Five for Friday edition 17

So how are you doing? The end of the week is in sight.

1. It was the Spring dance for the grade 5-7 last night. A was invited by friend Kr to dress and get ready at her house. Her older sister did these wonderful braid hairstyles for the girls (she is only 14!). They looked so very pretty - but also so very big.

 2. I have not as yet tried tuna mayonaise with the kids. I really do not know why not. On Sunday evening I did health bread toast with it for dinner and it was a hit. They had it during the week or lunch once again and loved it.

3. My mom's orchids are flowering again - every year I am astounded by the beauty of these strings of exotic blooms dangling down from a vase in my house. And yes! It's Spring !!!

4. Have you registered for Santa Shoebox this year? Pledges opened yesterday. I am so happy that with the Voortrekkers we have managed to pledge 61 boxes this year. I just love that Suzelle DIY is supporting them - and showing us how to pack a shoebox.

5. We received a lovely blogdrop from Pediasure this week. At some stage in our lives I am pretty sure L almost lived on the stuff - it was a great help. Now I am looking forward to use it as supplement on days when the kids may have had a lot of exercise and need something more to keep them going. I can definitely recommend it Pediasure

I hope you have a wonderful weekend - what's your 5 for Friday?

The growing up thing

Gosh yes, I know I have been quiet - it's just busy at work and I try to squeeze off some time to spend with the kids during the school holidays. But I do have lots to write about .

I think a lot of you are aware that I love the stage our kids are in now. Make no mistake - every phase has its beauty and wonder - but I do find this stage where their independence grows so very rewarding. To see them on Saturday morning on the horses - how well they ride and how much confidence they show - Mr L had my heart singing - leading his class on his own with such great posture.

 Another step ahead was that Hunter taught all 3 kids how to row on their own while we were on holiday. Last time we rowed they were tiny little people and Hunter rowed us all in  a boat. Now they are 3 rowers - each in their own kayak - rowing strongly, balancing and steering well. Amazing their mom!

There are however always moments that we feel they grow up way too fast - moments where you think that this can not possibly be your child that is this big? Cue in a moment at Sanlameer when A and her friend came running out of the sea in their bikinis - not looking like the two 11 year olds they are but rather two excited teenagers chatting away. That my friends was way too fast. Thank goodness that later that evening they played pretend games with their younger siblings with as much gusto as ever. It's that odd in between phase I guess - to be appreciated on it's own too.

Some moments however are just perfect - on Saturday A and I tackled her room and donated much of what was little girl in it. All the baby dolls went, carry cots, camping cot, their accessories etc. Other little dolls, animals and some soft toys. Tea sets and pretend food. She kept her Barbies - up in her cupboard, and her two Lalaloopsies, my old Cabbage patch kids and her two Trashcan kidz and of course her Lego - and some other little odds like her little ponies, Zoobles en Little Pet shops. I am sure in the near future some of that will go to - but not too soon. Just a few shelves full - to make space for books. I love that she decluttered with such joy and happiness - I guess we should have done it long ago but for her the timing was right -  there was no sadness about it. Just joy at the thought that other little girls will love it and that she is making a better space in her room for herself. It also made me very happy to get rid of 5 black bags of stuff. We were exhausted after 4 hours of going through almost everything in that room but it is so rewarding.

So tell me about the phases your kids are in - are you enjoying it? Or did you enjoy the younger ones more?

Those moments....

You know, those ones where you stand back and think "Slow down time - this growing up thing is happening way too fast" . Those ones where you look back to the photos a day or so on and still can not believe how big they are and that the milestone was reached. First smile,  steps, first day in school - you know what I mean.

Last night was one of those - I looked at my daughter and had to swallow hard because all of a sudden she seemed so - well, way too big. Don't get me wrong -they are just little girls still - but little girls growing up fast. The realization that we are now way closer to the teen years than I may want to admit. Solid in tweenhood.

How can she be going to her first dance? Just yesterday she cried on her first day in grade 1.

I am lucky that we have wonderful moms in our school and that the idea to make a group of friends and attend the dance together was born in one of the mom's heads. So we assembled 5 friends, I did a little photo shoot with them to document this big event. This in itself was huge fun for the girls and as one of them said, they felt very pretty and special indeed. They went together and had huge fun. Apparently A and her BFF spent most of the evening together chatting, dancing, visiting the photo booth etc with assorted other girl friends. For most of them it was about having fun together and not about boys yet. But yes, they all danced with a boy, or two, or three....

I am glad their first dance was such a positive experience and that they all want to go again. I guess there is no holding back time and all that it brings.

I saw the most beautiful little baby the other day

She was all pink and rosy, pretty and gurgling to her mommy in the Pick n Pay queue. The absolute epitome of what we all think a baby will be like before we had our own. Before we had the tantrums, the sleepless nights, the reality of what raising a child is.

Sometimes I think I may have wished those early years away - "this too shall pass" seem to have been my motto. Particularly the first year of the twins was tough. Sometimes I can barely remember who I was if I look at pictures of that year. Pure exhaustion - maybe even desperation. Three kids under 3 was insane at times. But no, on more thought I do not think I wished their baby year away - nor any of the others. I mostly have moments of joy etched in my mind . Mostly I say - not entirely. Yes, they are sometimes intersected with those horror bits that seem even more vivid, but mostly the joy and happy moments are the ones you remember. I think our minds are programmed that way because without that who would ever have a second child?

But I do love the ages they are now. Honestly from about age 4 I seem to enjoy my kids way way more. I guess some of us love the baby years more and some of us the bigger ones. I love that they now can argue a point with me. I love that they are now particular about what they wear. Of course the girl child being a girl and older is more adamant about this but do not under estimate the boys. Mr C in particular has his preferences. I also adore how they take more responsibility for what they do. And how they enjoy to learn more.

I have to admit that I am a tad scared of the teenage years - maybe this primary school age is the one I will love most. I guess only time will tell. While I sit between nostalgia at how time has flown on the one hand and and enjoying having kids that feed and dress themselves on the other I realize that hand in hand with "this too shall pass" goes "treasure every moment".  Sometimes in the madness of a particular moment even today I have to remind myself of these two mantras.

So, what is the age you particularly enjoy? Or think you will? And how do you feel about these two mantras?

Letting go!

I seem to be writing a lot about growing up and independence these days. I guess it is just a reflection of the phase we are in with the kids, especially with the Princess who as the oldest child is always the one to push for new frontiers. As is the usual way it goes in families.

In the beginning of the Easter holidays she left for her first 5 day camp (4 nights) with the Voortrekkers. The longest she has even been away from us before was for two nights.  So this was a huge jump in independence, possibly more for us than for her. Gosh we missed her and worried about her but we all made it through fine and it was great to have her back with us on the Sunday.

I am so proud of how she handled it - she did the "Vasbyt" badge - basically a fitness and endurance specialty that involved a 2,4 km jog, uphill running, push ups, sit ups, climbing ropes and flagpoles, 5km hike etc. and did it with guts and determination. Only 5 of the girls in their group did it - the other 12 did the First Aid badge. Some of the boys even opted out and did the First Aid. I did not realize that it was a big deal if they made it but only the group that did this badge received a special medal for completing it and it apparently has a bit of a brag factor if you have that badge on display on your uniform.

The lesson I guess is that we need to slowly let go - the kids handle this way better than we do. But it's hard! It's a piece of our heart being sent to cope with herself on her own for 5 days. To dig deep and to push through on her own. But the payback came in self confidence - about her abilities to cope and cope on her own. About being able to do things she maybe did not think she could. About finishing very well in that 2,4 km run - ahead of most girls and realizing that maybe she can run after all even if a 100m is not her thing. About trying her best on her own - without our immediate support. And that, I guess is what growing up is all about.

You can stay in the car....

....she said on Monday morning, waving a kiss over her shoulder as she walked to the school gate all on her own. I watched her through the fence until she dropped her bag in front of her class and jopined a group of girls doing handstands . This is the grade 1 girl that cried that first morning, that did not want to let go of mom. In just 3 and a half short weeks her confidence has grown in leaps and bounds. I feel rather nostalgic, but very proud.

We have also reached the end of another era. A few weeks ago after a big garage clean out we took every single bit of baby stuff we had and donated it to Hospice. We took some of the good stuff to one of the second hand baby shops but after being offered R150 for a perfect high quality camping cot we decided to rather donate it and let some good come from it for others. And then. last week one of Hunter's field guiding friends had twins - an unexpected no 4 and 5 to the number of kids. We decided to give them our much used but still good twin stroller (btw it is a Maclaren twin stroller and my, I loved it and it served us so well). Now all things baby is removed from our house. For walks, we use the soap box cart that my FIL made for us, the Princess rides her bicylcle, and in the shops, we are well trained in shopping cart use by now.

And so we grow and thrive. Well, most of the time.
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So blogging friends,  following on my Blast from the Past post last week, it seems we could have the beginnings of a linky or such. So, say every second Thursday every body that is interested will be invited fro a Blast from the Past post where you link back and show us one of your old posts, that we might never have seen. So, for next Thursday the 1st of March, lets do this: Go back to the first March that the blog you want to link existed, find your favorite post from that month, and link it. I will keep the link open for a whole week.

Time flies.

Just three months short of 6 years ago we brought home our precious little Princess. Since then she has grown and developed, sometimes a bit faster than anticipated as she became the older sister of twins at just 33 months of age.

At age 5 she can build 100 piece puzzles almost independently, she ballets and she creates beautiful pottery pieces. She can write her name and anything else you can help her to sound out. She knows all her letters and can do simple addition and subtraction sums. We are so proud of  the girl she has become.

The last month or so it seems as if things have gone into a developmental overdrive. The other day I came downstairs early in the morning to find the 3 eating breakfast of Oaties and milk, taken out of the cupboard and fridge herself and served to her brothers. While camping the long weekend she and Little Man C disappeared, just to come strolling from the ablution block minutes later as she took him to the toilet. She makes a concerted effort to entertain her brothers and help mommy when we are alone. She is a joy to have around.

And yesterday she came home to tell me that she had hit her tooth at school and now it's loose. As the school would in general inform us of a fall and I could see no bruising on her lip or mouth I asked when and how she hit her mouth. She says she can not remember that she did, but that she must have as when she ate her lunch she realized that her bottom right tooth is loose.I felt it, clearly loose but not sore at all. (this was also the very first tooth she cut) My baby is loosing her baby teeth. Sooner than later the tooth mouse (our local version of the tooth fairy) will come visiting. I am sad, nostalgic and a bit teary - she is growing up way too fast.

So a question, how much does the tooth mouse/fairy actually pay for a tooth these days?

She just informed me this morning that the tooth faerie will indeed come for her teeth as girls believe in faeries. Hence the tooth mouse collects boy teeth only. I had no idea....

Just the best news!

At 6:30 this morning, Dubai time, I became an aunt! Little Madeleine was born after 7 hours of labour and mom and baby are doing excellent. This is such super news!

My brother and sister in law have had a huge struggle with infertility and have finally, successfully made it to the other side. I am so happy for them! It must be the best feeling in the world to hold your new born baby. We will see her in November when they come for a visit to South Africa. I can not wait to hold that little body.

Just this morning as I was feeding The Boys I had this bitter sweet feeling that I will never have a baby as big as they are right now, right here, at this very moment ever again. As The Boys are growing every day, the little bodies become bigger and stronger and they are not the tiny little babies they used to be. I just love the way they snuggle into you when you feed them, especially when they are still sleepy or on their way to fall asleep. This will also end soon. As I enjoy every moment of progress they make, I feel sad for the phase that have passed. I guess that is just part of being a mom.