Here again

I did exactly what i used to hate other bloggers doing! Disppeared! I really cannot believe i havent posted a blog post in over a year. That pretty much sums up my year, it flew by!! I took up a new position for a national charity and with my new job came less time to write a blog, keep up with blogs and as for stitching? Well, theres has been very little of that over the last year! I cannot even remember where i kept my blog feeds. Im sure i switched to Bloglovin when Reader went but now i cant find anything there. Ive restarted again on Feedly but now im trying to remember and track down the hundreds of blogs i used to follow! Its a lot easier to read blogs now i have a decent phone with decent apps!

I always used to worry when bloggers disppeared that something bad had happened, or they'd got sick etc etc It wasnt the case here. Ive generally just been super busy. I work, i ferry the boys about to all their different clubs, i run, i lead a running group, im chair of the parent council, i take exercise classes, we go to church. Life is busy busy busy!

2014 has been a great year! Im just trying to think back to all the things that have happened this year. I had some big personal achievements; i walked the West Highland Way (96miles) in June, i ran my first ever half marathon in October and i climbed Goatfell in Arran for the first time too. My eldest boy started school!!! He has lost 4 baby teeth! My youngest boy turned 3! We had a great 2 week holiday to Florida back in March. My husband started a new job.

I always stitch the boys an ornament for Christmas and at least i still managed to do that this year! Minecraft and Minions

If anyone out there still reads my blog let me know so that i can be sure to put you into my new Feedly. Cheers x

Im back

Im here, blogging, at long last. I think this is the longest break ive ever had from blogging, its not really been intentional, there are just always other things that need done and blogging is the first thing to go. My return to work probably coincided with my blogging hiatus. I work 25 hours a week as a project coordinator for a charity and that, along with 2 kids, a husband, 2 rabbits and all the household 'stuff' pretty much fills all my time. I just logged into my Bloglovin' account though and i see many of the blogs i follow have also been on a bit of a break too. Funny how that happens!

Lets see if i can remember some things that have happened since i last blogged back in June.

-We had the hottest July i can remember and i spent a fabulous week at our church camp in the glorious sunshine. Arriving at camp in shorts and vest tops at 8am and still in the same leaving at 10pm at night is unheard of for me. This is Scotland! It was really great.

-On the 11th August our family increased by 2. We got bunnies! Here are Hippy and Hoppy :)

- Matthew and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary.

- We went away to Centre Parcs in the lake district and had a lovely time. I even had time to read some of a book *gasp*

- I got glasses for reading and using the computer, which has made me feel like im getting old.

- The jogging group I started in the village where i live celebrated its first anniversary!

- I finished some stitching! Caleb's nursery class has 3 teachers and i thought id stitch for them all. These actually took me a lot longer than i anticipated but they were finished in time.

Lizzie Kate design

The back

Finishes

Turns out this rotation is working out pretty well for getting things finished! It forces me to work on things i don't want to work on! Now this finish is for you Irene. When i finished the stitching on this ornament but was moaning about the actual finishing Irene wrote to me: "Come on Cheryl, just bite the bullet and finish them! Think how 'hip hip hooray' ing you can be then. They are lovely, but not really 'finished' yet are they?? Do I sound like your mother? I sound like my mother! Irene xxx"  Irene, i hope you don't mind me posting your comment here, it did make me laugh a lot and look, it inspired me too lol

Caleb's Christmas (2012) ornament....

Now to finish Aaron's!

Ive finished the stitching on this Lizzie Kate piece too. Caleb has 3 nursery teachers so seeing as how long the Christmas ornaments took, im making an early start to ensure i can get 3 of these done for June.

All is well here at casa Thomas. I had a lovely weekend away there with a whole bunch of women from the church. It was fun and relaxing and a great way to spend Mother's Day...kid free lol ;-)

Finished the Christmas stitching

Hip hip hooray! The Christmas stitching is done. Now for the part i hate, finishing them into ornaments booo.

This has been a crazy busy week. Hoping for a more peaceful (?!) weekend!

Ornament for son number1

Im quite proud that i've been organised enough to start early on my Christmas stitching! Ive finished Caleb's ornament this week. Of course i now have to stitch the back (i always like to stitch a message) and then make it into an ornament, so there's still a bit of work left to do but hey, the front is complete anyway! I stitch an ornament every year for the boys. Here's 2009, 2010, 2011

Its a Prairie Schooler design.

I finished something!

*Gasp* Can it be? A stitching blog that actually has some finished stitching? Yes! Hurrah for me. Started a year and a half ago i finally finished this piece right in time for my nephew Harry's 1st Birthday. Obviously it didn't make the framers in time but finishing the stitching was my goal.

The inlaws arrived from Canada on Thursday. My house was so clean and tidy for their arrival. At the moment, I am enjoying having the extra hands to entertain the toddler and hold the baby.

Over for another year

To quote my dad immediately after all the presents are open (said every year since i can remember) "well, that's it for another year!" We had a lovely Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve having our traditional Chinese takeaway at my sisters house and Christmas Day at my parents. Last year Caleb was the only kid on the scene. This year, my nephew Harry (11months) and Aaron (2 months) were added to the mix. Good times!

I finished my ornaments for the boys (on boxing day). I'm feeling slightly guilty that son number 2's looks a bit small compared to son number 1's. Im quite sure neither will mind/care!

I fully intend to keep my blog more up to date next year (and even maybe more interesting) and keep up to date with all the blogs in my Google reader; it contains about 500 unread posts at present!

Today i'm enjoying a toddler free day which is, quite frankly, bliss!! One baby=easy peasey, despite his ridiculously short naps.

Nearly......Simon Cowell's birthday?

2 days to go! I have a lot of wrapping to do in the next few days. I have finished the stitching on both the boys ornaments now. Here's how Caleb's looks

Now i wonder if i'll get these made into ornaments in time for Christmas day?? Hmmm.

Advent Blogging

Day 21 - We watched Curious George - a very Monkey Christmas.

Day 22 - Caleb went to play at his friend Canaan's house. He was supposed to decorate a gingerbread house but preferred the toys so will shall attempt to decorate it tomorrow hopefully!

Day 23 (today) - Caleb is in nursery all day. I have a few last minute bits of shopping to get. When Caleb's home we're going to read his new nativity book that he got at our church service last sunday. Jesus is the reason for the season, lets not forget! I was watching something on TV the other day and in a survey of 1000 kids, a high percentage (cant remember the figure) thought that Christmas day was to celebrate the birth of Simon Cowell!!!!! Can you believe that? And that Obama, Beckham and a few others were reindeers! And that Gary Barlow, Mark Wright and Prince Charles are the 3 wise men??! Oh my goodness! Says something about today's culture/education system! Read the article here. My children will grow up knowing the real reason we celebrate Christmas, whether they believe it or not is up to them!

Hello Spring

It was a beautiful sunny spring morning when we got up 4 hours ago but now it's looking a bit grey....aaah scotland ;-) I stitched this little pincushion for my Spring exchange partner over at the Friendly stitchers yahoo group. Its a Lizzie Kate freebie, there's just pink flowery fabric on the back, i didnt take a picture of that.

Havent blogged in a while, i nearly forgot my password to sign in here. Im fine, just shattered and got a lot on.....a looming redundancy etc etc Our charity is merging with 2 others and i think there's about 40 people for 18 jobs. Its crap. Plus they havent offered any part-time posts so im kinda screwed. I had to apply for a full-time one (because if you didnt apply it would be assumed you were resigning and then there would be no redundancy money) and i will request part-time hours at the interview. Its been a long screwed up process with some shocking things happening along the way. So my interview is on Wednesday but from the way things have been so far i get the feeling its all pre-decided anyway. Its all so unjust.

On a more positive note, i had such a great 30th birthday party! There were about 100 folk there and i loved it.....so many people made an effort to be there flying in from all over the UK and it meant a lot to me! I was very touched. Some friends from school came (i hadn't seen one of them since we were 18) so we had a lot of fun catching up and dancing the night away! So much fun! Here's me getting my cake alongside my wee family :-)

So thats about all. Ive started a SAL with Kathy but i've made such miserable process it's not even worth documenting it with a picture yet. Also about to start a SAL with Suzanne. Be back soon....

Christmas Star and DeBloAdMo complete!

My final Christmas stitching finish. I was hoping to get it made into an ornament before Christmas but that is definitely not going to happen now! Its JBW's Star from this years JCS Christmas edition.

Im off work today so i got up when Caleb got up 6.30am and got him ready for nursery and Matthew took him on his way to work. Then i went back to bed **BLISS** Now its 9.30am and im just up. Lovely! I am feeling slightly guilty thinking of all the things i could have done in that time but nevermind, it's Christmas. The 2 of them wont be back til 1.30pm so ive got time to make it look like i've been busy LOL

This morning i need to wrap presents and bake cookies. Im going to bake gingerbread men for the family (i always do that for them) and shortbread for my neighbours. Then i need to tidy up a bit more because we have our annual Christmas eve tradition of having a Chinese meal tonight with my family. We're not going to a restaurant this year, mum and dad, my sis and her hubby are coming here and we'll get takeaway.

Tomorrow we'll be at my parents all day. Sunday we'll go to church and then we are off down to Ayr to my brother-in-laws parent's house for the day. Looking forward to the busy-ness and excitement of the next few days! I love this time of year.

So in conclusion to DeBloAdMo here is how we filled each day of advent with advent activities

Day 1 - Hang up advent calendar

Day 2 - Message from Santa Video

Day 3 - Make paper snowflakes for bedroom window

Day 4 - Decorate Christmas tree

Day 5 - Decorate the house

Day 6 - Make Christmas cards

Day 7 - Make paperchains

Day 8 - Christmas display at the Garden Centre with Gran and Pappa

Day 9 - Wintery walk to get holly and pine cones

Day 10 - Make an Elf e-card

Day 11 - Make Star Shortbread

Day 12 - Wrap presents

Day 13 - Have a special friend round to play

Day 14 - Finish Salt dough tree ornaments

Day 15 - Christmas display at the Garden Centre with Gran and Pappa

Day 16 - Make Robins

Day 17 - Visit the library to get Christmas books

Day 18 - Go to Isla's 2nd birthday party

Day 19 - Go to Christmas Service at Church

Day 20 - Go buy and eat cakes

Day 21 - Wrap the door

Day 22 - Christmas display at the Garden Centre with Gran and Pappa

Day 23 - Watch Baby Einstein Santa DVD and deliver presents to friends

Day 24 - Have family round for Chinese food and Christmas Eve fun!

Yeeaaahh!!! We did it!! There were a few days i didn't manage to blog but on the whole, i did pretty well. I enjoyed thinking of activities we could do everyday (with help from Lori and Rebekkahs's blog) and enjoyed writing my blog again too. Great idea Lori!!

Now all that's left to say is Happy Christmas to everyone who reads my blog!! I hope you have a lovely day!

Christmas stitching

Day 19 (yesterday) was the Christmas service at church and that was our family advent activity for the day. I dont really have any good pictures but boy, that service sure made me laugh. All the usual kiddie things....kids crying on stage, kids picking their nose, kids getting shy and refusing to speak, kids refusing to go on stage at all, kids speaking so quietly even the mic couldn't pick them up, kids that are born performers....it was hilarious. Caleb just stood near the stage and watched, he wouldn't wear the shepherds costume, he's a bit too young for it all yet. It was so funny though, i enjoyed it a lot!

We are back to winter-wonderland again. The snow arrived thick and fast on Saturday morning. I do like the snow but i hate the way the council never seems prepared for it and the roads are left in such a bad state. It makes me very hesitant to travel. My Canadian husband describes this as a "proper winter at last." He's been over here for 8 years now and is disappointed with Scottish winters (and summers and autumn and spring hahahahaha)

I finished Caleb's Christmas ornament last night and i'm really pleased with it.

Front:

Back:

We're hanging out at my parents house today. I had my chicken casserole prepared and in my new slow cooker by 8am this morning! Go me!

I need to decide what our Christmas advent activity today will be. I think me might wrap a door - an idea i stole from Rebekkah's blog. We will of course spend a lot of the day out playing in the snow, Caleb loves the sledge!

Christmas Gift for Rowyn

Rowyn and i did a Christmas gift exchange this year. What i stitched ended up too big to be a tree ornament so i made it into a pillow instead.

I have to admit, i really didn't want to give this away LOL In fact, on those snowy days when i couldn't get to the post office i had it displayed on my couch and was very tempted to keep it and stitch something else for Rowyn (sorry Rowyn).I really like the design and found the prefect fabric to go with it. I cant remember the designer but it was in JCS 2009 Christmas edition.

Half way through stitching it it dawned on me that it isn't chilly in New Zealand, being their summer and all, whoops! Rowyn assures me she doesnt mind though!

Advent day 18. Todays activity....go to Isla's 2nd birthday party. I cant believe these kids are now 2. Caleb's 2nd birthday is a month today.

Christmas Stitching

Here is what will be my 2010 Christmas ornament for Caleb. A Prairie Schooler design. I took the picture with my phone so it's not the best. Now i need to stitch what will be the back of the ornament with a personalised message. Hopefully i can get that done before Christmas!

At last, some stitching for all you who thought this was supposed to primarily be a stitching blog eh ;-)

I had a really tough day at work which has left be drained. Off to bed......

Fob for Margaret

Im trying to recall what has kept me away the last few weeks, unsuccessfully. Life is just busy...all is good though.

Here is a fob i made Margaret recently. Tilt your head to the right (Can anyone tell me why blogger rotates pics? Its horizontal in "my pictures" folder but i upload it to here and it turns them vertical and i cant rotate them aaahh) This one of Nic's designs. Her charts are free but a donation to the MS society is appreciated. I think that's a great idea.

An "M" for Margaret in the middle
Working the next 2 days. 60's party on Friday night - will be fun seeing everyones outfits, i'll have to post a picture of mine.

February glows??

My rotation is working a treat. I highly recommend it! I finished February. I put the snappers on the wrong way but now i'm thinking i prefer them like that and might leave them. Here's how my Bent Creek months are coming along so far.I dont think i would describe February as Glowing or March as Blowing but hey ho, it looks pretty anyway. Today, in the words of Barbara, i plan on getting Stitchers Butt LOL Bent Creek is back in the drawer and im moving on to work on Cirque.

Winner and Final Christmas stuff

I asked my husband to pick a number between 1 and 27 and number 17 was his choice! Margaret that's you! You have won my blogiversary competition and i will send you a gift before my next blog birthday! If you could leave me a comment with your email address that'd be great. Thanks everyone else, was fun to find some new blogs too!

Now my third Christmas exchange was with Jill and this beautiful ornament arrived the day before Christmas. It really is stunning. Thanks Jill and for all the other goodies too.

I stitched this one for Jill. A Lizzie Kate freebie

Got a busy week ahead. Monday im working, Tuesday is mum and tots at my church and body combat in the evening, Wednesday im working, Thursday another mums and tots and then Caleb starts his swimming lessons in the afternoon and then Saturday is Caleb's first birthday party so ive got food and decorations to buy, cakes to bake etc etc Busy busy!

2009

I am going to stitch an ornament for Caleb every Christmas. Here's what i stitched this year. A Prairie Schooler freebie that i first seen on Hazel's blog. I messed up the finishing a bit by not leaving myself enough fabric so it's a bit messy but i like it nevertheless.

I answered these questions last year and it was fun to read them back today so im doing it again....

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Had a baby!

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year? I didnt make any last year. This year i am going to make some. Watch this space.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I had Caleb, my niece Elaine was born in August, my friend Emily had Violet in June, Laura had Rebekah in June, Lesley had Benjamin in October

4. Did anyone close to you die? No

5. What countries did you visit? Does England count? Thats as far as we ventured!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Sleep, more me time, my fitness back!

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory? Without doubt the 18th January...Caleb's arrival day!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Enduring an awful labour to have my baby and surviving the first year of motherhood!

9. What was your biggest failure? Not coping well with the lack of sleep that comes with a new baby

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? A few minor illnesses nothing major

11. What was the best thing you bought? My new netbook maybe

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? My DH's...patient, kind, a great father and amazing in those first few months when Caleb was born

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? My boss at work

14. Where did most of your money go? Baby stuff

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Seeing Take That in concert at Hampden

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2009? Take That's "The Circus."

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:happier or sadder? Happier

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Sleeping, definitely sleeping

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying

20. How did you spend Christmas? Christmas morning opening pressies just the 3 of us. Down to my mums at 11am to open more pressies and have a great lunch with my sister and her husband there too.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with? DH, during the days when he's at work

22. Did you fall in love in 2009? Oh yes!

23. How many one night stands in this last year? None

24. What was your favourite TV programme(s)? Felicity, Ugly Betty, 90210, Eastenders

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Hate might be too strong but my boss' behaviour has shocked and appalled me.

26. What was the best book(s) you read? I read a lot but there isnt one that immediately stands out

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Take That, ny rediscovery LOL

28. What did you want and get? My very own laptop

29. What did you want and not get? An ipod

30. What were your favourite films of this year? I dont watch a lot of films actually so cant immediately think of any particular favourites

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 28 on my birthday and Caleb was only 6 weeks old so that time is all a blur to me!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More sleep

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Lazy, comfy, PJs LOL

34. What kept you sane? DH, wonderful new friends, old friends, mums and tots groups

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? David Beckham, as always

36. What political issue stirred you the most? I havent been particularly stirred by much, general election in 2010 though that should be interesting!

37. Who did you miss? My bezzas (best friends) who are scattered over the UK now

38. Who was the best new person (people) you met? Caleb, my gorgeous son, Becky one of my new mummy friends

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009 Just how precious life is and how important it is to have faith in God.

I learnt a lot about myself this year...the things i can/cant handle, my strengths, my weaknesses.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

"Show me the way to go home, im tired and i wanna go to bed...."

Christmas Exchange no.1

My 2 nights away were bliss! I arrived thursday afternoon, spent ages in the gym, went swimming, sat in the jacuzzi, had a meal and a glass of wine in the bar then went to my room and watched tv and had a peaceful night! Full English Breakfast Friday morning before heading to the wedding. The wedding was lovely as was another night in the hotel, with another fry up Saturday morning followed by the gym and then home. I would recommend all mums have a get-away overnight! It was great!

I have taken part in 3 Christmas exchanges this year. Ive enjoyed stitching Christmas ornaments for my blogging friends. Here is the first which went to Kathy

Its a JBW designs piece. The ribbon says Merry Christmas and i added a little charm thing in the left corner. I sent Kathy other gifts which you can see on her blog.

Here is what Kathy sent me (blogger just wont let me turn this photo round). The mitts are so cute! She also included chocolates but they are long gone!

I love Christmas exchanges! Thanks Kathy!

Very belated blogiversary gifts

These, im ashamed to say, are blogiversary prizes from me to Michele and Juls from January 2008! Yes, nearly two years ago LOL In my defence, i had 4 winners and i sent Staci's and Nicola's within the year but then i got pregnant and i developed an aversion to stitching for months and Juls and Michele's gifts got postponed...for a while :)

I sent Michele the heart pin cushion and other goodies which you can see on her blog. That little pillow was a labour of love. I started it the night i went into hospital to be induced. Then, after my horrendous labour, i couldnt look at the damn thing again, let alone stitch on it, for months. Look, i found proof, here's me trying to stitch on it back in those early sleep deprived days. It's on my knee!

When i did finally decide i could put that trauma behind me and stitch on it again, i finished it and decided i was going to make it a hanging ornie. Then my sewing machine chewed it up and i spent hours trying to salvage it. I finally made it into this little pincushion. I hope it stays together Michele! So, when i sent it to Michele i told her this story behind this little labour of love! I wonder, does anyone else have something they cant stitch on because of a time they associate it with?

There is no such story behind the gift i sent to Juls. Although i did actually finish the stitching on it a year ago, i just never got round to the finishing until now. I sent Juls a little notepad and a selection of tea bags to go with her gift.

So if i ever decide to do a blogiversary competition again, be warned, it could take years for gifts to arrive!

Christmas Exchange anyone?

Dont worry Kathy, one of todays "chores" was "take time for a craft/hobby." Do you think i did much else on the list after that? Err, no!

Just to prove that this is a stitching blog and not the most boring blog-about-chores blog, i have a finish. My first since July! Bent Creek's "January Snows." As i've previously mentioned, i'm stitching all 12 months on one piece of linen. As the chart is second hand i don't have the snaps but i do plan on buying some little buttons, this one needs some on the snowman's tummy! I'll add them once i've bought some.

I was wondering if one person out there in blogland would be interested in a Christmas ornie exhange? Im not part of any exchange groups anymore so just thought i'd ask on here.

This weekend i've got a baby shower to go to tomorrow and then we will be celebrating Canadian thanksgiving on Sunday with a meal at our friends house. Happy Thanksgiving to all you Canadians!