Just for you, Ruan!

Here we go, Ruan! Jy lyk gorgeous!!!

Ruan was our Christmas clown - he handed out all the presents - hysterical!

We love the Cape!

Yesterday we decided to spend the day traveling around the Cape area - we left home at 10am and zoomed off to Rhodes Memorial - it really is such a beautiful place to go - the views are fantastic and lots of fun (and a bit of terror) climbing onto the big lions!

Next we tried Kirstenbosch Gardens but they were VERY expensive, so gave that a skip.

Then we went to the Cape Town Museum and the kids loved showing us their favourite exhibitions!

Then we drove past Camps Bay and stopped at Llandadno beach - Jared had fallen asleep so I didn't get to go on the beach, but the kids said it was lovely.

Had lunch at Hout Bay and the kids went for a swim in that cold sea - crazy!

Then drove along Chapman's Peak - closed unfortunately but Robyn got to experience her first longdrop toilet there! She was disgusted...

After that we went to Camps Bay (swam again), up to Signal Hill lookout point, up to the Cable Car and finally home!

We got home just before 7pm! It really was a great day out and we've decided to try and do an outing like that once a month! Enjoy the photos!!!

What awaits?....

I've decided that I am not going to let my frustrations take control of how I feel - I have a lot to be grateful and thankful for.

My family is a huge blessing in my life - I am so very grateful that we are healthy, happy and strong!

I have a hubbie who loves me and does everything in his power to look after me. I have 3 gorgeous kids - yes, each one with their issues, but each one with their joys too!

I am going to be happy! Mwah!

Frustration, frustration, frustration...

So okay, I need to vent a little - I guess this isn't the best place to do it, but somehow it works for me!!

We've been house-sitting a friend's house for just under a week now and I've completely fallen in love with it! Really big old farm-style kind of house - beautiful feel to it. It has 4 bedrooms, 2& 1/2 bathrooms, kitchen, lounge, diningroom, a huge attic, an enormous garden, a really big swimming pool and DSTV!!

And on Tuesday, I'll have to return to our little flat - where we all share one room! I feel guilty when I complain about our living conditions because we are very blessed to have some kind of home, but I so desperately want our own home again!

Having all this space has probably aggravated my already irritated feelings and possibly I'm over-tired from the whole Christmas thing!!

So with 2009 rapidly on it's way I pray that this will be the year where things really start coming right for us - that we will have our own home (very soon) and Quen will find stable work - work that he finds satisfaction and joy in.

I have so many thoughts running through my head about the new year - I'm concerned about Robyn not being ready for baptism, I'm excited about a new term of homeschool, I'm desperately excited about a home being in our very near future, I'm concerned about our spiritual welfare - we're not doing enough, not relying on the Lord enough, I'm excited about Sarah's wedding in December and so on and so on!!!

I need to settle down and make goals for myself and for our family - I need to be brave and strong...

December Holidays!

We have been EXTREMELY busy for the last two weeks.

After Ouma Bettie passed away we all shot up to Joburg by plane and car to attend her funeral and to be together for a few days as our beach holiday plans were obviously cancelled!

We had a great time together, but the best part was actually just chilling at home together. Quen and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary on the 16th Dec - we went to friends for supper without the kids and then caught the 10pm movie! The new James Bond - it was pretty good, but even nicer just being on a date!

We left Ouma and Oupa on the 19th and on the 23rd moved into the house we are house-sitting for a week. It is really wonderful here - 4 bedrooms, HUGE garden and a 8 metre swimming pool! Heaven, I tell you!

Christmas day is over now - the kids are in bed and we can finally just relax - I love Christmas, but am always quite glad that the day is over by the end of all the running around!

We had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - I'm grateful to everyone who makes it so special.

G'night!!!

PS - some photos of our time with Hettie and Thys!

Totsiens Ouma Bettie!

Today has turned out being a rather sad day - our dear Ouma Bettie passed away after having a major stroke on Friday.

She was a wonderful woman who loved her family so much, especially her great grandchildren and I am grateful that I was able to know her for these last 11 years!

She always treated me like I was one of her grandchildren and made me feel so very part of her family.

I love you Ouma and will miss you!!! :(