Look what's blooming in my garden today...aren't they something?

This week we...

• Travelled up to PMB to collect our new Defy 13kg washing machine (bliss) thanks to Gumtree (SA's fledgling version of Craiglist), then took the kids to get Micky D's (Mac Donalds) & chased the sun till it set at Midmar dam, found a gorgeous spot on a grassy hill overlooking the dam & munched our way through the happy meals.  What a happy time.
• got the girls to school super early every day (the boys were tardy thanks to me) much to Sophie's relief and they got to travel in style with their Papa (my dad).
• planned Phoebe's 9th Birthday party, set for Friday 4th June @ our place.  We decided on the games & menu for the afternoon.  And sent the invites out.  Very sweet.
• This week I coaxed Cindy Picolo to come over to my place Tuesday morning & paint with me - and it was WONDERFUL.  We discovered some great new colours & transformed our paintings from nay to YAY in 2 hours while we chatted and laughed. 
• got a big box of wooden blocks...and I painted some of them & then sold them yesterday(my good old 'HOME' & 'LOVE' blocks).

• baby-sat baby Rose for Bronwyn (she turned 28 on the 28th!).  I guess the girls really did all the baby sitting - Rose loves the kids and gets carried around the whole time.  I think she forgets about using her  legs when she comes here:)
• went birthday shopping for Phoebe...she has expressed a wish to accumulate clothing this year.
• (Brod & I) went on an impromptu date Wednesday night to the Pavillion, Brod had an appointment, so my mom watched the kids for us & I went with him.  We went to a movie (1/2 price Wednesday) and watched Iron Man 2 (& enjoyed it) - I always enjoy movies these days since I hardly pay anything for them:)
• worked, worked, worked!  In the office & in the house
• enjoyed the company of Simon Cooper (an ex mission companion of Brod's from JHB Mission).  He has come out with his family from the UK this week - so his brother could run the Comrades marathon today.  Lots of laughter & memories.  It's been great. 

My latest find

Noah was in Speech with Carmen Robbertse the other day, Jonah & Ethan were messing up the waiting room while I sat and paged through one of the mags. (might i quickly mention that Carmen only has the latest & best magazine's in her waiting room - so I tend to get my magazine fix there) and I came across the latest (of course) Elle Decoration Mag.  Wow.  Gorgeous local talent!  I stumbled across Heather Moore and was hooked.  I have since become an avid Skinny Laminx follower and am in awe of her talent.

And, hooray!!!, she's on Etsy - the first SA designer I have found and ships from Cape Town.  And I am thrilled :)  And I'm still smiling, and eating some Traditional Vanilla & Strawberry marshmallows from Woolies dusted in icing sugar. 

I went to the local art shop yesterday - I am determined to start my drawing again, even got 2 small canvases (for R10 each!) and after wondering around in a daze (I often do that when I'm buying art supplies - never know what I'm supposed to really get & like to stick to a tiny budget...so I walk away from most of the stuff) I walked away with my little brown paper bag, and inside I had a drawing pad, coloured pencils & my 2 little canvases.  And I felt just grand.  And in my euphoric state I went to 2 local art galleries to get quotes on framing for one of my completed drawings & almost fainted when they gave me the price.  I think I'll have to crop the picture & drastically reduce the size of the frame and then pay them off in monthly installments :) Ho hum, what a conundrum. 

Life is good. And it's the weekend!

xx

Enchanting Africa

Yesterday I was up at 2am...kids.  And due to a restless mind, started the washing, did accounts and had a look at all my current favourite blogs.  Shawni's blog gives me lots of inspiration at the moment.  I then proceeded to make the family breakfast - egg, bacon, pancakes, rooibos. 

Once the kids were off to school with our most favourite bus driver Brod, I got a call from Cindy to invite me out for a Mug & Bean breakfast.  I do love a morning out(of course all I had space for was a muffin & tea & my eyes were pretty heavy by then & I couldn't speak very clearly from exhaustion) - and really enjoyed the visit with Cindy & Nadine. 

Nadine has started her own Travel & Tours company called " Enchanting Africa". She's been in the industry for all the years I've know her & has finally decided to dig for diamonds in her own back yard, and is doing so well already.  I love being around such motivated and exciting people - it really inspires me!  Cindy and I begin our first art class next Tuesday at my place - she has the knowledge & talent and I have the desire - so I'm hoping for some special creations to come out of those few hours every week. 

I'll keep you posted!

The kids are all well - P & S are counting down the days till school holidays with glee.  They've each made a count down worm & are thrilled to cross off the days.  Swimming again today - they have a great instructor who enjoys their funny ways.  N & J are still puzzling along nicely - they sit together in their PJ's each morning during breakfast working on the same puzzle.  Very sweet.  Brod is busy with work & busy with play & looking happy.  There's always time for a laugh and music - which we have blasting in the office while he works on portfolios.   Life is stressful & filled with obligations, but we're working hard & doing our best.

xxx

The Blue room

Finally - I get the chance to post pics of the blue room. It's intended to inspire creativity in children (and parents).  That's a baby born dummy in Jo's mouth by the way  - not the real thing. 

It's the weekend, love weekends.  Brod has taken Sophie and Jo to see the horses doing dressage around the corner from us at Summerfeld...they start practises really early.  Noah has his cousin Liam over, it's 07h21 and they've been up since 5am playing Playstation (went to bed at 10pm last night, busy with games)...I would say they are experiencing some 'addictive' tendancies??!!  I'm giving them one more hour.

Phoebe is at Ben Wiblin's place - he had a 10th birthday sleepover last night and invited his Valiant class from church.  So cute!  They were having such fun when I dropped her off last night - 3 girls outnumbered by lots of boys.

Tom Ginger is settling in well.  Now that we have established he IS a Tom, we are getting on very well.  The kids are loving him (until the claws come out and they get attacked while walking past their beds).  I am enjoying the love and adoration that he bestows on me.  We call him Meow-Meow.  Pets are great.