It's the end of term school holidays

Yes, it's our end of school year 6 weeks-school holidays! The boys are having their well deserved and long awaited break. I've managed to slot in some swimming and chinese lessons(chinese is our mother tongue but they are much stronger in English, hence the lessons), but other than that they are spending their days just the way they like. (A few days when I got home from work in the afternoon, they were still in their pjs!!) Between getting ready for Christmas, our year end holiday (it's Hokkaido in two weeks time!), 'springcleaning' the home and completing my projects at work before our break, I'm just thankful I have some time every weekend to relax and scrap! (that's all it takes to keep me happy and my family knows that. I'm easy to please, I 'd say! :) )
We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, but do want to wish everyone who does a wonderful time giving thanks as a family! I do love the meaning of this holiday. Blessed Thanksgiving!
Before I forget, in my last post Christine asked me about the bible study I just completed on The Life of Moses. It is a study I attend conducted by Bible Study Fellowship. It is a weekly study conducted by volunteers that is focused on giving us a chance to learn about God's Word in depth. It is a 7 year program and I've been so blessed (i've comleted 4). I just checked the website, it is now conducted weekly in 36 countries around the world, and began in a California living room a half-century ago! I have been a christian for a long time, but this opportunity to study the bible in such depth has really enriched my understanding, my faith, and my walk with the Lord. Thank you for allowing me to share this!
And here are my 365 layouts for the 4 weeks to 7 Nov. It's a much more relaxed family! :)

blue paper from TDD's snap & scrap kit, camera from same kit by Dani Mogstad
And here's us during the week of dh's birthday, grandma's birthday, and Ryan's graduation night.

word tapes by Nicole Young, brown paper by Creashens, and stamp by the Digi Chick
On to my Japan layouts, next stop on our trip was Hiroshima, the site of the Atomic Bomb dropped during World War II. We had read and prepared the boys for it, so it was a solemn moment when the slow city tram pulled up and we saw the Atomic Dome building. There it stood, so stark, powerful, yet beautiful, and so sad. We have no particular political views about the war, we know that what is important is that all the world have learnt that (as inscribed on a scene in the memorial) "There is no good war and there is no bad peace". We count ourselves very blessed to have been able to visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial many years ago, and to be able to bring the boys here to Hiroshima, to be at this city where history changed course, to learn this precious lesson too, and never forget at what price victims of war had to pay for us to learn it.
Credits: Background paper by Robin Carlton, flower by Tara Dunstan, 'gear' by Dani mogstad
Here is the portion of the Hiroshima memorial dedicated to children who died to the atomic bomb, especially this 12 year old Sadako who started the folding of cranes as a symbol of peace. I hope the impression on my children will remain and that they will never forget.
Credits: paper crane by Veritas Scraps, ribbon by Kristen of K Studio, work art by Jessica Spragues, stitches by Gunhild storeid, purple paper by Amy Sumrall, ribbon by Brittish designs, background paper by Jessica Bolton

Finally, finally, of course, here's the templates you can play with this fortnight, have as much fun as I did!
Leave a message if you download here!

Days are flying past

Every time I have some layouts ready and am about to blog, I always try to write down in my post some thoughts from the recent week, whether an anecdote, any story, something cute or funny, anything I want to remember.
But these two weeks the feeling has just been one of wondering, 'where has the time gone?' Can't believe it is November! It's probably the end of the school term, packing up this year's school things to make way for next years', Ryan attending his 'Graduation Night'(!!), finishing another year in my BSF (bible study fellowship)(we studied the Life of Moses this year and what a blessing), and so on that's brought this on. Even with my 365 project capturing every day (almost) it is still amazing where the days went!
There are many things we had been planning to do but that had been postponed more (years, lol) than I like to admit, like re-painting our home (the last time was 8 years ago, eek!, and we only painted half the walls then!), finding a way (overhaul is a better word) to store and organise all our (and the boys') books and stuff, even looking for a bigger home to fit us (and now the property prices have flown beyong our reach!), all these get postponed for daily life, trips (yay!), and I don't know what else.
But in the end, this is our life, as I have documented in my 365 and trip layouts, and I guess even if some of the bigger things get postponed, it doesn't matter. At this stage, parenting the boys, work, being a wife to my beloved, will have to take up most of my time, add to that serving God in sunday school, learning in BSF, time with family and friends, and all the daily nonsense and routine (and scrapbooking!) - is living abundantly as He has shown us how, and we are blessed! :) (even if the apartment is rather messy!)

So much for rambling, here are the layouts I completed, all of them are from our time in Takayama, in the Japan alps, a most tranquil, historical and quaint town. This is from the Hida Folk Village which houses historical authentic old farmhouses brought there from surrounding villages!
Credits: Background by Dani Mogstad, patterned paper, leaves, and heart shaped wood, by MlleHeloise, alpha by Traci King
And this was the totally awesome heritage home of a merchant family, we are no architecture buff, but the way the house was built really drew our breaths! The house was freezing because they did not install any modern heating, and the best part was being invited to sit down (kneeling fashion) for a hot cup of shitake mushroom tea from the boiling pot on the hearth!!
Credits: Papers by Bohemian art, leaves by Viva Artistry, dragonfly by Stephinette
And one last layout of all the various sights and scenes, food and smells from around the town, these made up the full unforgetable experience! (we went back to the same little eatery manned by one lady our entire trip!!)
Credits: Background paper by Catscrap, dotted paper by Karen Lewis, word art by Jen Wilson, strings by Weeds & Wildflowers.
This template is now available in the store HERE

Brothers

The above 365 layout was made using one of MandaGirl's templates, I love her style!

The boys' exams are over and we are all having a much needed rest from studying. The two of them have been spending the last week on holiday from school, 5 days together with each other for company, with their fair share of fun and tears! I guess that's the way with brothers right? One evening they were quarelling over something trivial again, and I got so fed up settling the dispute, I said whoever can come up with 10 compliments for the other first, will win the case. They got started and it was such fun hearing what they come up with!! When Ryan struggled to compliment #8 for Jared, he declared, "That's the absolute limit, I can't think of anymore!!" Haha!! Jared is more generous, and got to 10 more easily, along the way I suggested that 'Ryan is honest' and he said, 'honest, my foot!' lol! When they were done, they agreed reluctantly that 'my brother does have some good points!' :)
I tried to capture as many of the 10 compliments as I can remember!
From Ryan, good points about Jared are: He's intelligent, adorable, good with robots, great at puzzle games, creative, have a good sense of humour, fixes my (Ryan's) toys, learn from his mistakes. :)
From Jared, good points about Ryan are: Coordinated gaming skills, great strategist, superior vocabulary, strong, tall, has many good friends, fun sense of humour, careful, obedient! Another great story for a layout! :)

I'm pushing to complete my 365 layouts and Japan layouts, as I'm already planning next year's album in my mind!! It will be along stories of everyday like the 10 compliments story above... more of that later!

The next part of our Japan trip was spent in Takayama, a town in the Japan alps, it was a total change from modern, bustling Tokyo, it was beautiful, quaint, with pretty old houses and alleys to explore, lots of arts and crafts and markets to browse in, and here are the first few layouts I did.





This template is now available as a set in the store HERE

This one below I put together quickly and simply, I'm so glad I started my 365 album on a simple, white background, minimalist theme!
Here's template 154 for you to play!

Sponsor Spotlight at The Daily Digi!

I had the incredible honor of being a sponsor on The Daily Digi! Had wanted to blog about it, but just been too busy working 12 hour days this week (don't worry, it's temporary). I have loved The Daily Digi since Janet started it this year, and visit it everyday - if you haven't been, check it out, you'd be hooked. They have great articles, tips, fantastic inspirational layouts and scrapping ideas, great non-scrapping fun stuff, helpful hints, and lots more. You can see Yin designs being spotlighted in this post, it's such an honour, so exciting, I still can't get over it! :)
I have contributed the following tempaltes 144 to 147 to The Digi Files 8 - in which (for a mere $5) you can find designs by the AMAZING Lauren Reid, Ziggle Scraps, Dani Mogstad, Designs by Lili, Kay Miller, and The Digi Chick! Can you believe I'm in the same File as these designers??? I had many items in Dani's wishlist when I found she was being featured, and promptly bought them all with her sale coupon.

I did find time during the two weeks ago when I was on leave (I called it PSLE leave - I took leave to see Ryan through his Primary School Leaving Exams - a big deal here in Singapore - unbelievable, you'll see how hard we studied in my next few 365 layouts) to complete several layouts, catching up on my Japan album (I think I'm about half way through)
This captures the many bento set picnic meals we had while in Japan, they have the loveliest bento meals - available cheaply in their supermarkets, with the most amazing array of options, assortment, the hardest part is choosing, especially when we couldn't quite figured out what they were made of, lol. These picnics became a memorable part of our trip! The places we've ate them in!
And here we are at the Maritime Museum of Science - I found it whimsical with an old time air, and very fascinating, with lots of hands on stuff - a total hit with the boys.
Another quinessential part of our trip was our Shinkansen journeys - Japan's super fast bullet trains - the first day of our Rail pass, we boarded the wrong local train (to the same destination) and only realised after half an hour, I know, how could we?? When we got off and found our way to the right station, a shinkansen came and zoomed right past us, whoosh! And we all went "Now THAT's a shinkansen!!!" We made no more mistakes after that!
One more layout of Disneysea, too many photos, and I had to pick at least one from every scene, just didn't want to exclude them from our album!

Finally, this one's from the afternoon we spent at the uber cool, ultra modern Museum of Science & Technology.

And the template for you to play

This template is now available as a set in the store HERE