Okay, so I got sidetracked, people.

I had all these grand plans, and then Christmas came (and the school holidays).

Result? No chance to get onto the computer, no blog renovations.

Once school returned in late Jan, I should have been set, but then my body decided I needed to hibernate.

Result? I slept for two months, surfacing only briefly to hug the kids and wave blearily at Andre (aka Wonderhubby).

So where were we up to? End of March I think.

Okay, then we went away for a week, on the first holiday we’ve had in over 2 years.

Next came Easter and more school holidays. Which brings us to today, the first day of term 2, 2010.

Whew.

There has been some progress, which I’ve made only in the last week. To begin with, this pale blue damask pattern will be the background for the new look.

However, the BIG change is a new domain name.
I’ve never really liked “kidzarama” (it’s a long story), and since I’ve managed to pick up janeblogs.net, we’re in the process of moving ‘home’ entirely.

All my posts are already over there, I’m in the process of deciding on a new theme, and I have the colours and graphics almost all worked out. So it’s actually happening, but not the way we’d expected.

Welcome, everyone, to the renovation that never was.

I’m not talking house renovations, because we’re socking away every cent into the mortgage for the time being!

It’s this tired old look that’s being renovated, and I’m going for a whole new design, with this gorgeous studio on the right as my inspiration.

I figured, if I can’t have my own dedicated work space yet, I might as well redesign my blogs to look as good as Posie’s studio!

I’m going with fresh pink, green, cyan & yellow accents on a clean, white background:

I realised today that it’s been almost six months since I wrote anything here, and it kind of shocked me. – Surely it hadn’t been that long!

But it has.

So much has happened in that time that I don’t really know where to begin. So, just a quick update today, without too much overwhelming detail.

We got Mr Bumps’ first school report in June, and the only concern his teacher had was that he’s too quiet.
I had to check that she had the right child. Seriously.

Wren had some issues in July and September with Zoe, a ‘friend’ who is somewhat controlling & told her to jump in the lake.
I was soooo proud!

Mr Blogs is still doing the work of two separate positions at work, and ended up taking some stress leave in October.
I could biatch about it, but we do enough of that at home.

We have our fingers crossed for something soon, because with Mr Blogs overworked and run-down, Mrs Blogs (me) gets run-down coping with the housework & Mr Blogs’ mother-in-law (Granma) has been doing the school run & the washing for the last 7mths.

For myself, I’ve actually been working on some other blogs, which seem to have taken off quite well.
I’ll write more about those another time, because I’m starting to get a bit tired now.

Hope you’re all keeping well and happy out there, sorry for being such a stranger!

Cheers,
Jane

Life has been really full lately, with creativity, family time and lots of finished projects.
We’ve had a bit more than our share of illness, too, but I’ve coped better this time because I’ve paced myself more.

• I found curtains for the kids’ rooms & the lounge room, and almost finished sewing a pair of curtains for our dining room.
  {by hand, because my machine is still packed away}

• I’ve altered a skirt for Wren’s period school excursion later this month, and am hunting down a cream blouse to match.
  {she’s either a convict or a lady, but she’s cute either way}

• Last night, I began a Birthday Garland {thankyou, SouleMama} for Wren’s birthday in October, and will share with you as it progresses.
  -With this much time up my sleeve, I should be able to finish it by hand if my machine hasn’t emerged yet. So no excuses.

• Wren had her first cubs camp the other weekend.

• The Bump had a sleepover at Granma’s place the same weekend.

• WonderHubby & I spent that weekend, from 7am Saturday until 2:30pm Sunday, alone together.
  It was the first time we’ve had for us for a few years, and it was wonderful.

• We found a fantastic computer cupboard at the op shop, which looks fabulous in our home.

• Our old computer came out of contract and we’ve bought a new one outright, which put an end to some of our debt, and lowered our monthly bills.

• Most of the boxes in our garage are now unpacked and we’re close to being able to put the carpet down and use it as a family room.
  {and then I can unpack my sewing machine, yay!}

• Today I even tidied the linen press {pictured}. Is it beyootiful or what?
  I had to take a picture, because it’s probably the last time it will evah be so neat.

• And blog-wise, I’ve chosen a new theme for Kidzarama and created a header image to suit.

For the moment, life is better than blogging.

I realised today that it’s been three weeks since I last updated here, and I’m really not sure what’s happening with that.

Generally speaking, I’ve maintained momentum, but when it comes to writing something for my personal blog I’ve drawn a big blank… I’m disinterested.

I’m actually thinking of giving Kidzarama away.

My interests are moving away from children’s craft and into collecting craft tutorials, sewing & crochet patterns, for which I have other (blogspot) blogs.

I don’t think this is the usual “bloggers’ burnout”, as I’m keeping pace with those other blogs quite nicely.

I just think about writing something here & I’m totally uninspired.

Maybe I stopped just blogging here for the enjoyment of it & got too focused on statistics and such.

Bear with me as I figure this one out, huh?