Sophie's birthday, Noah's party & a temple trip- playing catch up:)

Phoebe & Aunty Claude posing outside an awesome decor shop we found

On the way to Jhb - Build a bunny came along

@ The Jhb Temple - Brod and kiddies went hunting for letters they'd written & buried a year ago

Sophie Soph's 8th Birthday - the 1st photo taken of her all that day! And it was 8pm at night. She's just arrived home from her baptism

All these pics are out of focus - wrong setting on the camera - but so what

Noah's 6th party - hectic with all the family & friends there - look at that cute Noah tongue:)

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Calden Scott - my sweet nephew

My brother Hiram and I, jamming in the kitchen

Father's Day 2011

What a day:) 

We woke up late, Brod's eye's were still glued shut when he tried to open his present and then we were late for church.

  He's really had to work today  - 2 teachers were off sick in Primary and since he's the Counselor in charge, and I'm on the Primary Presidency he very sweetly taught those 2 lessons(I batted my eyelids & puckered my lips all rosey like)...and still had to do his Bishopric things.  

And the kids have been yelling at him all day...joys - but through it all - he's still happy and great to be around.

In fact as I write, 3 of them are singing and playing around him while he strums on his guitar and figures out his new awesome copper strings:)  Yes, a very selfish gift from me this year - I've been missing his crazy songs and awesome ballads that he has not played for months since his old strings snapped.  

Music is a gift, that keeps on giving.

And we are so grateful to have him around and close all the time - what a blessing. 

Happy Father's Day Brod.

And Happy Fathers Day to my Dad, Robin Hugh Austin.  Who gave a lovely talk in our ward this morning and mentioned lots of stories about my grandfather that I did not even know!  Yowzers - time to document before the stories are all forgotten.  I am very grateful to have him close too - and to see him so often and always get my hug and kiss:)  He's a great man. Any man can be a father, but not every man can be a dad.

Finding your Bliss

I think on this alot.

What is my bliss?

I've found it.

It's all around me.

My favourite man.

My beautifully imperfect family.

My home.

My neighbourhood.

The colour of the trees along the road.

My friends.

The sunset.

My letters.

My Smosh art.

I've found my bliss.

It's all around me.

And so I'm happy.

And very grateful.

Phoebe's Pre-Birthday Celebration

Phoebe on her Birthday Eve Family date @ The Ocean Basket

Sweet sisters

Jo listening to his dad discussing the menu and what exactly would be on the  platter we had ordered.  Noah was holding his tongue.

Jo looking VERY worried.  He ate the chips & salad.

It was all fun and games, until the lights went out in the restaurant. They did not have a generator OR candles for the tables, so I ate all the calamari & line fish by the light of my cell phone. Brod gave up on the prawns after getting a mouthful of shells and the kids were rather disturbed by it all - so we left.

Other than that - it was a lovely evening:)

Phoebe's birthday was on the 4 June - she is now 10.  Crazy crazy.  We (Sophie, Phoebe and I) went to the I Heart Market in Durban with Carmen, a good friend, and Phoebe's Language therapist.  Phoebe took lots of photo's with her Birthday present and was very contented.  

Lovely weather in Durban - felt like Summer down there - then I drove home & slowly froze back to my original state.

Off to the movies now with the kids - awesome Saturday afternoon fun.

Cheerio

Missy Phoebe

As one of Phoebe's lessons on marketing, and using the internet - she's decided to start a blog Missy Phoebe.  She's JUST started it - and is learning all the ins and outs, and what is appropriate to blog about etc etc. She's been on at me for weeks now to help her get it going, and one of her birthday gifts this past week was a camera - so she's very busy shooting like mad for her next blog post.  Whenever that will be-who knows.  

Welcome to the world of blogging Missy Phoebe - world - please be nice:) 

Today is my old man's 64th Birthday - yowzers - where has time gone? He'll always be in his 40's to me - parents stay the same age they were when you first get an idea about how old they are, as a youngster.  My girls made him lunch (leftovers from the night before:/), Sophie made the salad - and we've baked him a triple layer chocolate cake. Yum yum yum.  Just got to get the gift!  I do quite adore my dad - and appreciate having him so close by and so much a part of my life still.  Dad's are just grand - I'm so happy to still have mine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

On another note - this Friday, 10th June - I am hosting an Etsy Craft Party and am so excited:) I have 3 friends attending so far, and have space for 3 more - so if you're local and keen to craft give me a call! 

I will be sanding and painting and sealing, but you can go anything you want!  And even bring your own craft supplies - it's that fun.

There is Rooibos Tea on tap and there should be snacks if I get that far in preparation.

We are all well, thanks.  Kiddies are happy, we are busy and still laughing alot - which is a good sign of mutual happiness in a couple I reckon.  

Love to all! Come craft with me:) <3

A lesson in the sun

Phoebe with her prized possession

The 2 guys to the right were trying catch a fish - you can see their concentration - they circled the poor thing for ages walking through the sea like crabs - until some sun bathers showed up(2 sweet girls in bikini's) and the poor fish was forgotten.  It was sooo funny watching it all.

Helga (Sophie) hanging out

Miss Phoebe riding a foamie

We popped into see the sea again yesterday.  It was another beautiful June day at the beach.  No waves - so perfect for swimming.  Phoebe and Sophie practiced paddling on their boards and did some snorkeling, while Jonah and Noah climbed all over the life saving beacon and used their force to scare the pigeons away. 

Brod and Sophie found an abundance of sea life under the pier - and loved it - until Sophie was stung by a blue bottle. Yowzers.  Phoebe caught a foamie, and enjoyed paddling around in the very calm ocean at high tide.  Noah and Jonah yelled, ran, jumped, climbed and got nice and wet.  I learned that when you sit on your towel a lot instead of being in the water - you get asked to watch strangers bags and take photo's for them. I met some lovely locals:)  So I got wet and played and watched the kids.  And it was lovely.  Lovely to be warm, and wearing nothing else but a costume and shirt at 2 in the afternoon.  Came home and covered up with 3 layers of clothing to try and get warm:(

Love to all.

  

Ode to Simon Cooper

Brod's good friend Simon left this morning - and left behind some good memories for us all to enjoy.

Lots of laughter about the parallel lives we lead - and here are some pics of the big visit event.

He lives in the UK, with his lovely wife, 4 children & Opel Zafira.

On a trail through a neighbourhood forest in Everton, Kloof

Simon & Brod & little Jo @ the Wave House at Gateway after our 3D Thor viewing 

I LOVE THIS PICTURE! How's the expressions:) Had me in stitches when I downloaded it. The kids spent all their pocket money on the bumper cars @ Gateway - so much fun.  Brod & I were the injured ones, and we were the passengers!

I just love Jo's expression!

Matthew Cooper (Simon's brother who came to run the Comrades this year) Brod and Simon

Top Gear event - I was unable to post the pic of Brod - his is censored - he was in his cycling shorts. Just not appropriate.

Simon driving my car!

Snorkeling off Vetchies Reef

Happy times

Hope your reunion @ home is awesome Simon & Joy!