Cat's bookclub.

I have launched my little book blog with a short introduction. Please pop over to Cat's bookclub and have a read.

So this what it is all about.

As a child, my favorite place in the whole world to visit was a book store or the library. I could get lost in them - spend hours and hours. My dream was to have a huge bookstore filled with books. I just love to smell a new book, to hear the pages turn and the back band bend. I love books!I taught myself to read at around age 5 and has never stopped. I can always find the time to read - even while tandem breastfeeding twins, I always have a book with me - in case I have to queue somewhere, in case I have to wait for someone - I'll read. I'll read in the car, while eating lunch, while dressing, everywhere. Not in the bath though - I have way too much respect for a book to subject it to a watery plunge. That's what magazines are for. I buy a lot of books but I also belong to a Book club where we create a pool of books to borrow.

In my PK (Pre-kid) days I used to read a lot - really a lot. About 50 plus books a year! I found that after my children's birth and as they grew up, I read less and less. Not that I'll ever stop! It is just way less than I used to. I never make New Years resolutions, but did decide that for 2009 I will put a goal to myself - to read 36 books this year - that brings me to 3 a month. This blog is an attempt to review and report on my progress - I have a hand written book journal that I have been keeping for years. Off course, I have 6 months of books to catch up on reporting in this blog!

This also creates an opportunity for my friends in the blogging community to see what I am reading, to hopefully participate and give their own comments and to aid them in choosing books to read themselves. I do sometimes read books in my Mother tongue, which might not be available in English, in which case I will try to recommend another book by the same author that has been translated or I will take an older review out of my journal and publish it. Enjoy!

Two for Two-sday - trucks to go

Playing along with Debi and Deanna as per usual.

Grandparents never seem to come empty handed for a visit and this time around The Boys got lovely big and sturdy trucks to play with. They both loved them immediately but the moment Little Man C's attention was drawn elsewhere, Little man L got the two together and started playing with both - bumping them together and laughing out loud each time. Great fun having two trucks instead of one!

Makes my Monday - the grandparents are here!

Playing along with Cheryl - what a great way to start the week.

Every child loves to spend time with attentive and spoiling grandparents and mine, off course, is no exception to the rule. Since they arrived on Friday evening it has been non -stop fun, fun, fun! Yesterday we tried to chase the grey day away by visiting one of our open malls - the Irene Village Mall which is located close to our area's most famous dairy - hence, the mall has a cow-theme and is family orientated. It has a lot of sculptures spotted through it that are all "play-sculptures" - kids are encouraged to climb on them.

The kids with the grandparents in front of the huge cow statue - it has plants growing all over it.

The Little Miss on the cow sculpture with the horse behind it. It has climbing footholds etc.

The central open are has a play fountain in it and in summertime the kids just love it. At the moment, they have a synthetic "ice-skating" rink in it. The Little Miss didn't want to try it - the mommy was grateful ;) If you enlarge the picture you can see the cow's paws and udder sticking out behind the rink - another play sculpture.

Closer up - the udder is a slide.

The kiddo's on the udder - as usual, Little man L loved it - Little man C was scared.

The Little Miss wanted to get up and slide and couldn't stop. Up, down all the time.

She also loved the fountain.

We let the Little Men out to run - for once we were a one on one adult/child ratio so we could do it. They loved it!

Checking out one of the other sculptures.

And the other half of it - it's twin.

Taking a break to have pancakes and Milo - the two L's in the family - they share a name.

And our two blonds in the family sharing a moment. (not a blond one I hope!)

For some more feel good Monday news - head over to Cheryl's and play along too.

You know you're in Africa when.... part 2

A little herd of My Little Ponies.

Anything looks out of the ordinary?

Check out the middle two ponies...

Styling your hair into tiny little plats is African tradition. You will see little girls with hair in plats, old ladies with hair in plats and also hair extension in little plats.

And My Little Ponies in tiny plats, courtesy of our nanny Lucy.

You know you're in Africa when....part 1

Starting a new little series to give you guys a taste of hwat life is like over here.

This is your dustbin that should have been cleaned on Monday, as has happened every Monday this year, up to now. And today is Saturday. And just to clear it out - there is no strike happening or anything as such. African time guys, African time.

Friday photo finish fiesta - my little men.

Time once again to head over to Carrie's. This is one of my favorite weekly dates as you see so many great (and often short bits to read) posts and pictures. Do hop over there and join in the fun.

Time to feature two of my favorite subjects - my little men! As they are so busy at the moment it is difficult catching them in standing still for one minute. Imagine my joy managing to photograph them in the same spot on Sunday!

My little Monkey holding his "Hasies" his sleeping nu-nu. (It's a rabbit)

And my bear, holding his sippy cup - an Avent sportster - I can really recommend them!

The Grandparents are coming!

Oh my giosh, just heard, on very short notice, that my MIL and FIL are coming TOMORROW for a visit. It is short notice, but we did invite them - I just expected a bit more notice as to when they will be here. I have so much tidying to do right now! (Well tonight after work). But my FIL will fit another build in cupboard to our room which will make a huge difference in my life and my MIL will fill my freezer as always. So, all in all, another thing to be thankful about!

Thanksgiving Thursday

Playing along with Nicole at What a trip! on Thursdays.

I know I should not even be mentioning this because I would probably jinx everything, but it seems that Little Man L is healthy for the first time in a month! He has also slept through on Monday night and last night, Tuesday night was horrible. Maybe, just maybe......

So, although thankful for so many things ,mainly for healthy kids today!

Oh I was such a bad blogger yesterday - but the day was very very hectic. No post, no commenting. Bad bad girl! Started writing this post yesterday and only finished today!

On Saturday the kids were invited to the birthday party of one of The Little Miss' school friends. Off course, at this stage of their lives a party is the highlight of their social calender.

I just had to take a picture of the cake - her aunt is a wedding cake decorator and Lady and the Tramp in icing sugar was just beautiful. Tasted great too.

For the girls the highlight was playing in the birthday girl's doll's house her dad built outside in the garden - with real bricks etc. Never seen anything like this before! A very real little house.
The Little Miss and the birthday girl Jamie-Leigh. They differ only 5 and a half months in age. My girl is just so tall.

The Little Miss and friend Sisitha who is wearing a South African national soccer team jersey - the Bafanna Bafannna (The Boys, the boys translated).

It was the very first time she saw a clown - and this clown was great entertainment. ( We do not go to the circus - we object to wild animals trained as such) Not a single kid was scared and they all enjoyed it so much. Ruffles the clown:

Just look at the wonder on her face - here she was helping Ruffles to throw pixie dust.
And yes, we will be planning ahead to buy a trampoline for the kids - they all had so much fun. The Boys can not stand yet, although they are trying. Jumping so high:
Getting on themselves.

Playing with their sis.