They arrived!

My aunts arrived from PE via London...last night. They got in at 2am in the am....wild flight. Shame they couldn't even sleep late with a over excited three year old making an enormous racket from early. He was SO excited to see them.

I am going to be spending all of today packing our suitcases. We leave for London on the 9am flight tomorrow......that means an early start...YIKES!!! The tricky part is going to be working out where to pack all my DELICIOUS stash!

*Stamps

*Maya road mini albums

* Paper~ American crafts, SEI & KI {I am in love with it all!!!}

* American craft thickers in all sorts of colours

*etc, etc

These are some L.O's off the AC web site....cool hey!

I had a ball buying it all, although I was hoping to get Hambly too but you can't get it here...too expensive to import apparently.

Anyhow I must go & pack. I will post again from London.

Bye!

XXX

It's time!

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

For weeks & months we have been waiting for this day to arrive. Well it is here..... the special day of the year when we honour the birth of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ. A day that is symbolic of Hope, Sacrifice & Peace, the day when our Lord became human...left His home across the stars somewhere & came to our planet to offer us a way out.

Take this time to reflect on your lives, spread LOVE, JOY & GENEROSITY to all you can & enjoy your day together.

Much love & a BIG hug from the whole Watson Family.

XXX

Snow boarding!

This post will probably be SUPER boring for all except my boet & M&D....so feel free to log out right about now if it doesn't grab you & I won't take it personally...:o)

Tersh braved the slopes the other day...now for those not in the 'KNOW', my darling husband has only wanted to snow board like forEVER! My uncle surprised him the other morning by taking him to Rattlesnake Point to try his snowboarding skills out. Please bear in mind that he had to hire kit & borrow clothes {which were a couple of sizes too big} but did that discourage him....NOT IN A MILLION YEARS!! He psyched himself up & just hit it! Surprisingly enough he was bloody good for a first timer......he came a cropper about 4 times but then styled for the rest of the day.

This is T psyching himself up for the possibility that he might

have to be assisted down again with broken limbs.

Baby steps....& a bit cautious....

Got it waxed now!

Racing snake doing what they do best.....sliding @ sonic speed!

Go-babes-Go!!

Tersh got home SO amped, I don't think the smile left his dial for hours afterwards. The bug has well & truly hooked. If for that reason only, my bloke is now sure more than ever that he wants to live here. You must know for a seasoned surf rat that is quite something! Now to ditto Tersh's favourite theme song "Oh Canada! Oh Canada!......" {he has this lame song that he loves & plays @ full volume whilst having his first cuppa every morning}....you get older....you get quirkier, I know I have witnessed it! :o)

See ya later!

XX

Venturing out.

We ventured out today & did the tourist thing @ Niagra Falls It was mind-blowingly beautiful!! The stark contrasts & sheer power was something my photo's don't really do justice to.

As you can see from the pic's it was BLOODY cold...I thought I was going to get hyperthermia.

Afterward we were treated to the most delicious burgers I have ever tasted, from a burger joint called Licks {apt name believe me, I had sauce everywhere} ...my waist line is now officially on vacation.

Max was less than enthusiastic about posing for the camera...as usual!

This is Max actually eating something...& I caught it on camera. The moment was short lived tho', after this pic, all his food sat on the table untouched....it seriously stresses me out!!! Are all 3yr olds like this???? How he grows & florishes I have no idea....juice, rough & tumble & an odd snack thrown in for good measure every now & then, constitutes his nutrition. I wonder if he will ever get to master a knife & fork, seeing as he gets NO opportunity to practise.

Nitey-nite guys, I will try and post again tomorrow!

XXX

Boy it's cold out!

{Ok, so this post is long overdue........I have had it saved in drafts for days but I just haven't had a chance to publish it until now. The other thing is that the photo's have nothing to do with the post, that is because the pic's that do are on Tersh's Mac & he has been too busy with CV/work stuff to get the pic's to me. I mean what is a post without pic's hey? They are of us building a "snow goat" .....Maxi's decision....I generally having a ball!}

Now as I was saying......

I not joking either....the temp is -12 degree's outside. We attempted a brief moment outside yesterday arvi {braving the elements that is} but lasted all of about 7 minutes before bolting back into the car. Wheeeu! we underestimated just how chilly -12 really is. Our biggest problem we are finding is we don't have the right type of clothing, so any jaunt in the snow leaves our legs, shoes & socks wet. That can be remedied tho' in a jiffy, with a visit to the Canadian outdoor store, which we plan to do next week because to brave the ski slopes without the right kit could be fatal, especially for Tersh {he wasn't called Racing Snake for nothing you know}.

We did a bit of driving around the area yesterday to get a feel for the geographic's of the surrounding area in terms of where we would like to live if Tersh is successful in finding a job here. The strong Anglo influence is very evident in architecture & design, we felt like we were in the middle of England and almost every house is dresses to the roof with all manner of Christmas paraphernalia. Santa's, sleighs, reindeer, trees, candy canes, twinkling lights etc, etc. {Obviously no Eskom problems here} The only difference between here & the UK is the ENORMOUS Canadian cars that you see everywhere....no compacts that's for sure. Most cars are 4x4's & heavy duty, to deal with the icy roads.

We are so enjoying staying with our family......admittedly they were a little nervous about what they were getting themselves into by letting us stay with them for the length of time we planned...but I am relieved to report that we passed with flying colours. We are all pretty easy going people so it has been a breeze all bunking together. Uncle Ian & Aunty Kathy are the most generous, understanding & AWESOME people to visit with. It has been wonderful to spend time with my cousins too.......the last time we all spent any serious time together we had only just gotten our big teeth, so this time together is sort of like a long overdue reunion.
We dressed the Christmas tree on Friday night, Uncle Ian was working overtime {until 3am!}, so it was Tersh, myself, Max & Aunty Kathy. What fun we had......Max loved discovering and unwrapping decorations that have been in the Venter family for years. Then finding just the right spot on the tree for them. It is idyllically perfect with the blinking, sparkling tree against a backdrop of snow laden holly bushes & winter maple trees, through the window. What is it about Christmas & falling snow???? It just feels right somehow!

I was tagged by Joscie the other day~ 7 more facts.....so here goes!

1) A dream of mine is to brave the Canadian wilderness & head up to a mountain river & go fishing for salmon in a canoe.

2) I would love to go to a CHA one day......anywhere would do me just fine!

3) I would love to be able to enter HOF but to do that I would have to live somewhere other than SA.

4) I am really looking forward to eating a meal @ a Taco Bell.....no laughing!!! I love Mexican food & I have heard of Taco Bell for years but never actually been in one, so next week hopefully I will get to do that.

5) I have been planning & designing my own scrapbook range for a year now. I called it~ Doodle Studio, I am hoping that I will get to manufacture & get into stores before the end of next year.

6) I am seriously NOT a morning person....that is until I get my first mug coffee.

7) I am a ridiculously light sleeper....ticking clocks, dripping taps....squeaking of any kind keeps me awake, even the red light of our music system on the dresser wakes me up. Dumb hey?

Well guys I must go & be social....the house is filled with voices & laughter....I am in my element!

Have a super day & hopefully I will post again soon.

KJ

x

Greetings & updates!

Hi there everyone! I have been so snowed under {hahaha! corny I know!} that I haven't had much free time to blog over the last couple of days. I have missed you all tho' & will pop onto your blogs when I have finished my post & see how you have all been.
I am not joking about the snowed in part you know, we have been so fortunate to have blankets & blankets of beautiful snow fall today. Not too cold fortunately, we stood in it, tasted it & threw snow balls at each other....juvenile I know but complete fun!!

Having to get on with regular life is quite a feat with so much snow lying on the ground and to drive in it, is even harder , even with salt trucks salting the roads regularly. If we move here it will take a fair amount of adjustment to the weather. That & with the snow, your clothes always feel wet.







We are having a FINE time here in Toronto. Life is relaxed & unstressed, with numerous visits to Tim Horton's, local eatery's & play time in the snow, when I can get Maxi motivated that is........oh yes & scrap shopping!!!!! Tim Horton's is an institutions here in Canada, every where you look, people are walking, heads bowed against the weather whilst sipping a cup of "Timmy's". The most popular way of acquiring a cup of the black nectar, is by driving through the drive-through...YIP! you read right, there are drive through's for everything here, even the bank ATM's ...cool hey?

My trip to Micheals was a bit overwhelming for me. There was just SO much stuff that I didn't know where to start. The plan is to look around some more before going crazy with the visa card! This is what I mean..... rows & rows of stash. Everything you could imagine just calling my name.
I saw the Martha Stewart range for the first time, a bit expensive maybe but boy it is beautiful, The colours, design & whole presentation is sophisticated & chic. I was very impressed!



I also managed to visit the Dollar store, Walmart & the scrapbook! It sounds like by now I should be heavy laden with stash but I haven't actually done much crazy shopping as yet, I want to do some price comparisons first before I swipe my plastic! I did however buy a bit today. I folded on a couple of things that I just couldn't live without ....like a set of magnetic, M.M stamp alpha's~ typewriter font. Jo & Mel...how long has it been since I have had those alpha's on back order???? I also found some Basic Grey chipboard mini album's, felt trim, tiny clear acrylic alpha stamps in an italic font & some other bits 'n bobs. My next mission is to find a McGill file tab punch. There is much method in my restraint, I promise!

Anyhow I'd better finish up, go & help my Aunt prepare supper, my cousin & her husband are coming over. Here are some more pic's of us having fun in the snow:




You have yourselves a fine night. I will try & find a gap tomorrow to post again!
Sleep tite!

XX

Pic's at last!

A couple of pics......

Cute hey??

Just a hi & bye!

Hello everyone. I have two minutes before I jump into the car with my Aunty Cathy to go to Micheals........oh yeah! oh yeah! Micheals....the shop I have read about on CK forum only but 2 million times. Haha! I bet you I will get there & they will have run out of stock or something, my luck :o)

My boy is sleeping, my hubbie is out with our cousin Christiaan, my uncle is getting ready to go to work & all is quiet. I am thouroughly enjoying my vacation. It is so relaxing having no agenda to follow.

We did brave the snow this morning...it took us about half an hour to work out how to dress Maxi in the snow clothes. By the time we got down the stairs & outside he was freaking out. I don't half blame him tho'......@ home he is a regular nudie & here he is encased in thermal kit from ears to toes. Needless to say our jaunt in the snow lasted all of about 20 minutes......we will try again tomorrow :o)

Well you lovely lot..I will try & post pics later once I work out to do it on the new camera. For now catch a HUGE hug.

Bye-bye!!
x

For your ears only!

Hey Mumsy & Pop's....things have been so mixed up here with the time zones that we haven't even connected yet. We then decided to pick up the phone to chat, realised it was the middle of the night, then thought we'd SMS & realised Canada has a different plug system here......bought an adapter today & cell phone is now on charge. We had absolutely no time to phone when we landed @ Heathrow on our way here. By the time we got to the correct terminal {3} & got to the departure hall, we were notified that our flight to Toronto had started bording already. We caught a lift with one of those travel carts with a driver & flashing light & made it by the skin of our teeth. All our well meaning plans to buy a phone card & shop @ duty free went to pot!! Poor Maxi was promptly strapped back in his chair and made to endure another 8hrs, with no repreave. That little boy was a star...all things considered. We were being prayed for, I could feel it. Thanks everyone who sent up a prayer for us, cos they were answered.

We will hopefully get it right tommorrow.....whhooowhoo maybe even skype! P.S Maxi went beserk at Walmart today, they had "Cars's" characters.....tons of them. I don't know who was more excited us or Max & get this? They were only $2.86 each....back in SA they are R60 each!!! Things are SO much cheaper here. We bought a camera too...a compact with so many capabilities that I am sure it will give voice commands if I give it half a chance. It too is on charge, so by tomorrow I will be able to post some pic's.

Mel, Stef, Jo, Joscie, Martha, Liz & Samantha.....I have quickly popped onto all your blogs to catch up but haven't time to post comments as yet. I will when I get a gap. Glad you are all
A-OK!

Love as always
KJ & Crew from the snowy north {loving everry freezing minute of it}....signing out!
XXX

P.S Stood in falling snow today....quite a picture seeing Tersh & Max...mouths open, faces to sky trying in vain to catch a snow flake on their tongues.

Hiya doing??

Hello guys from the frozen North. Yip we are here, we arrived in one piece, a bit tired but extatic to be in Toronto. I don't have much time to post right now...we are sitting eating oats porridge with the whole family & it is so cool!!!! The ground is covered in snow....it is seriously cold outside....it is FANTASTIC!

I have no pic's as yet because we have no camera with us. Shock, Horror!!!! no camera, that is because we did'nt pack one. The plan is to buy a compact here....mall here we come.

I will hopefully post again soon
XXXX

Christmas come early!

Hello there you lovely lot!!!!
I have been so snowed under my to-do-list for the last couple of days, that I just haven't gotten around to posting. But thankfully I am almost there. The suitcases are packed......the VISA's came yesterday {early I might add, I was expecting them on Friday} & the house type arrangements are almost there. YAY! for me!! 24hrs to go & we will be at the airport sipping latte's & waiting for our flights.

******The other fantastic unexpected news....the cherry on the top of everything, is that Creating Keepsakes magazine want to publish another one of my L.O's.
And to make my day even more WOW!, a local SA magazine~ Time & About want to publish x4 of my L.O's for early next year. Goodness, I feel a bit euphoric & spoilt......a great way to start a long awaited holiday tho'!*****

On the scrapping front, I haven't had much time of late to finish many 12x12's but I did finish this cute 'Photo Wallet'. I got the instructions off Samantha's blog. It is a Christmas gift for Aunty Sarah. It was her birthday the other day & I wanted to give here something to remember it by. It is super easy and VERY quick to finish. The actual wallet doesn't even take an hour....it's the resizing & printing of the pic's that took longer. If you have SERIOUS time constraints, it might be easier if you take jumbo's you already have printed and cut them down to the right size.

This is the 'sleeve' that holds it together when closed.

This is the wallet open with the flaps closed.

This is the wallet & flaps open.

It is an amazing SUPER QUICK gift to make for someone.
Anyway guys I must go & finish up.

Have a gr8 arvi.
Chat soon
KJ
x

Don't feel like it.

Sorry Stef, I just don't feel like blogging today......I will try tomorrow when I finally get through my to-do list.

XX

So much to do!

As promised I mentioned earlier that I would post again tonight if i could....well I am behind my laptop with mountains achieved today, although I do admit to being just slightly shattered by the volume of people in the malls already. I mean schools only broke up on Friday, one would assume that the least they could have done was sleep in today.
The good news is though, that I will probably not have to step foot in another mall until 2008....yeehaa! that is GREAT news in itself, in that I HATE the mall, especially when it is full of lurkers.
{definition being~ people who cruise the mall without purpose & stare aimlessly in store windows, just waiting for an opportunity to step in the way of any desperate mom type person, wielding a shopping trolley containing a yelling child.}

I am feeling quite organised at the moment & will start packing tomorrow....not that you would say so from the chaos on the floor of my bedroom. Max decided to put the suitcases to the test. He emptied everything into a pile on the floor and spent half the afternoon playing boats, rocket ships, hide 'n seek....you name it he tried it.


Max came to me this afternoon saying that he had all his friends ready to be packed.....that they all had to come.....I hesitated for a second before explaining to him that there was no oxygen in the cargo hold, so they wouldn't be able to breathe & that it would be better if they stayed at home. He agreed!



Whilst digging in the garage for suitcases I came across a suitcase of Maxi's baby clothes that I didn't know I still had. Max had loads of fun digging around in there. He came across a fluffy sleepsuit of his size 18-24mnths that I had cut the feet off of for extra wear. The next thing I see him wriggling into it.......to celebrate his success, he raced down the passage shouting:

"Look @ me, I am a super hero!!"

We are all so looking forward to this trip. I must just get through the next couple of days with insurance companies, glass companies {replacing our shattered door etc} & then I can relax & get into the holiday mode.

I will keep you posted.
Nitey-nite.
XX

Running around!

Morning all.....I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I did.....managed to spend some quality time with my boys. It was much needed with Tersh, who has working until after 2am, most mornings in an attempt to break the back of the work he needs to get out by Thursday.......BECAUSE WE LEAVE FOR CANADA ON FRIDAY!!!! As you have probably guessed by now, I am SERIOUSLY! excited about our trip! Our visa's haven't come back from Pretoria yet but I am not worried....they'll be here, I know it! And this is the first real holiday we have had all year. It is hard to believe by Sunday this week, we will be up to our eyeballs in snow.....Yay!!!

AnywayI can't do much of a post this am because I have a million things to organize & get done before Maxi comes back from his play date. So I better 'get on my horse'.

So Hi & Bye until later.

XX