My 2 little fishes - 25 December 2009

I am so proud of my kids and their swimming ability and confidence. It is amazing the change that has occured in them since we had the pool put in at home just over a year ago. Andrew, especially has impressed me - from not wanting to go near water a year ago to going under the water (something he only started doing a few days ago), he has really come a long way.

Merry Christmas and wish you were here :) - 25 December 2009

Merry Christmas! Hope it has been a special day filled with love and joy. We are on the South Coast - having a great time........

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all - 2009

Old pics found - Earlier in 2009

Andrew has decided that he is a photographer and makes Michael "pose" for pics - it is hilarious when I find them.

Last day of creche for Michael - 15 December 2009

So with a heavy heart I have to say that my "baby" finished creche this morning and if off to "big school" (only grade 000, but still) next year. Why do they grow up so fast???

Andrew's Santa drawing - December 2009

I just love this picture that Andrew drew of Santa Claus. He is so creative......

Baking time - 14 December 2009

For some bizarre reason I agreed to letting the kids bake biscuits with me for the holidays. Needless to say not only was it a HUGE mess, but every second biscuit had to have dinosaur confetti on it - and I had to deal with the sugar-rush.....

It was not too bad though I must admit and Andrew really enjoyed the decorating and baking, Michael really enjoyed eating the decorations :)

Book club year-end dinner - December 2009

Rather don't ask :) We went to Greek Easy and had a blast!

Circus drawings by Andrew - Nov/Dec 2009

I just had to blog these gorgeous pictures drawn by Andrew recently. I love the details on them - the "audience" and the seals are my favourite.

Hosanna Rocks - Preparatory School Concert - December 2009

The concert was a HUGE success and I thoroughlly enjoyed it. I had to keep reminding myself that these "actors" and singers were all between the ages of 4 and 6 years. The teachers really outdid themselves and I was so proud of my little goat :)

Concert time - 1&2 December 2009

Tonight is Andrew's school concert. Looking forward to it - he has a full house coming to watch him tonight, we are 7 in the audience rooting for him!

He is a goat in the concert - ain't he the cutest goat ever :)

Something that means a lot to me

Let me start at the beginning (a very good place to start). My brother got married in December last year (2008) and before the wedding I had my hair cut and coloured (by my wonderful friend Fabienne).

Then, just before Christmas I heard of a mom who I chat on a forum with whose little boy of (then) 3 1/2 was diagnosed with cancer - this was on 24 December 2008. I can only imagine what this family had to go through with all of this and with Wouter being so young, it reminded me so of my two boys and made me appreciate their health so much more.
When it came to New Year's resolutions a week later I decided that I will not be making personal resolutions as such (does one ever stick to them for longer than 24 hours anyway), but rather decided to make a contribution to society as such, focusing on cancer patients (especially children). I made the decision to firstly become a bone-marrow donor, and secondly to grow my hair for a year to donate to cancer patients for wigs. Both of these required absolutely no effort from my side and would have the ability to help someone who needs it somewhere down the line.
The bone marrow donation was quite easy and actually painless - all it involved was a phone-call to the Sunflower Foundation and a sample of blood drawn. If they ever need my marrow (or whatever) they will call me.

The hair-growing is going well and my hair is now the longest it has ever been - it is getting a bit much (especially in summer now), but (I think) it will all be worth it and on 6 March 2010 I will be chopping it all off (they need at least 22cm) at the annual CANSA Shavathon. I will not be shaving it all off, but will be cutting it short.

Now back to my inspiration, Wouter. Please read his story that his wonderful parents have been writing about on a (almost) daily basis - please go look at Krokkenoster - Wouter's Story . The good news is that Wouter is doing really well and has responded brilliantly to treatment. The cancer has basically disappeared, but he is still getting chemo until about mid-March 2010.

Say a little prayer for this family tonight please!!

Picnic in the park - November 2009

It was a gorgeous day on Sunday (after almost a week of cold wet weather) and I decided to take the boys to the park for lunch and some running around time (Ed was working so it was just us at home). We went to Zita Park and Andrew and Michael had a ball. I could hardly get them to sit down for a second before they belted to the jungle gyms and various other things dotted around. Andrew LOVED the big slide and Michael just loved to be able to run. The most fun for them came from running and rolling down a big hill - what fun!!