Update!

My promise of being a better blogger ended up being a lie!! Oops. So, I thought I would come and do an update on life. Firstly - James turned 26 last Wednesday, I had actually written a Happy Birthday post, which I thought I had published but musn't have... So - Happy belated Birthday to my love.

Kahlei is meeting milestones in leaps and bounds now that she is mobile. Last Thursday she said "Mumma" for the very first time - I was sooo thrilled as I've been hearing Dadda for quite some time. She also says hello, mostly in reply to Ellie and I swear I have heard her say Ellie, too.

That same day she started pulling herself up onto her knees, trying to stand up and cut her third tooth. It was a big day! Today, she has finally started crawling on her on her knees - before she looked like she was swimming, she would reach out with her hands, put them together and pull her body towards them. It was a very effective way to crawl, as she was so fast!

Unlike Ellie, Kahlei is happy to show off her newest skills on command. If I say wave, she will. If I ask her to clap she obliges. Very cute.

Ellie's growing up fast, too. She is forever telling us stories. While this is not new in itself it is new that she's actually telling us things she remembers ... and sometimes elaborating on that memory. Her favourite story is from when my mum and brothers came to visit for her party. She loves to talk about the 'Pileww' (pillow, ie jumping pillow). She will tell us about people jumping on it. Joshy, Max, Caleb, Nanna and Casey. At the start of these stories she would tell us 'a bit scary' but these days she is also jumping on the pileww. As is Kahlei. Sometimes, Daddy's on there and even more amazingly, sometimes Grandpa's having a jump (he didn't come). Once we've discussed this in detail we move onto the pool.

She's not been swimming in a pool before, but she saw Ethan and Caleb doing so. She'll tell us about the 'mawter' (water) and about swimming and splashing while making very convincing swimming actions for someone who has never actually swum.

Ellie is also treading very close to the Terrible Two line. She sure has some attitude and can often be heard saying no, mine, give me it, no, no and no. We've started using the naughty chair, which actually worked like a charm the first few times we did it, however she is now pushing the boundaries. The other day she didn't want to stay on it, I had to put her back on numerous times.

As for me, I am enjoying watching my girls grow up and the way they interact with each other.  I have been working on a full kit, which I hope will be ready in the not too distant future and have recently joined two more awesome CTs. One for Honey Designs and as a Pixie at Enchanted Studio Scraps. I am loving all the kits I have been able to work with recently. Honestly, I have not had one I've struggled with ideas. They've all spoken to me in different ways and I have been so happy with what I have come up with. I honestly can say that I work with some of the most amazing designers.

Speaking of which, if you're interested in going into the draw to win one of four cluster frames pop over to my CT Blog and leave a comment to go into the running! While you're there check out my newest LOs ;)

This is just one of the frames you could win.

Made by Holly - check out her blog here.

Right, I must be off now. I will try and be back sooner rather than later. If you leave me some love I'm sure I'll find the motivation ;)

What My Kids Have Taught Me This Week

The only things better than nakie painting are...





Sitting nakie in paint while painting





And painting your sister's hair and face.

Avon Calling... Again??

Just after I finished work as an Insurance Consultant, before Ellie was born, I had a wonderful plan to become an Avon representative. I figured it would bring in a little extra money and once I had a baby it would help me get back into shape. So, I started out, all excited about the prospect of this little enterprise.

So, I did my rounds and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, I ended up spending more money on the brochures than what I made - in fact I only got one order the whole time and that was because my mum was wonderful enough to 'need' something. In the end it was taking so much time and energy and costing us money so I gave it away.

From time to time they have sent me a brochure to look at and asked if I am interested in joining again, as nobody has taken over my territory. Each time I have politely decined. With the two girls and my previous experience I couldn't really see it working out.

But, now I am desperate to make some kind of money to help us along. Just a little. We need to get so much done to the house to have it ready to sell and we need to save whatever we can so that when it does go on the market we can be ready to move.

Back in July I revived my RedBubble account and started adding new content, hoping that a little money would come my way. No such luck. I have still not sold a thing. I suppose that's just not my thing. It's a pity because I really enjoy it and would love for it to be more than a hobby.

I have also started dabbling in designing digital scrapbooking kits (go here for my latest freebie, if you haven't already). I love it. I am currently halfway through designing my very first full kit. I am excited. And, again I would love for this to bring in a little money, but I don't know how exactly that can happen. I don't want to commit to a store time that I do not have to give and I don't want to feel pressured to meet specific deadlines which might interfere with my time with the girls. I don't know if there are stores out there with flexible commitment requirements who are willing to take on a newbie like me. I will have to do some research on that... But, currently, I am thinking this wont be what I want it to be, either.

Which leaves Avon or the like. I can't go out to work becasue we simply cannot afford childcare and I want to be with my girls. I honestly don't know what to do to bring in a few extra dollars. I keep telling myself there has to be something I can do, but everything seems to fizzle out or be a deadend. Maybe people want Avon products now?? Ideas, anyone??

Just because I can, here are my latest uploads to RedBubble







(Images are linked)

And for those of you who are interested in checking out my newest layouts, head over to my CT Blog. I was having WAY too much trouble uploading them here. Don't forget to leave me some love :)

xoxo

Wave and Clap :)

Kahlei's really starting to grow up now that she's on the move. For the past few days she has been waving deliberately, especially to Ellie and today she randomly started clapping. I was putting away clothes, Ellie was dancing and suddenly Kahlei's sitting there clapping and looking thrilled with herself.



I love these pics. Hehe :)

As Promised :)

Here is my newest freebie!!!



You can download it here. I'd love to hear what you think.

Now, I am looking for some creative people to join me as a sorf of  'Creative Team' to get my designs out there and to give me feedback on my products. I hope to have a full kit finished sometime soon and will give the people that help me out now the opportunity to stay on as permanent CT if they decide they want to. If you're interested, email me a little bit about yourself at beckyandjames @ beckyandjames DOT com.

An old school friend was lovely enough to whip me up a gorgeous LO of her daughter. I'm thrilled to have her aboard!

This and That and Stuff

Today I thought about all the things I would update you guys on when I got the chance... And not that I am here I cannot remember them!

The girls are doing many things. Kahlei is officially on the move, she doesn't crawl on her hands and knees often, it's more like a worm wiggle - yesterday she crawled right out of her jeans! She has another new tooth coming thru and is being a mega grump currently, which really isn't like her. She is loving all the left over balloons from Ellie's birthday and is able to catch them and likes to hit them to me. She has also started playing rolls when we're outside together. She catches the ball in between her feet and then pushes it back to me. Her favourite song is Old Macdonald and when we're singing it, I swear she sings it too. And she dances all the time!

Ellie has started climbing into the cot. She is forever in there and has no fear in this regard. She is learning the words to songs so very quickly and is so cute as she dances and sings to Pink (she LOVES Pink). Recently, she has started refering to herself as Ellie when trying to make a point and has started recognising herself in photos (unless they're baby photos, then she insists it's Kahlei). She has an amazing grasp on language and is constantly surprising me with the things she says, mostly in a good way... Sometimes, not so muhc; like when my mum and brothers were here. She fell over and promptly said the 'f' word. I cannot tell you how mortified I was. She had the right inflection and all. I have no idea where she picked it up and hope (probably in vain) she will not repeat that particular performance.

Well, I should go to bed and drag my husband away from the slanging match he and my brother are having over Mafia Wars before it ends in tears.

Tomorrow I will be back with a freebie!!!

September Already?

This year is really flying, isn't it? I have been a terrible blogger of late. I want to update but somehow it never happens. I open up a new post and then it sits there for a few days until I try again.

Anyway, last weekend my mum, brothers and cousin came to belatedly celebrate Ellie's second birthday. We had a wonderful weekend. Ellie slept over at the caravan park with Nanna and had a blast. She got somewhat obsessed with the jumping pillow there, however she was too scared to jump on it herself. Even now, she will randomly start telling me about the "Pileww" and how it was "a bit scary" and that it's for "jumping". Here are the boys on it:



And here are some piccies from her 'party'



And from now on I will be a better blogger!