Ann's Cross Stitch

I knit up this cute head band for myself. I made it out of 100% pure cotton yarn. It knit up real quick - took about 4 hours (approximately). It's really comfy and I love wearing it. Free online pattern found here: http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTcalorimetry.html

I made a few adjustments such as knitting less rows cause I don't like my whole head being covered as it's summer and we live in a hot, hot country.

I couldn't find the home school camp photos but here's the surfing photos promised...

Andy...


Simon and Luke...


Andrea and Andy...


My handsome surfer dude...


Andrea kite surfing...

Ok, so after waiting for Telkom for 2 months to install our phone and adsl line in the new flat it happened at last, today, after making and canceling many appointments with us. A lot has happened in the last two months as naturally would when you have a toddler. I'll just recap on some of the things I can remember, going from the most recent.



Our Christmas tree is up and Andy made the decorations so we are reminded of his efforts daily when he proudly points them out and mentions what colour they are. After this photo was taking he also painted some pine cones which he loves. I also put some individually wrapped marshmallow eggs on the tree but they gradually disappeared so we must have a mouse in the house (maybe a two year old one called Andy). I baked some cute gingerbread men to hang on the tree and Andy helped me decorate them with smarties. Needless to say the above said mouse polished the poor darlings off before they reached the status of being ornaments.


Andy, me and Juliette


Luke and Juliette


Andy and Juliette playing in the baby pool

Baby Julliette came to visit recently and it was delightful to meet her at last. We spent some lovely times together but unfortunately I didn't get to say a proper goodbye or hold her one last time cause Simon and Lisa had to go out and we had to leave mom's house before they got back. I hold her gorgeous eyes and smile and smell and cuddliness in my fondest memories though and hope to see her again soon.

Need to go now (my boys are demanding supper). Next time I'll post about Luke, Andrea and Simon going surfing, the Homeschooling Camp and more.

Seeing that I've been deprived of proper sleep for 2 years now I allow myself to 'lie-in' for a few minutes each morning after Andy woke up (which is usually round about 7am). Now that Andy is bigger I just have to keep half an ear open for him while he usually spends those few minutes either hitting me with books shouting 'READ, READ!!!' or playing with Cindy in the lounge. This morning though I was only asked for milk and after giving it to him was left in peace (which should have looked very suspicious to me had I not been so tired and incapable of proper thought). At any rate while I thought my sweet boy was playing with Cindy in lounge he was actually...



and...



Need I say more.

We went to feed the ducks at the nearby duck pond yesterday and Andy thoroughly enjoyed it and of coarse after making us stay much longer than we intended, he screamed his little heart out when we had to leave. So this afternoon we needed to pop up to the shop and told Andy so, which he interpreted into 'duck pool' (as he calls it). He started jumping with excitement going to the kitchen to fetch the bread and smiling at us with such pure faith that we are taking him, that only the cruelest parents on earth could refuse setting out on an overcast, cold, windy afternoon to feed the ducks at the 'duck pool'.

Master Andrew van Blerk recently received a present in the post from Uncle Simon, Aunty Lisa and cousin Juliette in the UK. It was a delightful unexpected surprise for Andy cause when he realized the parcel daddy came home with after work was for him, he started doing his 'excited dance' which means bouncing around the lounge and squealing at the top of his voice then finally throughing himself full force onto the couch. After this ceremony he took the parcel from daddy and proceeded in opening it...





Pointing out the animals on the cute birthday card...



The present... (A cute turtle backpack with a little rain hat - which when on, makes an adorable turtle named Andy)







Thank you Simon, Lisa and Juliette.

A very appropriate saying on a gorgeous T-shirt from Gran. Andy was so excited when he got it that he wanted to put it on immediately...

Andy's uncle, Andrea, and aunt, Rachel's, names are too difficult for Andy to pronounce so he invented his own names for them. Here's...

Zi and...



Wowo...

We had a birthday party for Andy at Kids Heaven on the Saturday before his birthday. He had a cute party room and they had two hours to play on the playing equipment.







Here's the cake... (provided by Kids Heaven)



Andy listening to everyone singing to him (I think he only realized then that this whole party has something to do with him)...



A family photo...



He spent most of the two hours on the trampoline...



The ball pond...



A slide...



On his birthday we had a little party at home for his grand parents and great grand mother and some uncles and aunts. He had a wonderful time and got lots of beautiful presents. One of these is a sandpit from granny Celia which he loves. On rainy days he stands longingly at the sliding door looking out and asking for sand and on sunny days he spends most of the day playing in it.

I don't encourage having a untidy house but on those really rough days when housework and looking after a toddler gets a bit overwhelming, this poem shows what's important...

I TOOK HIS HAND AND FOLLOWED
Mrs. Roy L. Peifer

My dishes went unwashed today,
I didn't make the bed,
I took his hand and followed
Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring,
My little son and I...
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,
We wandered through a wood...
My kitchen wasn't swept today
But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade
And now my small son knows
How Mother Bunny hides her nest,
Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young,
We climbed a sunlit hill...
Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,
We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected,
That I didn't brush the stairs,
In twenty years, no one on earth
Will know, or even care.

But that I've helped my little boy
To noble manhood grow,
In twenty years, the whole wide world
May look and see and know.

I had the privilege of babysitting Aiden recently and Andy had lots of fun playing with him although Andy did remind Aiden several times that I belonged to him by hugging me close and saying 'mine'. It was real cute though and a good experience for Andy to learn to share (even if it means sharing mommy for a few hours) and be with someone younger than him as he's always been the youngest where ever he was.

Aiden loves dancing and was demonstrating one of his unique moves to us... he's very entertaining...



Very busy playing in the room...



Andy demonstrating how the little train works while Aiden relaxes and has his snack...

A few Saturday's ago we went with THE WORLD'S NO.1 GREATEST AUNT AND UNCLE to Stoddels to feed the animals and Andy had a wonderful time and the Llama made sure Daddy had a good time too... (Llama tickling Luke's hand with his tongue)



Feeding the goats...



Family photo with our fun-loving Llama friend in the background...

Andy was a bit too quite in his room so I went to go see what mischief was happening and discovered a barrel of smiley Lego...



Or rather exaggerated smiley lego...

I haven't blogged for a while so here's what we've been up to lately...

Peeking at the neighbours...


Wait, I've got to get a better look at this...


If only this wire wasn't here I could pull those feathers off and see how chewy that red comb is...


My new black board, let's see how white I can make it...


Morning homeschool hour...


My new jersey mommy knit for the winter and my charming smile for the camera...


Getting my daily Thomas dose before bedtime...


Mmmmm... I wonder what the neighbours are up to...