Our family has officially grown from 3 to 4.....same blog, different name, new addition and lots of adventures ahead to share with you all.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Addi's Christmas Program
Yesterday Addi performed in her first Preschool Christmas Program! I almost forgot this was her first time in a school performance. Addi's preschool is in a Catholic environment, and the program was held in the church, so a real beautiful and appropriate setting.
It was the cutest thing, as always! Just like I did with Emma, I had to hold back the tears as I saw Addi walking to the altar holding a candle to a very sweet carol.
She did her best during the show. I had no doubt she'd give a good show, but I was still amazed at her confidence singing and doing the actions. She was so excited for us to see her performance, the class had been rehearsing for a few weeks now so she was well prepared.
From worrying about a new preschool for Addi and the first 2 rough days, we've really come to love St Andrews ECC, Addi loves her class and teachers and she's doing so well! I'm so proud of this little girl and what's she's becoming - altho she needs to work on her whining and sassyness!
Here are just a few photos from the performance, I'll get to the video soon!
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Well done Addi!
It was the cutest thing, as always! Just like I did with Emma, I had to hold back the tears as I saw Addi walking to the altar holding a candle to a very sweet carol.
She did her best during the show. I had no doubt she'd give a good show, but I was still amazed at her confidence singing and doing the actions. She was so excited for us to see her performance, the class had been rehearsing for a few weeks now so she was well prepared.
From worrying about a new preschool for Addi and the first 2 rough days, we've really come to love St Andrews ECC, Addi loves her class and teachers and she's doing so well! I'm so proud of this little girl and what's she's becoming - altho she needs to work on her whining and sassyness!
Here are just a few photos from the performance, I'll get to the video soon!
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| there had to be that yawn in mid performance |
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| singing her heart out |
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| we wish you a Merry Christmas! |
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Just 10 days until Christmas!
So much going on as we prepare for this wonderful time of the year.
Quite interesting and so busy preparing gifts and cards for everyone. Every year I think I'm going to be on the ball and plan way in advance, but that never happens. Always the mad rush to send out the cards and hope all the international family and friends get their cards before New Year!! (Please no postal strikes SA!)
I try make every Christmas memorable for the kids, trying to find all the exciting Christmas events and stick to our traditions like Disney on Ice.
Last weekend we did The Pullen Express, which is a train ride around Pullen Park, one of the girls favorite parks. We went with our old neighborhood friends. The girls got to meet Santa, go on a candy cane hunt, played bingo, ride the carousel, made reindeer food. Always a fun place.
The following day our neighborhood held a Christmas function where the kids got to meet Santa again, make some decorations, enjoy hot cocoa and go on a "sleigh" ride around the neighborhood to see everyone's Christmas lights while singing carols along the way.
This weekend, we surprised the girls with Disney on Ice. Emma put 2 and 2 together and figured we were at the arena were the Hurricanes play (NC ice hockey team), so we had to be seeing Disney on Ice. She was quite excited when it was confirmed we were at this event. Always an enjoyable event. Then Tea with the Sugarplum fairy at The Carolina Inn. The Carolina Inn is a beautiful hotel in Chapel Hill, a ballet school did a few dance performances, with the dancers dressed as fairies, while we sat at tables and enjoyed a few tea treats. At the end all the fairies were signing autographs, so to the girls it must have felt a bit like Disney. So sweet to see how inspired the girls were after watching the ballet, they were all dancing and twirling down the passage ways through the hotel.
This week is the last week of school for both girls. Teacher gifts are almost in order. Just last minute touches to be done.
The girls are super excited to go on break, so they can sleep in and stay in their pj's for longer in the morning. I really wish they'd sleep in. Emma has been saying for the longest while, I can't wait for December break, but then tonight when I told her just 4 more days, she said, "but then I'm going to miss school!" Just can't win.
Just a few days too, we'll be meeting up with Rod's folks for Christmas. We cannot wait to see family again. More family memories for the girls, they're going to love seeing and being spoilt by their Ma Ma and YeYa aswell as Aunty Sharon.
I'll take this opportunity now to wish all our family and friends, near and far a MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR. Hope you all stay safe and enjoy this festive season.
This year has been a good year with a bit of change, happiness and sadness. We're quite settled in our home, altho there is always more to be done in terms of decorating and organizing. We had 2 great vacations to the Outer Banks and Colorado this year. The kids are in school and enjoying themselves, no complaints yet, altho the only complaint we get is from Emma who complains that it's not fair Addi gets a day off school inbetween each school day, we keep having to remind her she had the same privilege when she was 4 too.
We managed to have family visitors in the Summer, Shanny, Bryan, Moi and Yvonne made a special trip out our way - always good quality time together and we managed to create more memories for the kids and us! Ice skating for the first time, sushi cake attempt which turned out soooo good, Defy Gravity with the aunts and uncles....so much fun!
Well, here's to another great year for all! Happy Holidays All and enjoy the festivities!
So much going on as we prepare for this wonderful time of the year.
Quite interesting and so busy preparing gifts and cards for everyone. Every year I think I'm going to be on the ball and plan way in advance, but that never happens. Always the mad rush to send out the cards and hope all the international family and friends get their cards before New Year!! (Please no postal strikes SA!)
I try make every Christmas memorable for the kids, trying to find all the exciting Christmas events and stick to our traditions like Disney on Ice.
Last weekend we did The Pullen Express, which is a train ride around Pullen Park, one of the girls favorite parks. We went with our old neighborhood friends. The girls got to meet Santa, go on a candy cane hunt, played bingo, ride the carousel, made reindeer food. Always a fun place.
The following day our neighborhood held a Christmas function where the kids got to meet Santa again, make some decorations, enjoy hot cocoa and go on a "sleigh" ride around the neighborhood to see everyone's Christmas lights while singing carols along the way.
This weekend, we surprised the girls with Disney on Ice. Emma put 2 and 2 together and figured we were at the arena were the Hurricanes play (NC ice hockey team), so we had to be seeing Disney on Ice. She was quite excited when it was confirmed we were at this event. Always an enjoyable event. Then Tea with the Sugarplum fairy at The Carolina Inn. The Carolina Inn is a beautiful hotel in Chapel Hill, a ballet school did a few dance performances, with the dancers dressed as fairies, while we sat at tables and enjoyed a few tea treats. At the end all the fairies were signing autographs, so to the girls it must have felt a bit like Disney. So sweet to see how inspired the girls were after watching the ballet, they were all dancing and twirling down the passage ways through the hotel.
This week is the last week of school for both girls. Teacher gifts are almost in order. Just last minute touches to be done.
The girls are super excited to go on break, so they can sleep in and stay in their pj's for longer in the morning. I really wish they'd sleep in. Emma has been saying for the longest while, I can't wait for December break, but then tonight when I told her just 4 more days, she said, "but then I'm going to miss school!" Just can't win.
Just a few days too, we'll be meeting up with Rod's folks for Christmas. We cannot wait to see family again. More family memories for the girls, they're going to love seeing and being spoilt by their Ma Ma and YeYa aswell as Aunty Sharon.
I'll take this opportunity now to wish all our family and friends, near and far a MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR. Hope you all stay safe and enjoy this festive season.
This year has been a good year with a bit of change, happiness and sadness. We're quite settled in our home, altho there is always more to be done in terms of decorating and organizing. We had 2 great vacations to the Outer Banks and Colorado this year. The kids are in school and enjoying themselves, no complaints yet, altho the only complaint we get is from Emma who complains that it's not fair Addi gets a day off school inbetween each school day, we keep having to remind her she had the same privilege when she was 4 too.
We managed to have family visitors in the Summer, Shanny, Bryan, Moi and Yvonne made a special trip out our way - always good quality time together and we managed to create more memories for the kids and us! Ice skating for the first time, sushi cake attempt which turned out soooo good, Defy Gravity with the aunts and uncles....so much fun!
Well, here's to another great year for all! Happy Holidays All and enjoy the festivities!
Monday, November 9, 2015
2015 Birthdays
I've just dropped the girls off at school, put on some washinng and found just a few minutes to sit down and catch up on my blog somewhat.
I just came back from a lovely Girls Spa Weekend. Rod and I were looking for some getaway specials for our anniversary and Rod came across a special at Pinehurst for a girls getaway A weekends accomodation, paint and wine event one night, 50 minute spa treatment, a yoga session one morning and breakfast each day. Definitely an awesome deal, and who doesn't want to take up the opportunity to experience a stay at Pinehurst (so much so that Rod was considering how he could get to go). I messaged my friend Nina and asked her if she'd like to join me, again who wouldn't want to go?
So we booked and before we knew it, it was time to go. Only an hours drive from my house, we felt like we were transported to a different point in time. Such charm the hotels and little village has. Overall a great experience, painting on canvas for the first time, a great opportunity to just relax, worry about myself and get to know my good friend even more! The one night we were done with dinner by 6:30 and we just decided to head back to the hotel room and try find a show or movie to watch, turn down service even asked why we weren't at a bar or something, Our only bad experience was a horrible massage therapist for my first treatment (thank goodness it was my first treatment and the second was done by a more experienced therapist, so it ended the stay on a good note, you can't just assume that a therapist at a resort like Pinehurst is going to be excellent!)
The girls were excited to have me back, I was transported back to reality very quickly as soon as I drove up our driveway! It amazed me that just 2 nights away felt longer and my girls looked slightly grown.
The initial purpose of this post was to catch up with the girls birthdays, thought family would like to see more photos as I didn't post too much on facebook! The 2 events I get to plan and go crazy with my planning! I love their birthdays and fulfilling the girls requests.
Emma this year asked for a painting party. Ruby introduced the girls to Color Me Mine when we were in California about 2 maybe 3 years ago?!), They got to paint ceramics which gets glazed and you can pick it up a few days later. We were at a shopping center one day in NC and happened to see one open, we enquired about a party and before we knew it, we reserved a party date. Emma couldn't wait, I think we booked about a month before, so she had to wait a while. We carried out the paint theme, and made an artitst/color splash cake. All the kids got to paint their ceramic and instead of a having a slice of cake to eat, I made everyone a cupcake to decorate, presented on a paint palette with various sprinkles in the partitions to decorate the cupcake with.
It seemed like everyone had a great time - actually when I went to pick up the guests artwork, the owner said she's taken my idea and now offering the cupcake decorating at one of their party themes! I asked for Royalties, but she just laughed!
As for Addison's birthday - she had it all planned out! A Barbie Mariposa birthday cake, face painting and balloons, sandwiches, popcorn, cookie decorating and a jumping castle. So we did just that minus the jumping castle - I could only imagine kids in dress up, painted faces and jumping, going wrong! I added on a game of pass the parcel, dress up, a photobooth and a yummy spread of food besides sandwiches. It seems like Addi and the guests had a good time.
I've always wanted to make a princess cake so I was excited about this theme and having the opportunity to experiment! Thanks to Youtube, Pinterest and the like for tips and ideas. Every birthday I'm always taking my chances experimenting with a new type of design for the cake - I'm grateful they turn out each time - I'm waiting for that one party where I'll have to fall back on buying cupcakes or a cake from our grocery store - which is so much easier and guaranteed to taste good.
Addi's birthday was crazy this year with the party and halloween both falling on the same day. A lot to prepare and handle in one day, but all fun in the end. Eventually during trick or treating, Addi said she had enough and just wanted to go home.
So much candy and cake to eat in the week...obviously not all was consumed, still so much candy lying around, probably still be around next halloween.
Here are some pics of the 2 special events - another birthday in December...I see a chocolate cake coming up to bake!
I just came back from a lovely Girls Spa Weekend. Rod and I were looking for some getaway specials for our anniversary and Rod came across a special at Pinehurst for a girls getaway A weekends accomodation, paint and wine event one night, 50 minute spa treatment, a yoga session one morning and breakfast each day. Definitely an awesome deal, and who doesn't want to take up the opportunity to experience a stay at Pinehurst (so much so that Rod was considering how he could get to go). I messaged my friend Nina and asked her if she'd like to join me, again who wouldn't want to go?
So we booked and before we knew it, it was time to go. Only an hours drive from my house, we felt like we were transported to a different point in time. Such charm the hotels and little village has. Overall a great experience, painting on canvas for the first time, a great opportunity to just relax, worry about myself and get to know my good friend even more! The one night we were done with dinner by 6:30 and we just decided to head back to the hotel room and try find a show or movie to watch, turn down service even asked why we weren't at a bar or something, Our only bad experience was a horrible massage therapist for my first treatment (thank goodness it was my first treatment and the second was done by a more experienced therapist, so it ended the stay on a good note, you can't just assume that a therapist at a resort like Pinehurst is going to be excellent!)
The girls were excited to have me back, I was transported back to reality very quickly as soon as I drove up our driveway! It amazed me that just 2 nights away felt longer and my girls looked slightly grown.
The initial purpose of this post was to catch up with the girls birthdays, thought family would like to see more photos as I didn't post too much on facebook! The 2 events I get to plan and go crazy with my planning! I love their birthdays and fulfilling the girls requests.
Emma this year asked for a painting party. Ruby introduced the girls to Color Me Mine when we were in California about 2 maybe 3 years ago?!), They got to paint ceramics which gets glazed and you can pick it up a few days later. We were at a shopping center one day in NC and happened to see one open, we enquired about a party and before we knew it, we reserved a party date. Emma couldn't wait, I think we booked about a month before, so she had to wait a while. We carried out the paint theme, and made an artitst/color splash cake. All the kids got to paint their ceramic and instead of a having a slice of cake to eat, I made everyone a cupcake to decorate, presented on a paint palette with various sprinkles in the partitions to decorate the cupcake with.
It seemed like everyone had a great time - actually when I went to pick up the guests artwork, the owner said she's taken my idea and now offering the cupcake decorating at one of their party themes! I asked for Royalties, but she just laughed!
As for Addison's birthday - she had it all planned out! A Barbie Mariposa birthday cake, face painting and balloons, sandwiches, popcorn, cookie decorating and a jumping castle. So we did just that minus the jumping castle - I could only imagine kids in dress up, painted faces and jumping, going wrong! I added on a game of pass the parcel, dress up, a photobooth and a yummy spread of food besides sandwiches. It seems like Addi and the guests had a good time.
I've always wanted to make a princess cake so I was excited about this theme and having the opportunity to experiment! Thanks to Youtube, Pinterest and the like for tips and ideas. Every birthday I'm always taking my chances experimenting with a new type of design for the cake - I'm grateful they turn out each time - I'm waiting for that one party where I'll have to fall back on buying cupcakes or a cake from our grocery store - which is so much easier and guaranteed to taste good.
Addi's birthday was crazy this year with the party and halloween both falling on the same day. A lot to prepare and handle in one day, but all fun in the end. Eventually during trick or treating, Addi said she had enough and just wanted to go home.
So much candy and cake to eat in the week...obviously not all was consumed, still so much candy lying around, probably still be around next halloween.
Here are some pics of the 2 special events - another birthday in December...I see a chocolate cake coming up to bake!
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| breakfast in bed was requested |
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| so happy to get her bike |
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| the birthday cake |
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| birthday at Color Me Mine |
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| choosing their piece to paint |
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| artists hard at work |
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| cupcakes to decorate |
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| Addi eating a rice krispie paint brush |
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| the birthday girl |
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| VERY enthusiastic to blow her candles |
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| always have to have that family pic |
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| Addi's birthday |
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| the spread |
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| all friends came dressed up... |
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| played pass the parcel... |
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| got their faces painted... |
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| Addi requested a rainbow |
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| photos taken in the photobooth |
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| cookie decorating |
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| only Addi danced |
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| time to blow candles |
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| opening gifts |
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| then trick or treating |
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| looking at their loot |
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