Happy New Year To All!!!!!!!

Hope everyone will have a nice evening welcoming the new year.

At first, we thought to stay home, just the four of us, as i have to work the next day(new year's day), but then Grace and one of her friends wanted to be together with the fireworks as his father's abroad and his mother wouldn't actually want to go outside, so we decided to have it here and invited more friends to join us. I did mentioned i would like to have it over around one as i needed my sleep for the next day. Atleast, they are all arriving around eight in the evening.
For the day, one of our best friend from the mainland is coming for a visit. She's been so busy we haven't seen each other since March. She ussually comes for a weekend here so we asked her to stay for the night but she'd rather go home.

Before x'mas CHRIS was allowed to take the swimming test and glad he was able to passed it. These was quite difficult for him but glad DH took times once a week to go and have an extra exercise for him, to trained him better with his arms and all.
They are very strict here with getting swimming certificate, so we were really happy when he received a notice to take the test.







Since i had to worked on x'mas day, the gathering's with dh's family was the next day at one of his sister's place. It went well and the kids enjoyed it too. The next morning, MIL called that one of her sister died, quite unexpectedly actually. Her husband is in hospital, recovering from a heart attack now we just heard that it got worsed and can't talk anymore. Both are on their eighties. We came home tonight from a visit to the family and received a phoned call from one of our friends that one of DH's friends father just died too. So, just after new years day we're on to funerals...it isn't fine but oh well....can't help it.

Prettige Feestdagen!!!

Wishing you all a merry christmas!!!









I'll leave you with a pics of our x'mas tree and x'mas cards. Got to go to work.......aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! Just hope it will not be so late!








Received these cards for my b-day. Goodies pictures will have to wait.

More parcels and lots of cards, mostly b-day cards now i think and a few x'mas cards are waiting for me last night. I've been to the mainland to shop for clothes but before that i joined a friend for a long walk in the morning, we've covered about 8 kilometers, that was quite heavy for me as i don't go that much for a walk, ussually about two or three km and once or twice a week, that is if weather permits.
So i feel so tired last night and dh wasn't feeling wel so he went to bed very early while we still have something planned to do. I had to do it alone, i had to filled in a large box to be parcelled to Asia, most things we needed when we go there next year.
Glad, after a night sleep he's fine early this morning so he is now on the way to the mainland to bring the parcel box for shipment.

Today will be another busy day, but wanted to fill here up first as i don't know when can i get the chance again. I have to start cleaning and empty the childrens'playing room as friends are coming to stay tomorrow. Planned what's for dinner then as well as a few snacks for saturday...i know i am so late with this one..!
In between i have to prepare some food for school for their Çhrismas dinner early this evening, and for two groups as i promised one for Grace class and another for Chris class.

After school this afternoon we will have to pick up Chris and bring him to the swimming pool, for his final swimming test for A. I wonder why they scheduled it during this very busy time...!! Sure is a busy day for him too.
Ooohh, and i want to go to town to get something for him..ahhhhhhhhh well see.

.........so with all this i don't have time for the packages yet...as i want to enjoy when opening them and not to put it away at once...

The package from Anna!!!!!

First of all, thank you all for taking the time to have a look and nice comments. I really appreciate them



After the children were off to school this morning i opened up Anna's package first and WOW! I don't know what to say, i mean this came as a great surprise as we are not on an exchange, this is simply a gift from her and as you can see on the picture, so many things she've enclosed and a her gorgeous stitching where she finished off into an ornament. I LOVE everything!!! Wish, i have the time right now to start one of these but will surely do soon...Thank you so much, Anna.





Another package was from an exchange for the 12 days of x'mas which should be here before the 14th of december, in time for opening the first on the 14th, oh well i opened six pieces this morning as it shown here on the picture. Like the things that my partner enclosed and looking forward to opeing one each day.
The red packages was the ones i sent to her, luckily it reaches her before the 14th.












Another package was from one of my penpal from Scotland. Can only share a pic of the things enclosed as we haven't opened any yet. Most are names for the children. We've known or starting writing each other way back the year 2000, she's younger than me and no kids but we still have great contacts with each other.

Okey, the last package is not yet opened and another came in today plus some b-day cards, will wait in opening them...

more ornanemts & packages...

These are my last finsihes into ornaments, did it in between all the hectic activities these last days here at home. I still have some more to finish off into something but i am afraid i don't have the time now until after x'mas. This week especially is a very busy one, for school of the kids, need to go shopping for clothes so i need to go to the mainland, and have to do some cleaning for friends are coming over to stay before the weekend. And i am going to celebrate my b-day the day before which is the 23rd instead of the 24th and i am thinking of preparing some food/buffet for dinner but i am not yet sure as we expected quite a lot though i had hope most comes in the evening, that is after dinner then the one who are going to stay for the buffet/dinner will be friends from the mainland and some family. Still have to think of that....




It was a nice surprise coming home this evening to see packages waiting for me and lots of x'mas cards, the cards were already opened by the kids but the packages...i will have to wait for tomorrow. I am so tired and will go in early as i haven't had enough sleep last night.

Leslie's RR completed RR

Just read Leslie's comment that i can show the whole picture of the rr, thanks so much Leslie, so here it is. Hope you'll like it when it gets back to you, Leslie.

A friend of Chris has stayed for a couple of nights and still wanted to stay for the whole weekend but his parents miss him too especially that his father is away during weekdays and only home at weekend. It seems we have sleep over contineously, as Grace has friend staying over early this week too. And next week friday, friends from the mainland are coming over for the weekend and my birthday too. So the week ahead will be a very busy one!!!

Leslie's RR

Completed Leslie's rr, the winter. All four blocks are done and it looks great. I can't show the whole piece without asking Leslie, she might want it to be a surprise. Will send it on monday, i am sorry i am a bit late with the posting as it should be officialy be posted today the 15th.

Here's an ornament i received from stitch & stash exchange. It was secret who was sending to everyone, i did made a guess on the group but still don't know if it was the right one. Anyway, whoever made this thank you very much. It's bautiful and so neatly done!!

Pinkeep & CSE ornament exchange

My first attempt at making pinkeep, though without a ribbon as i ussually had seen from others, i added a longer cord so it can be hang on the x'mas tree. It's here pictured with another ornament and also the backs. I am quite satisfied with finishing the pinkeep, i thought it was so complicated. Now, the next thing i would like to try is the "flatfold". But that will be for next year.
It's been very busy here, so many acivities of the children as well as socially.










Received Viv's ornament for CSE exchange and WOW! Such a cutie! Very neatly finished. I LOVE it.

The one with the red cording is what i've stitched/completed that i've sent to Viv.

Card for my niece & an ornament rec.

Stitched a card for my DS which is now on the way to Canada. She did asked a favor to stitch something, a bigger one with the name and date of her baby, i am still looking for an appropriate one. I am afraid i won't be able to finish it though before we left for home/vacation in Febraury. I have a few more items for exchanges that i have to finish before that date.


Received a wonderful ornament from Veronique ,such a little cutie and very neatly done! Thank you so much, Veronique!!
I am planning to put up the x'mas tree tomorrow, now sinterklaas is over. I just heard though that a couple of kids are coming over as their parents are off to a party. Friends of our children, perhaps they might help or atleast busy with other things. Dh expect a couple of friends too for some events they want to talk about. I hope they wil left me in peace for the decoration...we'll see tomorrow!!!!!!!!


Made these one for Debra and are now safely with her.
I still have a few more pieces that i want to complete it into an ornaments or something but i don't have much inspirations, oh well i might try to finish one into a pinkeep...well see.

By the way, thanks so much for reading and dropping a comments. I really, really appreciate them.

Mikylla Jannine

My sister just sent a few pictures of my niece, hers and dh. Ohh really wish to see them all in person.
We are trying to call home to share the news but we couldn't get through. Might be with the recent typhoons that some areas where disconnected. I did had connection a couple of days, but mum says another typhoon is on the over there. It is really a disaster at this time of year. so pitiful, especially x'mas getting closer!

With my note last night, it was not only about the gift that i was down about but dh has written a small poem for everyone including me and a few of the contents did hurt, it was about my hobby. To term it all, he thinks it's useless!!!! I am really hurt, since aside from the house, the kids, i do work too a couple of days a week and with those days that i have to work i always prepared their warm meal to make it easy for him and all the needed items for the different activities they are in that day, as i ussually home around 9 in the evening.

Down moment.........!!!!!

Okey...Sinterklaas
is over.......... celebrated it tonight mainly for the kids and glad they've enjoyed it and loves what they've got, really surprises for them especially Grace where she got her own computer upstairs at her room. DH has been busy with it almost the whole day, first with the new table and then all the connection for the computer. She've never expected it to have one herself. Oh well, they have one which they share together at the playroom but always fight over it especially if they have friends around and since Grace is going to high school(sort of), (VWO), we decided to give her this one instead of a TV. Aside from that some books, perfums and other small stuffs.
Chris has his "play station" for his b-day the first of december, so he got cd's for that game, and some books, playmobiels toys and other small stuff.
I am quite disappointed with dh, after more than 12 years together...it seems he still doesn't really know my likes and dislikes i mean when it comes to clothes and my hobbies. Speaking of hobbies, i think he hates my stitching hobby...oh well i am really down at the moment, probably i am not in writing mood regarding with us......

Anyway, after a couple of hours..the children are already in bed, i do feel pity for myself, watching CSI Miami(i like those series and 'bones'too.) and then my sister called from Canada with her good news, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. I am so glad everything went well for her. I am now waiting for the pictures she promised to send, it is now half hour ago and still haven't seen it ....so we'll see it tomorrow, it is now after midnight so i am going to bed as the kids have to get up early for school tomorrow.

Chris birthday went well last friday, for school which he received nice comments about my apple tart for the teachers and the children with chips and toys. The afternoon for family and friends who dropped by. After they left for school friday, i prepared/cooked different dishes, mainly asian foods for the evening meal. We had expected actually two couples with their children to stay behind but were a lot who are still in at around seven, 9 childrens and 10 couples. Since the kids doesn't like much asian food, dh prepared sausages and french fries for them. Our kitchen is not big enough for all, so we let the children their and the adults in the living room. It went well as well as the food.

One of Chris friend stayed for the night so i can't sleep in as he has to be picked up around 9AM for his football and Grace was picked up at eight for the swimming club. In the end, football was cancelled because because of the weather, rainy until now, stormy actually!

Speaking of storm, when we saw the newspaper this morning about the typhoon in the PHILIPPINES were lots of damages and all, for the last couple of days, i called my mother at once. My family lives in the northern part and there was not much damage over there but in the southern part was terrible. A lot of properties destroyed and many dead, still a lot haven't been found.

Chris birthday card

One of my finished the last days for our son's 7th birthday tomorrow. Chris likes to read and whenever we go to the library he picks up mostly fantasy books, also books for us to read it for him before he go to sleep. He is only allowed to get or borrow 10 books but would rather have more. We are sure happy that he likes reading too like his sister and off course mum and pap!
A couple of finishes were for exchanges and would like it as a surprise so can't show the pics. Whew! I am just done with some preparations especially the treat for his class and made two apple tart, one for the teachers and one for here. We ordered one which will be decorated with sponge bob, his choice as he went with his father to order it. I am sure it will be a busy one tomorrow after school, when everyone will come at the same time.

Many thanks to all for the nice comments on my previous messages. They are very much appreciated.

SFE from Debra

I am expecting a package from Debra as she've sent a note it's on the way and WOW! She've made a beautiful needleroll with my favorite colours, mainly blue. The words: "Friends share hug laugh love never part." I LOVE it!! Thank you so much, Debra. You are very early with this as i have to receive it all in January/February 2007 but honestly i am glad it's spread it out.

small ornaments

I am done with most of the small pieces finishes that i posted yesterday. Whew! It does took a lot of time to choose the right colour of fabric for the backing and the cord. So these are actually my first x'mas ornaments that i attempted to finished, all sewed it up by hand. Did a few ornaments last year but with the help of a friend with her sewing.
I can say, they all turned up better than i had expected and now i find it difficult to send them all away. I think not all of them, a few will have to be hang on our x'mas tree. It will have to wait until after the 5th of December before putting up the tree, if it's me alone i'd rather put it up next week.

Thanks Anna for dropping by. Sure, what you've chosen will be on the way to you next week. Can't make it before your leave, especially with the postal strike but hopefully it will be there waiting for you when you get back.

Tickets are booked!!!! & cards.

YES!!! We've booked the tickets. We've spent almost the whole afternoon to decide the dates, it wasn't easy at all. We would like at least a month and had the dates in mind after we've seen the school calendar for early next year and we especifically like to book it with Cathay Pacific airlines, but most were fully booked already. Finally, it's less than four weeks, starting the last week of February till the third week of March. We wanted Cathay Pacific as we want to drop by Hongkong and stay there for a few days. The children really likes to go and see there grandparents and other family but they don't really like flying. They know about the DISNEYLAND in Hongkong so we promised them to visit there too. So now they are looking forward to both.
WHEW! I was so excited after we've booked i called my sister in Canada and woke her up, didn't realise the time difference. It was 7AM there but it's nearly her due she's not sleeping well at night.
I am now waiting till midnight then i am going to call my mum, i am sure they are awake at six. Can't wait for tomorrow!!!



A picture of some cards i made recently, mostly 3D cards and a few stitched ones.
Some will be send out next week and the one for her locally will be after the 5th of December.



Another picture were small pieces i stitched lately and would like to experiment in turning them into an ornaments.




Thanks Anna! I do feel better knowing i am not alone with this such...but i do hope your week will be better soon.

Feeling so down the last days, actually started last friday after a morning shopping spree with MIL. She's 72 years old but still very active and very quick with her comments without thinking/or realising if it hurts or not. Chris will turn 7 the 1st of Dec. so she ask what's he would like and i showed what's on his list or atleast a few but to her those games aren't good at all, but for me he's still a child and wants to play. So in the end she bought LEGO's, as she thought that's better than the modern games these days. When we were done for some gifts we went for grocery and then i noticed that it's nearly midday and i need to prepare lunch but she wasn't finish yet and said i should'nt have talked to a friend for a while when we were at one of the shops. Okey, that was my fault but she've been busy too, i haven't noticed she was really waiting for me. Aside from that she've said a few negatives comments about Dh. At that time, i just didn't say much but after lunch i relay to DH what has been my morning with his mum. He said at once "what a horrible morning, you'll never want to go shopping with her anymore" and then i started to cry....DH was soo angry he wanted to go to his mother at once but i said i think it will not help as these was not the first time, imean not with me but for him too. He's been angry with her and honest with it to her, before and after i joined the family and no change at all. She's just a very difficult person, too easy to comments about others and compare. Eversince, her favorite is the youngest and so is with their three kids. First and last, are the same age with our children.

That friday evening, we decided to go and visit my family in Asia. It was a coincidence that we were called up to go to school the last days for the kids, kind of report. Both are very good at school, especially Grace so they can miss a few weeks. This morning, Dh has called the head of the school and ask permission and he understands that we can't leave for during the summer vacation because of our work and the temperature where i came from is very warm especially for the children, but actually mainly for our work.




These are the exchanges recently that was sent and rec. for the Praire Schooler group. I made the Santa and received the deer in return from Carolyn.

SFE & SS

First off, thanks so much Margaret & Von for dropping by. Until now we are not yet fully recovered from it, i mean still feeling very tired, i think because of staying up that late and too much alcohol and trying to be alert for everything.
Haven't had a rest the last days, works goes on and a lot of activities for the children and it is getting worse the coming weeks/weekend.

The things i had in mind to stitch/make for friends(online) for x'mas, i'm afraid i can't make it. I am in a few exchanges so that will be my priority.


Just read some messages from the Yahoo group, a few items were received, quite quickly than i had expected. One was a small finished exchange to Kim...




and my SS got her last package which i stitched her a small pincushion and enclosed some charts from her wishlist. With the help of a few freinds from the USA this went well successfully, otherwise she've known it right away who was her SS from the first package that was sent a few months ago. Thanks so much for helping me with this exchange.

Outing with friends

It was finally 14 adults(7 couples) instead of 18, two couples weren't able to come, one was just on the last minute so he has to pay some that couldn't be cancelled anymore.

We arrived at around four at the hotel and waited till the others joined us, at 5:30 we drove to another place for dinner eetcafe Oberon

after that to this place de zevende hemel
for 'laser game'.
We were divided in two groups, men and women apart and whew!! The guys did it seriously so they win. That was really fun!! Such a pity, the games took only about 12 minutes. We did it two times.



The activity the next day(saturday), we arranged it with the
duck tour
They provided us with four of this small cars to tour the area, with a couple of stops on the way for lunch and golfing... 'boeren golf'. Which was really new to most of us, we are really lucky it was dry as it was predicted with lots of rain.






A picture of the whole group after playing the golf at the farm.






And then to a beer brewery , we ran out of time so we didn't stayed long enough to taste the whiskey which was was quite new to them, only the beer or a couple of them as they have different ones. Took back the cars back and went to dinner which was arranged as well where we are expected at six. It was an indoor barbecue, Gonzales restaurant


After 11Pm we are in one of the bar nearby the hotel for drinks and some played billiard. A few went in after midnight while we stayed until after 1AM. But the night before some went in just before 3AM. Since we organize this outing and i know what the activities the next day i went in after midnight, but Kees stayed with the rest.


Sunday, after breakfast we went to the Mineral museum
It was an interesting one.
The whole weekend went very well and everybody had enjoyed it. We sure happy everything went fine as we had planned. Now we are free for the next 5 or 6 six years, i mean for organizing the weekend or whatever.

Well, whoever read this and find a lot of errors, either with grammar, spelling, i am sorry, my english isn't that well and don't have much time to go over and check it.