Chipboard and chalks - altered item

This is a mini board book made from chipboard..similar to a mini baby book...I wanted to make it into a little album recording Sams favourite things at 2........the edges are sanded and chalked...the binding is chalked...the @ inside is chalked....

The chipboard letters on the front are gorgeous (K&Company)I've journaled about the things Sam loves too.....

The first picture shows the chipboard book before I started.....

chipboard and chalks - layout

I painted the letter stencils red and then sanded them....other chipboard pieces are painted white and then 'aged' with black/ brown chalk.....the torn paper edges are also chalked......the journaling is about how Chris rarely smiles for pictures!!!

Chipboard and chalks....card

This is my card......I chalked the blue onto the plain white flower.....I used chipboard letters as stencils to create the 'love' letters......they are chalked....I embossed the chipboard 'frame' on the flower......I wnated the card to be simple and elegant...

Iron Chef pieces.....

This is round 4 of Iron Chef...and this Sunday they will pick only 4 people to go through to the next round.....and one of those is from the sous chef group...so from my group they will pick three people.....I am very doubtful that I will get through...I REALLY don't expect to....but I am pleased with my pieces...I put in a lot of planning despite only getting them done today - I work better with a deadline....my work doesn't compare to a number of the girls in the contest - I know that....I don't have that artistic flare that they have....BUT I have realy enjoyed taking part...I have learned so much....I have tried so many different ingredients that I would not have tried had I not taken part.....

It has been fun....I will post pictures of my pieces next....

Sam joins the fun...

Sam is always determined to join in whatever the older children are doing, so yesterday he had his own chopsticks and plate of beans.....he did pretty good really - even if it meant stabbing the beans with a chopstick ;)

Chopsticks....

Some pictures from yesterday when the children taught Dan to use chopsticks...they used jelly beans on a plate which is quite difficult but really helps you learn to use them well....then they had races to see who could move the beans from one bowl to another :) Now Dan wants us to have a Chinese meal so we can practice with the chopsticks!

I'm not sure Dan got the right 'hold' of the chopsticks but at least he was getting the beans in his mouth lol....

British Import Store visit........

On Wednesday night we took Dan to West Ed Mall for the evening - to see the dragon at Silver city that blows out real flames.....to see the hemp store.....do a little shopping - and visit the British Import store.......

Here is a pic of the treats that I bought!!! The Lion Bars were a thank you to Chris for babysitting.....the Hula Hoop chips were for the kids to take to school in their lunches - they did that yesterday and shared them with their friends....chicken chasseur mix is for Sunday dinner..the rest is ALL MINE!!!!!! :)

I had really wanted Frazzles.....but they didn't have any...and a DRifter but they didn't have those either :( Dan bought loads of stuff which is crazy as its expensive and he may be back in England ina few weeks (although thats looking doubtful as the job prospects are looking good!

Dan is spending a day with Sams DH on Monday - he will go to work with him for the day - meet the boss and give in his resume.....and he will get to see what life as an audio engineer is like...they may have a job for him....

Amazing stereo system!!!

Chris came back from school today saying his friends had found this cool way of listening to music.....you shove the earphones up your nostrils and open your mouth and the music comes out of your mouth!!!!

So they announce this just as we finish dinner..still at the table....so of course we HAVE to test this out and luckily Laurie has his MP3 player in his pocket so we try it and it WORKS...............

Chris says the earphones now need to be decontaminated and we can't mention this to his friend because they are his friends earphones hahahahahaha!

Friday...

I took Abigail and Sam along to the first drop-in playgroup at the community hall. Its free every other Friday from 10am until 12pm....

I went along to support my friend Samantha as she is involved in setting it up...I was only planning to stay until 11am as I ahve so much to do for my Iron Chef contest....but we had so much fun that we stayed the whole time...I met several new Moms from the area...and one of the little girls from preschool yesterday clung to me for the morning!!

The children decorated butterflies with glitter glue and sticky foamies.....and their favourite thing was when Deb made a huge soft play area and they got to run and dive through a hoop into the softplay mats......even Sam adored that!

We got home around 12:20pm and I have tidied up, made lunch, done some laundry, cleaned the bathrooms and Sam and Abigail have been playing playdough at the table....

Dan made himself a HUGE pan of Kraft dinner with tuna and sweetcorn....he is giving what was left to Charlie atm but it sounds very noisy in the mudroom - no idea what they are all doing in there!!!

We still have not been grocery shopping properly since Dan arrived so Lloyd has to stop off and get some tuff on his way home - we really need to find the time and motivation to do a proper shop rather than running out for a few things every day....

Tonight we have no plans.....maybe a movie.......I am supposed to scrapbook my iron chef pieces....I will NOT be ready for Sunday :(

I'm so tired....

Job.....

I've (kind of) been offered a job......I've been asked if I'd like to take over the running of the preschool from September....Debbie is leaving for another career and they need a new preschool teacher.....and they suggested I do it....

I'd have to get my first aid....and send in my resume......but I don't need to be qualified in early learning....

I can take Sam with me (and Abby if she isn't at Kindergarten those days) so I wouldn't need childcare........and its literally 5 minutes from my house...they said I could even choose the hours the preschool runs if I wanted to...but I think the current hours/ days are good........

So I'm going to think about it...look into the first aid course...talk to Debbie again on Tuesday and yes, maybe I will become a preschool teacher!!!!