My pic(s) of the week...

                                                           

  I've taken these two photos a while ago but they're still some of my favourites ... luv the warm feeling I get when I look at them

So the night of my previous post I decided that my trainers (tekkies) were friends and not foes ... even though my body felt like it has been in war and my chest sounded like that of an old smoker (I don’t smoke) – I still felt good, because I actually took the first step in getting fit again!  I was psyched for the next morning’s run but then I woke up with a horrible cold  (should have seen the signs of the body ache and the coughing ... but hey, I thought it was the sudden rush of oxygen into my blood after the 2.5km jog)  So needless to say that I have not been running again - yet ...

Feeling much better so maybe tomorrow morning!!

In one of my other previous, previous posts I mentioned that I started a new venture ...very exciting!

For the past nine years I have been a stay at home mom (which to some sounds like a life of leisure and to those who knows – a life constantly filled with many things to do ... not necessarily for yourself!) We (my husband and I) made that decision when Ralden was born and there was not a day of regret... (well, maybe a moment here and there when I thought of the working moms with their travelling, salaries etc, )

I had the privilege of being there for all the firsts in both my kid’s lives for the past 9 years – they are settled happy kids and I am ready for a change! 

 I started two weeks ago managing a lodge. The hours are very flexible, which means that I am still able to attend a cricket match or to help Uzaan with her homework - but now I have another outlet to be creative.  It is for a 6 months trail period to see if that is what I really would like to do but who knows what might happen!  After 2 weeks I am still very excited and actually feel as if I am making a difference at the lodge.  I enjoy the challenge and for now all is working out the way I envisioned!  Have to admit - my life is a bit hectic at the moment, but I am getting into a routine now with work, school, kids, hubby, me-time, etc.   I've always admired working mom's and now have even more respect at how you get to juggle everything! 

Friend or Foe ...?

I will let you know tomorrow - still trying to catch my breath! 

Nine !!!

So many emotions but not enough words to describe them...

9 years ago was a pivotal point in my life

9 years ago I fell in love in an instant

9 years ago my son was born

9 years ago I became a mother

And for 9 years I’ve been blessed daily to know this amazing child!

And even after 9 years I am still touched by his deep, sensitive, loving, caring and very humoristic soul !!!

So here is to Ralden on his 9^th birthday ...

May he be blessed still for many, many years to come!!

Quiet Cuppa ...(Boere Troos)

Coffee + a few quiet moments = stuff I luv!

Right now must be a few of my favourite minutes every day ... The 5 minutes between the time the kids left for school and while hubby is still at the gym ... the few moments I have to myself, to just sit down with my cup of coffee and breathe in the new morning and all it's possibilities !

Especially this morning -  I am starting a new venture ... that’s probably why I feel half asleep still, after lying awake most of the night making ‘mind lists’ of things to do .... (more on this later)

But for now I am enjoying my few minutes of a quiet cuppa ... 

PS:  “Boere Troos” is an Afrikaans (my home language) word that describes the full meaning of coffee, quiet time and the feeling you get from enjoying it ... ‘the soothing of the soul’.

Back to School ...

I think one of the many best things of having kids is the fact that you get to relive your childhood experiences ... well, not all of them (thank goodness) ...but like today - going back to school!

From my side I tried to make it a big occasion (as I love to do with most happenings in our lives).  We started the morning by waking up to their favourite songs on their new cd-alarm-clocks (thank you granny for the great Christmas gift!!) 

As with Ralden’s first day of school I made their choice of breakfast  -- pancakes and just to add something special - a bottle of “Kiddies Bubbly” sparkling grape juice (thanks Woolies).

As I was trying to flip the pancakes ... (unplanned entertainment and great belly laughs from happy kids as added bonus)... I got this warm feeling,  one of those “this is a moment to burn into your memory and hopefully relive for many years to come” – feelings!

Today was a big day, especially for Uzaan, who started Grade 1 – she was so excited and oh so brave!! My baby girl is growing up and even though a part of me is sad in a way, I am also looking forward to this new phase. It makes my heart smile to watch Ralden, the ever caring and protective big brother, holding her hand as they walked to their new classrooms.

As I stood with tears in my eyes I knew that she would be okay and that Ralden is happy being there for her. My not-so-little boy is also growing up and I am so proud at the young man he is turning into (thank you Riaan for giving him such a great example) 

  

I love being a mom

I love having the chance to enjoy these moments with them

I love to see how they grow

I love to hear their stories after the first day

I love covering their books  ...(jip, I really do !!)

I love my family ... !!

To all the moms out there - enjoy the childhood 'dejavu' with your kids and have a happy new school term!

Soul Smoothie

☆ smoothie (smo̵̅o̅′t̸hē)

noun

1.    a drink made from fruits, juices, vegetables, crushed ice, etc., usually with milk or yogurt, whipped in a blender until smooth

Also sp. smoothy smooth′y

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. 
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

In my mind a smoothie is a blended, chilled, sweetened ‘slush-like’ drink full of goodness and healthy stuff that soothes and makes you feel good - which makes it one of my favourite things...

I was thinking about the first week of this new year  which has flown by and realised that I have to make an effort to embrace the good things and the stuff that I love filling my days! Well, I do always embrace them - but I actually have to start writing them down before they get lost somewhere between cleaning the house, sorting out the cupboards, etc                                                                                        I want to share the things that made my heart smile while the voices in my head went:  “AAAAHHH”...  like smoothies for the soul!!

Like when Uzaan (my daughter) pulled her daddy up from the coach to dance with her while we were watching a dvd of Andre Rieu.

Ralden, my son, who convinced us to make a big bed in the family room with snack food and watching family movies till we all fell asleep.

Watching the two of them playing together at an uncle’s house at Bronkhosrtspruit dam with the river banks overflowing with water...

Spending a morning doing ‘girl-stuff’ with Uzaan ... So while daddy and Ralden had their “boy’s time” at the gym we did “make-ups”.  It was so much fun seeing her concentration and pure joy as she gave my eyes the pink treatment and painted my nails in the brightest, most sparkly pink nail varnish that she could find ... (have I mentioned before that I do not like pink very much??)  Well – I took the pink and embraced it ... and as I am writing this post I cannot help at smiling every time the light catches the pink glitter as I move my fingers ... What we would not do for moments like these...

I live for moments like these ... I soak in the ‘slush-like-soul-smoothie full of goodness and healthy stuff that soothes and makes me feel soooo good!  It’s the stuff I luv, baby!!!

A new day, a New Year ...

I am not really good at keeping New Year’s resolutions but I do luv the idea of them.

A fresh start, a new motivation, a blank canvas of many days to add more colour to my life...

So here goes ... this is my list of a few things –in no particular order:

1.       Try at least 2 adventure things I have not done before ... I am sure I will know once the opportunity arrives – like paragliding, going on a shark cage dive, or something.

2.       Start hiking trips with the kids ( took the first step with our Christmas gifts when we gave the kids -and ourselves- walking sticks)

3.       Finish the blanket I started crocheting on the 1^st. (photo’s below)

4.       Finish the travelling, recipe, photo-journal-like books ... for me and the ‘sisterhood of travelling cooks’.

5.       Spend more time on painting – start with a fixed morning every week doing just that!

6.       Start golf lessons ( made a booking for next week)

7.       Grow, maintain and use my own herb garden

8.       Learn and master a new craft - maybe pewter work.

9.       Explore Jo’burg and our surrounding area... local is ‘lekka’!

10.   Want to loose at least 10kg ( don’t we all?)

What does your list look like?

This is "project blanket" for 2011 

 All my favourite colours...

  The first few of 295 hexagons...