Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens outing

At the waterfall at The Botanical Gardens

The children and I went to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens for an outing today.  The weather was pleasant and luckily not too hot and a little overcast so we did not get sunburnt.  We spent about two hours there and I took a few photos.  It was great and luckily not too busy.

 

Click here for more photos ... enjoy.

Inheritance

I've been fiddling with my 'Will'.  Graeme finally signed his and at the time, I asked Sean about some little things I own that I'm considering putting in the Will so as not to have any issues when I step over the bridge. 

So I was considering this all and decided to ask the kids (Taryn if you read this - send me your reply) what they'd like to have of mine that would 'represent' me to them.  I'm still waiting for Jarod to reply, but Liam (funny guy that he is) said he'd like my glasses and a watch.  Courteney, deep thinker and scheemer that she is, looks around then says to me, "Mom, I'd love your shoe collection, but I'm never going to wear a size 7 ."   We had such a good giggle about that - but the truth is, my daughters are just little things next to me in size, but in personality and presence, they sure make up for it. 

I find it sad that people can squabble over whats left behind, but I guess that's just our greedy nature as humans.  I had a terrible experience with this when my dad passed away and I so would hate for any of my children to feel that they were done in or made to feel less important and loved than another, so I'm keeping it as simple as possible and as fair as possible. 

I'm sure for everyone, when you go to a friend our family members home, there's something that signifies them to you and that's what I want for each of my children to have ... the thing that says 'Mom' to them when they see it.

Til later ... keep it Simply Sassy.

Sunday at 6

It's 6am Sunday morning and here I am.  I've been awake since well before 5am.  I decided to get up and make sure all the goodies I'm sending with the little people are ready to roll.  I need to pop down to the store for deodorant for my 'ex-husbands new wife' ;-) ... lol.   If the store were open now I'd head there just to get it done.

The kids did most of the their packing last night and this morning, we'll do a once over and make sure their carry on bags have all their bits and then they're 'good to go'.  They're starting to feel excited about their trip and I can just imagine how excited their Dad and Miz T. 

My biggest concern is that the flight is so long and they may drive each other insane.  I'll make sure the PSP's are charged and they have a book each.  I've asked them to make sure that they move around when possible and of course, not to have races down the aisle.

But now I've just checked their flight info and it's saying their departure is delayed by 308 minutes!!!!!  Ooooh, this is not good news, now expected to depart at 1am in the morning and well, parents have to stay in their airport until the flight departs ... Monday Monday ... oh what will you bring.

Whackhead Simpson : Epic Fail

I was sure Liam would hear it on the radio this past week, but he didn't.  So, much to my delight, he had no idea that Whackhead Simpson was signing his latest prankster CD's at The Glen this morning.  I told the kids to be ready by 9:15 this morning.  We headed to The Glen and I allowed the boys to go off and do some trawling with instructions to meet me at the Food Court by 9:45.

Courts and I headed to CNA and got the CD and as we were leaving I got a call from Liam all excited telling me that Whackhead was going to be there.  I am surprised that he didn't put the two together ... I actually choked up when he told me ... when I saw him, I called him over and gave him the CD and then got in line.  We waited a little while and when Whacked arrived, Liam's face lit up totally.  He was really excited.

Whackhead took some getting used to when he took over the morning show, but I really enjoy him most mornings.  He's full of funnies and laughter and comes across as a really genuine person.

An early Christmas gift I hope my lil boy appreciates.

... on the other side of the pond

is a very far way away and is so removed from the everyday life of a loved one!

I miss you Mz T.

Wicked Wednesday

Not that it was a wicked day, but I'm feeling title challenged.

I took my photos really late as I got home a little late as I stopped to buy a collegue a birthday gift.

 Details:  Skirt : Truworths | T-shirt : Mr. Price | Jacket : Pick 'n Pay | Booties : Woolworths |

Necklace : Miladys

 While taking my photos, the kids were boogying to "Blister in the sun" and attempting to get me to dance along.  So, I got them to come on my side of the lens and carry on ... young master L was doing a hillbilly impersonation ... silly bug.  Silly bunch.

In other news, Miss Beans visa application to the USA is approved :-(.  Not sure when she'll move, but once the papers are received by her dad on Friday, we'll make some decisions.  Ideally, she wants to finish the school year.

... and as they used to say in the movies after the cartoons ... That's all Folks!!

Til we meet again ... be fabulous, be sassy, be strong.

Manners are pretty

Being a mom of two very different boys, who not only have completely different looks, but different eye and hair colours, features, builds, skin tones (to the point some question whether their father and I are really both their true parents), their personalities are totally different.  Jarod is more the contemplative introvert, almost lost in his own world ... Liam is the entertaining extrovert and true to the last born, the clown. 

However, they share some common interests ... playing PSP and PC games, writing their own stories, reading and being rambunctious. 

I hope they'll always find a common ground and share a close relationship, yet over and above that, I hope they turn out to be gentlemen.  They appear to have the natural ability, its a case of refining them.  It's difficult as a mom to teach them some of the lessons that I believe they would only comprehend from another man, same as there are things that just don't sit right when a dad tries to teach his daughter.  But, since their Dad is far away and we have some differences of opinion, I have been looking for appropriate literature to help.

I found this book via Swagger360 and doing a net search, found others like this one which I think we all could use and then for my little lady, I wonder how this would go down.  I think that so much has changed and the influence of TV on our children has been huge and I for one often times feel rather confused by the changes in attitudes and more pointedly, the lack of basic etiquette in our society ... basic manners sure are pretty when you see them displayed.  I think I may just the read the books myself, simply to see where I am on our modern scale.

Be you, be fabulous ... be well mannered.

School visit

I just received this SMS from Miss Boo's school :

Grade 8 :- Please see your child's Maths teacher at parents evening Wednesday 20th April between 17:00 - 19:00. 

No surprise really, she's already told me she's having a hard time with Maths ... I am just wonder if the thousands spent on the Cami Math was worth it?!  Or if it's being used correctly?!

Oh well, at least it's not a total suprise to me!

Happy grey day to you too.

Boots and scrapbooking

We headed off to the Glen this morning as there were a couple of things on our shopping list ... Courts and G-man needed vitamins and she has started a bit of flu and our cough meds were depleted.  So off we went.

We also need to get young Liam a new pillow - all of R200 which I believe was an unnecessary expenditure as his allergic reaction I sorta believe is psychosematic.  But, we got the pillow anyway for peace of mind, as well as two new towels for the boys bathroom with a hand towel, a canned tin strainer and new oven gloves at Boardmans (I lurve me some Boardmans).  Then we headed to Pick 'n Pay for some food shopping and after that I wanted to look at a Steamor at HomeMark.  I ended up buying it and G-man got a Shark Knife with sharpener.  He muttered and mumbled saying how he does not have faith in the supplier, but his tune changed once he tried the knife sharpened, and due his negativity, I was a bit apprehensive, but must say, the Steamor is a breeze to use and will help with the morning 'hanging' creases.

I stayed out of majority of the clothes stores, but did pass through Aldo and then Step Ahead where I saw some cute Tsonga boots similar to these ... (you may be aware, we are starting to head towards winter here in the southern hemisphere, so our stores are just bringing in the winter styles and stock)

but I could not find a picture of the pair I saw.

We came home and I tried out the Steamor and then headed upstairs to scrapbook.  I did one page, which is much more than I have in ages.  Although I had printed other pictures last night, in the daylight, I noticed that it looks like my cartridge is running low and a lot of them had a blue-ish tinge to them.  I'll post it once I've scanned it at work tomorrow.  It's two photos from 2002 of my boys in the bath ... so cute.

It was walk down memory lane looked at photos from so far back - although many of the moments and memories are so clear and fresh in some ways in my mind.  Almost makes me sad.

Well dinner is done, kiddies are in bed, schatz is watching the Sunday movie and I had hoped to catch my friend in Cameroon on Facebook, but I'm out of luck - so I'm going to take my tired body downstairs, drink my cuppa, shower, dig through the wardrobe for something to wear tomorrow and then ... crawl under the covers and have a good snooze and pray that my lil girl feels better in the morning, otherwise, it'll be a doctors run tomorrow.

Hope you had a great weekend.

Ciao bella

February 10th - Thursday Remix

This skirt and jacket

was previously worn like this sometime around November last year.

I think todays look was more sedate ;-)

I love this skirt.

It's a bit flowy and rather feminine and I love the design on it.

I like wearing it in winter as well with a polo neck and long boots.

Most people are surprised by the lime green top with the purple.

 My earrings are from Justine ... Ring I think from Edgars, Necklace from Woolworths

 and once again, I do believe except for the accessories, it's another Truworths outfit. 

My little guy got his new glasses today.  He managed to lose his previous pair and they were super funky.  Purple and black frames with a flame design.

These are rather cute too

The goodies below are for Jarod to raffle at school.  The grade 6's raise funds for the grade 7's farewell at the end of the year.  I got the goodies below and my sister packaged them and he'll raffle them at school.  There's a cute teddy, a mug, a book, chocolate heart shaped suckers and the little ornament right in front.  On Sunday I'll be making pancakes (crepes) as well for him to sell to raise funds.  He's going to do really well - he's already sold 11 tickets of the raffle and he has not even taken it to school yet.

 So since it's almost the craziness of Valentine's ... what do you have planned?

G-man asked today if we'd be able to get someone to watch the kids on Sunday as he'd like us to celebrate on Sunday since I have class on Mondays ... I have no idea what he has in mind.

I can say here that I bought him a clock (man it reads rather boring) which is rather cute and was so excited that I gave to him yesterday already.  I want to get him something else but am I little stumped as to what.

Well, that's all from me for now ... I'm now going to head off and curl up with my Elle and She magazines.

Have a stunningly stylish day



December 16th .... less than 24 hours to go.

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It is 10:47 and although the countdown says 1 day and 10 hours, in reality, by this time tomorrow, we'll have been on the road for a good 4 hours.  I'm so ready to get out of the city and see the ocean but sadly, the weather predictions are not so good - the weather man says the next few weeks are all overcast. 

That however will just have to be that - and we'll do our best to make the most of each day - who knows when our next vacation will be with the little people.

So, for the next few days while I'm scare and quiet - have a fabulous time getting ready for Christmas and hope each day is filled with awesome memories.

'Til the 22nd or the 23rd - Blessings

This 'n that

For the last two days my left eye has been 'jumping' ... what the heck causes this?  It's so darn irritating!  My mother, who had tons of weird ideas and beliefs and bought into major superstitions, used to say you were going to see someone you had not seen for a long time ... someone else said it's stress related.  Not sure, but whatever the reason, I wish it would just go away.

I'm a wee bit cranky - got sick kids and a potty-mouthed teen, much to my horror, embarrasment and disgust.  Yesterday just blew me away.

But what more can you do than take away their means of communication and delete their facebook profiles ... what punishment is severe enough without beating them senseless?  Darn, this parenting gig is getting more challenging by the day.

But, things are moving along and today we are finally getting a visit from the architect who will hopefully have some drawings for us of the renovations and extension we are looking at for the house ... rather exciting ... and its also "Weigh-Less" this afternoon.  Not sure how I did, but I am hoping that since I did fall off the wagon a little this weekend I at least have not gained any weight ... 17:00 I will know.

On the other side of the 'healthy me' and the part most often neglected is the exercise.  I'm VERY bad about exercising ... but I decided to walk three times a week and last week I walked Wednesday and Friday morning and this week, I walked yesterday but we changed the route and pushed a little more and walked a bit further.  Tomorrow we're walking again and will do the same route, but will add a little more distance on Friday.  When I got back yesterday I also did some ab exercises and arm exercising.  I'm not going crazy, but building up steadily otherwise, I know I'll just back off if I push myself too far.

We had our Maine Coon shaved recently ... he was a rescue cat and therefore I have no idea what he went through previously to becoming a part of our family, however, it was evident that he had suffered some abuse as he was terrified of people and it has taken three years to get him socialised ... he's become a sweet cat, although he is a little tempermental and totally averse to being brushed, which means that when his thick winter coat comes in, it ends up totally mattered and we have now had him shaved twice.  But, again they managed to nip his whiskers.

My big boy, Lucky



So, for the moment I think that's all I have to say ... it's rather grey again here in the City of Gold and I wish I could be sitting as my scrapbook table finalising the page I worked on this weekend, but I have to work ... Christmas is almos there and it's a month until we head off on holiday ... I am so lookibng forward to the beach.

Have a magically marvelous day.

Little girls and birthdays

My little girl (meaning my younger daughter) is turning 14 on Sunday.  I can't believe that another has passed ... she's grown so much and become such a real teenager ... the rolling of eyes, sulks, stomping and back chatting ... all part and parcel of it, but really hard to navigate at time s... one minute sweet as pie, the next a black rolling cloud of thundering nastiness.

But, she's my little girl.

With the big brown eyes, freckles on her nose and dimples.

One minute a sweet heart, the next a devil heart.

I feel for her, so confused and trying to figure out who she is.

But underneath, under the sulking and pouting and fighting and 'stuff' is a very sweet little girl with a heart that has so much love.

 You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones

... come back for an update of photos showing the 14 year old now.

Wordless Wednesday ... Boys will be boys

The look of my life today

The 'sunburst' salad Schatzie made me for dinner.

Jarod and I ... he's getting so big and his face is maturing quickly.

Little Miss Fashionista and I sharing a giggle.

My favourite lamp.

 I love how the sideboard shines ... it's just beautiful.

Point!

Chino - our gorgeous blue eyes kitty we nicknamed Blondie.

Luck and lustfulness

Luck is when opportunity knocks and you answer.

 ~Author Unknown

1.  Luck

Yesterday during the afternoon G-man called to tell me that he had recieved an sms from our local Spur advertising that there was a chance he could win a bike if we had dinner there.  I said my budget is a little tight and we're on month-end salticrax and he said as is his, but he'd check and see if we could wing it.

So when he got home, he duly checked his account and said we could go for dinner.  So off we went.  When we got there, the boys were told to colour in a picture and make sure their names were on so that they would be in the draw for the bicycle.

At 19:00 all the children under 12 gathered around the manager in the same row we were sitting in and were told to fold their pictures, then fold them again, and again.  They all put their pictures in a big ice bucket and we handed lucky packets.  At least 20 expectant little faces, ranging in age from looked like all of two years old to 12 huddled around waiting.

The manager asked, 'who is naughty' and our little guy Liam was the old who responded and said he was.  So, the manager said he needed to come out of the crowd since was honest.  A little embarassed but full of smiles, Liam stood on the next table and the manager shook the ice bucket, then lifted it high in the air, and told, who was on tippy toes, to put his hand in and draw a out a picture.

And of course by now you've guessed it, he drew out his own name.  He was stunned, as were we and the manager.

So, last night he got to take home something he's been wishing for, his very own bicycle.

(This picture taken at 05:53 - he could not ride earlier as the seat was too high)

2.  Lustfulness

I fell in lust with the shoes pictured above last night.  Anyone who knows me, will know that these are the perfect colour, style, heel for me.  So when I showed them to my G-man he said he'd buy them for me.  Oooh, he scored BIG brownie points.  And, they're not too pricey either at a mere R199.95.

Planning for December

I'm so excited!  Since my children, sans my eldest, will be home this December instead of gallivanting over the oceans to their Dad, I really want to take them away.  I have not been able to take them on holiday since I've been back and now, it's a reality.

G-man and I did some scouting of accommodation on offer on the South Coast and he found somewhere that is really well priced.  We're booking ... and I'm so excited!  We both need a break and I can't wait ... sun, sea and lazy days!

Saturday

It's finally 17:00 - 40 minutes ago, the last 10 year old departed ... they arrived at 11:00!  What was I thinking?  No, seriously, it was great.  We packed them in the car and headed to The Glen ... first up, lunch at Spur then off to the Magic Company for them to waste my money play games and win tickets to buy cheap crap - but that's what it's all about.

Liam had received around R1500 for his birthday and still had R600- from the money their grandfather gave them for Christmas and he was adamant that he wanted a PSP.  We stopped by Reggies after the MC and priced it there, then passed CNA and it was much the same offer and price.  Lets got to Game and have a look there I suggested and ... whallah ... a PSP with 4 games (as opposed to one game on offer at both Reggies and CNA) for R200- more, so he bought it right there and then.  Now the friends are gone and the hype is cooling down and the psp is charged and he is now finally playing with it ... I'm sure he's thrilled.

However me, the mother, is exhausted from the chaos of 5 boys jumping and pulling and pushing and talking ... but they had fun.

Let go take some pictures of him now to capture the look on his face.

It may be in bad taste

but, it's my blog and it was a good giggle.  So here is how it happened ...

   We went off to the mall to do some shopping.  When done, G-man took us for lunch.  I needed to head off to the ladies and Missy tagged along.  As we walked past a gift store, they had these sassy coffee mugs in the window with different sayings ... I read this one

Life is short,

Don't date dull men.

It gave me a good giggle.

Missy pipes up, "Yes Mom!"

So I reply, "Do you really think G-man is dull"

Her reply ... "No, but dad is a little dull, he only wears shorts and t-shirts"

"Oh", say I "is that what makes men dull"

She shrugs her shoulders as if to say there are many other reasons and giggles under her breath while giving me a 'don't press me look'.  "But be honest she says, Dad is dull and he'd agree if with me if I asked him".

Hmmmm ... I'd put him more in the predictable and play it safe category ... I guess that equals dull.  But to have it out of the mouth of babes, sadly, he must be duller than I remember.

Hope you had a good giggle this weekend.

Happy Week to you.

Time keeps on marching by

My Miz T is starting her first day of College ... in Houston, TX. 

I wish I could give her a hug ... she's nervous, but I'm sure also excited and possibly a little scared... but I know she'll survive.  She managed going from here to Germany, into an international school, then into the German school system, then she came back and survived and readjusted and did really well back in our school system.  No doubt, she'll survive.

This is also the start of the next chapter of her life ... a step closer to realising her dream ... become more of the stunning and amazing woman I know she is.  She has a heart the size of Texas ... I don't know many young women her age who'd have given up as many hours to AIDS babies as she did.  She's tough, she's stubborn, but she is a natural carer ... she looks after everyone around her ... and she's so darn good at it and we are missing you more each day.

Stay as amazing and wonderful as you are Miz T ... you rock!