Friday 15 October 2010

I am sure I say it every week, but I am ever so happy it is Friday! Gosh, this week has been long and tiring.

So let's start de-fragging :

• I am taking the Princess to her very first full length ballet tomorrow morning, Sleeping Beauty, with granny and one of granny's buddies in tow. It is a special dress-up show for the girls and she is going to wear her evening dress and a little tiara. Pictures will follow.
• After that we are rushing to attend Miss E's birthday party.
• I have been going to the physiotherapist for the last few days for my sinus infection and sore shoulder from my fall. The sinus is definitely better (and I am getting used to acupuncture needles), the progress on the shoulder has been fantastic! I am a fan now, for sure.
• We have the most stunning staff in our office. Today is Bosses' day in South Africa and we each got a beautiful card and a hard hat with the company logo on the front and our names on the back. Brilliant stuff.
• Our silkworms have now started spinning and the kids are loving the process. We are once again spinning some shapes and I will show you more in a special silkworm post.
• If you Wiki silkworms they tell you that silkworms are only bred for recreation purposes by kids in China. My gosh, I grew up with it here in South Africa - are we the only people apart from the Chinese to do it? Please tell me it's not true.
• The Princess has a second loose tooth. I see we will have to start saving for this process.Or at least, the tooth faerie will have to.

• A certain little boy whose name starts with an "L" has decided that at all of just 3 years old he can pour his own milk and juice. We have lost about 2 liters of milk and one of juice this week to the kitchen floor. Now the fridge has a kiddie lock on.

• We might just have to pay on our promise for a visit to the zoo on Sunday as the trio of kids are behaving themselves rather well at present. Hold thumbs that the Komodo dragon is back. When we went last time it was a huge disappointment for the Princess when it was lent for a breeding program. It's apparently her favorite animal. Why does it surprise me? She has a serious dinosaur obsession.
• Since I am allowing annon comments (so that some of my buddies can comment without open ID ) I am getting up to 4 spam comments a day! Just stay away from me you foreign language adult websites! Luckily the same friends leave the greatest comments - not a bad price to pay.

Well, I think that is about it for today - have a great weekend.

Friday 8 October 2010

 

I am so glad it's Friday today - this week has been brutal work wise. So without further ado - let's get the mental de-cluttering done.

• The silkworms are by now huge monsters eating way more than I can possibly imagine. No spinners yet.
• It's cousin Karla's matric farewell ball tomorrow night and I have been asked to take her photos. I am super excited as she want pictures in the veld. (Matric farewell ball is like senior prom)
• The Princess is still playing around with that tooth, waiting for it to fall out. For the record, after asking here and on several other forums the fee per tooth is between R10 and R20, except if you are in Joburg's wealthier areas wher it can be up to R100! In America it is $1.
• We have a water leak in our garden in one of the flower beds. As I am writing this the plumber is fixing the pipe.I am very scared of our water bill coming at the end of the month.
• I got some brioche for Jay's cafe in Hobart shopping centre in Bryanston yesterday. It is beyond tasty. Super yummy.
• I am in a lot less pain today after my fall on Wednesday. Yesterday I thought that I would have to get to the doctor as I was in so much pain.
• It took me just short of 2 hours to get from Joburg to Pretoria yesterday from 3 pm as I was caught in the first big thunder storm of the season.
• And yes, it rained! It was amazing to hear the thunder, smell the rain and hear it fall. The first thunder storm (in fact a lot of them) here in Africa is truly spectacular.
• It was great that the boys was ok with the storm - at least they remembered it, not like last year when they were terrified.
• I am really looking forward to our December holidays - we are going away twice and see the sea in two provinces. It is going to be epic!
• It's the first week that Little man L went without a daytime pull-up. No 1 is going fine, no 2 is still a not so wee little problem.

• Little man C asks me every single day to go camping. Every single day. I am promising December. Every single day. 
• I am so enjoying reading "When will there be good news" by Kate Atkinson. Review to follow soon at Cat's bookclub. If you want to read a really great book, the last one I reviewed was brilliant - my best read this year. 
• I have wanted a Kindle ever since they came out here - now I would rather get an ipad - our IT guy has one and I am in love. What better to read your books and blog on a tablet.

 So that's my bit of fragmenting - if you are looking for my Friday Photo post or project 365, I will be publishing it soon at Captured by Cat - my new photo blog.

Come share in the blog hop:

Friday - 20 August 2010

• Ok, so I did this whole post last night to just add one picture here this morning and publish, and by the click of one button I threw away the whole thing. I. am. not. impressed.
• Last night was the first night in two and a half weeks that I slept through. I am feeling very crappy today. WTH?
• Tomorrow morning I am going to my ever so fabulous hairdresser!
• On Sunday we are planning a drive to somewhere countryish for lunch and a outing. Any good ideas fellow Gauteng dwellers? Space for kids to run an essential.
• I can feel my cold moving to sinus. Ugh!

So onto:

Hosted by Cecily

Hosted by Chris

The princess on her way to the tea party.

228/365:
  16 August 2010:

 This is a very special un-portrait portrait of the princess. Meet Blankey - bear - her constant companion since birth and now a bit worse for the wear. She actually justifies her very own post and was once couriered overnight across the country .

 A very rare flash photo.
230/365:
  18 August 2010:

 With a new sand box and sand it is all of a sudden the new again flavor of the month.
231/365:
  19 August 2010:

Now why do they not make these in ladies sizes? Come on Woollies - they are soft and comfy and so very very pretty.

Friday 30 July 2010

Hosted by Cecily

Hosted by Chris

205/365:
  24 July 2010:

A little bouquet from granny's garden.
206/365:
  25 July 2010:

207/365:
  26 July 2010:

Our "no TV" afternoons have resulted in a lot of puzzle building, reading and drawing.
208/365:
  27 July 2010:

A little garden fragment.
209/365:
  28 July 2010:

Ok, I admit. I have walked into Big Blue, I left with this stunning wrap top and a summer dress. Oh gosh, I loooove that shop.

It' s been ages since I did so fragmenting, so here goes:

-->

1. 
   
   
   
   
   I met Laura of Harassed Mom yesterday for lunch- it was delightful and she has the most incredible eyes I have ever seen. Wow - eyes to launch a 1000 ships, I tell you. Girl, it was a great meeting you – let's do it again.
2. 
   
   
   
   
   The princess is at that stage in life where mommy does not know best any more – teacher knows best.
3. 
   
   
   
   
   I took her registration for grade R at the “big school” in yesterday. (For the US girls – I think you can compare it with the Kindergarten year). We have decided not to send her to school early (she is on the dividing line here with a n early January birthday) We are moving her from English to Afrikaans and as she is already doing grade R at her present school this year, I trust she will adjust well.
4. 
   
   
   
   
   We have started to plan our December holidays! Yeah.
5. 
   
   
   
   
   I am expecting to have a freezer full of good venison in a week or so.
6. 
   
   
   
   
   Today the weather is terrible – cold and cloudy. What happened to the almost summer we had for the last week and a bit?
7. 
   
   
   
   
   Some nights are tantrum nights – they will not disappoint – 3 tantrums in rapid succession.
8. 
   
   
   
   
   Our alarm went of the night before last and someone tampered with our main gate. I am a bit uneasy about it Thank God last night was peaceful and quiet.
9. 
   
   
   
   
   I have read 4 books in July – making up for June's dismal show of one book. Maybe I can finish another one tonight? I have also now read all the Twilight books. I really enjoyed them, but it's enough of the genre for me. The whole Renesmee thing freaked me out a bit.
10. 
    
    
    
    
    My DH (and yes, he is an absolute darling) has booked me for a facial tomorrow. Yeah!

Firday 19 February.

It's Friday and time to get the little its and bits out of the system:

• My cold is worse - is that even possible?
• We had an excellent night out last night - dinner at Blu Saffron and a great concert by Matthys Roets - a South African folk singer who was paralyzed after a motorbike accident almost a year ago. All the money went to children's charities.
• Monday is a public holiday - triple yeah! I need it.
• I had so many questions on my Blogtrotting South Africa post that I will do a Q&A post sometime to answer. In the meantime, if you have not seen it and want to know about my country, do take a look here. You are still welcome to ask away for today.
• Have you seen this? SHOUT! Have you contributed your R20 and got the song? It's my new ringtone. For the international peeps - go check out the best of South Africa's musicians song agains crime - click on the link above to Youtube - I think it's excellent (and you see Arno Carstens - sexiest man alive). Ok my Sweetheart, the second most sexiest man alive.

Hosted by Cecily and Carrie

Hosted by Chris

71/365:
12 March 2010
She was singing: "I've got a feeling, that tonight's gonna be a good night..." The kid loves the Black Eyed Peas - I suspect that great video of "Meet me halfway" has something to do with it.

72/365:
13 March 2010
I have so many great pictures from the party, but this one is without a doubt my favorite. 

73/365:
14 March 2010
I had a tummy bug - Hunter got these for me when he and the kids went to play at Safari nursery. They are still beautiful this morning.

74/365:
15 March 2010
What! A flash picture! Got The Boys some winter stuff and asked them to fit one shirt to check size - then they did not want to take them of (and it was hot!)

75/365:
16 March 2010
Got my new glasses. Check out the funky case.

76/365:
17 March 2010
The Lil Miss came to work after ballet and she and Adele really became great friends this afternoon.

77/365:
18 March 2010
Cross for the week: this one is small and I wear it around my neck. It is handmade in silver with a polished amethyst on a chain of polished amethyst and old Ethiopian silver beads. I have had it for 17 years and am still wearing it whenever I can get away with purple around my neck.

Friday - 5 March 2010

Hosted by Cecily and Carrie

Hosted by Chris

57/365:
26 February
Love this little after work moment of spontaneous play.

58/365:
27 February
A quiet moment on the farm - that little curl that caught the sunlight was cut on Sunday.

59/365:
28 February
Granny's birthday cake-lets.

60/365:
1 March
Friends across 60 years of age difference. The Lil Miss and Mariki.

61/365:
2 March
The horse stable on the before dinner farm has an unexpected addition to the stampede.

62/365:
3 March
New funky glasses.

63/365:

4 March

The cross on our front door and a bit of Photoshop.

It's Friday and time to get the little its and bits out of the system:

I like to combine these with my 365 photos of the week, because in a sense, they are also fragments representing each day.

So over to some less visual fragmenting:

• Today I am attending a course with very dry subject matter. It is going to be a long day and I actually have so much to do at work.
• I had this weird problem with my Outlook on Wednesday - really weird. Computer boffin office person sorted it out.
• Going riding again tomorrow!
• Ugh -just tired.

We had a major meltdown about meals in helicopters tonight (by am over tired Lil Miss:
A: Mom, can we ride in a helicopter some day?
Me: Oh mommy would love it - I have never been in a helicopter.
A: They serve the best food on helicopters.
Me: (Thinking what the???) No my dear, you do not eat on helicopters like on an airplane. There are no air-hostesses.
Crying and hysteria starts. Yes, way too tired!

Friday - 26 February

It's Friday and time to get the little its and bits out of the system:

I like to combine these wioth my 365 photos of the week, because in a sense, they are also fragments representing each day.

• Little man C is almost fully potty trained. He tells when he needs to go and am wearing big boy underpants. Just for the record - he is 29 months. The Lil Miss was fully trained at 25 months.
• Little man L is not so. Refusing to do no 2 in the potty - still. But going ok with the rest.
• Both the boys had a cold this week and last weekend. Sleep as been in short supply - Last night I medicated my kids - just shoot me ok! We had a good night. I am so tired that I am going to my moms tonight to get one very solid night's sleep.
• The Lil Miss had a school outing to a milk farm (Irene diary) - The kids had so much fun! And each came home with a liter of very fresh, very creamy milk.
• Little man L is getting new glasses. Wow, to get your second pair by age 2 seems a bit weird to me. (Full report to follow)
• From my post yesterday I have learned that a lot of girls are very smell sensitive and that a lot of those use the same perfumes I do. 
• Today is unofficially orange day in our office - purely by chance (how weird is that), here's the line-up.

• And it's awards time - I received this one from the ever entertaining Cyndy:
  

Of course, there are rules that go along with this award. The rules are that I have to tell you 7 interesting things about myself and pass it along to 7 other bloggers.

1.   I really like to eat a combination of sweet and salty things - together (no I always have, and I am not pregnant)
2.  I backpacked through Europe for 3 months at age 19 and turned 20 in Rome. I went to a mass that afternoon - it was unforgettable although I did not understand a word.
3.  Italian gelati in Italy is way tastier that you can ever imagine. I still crave the Pistachio although I have found a great substitute at Baglios.
4. I love Creme Brulee as a desert - if it is on the menu I will not even consider another option. In fact I judge the quality of a restaurant by their Creme Brulee.
5.  I struggle to eat my 5 fruits and vegetables a day. I am often ok with the veggies, but not the fruit. I must just make the effort.
6.  I can not dance (although I love to) - Hunter will confirm this. I have two left feet. Some day when the kids are digger we are planning to do some classes together because Hunter is really a great dancer.
7.  I love interesting flat/flip flop style shoes - they are my summer everyday ware. The more colourful or decorated, the better. Today is:

Just to liven it up a bit, I am passing this award to 7 commenters of yesterday's post:

The five girls that love the same perfumes I do:
The 3 Tresor lovers:
Sadia (a first time commenter) at Double the fun, twice the confusion 
Heather (another fiorst time commenter) at This is the day 
Steph (yet another newby) at Silly Presious Piggies
The Tuscany per Donna lover and domestic godess extraordinaire:
Shayne at [Time Out]
And my very oldest blogging friend of all (and user of 3 of the same perfumes- wow!) :
Debi of Who says eight is enough?
The one girl that hater the same perfume I do:
Faerie girl  at Faerie girl
And my one blogging friend that I know needs all the love and support she can get right now:
Lynette of A work in progress.

Hosted by Cecily and Carrie

Hosted by Chris

50/365:

19 February 2010

Lunch with two of my loves. Hunter had the day of and took his girls to lunch.

51/365:

20 February 2010

Extra ballet class on Saturday.

52/365: 

21 February 2010

Although we hace 3 dolls prams (one a twin stroller) a wheelbarrow is a very appropriate baby carrier in Africa.

53/365:

22 February 2010:

The romance in a retaining wall. 

54/365:

23 February 2010:

He was completely exhausted after his check-up at the Eye specialist.

55/365:

24 February 2010:

First school outing of the year.

56/365:

25 February 2010:

Rest a while before dinner. I wanted to take a pic of her feet for my feet collection, but like this one more because of the lines.(For the photgs out there - I used an ISO of 3200 in very low light. Fstop 5, shutter sheed 1/8. )

Friday - 18 February

It's Friday and time to get the little its and bits out of the system:


I was reprimanded by the Princess this week:
A: Mommy, why did you put a white bread sandwich into my little lunch box?
Me: Because we had white bread in the house. (we almost never have white bread in the house)
A: Mommy, you know it is not healthy food. You should not be feeding me food that is not healthy. It is not good for my bones and hair and blood. You're naughty!
Me: (Thinking to myself: So shoot me! I was feeling like white bread a real butter just for once)

•  We had a huge thunder storm on Wednesday night with a cloudburst of rain. Scary stuff.
• Flying solo this weekend with the kids - here's hoping they will all be happy campers at least.
• Hunter worked late last night. Was so worried about him driving after working for 18 hours. 
• Going to lunch today with him and the princess. We almost never get the chance so I am really looking forward to it.
• I did not go to the funeral yesterday. I just could not.
• I have decided to get some girls together for a moms time-out weekend. I hope I get at least 3 interested girls. It would be great just to get away a bit. Just to stop being mommy for a weekend. We all need that.
• I realized that if it is Lent it is also 40 days until we go on a week long holiday! Jipppeeee!=
• I am looking for silver heels - not too high, for a wedding. Very unsuccessful search.I am frustrated.
• The dress on the other hand was bought for next to nothing at a Chinese shop. Saw it in the window, fits perfectly, cost R190,00. Would have never tried itor even went into the shop if the voice in the head did not say, just give it a go. (That's for like nothing in dollars - some  T-shirts will cost more than that.)
• Does anybody know what happened to Yaya?( lover of orange)

Hosted by Cecily and Carrie

Hosted by Chris

43/365:
Dressed for the school's Valentines day celebration.

44/365:
Little man L in such a typical pose. Got to be one of my all time favorites of him.

45/365:
Valentines day flowers  for granny. Although technically spoiled, (blurred flowers) I love it.

46/365:
"Hi mommy!" Little Munchkin- monster.

47/365:

Hmm - fat Tuesday cake. (see post below for more)

48/365:
Just another day in the office.

49/365:
They are not lying by claiming to be the " Finest Honey Nougat"  in Belgian Milk Chocolate. I just love Sally Williams Nougat.