Fun and Games in the Snow

We spent the day with Darren and Al yesterday. Darren recently bought a cheap second hand snow mobile so he could take the kids for sled rides in the backyard. Yes, you read that right. Take a look...

I CAN

I recently found out that the military has all kinds of nifty little ways to help its members and their families. One program they have is the Health management program where they assign you a personal online coach, and have all kinds of tools to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. I recently signed up for the I CAN weight management program, cause I want to shed a few more extra pounds on my hips that I don't enjoy giving a free ride to. Today I got a little package in the mail, with a free pedometer, tape measure (to track my progress - at least thats what they said its for), and a nifty hand book with recipes, advice, a food diary and other such stuff. Oh and did I mention the motivational I CAN fridge magnet? I'm a little excited to wear my pedometer I must admit.

So ladies and gentlemen, as of now, I officially CAN! Wish me luck!

More than Word

Yesterday the munchkin strung her first two words together (other than, no no no and go go). She had refused to go to bed the night before without her little green bouncy ball. She actually fell asleep with it gripped firmly in her little fist, and woke the next morning with it still there. She loves that little ball, let me tell you.

Well we were playing with the ball after she woke by hiding it in various parts of my clothing and letting her find it. We were having all kinds of fun when Mack came in to join us. I took the ball and put it down his shirt. This became Taz's favourite hiding place for the ball. Alas, Mack and I soon became tired of the game and moved onto something else when the munchkin toddled into the room. Her little ball securely in her hand she climbed onto Mack's lap, pulled the collar of his shirt open, held out her little ball and said, "put down."

My heart swelled with all kinds of motherly pride!

Christmas 2009

Darren and Al have finally moved into their new house, so we spent Christmas with them this year. Darren was scheduled to fly Christmas day, so we postponed Christmas eve to the 26th and Christmas morning to the 27th. Christmas eve we made a lovely roast leg of lamb, little roast potatoes, grilled asparagus, sweet carrots and sparkling grape juice. We set the table with Christmas crackers and festive serviettes, and wore our party hats throughout the supper. If it weren't for the snow outside and the lack of the youngest sibling, it would have felt like Christmas in South Africa. (Germy you were missed bokkie.) I really miss summer Christmases. Anyway, I digress. The food was so delicious that we all ate far too much and decided to forgo dessert (which was a good thing cause we had forgotten to make it), besides there were so many sweet things around anyway that my thighs started expanding just smelling their caloric goodness.

Tamsine was really funny opening her presents. She loved ripping the paper off, and at one point I think I even saw her using her teeth to get to the gift inside. Proud mothering moment.


Allyson usually refuses to pose for pictures. I think she was reveling in the Christmas spirit when she allowed me to snap this one.


Ethan is very into his Star Wars this year, and was so excited when he unwrapped this little gem. Just look at this smile.

And, Darren was just happy to be home with the family.

Absence...

Has your heart grown fonder of me in my absence?

I hadn't realized I haven't posted in over a month. Wow time flies doesn't it. Hmmm, lets see, what's happened in the last month.

1. I lost 10 pounds - woohoo to me! Only 15 to go before I can get myself on the fast track to weight gain in the belly area again.
2. Taz turned 18 months. She is growing SO fast I can't keep up with her. She now has a pretty vast vocabulary which includes "Noooo, no no, and uh oh." No really, she's talking up a storm. Sometimes I'm not really sure what she's saying, but being the supportive mother I am, I agree with her wholeheartedly.
3. We have big plans for fern & lola this year, the biggest being an actual website which I am building - hence my taking dream weaver classes this Jan. I am really excited to take this class and to get into designing things again.
4. Unfortunately I still have a cat. I've been trying to get rid of it, but now the stupid cat and Taz have bonded. Stupid cat! If we've been out too long, Taz starts asking for Weebee (Phoebe). I must admit that the cat is really good with her, especially since the wee one likes to abuse things smaller than herself.
5. Christmas happened - I'll post photos.
6. I think my greatest achievement in the last month, was enlightening my sister-in-law on the best way to cook fresh asparagus. Cut off the hard crusty bits on the bottom. Coat the stalks lightly in olive oil. Sprinkle liberally with lemon pepper, and place under the broiler (oven grill) till tender. Hmmm, delish!
7. I went cross country ski-ing for the first time and am in love with it. It was all kinds of fun and one of the best workouts I've had in a long time. It was also great bonding time spent with the hubby. I was a little trepidatious on the down hills though, cause I was incredibly scared of falling and hurting my back again - happy to report that no backs or small children were harmed on this excursion.
8. My back is healing pretty well. Every now and then when the weather gets down to the sub zero degrees and all life as I know it stops cold, I feel a few twinges, but generally I can do most things I want to. I have to be careful, but as long as I'm aware of my back and I don't do anything stupid, life remains active for me. Oh, there is one thing that does my back in - housework. I'm serious. After cleaning my house I really feel it and have to take the pain killers and muscle relaxers. I asked Mack if our health insurance would cover a maid service? He said, "hell no." Jerks, It would be cheaper than the physical therapist I see bi-weekly. Incentive? No?
9. Its a new year - how did that happen so fast?
10. I take Omega 3 and vitamin D tablets daily to ward off the Seasonal Winter Depressional Blues I get. This little cocktail works. I'm quite chipper at the moment, and usually I'm all depressed and mopy by this time of year. Thanks Jen for letting me in on your secret!

And thats all I can think of for now. I won't let my ramblings lapse this long again. Promise. Maybe.

Trick or Treat

Need I say more!

Hawaii

The Reason for the Absence

Life has not been all hunky dory for me lately. Actually is been pretty darn (insert 4 letter word here). I've been allowing it to get to me, and was barely hanging on to my sanity by the tiniest thread. I was just waiting for our UK holiday to get away from the reality of my life for a while, when that too caved in on me. The British consulate denied my visa (for the most ridiculously stupid reasons). I had been hanging on to this holiday a little harder than I think I realized, and when it was rudely stripped from me, I went into a downward spiral. I honestly didn't care if I lived through another day. Thats how bad it was.

I was gutted about missing Abby's wedding. I was completely gutted that I wouldn't get time with one of the people in this world that knows me better than I know myself - Jenni. And, the way I saw it, my marriage really, really needed time away from computers, iphones, wii systems and anything related. I was also really excited for Mack to get to meet MY highschool friends, and get to see a side of me that he's never seen before. I was also really ready to go to a place where I understood the people, the food and the language. To me there was so much more riding on this trip than just a holiday.

Mack had already taken the 17 days off work, and the thought of spending that time at home looking after Taz while Mack ignored me to play his stupid video games, put me even further over the edge. I told him I needed to get away and go somewhere - anywhere, preferably some place warm, and that if we didn't get away and work on our relationship, I didn't see our marriage lasting through the end of the year. I was just so tired of playing second fiddle to a bunch of inanimate objects.

Luckily, my husband does love me, (he doesn't show it, but apparently he does love me), and he booked a trip for us to Hawaii. Its amazing what 7 nights and 8 days of sun and beach can do for a little girl from Cape Town.

I'll be honest, it wasn't the most amazing vacation I've ever taken, but it really helped. I spent alot of time looking after Tamsine while Mack snorkeled or played games on his iphone. But, being so close to the ocean again, smelling the salt in the air, the warmth of the sun on my face, hearing my little girls giggles as she ran into the water, and the gentle ebb and flow of the waves, seemed to help calm my anxieties and release alot of the tension that had been building in me. And eventually Mack realized that my idea of relaxing and his idea of relaxing are two completely different things, and bending over holding Tamsine while she frolicked in the water wasn't exactly the best thing for my fractured back. So, he eventually allowed me some time to just lie on the beach and read a book while he played with Munchkin in the waves. It was soothing for my soul.

And now we're back and things are better. And I'm ready to face life again.

My Husband, the Budding Photog

Mack is taking a digital photography class this semester. As a result, I have lost my camera. But, on the upside he's teaching me alot about my camera and how to use it. Because of my film degree I understand what he's talking about, but I'm no photographer so its nice to finally know what the heck those people I worked with were doing. Here are a couple of his completely untouched images.

Independence

How to Keep a 1 yr Old Occupied

This is how I occupy my child while cooking. Works like a charm!

Rain, Rain

We had our first rain of the season the other day, and Taz thought she was in heaven. She absolutely loves anything to do with water. She'll sit on the patio for hours playing with a few bowls of water. So when water fell from the sky, she thought she had hit the jackpot. There was water everywhere. Of course Mack and I had to capture the moment.

Whoopee and Then Some!!!

We did it! Our tickets to England are booked. My visa application has been mailed. Now we just wait.

I'm not very good at waiting. I'm a little impatient. Usually. This time however, regardless of how excited I am to see old friends and show Mack my old haunts, there is this one little dark cloud on the horizon. I fear the 12 hour plane ride with a toddler. She is a very good toddler, but does not enjoy being confined in any way shape or form, like say having to sit still through take offs and landings and pretty much most of the flight. I know we're not the first to do this, I know we won't be the last, but the the horror stories of other parents who have done the same keep me apprehensive.

Its a good thing its too late to turn back now! Other than that, WOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!