Where did my Baby go??

18 months old??  already approaching?? can't be?  I've had to count over and over again using fingers and toes to make sure!  Where have the last 18 months gone??  Feels like a real blur, did I get to savor those baby moments?  I'm sure I did, or at least tried, but so desperately trying to keep up with an ever enquiring and imagination exploding 3.5 year old and a, "I want to be 3 years old too" 1 year old! I've tried to take photos to capture those special moments, but you can never really capture them taking a self shot or by the time you bring out the camera you've missed the moment....those sweet moments are all thankfully stored up here (pointing to my head).....hopefully I they'll be stored there there for a  LONG time!

The past few Tuesdays while Emma is at school I've been taking Addison to music class.  It's Music with Mar, we call it, Mr Froggy class, Emma loved this class, so I was pretty sure Addi would enjoy it too!  And she does - judging from her not wanting to walk out the class 15 minutes into it (she did this at her first few dance classes, she stood at the door banging her hands against the door wanting to leave!) She participates well, listens well, it's as though she'd been going there for a while - and I do wonder if she possibly remembers the songs from when she was in my tummy??  We did go alot while I was pregnant...hmmm...It's been great one on one time with Addi, doing something special with just her.

We were early for class one day and it gave me the opportunity to grab a few shots of my little miss cheeky....boy is she cheeky and really knows what she wants.  But I love it! She knows how to bring on the tears quick or pout, which gets old quick, but just love it when she places her head on my shoulder and wraps her arms around my neck and her little fingers rub my neck as I console her, I really try savor those moments as much as I can, because before I know it she'll be 18 and will not want me doing that to me at all!

To my little 18 month, you are my world, I love you to the moon and back times that by a million, You amaze me everyday with how much you understand, your confidence, your silliness, you copy your sister to no avail and catching on quick to the bad behaviour scares me! 
You're learning your animals sounds (cow, sheep, goat, horse, monkey, duck, bird, chicken, pig, chameleon, owl and wolf), you try sing the ABC song and other nursery rhyme songs along with Emma, you attempt to talk copying the sounds of the words Emma speaks, you know your shapes apparently (I asked for the triangle shape and you passed it to me)  I hate to bring out the crayons, chalk and paints because I know you'll put them in your mouth or paint the walls.  You really bring a whole new ball game, but it's all very exciting.  I haven't given you , or it feels as though I haven't given you half of the attention I had given to Emma at your age yet when our neighbor laid picture cards (which I've hardly shown you) and she asked where what was, you got every single one correct....you are learning so fast and I'm blown away continuously!  I'm glad you have your big sister to look up to and learn from - she's a great BIG SISTER, please give her a break at times, with all your grabbing and pulling she's having nightmares about it!

Happy 18 months Addi my little stinker, moaner, so many nicknames for this little one!

Pics of Addison

concentration

curious

I don't know who you are expression



I'm not listening to mommy expression

Happy, smiley Addi

Farm Day

Either no posts or so many in a few days...

Today we went to the NC State Farm Days - a free event held by the North Carolina State University.
Mostly for preschoolers and elementary kids, to learn about the farm and the animals.  All the kids got to touch the animals, climb in the tractors and ended off with a free icecream made locally on campus, yummy stuff!  Who knew a University would make their own icecream, amazing the things you find out about where you live.

Emma has been asking to touch a bunny again, so when I found out about this event I had to take her.  She really loved it and you can tell by the smiles in every photo!  I love her love for animals.
Addi was all game to see and touch, but the minute they approached her she'd run for mommy, so maybe not as fearless as I thought :)

The girls got to see Turkeys, Rabbits, Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Cows and calves, Horses with their Foals, I love it when these type of events are available for the kids to see.

Mission Accomplished!!!

Man, kids really keep you on your toes.

Over Easter we had my cousin Kerwin, his wife Janine and daughter Ruby visit.  Such a great time had by all, good bonding time and catch up time!  We ate way too much!  Good times, good memories!  Always good to have family around and the house full.

Easter Sunday

So Emma and Ruby had a blast together.  Obviously had their challenging moments, but we'd think there was something wrong with them if they didn't.
Playing dress up and going on hikes in their bikinis and backpacks on their backs, going on a plane ride with Kerwin as pilot and a blow up seat as their seat which they'd bounce up and down on (bad turbulance), playing in the tent I made and kicking Addi out saying, "No babies allowed!"  Eventually Ruby allowed babies, but Emma still stuck to the original rule!  Oh boy!  Playing Doctor Doctor, with Janine and I as patients.....just a few of the fun things they got up to. 

We went to a few parks and museums, but with the way they played at home outings weren't really necessary, so great watching and hearing them together.  Always interesting to watch Ruby and see whats in store with Emma as she approaches 4!

So why I titled this post as "Mission Accomplished!!!"  One night we were playing board games, Candyland being one of them.  When I packed away the pieces the green and yellow game piece were missing.  I found the green one hiding behind our giraffe, but could not find the yellow one.  I asked the girls if they knew where it was, but neither acknowledged me.  So I left it, although it really bugged me that a piece was missing.  So the following day I asked Ruby where it was, she chose to run away (huge giveaway that they were up to no good with this game piece) when I asked Emma and she said she didn't know, she did mention something about tying the skipping rope around it and throwing it around...so I thought okay this piece has been thrown away or something, or may be down an air vent. 

So the past few days while packing away mixed up toys and pieces of games and tidying house I kept my eyes open for this yellow piece.  I've checked every handbag, every toybox... nothing.  Tonight I asked Emma again if she knew where this marker was, trying to trick her into telling me.  She told me again about the skipping rope, so I asked where the skipping rope was, she said in the toybox, I asked if the piece would be there, she said no it's downstairs.  I eventually asked Emma to show me where this piece was.  She asked for the flashlight and we went on an adventure to find this frigging yellow piece.  She did say they put it somewhere where we would not find it, but still shone the flashlight around and told me to look through the toys in the toybox (I did find something else i was looking for, so was worth looking in again), under the dresser, under the bookshelf.....basically sending me on a wild goose chase!   Eventually Emma says we must go downstairs, I said no, as I thought it was a delay tactic before bed time and she was leading me nowhere, not giving up on the hiding place !  I knew this piece was somewhere!  So after tucking Emma into bed I looked once again downstairs.....I start looking down the vents in the living room, turning my vases upside down, just incase they hid it in there, and lo and behold I look behind one of our bookshelves and there it was!!!  Mission Accomplished!

I went upstairs and showed Emma my find, her response..."Why did you find it? You weren't meant to find it"  I felt bad that I found it, but she didn't get upset about it!

A little scary that these girls can keep a secret at such a young age!  Should we be worried??
Up to no good but rather amusing!

And They Hugged....

Don't you just love it when you catch a glimpse of the love shared between your children?
Just the other day I caught a glimpse and it brought such a smile to my face.

Now as you may know Emma is not a hugger, she used to be, but then almost got strangled by her best friend Ella who was a big hugger and scared the life out of Emma, so whether it was that or just that she doesn't like it, who knows....

I know Emma loves Addi and genuinely cares for her, but the times she shouts at Addi and wants her out the way, it makes you wonder....

My cousin, his wife and daugther, flew back to California and we got home from the airport. Emma was about to go potty and Addi followed.  Emma usually shouts to tell me to take Addi away, as she wants privacy when she goes to potty.  So I heard some "No Addi, No!!!!!!"  and I look to see Addi is holding onto Emma's waist and just not letting go.  I look at this scenario and I smile realizing what Addi was doing.  Addi was trying to hug Emma.  I told this to Emma, that Addi was in fact hugging her and not pulling or tugging at her, when Emma realized this she calmed down and then embraced Addi too.  It was the sweetest thing.  Of course I had to ask them to redo this a couple of times to capture footage as proof they really do love each other.  It was great to see Emma encouraging Addi to hug her.

After that, Emma went to potty, I asked if I had to take Addi out the bathroom so she could have her privacy, Emma said, "No, she can stay" and closed the door.  The two of them were laughing in the bathroom and next thing I hear Emma talking to Addi as she was helping to wash and dry Addi's hands.  They both walk out with hug smiles, Emma guiding Addi along - Just Beautiful.  As Addi dashed off to the living room, I pulled Emma aside and just thanked her for being such a great big sister and to remind her how much Addi really loves her and looks up to her, to which Emma responded, "You're welcome mom!"  Love and Politeness!!!  I was thrilled!!!

The afternoon carried on like this, Emma helping Addi on the couch, Addi fell and Emma ran to help her up!  I was thinking, what did these girls drink? 
Usually we have more screaming because Addi is always getting in the way of Emma.....so these few hours of no screaming and shouting was like running through an open field of daisies!

We might have Ruby to thank for this, as Ruby would show lots of love and patience toward Addison during her visit.

Still a few years till they really understand just how important they are to each other and how they need each other - there is hope!

So Much Love to Give

trying to convince mommy that they're sleeping! I love these Monkeys!

 

I look at these photos and I'm reminded just how blessed I am to have these two girls in my/our lives and my heart overspills with love!  I love them so much, so much that it feels a little crazy.  If anything had to ever happen to them, not sure what I'd do.

There are definitely days where I want to rip my hair out and need a time out myself.  Life gets busy with the 2 girls, and Rod travelling   I'm not complaining, it's just how life goes and I'm pretty used to it by now.  With Rod travelling it reminds us how lucky we are to be where we are, and to be doing what we do.  That is mostly me being at home with the girls.
I love watching my girls grow, seeing their love for each other grow, and feel so fortunate to be able to watch this everyday!

Of course there are moments where I think I would love to be working, having work be my get away, contribute to the household income, be someone that my kids can look up to as a successful working mother, but to be honest I don't think any job would ever give me the satisfaction, pride, happiness and the type of pay that I receive when I see Emma drawing her first flower or cutting out a shape, Addi walking backward for the first time, and learning to slide down the stairs rather than go one step at time.  I just use the bathroom as my get away when Rod is away, and some retail therapy when Rod is home! :)

Emma put these faces together on her own

Emma learning to cut out pictures

No job is stress-free, always wondering or worrying, are we doing enough for the girls, are we exposing then to the right things at the right time?  We just want what is best.

There was no real reason for this blog, except to express how much I love my family.   
I knew a mothers love from the love I received from my mom, but I never knew what it felt like to love like a mom until I had Emma and Addison, and nothing can feel better than this!  And as for my love for Rod, I love him more than I ever did and my love for him just grows more and more as we raise our family together.

Thank you to my family for showing me what love really is!  I Love You!

 

Emma's First Flower

Had to post this drawing of Emma's first flower.  We were all drawing, and Emma says, "mom, look at my flower".  I look over thinking I'm going to see a scribble and there it was.....a perfect flower.....I told her to add a stalk and leaves and she did just that!  then to add another flower...We couldn't be any more proud of our girl.....

Then not to leave out little Addi with her scribbles...although she does seem to enjoy eating the crayons more.....

Sorry if photos aren't laid out right.   Uploading from phone and can't seem to rotate them.

Scooting Emma

For a long time now Emma has been asking for a Scooter.  She gets to ride one each week at school and tells me all about it.  My cousin Janine, told me about the one they got for Ruby, the Mini Micro, which has two wheels in the front and one at the back and compared to a regular scooter it is a more stable, so hopefully less tipping.  Rod got to see Ruby on this scooter when he last visited California.  He said we definitely have to get this for Emma.

It had been sitting in the box for a few weeks, and we couldn't wait for Emma's birthday or Christmas to come around, so we brought it out this weekend, since the weather was so nice, high 60's!  Em was really excited about it, "scootering, or scooting?" around the house.  We all quickly got dressed and headed for the park to test this Mini Micro out.  Emma is not one to take instructions, she just wants to do it her way (a hard battle), so after us trying to teach her, she got fed up and decided that riding her bike (which we brought down for Addi to ride on) was more fun and she could go off and do her own thing.

This morning, we planned to meet another neighbor, Heidi and her boys at the park, Emma wanted to take her scooter to show them.  She rode all the way to the park and at the park it was like night and day, she was on this thing gliding aloneg... I was so surprised at how well she did.  And I guess it goes to show, that she does know what to do and how to do things, we just have to give her time and space.  She still needs to learn how to use her body to go left and right, but I'm sure that will come as she gains more control with her body.

Addi loves the scooter too, she has good balance, holds on and goes along with you.  So adventurous and such great gross motor skills, she's probably going to learn to ride a bike and learn to ride a scooter with ease and so much younger than Emma - guess thats what a big sister's influence will do to you....

Yes, we are looking into getting this girl a bigger bike

Here is a video of Emma today on her scooter.

Hanging out with the Baileys

I would say in the last year we've really gotten to know our neighbors, Chuck and Jennifer Bailey. Not sure why it had taken us so long to get together and have the girls play, but so glad we have as Emma really gets on well with Madelyn. There is a year difference between Emma and Maddy, yet with the age cut off date with the schools, Emma and Madelyn will actually be in the same school year together which is great. We just don't know if they'll end up in the same school, as schooling here is based on a lottery system, so a computer decides which school you go to. we have one more year before we need to cross that bridge - scary!

From the time the girls met, Madelyn has taken Emma under her wing and is always making sure she's okay and shows her how to do things, very caring and considerate. Very very sweet. Addison and Grace are also a year apart, and they get on really well together too. They are the little rascals, very adventurous and always getting up to some sort of mischief. They are the second born afterall! They both have the face of naughty, but incredibly cute!

Last week Rod was going to take Emma and Addi to a museum called Marbles while I attended a parenting talk. It's a fun kids museum. Addi ended up waking with a fever, so there went Rod's plan for a morning with his girls. Chuck had spoken with Rod on the Friday and thought they could all go together. And he was very sweet to offer to still take Emma with Madelyn, so Em went on her first outing with her friend without her parents!! Big Steps!!

Emma had so much fun with Madelyn, kept talking about it and saying she wants to go again and saying that she LOVES Madelyn.
I had to laugh though...while at this talk Rod messages me to tell me Emma has gone out with Madelyn and he's home with Addi. I called and I had woken him up from nap!!! I thought to myself, why aren't I that lucky that someone will just free me of one kid for an hour or two and I can take a nap when Addi does! haha

So this weekend we thought we'd try do something again with the Baileys, and this time we went to a fun park called Frankies - this park had arcade games, a fun zone (slides, rope climbing, mazes), go kart racing, batting cages, mini golf, mini ten pin bowling. Of course the kids had a blast, quite a bit for Emma to take in. Us parents were talking about getting us some babysitters and maybe heading out there again without the kids for some fun! Madelyn had been there a few times and knew the ropes (excuse the pun) of alot of things, so she was sweet enough to make sure Emma knew where to go and what to do. Emma is a little hesitant when something is new (especially the fun house with lots of climbing and tunnels to crawl through, slick slides to go down which had given even me some butterflies), so there were a few eh's and ah's, but she pulled through and had fun.

This was actually the first time Emma has ever played mini golf, gone go kart racing, and played ten pin bowling too, she did pretty good and apparently with the go karting was squealing with excitement all the way - daddy took her out on the track. She was pooped after our 2 hours of fun!

Poor Addi and Grace, still a little too small for some of the things, so they just had to sit and watch, but kept asking to be part of the fun! So hard for the second ones always wanting to keep up and thinking they can do everything their big sisters do!

So after the busy morning and some lunch, we went home for nap. And then back over to the Bailey's for some more fun playing and having dinner with them. Jen made us a yummy clam linguine. Such a fun filled day for the girls and us parents too! Always good to have great neighbors and friends. Some photos...

Emma's 3 and a Half

Because Emma's birthday falls over the Summer Holidays , Jarin and Cammie (Emma's teachers), allow those kids to celebrate their half birthdays.

So yesterday we got to celebrate this occassion.  We baked vanilla cupcakes with strawberry icing in Ariel cupcake liners (all requested by Emma).  Emma had a hand in helping me bake which teaches me lots of patience!

Emma was so excited about this event. We've never celebrated half birthdays and now I'm thinking we should do this every year!  When Rod and I arrived at her school and walked into her class, she gave this squeal, Cammie had to hold her down so she'd continue to listen to the story Jarin was reading.

All the kids sang Happy Birthday and Emma blew out candles.  Jarin asked Emma, "How old are you turning?"  Thinking Emma would say "4", she actually replied with "3 and a half."  I was worried about her being confused, but doesn't seem that way.

The kids were all so well behaved, waiting for their cupcakes, eating fairly neatly and while eating, listening to a Pinkalicious story (which was about this little girl, Pinkalicious" who ate too many pink foods so she turned pink and she had to eat lots of green food to turn back to her normal color" after the story, one little boy asked if he was going to turn pink because he ate the pink icing.

A fun day to celebrate...some photos to share....



Happy Valentines Day

Such a fun day, and each year gets better as Emma understands what Valentine's is all about!

This was the first time we had a "class project", Emma had to make valentines for all the class mates.  Emma chose pencil toppers from Michaels that she wanted to make.  She did pretty well making each one and clearly stated who she was making it for.  Last minute I decided that we should probably make Valentines cards, instead of just attaching a tag on it with a name.  So another trip out to Michaels (which I really didn't mind, that store is BAD!), I decided to buy some glitter, had visions of making glitter hearts and sticking them on the front of the card with each childs name. 

 

Glitter was a bad idea, firstly, in the store, Addison asked for the container to hold.  Me, thinking it was sealed and unable to open, gives it to Addi and as I'm walking through the store I feel crunch, crunch under my feet.  I look down and see glitter on the floor, and think, "gosh someone dropped glitter, must have happened while unpacking or so" and "thats horrible to have to clean up".

I get to the counter to pay and handing all the items to the cashier, I take the glitter from Addi, the container is EMPTY!!!!!!  that glitter I stepped over, was from my CHILD!!!  The cashier saw the container was empty...and said I could get another...she then realized what happened and she asked me, "did it spill all over the store??"  Me very shy and embarrassed, "Yes". They were cool about it.

Oh Addi - clearly her hands are stonger than I thought....she can apparently open screw top containers!!!
Which company puts glitter in containers without any seals???

So that was clearly of sign of what was to come....secondly, at home, while creating the hearts and letting a 3 year old sprinkle and spread the glitter, it was quite a messy affair.  I think I vacuumed 4 times and there was still glitter all over the kitchen floor, counter and table.....
Emma grew tired and I had to do the finishing touches.

I tried to make it fun for the girls and Rod - I made them cards, and bought them little gifts, hung a few decorations around the kitchen table.  I just love seeing Emma's reaction when she sees things like that....so appreciative and happy!    We made a special packed lunch and had lunch with Rod at his work - Emma loves this!  When we got home, Emma saw I had put a small bunch of flowers by her place setting at the kitchen table, she walks in the house, see's this and said, "are these for me mom?"  When I said yes they are, she responded with, "Thank You mom, I love them so much, picked them up and started smelling them!"
We had a simple dinner at home, ate by candle light with the girls and had chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.  Good excuse to indulge a little!

lunch bags

waiting for daddy to finish on his call

boardroom lunch

Addi, didn't do too much, or know too much about what was going on (or so I think), she just copies her sister with whatever she's doing and moans for a flower too to hold and smell!

Just a great day for some extra spoiling and having fun and also being appreciative for all the love that we get to share with our girls and family!

Emma's Valentines

 

 

 

 

 

Sleep Aid

This was Addison on the plane ride back home.  Sleeping with the Bose earphones to try cancel out the noise on the plane, they worked well, except when she stirred...
I would like to think that these helped her sleep the length of time she did....

Thought it was too cute!

Our SA Trip...

Happy New Year all!  It's been so long since I last blogged!  Thought I must blog about our SA trip before I forget about all we did....feels like the trip was ages ago!

 

New Years Eve





A week of solid sleep from Addison!  I think it’s safe to say we’re pretty much back on track.  We’re back from our trip to South Africa almost 2 weeks now, and just as it took a week to settle into SA time, it took us another week to settle back here in NC.  Rod was questioning if it would ever come right (bear in mind he was not there to adjust the girls to SA time), I told him to give it a week, “I promise it’ll be over”….Shew, thankgoodness I was right!  The wakes at 1am, 3am and 6am by Addi, were not very entertaining….it wasn’t as though she woke happy and talking in her crib, rather screaming and crying, so I HAD to go pick her up so not to wake Emma.  And as soon as I picked her up, she was all smiles and saying, “Mumm Mumm” wanting breakfast. Unfortunately Emma would wake up and so the entire household would be awake from 3 or 4 am.  And everyone was hungry!  Now that Addi is sleeping past 6am, Emma gets to sleep in a bit later and not be disrupted out of her sleep.  Nice that Rod and I get a bit of a lie in too (we’re beginning to feel human again).

As good as it is to be back home and back into routine, we had such a grand time in SA!  Always never enough time to see everyone and do everything we wanted to do (we always come back saying, oh we forgot to do this and didn’t get to eat that!)  But we really did do a lot and saw as many friends and family as we could!  It was so good seeing everyone.  Seeing the girls play with their cousins and other kids, very special!  And just to see everyone love the girls so much!  Emma fit in so easily, as soon as we set foot off the plane, she was eager to meet the family, went to everyone when they greeted us, and when we got to my parent’s house, shoes off, t-shirts on and running outside in the garden BAREFOOT on the grass with her cousins, using the pool noodles as swords, pretending to hit each other and chasing each other!!!  I thought Emma would be so tired, but she wanted to keep playing.   (I can’t actually remember if she napped that afternoon, I know I did, I was bombed after 14 hours of flying with both kids and probably only getting 2/3 hours sleep!!   I did regret not getting to bed earlier the night before, but always hard when you’re about to travel and shoving in that last, “just in case” item).  My Aunt travelled with me, but unfortunately they split us up and so were sitting in different rows (the flight was full to seat us all together).  They gave me the bassinet seat, which was great, I didn’t have to worry about passengers in front of us, and we could stretch out our legs a bit, and having the bassinet relieved me a bit when Addi would sleep.  She was a bit big for it, and I was worried more about her falling out, but it helped.  The air hostess we had was a gem!  She really looked after us, almost like our own private air hostess, she’d keep my meal and when Aunty Ang was done eating, we’d swap seats and I’d be able to eat my hot meal hot and in peace, fueling up for the next shift!  If I needed milk for Emma she’d see to that too….great service!  This made up for the beginning of the trip when we just took off, Addi and Emma had fallen asleep, the airhostess bought the bassinet and set it all up and for some reason attempted to take Addi from me and put her in the bassinet!!!  What person does that???  Of course Addi woke up and was up for a while after that, I know the hostess had good intentions though.

Just after take off

Emma's meal



Caity all into playing with Emma's hair, Emma had to comply, but eventually just broke down.

Getting on the SAA aircraft and hearing the SA accent, seemed weird at first, but exciting that we were going home again! There were quite a few kids on the plane, so I didn’t feel too bad if the kids fussed a little.   I had to laugh though as soon as we took off and the seatbelt light went off, all the parents on the plane were searching for their meds to calm the kids down!  By the time the last 6 hours came, all the parents were getting antsy and just wanted to get to SA, me included!!  Overall the kids travelled really well (kept reminding myself that I made them make this trip, they didn't ask to join), and coming back felt like a breeze because Rod was there, we got a row of 4 seats to ourselves and I got to sleep a little more than 3 hours!!  Amazing how a few hours of sleep makes you feel even if it is in an uncomfortable aircraft seat!  And maybe just aswell we managed to sleep, as we didn’t know what we had in store after this 16 hour journey….lets just say we discovered the connecting flight to get to Raleigh was booked for the day before!!!  Silly oversight on our part, but in the end we remained calm (what could we do really) and it all worked out fine, we got home safe and sound!! 

This trip was extra special, not only because the family got to meet Addi for the first time, but we decided we’d venture a little further from Johannesburg.  Since we were going out all that way we thought we must make time to see Cape Town.  Both our parents joined us, along with Nix and her family, and my Por Por and Kung Kung (Grandparents)

Great to see such big smiles!

 Such a memorable trip, so glad we made it happen.  My Pops and Kungs have not traveled in a very long time, the last time they were meant to have travelled was just before my Kungs had his complications with his legs which was over 3 years ago…..hesitant at first to travel, they made it on the plane and to Cape Town.   They were such troopers going around with us and game to do whatever we were doing, going to the beach, visiting wine farms (even tasting), driving along the coast to Hout Bay, Chapmans Peak, Boulder Beach.  My grandparents were so happy to have made the trip and they say they’re still on cloud 9 and wishing they could wake up to the view of Table Mountain every morning (we had a great apartment with a stunning view of the mountain!)   My Kungs even mentioned he wants to relocate to Cape Town, however he says he’d really miss my mom. haha

 

It's all about Wine Tasting in the Cape, and we try as a family!

 

 

3 Generations!!!!!

Visiting Cape Town brought back memories of the time Rod was working in Cape Town for a project and I got to visit every alternate weekend (oh the courting days!).  We forgot just how beautiful the Cape is.  We were lucky to have had beautiful weather and a BIG Thanks to Shannon and Bryan for organizing such great accommodation and making good suggestions of places to see and eat – they were our own personal tour guides and did a great job.  Nice to see Shan settled and happy in the Cape too – exciting for her upcoming wedding, it seems we’ll be making another trip out in 2014, not complaining, altho hope the time adjusting will be easier for the girls and Addi will be a little less dependent!  Poor girl had 3 teeth coming thru during the trip, explained her clinginess and moans and groans!  I did comment to Rod that thankgoodness she’s cute looking, else she would have had nothing going for her with the way she carried on at times!

Johannesburg we got a few games of golf in with my mom and dad, so good to play again and so frequently, nice to have babysitters on standby whenever we needed them!  It didn’t take much to get used to!  Actually this was the most I didn’t have to worry about Emma, as she was so busy with her cousins!   Nix got a taste of life with 4 kids, her kids were 2 days into school when she babysat the one morning, so when it came to school pick up, there Nix was with my 2 girls and her two!  Other mothers questioned where the 2 girls had sprouted from.  Thanks Nix for taking up such a challenge!  She can definitely say she’s done with kids now ! haha    

 

We also made a trip out the the Lion Park – this was something we HAD to do for Emma – here she got to see some SA wildlife upclose!!  Emma’s favorite animal is the Giraffe, so when she saw it her expression was priceless!!!  Best feeling ever to see her so happy!  When we arrived at the park, she said, “We’re in South Africa!”, she got to touch a lion cub (which tried to bite her and scared the “beep” out of her), and she also got to feed giraffes and ostriches!! 

Emma's reaction when she saw the giraffe

Feeding the Giraffe

 

and ostriches

 

Before being frightened by the cub

 Nix just moved into her new home a day before we arrived…such a rush for them, but nice to see them settled and loving their home!  It really is beautiful!  Rod’s sister, Sharon and cousin, Tracey also moved into new homes, so we got to see those too.   

Other special occassions....We got to celebrate Caity’s birthday twice (Jo'burg party and a Cape Town party), a night out with my cousins to see the stage production of Dirty Dancing, the uncles took the kids fishing at an estate one day which was fun!  Christmas and New Years was spent with both our families!  Lots of special memories!  We could have done with more braai-ing (bbq-ing), biltong, wine and more chill time!  These family visits are never really holidays, but always good to be with family and friends and we just cherished every moment we had with everyone we saw!  Thanks to our families and friends for making our trip so memorable, cooking our favorite meals, organizing get togethers, looking after the kids...the list goes on!  We were really spoilt!  We cannot thank you enough and we cannot wait to see you all again!   We love and miss you all TONS!

 

 

Bait!

Emma's catch

 

All the Grandkids

 

Christmas 2012

 

Golden Kids

 

Family Photos

 

 

Best family photo ever!!!  Such Fun!