Just to warm us all up a bit...beach photos

Today the kids and I went to the gym to swipe my card, run around a bit/ take photos and have a cup of tea.

When we got there, it was so cold I didn't even want to take off a glove to get out my camera so I decided that it was actually too cold to be outside.

Because it's usually never too cold for me to have a walk with my camera.

So we came home to the comfort of a heated room where the kids did puzzles and I worked on my website, all while Third Day's Christmas CD played through itunes. #ChristmasinJuly?

Perfect! 

What are you up to this weekend?

I'm having a birthday breakfast/ brunch with a friend tomorrow, and then on Sunday we're going to have a birthday lunch with my little family. Can't wait!

Sheesh - the weeks pass so quickly! 7 months down...

I'm doing so well with my 52-week photo project of the kids.

To date I've missed two weeks and those were because I wasn't in Jhb. So things are going well.

I wrote all about why it's working well (hint - I make is SUPER easy for myself) on the Organising Queen blog.

I suspect that getting them to be agreeable is going to get harder so I'm working it as much as I can this year.

I also bribe with a biscuit or two, and tea - my kids are teapots like me so this works beautifully because I *need* a cup of tea after coaxing these two to sit together.

Tell me about your projects!

Bibles, reading, trying recipes, staying sane, running, anything! :)

I know Julia's doing AMAZING with reading the Bible!

Easing in

I thought I'd do something easy to ease me back into blogging even though more serious topics are on my mind.

These questions are from this lovely blog.

Go-to weeknight recipe?

Always a pasta dish. I can make a nice pasta dish with almost anything :) 

First job?

School job? I was a sales assistant in a tiny, fancy shop that sold pottery and such. Back in the day, a platter cost R120 so imagine that 20-something years ago...

It was dead boring because nobody goes into those shops, and I left after two weeks.

Next job?

Same type of industry as I'm in currently but nearer home :)

Mentor?

Hmmm. Probably my pastor who saw my gifts for organising LONG before I did and gave me the opportunity to run workshops in the church. My first book is dedicated to him.

Hometown?

Port Elizabeth

What would you put on your neon sign?

Focus!

Wouldn’t leave home without?

My handbag :) In the handbag, driver's licence, lipstick, Granny Smith apple and water

Essential beauty products?

BB cream, eyeliner and lipstick

Wouldn’t fly without?

A book and food! No airline except Etihad (and I flew when pregnant with the twins so I think they felt sorry for me) ever feeds me as often as I want to eat. I often eat the Granny Smith apple on a plane.

Things you buy in bulk?

Nothing. Apparently I'm the only one in the world who doesn't buy toilet rolls in bulk.

Favorite book?

These two immediately came to mind - Overwhelmed (Brigid Schulte) and Motherstyles (Janet Penley)

First celebrity crush?
Hmmm … an 80s rock star maybe.  Peter Cetera?
Favorite movie?

Stealing Home.  It’s sad that that’s all I can come up with, I recognize that.  Movies are a real weakness in my cultural vocabulary.  As is television.
People on speed dial?
My mother, my husband, my two or three BFFs with whom I speak on the phone.
Preferred form of exercise?
Running and yoga.
Drink of choice?
Coffee.  Water.  Occasionally, wine (red, white, or pink depending on the mood and occasion).
Proudest moment?
The births of my two children.
Perfect Sunday afternoon?
A walk around the neighborhood, dinner at the dining room table, and reading in bed with a child on each side of me.
- See more at: http://www.adesignsovast.com/#sthash.JjGdObaz.dpuf

First celebrity crush?
Hmmm … an 80s rock star maybe.  Peter Cetera?
Favorite movie?

Stealing Home.  It’s sad that that’s all I can come up with, I recognize that.  Movies are a real weakness in my cultural vocabulary.  As is television.
People on speed dial?
My mother, my husband, my two or three BFFs with whom I speak on the phone.
Preferred form of exercise?
Running and yoga.
Drink of choice?
Coffee.  Water.  Occasionally, wine (red, white, or pink depending on the mood and occasion).
Proudest moment?
The births of my two children.
Perfect Sunday afternoon?
A walk around the neighborhood, dinner at the dining room table, and reading in bed with a child on each side of me.
- See more at: http://www.adesignsovast.com/#sthash.JjGdObaz.dpuf

First celebrity crush?
Hmmm … an 80s rock star maybe.  Peter Cetera?
Favorite movie?

Stealing Home.  It’s sad that that’s all I can come up with, I recognize that.  Movies are a real weakness in my cultural vocabulary.  As is television.
People on speed dial?
My mother, my husband, my two or three BFFs with whom I speak on the phone.
Preferred form of exercise?
Running and yoga.
Drink of choice?
Coffee.  Water.  Occasionally, wine (red, white, or pink depending on the mood and occasion).
Proudest moment?
The births of my two children.
Perfect Sunday afternoon?
A walk around the neighborhood, dinner at the dining room table, and reading in bed with a child on each side of me.
- See more at: http://www.adesignsovast.com/#sthash.JjGdObaz.dpuf

First celebrity crush?
Hmmm … an 80s rock star maybe.  Peter Cetera?
Favorite movie?

Stealing Home.  It’s sad that that’s all I can come up with, I recognize that.  Movies are a real weakness in my cultural vocabulary.  As is television.
People on speed dial?
My mother, my husband, my two or three BFFs with whom I speak on the phone.
Preferred form of exercise?
Running and yoga.
Drink of choice?
Coffee.  Water.  Occasionally, wine (red, white, or pink depending on the mood and occasion).
Proudest moment?
The births of my two children.
Perfect Sunday afternoon?
A walk around the neighborhood, dinner at the dining room table, and reading in bed with a child on each side of me.
- See more at: http://www.adesignsovast.com/#sthash.JjGdObaz.dpuf

If you play along, tell me so I can go read.

First celebrity crush? 
I wasn't much into crushes (I was a very driven teenager/ young person) But I do have a thing for John Cusack ;)

Favorite movie? 
I have 5 - Something's Gotta Give, My best friend's wedding, Spanglish, The Holiday, It's Complicated (Clearly I ADORE Nancy Meyers movies)

People on speed dial? 
None - I don't even know how to do that! But people I phone the most - D, Home, Nanny S

Preferred form of exercise?
Any dancing

Drink of choice? 
Water... and then tea

Proudest moment? 
I have many but they're always obscure - it's always when I struggle to do something and I get through it and NAIL it! Like building a website, getting through a big presentation at that last horrible job and KILLING it despite all the tears leading up to it....that kind of thing

Perfect Sunday afternoon?
Feeding the family lunch, everyone tidying up, having a read in the lounge with tea... maybe a little nap and then going for a photowalk. Boring but perfect :)

What's happening in your life?

Do you buy toilet paper in bulk?

A winter/ autumn photowalk in the nick of time

Did you know that God's interested in the small things that delight us?

Someone (I think it may have been on this blog actually) got cross with me once for saying God helps me find parking places. It's true!

Anyway, this is the point. I love it when I feel a leading, obey and there's a reason!

I've wanted pictures of the most gorgeous autumn leaves around the gym for weeks and this particular weekend I told the kids so they would encourage nag us to go back and take pics.

The very next weekend when we went to gym the trees were completely bare.

AH! So glad we made it happen.

Enjoy autumn/winter (technically it was winter) through my lens :)

oooh yes! red, chipped paint!

completely unposed. they both looked back at exactly the same time and more importantly, I was ready!

hey Chuck!

I love photos with prices on it... I'll get a kick in a few years to see how cheap the price of petrol was :)

I said to Kendra the other day, "Baby! There's only a month of winter left so we have to enjoy it!"

It's true - only a month left of my electric blanket, really enjoying mugs of tea, curries, flannel pyjamas, etc.

Let's enjoy it!

What ARE you enjoying about winter?

Travels and work and craziness

Thanks so much for sharing your tooth fairy stories on the last post.That was so fun to read.

Well.... I'm back. Sheesh - that makes it three weekends in a row I've been away or flat-out busy.

I can't WAIT for this weekend to just chill. And by chill I mean get stuck into my photos, cuddling with the babies and cooking.

This past weekend I flew to PE. My trip was two-fold: my mother's birthday (no, nothing was planned) and a span.ish re.union. Win-win.

It sounded like a good idea when I booked back in May but work is so crazy busy it's ridiculous...first day back and I worked another 3 hours that night. I haven't even been on Instagram for two days. Who am I?!

Aside from work, there's the babies of course and I'm not great at letting go. Tonight K was clinging to D as we went out the door and about to start the crying (yes, still) so C said, "Kendra, you need to learn to let go of things you love" and D and I exchanged looks above the kids...... Such wisdom in the newly 6-year-old.

I have no issues with letting everyone get on without me. They are all quite capable of dressing and feeding themselves. It was more me missing them.

Anyway, it was all lovely. I read two books, spent some good time connecting with my family and two friends, and saw TONS of people I haven't seen for 23 years. And danced! Pics in another post once I download and sort.

I did, however, seriously consider buying a pair of gumboots what with all the rain!

Those of you who are insta-friends saw I was stuck in the airport for 8 extra hours while our flight was first delayed, and then cancelled. At first I said "I'll never fly this airline again" BUT really, they were so professional about everything and communication was outstanding, and as I told the lady I was chatting with, I would much rather they take the necessary precautions and we all arrive alive than have the unthinkable happen!!!

I was exhausted yesterday at work but nothing stops and so we continue. Today I'm not much more wide awake today but I do want to make a start on the Ballito photos, even if just for 30 minutes.

What's up in your world?

Louisa, how many days til Spring? (we have the best winter weather up here... and the best water for drinking)

PS these are the photos from Mother's Day.

Stories of the tooth fairy

Connor has now lost two teeth; Kendra none.

I find this whole story fascinating and sad too - my babies are growing up.

It's so nice to have big kids who can clearly articulate "I can't have toast, Mummy, because it hurts my gums here".

Isn't that much better than 6-month old babies screaming? DIVINE.

Have I mentioned that I don't miss the baby stage?

If it were only up to me, we'd not have any of this Tooth Fairy nonsense but I go along with it since it seems the entire Jhb does.

I can't remember this being a thing in PE.

Anyway, the tooth fairy only pays R10 at our house and at "our Ballito house" as the kids call it.

These pics were taken on 2 May after the first one came out.

Then there was a second one "helped" out by his sister. They were playing rough (do your kids push and shove) and K accidentally knocked out the 2nd tooth. It was loose.

I'm not sure but I think I screamed louder than Connor.

(I'm not good with blood.. and there was a lot)

Fortunately D found the tooth somewhere in the Ballito lounge and we could do the Tooth Fairy in Ballito.

Connor is very excited about his money, of course.

I explained that he should tithe his R1 so God can bless the rest of his money and he said, "I don't want blessings; I want my money" which of course led us into a whole thing on tithing because if there's one thing I'm fervent about, it's that.

On the bright side, he had a nice smile on his 6th birthday; the tooth was only knocked out the following day.

How much does the Tooth Fairy pay at your house?

A misty morning in Jhb

You all know how much I love winter?

Well, I ADORE misty weather too because it feels colder :)

We had a beautiful misty day about two weeks ago and I grabbed my camera on impulse when we dashed out the door - SO glad I did because I got these gems!

Houghton Drive

I adore this tree feller. He sits next to his chainsaw on the corner next to his sign and I find this hilarious. What if he's an axe-murderer?! D says I'm being dramatic! That's him over there taking a walk.

Do you like misty mornings?

Kendra at 6

And now, some things about my baby girl, Kendra.

1. I often refer to Connor as "Boy" and Kendra as "Baby", and I mix them up, so Kendra always corrects me if I say, "thank you, Boy" with "Baby, Mummy" :) Aside - do all parents of boys call their boys "Boy"? I see my hairdresser does with her son and the spanish teacher does with her son too.
2. Kendra could go vegetarian. She ADORES tomatoes (like me) and carrots, and if I'm taking too long with supper, she'll help herself to a bowl of carrots to snack on.
3. The other thing she likes is cheese. This has been a constant love in her life. She would have cheese on a sandwich every single day if I let her.
4. Kendra gives the best hugs in the whole world - literally. She is absolutely the best hugger. All the teachers have always said they miss her hugs when she goes on holiday.
5. She also loves writing us love notes. I often find little notes on my pillow (under the continental pillow) when I go to sleep at night. D gets similar treatment and she recently discovered that she can also write nice notes for Connor.
6. She is a complete and utter Girl. Unlike me. She loves dresses and skirts and twirly things and frills!
7. She loves doing hair. This is the best. I now say to her, "K, do you want to play with my hair?" and she does her thing for a good 30 minutes which is just so relaxing. One day when we were at the beach (BTW, she says she's moving to Ballito when she's an adult), the boys were doing something and K played with my hair while I read. Divine!
8. I love K's nurturing spirit. I sometimes find her saying to Connor, "okay, Boy, okay" as she pats his shoulder if he's upset about something. 
9. Or she'll say things like, "awwww, Connor, you're so sweet" if he's being particularly sweet like when I come home and he runs up to give me a hug and tell me he missed me that day.
10. Kendra loves lip balms. LOVES them. I think she may have inherited this little "problem" from me because she is barely 6 and she has 5 of them.
11. She also loves nail polish - the darker and more goth-like, the better! 
12. She tells me she HATES doing puzzles. (I also hate doing puzzles so I get it) I tell her it's good for your brain :)
13. Kendra loves drawing her own pictures as she says, not colouring in other people's pictures (not colouring books). I said to her at one point, "do you want me to give all these colouring books away?" and she said, "you can do that, or put them away for a few years!"
14. She and Connor have figured out a way to do birthday cards, thank-you notes and such. Kendra addresses envelopes and draws a picture; Connor writes the greeting and cuts out anything that needs cutting/ stamps, etc.
15. Kendra is very dreamy and I hear all of us saying to her, "Kendra - focus!" but that imagination and creativity is lovely to listen to when she tells us stories :)

 And that's my Kendra.

Despite us being very different personality-wise, she likes to do, wear and eat everything just like me (see pics of us dressed the same above) which is so sweet. I tell her DAILY that she's the best little girl in the whole entire world (Connor's phrase) and she loves all these sweet nothings :)

Did anything surprise you?