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.

Here and there...

iPhone sunset with doves.

Or this and that. Just a little catch up on what's going on:

1. Sunday evening/night was my Bear and the tummy bug. Poor kid. Sleep was not great for him and the parents.
2. Yesterday I was called from school for our Lion who promptly was the next victim. Poor kid. At least he was done by bedtime and apart from struggling to fall asleep we all slept well.
3. I am holding my breath for the next victim. Our Princess is the "tummy child' of the family so I bet she will be next. Or me - I have a sensitive digestive system
4. We are in the midst of repainting the inside of our house. Hunter worked hard on it the week I was away and every bit of time he gets. I am helping where I can. I love how the colours came out and it is wonderful to get rid of the yellow based cream in the house and replace it with a lovely colour called Tranquil.
5. I am totally amazed that Mr C mentioned that he likes the new colour that has some blue in it! Gosh that child is totally perceptive about colour and shades. This is subtle people - a very subtle shading. I would guess 90% of grown ups would not notice it at all.
6. Mr L surprised me last night with a question about the way the ceilings and roof construction in our house works in a very simplified way. Sometimes I am so happy to know what it going on in that little brain that I often feel does not allow much insight.
7. On that topic we have a series of appointments for him starting with a OT evaluation by a therapist the school requested. They (and we) feel we need to know we have everything in place for him to go to grade R next year and if not, where to send him if our school is not the right place for him. Then in October we are seeing a very specialised child psychologist that is known for getting to the bottom of kids difficult to diagnose or that has more or borderline issues (the appointment was made in February - kid you not). In the past I believed that the SID/SPD diagnosis was 100% spot on I am not any more. We need to make sure it is, or not. I am also still waiting for an appointment with his neurologist - who was full in February for the whole year and for whom I had to write a motivation for an appointment yesterday to be on the list for cancellations after initially being told I can just phone for a cancellation in the first week of May. I am wondering if we should try another one, but then he has history on him. (yes, of course I am quietly very stressed about his all - ok, now admitted it for the very first time) And of course the usual yearly Opthamologist appointment.
8. I am trying to get to the gym in lunch times - yes, it does not give me more than 40 minutes to exercise but its better than nothing. (the gym is literally 5 minutes from the office)
9. Saturday is going to be busy with the last games of the rugby season and the first games of the hockey season, as well as the usual horse riding which we are trying to squeeze in between this all. I am looking forward to spend time with friends we have not seen in ages on Saturday evening.
10. In between all this work is busy and I am totally frustrated with total fools that sometimes cross your road. The time wastage just freaks me out. 
11. I am still totally loving Project Life - totally - I have both week 18 and week 19 up on my Project Life blog since I last pointed you that way. I really want to continue to do this for years to come. It really makes memories so tangible even for the kids.

Oh yes and my friend Samantha van Riet who gave away the lovely books earlier this year now has a new feature on her blog - free printables to keep the kids busy. Perfect for cold winter days and evenings. Have a look here and she will keep them coming - there's a freebie button on her blog. Check regularly

So what's happening in your world?

So what's happening?

Around here things are busy - but what's new in any event? Work is busy, things at home are busy. Its the usual thing. And I guess life will not be that great without all these.

We are nearing the end of both the Netball and Bulletjie Rugby season with one tournament each to go. (and then the hockey starts). We are enjoying the last bits of what was a good season all in all. The boys are both getting a good taste of what it's about and really enjoying it. A has had a good season and all 3 teams are yet to loose a match. She also won a lollipop (awarded by the opposing team to the best player of each half) for her play as Centre this tournament - a new and very busy position for her.She also won one the previous tournament and I am glad for the positive encouragement this small token adds.

 The boys had the exciting opportunity to participate in the annual Loftus Bulletjie day where they (and about 5200 other little boys) got the chance to play at Loftus - the big stadium that is home to the Blue Bulls. It is just the cutest thing you have ever seen and it was an exciting day for all.

So how are things on your side?

So yes, I took a break from the family

It was a first to me and to be totally honest, I loved it. I loved being able to only think for me and not for another 3 little human beings just for a few days. To for a week not go through the day to dayness of packed snacks and remembering activities. To rest, get up when you want, do what you want. to do. But I missed my kids, above all I missed my Hunter who made all this possible. It was so very good to be back home with them.

In a nutshell, the above little heart that Shayne bought sums up the week. We could add "take long walks and eat a lot", but that's about it. It was such a great great time with the two loveliest ladies -Shayne and Lynette. Taking into account that I have only met Lynette twice and Shayne once for a few hours, there was possibly some risk involved. But really it was just wonderful - we just gelled as if we have done this many times before. As if it is the most natural ting to do. Which I am sure will happen again. We never ran out of conversation, but taking some quiet time was totally acceptable too. Food, coffee and dishes just happened. The time together was truly a blessing.

 I have to add that we had a great morning at the Camelot Spa in San Lameer and one of the very best back neck and shoulder hot stone massages I have ever had (thanks to my hubby) as well as a facial that really made a difference to my skin.

With that, well you know, photos. Imagine the amount available with 3 amateur photographers and a keen interest in Instagram. So sharing in general (some were taken by the other two ladies of course) our time together in pictures:

Photographers taking pictures of photographers

My favorite spot

Just beautiful - long long walks often

My macadamia nut waffle at Ramsgate's waffle house

Sani to C finish

Beach access passes

Love these two of my dear friends.

Friendship - true and great.

A breather.....

So here we are, in the nice and warm South Coast of Natal at San Lameer - truly at peace.

Yes, I am here with two fellow bloggers Shayne and Lynette- we met each other at the airport on Monday afternoon and since then its just talking, talking, talking. Well, interspersed with lots of laughing, a nice long beach walk, a nap or two, tasty food and a visit to the Spa. Not much reading done yet, but so be it. As we constantly remind each other, really this has happened! We have really been trying to get some time together for ages.

Here's wishing your week is a good one.

Jip. Busy times

It's busy around here - very very busy - I have uploaded some of these photos almost a week ago. I have to share the one above of our beautiful oldest child, Puppy M now 11 and a half years old and still going strong. (And still naughty at times - believe me) She is such a great companion. I think this may be the best picture I have ever taken of her.

This week is utter chaotic busyness - partly just because it is filled with the kid's usual and unusual stuff at school but also because I am managing the office solo (business partner is on leave) and because I am going away next week. Yes my dear friend in the computer, my darling hubby will be looking after the brood next week while I relax with two friends. I have never done this before and am so grateful for the chance to rest and relax and catch up on a lot of talking. So very little blogging and blog reading taking place.

However I have to share some pictures of last week's happenings:

On the 1st of May public holiday we spent the day with friend K and the kid's teacher from their old school and her two kids at the park. It was a sunny, relaxing day filled with heaps of happy moments and lots of cycling

A had her first netball tournament on the Thursday before the wedding (thus almost two weeks ago) and they won all their games. She is happily playing in both the B and the C teams as is Miss K - the two seem to be joined at the hip.

The boys played in their first "bulletjie" rugby tournament - a version of rugby where no tackling is allowed and the tag on the side of the pants is ripped off to count as a tackle.I just love that they play in the school's rugby jerseys and represent their school even if they are not formally in it yet. The cuteness is totally overwhelming.

I also have a Project Life post up here.