My 2 favorite weekend pictures

In my moms garden - it has 11 strings this year

The best R16,95 spent for giant pavement crayons

So life is the usual busy plus some more

The third time is rolling along at top speed and yes, all are well but busy. At the moment I am bravely converting to windows 8, duel screens and all at the same time. For two days my desk has been a bit odd looking but by this afternoon most is sorted, copied, transferred and re installed. I hope....

We had a good weekend with the hubby having to work quite a bit, the kids very nicely entertaining themselves with all sorts of things.Between Hunter and I we cooked 7 meals on Sunday - I have realized that making a lot of meals for the freezer makes all the difference in out home. The longer the time it takes to have the meal on the table is directly related to the bigger the fight around eating the dinner is going to be. If that makes sense at all.

But let me share some of the things the kids entertained themselves with:

flower arranging

Building and imaginaery space ship -  Lunch (toasted ham and cheese sarmies) was served on Mercurius, desert on Uranus (Lamingtons) and rest time on Mars (a DVD in the lounge)

Gosh I love these 3 little monsters! We also spend a good 2 hours in the park on Sunday, went to family church once again after the holidays and much more.

I have always wanted my kids to have a brother and or sister to share their life with - growing up, creating memories and building ties. I love that I am seeing this in action (well most days if we work through the fights)

So how are you?

Every girl's best friend

So who have been every girl's best friend for over 50 years? Barbie of course! So huge was the excitement when the Princess and I were invited to attend the launch of Mega Blok's Barbie range. If you are a regular reader you will also know that we love construction toys in the Jugglingact household - we do believe they are the very best toys ever combining imaginative play with creativity ,planning and  fine motor skills. So imagine combining Barbie and the wonderful creative and educational world of blocks! A total winner in my books.

The pet shop - first on the Princess' Christmas wish list.

The wonderful ladies from Prima toys had tables full of sets to play with and it is no wonder very little food or sweets got consumed in 2 hours as the girls were just playing and building all the time. A stood in awe in front of the display case that held the entire collection. I know now what will be the standard grade 2 girl gift for this year - some Mega Bloks Barbie of course! Although shown as from age 4 up I do think the 8 years olds enjoy being able to build it themselves and will still play with it for years. A particularly loved the fact that the tiny Barbie, Ken and the rest of the gang dolls had interchangeable hair and "clothes" with accessories - most of all the little pets Barbie has - we saw a kitten, a poodle and a chihuahua

The party was styled by Pretty things for you and my, were the girls spoiled with the prettiest pink and white Barbie sweetie buffet. Melinda can really style a party to the absolute detail.

Thanks to Prima Toys for inviting us to play along and for the wonderful party pack that each girl received - A played with her Barbies and their puppies for the rest of Sunday and once again last night. A firm favorite already.

Have a look in your local toy shop where the range is available right now - there is something for every little girl. 

The full collection includes compatible Build ‘n Style play sets, such as: Luxury Mansion, Fashion Boutique, Pet Shop, Convertible, Pool Party, and so much more. Unique to Mega Bloks, most play sets include removable “building plates” – platforms on which girls build each room – for easy building and styling play. And for the classic Barbie fashion and hair play, all Mega Bloks Barbie play sets include one or more mini-fashion figures of Barbie and her friends with interchangeable hair styles and outfits. For more info on Mega Bloks Barbie range visit www.primatoys.co.za

Of Cowboys and cowgirls that cry and much more

Nope, he was not crying here, he was teasing me when I wanted to take a photo. But sure looks like a down and out cowboy.

Yesterday morning started with lots of tears - Ouma left very early the morning and waking up both my Bear and Princess just could not stop crying. I felt a bit the same. Our Lion, on his part, refused flat out to eat breakfast, demanding granny.  I have said it before and will say it again - I have the very best in laws you can imagine. It was such a very good visit. You guys that have very involved and able grandparents close at hand have no idea what a blessing they are.


But onto other news, although Hunter was away in the bush for the weekend, we had a lovely one. A busy one, but great. I had a fabulous riding lesson and can not believe that in 4 lessons I have progressed from scared to ride to doing a 4 jump course - something I have never done before (I used to do dressage). The thrill it gives me speaks to my soul. All for tackling fears head on and doing something for yourself. Thanks to Hunter who is instrumental in all this.

I can hardly believe it's the last week of the school holidays. How has this just flown by in the blink of an eye? As granny is home and we thought it a good idea to ease mostly our Lion back into school the boys are attending holiday school this week. A is having a sleep over at my mom. I am not looking forward to next week's pace.

I have to have the only child in Pretoria that does not like Wakaberry! My MIL and I took the kids after riding on Saturday for Wakaberry whilst in search of gumboots for Mr C and Mr L declared it uneatable! The other two of course loved it.


BTW finding gumboots this late in season is a mission. (Mr C's feet unexpectedly outgrew his) I went through all the possible options apart from the Pick n Pay hypermarket, where I popped in on Sunday morning to find them unpacking boxes and boxes of gumboots. If I only knew... ( but now you know if you need)

All along I find I am reading less blogs (apologies my friends but life has been busy and I had some lovely books to read) and blogging less, but painstakingly keeping up with Project Life. (If you are interested have a look here - I post every week's layout) I suspect my urge to document everything in our lives is happening in Project Life mostly. Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe I can talk a bit about more sensible things here. Whatever.

We had a lovely day last Tuesday when I took the day off to spend with the family on an outing - more about that later but I promise you, it felt like a holiday. I would totally recommend it.

The photo above was taken at a lovely cowboy party on Saturday. Mr C dressed what I put out for him, apart from boots, which as you know by now was too small. Mr L had his very own interpretation of what he believes a modern day cowboy is (note the darkies) and the Princess, well, she had a picture of Calamity Jane she saw in a book and styled herself accordingly.


And with that, I hope your weekend was great and this week will treat you well.

The past week

Has really been one of those golden weeks. Such a treat to have both the grandparents visiting - really, I could not have happier kids. There's been:

Crafting (friend K spend two days with us last week)

Knitting: Someone learned how to do "tolletjie brei" or French knitting

Snakes and ladders

Joint culinary exploits in the kitchen

Fabulous food

 Heaps and heaps of reading

And even some building work as Radiator Springs (from the movie Cars) made its appearance on our lawn. (all 3 kids took part in this)
























They certainly do not lack on the creative thinking side.
In the meantime we also attended a very cool first birthday Noddy party and all 4 adults had some fun - Hunter and my FIL spent a night in Pilansberg and the my fabulous hubby sent my MIL and I to the spa for an afternoon.

In 8 minutes time...

I am off home, to wait out the last few hours before 3 little ones see their Ouma and Oupa from Port Elizabeth. The excitement is as thick as toffee in the household.

We had a great weekend - one where Hunter did a heap of work in the house, and I did my part too. One where after a visit to the doctor on Friday night a certain Mr C is way better today.One where a wayward gate motor had us frustrated. One where the Springboks defeated the bad boys of rugby Samoa and one where 3 kids entertained themselves for a Sunday. Although they played together so well for most of the day, the also had their moments that they split into what is possibly more girl vs boy stuff.

So let me share their creative play - the boys made a fire truck with their two Ybikes and garden hose trolley.

A little house for Lemee the Lemur and baby Moya - made in a photo copy paper box with beds and table from muffin holders and lamp from straws and cupcake holders.

So, how was your weekend? And looking forward to anything?

So what's new?

 Being very busy at work certainly is not.
Being busy at home also not.
It's just life - and at times it gets a bit more hectic than at others.
But we are going along as per usual.
We did have a few highlights though - of which Fathers day is the biggest.
Hunter was spoiled with lots of little art works, a bit of chocolate and a gift or two. Most of all - we tried to make his day the best possible. I know I have said it a million times before but I could not have wished for a better father for my children and partner in life.


I really want to share some of the photos I took to make Hunter a Fathers day card (got the beards and speech bubbles etc as a freebie on the Internet).I really adore the ones of the puppies - I am sure if they could speak those would have been their chosen words.
























We also had a lovely public holiday on Monday where I cooked 3 meals and my great Pea and ham soup (anybody wants the recipe?) which will server for most lunches the next week or so. I do love soup for lunch in winter.I have realized that by cooking enough meals for the week nights really makes all the difference. We also played in the park and had all sorts of other fun like a birthday party for one of A's stuffed kittens, making faerie gardens and working in their new Depeche books.For those who do not know it is the people that make those wonderful Top Model books for girls - I found cars for the boys on the same concept and doggies to dress for A. They literally spent hours with them over the weekend, being creative and learning. Totally well spent money.

We also completed the bulk of the painting of the inside of the house. Hunter did so much work on this - it has taken a lot of time and energy but it looks awesome.

And to get that suspense thing sorted out from last week:

Jip, I did it. Got back in the saddle. Boy my heart beat at 220 bpm at times especially when I had to canter for the first time. Thanks to my wonderful hubby who arranged everything and took this great picture (and many more). You can hardly show your fear of riding if all 3 the kids do it every week.... (ok I know my feet are not correct but its been a couple of years)

PS Project life post up at Captured by Cat

Making me happy at the moment...

•  
  
• Chicken soup in the freezer at the office to heat for lunch
• The nearing end of the term - really it can not come too soon.
• Warm baths and comfort food
• Good books
• Boots, leggings, tighs.
• Heated seats in my car
• A visit by the in laws during the school holidays
• The weekend - coming soon.Roll on....
• Prima toys for helping us to fix A's Leappad. Yes, it did cost me money but their service was fantastic.
• The new painted areas in our house - love it!
• Project life - gosh, I am still in love with it and think it may become a way of life. In all honesty it has taken some of my urgency to blog every minute of our lives away because we are recording it so well in the Project Life albums - btw a new week blogged yesterday
• My kids who are growing up so fast - sometimes I have to pinch myself when I realize how fast this is happening.
• My hubby - truly the perfect partner for me in life.

So what is making you so totally happy at the moment?

Around here

There is the usual business that is day to day life.

• The last two tournaments of the netball season was last week Thursday and Saturday. The girls really had the most fantastic season and we are so totally proud of our girl child. The girls never lost a match in any of the 3 teams this season. A huge accomplishment.
• Last Saturday was the last bulletjie rugby games of the season - our boys played in the same team and did so well. We are so proud of how much they learned and far they came this season.I just love all their medals.
  
• It was also the first hockey tournament of the season. The boys 0/8 teams were short of players due to the rugby and the girls were asked to fill in . The Princess played 7 and a half games (4 for her team - the rest for the boys) She loved playing against the boys and we were so proud of her enthusiasm.
• Mr L won the Playball trophy the week before last. My was he proud - and me too.
• The house painting is proceeding as fast as it can. I am loving the way it looks.
• It very cold today in our part of the world - all of a sudden there is an icy wind in the air and we are all feeling the cold.
• The in laws are visiting over the school holidays - we are all looking forward to it.
• I am rather excited that this Saturday will only have horse riding in the mix and no other sport. Yeah on a more relaxed Saturday.
• I am totally looking forward to something I am going to do on Saturday although my tummy as just a few butterflies in it.
•  We unexpectedly saw the Pediatric neurologist (we got a cancellation after an appeal from the OT) , tomorrow is a morning of assessment for mr L.

So, what's happening in your part of the world?

Sisters

There they were, the two girls. Dreaming away on Sunday afternoon. Enjoying each other's company while the rest of the household was busy elsewhere. Purely by chance Hunter and I spotted the two, A scratching Puppy B's ears, talking to her in a soothing voice , who knows? Sharing secrets of her heart. Both of them had a little nap somewhere along the line.

A few weeks ago the Princess had to do an oral and one of the topics was "My pet is my best friend" H helped her from her initial notes to make a speech about her puppies. How they are always glad to see her, always have time for her and always grateful for every bit of love and attention. This moment was the speech in action. A moment that I will always treasure and am so totally happy that I captured without any of the two spotting me.

The honest truth is that at 11 and a bit years our puppy B is showing her age. Last night H and I took the two puppy girls for a walk around the block - the usual thing. She moves so much slower than she used to. Running is not something that comes easily any more. In the mornings she is stiff and sore. We do give her some meds weekly to help with the stiffness. But the honest truth is that she is definitely aging faster than her sister that is 6 months older. So we are enjoying every moment with her. She, who feels happy if she rests her head on my feet. If she can touch you, she is at ease.

Love you puppy B

There is also a Project Life post up here.