Jack Petchey Award

Whilst Mum and I were away, Alexander had been invited to attend his Awards Ceremony at the Palace Theatre to be officially presented with his Jack Petchey Award.

"The Jack Petchey Foundations exists to raise the aspirations of young people and to help them take advantage of opportunities and play a full part in society".  An award is given if an individual shows outstanding skills/commitment/achievement in any area.  Last year at Eastwood, only 8 students were awarded one and Alex was one of them!

I was totally gutted I couldn't attend, but Lee, Nicholas and Cassie were there, cheering him on and he was so proud to receive it.

 So very much deserved and a proud moment.

EXPO 2018!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the last 8 years, Mum has been flying out to Florida to attend the HUGE Scrapbook Expo.  This year, courtesy of Mum, I got to go too!!!!!

The day after Cassandra's birthday, Mum and I flew out from Gatwick and had a day by the pool before the Expo started on Thursday.  

 

The "Mega Make and Take" event was attended by 600 people and we were two of them.  You are given a bag of 12 mini projects to complete during the evening, as well as being able to shop at each supplier's stall and then they each get up for half an hour and demo their project.  

I can't believe I got all 12 completed AND I sat and painstakingly put Diamond Dotz on individually to create this amazing piece...  Going to turn this into a layout!

Friday saw us up bright and early as our first class was at 8.30am - with the fabby Corey from A-Z Scrapbooking. I took a couple more classes than Mum, but we did get to be together for quite a few too - good pre-planning on our part.

This class Mum and I took run by Art Anthology looked amazing, lots of mixed media and mess, but the class wasn't long enough and it took forever for stuff to dry, so all we really got done was the main background.. oh well, best finish that off sometime!

'Cos Mum's been attending for a good few years, she's made some good American friends that she gets to meet up with and this year I got to put a person to a name - Robyn and Paula were great and Ann was another lovely lady we got to spend time with.

Saturday morning we were again up and out early to get in the what seemed like a never ending queue to get our "Golden Tickets" to go into a draw to win a HUGE prize.  Suffice to say it was probably best that we didn't win, we were over our baggage allowance coming home anyway!

 We even found time to shop and do some make and take's on the show floor...

Mum's legs and her breathing were playing her up a bit - not surprising really, with all the walking we had to do to get from one "classroom" to another, the Gaylord Palms is just HUGE, so lots of sitting and resting was done - with a cuppa of course!

When it was all over I had the need to get some of the layouts/projects I hadn't finished out, back at out hotel room and finish some stuff off.

Whilst I missed Lee and the kids, I had SUCH A BRILLIANT week scrappin' and spending time with Mum, I want to go again next year!!!

Thanks Mum - you're awesome!  x

Birthday girl...

So for Cassandra's 9th birthday, I held her a small "spa day/pamper party".  None of that make up lark, way to young for all that, but 5 guests and her was a lovely amount of young ladies to pampe.

 They made their own fruit based face masks..

 Laid in the sun..

 Had a "professional" facial by my friend and therapist Louise..

 Had a lovely bubbly footspa and pedicure..

 Had a maincure and their nails painted..

And the total surprise, got to splash and relax in a hot tub that I'd hired for them all!

 Birthday cake..

And a group sleepover rounded off her party. 

And then she was very happy on her actual birthday with gifts from Lee and I, Nana and Grandad and others and then dinner out with all of us and Mum too :)

Happy birthday little lady,you are growing up way to fast...

It's been sooooooooo long!

Have I really not posted anything since March 2018!?!?!?  My how time flys..

Well, what's been occuring.....?

Easter (seems so long ago) saw us all over at Mum's for the yearly Egg Hunt and this year, Mum truly outdid herself the the clues for the beasties...  Took them ages, but were well rewarded!

 

April saw Cassie perform in "The Greatest Show" with Expressions - this year she was in 3 numbers and the finale and she had such a great time that on the last night she said that she wanted to do it all over again next year!  I had offered to chaperone backstage which was an experience in itself, but again, I'd do it again next year too..

White stuff...

It doesn't snow very often, but when it does, boy does our country not know how to cope!

 So it's now been 3 days off school for the beasties and they've had fun in the cold stuff lots!

Sledged, and fights in it, and even built a snowman.

It can all go away now please..