Never underestimate your kids!

We have recently had a few sessions with the primary schools child play therapist. One of the ‘homework’ requirements for Shane & I is to spend one-on-one time with EACH child to limit the pretty hectic sibling rivalry we have going on in our house. One-on-One time with three kids sounds easier than it actually is and takes some major time organization skills to figure it out, BUT we have come up with a plan.

So, yesterday I sat them down and explained how it works etc etc. Each child gets one special thing to do with me once a week and one special thing to do with Dad once a week. All alone, NO sisters involved. By this part of the conversation they were getting REALLY excited :) So, I was bracing myself for the pretty unrealistic idea’s that were probably about to spill from their lips. You know kids: “ erm, I think I would like to go to Ratanga Junction once a week, and a new pair of rollerblades, and an aeroplane ride … and and and” Well, I was absolutely shocked and SO proud of them, here’s their list, with no help from me:

NIAMH:

Time with Dad: Movie & a milkshake on Tuesday
Time with Mom: Bake a gooey Chocolate Cake

TAYLA:

Time with Dad: A picnic and 4 runs around the sports field
Time with Mom: Tea @ the Farm Village

SHANAH:

shame, she doesn’t even understand, so was shouting out ITH- PEEEEM! (ice-cream) BUMPING TASTLE! (jumping castle) FWEETIES! (sweeties) and even BERY HOPTER! (helicopter – ok, that’s a bit OTT darlin )

So, Shanah will probably go with a run down the beach and an ice cream at Macky D’s.

Cute hey? I wish my camera was working so I can show you their list, they wrote it all down in their bestest (me word) handwriting and stuck it on the fridge. So precious.

Today I am just catching up on filing – blech! and booking safari’s, skydives, wine tours etc, we are busy busy all of a sudden with the volunteers, which is great for us, especially as we are heading into winter season – yay!

Tomorrow is WACKY RACE DAY for Tayla & Shanah’s school on the Fish-Hoek Sports fields. I have to run the moms race, we have to do the Monty Python walk – good grief.. The dads have to run back wards :) Sister Meg has hired a full on Barney costume and is going as Barney – ha ha, her poor son will never live it down. “Hey, Aren’t you that kid whose mum went to sports day as Barney?” She’s so cute. Classic photo opportunity, so will post piccies over the weekend.

I’m hoping to go to Hermanus for the day on Sunday, as Shane is on tour all weekend – surprise surprise! So will try and convince my fabulous father-in-law to cook me a roast dinner – yummy.

Have an awesome weekend,
Lovies
Me xxx

The miracle of life

Sorreeeee.. I know, I've been quiet for 2 days. My instinct was correct, my client went into labour in the early hours of yesterday morning and I witnessed yet another awesome birth :)

By the time I arrived, she had just had an epidural put up, so was sounding much happier than she was on the phone ;) She had a relatively short labour for a first time mum ( around 11 hours ) and coped beautifully. Her hubby was so emotional when the baby was born and sat talking to his precious little boy for over an hour after birth - too cute for words.

The shop launch went off well - I made it just in time, and then I came home to crash - but no sirrreeee - I forgot we had to go off to the volunteer braai, AND Shane was running late on tour, so Kitty started the braai. It would have been SO much easier to light if I hadn' t bought KINDLING - ha ha, but you must understand, I was in a sleep deprived state... The braai was lekker, and at 11 o'clock I literally did come home and CRASH.

This morning I worked at the farm and hunted for a leaving present for a volunteer. She is absolutely terrified of flying, but she took the 'plunge' literally and went sky diving with Shane while she was here. We are so proud of you Jen! I was looking for a symbolic, light prezzie, like an African painted aeroplane, but you simply CANNOT find one in this neck of the woods. So, I just wrote her a letter and made it into a paper jet - ha ha.

So, we are off to Cape 2 Cuba for her leaving dinner, and the girls are staying with a babysitter, much to their disgust. Strawberry daquiri's here I come...

Ciao for now,
Lovies
me xxx

Fuzzy

Thats how I'm feeling today - fuzzy...

My day started with a brisk walk with my Dad on Fish-Hoek Beach, followed by 2 mugs of steaming hot, strong filter coffee, to enable me to get through our very serious but necessary conversation... I proceeded to spend the rest of the day shaking from the caffeine overload. Oh, and I forgot to eat today, thats how busy I was - oh no, I did munch a carrot at two o'clock. Yip, I'm such a carrot cruncher now.

Tomorrow I am attending the Bumps n Daisies shop opening - yay! I have been hectically getting all of my stock together, and Mands took some stunning pics of the Nappy Cakes :

No... you cant EAT them... they are made up of rolled up disposable nappies and filled with all sorts of fabulous gifts for mom & baby. So now I've done my advertising shpeel... all rush out and buy one ! :)

I have a mom due today, so I am doing all my doula-ish things, charging my cellphone, packing my doula bag, refreshing my mind on all of the medical terminology I may need to know, packing kids lunches, organizing backup mums to pick up my sprogs from school - that sort of thing... All fun though, and I'm really looking forward to a good birth, my last one was pretty much a nightmare.. :)

Ok, must get some sleep in case I don't get to sleep for 2 days - Lana, you know how I feel..

Has anyone tried the Impossible Quiz? Thanks to Kat for getting me addicted :)

Sleep tight, Keep Smiling

Lovies

Kez xxx

Busy Busy Busy

So, the kids are back at school today... At precisely 8:05 am this morning I heard a communal sigh of relief from all mothers in the valley... Haha, we love the little darlings, but it is SO nice to get some peace... :)

We've had a pretty hectic few days, so here goes!

On Thursday Shane's granny passed away after a long battle with cancer, her funeral was held on Saturday, so we just had a quiet day at home after the service as Shane wasn't feeling so lekker. Oh no, we did go for lunch with Mandy and Quin afterwards and then Mandy took photo's of my stock, as I am updating my website. Yay! at last... will keep you all posted on it. http://www.wombservice.co.za/

Yesterday, Shane's folks were here for the day, so we spent most of the day EATING, drinking tea, EATING and chatting about life in general, it was relaxing, and we managed to just chill before the craziness of the week begun..:)

I've started my walking again, so yesterday I walked the length of the beach and back while Shane swam with the kids. Kerry? Walk? I know, THIS from a girl that DRIVES from one side of the mall to the other. Laziness supreme. I actually enjoy walking though - shock,horror. Just NOT fast - the Noordhoek Athletics Club can tell you just how crap I am, but that is a story for another day.

So, back to yesterdays walk... I was walking ( briskly I might add ) along the sand, singing away to my ipod (totally forgetting all the other beach walkers could hear me, but who cares ) I was chilled, relaxed and reflecting on the weeks events. As i reached the FAAARR end of the beach a wave came in and brought along with it... TEN MILLION BEES. Here i am, still SINGING away, like I haven't got a care in the world, and I stepped right in the middle of the dam bee infestation. Only one of the little buggers got me right underneath my toe - like EINA EINA EINA. I collapse into the waves ( like the drama princess i am ), pull out the little cretin with all my might and begin... to... PANIC. i am at the other side of the beach, with no cellphone, no body and now .. no toe..

I'm now saying aloud: PULL yourself together Kerry, its only a bee sting, you can do this. I turn around and begin the long walk back to the car. By now the fellow happy beach walkers think I am totally insane - who is this weird chick? first singing her lungs out, then collapsing into the waves and now talking to herself ( loudly ) the whole way down the beach. I was seriously getting the : " Shame Lovey, never mind, there is nerve medication for this you know " looks. So, I'm trudging down the beach, and the pain is kicking in, big time. I am now requesting to myself ALOUD that a HELICOPTER airlift me outta there and the tears are beginning to spill. FOCUS Kerry. So, I focus on the mountain in front of me - NOT HELPING. You know when you're desperate to get somewhere so you focus on the mountain and the mountain keeps moving further away from you??? That was SO happening.

Eventually the car comes into sight and by this stage I am TOTALLY convinced that I am allergic to bees and that I can actually feel my thighs tingling and my throat swelling, and that I'm going to end up looking like this:

I run ( well hop ) all the way to the car, and Shane says: " So, how was your walk? " GET ME TO THE PHARMACY...

By the time I got home I was feeling fine, I didnt even need the medication and I still went off and did a transfer... ha ha, it beat standing cooking supper.

Ok, I really am busy busy busy, so I should go... I am being extremely practical, I have a very practical friend that taught me to be practical, and now I can't help it... So, i should stay in my practical mood for as long as I can. Thanks Rufus.

Have a gorgeous week,

Lovies

me xxx

Mothers Wisdom

Today I heard the best piece of advice from a mom:

"Just love them.."

When you're having one of those pull your hair out, stop the world I want to get off days, Just Love Them.

How can you resist this adorable face?

Ok, I'm off to my budding midwives potluck dinner! I actually COOKED. I know, dont all fall off your chairs now. Its quite impressive actually. Roasted butternut stuffed with couscous, garlic, bacon, pumpkin seeds and feta. Yummy...

Update tomorrow!

Feel the love peeps....

Lovies

me

xxx

When days are dark

Friends Renew :)

I seriously have like the best friends in the world…. There’s nothing like a friend to put you back on your feet. Over the last week my friends have just been like, extra fabulous ;)

One friend left her dinner date with her hubby to come and console me when I was crying outside her front door, this same friend then took me and the girls for breakfast on Saturday, encouraged me to keep smiling, cleaned up my kitchen, unpacked and repacked my dishwasher, hell she even washed my pots by hand. Mandy Moo, I love you….

Another friend, pretty kitty, made me laugh until my tummy hurt…
Here’s the story:

So, we have a Canadian friend called Matt who has been visiting Cpt for a week. He invited us to dinner on Sunday night – a non kid, grown up, eat on the patio overlooking the sea dinner – we don’t get too many of those…
Anyways, he was staying in this luxury rented apartment, with cool stuff in it, so of course I was trying to see exactly how much stuff I could take home in my handbag. (Those of you that know me well, know that I always carry a handbag like a Mary Poppins Bag) So, I decided to fall in love with Matt’s carpet – yes, yes, I fall in love very easily – so Kat & I decided I could possibly fit this 3.2m x 2.5m carpet in my handbag, NO-one would even know it was missing. After much folding and flapping and giggling hysterically we actually managed to fit the carpet in my handbag … A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! I was a good law-abiding citizen though and did return the carpet before you all turn me in to the cops…

Ok, so I’m actually sitting at the airport typing this up. I’ve just dropped off Matt who is on his way to Jo’burg, Spain, Milan, Canada, Munich & finally Japan – ah the life of the single man. My travel itinerary today is as follows:

Fish-Hoek
Airport
Fish-Hoek
Sun Valley
Kommetjie
Sun Valley

I know… you’re all DEAD jealous.

The past week I have been hiding, but only due to the fact that I am trying to buy stock, make up Nappy Cakes and look after the kiddie winkles. Hopefully things will calm down a little when the kids start back at school on Monday.

I also drank some really yummy wine this week.. according to the label it tastes like : freshly cut grass with green figs and green peppers up your nose. Weird but true, and yummy. Ludtsville I think – rush out and buy some. AND it comes in a bottle not a papsak – ya’ll. Ok, it’s a screw top but I’m getting there – slowly……….

Tomorrow I’m off to a ‘Budding Midwives’ meeting to discuss the options of distance learning for Independent Midwives, so excited.

Don’t forget to do my quiz on the right hand side… HOW MANY 5 YEAR OLDS CAN YOU TAKE ON IN A FIGHT?? I only managed 9…..

And, HOW MUCH IS YOUR DEAD BODY WORTH? I got $ 4225. I’m worth more dead than alive then.

Before i go, here are some piccies of us:

Niamh, Tayze & Logan having fun at the Farm Village

All the kids at Cafe Roux - Greased Lightning pose!
Ok peeps, Keep Smiling

Lovies
Mwah xxx

I'm thinking...

Fiji.

Who's coming with me?