cross words between the two of us - something which seems to be happening more and more these days. I don't really know what has changed between us but all we seem to do is argue and fight. I wish I could climb inside your head sometimes so I could get to understand you better. You are such a complex little boy which makes it that much harder to know what you are thinking and feeling. You get uptight and wound-up about the simplest things and I am beginning to think that is where a lot of our problems stem from - we are just too much alike. Perhaps that is what the problem is - our personalities are just too similar. But that is not an excuse. I know I could and should be a better mother to you. I know I should not take my anger and frustration out on you. You are just a kid, you don't deserve that. Mitchell, you must be so confused about me and how I am, so I guess it is no wonder you act out the way you do - you are only acting that way I am. I am not perfect and I don't expect you to be either but I promise you this Mitchell, it will get better than this. Life is full of highs and lows. Right now things are not great but it will get better, we will find a way to work through this. Always remember that no mater that is going on between is, I do love you ever if I can't tell you or show you how I am feeling. I love you with all my heart, Mummy xoxoxo.

Wow that is a lot of emotion there. Not sure whether I should run away and hide or put it out there for the whole world to see.

Thanks for stopping by.

Me xoxoxo

Has it been THAT long???

Oh my goodness - three-ish weeks between posts; what is with that??? There is no real reason to explain my absence other than trying to fight off the winter cold and flu season. I was only back at work for a week before it hit me like a Mack truck and I am still battling it. The aches and pains, sweats and fevers have finally subsided so now all that I have left to battle is sheer exhaustion and a rattly cough.
Most days as soon as I get home from work I climb into bed for an hour or so just to try and refresh for the night ahead - cooking dinner, getting homework and chores done - all the usual stuff. Then as soon as the boys are in bed, I am looking for the covers as well. I have never slept so much in my entire life I don't think and yet I am still soooooooooooo tired.
Today was the first day that I have gone through the entire day without having a little nanny nap and I am amazed that I am still awake this late at night. Well it isn't that late by my usual standards but in recent weeks it has been.
My other surprise for the weekend was that I actually managed to scrapbook - the first time in almost 6 weeks. Yep, I am still picking my chin up off the floor. Very simple layouts and one is a lift of Anthea . I used this as my inspiration to get back into the scrapping game. So Anthea, I hope you don't mind and thanks a BUNCH for inspiring me.


All of the photos are from our holiday at the coast at the end of June/start of July. Oh how I wish I was back at the beach, digging my toes in the sand and watching my boys doing their thing. This week is hump week of the term which means 5 down and 5 to go. Bring on the holidays so I can try and refocus on my scrapping again.
Thanks for stopping by. I promise I won't take so long to post next time.
Cheers,
Me xoxoxox