Whew! I finally made it back - a full 24 hours straight (and more like 48 with no sleep), but I'm here! It was exhausting but unbelievably amazing! I promise full details over the next few days all the incredible things I saw, but I've got to get to the scrappy stuff first!
So let me go ahead and get this out of the way now.
Australians (phonetically that's "Auuuuuuzzies" or so I'm told ;)) - are stinkin' amazing scrapbookers and do they love their BasicGrey! Truly, I already knew all that going into this expo, but to get to see the work upclose and personal was an entirely new experience all together. The texture and flair that these ladies have is jaw dropping! It didn't take me long to wonder what I could possibly teach these gals, but I'm thrilled to say that the classes went wonderfully, sold out even, and everyone said they enjoyed taking them as much as I did teaching them.
These gals are from just one of the 9 classes I had over the course of the 3 days and I want to tell them and all of my students THANK YOU so much for being welcoming and friendly and making me feel like I had been there all my life! I especially need to thank those sweet ladies who took all THREE of my classes (and stayed with me for an entire day!)...and yes, that even means you, Jen, Bev and Lisa!
And just an added bonus of going down under (like there needed to be anything else!), I got to meet the the other tutors (and esp. Kim Kesti who came with at the last minute!) along with the amazing folks from Expertise. Thank you all so much for your hospitality and patience - and mostly to you, Kirsten, as you put up with me the longest through the almost year long process of making this really happen!
Here we are enjoying some gelato at a cafe around the corner of our hotel. Left to right is Judy, me, Kirsten,
Margie Romney-Aslett (the guru behind Making Memories and a sweetheart of a person!), and Rebecca.
But I think the highlight of the entire expo had to be my dinner with latest Garden Girl,
Loretta Grayson! I may have had to travel around the world to finally meet you, Rett, but I did it!! My night out with her and Ngaire actually made me feel like I was home again...that is until I had to find my way back to my accommodations! ;)
Part 2 coming soon and it's so GOOD to be home!
Five years ago yesterday, I laid in bed next to my then 2.5 year old son and cried my heart out because I just didn't know how I could love another child as much as I loved him. Then 5 years ago today, I cried my heart out again because I saw this sweet face for the first time and knew immediately how it was possible. 
These gals are from just one of the 9 classes I had over the course of the 3 days and I want to tell them and all of my students THANK YOU so much for being welcoming and friendly and making me feel like I had been there all my life! I especially need to thank those sweet ladies who took all THREE of my classes (and stayed with me for an entire day!)...and yes, that even means you, Jen, Bev and Lisa! 
And just an added bonus of going down under (like there needed to be anything else!), I got to meet the the other tutors (and esp. Kim Kesti who came with at the last minute!) along with the amazing folks from Expertise. Thank you all so much for your hospitality and patience - and mostly to you, Kirsten, as you put up with me the longest through the almost year long process of making this really happen! 
Here we are enjoying some gelato at a cafe around the corner of our hotel. Left to right is Judy, me, Kirsten, Margie Romney-Aslett (the guru behind Making Memories and a sweetheart of a person!), and Rebecca.
But I think the highlight of the entire expo had to be my dinner with latest Garden Girl, Loretta Grayson! I may have had to travel around the world to finally meet you, Rett, but I did it!! My night out with her and Ngaire actually made me feel like I was home again...that is until I had to find my way back to my accommodations! ;)
Then I want to give a super big smooch to my Ethan who earned a "Flexibility" award at his First Grade Awards program at school. His elementary really focuses on "life skills" and being a good person/doing the right thing, and this award was for adjusting to change well and "going with the flow" - ie: being "Flexible!" :)v(My poor buddy - can you see those eyese? He had a terrible allergy attack the night before which left them so red and puffy :(). 
So proud of him for that and all that he's accomplished this year. They topped off the school year with Field Day - and seriously, who couldn't love that??! So proud of you, buddy, on a great year! 
And my Turner man just had his first T-ball game - he's now officially an Oriole!! And that hat? Yeah, it hasn't come off since he got it (see strawberry pics for evidence!). 
He did really well - even made a slide into first base after a slight tip off the Tee! Daddy was so impressed! *I* was more impressed he listened to the coaches for the most part!
We also made a quick morning visit on Friday to the patch for some fresh strawberry picking! They were wonderful but small and a bit hard to find due to the lack of rain we've had this spring but they made excellent strawberry shortcakes the next morning, so all was good! 
They managed to pick about 3 lbs. combined and then were ready to call it quits! Can't say I blame them as it was SO hot!